Lu Wuxie clasped his hands together at his lips, thought for a moment, and said, "There aren't many suspicious points about Gu Qian. His description of finding Madam Hu's body has no flaws, but..."
"Were Gu Qian's words when he left accurate?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie nodded and said, "It takes a long time for a person's habits to form, and it's hard to change them without deliberate correction. If, as Gu Qian said, Madam Hu wasn't a supportive wife... then who was organizing her bedroom, especially her wardrobe?"
Zhong Li smiled and asked, "Could it have been the owner of that bodice?"
"It very well could be!" Lu Wuxie agreed.
Zhong Li pursed her lips, thought for a moment, pulled back the carriage curtain, and called Bi Chuan and Old Qiao into the carriage one by one.
As written in the case files and told by Magistrate Liu, Bi Chuan admitted that he was Madam Hu's paramour, and they were indeed at the stage of discussing marriage. He had even given Madam Hu fifty taels of silver as a betrothal gift.
However, just a few days later, Madam Hu suddenly went back on her word. He had gone to her house to cause a scene, but there was no satisfactory outcome, and Madam Hu hadn't returned the fifty taels of silver. He had also missed Madam Hu in the past few days and had indeed gone to see her. They had parted on bad terms, and as for Madam Hu's death, Bi Chuan stated it had nothing to do with him.
As for Old Qiao.
He admitted to seeing Madam Hu the day before she died, but on the day of her death, he was in the fields planting, and the neighbors could all testify to this.
After interrogating Bi Chuan and Old Qiao, Zhong Li felt somewhat fatigued.
Lu Wuxie poured her water and massaged her temples, saying, "If you're tired, I'll take over. The carriage is spacious; you can get some sleep."
Zhong Li turned and nestled into Lu Wuxie's embrace, indulging in the scent of ambergris emanating from him.
"Do you know?" she said, her voice tinged with laziness.
Lu Wuxie raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.
"When we were apart, Tian Lianxue came to find me."
"Hm?" Lu Wuxie queried, correcting her, "It wasn't 'we' who were apart, but you who didn't want me."
Zhong Li pouted and remained silent. This fellow was quite vindictive, making it sound as though she were a heartless woman.
Lu Wuxie's heart softened, and he said, "Alright, 'we' were apart. Li'er, continue."
Zhong Li pursed her lips, feeling his doting compromise, and said, "The incense in her room smells like you. She also said that this item came from Beidi and that you specifically asked someone to send it to her."
"That's not true!" Lu Wuxie denied emphatically. "The spices I wear are indeed from Beidi, but I haven't been to her place since I met you. As for how she got that incense, I have no idea."
Zhong Li chuckled upon seeing Lu Wuxie's strong desire to survive.
"Okay! You're teasing me?" Lu Wuxie realized and prepared to tickle her.
Zhong Li, laughing, said, "I'm not teasing you. It's all true... I was a bit sad at the time."
"Really?" Lu Wuxie narrowed his eyes.
"Yes!" Zhong Li nodded, her gaze bright and sincere.
Lu Wuxie sighed, "Fine, I won't dwell on it. I'm in your hands anyway."
"No way!" Zhong Li bumped his shoulder. The repressed emotions from the interrogation were swept away by this little interlude.
She drank some water, tidied her slightly disheveled hair, and called Huang San, who had been waiting outside, inside.
Huang San still had his roguish demeanor. He slowly got into the carriage, saw the water on the table, and without asking, picked it up and drank it. After finishing, he wiped his mouth and commented, "It smells of lipstick, very sweet."
Initially, Zhong Li thought he was thirsty from waiting outside, and she had her water flask ready to pour him a cup. However, upon hearing his words, she understood. It turned out Huang San had done it intentionally.
Lu Wuxie, who had been dozing nearby, opened his eyes coldly upon hearing this and sat up halfway on the couch.
Zhong Li knew what he was about to do, waved her hand, and gave him a look, as if to say, 'I can handle this alone.' She then shifted her gaze back to Huang San and asked, "Is it really that good?"
Huang San nodded and said, "Yes. I heard that Madam Zhong came from An Ding County. I originally thought the female coroner from Dali Temple would be some sort of fearsome being. When I saw you from outside, I was already amazed. Now, looking at you up close, you are truly a peerless beauty."
"Thank you for the compliment!" Zhong Li replied with a fake smile, her eyes already showing a warning.
Huang San glanced at Lu Wuxie. Seeing that he had returned to his reclining position, he mistakenly assumed Lu Wuxie didn't care about Zhong Li and answered even more brazenly, "Madam Zhong, how much is your monthly salary as a Shaoqing of Dali Temple?"
Zhong Li ignored him and asked, "Do you know Madam Hu next door?"
Huang San didn't reply but continued, "I heard from my relatives who are high-ranking officials in Jincheng that the salary for your position is only ten taels of silver. How about this?
Come with me, and I'll speak to my relatives in Jincheng and see if they can help you get promoted."
As soon as Huang San finished speaking, Lu Wuxie could no longer feign sleep. He flipped over and stared at him.
Huang San shot him a sideways glance, as if to say, 'What are you looking at? I'm not afraid of you,' then continued looking at Zhong Li, even winking a few times and asking, "How about it?"
Zhong Li looked at him and smiled, "I heard you spent a lot of money to marry Lin Xiuxiu. With your current situation, how can you still afford me?"
"Oh, my!" Huang San exclaimed upon hearing this, waving his hand. "What's there to fear? My relative has plenty of money."
"Oh? Then why haven't they given you any?" Zhong Li asked.
Huang San said, "He's been in trouble recently. Once he's released, there will be as much money as you want."
"Oh, in trouble? What kind of trouble?" Zhong Li inquired.
"The Wu Family Silver House incident," Huang San casually replied, waving his hand.
Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie froze. Lu Wuxie's hand was almost raised to punch Huang San, but he forcefully held himself back.
Zhong Li looked at Huang San, truly not expecting this little ruffian to know officials in Jincheng. However, she could ascertain that he only knew part of the story and not the whole. The Wu Family Silver House case was currently in her and Lu Wuxie's hands. Otherwise, no matter how foolish he was, he wouldn't have said such arrogant, self-destructive words.
"The entire Nanyue Kingdom's Wu Family Silver House has been shut down. Can your relative get away scot-free?" Zhong Li pressed further.
"Why not? Madam Zhong, if I tell you a secret, you'll definitely agree to be with me." Huang San said with unwavering confidence.
"What secret?" Zhong Li asked.
Huang San glanced at Lu Wuxie, his lips tightening.
Zhong Li understood and gestured for Lu Wuxie to leave.
Lu Wuxie was naturally unwilling, but seeing Zhong Li glaring at him sternly, he could only angrily get out of the carriage.
"Can you tell me now?" Zhong Li asked.
Huang San gave a silly grin, revealing a piece of green vegetable stuck between his teeth, and said, "Of course. My relative was following a Minister Fu in the court. After Minister Fu fell, although he was affected, the Empress vouched for him, and the Emperor turned a blind eye."
"Get to the point!" Zhong Li said, growing impatient.
Huang San quickly changed the subject, saying, "My secret is that the Emperor is about to pass away. Isn't the Hua Family Army guarding the border in Lin Zhou?
They will be returning soon."
"What did you say?" Zhong Li exclaimed, hitting the table in shock.