When Zhong Li returned to the Dali Temple, all the shops on Wenchang Street had long since closed.
She had been summoned early by Fan Ren and hadn't eaten breakfast. Afterwards, she had lingered at the Marquis of Anping's residence for quite some time and forgotten to eat. Now, she had no opportunity to dine.
Zhong Li sighed, watching the departing carriage of the Marquis of Anping's residence. She tightened her sash and prepared to enter the Dali Temple.
"Li'er." A familiar voice sounded by her ear.
Zhong Li came back to her senses to find herself embraced in a warm, ardent hug.
She didn't turn around, merely inhaling the pleasant scent of ambergris that permeated the air. A smile touched her lips as she said, "The Heir is guarding the entrance of the Dali Temple so late. Do you still have official business to attend to?"
"In Li'er's heart, when have I ever been so diligent and toiled day and night for imperial affairs?" Lu Wu Xie's voice was hoarse and deep, with a hint of a smile.
Zhong Li chuckled, turning to gaze at the man's face, so close to hers. "Indeed... no one can match the Heir's laziness in this regard!"
"Alas!" Lu Wu Xie feigned a look of helplessness. "It seems my efforts all afternoon are truly thankless in someone's eyes."
As he spoke, he conjured a food box from behind him and dangled it before Zhong Li.
The food box was sealed tightly, but it couldn't hide the aroma wafting from within.
Zhong Li started, "Bai Hua Niang, and roasted pigeon?"
"Hmph!" Lu Wu Xie looked at the woman opposite him staring intently at the food box in his hand. His carefree demeanor returned to his face as he teased, "I wouldn't have thought that besides being an excellent investigator, Chief Secretary Zhong also possesses exceptional olfactory senses."
Zhong Li playfully shot Lu Wu Xie a glare. Glancing at his carriage nearby, she unceremoniously pulled his hand and got into the carriage.
Once the food box was opened, the dishes were laid out on the small table inside the carriage. She picked up her chopsticks and bowl and began to eat without any pretense.
Lu Wu Xie sat opposite her, watching her. From under the table, he took out a small pot, poured a cup of clear water, and placed it before her. "I knew that stingy old fox from the Marquis of Anping's residence would definitely not have prepared any food for you."
Zhong Li ate the food in her bowl and shook her head. "The people from the Dali Temple were only there to investigate. The Marquis's residence has no obligation to prepare meals for us."
"What kind of talk is that? No matter what, you were called there on short notice. Even if the Marquis of Anping doesn't regard you, he should at least show me some respect." Lu Wu Xie spoke, letting out a cold snort.
Zhong Li looked up at his childish behavior, knowing he was trying to cheer her up. She said, "I'm fine. However, Mo Cang's pigeon is quite well-made."
"How did you know it was made by me?" Lu Wu Xie asked.
"It's simple." Zhong Li said, stirring the seasoning stuffed inside the pigeon's cavity with her chopsticks. "Do you remember when we were in Jinzhou? You cooked a few dishes to deceive that big-bearded foreigner from Yingzhou."
"I remember, I made roasted chicken then, and you said you had never seen seasoning stuffed in this manner before." Lu Wu Xie nodded, looking enlightened.
"Speaking of which," Zhong Li, having eaten half a pigeon and feeling quite full, put down her chopsticks. As she tidied up the food box, she asked, "I saw you find Xu Qing today. You wouldn't have said anything harsh, would you?"
Upon hearing Xu Qing's name, Lu Wu Xie's originally gentle expression instantly turned serious.
He snorted coldly. "If my informant at the Dali Temple hadn't told me, were you planning not to tell me?"
"I wasn't planning to." Zhong Li replied without hesitation.
Lu Wu Xie's brows furrowed slightly.
"I know Xu Qing harbors unwarranted hostility towards me," Zhong Li explained. "But as long as I am at the Dali Temple, this matter will not be resolved. If you go and lecture him, he might restrain himself for a few days, but who knows if he might scheme behind my back later? Therefore, the one who tied the knot must untie it. I will handle it."
