The graveyard west of the small fishing village, Zhong Li stood before a mother-and-child gravestone, placing a new pair of straw shoes on the smaller one.
"Youyou, I finally understand why your mother named you Kang Youyou. She must have wished for you to be carefree your entire life, only for it to be a cruel irony in the end," Zhong Li sighed, continuing,
"I remember the first time I saw you, you weren't wearing shoes. When I last saw your body, you still weren't wearing shoes. Today, I've made you a new pair. I hope you won't lose them this time."
After speaking, she took out a small pot she had prepared earlier and poured all its contents onto the ground before the gravestone. "This is my homemade fruit and vegetable water. Take it back and have a taste."
As the sea breeze carried hints of fruit and vegetables around them, Zhong Li retracted her pot and slowly stood up, heading back towards the small fishing village.
"Li'er." Lu Wuxie waited for her outside the graveyard. He took the small pot from her and draped a new outer cloak over her shoulders.
"Why are you waiting for me here?" she asked, looking up at the man beside her. Her fingertips brushed against his hand, and feeling its warmth, the worry that had been rising in her heart eased slightly.
Lu Wuxie knew what she meant and smiled. "I'm not as afraid of the cold anymore."
Zhong Li looked at him in surprise. "When did that happen?"
Lu Wuxie didn't answer, instead holding her hand as they walked eastward. When they could faintly see the small fishing village, he said, "Kang Ji has been captured. Many villagers are watching him now. He probably won't live through tonight."
Zhong Li nodded; she had expected this outcome for Kang Ji long ago.
In a place like this small fishing village, considered a secluded haven, all the villagers were the law. Now that Kang Ji had committed murder, he would undoubtedly be brought out for public judgment.
"What about Niu Ling?" she asked. After solving the case, she had handed over the remaining tasks to Lu Wuxie and taken Youyou's body to the graveyard. She didn't know Niu Ling's fate.
Lu Wuxie narrowed his eyes, facing the sun. "Niu Ling was surrounded by villagers after you left. Due to her intense emotions and lack of immediate control, her water broke."
"Her water broke? Is she pregnant?" Zhong Li asked quickly. Even if Niu Ling had made mistakes, the child in her womb was innocent.
Lu Wuxie glanced at her. "The child is fine and healthy. Niu Ling likely has only a day or two left. She asked me to find you, saying there was something she wanted to tell you."
Zhong Li greeted him and, pulling her cloak tighter, hurried towards Niu Ling's house.
Lu Wuxie stood at the entrance of the small fishing village, gazing absently at the woman's retreating figure. Only when she disappeared from sight did he turn and head towards the place where Kang Ji was being held.
"Waa... waa..."
Just as Zhong Li arrived at Niu Ling's doorstep, she heard the cry of an infant from inside.
She quickly pushed the door open. The villagers inside parted to make way for her.
Zhong Li walked directly into Niu Ling's bedroom. She saw Niu Ling lying on the bed, her breath shallow, holding an infant.
"Miss Zhong, you're here?" Niu Ling, hearing the movement, opened her heavy eyelids to look at her.
Zhong Li stepped forward, preparing to check her condition.
Niu Ling, using all her strength, pulled her wrist away from Zhong Li's grasp and shook her head. "I won't live much longer. There's no need to check."
Zhong Li lowered her gaze, unsure of what to say. In her view, Niu Ling had initially been a victim herself.
"I have something I'd like to ask of you, Miss Zhong. May I?" Niu Ling said.
Zhong Li nodded, agreeing.
"This child..." Niu Ling began, glancing at the infant beside her. The baby seemed to sense that his mother had something important to say; he had been crying earlier but was now remarkably quiet. "Will you help raise him?"
Zhong Li was taken aback. She looked at the tiny infant in Niu Ling's arms. She had never been a mother and truly didn't know how to handle this.
"I know that you and your husband's identities are not that simple," Niu Ling continued.
Zhong Li looked at her, her lips pressed together.
"I once rescued someone from a shipwreck. Although that person has since left, he told me about the Southern Yue Kingdom. There aren't many people with your martial skills or someone as capable as you as a coroner in the Southern Yue Kingdom," Niu Ling said, her eyes filled with anticipation as she looked at Zhong Li.
"I know I've made a grave mistake, and death is what I deserve. But... my child is innocent. If I leave him in this small fishing village, he will bear the stigma of having parents who were murderers his entire life. I don't want... I don't want... my child to be criticized from birth!"
Zhong Li frowned, looking at Niu Ling. She understood her worries.
"So..." Niu Ling swallowed with difficulty, then used her last bit of strength to sit up, kneel on the bed, and began to kowtow to Zhong Li. Despite Zhong Li's attempts to stop her, she firmly pushed her away.
"So, please, take my child away. I want to give him a happy future. Don't tell him who his mother is. I... I don't deserve it... sob..."
Zhong Li supported Niu Ling's hand, looking at her pale face. She closed her eyes and pondered for a moment. "What my husband and I do is very dangerous. Are you sure you've thought this through?"
