Min Qian Ju’s Pearls
Yi Bo~
Yi Bo’s first case as a 19-year-old Safety Compliance agent involved a three-year-old boy. The boy was swept away and drowned in a flash flood. Yi Bo was struck by how small and light the drenched boy was, and how his baby hair clung to Yi Bo’s forearm when he lifted him from the canal. Telling the boy’s parents about his death was heartbreaking, and Yi Bo felt the urge to crumble beside them when they collapsed in inconsolable grief.
He thought the other seasoned agents would laugh at him for leaving to vomit while writing the reports. He needed to do this so the boy’s parents could collect his body the next morning. But his fellow officers patted him on the back. They understood how emotionally challenging the case was, especially because it involved a child’s death.
His commander at the time suggested Yi Bo take a few days off, go home, drink wine and, on the third day, leave a meal out for the boy’s spirit. He confessed to being visited by souls, especially whose who’s body’s had been undiscovered for long periods of time. His commander told him it felt as if the spirits were coming to thank him for finding their bodies so they could finally move on into the afterlife whole.
He went home and did as his commander told him. He drank wine and tried to sleep, but every time he closed his eyes; he was haunted by the child’s face, as if the little one was silently pleading for help from beyond and there was something he couldn’t put into words. It was a feeling, a nagging feeling that told him to look further.
In the dead of night, Yi Bo returned to bureau to check the boy’s body again. Since his death was an accident with many eye-witnesses, there wasn’t a reason to do an autopsy. Despite this, a persistent intuition prompted him to undress the child, and Yi Bo was confronted with the harsh reality of the boy’s life.
The boy’s emaciated body lay before him. Each rib protruded sharply, resembling jagged edges of a broken puzzle. The bruises, a tapestry of pain, covered the boy’s skin in various shades of purples and blues. Three of his fingers were broken.
As Yi Bo observed the bruises, an unshakable sense of sorrow and fury had washed over him. He wondered what kind of animal could do this to a child who wasn’t even old enough to speak fluently? The marks told a story of ongoing torment, a pattern of abuse etched into the boy’s fragile existence.
This wasn’t a mere accident; it was child abuse, potentially resulting in death.
When the parents came to collect the boy’s body, they were met with suspicion and brought in for questioning. Yi Bo felt infuriated he had fallen for their act the day before. He interrogated them personally relentlessly until they confessed to beating, starving, and accidentally killing the child during one of those beatings he received regularly. The parents had purposely thrown his body into the canal to hide their crime. It was revealed by the wife that the boy was not of her womb. He had been born from one of the father’s many affairs, adding another motive for the abuse.
Yi Bo felt they deserved the death sentence for their crimes. There were whispers of officers wanting to assassinate them. He might have feigned ignorance if that had happened, but his emperor uncle’s laws were set with reason, balance. By Huaxia laws, the parents were brought to justice and sentenced to the most severe labor camps until their natural deaths.
After that night, he never ignored his intuition. He trusted his instincts, and it was this very instinct about Min Qian Ju that was haunting him, keeping him awake at nights.
She and her unborn child were killed during a home invasion. The thief, who was a petty criminal known for his terrible drinking habits, scamming the prostitutes for services without payment and minor offences like stealing from the marketplace, was found on the property, but he had killed himself before he was caught. Her funeral was as grand as a royal family member because she had once been Jinghua’s wife. Min Qian Ju died tragically, but for Yi Bo, some details surrounding her death raised questions.
She was found naked in her bedchamber in the late morning, and sadly, there were signs of sexual assault. Qian Yuan was out of town for most of the week. Otherwise, his wife would have been sleeping in his bedchamber. The assistant mentioned that Min Qian Ju wasn’t a late sleeper, especially considering her pregnancy and frequent need to urinate. When she slept longer than usual, her servant went to wake her but found her dead. The state of rigor mortis showed a time of death between late evening and early morning.
