Amanda Roberts [Roberts - The Qing Dynasty Mysteries - Books 1-3

Red Empress Publishing

www.RedEmpressPublishing.com

Copyright Amanda Roberts

www.TwoAmericansinChina.com

Cover by Cherith Vaughan

www.shreddedpotato.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recoding, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the author.

1

T he empress, high up on her dais, wept uncontrollably. The baubles dangling from her elaborate hairdo quivered as she hid her face in her trembling hands.

The dead girl, one of the empresss ladies-in-waiting, was lying on a long table in front of Inspector Gong. The investigation has already been botched beyond solving since the girl had been moved from the scene of the crime. Who knew how many people had trampled through the scene itself. The eunuchs had probably worked quickly to clean up the mess. The other men present, the ministers and advisors, had no words to comfort the empress. Everyone of importance was there except for the emperor himself. Such horrors were not appropriate for a child.

Who did this? the empress shrieked. I demand to know!

The room stayed silent as she resumed her crying. The empress, young as she was, was a formidable force, yet the inspector knew the killer would not make himself, or herself, known just because the empress demanded it. This was one situation where the empress was not going to get her way.

Your Majesty, Inspector Gong finally said, may I have a closer look at the body?

The empress nodded her consent. Just dont touch her! she yelled.

Of course, the inspector replied, even though her demand was ridiculous. How could he get a complete understanding of what happened if he couldnt examine the body fully? He approached the girl and kneeled down next to her. She had been stabbed several times in her neck and chest, her qaopao ripped open where the knife slashed through the beautiful fabric. Dark splotches of blood stained the light blue satin. The blood was dark, almost black. Even though blood typically darkened over time, it seemed unnaturally dark. Her hands were bloody as well and showed evidence of a struggle. Someone elses blood, perhaps. Her hair was a mess and her shoes were gone. She had fought back and most likely tried to flee from her attacker. Her jaw was tightly clenched and her eyes closed. Her death had been frightening and painful.

What was her name? the inspector asked in a loud clear voice so all could hear. He stood straight and crossed his arms as he looked around the room.

Lady Yun, one of the eunuchs replied.

How old was she? he asked.

Fifteen, sir.

The inspector grunted. Fifteen. And she was beautiful, even in death. The long eyelashes of her closed eyes lay upon her pale cheeks.

Who were her family? he asked.

She had no male relatives, the eunuch replied.

She was an orphan? the inspector asked.

No, sir. She has a mother, but she is sickly. She was primarily cared for by her brother and sister-in-law until her brothers death. Her sister-in-law is her guardian, but the girl had been living here at the Forbidden City for the last year.

Ill need to speak to her sister-in-law, he said. Has she been informed yet of the girls death?

No, sir.

Good, I want to be the one to tell her. I need to see her reaction.

Whatever you need, the empress finally spoke up, it shall be yours. You must find who did this.

I need to see where she was killed, and speak to all the other ladies of the Inner Court who knew her.

The room gasped, and the empress stared at him in shock. The men began to murmur and argue among themselves.

That is not possible, one of the men said loudly, pointing a finger at the inspector. No man can be allowed in the Inner Court. It is for the womens protection.

Protection? the inspector asked. One of the empresss own ladies was murdered inside the very walls of the Forbidden City. Make no mistake; if someone could kill this girl, no one here is safe. Look at her hands, the stab wounds. She must have screamed. How could no one have heard her? I must be allowed to inspect every aspect of this crime if any member of the royal family wishes to feel safe in their own home again.

The inspector knew he was making things worse. There was no evidence that the killer would strike again or that the empress or child-emperor were in danger, but unless he were allowed behind the sealed doors of the Inner Court, he would never find the killer. If he had to frighten the empress out of her wits to achieve his goal, he would do so.

The room erupted in yelling and arguments. The empress was no longer crying, but was looking around the room with her large, dark eyes.

Inspector, she finally said, silencing the room. Are you saying you think I could be in danger?

I do not know, Your Majesty, he said. But I can rule nothing out. I do not know if Lady Yun was the target of the killers rage or if she only got in the way. I do not know if the killer has fled or if he, or she, is within this very room. Another round of gasps followed. What I do know, he continued, is that this investigation should be the courts priority, and to do my job properly, to bring the killer to justice, I need to be allowed into the Inner Court of the women.

The empress opened her mouth to speak, but she was interrupted by a court minister by the name of Song. No! he said firmly. It is forbidden and improper. You cannot violate the sacred space of the womens quarters. To do so would be as violating the women themselves.

Minister, Inspector Gong nearly laughed. Investigating a murder would hardly be the same as taking a woman to bedat least in my case. Several of the other men laughed.

This is no laughing matter, Minister Song erupted. If you cannot do your job from outside of the Inner Court, then you are not worthy of your title and should be stripped of your rank and salary immediately!

Now, see here, Minister the inspector began.

I agree, another minister interrupted. Is his job worth doing if it violates the integrity of the empress?

Several other men spoke up in agreement.

Enough, the empress finally said, her voice clear and even. The room went quiet. She was calm now. Even her hands were steady. I agree this case should be of the utmost importance. My own safety and the safety of the emperor rely on it.