Description

The Skylark Princess Jiujiu, feeling pity for the ghost of a skylark, asks Shouxue help it pass on. Shouxue investigates Princess Hibari, a former member of the inner palace and a sickly, isolated princess known for her pet skylark. Being inexperienced with social interaction, Shouxue mistakenly believes some small talk from the maids for a consort's palace to be considered a good place for work, their workers must receive fine clothes. Her attempt to gift Jiujiu clothes though, only angers the latter. Returning to the case, Shouxue learns of Princess Hibari's close relationship with a court lady Yang Shiniang, who returns to the river where the Princess had drowned to lay flowers frequently. Yang Shiniang explains she does so out of guilt, for the day the Princess drowned had been the day they had had an argument, and even as the Princess's skylark called for her to help she had chosen not to return. Shouxue deduces the Princess, due to her condition, was knowledgeable in medicines and had been trying to harvest fritillaria, a plant which could drive off Yang Shiniang's seasonal cough, only to fall into the river. Using the sculpture of a swallow made by Gaojun, Shouxue brings it to life to guide the skylark's ghost to paradise.