Chapter 57: Destined to Live as Pawns
Eunuch Song Chu had had an eventful day, to say the least.
While his primary ward, Lu Qing Yu, was away gallivanting around the capital, he had gone on a wild goose chase in pursuit of an answer.
Upon reaching the wash house, and turning it upside down having brandished a very useful verdict from the Emperor (which he had acquired before Lu Qing Yu left), he and the 2 now very sorry guards inspected the appearance of every female employee of the wash house within the height and weight parameters they managed to remember.
By afternoon, the culprit was found, but not at all in the way he intended, although it was to be expected.
The girl was 5 2, tall by this era's standards, and she had just started working in the wash house. She was only 15 years old, and previously, she had been working at a noble house outside the capital. She had mousy, limp dark hair usually styled in a high bun and usually kept to herself. By all means, she was inconspicuous.
And now, she was sprawled lifelessly on the wood flooring of her room.
She had been dead for several hours.
"Poison. Slow acting poison, at that. Usually takes about 24 hours to take effect." the coroner said, shaking his head.
"Are you sure?" Eunuch Song Chu asked.
"No mistake. She ticks all the boxes."
The 1 lead they had was lost.
A poison that took 24 hours to take effect... She was likely just a puppet, and the perpetrator had long resolved to silence her. The dead couldn't speak for themselves, after all.
"Y-Your Grace, what should we do now?" one of the guards asked timidly.
Eunuch Song Chu shot him a severe glare.
The gears and pulleys had started turning in his head a long time ago. Was he, the Emperor's prized eunuch, not even capable of handling such a simple matter?
Deaths happened in the palace all the time. In the war between the upper echelons of society, servants like them were destined to live as pawns and be disposed of once they had proved their worth.
"The girl should have been absent from her duties for a period this morning. Bring me her supervisor, co-workers and closest confidants. I want to know what in direction was she heading, what personal problems she had, her background, and who could have lured her to be their mule." Eunuch Song Chu said coldly.
"At once, Your Grace." Madam Hui, the head of the wash house said respectfully.
"Go do as ordered!' she shouted.
Gilded gates concealed an utopia with fluffy, pink trees and still, clear water with fish jumping around. Laughter as dainty as tinkling bells rung out from within, and heavy scents hung in the air, tempting your mind to wander as to what lay within.
"Oh!"
As the occupants of this mystical place noticed Eunuch Song Chu's presence, they hid cat like gazes behind feathered, vogue fans as they lounged in the gardens. A large, imposing building oversaw the main compound.
Women in powder pink, mauve and canary gowns moved gracefully across the courtyards, accompanied by entourages of maidservants. This was a place of wonder, of your wildest dreams. A place great beauties languished until their old age and tensions ran high.
The imperial harem.
The guards weren't allowed in here, so Eunuch Song Chu had to traverse the next part of this investigation alone.
This next part would be difficult, but Eunuch Song Chu had to pull himself up by his non-existent bootstraps.
The imperial harem communal grounds were huge, its courtyards intended to contain hundreds and thousands of beauties from around the empire.
Currently, however, it housed just 9.
Only no-rank concubines lived here. Those of Noble Concubine rank and above got their own palaces.
The girl from the wash house had been seen visiting the harem, a stark oddity. A servant from the wash house had no business here, unless someone called her...
"My mistress has been inside with a cold for days. It can't be her." a tall, spindly maid in chartreuse said.
"Yesterday? My mistress was playing chess with Concubine Lan. Go ask Concubine Lan if you don't believe it." a stout, and rather fierce maid with a charming silhouette said.
"How mad! My mistress, Concubine Lay is a good friend of Noble Concubine Ling. She would never wish her harm." a maid who had been stopped rushing past with a tray of tea said.
"Your Grace, not to be presumptuous, but perhaps it's not someone from the harem? There are many other parties who may wish Noble Concubine Ling harm." Concubine Mao said.
"I'm already in this state, what more do you want! Could I have done anything lying here?" Concubine Ping shouted. The lines on her face were taut with pain, and she was still bedridden.
