Anping Hou Changji had always been in charge of the Ministry of Works' ordnance matters. His wife was a first-rank imperial commendation. Even if it was merely a servant in the household who died, if the death was not natural, the Emperor would take it seriously and investigate thoroughly.
"Did they state the cause of death?" Lu Wuxie asked Lan Heng, his expression solemn.
Lan Heng shook his head and said, "The secret letter did not mention it, only to return to Jincheng as soon as possible."
"The culprit who can kill a first-rank minister's consort is also no simple matter." Lu Wuxie spoke, draining his clear wine in one gulp, and then looked intently at the man opposite him, saying, "Anping Hou is a subordinate of your teacher. How do you plan to investigate this matter?"
"I haven't seen my teacher for half a year," Lan Heng said, a hint of obscurity in his eyes. "Some time ago, my teacher sent a house servant to invite me for New Year's Eve dinner, but I declined."
"Lan Heng!" Lu Wuxie refilled the wine cup before Lan Heng and said, "You are good in all aspects, except your personality tends to offend people. By associating with the Fu family, you will have more opportunities for promotion in the future."
Lan Heng took a deep breath, a look of helplessness appearing on his face. "Li'er has probably told you how she and I met. I truly don't know how to face a teacher who constantly wishes for my life."
"Teacher?" Lu Wuxie chuckled lightly, pushed aside the curtain, and looked at the twilight outside, which was nearing sunset. After a long while, he said, "If you don't want to handle the Marquis's mansion case this time, you can pass it to me, but you must know that evasion is never a solution."
Lan Heng's thin lips tightened, and he remained silent.
Normally, it took about three days to travel from Jinzhou to Jincheng, day and night without stopping.
However, this time was different from when Zhong Li had come before, because there was an additional prisoner. The journey would definitely take more than seven days at the very least.
Lu Wuxie knew clearly that the longer the time dragged on, the more danger Zuo Teng would be in. To escort him safely to Jincheng, Lu Wuxie and Lan Heng specifically selected a few experts from the Hua family army, along with A Wu, who was going to Jincheng to visit relatives, and they proceeded only along the main roads.
"We'll set up camp here tonight."
The moment Zhong Li felt the carriage slightly jolt, Lin Jin's voice sounded from outside.
She glanced at Hua Yao, who was dozing opposite her, tucked her in, and quickly got out of the carriage.
"Where is this?" Zhong Li asked A Wu, who was starting to set up camp, as she gazed into the distance at the mountain stream.
A Wu, while busy with his tasks, replied, "Replying to Zheng Si of Zhong Temple, we should be in Liaocheng by now, but..."
"But what?"
A Wu sighed. "The moat near Liaocheng is currently under repair, and the city gates are closed earlier than usual. The young lord and Master Lan did not wish to disturb the Prefect within, so they decided to camp here to rest temporarily for the night."
"That's fine," Zhong Li nodded, looking at a small hill not far away and the river winding around it. She took a water bottle from the carriage and walked quickly towards the river.
At this time, most of the Hua family army were fishing to prepare for dinner. Zhong Li squatted by the riverbank, first washed up, and then took some water to boil at the campsite.
"I'll do it," Lu Wuxie said, appearing beside her at some unknown time, and took the water bottle from her.
Zhong Li did not refuse. She walked alongside him, facing the setting sun. During their walk, she saw the disheveled man locked in a wooden cage and asked, "Zuo Teng was quite rowdy yesterday, but he's a bit quieter now."
Lu Wuxie followed her gaze and smiled, saying, "Lan Heng thought he was too noisy and gave him some medicine."
Zhong Li raised her eyebrows slightly upon hearing this, thinking that Lan Heng was indeed someone who disliked noise.
"By the way, did he say anything when he was in Jinzhou?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie shook his head. "No, he only admitted that the Beichuan Gang had dealings with Guo Qi. As for the purpose of the weapons sent to Yingzhou, where the Qiat Grass eventually ended up, and what they intended to do with it, he didn't disclose anything."
"So, the Emperor asked us to send him to Jincheng hoping that the 'cruel officials' would interrogate him?" Zhong Li asked again.
