Chapter 50: A Disappointing End

Li Xian had yet to say anything when another bearded middle-aged man muttered angrily, “That wretched son, where on earth has he taken the young prince?” He clenched his fists nervously as he spoke.

“My lord, shouldn’t you hurry and find your son? If anything happens to His Highness, even ten of your households wouldn’t be enough to punish!” The middle-aged general turned to berate the bearded man beside him.

“Yes, yes, I shall go at once…” Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, the official hastily excused himself. As he left, he stumbled over the tangled branches and broken sticks underfoot.

“Reporting to Your Highness, the bodies of the villagers from Divine Mountain have already been sent back!” A young officer approached Li Xian to report. “However…” He hesitated.

“However what? Speak clearly!” The middle-aged general by Li Xian’s side grew impatient.

“Not far from the bodies, we found a ruined temple. Inside were two charred corpses—one appeared to be a woman, holding what looked like a small child in her arms, judging by the size and shape… it seems…” He glanced at the expressionless Li Xian before continuing cautiously, “it seems the child bears some resemblance to the young prince!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than a hot-tempered young general kicked him, “You fool, if you can’t speak properly, keep quiet! His Highness is blessed; nothing will happen to him!”

“Yes, yes, blessed and favored!” The young officer, realizing his mistake, immediately knelt and hastily changed his words.

“Get out!” The hot-tempered general bellowed, delivering another kick.

The young officer scrambled away, grateful for his dismissal.

“That fool! He really doesn’t know how to talk!” The general grumbled, even after the officer had fled.

“Let’s go and take a look!” Throughout, Li Xian’s face remained impassive, as though the deaths concerned no one important—certainly not him.

“We’ll go too!” Zhang Huai snapped his folding fan shut and called out to Jade Ice, who had just joined the crowd; Happy and the others followed behind her. Together, they accompanied the prince’s procession up the mountain.

Dawn broke.

Divine Mountain—near the spot Jade Ice and her companions had only just left.

Where bodies had once been strewn, now only the imprints of corpses in various postures remained. A few steps ahead lay the scene of the crime.

Indeed, the young officer hadn’t lied. There was a ruined temple, its gates half-rotted and hanging from the frame, creaking with every gust of wind.

Previously, everyone’s attention had been drawn to the corpses, and no one had noticed the existence of this ruined temple.

Just a few steps away, they saw a group of people neatly lined up at the temple entrance, all smiling as they awaited the prince’s arrival.

The crowd of onlookers was even larger: some perched in trees, others squatted on broken walls, blocked the road, or squeezed into doorways and windows—people everywhere, packed like sardines.

Jade Ice frowned slightly at the scene. In such chaos, any useful clues were likely destroyed.

Noticing her frown, Zhang Huai quietly instructed a nearby general.

The general promptly summoned the local magistrate, whispered a few words to him, and the magistrate nodded and departed.

Soon, a group of officials in courthouse attire arrived and drove away the gawking crowd.

At last, peace returned. The prince’s carriage arrived.

“Long live His Highness!”…

As expected, the scene unfolded as anticipated:

Everyone knelt en masse, shouting, “Long live His Highness!”…

Li Xian dismounted, looked around calmly, and said, “Rise, all of you.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!” The crowd rose, some faster than others.

“I am Zeng Yi, Governor of Bingzhou, and I pay my respects to Your Highness!” The elderly official at the front of the group by the temple gate approached Li Xian respectfully.

“Zeng Yi?” Li Xian clearly didn’t recognize him and turned to look.

“At your service!” Sensing Li Xian’s gaze, Zeng Yi grew even more cautious.

“How is the scene?” Li Xian asked offhandedly.

“Reporting to Your Highness, upon learning of your arrival, I forbade anyone from entering the site. We now await your instructions!” Zeng Yi answered carefully, never daring to raise his head.

“Where is Miss Jade?” Li Xian looked around but didn’t see Jade Ice and asked.

“The usual spot!” Zhang Huai replied from Li Xian’s side.

“What usual spot?”

“By the bodies, examining them!” Zhang Huai shook his folding fan. Jade Ice had many fine qualities, but this habit was difficult for most to accept.

‘Good thing I’m not most people!’ Zhang Huai thought with smug satisfaction.

“Come, let’s take a look as well!” Hearing she was examining the bodies, Li Xian wanted to witness the process himself.

Late Autumn frowned; wasn’t the dead supposed to be his illegitimate child? Why was he so indifferent—not a hint of sorrow?

“Very well!” Zhang Huai gave a low hum and followed Li Xian into the temple.

“No unauthorized persons allowed near!” Jade Ice didn’t look up but immediately warned off those approaching when she heard footsteps.

