TGCFNM -Chapter 454 Foreseen This Day

Chu Ling pressed her somewhat dry lips together. “I remember Uncle Hong saying that back then, the infighting in the harem was severe, and it was because of this that Empress Hexiao passed away. How is it now said that she died of illness?”

Su He shook his head, indicating he didn’t know.

The Ghost Scholar said, “There must have been infighting involved, but officially, it was indeed recorded as death by illness.”

Su He looked at Chu Ling. “Sir, when Perfect Fang had me go see Zhou Xiang three days later back then, I already thought it was strange. Now that he’s been arrested and thrown into prison, doesn’t that mean he must have foreseen this day?”

Chu Ling furrowed his brow. “Something’s not right. Let’s see if there’s any way we can meet Perfect Fang in person.”

As they were speaking, before the two could even leave the yard, Wan Sanjin came hurrying over.

“Uncle Hong already came to the Wan Mansion to give instructions—not to leave the house, and not to meddle in Perfect Fang’s affairs,” Wan Sanjin frowned. “Is this matter really that serious?”

“Involving Empress Hexiao, even if it was more than twenty years ago, it’s likely very serious,” the Ghost Scholar advised softly. “Don’t go.”

Chu Ling looked at them both and let out a light sigh. “Since Uncle Hong said so, it’s best we don’t go.”

Su He lowered his voice to ask, “Perfect Fang… will he die?”

Chu Ling was taken aback, unsure how to reply. She could only say that Perfect Fang had probably foreseen this day long ago, so life and death were no longer so important to him.

Wan Sanjin leaned over, lowering his voice. “That Xu Hu, the one who impeached Perfect Fang, is the person you recorded, sir.”

Chu Ling was still thinking when the Ghost Scholar reminded her, “He’s the one who went to visit his concubine and spent the night on June 19. June 19 was the late Empress’s death anniversary, and at that time, you said he should be noted down.”

“Is it him?” Chu Ling was shocked—someone like that actually dared to come directly?

“That’s why I reported it to Uncle Hong. Uncle Hong said he would handle it,” Wan Sanjin said, hands on his hips.

Chu Ling gave a thumbs-up: Well done!

Since the three of them couldn’t go out, they had no choice but to gather in the front hall, waiting for news from outside. But until evening, everything remained quiet.

Early the next morning, Uncle Hong personally sent someone to accompany Su He to see Zhou Xiang, and they returned with a new set of tools.

Just as Su He took out the tools for Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin to examine, news arrived: Perfect Fang had died.

He had committed suicide out of fear of punishment.

After writing a confession, he used his own belt to strangle himself to death.

Ultimately, Perfect Fang had only concealed the truth without reporting it—this was not a capital offense. And with Xu Hu’s impeachment being even more severe, Fang wouldn’t have needed to die…

Yet he was dead.

Perfect Fang’s family packed up their few personal belongings and, with the emperor’s tacit approval, left the capital.

“One man dies… to save the rest of the family?” Chu Ling murmured softly.

Su He quietly turned and left the front hall. Facing the direction of the government office, he bowed deeply. “Farewell.”

Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin also stepped outside and bowed in the same direction.

“Perfect Fang said he wanted to be an official like you, sir… but it’s too late now,” Su He sighed lightly.

Chu Ling felt a tightness in her chest. Turning to look at the tools on the table, she gritted her teeth. “He was forced to die.”

After speaking, Chu Ling turned and went back, resuming her study of the tools.

It wasn’t until the round handle of a carving knife had loosened slightly that Chu Ling unscrewed it. A slip of paper fell out, which she slowly unfolded and laid on the table.

Curious, Chu Ling asked, “What’s written here?”

Su He glanced at it: “This is an autopsy report, abbreviated notes from a coroner’s examination. I can read it… Sanjin, get some paper and ink.”

Wan Sanjin nodded and had someone bring paper and ink, then began grinding the ink on the side.

After carefully reviewing it, Su He copied the contents of the autopsy report onto the fresh sheet of paper.

Chu Ling, watching him write, murmured the words softly as she read: “Blood spots on the skin, abrasions on the arms and calves, ankle injuries, forehead contusion… organ failure, medicine residue in the stomach… is the residue Aconitum?”

Bai Su peered over, arms crossed: “These earlier injuries were probably from a struggle or falling down the steps. They’re all external wounds and shouldn’t be fatal.”

Su He explained quietly as well: “The earlier ones are external, not deadly. But it’s strange that the Aconitum in the stomach is specifically noted—unless the person had asthma, they shouldn’t ingest it.”

Chu Ling immediately asked, “So the lethal part is the Aconitum?”

Su He shook his head: “Not necessarily. The woman’s corpse shows a dislocated waist and severe injuries, but the medicine she took wasn’t for pain relief. So her body must have been weak to begin with, and she took another type of medicine. Also, there are fine fibers under her fingernails—she must have tried to grab someone’s clothes…”

“No, there’s more!”

Su He held the slip of paper up carefully toward the sunlight, revealing faintly some half-written characters in the corner:

“Worm?”

“Sir, look… is it a worm?” Su He asked.

Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin leaned in. After examining it carefully and exchanging a glance, Chu Ling confirmed: “It should be a worm—possibly a gu worm.”

Su He pinched the paper, looking at Chu Ling: “A gu worm? Bai Zhuoxing?”

Wan Sanjin shivered instinctively: “Bai Zhuoxing… the Empress Dowager’s people?”

Chu Ling turned back to the autopsy report: “So the woman’s corpse… it’s the Empress Hexiao?!”

Su He looked uncertain: “That’s the Empress. Who would dare examine her corpse, not afraid the Emperor would go mad and execute the entire family?”

Chu Ling nodded in panic: “Yeah… wouldn’t be afraid?”

Wan Sanjin looked at them both: “Is there any other explanation? After all, this was entrusted by Perfect Fang before his death.”

Chu Ling couldn’t help but start analyzing: “So, five years ago, Perfect Fang did receive a letter from someone suspecting the Empress’s death, and obtained the autopsy report. But because he was under the Si family’s influence, he couldn’t act freely, and was forced to hand over the person. That person was then found by the Si family and killed outright?”

Wan Sanjin nodded: “Sir, that actually makes sense.”

Su He also nodded—it fit logically.

Chu Ling licked her dry lips: “Then why would Perfect Fang, knowing he would die, leave this autopsy report of the Empress Hexiao for us?”

“Perfect Fang wanted us to investigate this case?” Su He hesitated.

Wan Sanjin forced himself to remain calm: “Impossible… that was the former Empress, and so many people died back then. Unless the Emperor suddenly orders an investigation, even with a hundred heads, it wouldn’t be enough to solve it.”

Chu Ling nodded slightly, feeling a strange sensation in her chest—as if everything had unfolded too neatly.

But Ghost Scholar looked at the autopsy report with a solemn expression: “What I’m more curious about is… who ordered the autopsy of the Empress Hexiao back then, and who preserved this report all these years?”