Lu Wuxie nodded, casually poured the water in his hand into the iron pot, took the fish handed over by Lin Jin, and began to make fish soup. "Yes, in Jincheng, there are no cruel officials who cannot extract the information the Emperor desires."
"It's just that this person probably won't survive, will he?" Zhong Li sighed.
Lu Wuxie glanced sideways at the serious-looking woman beside him and asked, "Li'er, do you know why 'cruel officials' can extract the results the Emperor wants?"
"Forced confession?" Zhong Li could only think of this outcome.
"Partially," Lu Wuxie replied, picking up some firewood and adding it. "More so, it's giving dying people hope as bait. However... they are already dying people. Even if they suffer less torment in front of them, how much longer can they live?"
After he finished speaking, he looked at the leaping sparks, lost in thought.
"Mo Cang," Zhong Li said, looking at Lu Wuxie's distracted expression, and quietly took his large palm in hers. "Are you thinking about things from your previous life?"
Zhong Li only knew the general outline of Lu Wuxie's past life. As for the details, such as why he was captured and killed, and why he became a defeated soldier when the new emperor ascended the throne, she knew nothing.
Lu Wuxie looked back, his eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at her. "It's alright, it's all in the past."
As they spoke, the fish soup in front of them began to boil. With the help of several soldiers who were also busy, everyone had a wild game dinner and then began to enter their tents to rest.
Zhong Li had slept well in the carriage and felt no drowsiness. It was a rare clear and sunny day with a starry night sky. She followed Lu Wuxie all the way to the hill, and they sat side by side, looking at the starry sky above.
"Li'er, do you know that stars can also speak?" Lu Wuxie gazed at the sky absentmindedly. He seemed to recall something, a trace of wandering in his eyes.
"Is the young lord speaking of astrology?" Zhong Li asked, looking at him.
"Does Li'er know about the 'Yinghuo Shou Xin'?" Lu Wuxie asked.
Zhong Li was slightly startled upon hearing this. She had previously read some history books that discussed how ancient people observed the stars to determine a nation's fortune or misfortune. The so-called 'Yinghuo Shou Xin' was one such phenomenon.
"I know a little. It should be an astronomical phenomenon where Saturn, Mars, and the star Antares in Scorpius form a straight line, right?"
Lu Wuxie blinked, looking at her with some confusion.
Zhong Li suddenly realized and quickly pointed to the sky with her finger. "The 'Xuanxi' invades the heart of the constellation, and the 'Zhenxing' forms a line, right?"
Lu Wuxie understood now and nodded. "This situation occurred once twenty years ago."
"Twenty years ago, wasn't that when the Northern Di attacked our Southern Yue Kingdom, and the Ruan family caused rebellion within the country, nearly leading to the nation's downfall?" Zhong Li said.
"Yes! 'Yinghuo Shou Xin' represents war and death. Someone had previously predicted this situation in Southern Yue. Emperor Jing at the time considered it a rumor, but looking back now, it seems to have been accurate," Lu Wuxie said, as if remembering something, and looked down at the tender green shoots that had already grown on the ground.
"Li'er, if I say that 'Yinghuo Shou Xin' will appear again next year, would you believe me?"
Zhong Li did not expect Lu Wuxie to say such a thing and looked at him in surprise.
After a long while, she asked, "Mo Cang, tell me, in your past life, you said that victory and defeat are common in warfare. Who exactly did you lose to?"
Lu Wuxie's brows twitched. He looked at the tender grass at his fingertips, lost in thought for a moment. After a long while, he said, "Li'er, the common people do not care who sits on the dragon throne in the Jincheng palace. The Prince of Xian's mansion is the same. My father and I always believed that as long as the people are safe, what does it matter if one is second only to one person, and above ten thousand? It is all of the Lu family's blood, the Lu family's empire.
However... if it is not just the person sitting on the dragon throne who is coveting you, the one who is trembling with fear every day, but rather..."
"Young lord, young lord!"
Just as Lu Wuxie was about to reveal the crucial point, Lin Jin's desperate voice interrupted his thoughts.
Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie looked sharply towards the source of the sound. They saw Lin Jin, holding a long sword, sprinting towards them.
"Young lord, something's wrong, the camp has been attacked!"