Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie arrived at the Dali Temple at the end of the workday.
Only a few guards were on duty in the large courtyard. Hua Yao had also finished her tasks and returned to the Hua Estate early. Zhong Li led Lu Wuxie through the pavilion into the autopsy room.
The autopsy room was already cold, and with winter here, it was bone-chillingly frigid.
Zhong Li was accustomed to it and carried an oil lamp into the room.
Lu Wuxie took off his fur cloak and draped it over her.
"I actually..."
"I heard from Hua Yao that you went to the Wu Family Medical Hall to recuperate a few days ago. If you keep overexerting yourself like this, what if I can't get a wife? So, put this on, be good!"
Before Zhong Li could even refuse, Lu Wuxie interrupted.
He said it casually, but his brow was already furrowed. Zhong Li's medical skills were not top-tier in Nanyue Kingdom, but they were certainly outstanding. If she couldn't even manage her own health and had to go to the Wu Family Medical Hall, it must be something serious, not to be taken lightly.
Zhong Li couldn't argue with Lu Wuxie, so she stopped trying. Ever since returning from Linzhou, her menstrual cycle had been problematic; it either didn't come or came twice a month. Although she was a workaholic, she always took good care of her body. She had also tried to regulate it, but without success, which was why she went to the Wu Family Medical Hall. She hadn't expected Hua Yao to mention it to Lu Wuxie.
"Tomorrow, I'll have the steward of the estate find you a piece of top-quality sable to make a white cloak. I can't stop you from doing what you love, so I can only protect you in other ways," Lu Wuxie said, tightening his grip on Zhong Li's hand. He noticed her hands had been cooler than usual lately.
"Okay!" Zhong Li agreed, her slender fingertips tracing circles in his palm.
They walked to the female corpse. Zhong Li pulled back the white sheet, presenting the body to Lu Wuxie.
Hua Yao's suturing skills were decent; the knife wounds on the female corpse didn't look particularly gruesome.
"As you can see, the abdominal cavity of the female corpse is filled with this," Zhong Li said, taking out the evidence from the side for Lu Wuxie to see.
Lu Wuxie's brows furrowed, his gaze lingering on the corpse's waist.
"What's wrong?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie picked up the gloves on the table and forcefully turned the female corpse over.
As the red heart-shaped birthmark at the corpse's waist was fully revealed, Lu Wuxie said, "I... I know her."
"You know her?" Zhong Li exclaimed in surprise, her gaze also falling on the birthmark at the corpse's waist. After Lu Wuxie's words, she seemed to recall something.
"Tian Lianxue, she had a birthmark like this," Lu Wuxie stated directly.
Zhong Li glanced at him, remaining silent.
Lu Wuxie sensed the awkward atmosphere and quickly explained, "For the Miao Jie case, didn't we go to Hua Man Lou?
At that time, Tian Lianxue wanted to put medicine in my wine. I went along with your plan to play hard to get. She took off all but her undergarments, and you even helped lift her onto the bed."
Zhong Li narrowed her eyes, staring at Lu Wuxie without speaking.
Lu Wuxie wished he could slap himself. He took a deep breath and said, "My lady, I was wrong. Even though Tian Lianxue was trying to seduce me first, I should have closed my eyes and answered her. Even if it was your plan, I shouldn't have looked at her. Even if we had no relationship at the time, I shouldn't have failed to prepare for our future happiness."
"Pfft!" Zhong Li laughed. This was the first time she had seen such a survival-instinctive Lu Wuxie. "Alright, I didn't say anything, why are you so nervous?"
Lu Wuxie looked at the beautiful woman with a radiant smile. He thought of her cold and stern demeanor when they first met, and his heart felt a surge of sweetness. "Then... if you put it that way, have you accepted the title of 'wife'?"
Zhong Li's smile faltered. Her eyebrows rose and fell as she looked at him, realizing he was setting a trap for her.
"Mm," she replied after a moment's thought, nodding. "I've grudgingly accepted."
Hearing the word "grudgingly," Lu Wuxie chuckled and turned his gaze back to the female corpse. "The Wu Family Silver Bank is entangled with many issues. Lord Fu has now been suspended.
If the person before us is indeed Tian Lianxue, then who is currently at Hua Man Lou?"
Zhong Li said, "You've also seen the autopsy report. The deceased's face has severe scratches, which shows how much the murderer hated her.
Mo Cang, I want to ask you something. You must answer truthfully."
Lu Wuxie nodded.
"Why did you approach Tian Lianxue from the very beginning?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie sighed, "Li'er, do you think Tian Lianxue has always liked me?"
Zhong Li raised her eyebrows, looking bewildered, as if asking, 'Isn't that true?'
Lu Wuxie shook his head. "She has someone she likes. I suspect that person is the Crown Prince."
"Lu Yuanhong?" Zhong Li was surprised. As far as she knew, Lu Yuanhong had always avoided brothels to maintain his reputation as the Crown Prince in front of the Emperor. If Lu Wuxie was telling the truth, how did the two of them become entangled?
Lu Wuxie sighed. "When I died in my previous life, I knew somewhat about Lu Yuanhong's identity and the Empress's conspiracy.
But what I could never figure out was how Lu Yuanhong managed to disguise himself so successfully. Even I thought he was a 'man of integrity.' How could he suddenly make waves in court, betray Emperor Jing behind everyone's back, even use me to eliminate his rivals, and possess such well-informed intelligence?"
"So, you feel that among the Empress, Lu Yuanhong, and the black-clad figure wielding the judge's brush, there must be an intermediary?" Zhong Li asked.
"Yes. In this life, I found out that Tian Lianxue is one of the intermediaries. But how does the Crown Prince, who never visited Hua Man Lou, control others through such well-informed channels?" Lu Wuxie asked.
"Then, there must be someone else!" Zhong Li stated her deduction.
"Yes, this person is too deeply hidden. I previously suspected Fu Chong, but now that Fu Chong has been suspended and is under investigation, and the Empress's actions behind the scenes are still continuing, I know we've all guessed wrong about this person," Lu Wuxie said.
Zhong Li smiled and said, "If you don't enter the tiger's lair, how can you catch the tiger's cub? Since the investigation has reached this point, we can go and see who this fake Tian Lianxue is, or if she is indeed the one we suspect."