The head maid knew that since the new queen ascended the throne, she had re - established different rules for the harem. For those maids and eunuchs who had already reached relatively high positions, these were not good rules. However, in fact, they were quite fair to all the servants.
She didn't want to be the first one to break the new rules soon after they were implemented. If so, she would surely incur the wrath of the newly - appointed queen. She didn't want to leave a bad impression on the queen. So, she told the young maid to keep it a secret and quickly dispose of the dead old maid's body.
But the young maid told the head maid that she couldn't carry the old maid alone. Then, the head maid called two other young maids who had just entered the palace not long ago and asked the three of them to take the old maid's body to the back garden and bury it.
However, their mission was ill - fated. Before they could even bury the body, they were discovered by the queen. After listening to their story, Wei Shuxuan nodded, "You three will be locked up for the time being. I'll release you after I thoroughly investigate this matter."
"Please, Your Majesty! If so, we may be driven out of the palace!" The three young maids had just entered the palace and were reluctant to leave.
Wei Shuxuan understood their concerns. "Don't worry. If I find out that you have nothing to do with this, I'll release you immediately and won't drive you out. Stop worrying. That's enough for comfort. Guards, take them to the confinement room!"
The secret guards following Wei Shuxuan emerged from the shadows and took the three young maids to the confinement room.
"Also, take the body to the morgue. Call the coroner to examine the cause of death."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Wei Shuxuan followed the guards to the morgue. The coroner examined the body in detail. There were no extra external wounds on the female body, nor any signs of poisoning. He told Wei Shuxuan, "Your Majesty, this female died of a stroke without timely treatment."
"She died of a sudden illness, right?" Wei Shuxuan also examined the old maid's body and indeed found no wounds. As for the issue of poisoning... should she call Xin Zizhao to help with the examination? She didn't distrust the coroner here, but she thought it was right to verify repeatedly.
"Keep the body in the ice cellar under the morgue for now. I'll give her a proper burial after I find out the truth."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wei Shuxuan still felt that there was a hidden story behind this. It was better to call Xin Zizhao to take a look. After leaving the morgue, she went straight to the imperial study to find Xin Zizhao. At this time, Xin Zizhao must be dealing with the remaining memorials in the imperial study.
When she reached the gate of the imperial study, Wei Shuxuan saw Xiao Gaozi standing there. "Hey, Xiao Gaozi. Is His Majesty inside reviewing memorials?"
"Greetings, Your Majesty," Xiao Gaozi first saluted Wei Shuxuan. "Your Majesty is inside reviewing memorials, but His Majesty has ordered that no one should disturb him."
Just as Wei Shuxuan was about to say something, they heard Xin Zizhao's voice from inside. "Is Xuan'er outside? Xiao Gaozi, if it's Xuan'er coming to see me, give her special permission. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiao Gaozi opened the gate of the imperial study after getting Xin Zizhao's consent. "This way, Your Majesty."
This Xiao Gaozi is really obedient to Xin Zizhao! Wei Shuxuan smiled and thought silently in her heart.
As soon as Wei Shuxuan entered, she saw her man carefully reviewing the memorials in his hand. Xin Zizhao looked so handsome when he was serious! She couldn't help but be infatuated.
"What are you standing there looking at me for?" Xin Zizhao looked at Wei Shuxuan's dazed face with amusement. When facing Wei Shuxuan, he would naturally change his self - reference to "I".
"Because you're good - looking!" Wei Shuxuan walked over, propped her hands on the opposite side of the desk, and smiled at Xin Zizhao.
"So, did you come to me suddenly for something?" Xin Zizhao knew that if there was no special matter, Wei Shuxuan wouldn't come to the imperial study to disturb his work.
"...Xin Zizhao, you're really amazing. You even know that I need your help."
Wei Shuxuan showed a flattering smile. When she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons, looking sweet. She walked up to Xin Zizhao on her own initiative. "I have something I want you to help me with."
"Why say 'help'? We're husband and wife. Your business is my business." Xin Zizhao pulled Wei Shuxuan's hand and made her sit on his lap. "Tell me. What do you want me to do?"
Wei Shuxuan told Xin Zizhao everything that had just happened to her. Xin Zizhao thought for a while. "Okay. After I finish reading these memorials, I'll go to the morgue with you."
"Great. I'll sit here and wait for you."
By the time Xin Zizhao finished dealing with his memorials, it was almost evening. The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the palace a warm orange - red. Wei Shuxuan pulled Xin Zizhao to the morgue, followed by several guards.
When they arrived at the morgue, Xin Zizhao asked the guards to wait outside. He and Wei Shuxuan went in together. He examined the old maid's body in detail and repeatedly. There were indeed no external wounds, and he couldn't detect any signs of poisoning. "She has no external wounds and shows no signs of poisoning. In my opinion, she should have died of a sudden illness without timely treatment."
"It's the same as what the coroner said..." One said so, and another said so too. Wei Shuxuan thought she might have been over - suspicious. "It seems that she really died of a stroke."
"She did die of a stroke."
Xin Zizhao nodded and wiped his hands with a damp cloth, agreeing with Wei Shuxuan's words. Wei Shuxuan lowered her head and thought seriously. A stroke, in modern terms, was a cerebral hemorrhage. That meant the maid had died of a sudden cerebral hemorrhage. She had seen many such cases in modern times, and this maid was of a certain age. It was just a coincidence after all.
"What are you suspicious about?" Xin Zizhao asked actively when he saw Wei Shuxuan's doubts.
"...It's nothing. I just think her cause of death is not that simple."