Meanwhile, after Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun departed, the Old Imperial Concubine was lost in memories of the past.
Seeing her sitting with a furrowed brow, motionless, Nanny Jing grew worried and ventured a question.
Her question, however, only served to remind the Old Imperial Concubine.
Nanny Jing had always served by her side, and she had been present when the late Emperor sent emissaries.
Nanny Jing’s memory was exceptionally good.
With this thought, the Old Imperial Concubine immediately inquired.
“Eunuch Changshou?” Nanny Jing paused, “Which Eunuch Changshou?”
“The last time Duoduo was enfeoffed as Princess Nange, it was he who came to our home to deliver the imperial decree.”
Nanny Jing let out an “oh,” and after a moment of recollection, said, “There was no such eunuch back then.”
The Old Imperial Concubine’s expression turned stern, “Are you certain of your memory?”
The Old Imperial Concubine did not explain why she suddenly asked about this matter. In the past, when faced with any issue, she would confide in Nanny Jing. Even the last time Wang Qingyao stayed out all night at the Wei family’s lotus banquet, she had been kept informed.
However, this time the Old Imperial Concubine did not reveal the reason, her question coming out of the blue.
As the foremost attendant to the Old Imperial Concubine, Nanny Jing immediately sensed that this matter was of great importance.
She said, “This old servant remembers that there were a total of five eunuchs who accompanied Imperial Physician Liu that year. Four carried gifts, and one was from the late Emperor’s personal retinue. The one from the late Emperor’s retinue entered the inner courtyard with Imperial Physician Liu, conveyed the late Emperor’s words, and recorded the Old Prince’s condition, stating that he would report back to the Emperor upon his return to the palace.”
To remember so clearly, down to these details, proved the truth of it.
Yet, the Old Imperial Concubine’s face grew even more solemn.
Xiao Yun had clearly stated that Eunuch Changshou was the culprit, but he had not been to the Ding’an Prince’s manor that day…
Had they made a mistake somewhere?
The Old Imperial Concubine pondered for a long while, unable to figure it out. She then summoned Xiao Yun and Wang Qingyao again and recounted Nanny Jing’s words.
Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun exchanged bewildered glances.
Eunuch Changshou not only had no grievances with the Xiao family, but he had not even been to the Xiao residence on the day Xiao Yun’s father died.
Had they been investigating in the wrong direction?
Although Eunuch Changshou was Zhao Peng, was the Green Demon truly not in his possession?
Had he lost it? Given it away?
The curse incident, which they had finally been close to solving, was now back to square one.
It wasn’t entirely back to square one, however. Regardless, Eunuch Changshou remained a crucial figure.
“How about,” Wang Qingyao suggested, “we go directly to ask Eunuch Changshou?”
Xiao Yun looked at her as if she were an idiot.
The Old Imperial Concubine also looked at her as if she were an idiot.
It was like suspecting someone of murder and then foolishly running up to them and asking if they had committed the crime. Who would tell the truth!
Wang Qingyao explained, “Of course, not in a straightforward manner. I mean, we could kidnap him, or perhaps disguise ourselves as ghosts to scare him…”
“No, no,” the Old Imperial Concubine waved her hands repeatedly, “That Eunuch Changshou is already on his last leg, one foot in the grave. If you scare him, he’ll be gone before you know it.”
That made sense.
Xiao Yun: “It’s not impossible. Perhaps we could arrange for someone to get close to Eunuch Changshou.”
This was a good idea.
However, just as Xiao Yun’s plan was decided, and before the arranged person could get close to Eunuch Changshou, Eunuch Changshou died.
How did he die?
He swallowed gold and committed suicide.
Eunuch Changshou, at his advanced age and having committed no crime, was granted a peaceful retirement by the Empress Dowager. For him to have taken his own life was undoubtedly a deeply embarrassing act for the Empress Dowager. If the matter were to be investigated, his afterlife would not be peaceful.
Therefore, Eunuch Changshou’s suicide was not publicized.
Apart from a few close individuals, no one else knew.
To the outside world, it was said that he had died of natural causes.
His funeral arrangements were handled by his godson, Shunfeng. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager bestowed their grace, and the funeral was conducted with great splendor.
However, Wang Qingyao did not believe he had committed suicide.
This timing was too sensitive.
Xiao Yun had just been investigating Eunuch Changshou, and the next moment he committed suicide?
It was too coincidental!
“I suspect it was murder to silence him,” Wang Qingyao concluded.
A few days later, when Xiao Yun went to the palace to see the Emperor, Shunfeng seized an opportunity to hand him a letter.
“This is my godfather’s last testament.”
The letter was sealed with wax, and it bore the inscription, “For Prince Ding’an’s eyes only.”
Xiao Yun took it back and read it with Wang Qingyao.
They were both shocked by what they read.
It was less a suicide note and more a confession of guilt.
In the letter, Eunuch Changshou admitted that the so-called curse on the Xiao family was entirely his doing. There was no curse at all; he had been secretly administering poison.
“Green Demon, a demon, meaning one who is poisoned. Externally, the victim appears unharmed, only the bones turn green, and this becomes apparent seven days after death.”
As for why he did it, it was because Xiao Yun’s grandfather was corrupt and greedy.
Before he entered the palace, he had once encountered Xiao Yun’s grandfather on the street. Because he had accidentally stepped on Xiao Yun’s grandfather’s shoe, he was kicked by him, breaking his ribs. He took a long time to recover.
Years later, when he saw Xiao Yun’s grandfather in the palace, the man had long forgotten him.
Being narrow-minded and unable to let go of the past, he secretly administered poison and spread rumors, making everyone believe that the Xiao family of the Ding’an Prince’s manor had offended the gods, and that none of the male members would live past the age of twenty-five.