Lu Wuxie was good at observing people. Upon entering the hall, he felt that Lan Heng was a bit different from his usual self today. However, he couldn't pinpoint the reason and dismissed it as his own overthinking.
It wasn't until Lan Heng surprisingly agreed readily to everyone's request that Lu Wuxie's gaze swept across Zhong Li's face, and he had a feeling that these two were not simple.
He lowered his eyes and, while contemplating, took a step forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Imperial Uncle, Li'er might not be able to join the Dali Temple for a while."
"Oh? How so?" Lu Jing'an raised his eyebrows in surprise, while the two people standing on Lu Wuxie's left and right were also stunned in unison.
"Li'er and Wuxie accidentally fell into the water while checking account books at Li Kun's house. Li'er's scalpel fell into the lake. That thing has a peculiar shape, thin and sharp. Wuxie has never seen anything like it in Southern Yue Kingdom. It is said that when going into battle, one needs a weapon. Li'er has lost her handy tool, and I fear she might cause trouble for the Dali Temple," Lu Wuxie said.
Hearing Lu Wuxie's words, Zhong Li frowned and shot a glance at his back.
"What kind of object is it? Miss Zhong, please draw it, and I, Lan, will find someone to forge one for you," Lan Heng said upon hearing this, looking at Zhong Li sideways through Lu Wuxie.
Lu Jing'an, seemingly seeing Lan Heng in such a manner for the first time, did not wait for Zhong Li to speak. He slapped the table and said, "Since Zhong Li lost her handy tool while investigating a case, it is only right that I, the Emperor, should provide it."
"Guards!" Lu Jing'an said, waving his hand.
Eunuch Hua stepped forward a few paces, bowing low, awaiting Lu Jing'an's next words.
"Have Miss Zhong draw a small sketch and find someone to forge a pure gold one."
"Yes!" Eunuch Hua raised his hands above his head and turned to make arrangements.
Immediately after, Lu Jing'an waved his hand at Zhong Li and Lan Heng, saying, "Wuxie, you stay. The other two may withdraw."
Lan Heng and Zhong Li bowed in acknowledgment and retreated from the Imperial Study step by step.
When only Lu Jing'an and Lu Wuxie remained in the Imperial Study, Lu Jing'an beckoned and said, "Mo Cang, speak further."
Lu Wuxie took two steps forward.
"How much has the Li Kun case been investigated?"
Lu Wuxie presented a waterlogged account book from his sleeve.
Eunuch Hua, seeing this, quickly took it and presented it to the Emperor.
Lu Jing'an took it, flipped through it quickly, and his brow furrowed. "It's waterlogged?"
"Replying to Imperial Uncle, indeed it is. Mo Cang had already found Li Kun's secret chamber, but unexpectedly, there was an assassination attempt from outside, followed by a great fire. In his haste, he jumped into the water. Mo Cang's handling of the matter was insufficient. I beg Imperial Uncle to punish me," Lu Wuxie said, kneeling on one knee.
Lu Jing'an set the account book aside and narrowed his eyes, gazing deeply at Lu Wuxie. After an unknown amount of time, his expression returned to its usual calm. "We are all family. Mo Cang almost lost his life for this matter. How could I, his Imperial Uncle, blame you?"
Lu Wuxie remained still.
Lu Jing'an stood up, walked over to him, and pulled him up from the ground, saying, "Xie'er, you have worked hard. Continue to investigate this matter covertly. After all, you, as a brother, will need to support the Crown Prince's affairs in the future."
"Yes!" Lu Wuxie cupped his hands in reply.
"Go now. I am tired and wish to rest," Lu Jing'an waved his hand.
Lu Wuxie raised his eyes with a humble expression. He bowed to Lu Jing'an once more, but his gaze turned somber the moment he turned away.
The door to the Imperial Study opened and closed again. Lu Jing'an withdrew the smile from his face, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked to the desk. He casually flipped through the account book Lu Wuxie had presented earlier and coldly declared, "Idiot, you almost botched it!"
Eunuch Hua, hearing this, quickly stepped forward and picked up the account book, saying, "Your Majesty is wise, preventing unforeseen circumstances."
Lu Jing'an's lips curved into a smile as he gazed at the spot where Lu Wuxie had left, his eyes dark and unreadable.
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Zhong Li and Lan Heng walked out of the Imperial Study. As Zhong Li was unfamiliar with the palace, she could only follow Lan Heng as they wandered through the Imperial Garden.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, Lan Heng, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped.
Zhong Li, following behind him, was lost in thought. If she hadn't controlled herself in time, she would have almost crashed into his back.
"Lord Lan, my apologies!" Zhong Li reacted swiftly, cupping her hands.
After a long while, she received no response from across.
She looked up and met Lan Heng's smiling, yet inscrutable, eyes.
"You..."
"Shush." Lan Heng clasped one hand around his chest and made a shushing gesture with the other.
Seeing that Zhong Li had fallen silent, he said, "How did you end up here? Where is your godfather?"
Hearing Lan Heng's question, Zhong Li recalled events from four years ago.
Four years ago, she had accompanied Gai Chen to the Su Qing Lingshan Temple to find someone. Because the person Gai Chen was meeting was unusual, she had to avoid them, so Zhong Li spent the entire day wandering around the Lingshan Temple.
As she was preparing to return to Lingshan Temple to find her godfather that evening, she happened to pass through the woods and heard someone calling for help. Following the sound, she found Lan Heng, injured and lying in the woods. Initially, she intended to go up the mountain to seek help from the monks of Lingshan Temple, but he stopped her.
In the end, she could only rely on her own medical skills to help Lan Heng stop the bleeding. She also made an excuse to beg her godfather to stay at Lingshan Temple for two more days until Lan Heng's danger period passed before leaving.
At the time, she thought Lan Heng was a local hero or a martial artist being pursued, but now it seemed...
She recalled Hua Yao, whom she had met recently, and the words she had spoken, and she began to understand.
"Lord, were you investigating Li Kun back then?" Zhong Li did not answer Lan Heng's question but asked in return.
Lan Heng nodded and said, "Yes, I was then a Shaoqing of the Dali Temple. Having nothing else to do, I reviewed old cases of the Dali Temple and some trivial matters of the former court. I discovered that there might have been problems with the distribution of抚恤银两 (fǔxù yínliǎng - relief funds) in Su Qing County. So, I used my leave to investigate the area privately, unexpectedly encountering danger."
Zhong Li pursed her lips. She remembered how she and Lu Wuxie had almost perished at the Li residence. It seemed that the person behind Li Kun was fully aware of everyone's movements in the court.
"Li'er, where is your godfather?" Lan Heng asked his question again, seeing Zhong Li remain silent.
This time, Zhong Li finally responded, her expression tinged with sadness. "One year after leaving Su Qing County, my godfather passed away."
"Passed away? How could that be?" Lan Heng frowned, a hint of sorrow appearing in his eyes.
Zhong Li shook her head, seemingly reluctant to elaborate.
Lan Heng did not press her, merely asking again, "You and the Heir..."
Zhong Li thought for a moment and said, "Lord Lan, it's best you don't ask. The situation between the Heir and me is rather complicated. You only need to know that we met during the Jia family case."
"Xie Xiaoyun," Lan Heng murmured.
Zhong Li fell silent again and walked past Lan Heng, heading forward.
Lan Heng snapped back to attention and quickened his pace to catch up.
As the two disappeared around the corner of the rockery in the Imperial Garden, a figure emerged from beneath a peach tree nearby.
Lu Wuxie gazed at the empty bluestone path ahead, his eyes lowered.