Detective Ghost Empress

” We did not know anything,” the eunuch who was the one leading the others said agitatedly as he wrung his hands and his shrill voice continued to grow more and more shrill as he looked at the ground under his lowered head. ” We were simply doing what we were asked to do and nothing more.”

“That’s right,” the other eunuchs who were worried that they will be dragged into trouble also spoke up one after another. ” We only did what the leader of the kitchen ordered us and nothing more, if we knew that this place was barred from entering we wouldn’t have done so!”

What a joke, this courtyard was covered in gloom and dread ever since consort Liu died, even those who had a lot of guts would not cross this place at the night. There were many rumours about this place being haunted because of the incident that took place which was why neither of them was willing to come here either, they only came here because they lost the bet against the others in the kitchen or else they would have stayed where they were supposed to be!

Zhai Heng did not say anything and just looked at the three eunuchs who were so nervous that they were sweating it was as if they were waiting for their execution order to fall on them.

But what they did not know was that Zhai Heng was simply looking at the big barrels that were full of water and then turned to look at Liu Hui Ying who nodded. Upon receiving a nod from Liu Hui Ying, he pursed his lips and then turned to the three eunuchs and asked, ” From where do you bring these barrels?”

“The...They are filled by the staff of the kitchen,” the eunuch who was the leader was stunned when he heard Zhai Heng ask this question, everyone knew about these barrels being brought from the kitchen right? So why was Lord Zhai asking about this? But he did not dare to say anything to Zhai Heng and could only answer honestly which was why he lowered his head and then honestly answered, ” The barrels are too heavy for us to lift which is why they are left on the cart while the staff who works in the kitchen would fill the barrels by climbing on a small ladder. Is there something wrong, my lord?”

“It’s nothing,” Zhai Heng replied as he looked at the water barrels even though he did not have Liu Hui Ying skills he could decipher that the culprit used these water barrels to kill Liu Fei Fei slowly. ” You all can leave now.”

The eunuchs who were allowed to leave felt like they received amnesty, they all immediately turned around and left while hopping on one leg, it was as if they were worried that using another leg would be too time taking and they will be once stopped which was why they all rushed away from the courtyard as fast as they could while Liu Hui Ying and Zhai Heng stayed back and studied the barrels.

.....

They did not even pay attention to the eunuchs who were running like they were getting riches at the price of alms.

Liu Hui Ying walked over to the cart on which the barrels were and then casually rolled the hem of her pants up causing her jade-like calves to be on display. Zhai Heng who has never seen a woman’s hands much less her calves was stumped as he turned his head away from Liu Hui Ying and then coughed in embarrassment, ” Your majesty watch what you are doing please.”

If others were to find out that he caught a glimpse of Liu Hui Ying’s calves then what will they think about him? They will certainly think that he was doing something unspeakable with the queen.

” What are you talking about?” Liu Hui Ying did not understand what Zhai Heng was trying to say by these words, she simply kicked her foot on the ground and then hopped onto the cart.

” It does look like it’s big enough for a human to fit inside it,” she commented as she examined the large water barrels that were filled with water. Though their size was not big enough for a human to fit into it while they were standing, if they were forced to crouch down then they can easily be fit inside the barrels.

” If these barrels were the ones that were being used for imprisoning consort Liu, how come no one realized it?” Even though the barrels were big as long as someone was to step on the cart they will be able to see what was inside the barrel right?

” That’s because no one climbed on the cart, you heard the eunuchs they all use a ladder and pour water bit by bit inside the barrels and do not care what goes inside the barrels and given that they have to deliver water to the entire harem, I don’t think they will have the time to care about the barrels and what is inside them,” Liu Hui Ying took hold of the lid of the water barrel and then opened the barrel up, she looked inside the water barrel and sure enough she noticed no signs of barrels being cleaned up.

Good thing she was used to drinking boiled water or who knows what kind of disease she might have contracted.

” When I examined Liu Fei Fei’s body I noticed that she slowly drowned from foot to head, and if she was tied up and kept in this barrel then surely that theory is going to fit, right?” She raised her head from the inside of the barrel and then turned to look at Zhai Heng and said, ” Where is the kitchen now?”

But because she was in too much hurry of hopping down the cart, she did not notice that her foot caught the hem of the long pants, causing her to stumble and fall.

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