Hearing Zhong Li say this, Lu Wu Xie swallowed all the words he had intended to ask if she needed help. He sighed and said no more.
Zhong Li finished tidying the things on the table and looked up at him. Seeing his brows furrowed, she couldn't help but lean forward and use her fingers to smooth his brow, saying, "I will protect myself, I promise."
Lu Wu Xie clasped her delicate hand in return and nodded.
"I heard the Emperor ordered you to thoroughly investigate the matter of Zuo Teng. Have you made any progress?" Zhong Li asked, changing the subject to prevent Lu Wu Xie from worrying about her affairs.
"Yes!" Lu Wu Xie looked at her. "As we predicted, those bandits were disguised. They came from two different factions."
"Two factions?" Zhong Li hadn't expected the ambush to be carried out by two groups of people. "So, can I understand this as these two factions being in collaboration?"
Lu Wu Xie nodded, his expression turning grim. "And I already have some clues about one of these two factions."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li's eyebrows subtly rose. She knew Lu Wu Xie was well-informed, but she hadn't expected him to be this quick.
"One group came from the Marquis of Anping's residence," Lu Wu Xie revealed what he had discovered.
Zhong Li felt no surprise at this answer. After all, Chang Ji, the Marquis of Anping, had controlled the manufacturing of military equipment in the Ministry of Works for years. It was impossible that he had no connection to the private smuggling of weapons by the Beichuan Gang.
"Does the Heir have any evidence on hand now?" she asked.
Lu Wu Xie shook his head. This was also what worried him the most. Without evidence, there would be no persuasion in front of the Emperor, and it would be easy to be counterattacked.
"It's alright, let's take it slow. At least we have a lead, right? And there's still the other faction; you can investigate others first," Zhong Li comforted him.
Lu Wu Xie nodded. "That's the only way."
Night enveloped the entire city of Jincheng. Only the two red lanterns hanging at the entrance of the Dali Temple still guided the late-returning pedestrians along the street.
Zhong Li and Lu Wu Xie chatted in the carriage for a while. Since Zhong Li had to go to the Marquis of Anping's residence to investigate a case the next day, she got out of the carriage early to rest in her room.
Lu Wu Xie watched Zhong Li's figure disappear into the Dali Temple before instructing Lin Jin to drive back to the Prince Xian's residence.
"Heir!" After a good while, Lin Jin's voice sounded from outside.
Lu Wu Xie, who had been pretending to doze, responded faintly upon hearing someone call out. "Speak."
Lin Jin hesitated for a moment. "I don't know if this should be said."
"If you don't know, then don't say it!" Lu Wu Xie's voice clearly carried a hint of sternness.
Lin Jin swallowed several times. He knew his master detested his hesitations. He sighed and said, "You clearly discovered that the other faction that attempted to assassinate us outside Liaocheng came from Prince Xian's residence. Why didn't you tell Miss Zhong?"
"Lin Jin, you shouldn't ask too much!" As soon as Lin Jin finished speaking, Lu Wu Xie let out a cold scoff, startling him so much that he almost dropped the reins. However, Lin Jin was no ordinary man; having followed his master for a long time, he knew his master's temperament best. Mustering his courage, he said,
"Your subordinate knows the Heir fears that Miss Zhong, worried about you, might get distracted from her investigation. But your subordinate believes Miss Zhong is of a resolute character and decisive. If this matter were told to her, the Heir wouldn't be so troubled. Perhaps she could offer you some advice, right?
Moreover, you and Miss Zhong are pledged to each other. Some things shouldn't be kept secret, especially when you were dealing with... on the Beichuan Gang's ship..."
"Lin Jin, I think you've been itching for a beating lately, haven't you?" Before Lin Jin could finish speaking, Lu Wu Xie's voice, laced with anger, sounded from inside the carriage.
Lin Jin quickly lowered his head, not daring to say another word.
After a long while, Lu Wu Xie's voice sounded again from inside the carriage. "Lin Jin, deploy more men to the Dali Temple and keep a close eye on Xu Qing!"
"Yes!"