Zhong Li emerged from the interrogation chamber of Dali Temple while it was still light.
The sunset hues in the sky were a dull gray, lacking their usual vibrancy.
Hua Yao had been waiting for her at the entrance. Upon seeing her, Hua Yao leaned in and asked, "What did the Tuo family say?"
"She doesn't know about Gu Ling's crime. I explained some of it, and she kept exclaiming it was impossible," Zhong Li replied.
"Was she lying, pretending to know nothing?" Hua Yao inquired.
Zhong Li pondered for a moment and shook her head. "She didn't seem to be."
As they were speaking, a young servant ran over from a distance. Upon seeing Zhong Li, he first scrutinized her from head to toe before cupping his hands and asking, "Are you perhaps Lord Zhong, the Shaoqing of Dali Temple?"
Zhong Li, snapping back to attention, looked at the unfamiliar face before her.
The servant took something from his怀 and presented it to Zhong Li.
Zhong Li accepted it, brought the small packet to her nose, and smelled it. "Herbs?"
The servant nodded. "Someone asked me to deliver this to the Tuo family. Would you please help by taking it inside?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"For the Tuo family?" Zhong Li murmured. She opened the herb packet and glanced inside, her expression immediately turning serious.
"What's wrong?" Hua Yao, sensing Zhong Li's unusual reaction, leaned in to ask.
"This is medicine for treating thirst disease," Zhong Li replied.
"So, that means there's Tian Hua Fen here as well?" Hua Yao asked.
Zhong Li nodded.
"That's strange. Gu Ling is dead, so who would still send medicine to the Tuo family?" Hua Yao asked with confusion.
Zhong Li had an epiphany. She stuffed the herbs into Hua Yao's embrace, instructed her to decoct them for the Tuo family, and then quickly chased after the direction the servant had disappeared.
In less than the time it takes for a cup of tea to brew, she had run past two alleys. She saw the servant who had delivered the medicine standing by a small stall, seemingly choosing items. His furtive glances everywhere told her he was waiting for her.
"Tell me, who asked you to deliver the medicine?" Zhong Li asked as she approached the servant.
Upon seeing Zhong Li, the servant's earlier shifty demeanor instantly turned into a sly smile.
He rubbed his hands together towards Zhong Li.
Zhong Li casually glanced at him and took a small piece of silver from her怀, tossing it into the servant's embrace.
The servant quickly caught it and bit the silver to confirm its authenticity. After verifying it, he said, "As the distinguished person said, Lord would indeed chase me down to give me money."
"Hurry up and tell me!" Zhong Li said with waning patience.
"It was Miss Tian Lianxue from Hua Man Lou who asked me to deliver it." After speaking, the servant darted away.
Zhong Li watched the direction he left, pondered for a while, and then headed towards Hua Man Lou.
Soft smoke curled from the pavilion, and the faint scent of ambergris perfumed the room.
Zhong Li sat by the carved pear wood table, watching the woman skillfully prepare tea opposite her.
After a long while, Tian Lianxue placed the freshly brewed tea before Zhong Li and then spoke, "Zhong Li, does the scent of this ambergris seem familiar?"
Zhong Li's expression was serene as she swept her gaze over the cups before her. "Miss Tian is truly thoughtful, to have procured this incense from the Northern Di."
"Heh heh!" Tian Lianxue chuckled softly, her eyes, with a hint of provocation, roving over the woman opposite her. "It's not from the Northern Di; someone gave it to me."
How could Zhong Li not know who Tian Lianxue's "someone" referred to? She curved her lips in response. "The scent is indeed pleasant. It's rare that he would give you such a valuable incense. It seems the Crown Prince still cares for you deeply."
Tian Lianxue had invited Zhong Li with the intention of using Lu Wuxie's matter to seek revenge or witness her distress. However, the other party appeared so nonchalant that Tian Lianxue felt as if her punch had landed on cotton, exerting no force.
Zhong Li picked up the cup before her and took a sip, her eyebrows slightly raised. "The taste is good. The tea from Jinzhou is truly excellent."
Tian Lianxue shot her a glance, looking as if she had seen something utterly common.