"Ladies," Pressing his lips into a thin line, Eunuch Song Chu suddenly looked very strict.
"It is someone from the harem. If the culprit is not found, the Emperor has given his word that the entire harem will be blamed, and the entire harem will be punished for the crime. Are you sure you don't have any information for me?"
"You didn't hear this from me, but Concubine Qing's maid, Oh, has been staying out lately."
"Someone I know saw Oh hanging around the gate of the harem sometimes, looking all suspicious."
"Concubine Rong has some animosity and always said she wanted to do something. Maybe she should be investigated."
"Concubine Ping should definitely be considered. Although she's in such a state now, she's always going on what she would do if she could. The intention is still there and she has many henchmen."
"Although Concubine Yao looks quiet, her family has suffered some humiliation by the Ling Clan's first son, General Ling before. She might have a motive and I heard she has been hoarding jewelry. She might be saving up to do something vengeful."
Everyone had some sort of alibi or excuse. Although things had started moving now, it was extremely messy, giving Eunuch Song Chu a headache. Concubines and maids alike blamed their political rivals with no evidence, mixing in truth with lies, and he had to ascertain who was actually at fault.
"Concubine Qing?" I asked in shock.
Eunuch Song Chu nodded. "She was seen talking to the wash house servant."
"And what did you do with her?" Lu Qing Yu pressed. It was his first time hearing about this as well.
"60 strokes of 杖 (Zhàng). Is Your Highness satisfied?" Eunuch Song Chu asked expectantly.
Lu Qing Yu nodded. "She must be punished to set an example for those who dare to bully Ling Yue. A death threat is no small matter."
"What's 杖 (Zhàng)?" I asked.
"杖 (Zhàng) is beating with a large stick on either the back, buttocks or legs. It's 1 level higher than 笞 (Chī), and 60 strokes is the first and most lenient degree." Eunuch Song Chu said.
I was shocked to hear this. I had seen how severe 笞 (Chī) had been, and Concubine Qing had never struck me as someone to do such a thing.
Although she didn't have good intentions either, I had pegged her more as a follower and not a leader... If it was anyone, it was probably Concubine Ping who instigated it.
"From the statements I had gathered, she was likely framed by someone, but she's not entirely blameless either. We also can't go ahead and dig it out, or the noble houses will be unhappy. For the person behind the scenes, they will most likely make another incident and we can punish them then." Eunuch Song Chu said.
Eunuch Song Chu was surprisingly sharp. He was able to gather that much even though he hadn't first hand experienced their harassment. Leaving the investigation in his hands was a good decision.
Now that the matter was concluded, we were able to retire to our quarters. I was particularly looking forward to this. It had been a long day, and I really would just like some rest.
"Lu Qing Yu, you can't stay the night?" I asked as he saw me off.
He flushed. "Ling Yue, can you be more subtle?"
I pouted. "But it has been a long time since you last stayed over. What's the point of being married if we barely see each other?"
These ancient people's customs of husbands and wives living in separate courtyards and living separately was phooey. Did they have so much space and so much money for everyone to live separately? Also, didn't that sound very cold and loveless?
I much preferred my previous world where lovers lived together, even if they had to squeeze in cramped studio apartments.
Lu Qing Yu wasn't from my world and couldn't see where I was coming from, but went along with it anyway.
"I can stay over in 2 days. The first few days of the New Year is always busy, so it's more convenient to stay apart for now. I need to go now. Remember that you have the temple visit the day after tomorrow!"
I nodded. "Alright."
Having something concrete to look forward to, I was pacified.
"Come here." he said, beckoning with his hands.
Puzzled, I inched a bit closer to him.
Muah! A kiss was planted on my forehead.
"I'll miss you. I'll see you in 2 days, alright?" he asked.
I lowered my eyes to the ground. He asked in such a warm way, could I say no?
"Alright."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
wen_lin
wen_lin 杖 (Zhàng) is the 2nd of the 4 Imperial Punishments and is very severe. It can nearly cripple someone or at least leave them with permanent scars.