Jincheng's Wenchang Street had just been renovated. The carriage rumbled along the newly paved bluestone road, and in the quiet night, the cicadas could be faintly heard chirping from the plane trees lining the street.
It had been exceptionally hot lately.
Zhong Li pulled aside the carriage curtain. Only by sticking her head out could she feel a slight cool breeze.
"Want some?" As she closed her eyes to enjoy it, Lu Wuxie's voice came from behind.
Zhong Li turned her head, seeing Lu Wuxie looking at her with a smile, holding a bowl of ice jelly.
"We passed by just now and saw the vendor hadn't packed up yet, so I bought some," Lu Wuxie explained nonchalantly.
Zhong Li lowered her gaze. In the past, she would have certainly refused, but today, unable to resist her body's protest, she thought for a moment, picked up the small bowl, and ate silently.
"Li'er." Lu Wuxie propped his head up, his peach blossom-like eyes gazing at the woman eating opposite him.
Zhong Li looked up at him.
At that moment, the cool breeze from outside blew in, rustling the dark hair casually draped over the man's shoulders. He was already handsome, and with the night setting in, the hint of a wicked smile on his lips added a touch of devilish charm.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I so easily agreed to Tian Lianxue's request?" Lu Wuxie said.
Zhong Li finished the last bite of ice jelly in her bowl and, after setting down the bowl and chopsticks, replied, "Does the Prince wish to say?"
Upon hearing her answer, Lu Wuxie didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Logically, a man like him should be grateful to have someone like Zhong Li by his side – discreet, unobtrusive, and capable. But privately, he actually wished she would inquire a little more about him, even if it was just to cast a confused glance his way.
"The Ghost Festival holds a special significance for me," Lu Wuxie sat up straighter and tidied his clothes. "Do you remember what I told you about my mother?" kuAiδugg
Hearing this, Zhong Li's mind seemed to grasp something. If she recalled correctly, Lu Wuxie had said his mother, Xie Yunxia, was killed on her way to Lingshan Temple in Suqing County. Could it be...
"Yes, my mother had an accident on her way to Lingshan Temple to pray on the Ghost Festival. If we calculate..." He narrowed his eyes, "that would be in three days."
Zhong Li was startled. Recalling Tian Lianxue's tearful pleas on her knees earlier that evening, she asked, "Does the Prince go every year?"
"Yes, every year since my mother's accident," Lu Wuxie replied, following her lead.
Zhong Li finally understood why Tian Lianxue knew that Lu Wuxie would be going to Suqing in a few days. It turned out that people familiar with him all knew this.
"Alone?" she asked again.
"Not counting Lin Jin and the other guards, yes, alone," Lu Wuxie answered.
"So, why did the Prince break his rule this time and bring Miss Lianxue along on the journey?" Zhong Li finally voiced the question that had been lingering in her mind.
Lu Wuxie looked up, gazing deeply at the woman opposite him with an unfathomable expression. Before he could answer, Zhong Li suddenly added, "Previously, I helped the Prince with the Rejuvenation Powder, causing Miss Lianxue to mistakenly believe the Prince had intimate contact with her. By doing this, is the Prince planning something?"
"Li'er..." Lu Wuxie was taken aback by Zhong Li's question and found himself at a loss for words.
"Is this related to the death of the former Princess of the Prince of Xian's estate?" Zhong Li didn't give Lu Wuxie time to consider, posing another question.
Lu Wuxie's body stiffened, his thin lips pulling into a straight line at her words.
Zhong Li stared at him, her exceptionally beautiful face appearing even more serene and cold under the moonlight filtering through the carriage window.
Just as she thought Lu Wuxie wouldn't answer, his voice suddenly rang out from across her, "Li'er, do you think Mingxia's death was a coincidence?"
Zhong Li hadn't expected Lu Wuxie to say such a thing. She frowned, looking at him in confusion.
Wasn't it? Mingxia, wearing a hairpin given by Tian Lianxue, had encountered Miao Jie and died. What was the problem with that?
Wait!
Zhong Li's eyes widened as she looked at Lu Wuxie, who was calmly observing her with a relaxed demeanor.
If Mingxia's death was not a coincidence, and if Tian Lianxue knew from the start that the ten-year-old case had issues, then her gifting Mingxia the hairpin was...
Silencing her?
But why would Mingxia, a mere servant, be a target for assassination?
"How much do you know about the current political situation in Southern Yue?" Lu Wuxie knew Zhong Li was intelligent and would grasp things quickly. Instead of answering her unspoken questions, he posed another query.
Zhong Li shook her head. Honestly, her understanding was probably less than that of an ordinary citizen of Jincheng.
"If I told you that the Dragon Throne in the palace right now should have belonged to my father, what would you think?" Lu Wuxie pondered for a long time before dropping another question. This one, however, caused even the usually calm Zhong Li's breathing to falter for a moment.
Zhong Li looked at the man opposite her, suddenly recalling some rumors circulating in the marketplace.
It was said that before the late Emperor's death in the twenty-second year of Ningping, he had intended to entrust the throne to the current Prince of Xian. However, as the Prince of Xian was still young that year, the late Emperor feared he would be unable to handle such a heavy responsibility. He summoned his imperial brother, the Regent, Lu Jing'an, at that time.
He hoped that Lu Jing'an would temporarily administer state affairs and, moreover, assist, guide, and groom the Prince of Xian, supporting his ascension to the throne when he was older. But Lu Jing'an had occupied the imperial seat for a full twenty-eight years. As time passed, Lu Jing'an had long forgotten the promise he had made to the late Emperor.
Now, Lu Jing'an was advanced in years and would likely abdicate within a few years. The Crown Prince had already been established. The only potential threat...
Zhong Li closed her eyes. She could hardly bear to think about it.
If all this were true, then...
"Does the Prince mean, Tian Lianxue..." Zhong Li trailed off, too afraid to continue. After all, it was all too unbelievable, and as a forensic examiner, she dealt with evidence. She couldn't engage in mere speculation.
Lu Wuxie smiled, appearing remarkably calm about the unfolding events. "Li'er's guess is what I intended to say. The case of Miao Jie has been solved, and the Emperor will surely know the details. So, who do you think is most likely to be implicated?"
Of course, it would be the Minister of Justice, Minister Chen!
Zhong Li thought this without hesitation, the words popping into her mind first. It was known that Minister Chen, as the Grand Judge ten years ago, bore significant responsibility for the unsolved ten-year-old case. Now that the case had resurfaced, although not a capital offense, a demotion for Minister Chen was inevitable.
Thinking of this, she looked at the man opposite her, who was gazing out at the night scenery and enjoying the evening breeze. Did he know from the very beginning Tian Lianxue's purpose in asking him to thoroughly investigate Mingxia's case?
If Tian Lianxue was indeed as she suspected, then whose pawn was she?
Currently, four individuals within the Southern Yue royal family were suspected: Crown Prince Lu Yuanhong, Lu Yuanchen, the son of Emperor's favorite concubine Nangong Xiaorou, the good-for-nothing Sixth Prince Lu Yuanfeng, and...
The current Emperor, Lu Jing'an, who had occupied the throne meant for another.
Then, could they also be the ones who killed Lu Wuxie's mother, Xie Yunxia?
If it were truly them, then what connection did her adoptive father, Gai Chen, have to this?
What was the ultimate goal of the person who used the judge's brush as a weapon?
"Li'er, stop guessing," Lu Wuxie said nonchalantly, looking at the furrowed brow of the woman opposite him. "As the ancients said, 'Accept what fate sends, and adapt!' Let's take it one step at a time."