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“It was the General himself who ordered for a secret investigation.”

“Then who did my father instruct for the investigation?”

“I… I’m not sure.” Rui’er shook her head, “I’ve always been in touch with the General. Are there other members of the Jiang family in the Splendid Palace?”

“I’m not sure either.”

Jiang Ning realized that the matter of the Jiang family was quite complicated.

Even though she was the daughter from the second branch of the Jiang family and was pampered by her parents, Jiang Ruobai and Lin Zizi, there were still many things about the Jiang family that she did not understand.

Both Gucheng and Rui’er, who were close to her, were in the employ of her uncle, Jiang Mubai.

There were definitely informers in the palace serving Jiang Ruobai, but she had no idea who they were.

Jiang Ruobai didn’t seem to intend to reveal any of this to her either.

On second thoughts, it wouldn’t be easy to attain a position like Jiang Ruobai’s.

“Rui’er, it’s great that I bumped into you here. I’m also interested in investigating Denghua’s case. But it’s already late, let’s skip the place you were thinking of bringing me to. You can take me to the place where she lived before she died.”

“Yes. Please follow me this way, Miss.”

Rui’er was efficient, and immediately led Jiang Ning toward Denghua’s dwelling.

Gucheng silently followed behind them.

After a while, Rui’er stopped in front of a row of houses. Pointing to one of them, she said, “Miss, this is the house where Denghua lived. She was a first-class maidservant in Splendid Palace, and lived alone in this house.”

Jiang Ning nodded and pushed the door open.

The door opened lightly.

The inside of the room was pitch black, and a faint smell of musty dust could be smelled.

Rui’er drew out a fire starter from somewhere and lit a lantern.

Jiang Ning asked, “Won’t this attract attention?”

“Not at this hour,” Rui’er explained. “Actually, ever since Concubine Jin passed away, morale has been low… there would hardly be anyone keeping a close eye on anything… sigh.”

She sighed.

Although she had always considered herself part of the Jiang family, she had been living here for years. She couldn’t claim she had no sentiments attached to this place.

Jiang Ning took the lantern and looked around the room.

The room was fairly spacious with exquisite furniture of high quality. It was clear that Denghua lived a comfortable life.

This also suggested that Concubine Jin treated her retinue well.

Rui’er said, “I’ve thoroughly searched the bed, chest, everything. I didn’t find anything unusual.”

While examining the room, Jiang Ning asked, “Did you ever notice her getting close with anyone?”

Rui’er shook her head: “She was trusted by Concubine Jin and would often go out to run errands on her behalf. She didn’t share her tasks with us, much less bring us along. When in the Splendid Palace, she mainly concentrated on serving Concubine Jin and never did anything inappropriate.”

Jiang Ning walked over to the table and flipped through several books on it.

They appeared to be collections of poetry and travelogues.

“It looks like she was literate.”

“Yes, she could read and write, and keep account books. Concubine Jin highly esteemed her.” Rui’er explained.

Jiang Ning flipped through the pages casually without finding anything abnormal. She was about to set the book down and move away when she felt something was off. Consequently, she shook the book in her hand again.

“Miss, is anything the matter?” Rui’er asked.

“This book seems a bit heavy,” Jiang Ning weighed it in her hand.

The book she held was a poetry collection. She remembered seeing a similar one at Li Hongyuan’s study; quite thin, with just twenty to thirty pages, light as a feather.

However, the one she held now was heavy and bulky.