When Yi Bo arrived, he nearly slipped on one of the many pearls all over the floor. Her bedchamber was a mess—furniture overturned, belongings scattered. But the servants swore they heard nothing. Valuable items were missing—a precious dragon ink given to her by Jingyuan for her help during the last school opening—and all priceless art pieces left by her late duke father were gone. Yet most of her jewelry was untouched, and there was money in her vanity.
It was strange. How would this petty thief know that ink and paintings were more valuable than gold and money? The thief was dead, but where were these missing items from her room?
Even the method of her murder was unusual. She was strangled with the previous emperor’s wedding gift when she married Jinghua, her own pearls. The attack was brutal, overly vicious. The impressions on her neck from the beads were deep purple, and there were petechial hemorrhages in both eyes consistent with strangulation. Additionally, Min Qian Ju had lateral bruising on her upper torso, suggesting someone knelt on her chest while choking her. The killer was bold. He had stared into her eyes while taking her and her child’s life, yet there were no defensive wounds on her. She hadn’t fought her killer at all. The intimacy of this murder suggests it was committed by someone close to the victim.
She knew who killed her, or the killer knew her.
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Noble Consort Shao Wan~
“Aya, meimei, what a terrible state you live in,” remarked Noble Consort Shao with disdain, her jade flower pot shoes clicking and clacking with every step.
The opulence of her flashy attire was matched only by her haughty demeanor. With her golden nail guards pointed up, she held her water silk handkerchief delicately to her nose, as if the very air in this humble residence was beneath her. She clung to her servant’s arm for support, her extravagant presence a stark contrast to the modest surroundings.
Concubine Wan instantly lowered and bowed as soon as Noble Consort Shao strolled into her two-room extension on Consort Shu’s palace. “Concubine Wan greets Noble Consort Shao.” Concubine Wan displayed the proper manners, remaining knelt until Shao Wan took her seat at the small dining table, waving her handkerchief as if to freshen the air.
“Aya, aya, aya! How can anyone live in such a place that’s not even worthy for my cat? Meimei, you have suffered unfairly.” Shao Wan sighed sympathetically, but fakery.
Shao Wan raised her chin and wrinkled her nose as her judgment-filled gaze scanned the sparsely decorated room that, compared to her luxurious surroundings, looked like a storage shed. The room was dimly lit, with faded wallpaper close to peeling off the walls and a worn-out carpet covering the cold, hard floor. The only bits of furniture in the room were a small wooden table that sat a porcelain tea set, two chairs, an ottoman, and the basic bed in the other room with common bedding.
“My word, the Department of Internal Affairs is all a bunch of bastards. Those eunuchs need to get beaten for their treatment of you. I can see they are not taking care of you, even though you are the newest of the emperor’s women. Meimei, rise. Your poor body is still weak from your miscarriage. Come have a seat across from me.” Shao Wan gestured to the empty seat, then pointed her red nail towards the tied square bundles in her servant’s hand.
She smiled broadly so her teeth showed and tapped the back of concubine Wan’s hand in steady, affectionate pats. “Look here, ” she said. I’ve brought you some revitalizing medicine, bird’s nest, osmanthus cakes, and tea. After a miscarriage, it’s crucial you take care of yourself.”
“This servant is not worthy to be favored by Noble Consort Wan,” Concubine Wan replied in her timid voice. She took a seat and sat up tensely, stiffly postured across from Shao Wan. She looked down at the table before gradually raising her eyes, which trembled in front of Shao Wan.
Shao Wan smiled disarmingly while intently studying the girl who broke the empress’s spell on the emperor with interest, wondering how she had caught Jingyuan’s eye. She was dull, plain…and lackluster. There was nothing about her body or her manners that intrigued. She lacked the cleverness and boldness that typically attracted the emperor, making Shao Wan question if she possessed a mysterious allure unseen by her..or could it be that her virginal pussy was covered by a thousand little tongues that sucked and fucked him at the same time?
