Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace

Yui Mei pondered about Xu’s story.

“Miss Xu’s evidence was just a piece of hair supposedly of the deceased, right I know this might sound presumptuous, but isn’t it a bit too weak of a proof that her lover had really died?”

Of course, there was also a possibility that her lover did really wish that his hair be given to her after his death, but the possibility that that wasn’t the case was also quite high.

After all, they couldn’t submit that hair for DNA analysis, unlike her previous world.

Besides, even in her previous life, there were instances when the remains of the person that supposedly died in war actually belonged to a different person.

In the past, they did not have any choice but to believe the thing that was sent to them, but thanks to the establishment of DNA analysis technology, they knew the truth for the first time.

“How did they deliver that hair to Miss Xu?”

Yui Mei was perplexed, so she asked Libin.

The credibility of that hair would depend on whether it was delivered by an intermediary, or if it was handed over by a soldier that fought alongside him in the war.

Libin responded to her question.

“From what we’ve heard, it’s unlikely that Xu had anyone she knew at the border if her lover set out all alone. Besides, Xu can’t see anyone outside the Hundred Blossom Palace unless she was granted permission to leave, so a letter would be the best way in that case.”

Libin’s guess was spot on, and Yui Mei couldn’t help but agree with him.

“As expected. Then, isn’t that too unbelievable, especially since the news of his death came from a stranger from goodness knows where.”

Yui Mei grimaced at the thought, and Libin nodded as he pondered the matter.

“Yeah, that’s also a problem, huh. It won’t be that suspicious if the person who delivered it was a trusted acquaintance, but if that’s not the case, then there’s no need to treat that hair seriously.”

Local governments of cities or large villages kept death records, but there’s no such practice in the provinces.

People would just use word of mouth to spread that somebody died.

That was also the norm back at the borderland, which could be considered a danger zone, where Yui Mei grew up. The way they handled the dead was even more vague.

According to Libin, there were times that they would actually make mistakes about the death announcement, given the ambiguity of the process.

If a person would benefit from the death of a certain person, then it was possible to send him off on an errand and have him travel far. The person who then plotted it all would use hair as proof that the other person “died”, possibly saying things like “he met with an accident”.

You could even cut the underneath part of your own hair and pass it off as long as it’s not recognizable as your own.

Even if the person that had been declared dead came back and claimed that “I’m alive”, it would be too late by then.

If the authorities confirmed the death by autopsy then it’d be understandable to have faith on that news, but just how much faith did she have on the words of a self-proclaimed friend that she never even met before?

‘Why the heck did you believe it, Miss Xu!?’

Or was waiting for ten years too painful for her?

Yui Mei felt inexplicable, but Libin continued on.

“If we go with the perspective that his death was fabricated, then it means that there’s somebody who wanted Xu’s lover dead. For what reason? It’s inevitable to have that question. I really can’t think of any circumstance surrounding Xu that would warrant such.”

Yui Mei fell into deep thought when she heard Libin’s words.

Once Xu entered the Hundred Blossom Palace, she would be out of reach of the villainous merchant that was mentioned in her story. He wouldn’t have any reason to hurt her lover after that, too.

Even if he feared that her lover would try to take revenge for her, there’s already the possibility that he would die in battle, although it might be a bit too much to say this.

Xu always thought of his possible death, so there’s also the possibility that she accepted the story that he died after receiving his hair.

So, who was the one who delivered the hair and for what purpose?

“Perhaps, the reason for wanting the death of her lover didn’t come from Xu’s side, but from the borderland where he went to work?”

“…You can be quite sharp at times, you know.”

Yui Mei arrived at that conclusion after much thought, but she pouted when she heard Libin’s comment.

“What do you mean by ‘at times’, huh? I’m sharp all the time!! Especially today’s menu, I can already guess the dishes just by the scent!!”

Yui Mei proudly declared, but Libin just flicked her on the forehead.

“That’s not being sharp, that’s gluttony.”

‘Urk, that might be true.’

Libin retorted, and Yui Mei couldn’t help thinking that way about herself, too.

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