Chapter 906: Death in the Same Grave

"I've really fallen for this guy's trap," Sang Qian thought, stomping her foot in frustration. Her mind immediately raced, trying to figure out how to salvage the situation.

Given her status, Prince Qi probably wouldn't kill her. However, sneaking into the palace at night with ill intent was a serious offense; it could easily escalate to a capital crime or exile. Her father, who had only recently regained his position, would likely lose his official post because of this. After all, in the eyes of others, he was a staunch royalist. Prince Qi might even use this as leverage to compel the Sang family to align with him, which would put them in an extremely vulnerable position.

She was about to discuss their story with Zu'an, instructing him on what to say if they were caught to lessen the charges, when suddenly he pulled her and leaped into a nearby pond. Sang Qian wondered what good that would do. The palace guards were experienced; such a splash would surely alert them.

To her surprise, when they entered the water, there was absolutely no sound! She recalled the details: as they entered, the water seemed to be parted by invisible hands, creating an opening. Once they submerged, the surface closed naturally, leaving not even a ripple when viewed from below.

What surprised her even more was that she had already prepared to hold her breath, even wondering what she would do if she ran out of air and he had to give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Should she refuse or not? After all, such scenes were common in romantic novels.

"Why are you staring at my mouth?" Zu'an's confused voice suddenly cut in.

"Who... who's staring at your mouth?" Sang Qian's face flushed, and she quickly turned away.

However, she immediately froze. She felt no sensation of drowning; the surroundings were empty, filled with fresh air, and they seemed to be inside a transparent bubble.

"What... what's going on?" Sang Qian was startled. The patrolling guards were now close by, and fearing exposure, she leaned in to Zu'an's ear and whispered. Her breath was as fragrant as orchids.

"Is Sister Qian'er trying to tease me by being so close? I'm a married man, you know," Zu'an whispered back, leaning into her ear.

Sang Qian was speechless. Like a startled rabbit, she instantly pushed him away, creating distance between them. Why doesn't this guy just drop dead?

Once the guards had left, Zu'an grabbed Sang Qian, and they surfaced from the water. Feeling not a single drop of water on herself, Sang Qian forgot her anger and quietly asked, "How did you do that?"

"It's a secret," Zu'an replied with a smile. All of this was, of course, due to the water elemental affinity of the Blue Duck, a skill Mi Li had taught him. Mi Li had fallen into a deep sleep towards the end of their time in the secret realm, and he wondered how her recovery was progressing.

Sang Qian pouted. This guy really made her want to bite him hard.

However, her mood quickly shifted to admiration. Zu'an sometimes led her walking slowly, sometimes leaping quickly, and sometimes moving back and forth... Yet, through all these maneuvers, they were never discovered by the palace guards.

Soon, they arrived at a secluded courtyard. White lanterns hung all around, and the ground was strewn with paper money, withered branches, and fallen leaves. In the center, a large character for "mourn" appeared eerie under the dim candlelight.

Zu'an had already instructed his subordinates to scout the area earlier in the day. This was where Prince Qi's concubine's coffin was being kept. According to the customs of this world, a person's soul would linger in the world for some time after death and could not be buried immediately. Only on the seventh day after death, known as the "first seven," would the soul return home for a visit, after which it would enter the cycle of reincarnation. In other words, the burial would only take place at least seven days later. As it turned out, today was exactly the seventh day since Prince Qi's concubine's death.

"Why is no one in the courtyard?" Sang Qian had been cautious, but after looking around and finding no one in the mourning hall, she couldn't help but ask.

"Because today is Prince Qi's concubine's 'first seven'," Zu'an replied. He had used the Jade Cong to control nearby small animals and confirmed that there was indeed no one around, finally allowing him to relax.

Sang Qian immediately understood. Ancient customs held that the spirit of the deceased would return home on the "first seven." Family members were supposed to prepare a meal for the spirit before its return and then withdraw; if the spirit saw family members or other familiar people, it would become attached, which would hinder its reincarnation. She couldn't help but glance at Zu'an. Though he usually seemed carefree, his mind was surprisingly meticulous. No wonder he had chosen this particular day to investigate the concubine's body.

Zu'an approached the mourning hall. In the center lay a massive coffin. After all, she was the Prince's woman, so no expense would be spared on such details. He placed his hand on the coffin's surface, felt it for a moment, then released a burst of vital energy, shaking loose the nails that sealed it. He then pushed the coffin lid aside. "Sister Qian'er, it's your turn now."

As the coffin lid opened, a wave of cold air emanated from it, as if it were a large freezer. Inside lay Prince Qi's concubine, serene and beautiful, appearing remarkably lifelike. He immediately realized that the coffin must have an enchantment array for refrigeration, preserving the body from decay. It truly showed how luxurious the lives of these powerful figures were in every aspect.

Sang Qian gave him a disapproving look, clearly scolding him for his rudeness. She quickly rushed to the coffin, pressed her palms together, and bowed. "Your Highness, please don't be offended. We only wish to uncover the truth of your death and clear your name." After apologizing, she approached the coffin to examine it. At first glance, she couldn't help but sigh, "The concubine was so young and beautiful. What a tragic fate for such a beauty."

Zu'an chuckled, "I actually think she's not as beautiful as Sister Qian'er."

"Hmph, smooth talker," Sang Qian scoffed, though she felt no anger. Instead, a slight smile played on her lips, a clear sign that women appreciated compliments. "Sigh," she thought, "how could my brother, with his usual domineering manner, ever compete with him? No wonder sister-in-law..."

As she lifted the concubine's hand, she began her assessment: "Normally, when someone drowns, they're anxious and struggle frantically before death, clawing with their hands, and you'd find water plants or mud embedded under their fingernails. But she has none of that. Of course, it's possible the palace staff cleaned her during preparation. However, I also checked her mouth and nasal cavities, and there's no red foam, which is one of the primary signs of drowning."

While speaking, she began to unfasten the concubine's gown. Halfway through, she suddenly realized something and glanced back at Zu'an. Understanding her unspoken request, Zu'an immediately turned away. He had no necrophilic tendencies and no desire to see a dead body, even if she looked as beautiful as she did in life.

After a moment, Sang Qian's voice came again: "Although her palms, soles, and body skin are wrinkled and pale, it's not severe. She probably wasn't in the water for very long. Combined with the almost complete absence of mud and sand in her mouth and nostrils, my overall assessment is that she was thrown into the pond after death to create the illusion of drowning."

"As expected," Zu'an nodded. "So, what was her real cause of death?"

Sang Qian replied, "I've examined her entire body. There are no external injuries, nor any signs of poisoning. However, there are signs of bleeding in her eyes, which likely indicates head trauma. It appears someone used a soft, internal force to injure her brain directly. But how could Prince Qi's concubine, in the heavily guarded Prince Qi's residence, be killed in such a way?"

Zu'an sighed, "Actually, there's only one person who could have done this, isn't there?"

Sang Qian was about to speak when Zu'an's expression suddenly changed. "A patrol of guards is coming this way."

"Have we been discovered?" Sang Qian asked in horror.

"I don't think so." Zu'an shook his head. Seeing Sang Qian frantically trying to escape through a nearby window, he quickly grabbed her. "There's no time." With that, he pulled her directly into the coffin. Almost the instant the lid closed, the people outside entered the room.