Now, Empress Bai. Shao Wan understood the empress’s appeal. As much as she hated to admit it, the empress was uniquely dazzling, almost too beautiful. She was the kind of woman who provoked admiration, desire, and romance in men and women alike, leaving them mesmerized by her presence. Her captivating beauty transcended societal norms, as she effortlessly commanded attention and admiration. Despite her white hair, which should have aged her, it only enhanced her ethereal and immortal-like aura.
It was maddening how the empress effortlessly projected grace, charm, and sexual allure while maintaining an innocent, untouched image that enthralled everyone. The empress was an enigma. However, the perplexing part was why Jingyuan, who had been solely entangled with the empress for months, would choose to be with a fifteen-year-old girl like concubine Wan, who lacked the physical attributes and allure that the empress possessed.
She knew she was glaring too intently because concubine Wan was fidgeting in her seat nervously in a way Shao Wan considered crude, but she pursed her red rouged lips and beamed sympathetically to convey fake cordiality.
“Ping’er,” Shao Wan instructed her servant, “take concubine Wan’s servants to the kitchen and teach them how to brew tea properly. You must show them. I won’t drink dreadful tea just because of my dreadful surroundings, and while you’re doing that, I’d like to spend some time with poor meimei, who’s been stuck in the poor excuse of a home for some girl talk to pass time.”
Shao Wan gracefully crossed her arms like the sophisticated and influential imperial consort she was, waited until they were alone, and turned all her attention on concubine Wan, murmuring. “Poor meimei should have left when you had the chance. The empress is generous. She had a mind-blowing dowry ready for you, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a better life. But I do understand your desire for the emperor. How can I not? He’s my first and only love since I was five years old, so how can I not hurt for you? Truly, my heart bleeds for you. It’s just unfortunate that poor meimei will never have the chance to see her love again.”
Concubine Wan gasped as if slapped and brought her clenched, shaking hand to her chest under her chin. The young concubine’s eyes flew open, filling with unshed tears as she struggled to comprehend the situation. Her thin lips pulled back and shook, and her face grew paler with fear and confusion. Desperately seeking answers, she whispered through her trembling voice, “Why? What have I done wrong? Is it because I lost the imperial fetus? Does he blame me for this misfortune? The imperial physician said I can resume serving the emperor in eight weeks.”
She raised three fingers in the air and swore in tears. “It wasn’t my fault. Someone poisoned me as they did the empress!”
“Aya, don’t get worked up. Things like this happen in life.” Shao Wan reached out to comfort the distressed girl. Handing her the delicate handkerchief, she softened her gaze and spoke tenderly, “Meimei, please understand that the empress had been serving the emperor nightly for five months straight before you entered his bed that night. Unfortunately, the day after our precious pregnant empress fell seriously ill. It is not you who is to blame. You are innocent. A victim of circumstance and the unfortunate timing of events. You can understand that in the eyes of the emperor and those around him, you are perceived as bad luck. He may now consider coupling with you to be inauspicious. That is why your poor prince had to be sacrificed, and why the emperor ordered an abortive tonic for you.”
The young concubine exclaimed, “Impossible! That’s not true.” Her shrill voice shook as she was overwhelmed with raw emotions. “The emperor said he loved me. He made love to me many times and held me all night. I felt his passion and heard his words of affection for me. The emperor wasn’t lying.”
Shao Wan hissed, losing her composure, “Was that what you did? Make love? Ha! Meimei is too young to recognize you got fucked and now he’s forgotten about you, like the others.”
The young concubine wept uncontrollably. Her youthful features, once hopeful, now crumbled like a fragile sheet of paper under the weight of Shao Wan’s crushing words. Tears cascaded down her porcelain cheeks.
Shao Wan waved her hand dismissively. She stood tall and looked down her nose at the sobbing concubine. She could feel her blood pressure rise, threatening to give her an instant migraine. In her heart, she knew that the emperor had never uttered such sweet words to her in the throes of passion, despite countless pleas and questions. Jealousy and anger swirled within her, clouding her judgment.
