The one who had died was that empress whose influence endured to this day. There had been far too many people and events in the Divine Capital in that era; this affair likely carried a weighty past... As he thought this, he really did come across something that startled him.
Some papers, long yellowed and withered, seemingly forgotten.
The handwriting was truly rather ugly, but the records were painstaking. Only, the terms were utterly unfamiliar to Pei Ye.
"Inquire into the likes and dislikes of the master of Lovesickness Palace.
Concluded: likes catamites, excessive drinking, and taking powder; dislikes all else.
Observe how many times the chief attendant on duty has entered the various palace halls recently.
Lovesickness Palace, three; Yanji Palace, six; Guangtian Palace, five or six...
Note the faces of the guards at the gates regularly passed through.
Note the ratio of meat to vegetables in the Imperial Kitchen.
..."
Over a dozen pages were filled with records like these, written stroke by careful stroke, covering every aspect of the palace, many from angles Pei Ye had never considered. Not only was the poor writing environment apparent, but the ink was certainly inferior too: even the fine strokes broke off intermittently.
Frowning, Pei Ye set these aside for the moment, only to turn and find a letter tucked between the pages that he had never expected.
He unfolded it, read a couple of lines, and realized... this was actually in Wei Qingju's own hand.
Chapter 601: A thirty-year-old letter
Whether forgotten or treasured, or both, this sheet of stationery from so many years ago was only faintly yellowed, unlike the other soft, mildewed papers. Tiny flower fragments were embedded in it, and even after so many years, he could still see how lovely it was.
The body