Chapter 101: Could It Be a Ghost?

Half an hour later, the officials from the Ministry of Justice returned with the antidote for the “Jade Complexion Balm.”

The “Jade Complexion Balm” is a fragrant ointment with a strong scent. When applied to a corpse, it unexpectedly distorts the recorded time of death. However, it is not something to be used recklessly; it is not an elixir of eternal youth but a poison.

Since it is a poison, there must be an antidote.

The antidote to the “Jade Complexion Balm” is a specially crafted incense. Once the incense is lit and the windows are sealed, the poison dissipates within the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, restoring the true time of death.

Previously, when Xia Jiujing visited the Tan Ya Studio, the room was filled with the scent of sandalwood incense. This was deliberately orchestrated by Lin Baixue, who had closed the doors and windows and burned the old madam’s favored sandalwood incense throughout the night, intending to mask the scent of the “Jade Complexion Balm.”

At the time, Xia Jiujing suspected the sandalwood incense might have misled the coroner’s diagnosis, but she never imagined Lin Baixue would inadvertently confess, revealing the existence of the “Jade Complexion Balm.”

After obtaining the antidote incense, the coroner, Gu Dali, proceeded with the postmortem examination. About the time it took for one incense stick to burn, Gu Dali emerged and reported, “Your Excellency, the late madam’s time of death was the night before last, not the early morning of the previous day. Indeed, the ‘Jade Complexion Balm’ distorted the time of death.”

Jun Qianye clenched his fist and said, “Who knows if this ‘Jade Complexion Balm’ and the antidote incense are genuine? The coroner initially said the death was the previous day, and now it’s the night before last. Who can say what’s true?”

“Imperial Physician Hu is present,” Jun Buwen said leisurely, as everything was already under his control.

When the antidote incense was found, Jun Buwen had arranged for the Night Killers to bring in officials from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Coincidentally, Imperial Physician Hu was on duty that day and was summoned.

Imperial Physician Hu stepped forward and said, “I am here.”

Jun Buwen addressed him, “Seventh Prince suspects someone is fabricating the truth. What is your opinion, Imperial Physician Hu?”

Imperial Physician Hu bowed and replied, “I have investigated the antidote incense thoroughly. If the late madam’s corpse had not been treated with the ‘Jade Complexion Balm,’ the incense would not have affected the coroner’s judgment. It is precisely because of the balm’s poison that the antidote incense was able to neutralize it and reveal the true time of death.”

Those present showed a spectrum of emotions across their faces upon hearing this.

Jun Buwen looked at Jun Qianye and provocatively said, “Although Head Investigator Zhang was not summoned, I arranged for Imperial Physician Hu to accompany the investigation. Seventh Prince should trust the conclusion given by Imperial Physician Hu, yes?”

Jun Qianye’s face twisted with frustration. With Imperial Physician Hu from the Imperial Medical Bureau testifying, he could only force a stiff smile and say, “I have never doubted it.”

Xia Jiujing sneered, “I never thought the person to prove my innocence would be the Xia family’s matriarch. I always believed that the righteous are favored by heaven. Falsehoods can never become truth. Now, Coroner Gu Dali has confirmed that the matriarch’s words are true.”

Xia Jiujing’s derision left Lin Baixue’s complexion grim. Although she wanted to accuse Xia Jiujing of scheming, she had no idea what tricks Xia Jiujing had played.

Xia Jiujing continued, “Since the late madam died the night before last, I was still at the Jin Prince’s residence then. It’s impossible I killed her. Clearly, someone is deliberately framing me.”

Lin Baixue turned pale. She had disclosed everything clearly, which made the investigation straightforward and precise. Her legs weakened, and she felt utterly powerless.

Xia Jiujing’s gaze shifted with cunning: “Now I’m quite curious—if the madam died the night before last, who ordered Aunt Xiu to come to the Jin Prince’s residence the following morning? Which ear heard me quarreling with the old madam? Could it have been a ghost?”

At the mention of the word “ghost,” Lin Baixue trembled, her heart pounding, sensing a chilling wind.

Aunt Xiu glanced nervously at Lin Baixue. Seeing Lin Baixue’s pale face, she realized even Lin Baixue was like a clay idol crossing a river, unable to save herself, let alone protect Aunt Xiu.

Taking advantage of Aunt Xiu’s hesitation, Xia Jiujing said, “Aunt Xiu, why are you staring at the madam? Is there a word written on her face?”

Unable to hold back any longer, Aunt Xiu shouted, “Mercy, Your Excellency! It was the madam—all of this was arranged by her!”

Lin Baixue glared at Aunt Xiu in anger. “You… how dare you slander me!”

But Aunt Xiu paid no heed and confessed, “I am no liar. I have served the old madam for decades. How could I ever harm her? It was the madam who coerced me to cooperate. The quarrel sounds were all fabrications of mine.”

Pei Xingzhi asked, “You have served the old madam for so many years. Why did you collude with the madam to frame the Jin Princess?”

Aunt Xiu lowered her head, filled with grievance, and said, “The night before last, I discovered the madam smothered the old madam. I wanted to tell the master and report to the authorities, but the madam warned me that if I did not do as she instructed, she would blame the old madam’s death on me. I had no choice but to obey her.”

Xia Wentao watched as the overwhelming tide of evidence shifted completely. The accusations that had pointed to Xia Jiujing now turned against the Xia family. He felt as if the world was spinning, darkness engulfing him.

Aunt Xiu wept bitterly, “I am but a servant to the late madam. The only person I could rely on was her. But with her gone, the madam now controls everything. I was forced by her to seek out the Jin Princess at the Jin Prince’s residence, to play along with this trap. It was all under the madam’s orders.”

Xia Jiujing said calmly, “In that case, Aunt Xiu’s testimony about hearing me quarrel with my grandmother falls apart.”

Jun Qianye shouted, “If you didn’t hear anything, then who let the Jin Princess into the Tan Ya Studio?”

He had painstakingly built this case. Even if he could not gain Xia Jiujing’s favor, he would rather perish honorably than fall apart. Yet now, he could only watch as Xia Jiujing’s name was gradually cleared. The humiliation and fury churned inside him, unbearable to quell.

Jun Buwen interjected, “Regarding the old madam’s voice, I do have some evidence. Although today Lin Baixue ‘confessed’ that Madam Chu impersonated the old madam’s voice, I found Madam Chu immediately after the Jin Princess was captured. Bring her forward.”

A middle-aged woman was led in, looking weary after several days of confinement. The moment Lin Baixue saw her, she knew all was lost. This was the voice mimicry expert, Madam Chu, whom Lin Baixue had summoned.

Jun Qianye gritted his teeth, “The Jin Prince acts swiftly. I didn’t expect the person to be captured so quickly. Without knowing, one might think the Jin Prince had arranged it all.”

Jun Buwen said, “Let’s just say I’m a bit cleverer.”

Jun Qianye was left speechless. What did he mean? Was Jun Buwen implying he was a fool?