“Did His Highness truly go there?” Hearing this, Zhong Li no longer cared about her own thoughts. She was more concerned with whether Lu Wuxie knew about what happened to Ping’er and chose… to stand by and watch.
“What if I said I watched Ping’er being humiliated with my own eyes?” Lu Wuxie seemed to understand Zhong Li’s inner thoughts, a slight twitch at the corner of his lips, his tone neither warm nor cold.
Zhong Li frowned tightly and said coldly, “Then His Highness and I will have absolutely no further dealings.”
“You’re not investigating your adoptive father’s death?” Lu Wuxie raised an eyebrow and asked.
“There are many ways to investigate my adoptive father’s death; it’s just taking a longer route. As for someone as cold-hearted as Your Highness, you and Zhong Li are not of the same path,” Zhong Li replied without hesitation.
“Why? Ping’er is just a maidservant.” Lu Wuxie’s gaze held a hint of ambiguity upon hearing her answer.
“In Your Highness’s heart, what is a servant’s life? Filth? Or something that can be discarded at will?” Zhong Li retorted.
Before Lu Wuxie could answer, she continued, “But in Zhong Li’s heart, everyone’s life is the same, regardless of status or background. As long as it is within my capabilities, I will save them if I can.”
Lu Wuxie’s eyes flickered upon hearing this.
Zhong Li, seeing that Lu Wuxie had no intention of replying, knitted her brows slightly and was about to turn away when he suddenly spoke, “I was not at Prince Xian’s mansion last night.”
Zhong Li’s body paused upon hearing this, her gaze towards Lu Wuxie filled with disbelief.
He wasn’t at Prince Xian’s mansion? Then what were those footprints outside Ping’er’s door?
As this question surfaced in her mind, she already had an answer.
Her eyes widened as she looked at Lu Wuxie, “Who exactly wants to frame you?”
Lu Wuxie knew Zhong Li had figured it out. He chuckled lightly and turned to leave.
“Wait!” Zhong Li called out to him, “If that’s the case, then Ping’er wouldn’t be…”
She had found it suspicious before. Ping’er’s death was too abrupt, with many contradictions.
If she had lured Yuan Shang to act intimately in the study, that would be understandable and make sense. But then strangling Yuan Shang in the study and staging it as suicide, which was easily seen through, was where the contradictions began.
Ping’er liked Lu Wuxie. Why would she pin the murder on the person she loved? Wasn't that needlessly creating trouble for him?
Secondly, Ping’er had drugged Yuan Shang. At that point, Yuan Shang was no longer capable of threatening Ping’er again. Why did Ping’er stubbornly proceed with the subsequent actions?
What was Ping’er thinking? Was she being directed by someone behind her? This case, which seemed simple, could not withstand scrutiny.
First Shen Hong, then Ping’er. Would there be others in the end?
Lu Wuxie looked back at Zhong Li, who was biting her lip, silent, and lost in thought. “Li’er, I knew entrusting this case to you was my wisest choice.”
With that, he flashed Zhong Li a gentle smile, one he had never shown anyone before. He clasped his hands and walked out of the study.
Zhong Li watched his receding figure, her eyes captivated by the smile he had just shown.
After a while, she seemed to realize something. She turned to look at the self-portrait of Lu Wuxie hanging on the desk. His demeanor just now was very similar to the person in the painting.
***
Two days later, in Jin City.
On Wenchang Street, two children chased each other, happily skipping with sugar-coated hawthorns.
The one running ahead glanced back at the one behind. When the latter caught up, they exchanged a smile, and while eating their sugar-coated hawthorns, they chanted, “A young rake has appeared in Jin City, drinking only, loving to show off; one day he went to Huanxi Tower, tipped the opera singer, the young male performer; the Empress came to intervene, took him home, brought misfortune upon the servants, brought misfortune upon the servants!”
Zhong Li stood at the end of the street, watching the two children run past. She heard the nursery rhyme they were singing. In just a few days, everything surrounding Lu Wuxie had become the talk of Jin City.
His reputation in Jin City was already poor. Now, with the incident at Huanxi Tower being mocked by the common folk in such a way, the reputation maintained by Prince Xian would likely be ruined.
At this moment, Lan Heng emerged from a small fruit stall. He handed Zhong Li a peach he had bought. Seeing that Zhong Li was staring blankly without reacting, he glanced at the children who had already run far away and instantly understood.
“Today, during the morning court, His Majesty kept the Heir Apparent and Prince Xian alone,” he said.
Zhong Li’s thoughts returned to Lu Wuxie upon hearing someone mention him.
She took the peach from Lan Heng and asked, “Did His Majesty learn about the rumors circulating among the people lately?”
Lan Heng nodded. It was common knowledge that His Majesty cared most about civilian rumors. Now Lu Wuxie had committed a major offense. Even if he repeatedly emphasized to His Majesty that the Heir Apparent’s case was not yet clear and no conclusion could be drawn, it was evident that His Majesty had already formed a preconceived notion.
“What was the final outcome? What punishment did His Majesty give?” Zhong Li asked.
“There was no punishment, though,” Lan Heng thought for a moment. “However, Prince Xian seemed quite angered and ordered the Heir Apparent to confine himself and reflect for the next few days.”
Hearing this outcome, Zhong Li sighed in relief, unsure if it was because the burden on Lu Wuxie’s heart was lifted or because His Majesty was wise enough not to punish Lu Wuxie rashly.
“By the way, someone came to Dali Temple today. Guess who?” Lan Heng, seeing Zhong Li’s preoccupied expression, couldn’t help but bring up something else to divert her attention.
Zhong Li’s mind was entirely focused on the Huanxi Tower case. As for other cases, she generally didn’t get involved unless absolutely necessary.
“Who?” she replied casually.
“Wei Fu.”
Zhong Li’s expression faltered upon hearing Lan Heng say the name. Wei Fu, the opera singer from Huanxi Tower, why would she come to Dali Temple?
Seeing that Zhong Li had finally shown some interest, Lan Heng’s lips curved unconsciously. “Since the incident at Huanxi Tower, two people have died. Besides the nursery rhymes about the Heir Apparent, another matter is circulating in the streets.”
“What is it?” Zhong Li asked.
“Some say Huanxi Tower is haunted, and the next to die will be the opera singer Wei Fu.” Lan Heng said.
“So Wei Fu came to Dali Temple seeking protection?” Zhong Li asked.
Lan Heng nodded. “Yes, Wei Fu has been waiting at the entrance of Dali Temple since early this morning. I have already sent Xu Qing to Huanxi Tower to arrange personnel.”
“Does Your Excellency truly believe the common rumors that the next to die will be Wei Fu?” Zhong Li couldn’t help but ask. In her opinion, whether it was Shen Hong or Yuan Shang, on the surface they were two separate cases, but internally there must be an inevitable connection. Lu Wuxie was one aspect; there might be deeper reasons.
“Whether I believe it or not is another matter. The most important thing is that I want to go to Huanxi Tower to see if there are any other clues,” Lan Heng knew what Zhong Li was thinking. He smiled faintly at her and, clasping his hands, walked towards Willow Alley.