Ceased Breathing

The emperor was waiting in the hall for over half an hour when Bai Hongqi finally entered to report back to him. He placed the things he was holding on the desk, took two steps back, and respectfully said, "We have checked everything that Beauty Xie used today, including her clothes, makeup, food and drinks, utensils, and we have also investigated everyone who had close contact with her today. Except for the two maids who served her, we found only one thing that was not quite appropriate."

He was referring to the hand stove he had just brought in.

Bai Hongqi had thoroughly searched the clothes that Xie Ning wore today, even undoing the seams and having four old Chief Palace Attendants check inch by inch. The hand stove almost slipped past their notice because they had initially only searched the charcoal inside. The charcoal was still red when it was poured out.