The madam, hearing the name, looked at Zhong Li with surprise.
Zhong Li did not hide anything. "The Heir has planted spies in Hua Man Lou. You can't hide anything about Hua Man Lou from him."
"Heh heh!" The madam grinned, blood dripping from her mouth.
"So, tell me, who is Young Master Hong?" Zhong Li asked.
The madam shook her head. "This old servant is just an old bone. Now that I'm in this state, it's better to live a wretched life than die. I just want to breathe a little longer.
But this old servant knows that if I reveal that person's identity, even if Dali Temple releases me, I'll die outside anyway. So, this old servant would rather ask Master Zhong to give me a quick end."
Zhong Li looked at the whip in her hand, casually threw it aside, and did not strike.
The madam was very surprised by her action.
"If I were to strike with this whip, this old woman's body would only last a moment. As a Young Minister of Dali Temple, I investigate murder cases, and I don't want to be like other thugs, with blood on my hands."
As soon as Zhong Li finished speaking, the madam visibly sighed with relief.
However, her next words almost made the madam forget her pain.
"It's the Crown Prince, isn't it? It was the Crown Prince who hired Tian Lianxue?"
"Master Zhong, how..." The madam stopped, realizing her slip of the tongue, and quickly lowered her head.
Zhong Li glanced at her. "I came to see you today only to confirm my suspicions. Your reaction has already given me the answer. Since you fear death, I believe the prisons of the Ministry of Justice are numerous, and the annual government funding will be enough for your remaining years.
Therefore, Madam, please spend the rest of your life in a suitable place."
With that, she did not look at the shock on the madam's face and quickly left the interrogation room.
As the day waned, and the weather turned cold, Wenchang Street had lost its summer liveliness. It was snowing, and the ground was covered in frost. There were a few footprints on the ground, clearly made by playful children.
Zhong Li glanced at the small stalls opposite Dali Temple. The shopkeepers were already packing up their stalls and leaving, as if it were too cold. He rubbed his hands from time to time.
Old Ma was on leave today. The other stable hands at Dali Temple offered to send Zhong Li back, but she politely declined. Sometimes, when one was used to a particular person, others were either unaccustomed or untrustworthy.
She exhaled a breath of cold air and was about to walk back to her residence when an umbrella appeared over her head.
Zhong Li, smelling the pleasant scent carried by the falling snow, leaned back instinctively and said, "You're picking me up so late."
"No matter how late, as long as my wife is still busy, your husband will pick you up." Lu Wuxie's voice was clear, with a hint of fatigue.
Zhong Li turned, expecting to see a slightly tired face, but instead, he was smiling, not showing any sign of exhaustion.
"Who is your wife? We're not even engaged yet!"
She said playfully, her eyes filled with contentment and happiness.
Lu Wuxie embraced her, and they walked like this in the snow.
"I had originally asked the stable hands from the Prince Xian's mansion to pick me up, but I thought the carriage was too fast and I wanted to spend more time alone with you."
Zhong Li glanced at the rim of the umbrella and noticed a layer of snow had already accumulated on it. She said with concern, "But it will be cold outside."
Lu Wuxie opened his outer cloak to shield her in his arms and said, "Let's huddle together for warmth."
"You silver-tongued devil!" Zhong Li playfully poked his chest, took the umbrella from him, and nestled into his embrace.
The snow seemed to be falling heavier. It landed layer upon layer on the ground, the frozen lake, the rooftops, and the city walls. The entire State of Nanyue was covered in a layer of gray and white. Only the two figures walking on Wenchang Street seemed lonely, yet also warm.
Zhong Li's residence was not far from Dali Temple. In just two cups of tea's time, they arrived.
Ever since Tao Shi died, she had not hired any servants, so the courtyard looked somewhat eerie and dark.
"No need to see me off. I can go in myself."
Zhong Li opened the lock on the door and quickly walked in with the medicine box hanging from Lu Wuxie's shoulder.
Lu Wuxie said, "Old custom. After lighting the lamp and confirming you are safe, I will leave."
Zhong Li knew it was cold and was afraid Lu Wuxie would freeze if he stayed too long. She nodded and quickly walked inside.
As soon as she pushed the door open, she hurriedly took out a fire starter and lit the candlestick on the table.