“Did you hear? Sister Ice said not to disturb!” Happy carefully held a spotless white cloth over the corpse table, standing beside Jade Ice and occasionally receiving items removed from the bodies.

Compared to their polite warnings, Chang Xiao at the entrance was more direct—“Clang!” The sound of a blade being drawn echoed as she pointed her sword at the prince.

“Clang…” Instantly, weapons were drawn all around.

The next moment, Chang Xiao was surrounded by armed soldiers.

Faced with the tense standoff, the prince addressed Chang Xiao, “May I enter now?”

Chang Xiao’s face was cold and silent; she moved the sword from in front of him to his neck.

“Bold!” Li Xian glanced at the blade at his throat and waved his hand, “Put them away!”

Seeing the others sheathe their weapons, Chang Xiao withdrew her sword from his neck.

“You’re impressive. Would you like to be my sword attendant?” Li Xian looked at Chang Xiao with admiration; her loyalty was rare.

“If I followed you, I wouldn’t be myself.” Chang Xiao replied calmly, sheathing her sword and standing at the doorway, unmoving.

“Quite right!” Li Xian considered her words and agreed—what he admired most was her loyalty. If she pledged herself now, he’d suspect ulterior motives.

“Please!” Chang Xiao gestured outward, unceremoniously dismissing him.

“Such character!” Li Xian wasn’t annoyed; instead, he smiled and followed her gesture out the door.

“Finished!” As soon as the prince left, Jade Ice stretched lazily.

“Sister Ice, what about these?” Happy carefully held the cloth from the corpse table, feeling its corners flutter, as light as air, afraid her breath might blow it away, so she spoke softly.

“Throw it away!” Jade Ice waved dismissively.

“Throw it? Throw it!” Happy looked at the cloth she’d guarded so well, and imagined a flock of crows flying across her forehead.

“Why are you dawdling?” Jade Ice, seeing Happy still in a daze at the door, urged her, “Hurry and throw it!”

“Is the examination really done?” Happy was bewildered. She’d only seen Jade Ice picking at the charred bodies, not even closely inspecting them. Was it already finished? Too fast!

“What else?” Jade Ice rose and wiped her hands with rice wine.

“How did they die?” Chang Xiao lit incense before the Buddha statue and handed it to Jade Ice, asking as if it were the most ordinary thing.

“Obviously, burned to death!” Happy couldn’t help interjecting. “Looking at the charred bodies, it’s obvious.”

“Happy is right!” Jade Ice paused before the bodies, took the incense from Chang Xiao, bowed three times respectfully to the corpses, placed the incense, and beckoned the others to leave.

“Well?” Li Xian looked meaningfully at Chang Xiao, while Zhang Huai couldn’t help but ask Jade Ice.

“A mother and child, burned to death.” Jade Ice spoke calmly to Happy, “Give the report to him.”

“Yes!” Happy handed the corpse report she’d held to Zhang Huai:

Corpse: woman, in the prime of life; height, five feet one inch; head north, feet south, body facing, entire body charred as coal. Opening the mouth, between the teeth: ashes like mud. Thus, death by intense fire.

Additionally, at the woman’s waist, a small bone was found. Examining its shape, it appears to be from a child estimated to be six months old. Needs further investigation.

“That’s all?” Zhang Huai read the report—there was no mention of the young prince. He couldn’t help but ask, “So, was there any sign of him?”

“What’s written is what I saw.” Jade Ice glanced at the silent prince. “Whether it’s the young prince is up to your investigation.”

“He is!” Li Xian didn’t even look at the bodies in the temple, but declared the conclusion abruptly.

“That may not be appropriate!” Zhang Huai closed his fan and gently reminded Li Xian.

“What’s inappropriate?” Li Xian shot Zhang Huai a look. “I think it’s perfectly appropriate! Case closed!” Final word.

“But—” Jade Ice quickly stopped Happy from stepping forward and shook her head.

“Remember, that’s not the focus! We must clarify our main point first!” Li Xian patted Zhang Huai’s shoulder, and then climbed back into the carriage.

“Forward!” A young eunuch in the procession called out in a shrill voice. Everyone quickly followed, leaving the scene.

“Farewell, Your Highness!”…

“Long live His Highness!”…

“Such an anticlimactic ending!” Late Autumn pouted as he watched the procession disappear down the mountain.

“What do you know?” Ming Xia knocked his younger brother lightly on the forehead.

“Brother!” Late Autumn rubbed his head, looking aggrieved at Ming Xia, but dared not complain.

“Huh?” Happy teased Late Autumn as if discovering something new. “I just noticed—why do you never fight back when your brother hits you?”