Inside the side hall, almost everyone looked ashen. The sole exception was Commandery Assistant Xie: rather than ashen, he looked somewhat lost and distraught.
But at this moment, no one seemed able to reproach him.
"Brother Hu, please help examine the body."
Bai Yousi approached with an ashen face. First, she gave Deputy Warden Zhou Xiaoming, who stood rooted to the spot, a slight cupped-hand salute. Without waiting for a response, she immediately gave orders to two of her trusted subordinates. "Zhang Xing, come with me."
Zhang Xing immediately turned back and followed Bai Yousi out of the side hall.
Outside stood several members of the Brocade-clad Patrol Cavalry craning their necks. Farther out was a group of Jinwu Guards and several ranked eunuchs, who had been talking among themselves but abruptly fell silent as people emerged... Clearly, the side hall was spacious and guarded layer upon layer; those on the outermost perimeter had no idea what had happened inside.
Under the warm winter morning sunlight, Bai Yousi kept her head lowered as she passed them. Only when she reached an unoccupied stretch of the side hall's enclosing wall did she stop and turn around. She hesitated for a moment, but after a short while, she lowered her head beneath her small coronet and spoke softly:
"Zhang Xing, was I too arrogant? Did I end up making a mess of things?"
"No."
Zhang Xing answered without hesitation, utterly serious. Nor was he deliberately flattering her as he had the night before; these were his sincere thoughts. "Carrying poison in his mouth-he clearly came prepared, with a deliberate scheme. Even an immortal couldn't have dodged that... Besides, the worse things get now, the more urgently we need to respond, rather than dwell on our earlier mistakes and carelessness!"
"Then what should