The candlelight illuminated the room brightly. The fire in the brazier had long since gone out. Fortunately, their neighbor Aunt Wen had some extra charcoal. She picked up a winnowing basket and was about to ask for some from next door when her gaze fell upon the solitary figure of the man around the corner. Her heart ached.
Hesitantly, she put down the winnowing basket, pushed open the courtyard gate, and quickly chased after him.
"Mo Cang!" Zhong Li's voice trembled slightly, whether from the cold or worry, she didn't know.
Lu Wuxie turned around. The cold air tinged his handsome face with a slight blush, making him look a bit thin and frail.
"Li'er, what is it? Did you forget something?" His voice was gentle, even more so than the spring breeze of March.
Zhong Li put her hands behind her back, her cheeks suddenly flushed. She stammered for a long time and said, "It's too far to go back to Prince Xian's mansion. It's so cold, why don't you... have a cup of warm tea before you go?"
Lu Wuxie's eyes darkened slightly. "Li'er, do you know what you are saying?"
Zhong Li's gaze evaded him shyly, not answering.
This silence was consent.
Lu Wuxie's Adam's apple bobbed, and he slowly walked towards her.
The charcoal fire in the small room emitted warmth, casting shadows of the two figures on the wall, their features sharp and dancing with the candlelight.
Zhong Li knew the residence faced north, and even with charcoal, it would be cold under the covers during the winter solstice. Now, lying in the thick quilt, she traced the handsome face of the man opposite her. For some reason, she felt a fire burning from her toes to her cheeks, and her head felt like a small kettle, boiling and emitting steam.
"Mo Cang, I'm a little hot..." Her voice was softer than ever, with a hint of coquetry and ambiguity.
Lu Wuxie's Adam's apple bobbed. His fingertips traced from her eyebrows to her lips and collarbone, each touch sending waves of heat.
He remained silent, a smile on his lips. As the curtain was drawn, the hairpin rolled to the ground from his strong fingers, and their bodies intertwined, in a frenzy of passion.
The snow continued to fall outside the window, covering the footprints left by children at the entrance of Dali Temple, covering the two red lanterns hanging at the entrance of the residence, covering the outside clamor, and also covering the hurried breaths within.
When Zhong Li woke up, the side of the bed was empty.
She squinted, watching the sunlight filtering through the oiled paper window. It was a little glaring, a little warm, just like... the still warm quilt.
She was about to turn over and go back to sleep when the door to the inner room opened, and a gust of cold wind swept in. She reacted quickly, tucking her head under the covers, watching the person who entered.
Lu Wuxie was holding a tray. At first, he thought she was still asleep and his movements were very gentle. Being sensitive, he didn't realize until he felt a faint gaze wandering over him that he quickly turned around and found Zhong Li hiding under the covers, peeking out with a smile, her eyes blinking as if she were confused.
"Breakfast." He smiled, walked to her side with the tray, and said, "Eat something. I've boiled water. You can wash up in the morning, and Old Ma's carriage is already at the door."
Zhong Li, who had been immersed in the joy of Lu Wuxie making her breakfast and boiling water for her bath, was completely stunned when she heard the last sentence, looking dazed.
"What's wrong?" Lu Wuxie looked at her with a smile, poking her forehead with his finger.
Zhong Li's face showed distress. "Old Ma, you saw him?"
"Mm!" Lu Wuxie nodded, his answer matter-of-fact.
"And... he saw you too?"
"Mm!"
"Then... did you say hello?"
"Mm!"
"Did he ask you when you arrived?"
"Mm!"
"Did you answer?"
"Mm!"
"It's over!" Lu Wuxie's series of "Mm"s completely flustered Zhong Li. What was she to do? The calm and composed Young Minister Zhong of Dali Temple had been seduced! If Old Ma knew, it meant everyone at Dali Temple would know. She could skip court, but could she skip Dali Temple?
"You don't want to go?" Lu Wuxie saw her cheeks flush for a moment and then sigh. Naturally, he knew what she was thinking and asked with a smile.
"Certainly not. Shen Ying's case just concluded, and there are many follow-up procedures. But now it's the time for roll call, and there are so many people..."
"Then go a little later." Lu Wuxie said.
"That's a possibility. We can avoid the peak roll call time..."
"Then shall we continue?" Lu Wuxie asked.
"What?" Zhong Li didn't react immediately.
The next moment, she felt the quilt being pulled away forcefully. She was like a lamb to the slaughter, her eyes wide with terror and surprise as she looked at the wolf pouncing at her.