Suppressing her own resentments, it took all her will. Shao Wan forced herself to sweeten her voice, although deep down, she desired nothing more than to beat concubine Wan for daring to covet her love, the emperor. “Oh dear,” she said, feigning concern. “I’ve made you upset. That’s not why I came today, meimei. Perhaps today isn’t the best day to visit you. I’ll see myself out. Feel better, meimei.”
With those words, Shao Wan turned to leave, sauntering away, but she was clenching her teeth. She bent down and picked up a pebble to throw at the birds squawking in their many cages. As she and her servant crossed Consort Shu’s courtyard, her servant Ping’er asked, “Noble Consort Shao shouldn’t let that insignificant thing bother you. She is nothing. Concubine Wan holds no power. Why bother with her at all? She’s a mouse.”
Shao Wan unclenched her teeth and replied, “Mice bite. Even though she may seem insignificant, she caught the emperor’s attention at such a young age. Just imagine the potential harm she can cause me when she reaches her full bloom. Instead of underestimating her, it is wiser to address the situation early on, nip things in the bud.”
“That little mouse might be a useful tool to create more distance between the empress and the emperor. It is worth noting that he has not shared the empress’s bed since the night with concubine Wan. I sense trouble in paradise.”
Ping’er nodded eagerly but added with reluctance, “The emperor might be quite smitten with Concubine Wan secretly, but using pretense to appease the empress because she’s ill. Ping’er is concerned about what might happen if the empress dies while concubine Wan is still in favor.”
Noble Consort Shao Wan furrowed her brow as she abruptly halted in her tracks, her gaze piercing as she cast a quick glance back over her slender shoulder towards the concubine’s residence. “On second thought,” she mused, her voice seeped in malicious amusement, “summon Xiao Xiang to deliver a fitting gift for our youngest harem member. A pure white scarf of considerable length, reaching the ceiling and her neck, would be ideal. She is a root that must be eradicated, for who knows what kind of flower she might bloom into given the right soil,” she continued with calmness, as if she were discussing her lunch menu. “Given concubine Wan’s current melancholic state, suicide is a fitting and most natural conclusion to her sorrowful chapter. Poor thing.”
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Yueli~
Suddenly, a nervous voice breaks the silence of the room, piercing the air. “Empress!” eunuch Xiao Wei’s voice trembled, his words accompanied by the sound of his rapid, panting breaths. “Noble Consort Shao has made a move!”
His words send a jolt of adrenaline coursing through my veins, my heart pounding like a drum. I can feel the sweat forming on my palms as I grip the arms of my chair. “She tried to have concubine Wan killed,” My junior eunuch continues, “I followed her eunuch as you ordered and watched. He was going to hang her and make it look like an accident.”
I sit up higher in my chair, feeling energized. Little Min’s voice fills the room as she dismisses the others. The doors close softly. She kneels at my feet, waiting for my directions.
I speak too fast, my tongue seems to trip on itself. My voice is urgent as I instruct her, the words tumbling out. “It’s time, Little Min. You know what to do. Fetch the dried poppy stamens. Has Noble Consort Wan sent anything recently?”
Little Min, with a shaky and anxious voice, reports, “The servant of the Noble Consort brought bird’s nest soup this afternoon.”
I can feel a chill run down my spine, a shiver of fear mixed with determination. Last time, I nearly lost both princes, and the memory lingers like a ghost. The room suddenly feels suffocating, the weight of my decision heavy in the air. “Let’s wait and think of another way than poisoning yourself,” she pleads in earnest.
I pause for a moment, contemplating the risks involved. However, an opportunity to rid oneself of Shao Wan and seek justice for Prince Haomu hasn’t yet arisen. “Last time I was weak. I’m stronger now, and I won’t take as much. I’ll be careful, but this is our chance to rid ourselves of Shao Wan and seek justice for Prince Haomu. Now, do as I say and scrape some of the poison off one stamen and put it in my bird’s nest soup.”