"I've thought it through. Even if it's just to give my child a future, it's better than being condemned to death here in the small fishing village," Niu Ling replied quickly, hearing Zhong Li's words and realizing she had agreed.
"Very well. I will take your child. I promise you, I will do my utmost to protect him, teach him to read and write when he grows up, and teach him the ways of the world. As for what he becomes in the future, that will depend on his own destiny," Zhong Li said.
"Thank you... thank you!" Niu Ling nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude.
Zhong Li took the child from Niu Ling's arms, looking at the soft, small face in her embrace. She glanced once more at the woman on the bed, whose eyes were already losing their color and awaiting death, and quickly left the room.
At the same time, Lu Wuxie arrived at the southernmost part of the small fishing village, where Kang Ji was being held.
"Master, you've arrived?" The village chief, seeing him, stepped back, clearing the way to the prison door behind him.
Lu Wuxie glanced at him indifferently. "Is the prisoner still alive?"
"He's alive. He won't die until you give the word," the village chief replied.
Lu Wuxie nodded and pushed the door open, entering the cell.
Kang Ji was chained to the wall, his body covered in filth and blood, his breathing shallow as he looked at the person approaching him.
"It really is you..."
Lu Wuxie casually grabbed a chair and sat opposite him, too lazy to waste words. He took out a dagger from his懷 and threw it on the ground. "Do you recognize this? We found it at your home."
Kang Ji looked at the dagger, his expression freezing for a moment. "No... I don't recognize it!"
"Kang Ji, you've been in this small fishing village for too long. You can't even hide your lies anymore," Lu Wuxie said with a cold, mocking smile.
Kang Ji swallowed a few times, not daring to speak.
Lu Wuxie's gaze fell on the dagger. "I found weapons flowing from the Southern Yue Kingdom to Yingzhou in the cabins of the Beichuan Gang. This dagger on the ground was forged in the Southern Yue Kingdom. Don't tell me you have nothing to do with smuggling weapons."
"You've been watching me all along?" Kang Ji was stunned and looked at Lu Wuxie in disbelief.
Lu Wuxie sneered coldly. "Although the small fishing village is not under the jurisdiction of the Southern Yue Kingdom or Yingzhou, most of its inhabitants are from the Southern Yue Kingdom. People going from here to Jinzhou would not be subjected to as many searches by yamen and customs as foreigners. And because of the special nature of Xiao Yu Island, the information received here is slightly faster than in other prefectures.
Therefore, if a spy were to infiltrate here and become a traitor, they could easily blend in and pass unnoticed, while also receiving first-hand information from the court.
Just a few days ago, I had just issued a notice for strict investigation into 'qiat grass,' and the Beichuan Gang seemed to have been prepared, hiding the 'qiat grass.' What surprised me even more was that they were also transporting weapons to Yingzhou. And the only place that could have leaked court information was this small fishing village."
Kang Ji listened but did not reply.
Lu Wuxie continued, "Initially, I just wanted to come here to change my identity and investigate thoroughly. I never expected you to walk right into my trap, not to mention carrying such a despicable and scandalous murder case."
"Speak!" Lu Wuxie looked at the silent man opposite him and issued a final ultimatum. "If you can tell me who is behind all this, I might consider leaving you with your body intact."
"Heh heh!" Kang Ji suddenly burst into laughter. He stared into Lu Wuxie's face, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "They all say that Jin City's number one dissolute prince, Lord Lu, is a decadent scoundrel. No one expected him to be so cunningly hidden.
But!"
He spoke, his eyes showing a calculating glint. "Just as you could figure out how to capture me, I could also foresee the day I might be exposed. So..."
Damn it!
Lu Wuxie saw the look of determination on Kang Ji's face and knew something was wrong. He stepped forward and grabbed his jaw.
But his actions were a step too late.
Kang Ji's body convulsed a few times, and a stream of black blood flowed from his mouth. In an instant, he was no longer breathing.
"My Lord!" The village chief outside, hearing the commotion inside, rushed in, leaning on his cane.
Lu Wuxie took out a handkerchief from his懷, wiping his fingertips as he spoke, "Kang Ji is dead. They will find a new contact person. I will send trained spies from the Flying Kite Pavilion to take over. Later, they will certainly investigate the cause of Kang Ji's death. Chang Bo, you must be careful then!"
Upon hearing this, the village chief immediately knelt on one knee. "My Lord, when my wife died, that lotus hairpin was stolen by a villain. Ten years ago, you found my wife's belongings and relieved my longing. Now that I am old, I don't mind sacrificing this old life. Moreover, what I have done is for the sake of all the people of the Southern Yue Kingdom. I will spare no effort."
Hearing this, Lu Wuxie gave the village chief a deep look. "You've been through a lot these past few years."
"That's right." The village chief looked at Kang Ji's corpse and then at the dagger on the ground. "I know some things about Kang Ji that might be of some help to you."
"What?" Lu Wuxie asked.
"Every month, merchant ships pass by the small fishing village to collect fish. Kang Ji always secretly gives some silver to the helmsmen on the ships to transport things to Yongcheng. Do you think this information is helpful to you?"
"Yongcheng..." Lu Wuxie narrowed his eyes, remaining silent.