Zhong Li was not annoyed. After finishing the tea in her cup to the last drop, she looked up at Tian Lianxue and said, "Miss Tian, let's not play games. You didn't just ask me here to let me smell incense and have tea, did you?"
"As expected, you are indeed Zhong Li. My little trick couldn't escape you at all." Tian Lianxue refilled Zhong Li's cup and looked at her.
Zhong Li remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"Regarding Gu Ling's matter, Zhong Li, how much do you suspect me?" Tian Lianxue asked.
Zhong Li's eyes lowered. After thinking for a long time, she said, "Actually, I didn't think you were involved in this matter at first. It wasn't until I thoroughly investigated the case of Jia Yue's death three years ago that Gu Ling was not suspected, and she was then able to smoothly become your maid. That's when I knew that Miss Tian was somewhat involved, right?"
Tian Lianxue smiled and pursed her lips in silence, her smile carrying a hint of melancholy that Zhong Li had never seen before.
Zhong Li pondered for a moment and then said, "Miss Tian, you don't need to worry for now. So far, I have no evidence of your involvement in the crime. Even if I privately suspect you might have instigated it, that is merely my own suspicion.
You must understand that Dali Temple operates on human testimony and physical evidence."
"I'm not worried about that," Tian Lianxue replied, picking up Zhong Li's words. Her smile gradually faded, and she looked at Zhong Li with intense eyes.
"I know what I have done, and I am aware of what I am doing, or what I am about to do.
Zhong Li, we've known each other for almost a year now, haven't we?"
Zhong Li nodded, mentally calculating. "It will be a year this autumn."
Tian Lianxue let out a long sigh and looked at the green willow branches outside the window. "Zhong Li, how many times have you suspected me?"
Zhong Li had not expected such a question. At first, she hesitated, unsure whether to speak her mind. It was only when she saw the uncharacteristic bewilderment on Tian Lianxue's face that she carefully opened her mouth:
"From Ming Xia's case to Lingshan Temple, Huanxi Lou, and now Gu Ling's matter, that makes a total of three times."
"You remember them all!" Tian Lianxue regained her composure, fixing her gaze on Zhong Li. "As expected of someone chosen by the Crown Prince, your mind is far more meticulous than we anticipated."
"We?" Zhong Li seized on the key point in her words.
Tian Lianxue shook her head and suddenly blurted out a sentiment, "Zhong Li, I actually don't dislike you at all. Sometimes, I even envy you. At least, he has you in his heart."
"He? Are you referring to Lu Wuxie?" Zhong Li frowned. She felt that Tian Lianxue seemed a bit off today.
Tian Lianxue curved her lips, not answering Zhong Li's question, but instead asking again, "Zhong Li, I asked you to come because I wanted to ask you a question."
Zhong Li gestured for her to continue.
"If one day I were to disappear, would you notice?"
Zhong Li was initially taken aback. Upon realizing what was said, she asked, "What do you mean by that, Miss Tian?"
Tian Lianxue pursed her lips and waited for her answer.
Zhong Li found her words ambiguous and could only nod. "If you were gone, naturally, I would notice, provided I were still alive."
"Pfft!" Tian Lianxue couldn't hold back her laughter and exclaimed, "They say Dali Temple's Zhong Li is incorruptible and aloof, but I see you actually have quite a sense of humor."
Zhong Li remained silent, a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
When Tian Lianxue's laughter subsided, her expression turned serious again, and she asked, "If I were gone, Zhong Li, would you look for me?"
"Yes!" This time, Zhong Li was no longer as surprised as before. She looked at Tian Lianxue and said, word by word, "No matter who it is, be it an enemy or a friend, as long as it involves a case and they go missing without reason, I will certainly investigate and search for them."
"Even if the path ahead is fraught with danger?" Tian Lianxue asked.
"Yes, even if this path leads to no return!" Zhong Li responded.
Tian Lianxue looked at her like this. Only when she felt her cheeks were wet did she realize, and quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away the tears that shouldn't have fallen at this moment.
"Zhong Li," Tian Lianxue swallowed her choked sob and said, "No matter who I become, please remember your words!"