On the same day, inside the carriage of the Xian Prince’s mansion.
Lu Fengyang glared with furious eyes at the man opposite him, who was leisurely reading a book in his hand. "You rebellious son, do you know what you said at the banquet just now?"
Lu Wuxie glanced at Lu Fengyang and set aside the book with a casual gesture. "Has Father's khat poisoning mostly subsided?"
"What do you mean?" Lu Fengyang frowned.
Lu Wuxie picked up the purple clay teapot and poured two cups of tea, placing one in front of Lu Fengyang. "Otherwise, how could Father be so unfazed by Xie Yunxi's death this time."
Upon hearing this, Lu Fengyang's face flushed, and he abruptly changed the subject. "Then you shouldn't have in front of the Emperor..."
"Father, I merely admitted that I like Li'er. What's wrong with that?" Lu Wuxie said calmly, his expression not as stern as Lu Fengyang's. "You missed my mother back then, do you regret it? Mo Cang just doesn't want to repeat your mistakes."
"You..." Lu Fengyang pointed a finger at Lu Wuxie. Seeing that he merely picked up his clear tea and drank it himself, he sighed. "Then you shouldn't have been so presumptuous in front of the Emperor."
Lu Wuxie let out a laugh and looked at Lu Fengyang. "Father understands nothing, and Mo Cang doesn't want to explain. When the time is right, you will understand why Mo Cang did this."
"Now that Mo Cang and Father's thoughts do not align, riding in this carriage will only increase the awkwardness. Father, please return first."
As he spoke, he drank down the tea in his hand, lifted the carriage curtain, and, before the groom could react, jumped off the carriage and walked in the opposite direction.
Lu Fengyang lifted the curtain and watched the figure of his son slowly disappear around the street corner. His brow furrowed, and his gaze shifted back to the book casually placed on the cabinet— *The Art of War and Governance*. When did his son start reading military strategy?
Lu Wuxie walked alone on Fenghe Street, passing through alleys and blending with the crowd, he unknowingly arrived at a familiar place. He looked up at the archway of the small building before him, 'Hua Man Lou', smiled, and then prepared to leave.
"Young Master!"
A voice stopped his steps.
Lu Wuxie turned his head and saw a man dressed as a servant standing before him.
"My master requests your presence."
Lu Wuxie looked at the servant, then glanced up at the second floor of Hua Man Lou. He saw a man dressed in luxurious robes, holding a cup, staring at him. A smile curved his lips, and he quickly entered the building.
With cups clinking and red candles flickering, on the second floor's private room in Hua Man Lou, filled with the extravagance of wine, two men of exceptional demeanor conversed happily.
"I say, Mo Cang, this is the first time I've seen you openly display your sharpness in front of all the court officials for a woman. I almost couldn't hold you back today."
"Sixth Prince, you've known me for more than a day. Haven't I always been this unrestrained?" Lu Wuxie smiled and picked up the purple clay teapot to refill the cups opposite him.
Lu Yuanfeng's thin lips curled slightly at this. "Lu Wuxie, precisely because you've known me for more than a day, I know that with your personality, how could you stand up for a woman? Otherwise, Lian Xue from Hua Man Lou waits for you in her boudoir every day. You're already here, yet you only came to see me, this foolish prince?"
"I think we're a match, one fool and one dandy. You won't find another pair in the entire Southern Yue Kingdom." Lu Wuxie said, raising his cup and clinking it with Lu Yuanfeng's.
"Speaking of which, have you truly fallen for that woman?" Lu Yuanfeng asked.
"What 'this woman,' 'that woman,' she is the Assistant Minister of Dali Temple." Lu Wuxie's tone carried a hint of indignation.
"Yes! Assistant Minister Zhong, I apologize!" Lu Yuanfeng quickly drank the clear tea in his hand as an apology.
Lu Wuxie smiled and said no more.
"Speaking of serious matters, do you think that person is responsible for Xie Yunxi's death?" Lu Yuanfeng asked.
Lu Wuxie's thin lips tightened, and after a moment of thought, he shook his head. "She hides too deeply. Even if she were involved, she wouldn't have acted directly. The reason Xie Yunxi died is because Anping Hou exposed himself. Keeping her would only be a disaster, so it had to be..."
He made a throat-slitting gesture as he spoke.
"Then do you think your little lady can solve this case?" Lu Yuanfeng asked again.
Lu Wuxie looked at the curious man opposite him. "Before, I only knew you as 'unaccomplished.' When did you become an informant and a romance gossip monger? Besides, didn't the Emperor assign this case to Xu Qing? What does it have to do with Li'er?"
"Lu Wuxie, don't play coy!" Lu Yuanfeng chuckled and playfully chided him. "Others might not see it, but do you really think I, Lu Yuanfeng, am a fool? Don't think I haven't noticed that girl's stratagem. With Xu Qing's limited abilities, he won't be able to solve the cases that person commits. He'll be lucky to remain the Vice Minister of Dali Temple."
"Since you've seen through it, why are you still asking?" Lu Wuxie glanced lazily at Lu Yuanfeng and casually ordered the proprietress to bring a jar of clear wine.
Lu Yuanfeng shrugged and changed the subject. "Have you found the Crown Prince's weakness?"
Lu Wuxie's hand paused while pouring wine. He looked up at him. "That person is well-hidden. Not yet, but..."
"But what?" Lu Yuanfeng pressed.
"I suspect that after this case, your leisurely days will be over," Lu Wuxie said, then drank the clear wine in his cup in one gulp.
Three days later.
For the past few days, Zhong Li had been 'retiring' at Dali Temple. It was rare to have such leisure. Jin Cheng was very peaceful, aside from the imperial court cases. She finished embroidering the last flower and leaf on her purse and got up to make some milk tea in the kitchen.
"Li'er, Li'er!"
Just as Zhong Li prepared the black tea and milk, the sound of hurried calls made her put down her things and go to open the door.
"Yao'er?"
She looked at the panting woman before her, pulled her into the room, and handed her a cup of water. "Weren't you investigating the case of the Xian Prince's consort with Xu Qing in the palace? Why are you here? Is something urgent?"
Hua Yao drank the water in her hand and was about to reach for the milk when Zhong Li stopped her. "I need this later."
"Oh!" Hua Yao nodded and sat up properly. "It's bad, something... something terrible has happened!"
"What happened?" Zhong Li asked.
"In the palace... in the palace, there's... another death!" Hua Yao patted her chest.
"A death?" Zhong Li was startled. "Who? How did they die?"
Hua Yao said, "Consort Shu, her death was exactly like that of the Xian Prince's consort. Xu Qing is being held accountable by the Emperor right now. I took the opportunity to slip away and inform you. It's very likely the Emperor will summon you to the palace."
As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard outside Zhong Li's room. Before she could investigate, a shrill, cackling voice called out from outside, "Zhong Li, is Assistant Minister Zhong in?"
Zhong Li recognized the familiar voice as Eunuch Hua, who was by the Emperor's side.