The laws of the Southern Yue Kingdom had been refined over a century.
According to legal statutes, individuals suspected of murder could be held in the Dali Temple pending investigation. Once a case was definitively concluded and the culprit apprehended, they would be transferred to the Ministry of Punishment for final sentencing.
By the time Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie emerged from Huaman Lou, the sky had turned a pale, fish-belly white. The entertainment district of Willow Lane was beginning to close up, awaiting the return of dusk.
Zhong Li was the first to enter the carriage, waiting for the Lu family's young lord, who was still lingering at the entrance of Huaman Lou, reluctant to part from the beauties there.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Zhong Li heard soft sobbing again. It was then that she saw Lu Wuxie enter, his expression unchanged by Tian Lianxue's lingering gaze.
"Young Lord," Tian Lianxue bit her lip, her pitiable demeanor perfectly matching her name.
Lu Wuxie turned back.
"You must seek justice for Mingxia," Tian Lianxue entreated once more.
Lu Wuxie nodded, preparing to lower the carriage curtain.
The next moment, Tian Lianxue seemed to realize something. She quickly took something from her sleeve and pressed it into Lu Wuxie's hand, her cheeks flushing as she turned and re-entered the building.
Lu Wuxie returned to his seat, his fingers half-unfurling the object he’d been given. The moment he understood what Tian Lianxue had passed him, his eyebrows rose. He silently tossed it into a small cabinet behind him.
Zhong Li sat opposite him. While she had no interest in other people’s private affairs, her gaze happened to sweep over and catch sight of the item in Lu Wuxie's hand.
From just a corner of the object, she had already guessed its nature.
A肚兜!
Tian Lianxue had given her personal undergarment to Lu Wuxie?
Zhong Li raised an eyebrow slightly.
Indeed, Tian Lianxue was a courtesan. However, everyone in the Southern Yue Kingdom knew that beneath her delicate and pitiable facade lay an unusually proud spirit. She had turned away countless princes and nobles, and even someone of Lu Wuxie’s status could only listen to music and drink tea in her private chambers, perhaps discussing life and aspirations.
And now…
Zhong Li turned her head, gazing out of the carriage window at Huaman Lou, which was already receding into the distance.
Tian Lianxue's intentions were clear, but the matter had not yet reached an unmanageable point, and Lu Wuxie had not yet gone to the Ministry of Punishment to clarify things. Was this such an urgent matter?
Zhong Li looked up at the man opposite her, who was feigning sleep with dark circles under his eyes, and pursed her lips.
"Why are you staring at this young lord so intently?"
Just as she lowered her gaze, preparing to rest, a teasing voice came from across from her.
Zhong Li met Lu Wuxie’s smirking eyes and asked, "Has the young lord agreed then?"
Lu Wuxie heard her and glanced at the street outside before asking, "How did you know?"
"Yesterday, when the young lord said he was returning to the Prince Xian's mansion, the streets were lined with grand taverns, inns, and shops selling jewelry and fine silks. Now, as we leave Huaman Lou, the streets are filled with vendors and markets. According to Jincheng's layout, shouldn't we be heading to the Ministry of Punishment?" Zhong Li stated her deduction.
It was not difficult to understand. Royal palaces or noble residences were usually located in prime areas, while prisons and brothels were typically found in the poorer districts of Jincheng.
A fleeting look of admiration flashed in Lu Wuxie's eyes. He then casually retrieved the '肚兜' from the cabinet and said, "Since everyone else is acting like this, as an official, I can't be too idle, can I?"
Zhong Li watched him fold the 肚兜, thinking he intended to treasure it. To her surprise, he casually tucked it under the corner of the desk in front of him.
"Tsk, I thought this table was unstable before. Now it's just right!"
Zhong Li was utterly speechless. She realized she couldn't fathom what this man opposite her was thinking.
After some time, Lu Wuxie had brewed two cups of fresh tea before speaking, "Ten years ago, a similar case occurred in Jincheng."
This time, Zhong Li did not refuse the cup he offered. She took it with both hands, waiting for him to continue.
"The victims were all women. Their bodies were found in Cat Alley, deep within Willow Lane, bearing stab wounds resembling a thousand cuts," Lu Wuxie said.
"What happened next?" Zhong Li pressed.
"It was solved."
"Solved?" Zhong Li asked, surprised.
Lu Wuxie nodded. "This case was cracked by the former Deputy Minister of Dali Temple, Minister Chen. If my memory serves me correctly, the culprit was named Peng Yong, and he was beheaded."
"Minister Chen?" Zhong Li narrowed her eyes and repeated, "Could it be the current Minister of Punishment, Minister Chen?"
Lu Wuxie did not deny it but continued, "At the time, this case caused a stir throughout Chang'an, even making the citizens of Jincheng afraid to go out after dark."
"But now, this case has happened again?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie could hear the implication in her words. He shook his head and said, "After Peng Yong died, no similar cases occurred in Jincheng, so the possibility of an erroneous judgment is very small."
Zhong Li pursed her lips and remained silent.
Lu Wuxie lifted the carriage curtain and glanced outside. "All our discussion here is speculation. Since we have arrived, we can find out by asking."
Zhong Li followed his gaze, seeing that the carriage had reached the Ministry of Punishment. She nodded and alighted.
It was just past the hour of Chen (7-9 AM). The officials were just finishing their morning assembly. As the two stepped off the carriage, they encountered Zeng Fan, an official from the Ministry of Punishment, who was preparing to mark his attendance.
"Young Lord," Zeng Fan was the first to see Lu Wuxie and walked forward with a smile, bowing respectfully.
Lu Wuxie nodded.
"When did the young lord return? Why didn't you inform me to pick you up?" Zeng Fan followed Lu Wuxie towards the Ministry of Punishment. During their walk, he glanced at Zhong Li, who was following them, and the box on her back. He said,
"I heard that the young lady who accompanied the young lord on this trip also helped solve a case and took on a subordinate coroner. At first, I didn't believe it, but now… the rumors are indeed true."
Lu Wuxie's gaze swept over Zeng Fan beside him and then fell on Zhong Li. "Subordinate coroner? Minister Zeng, you shouldn't underestimate her."
"Oh?" Zeng Fan chuckled, withdrawing his gaze from Zhong Li. "However, speaking of which, the young lord rarely visits the Ministry of Punishment. What brings you here today..."
Lu Wuxie deliberately ignored the smirk on Zeng Fan's face and the subtle mockery in his words. After all, his position as an investigator in the Ministry of Punishment was obtained through 'connections.' Compared to Zeng Fan, who had studied for over a decade to reach his current status, Zeng Fan's dissatisfaction was understandable.
"I'm here to investigate a matter," he replied directly. "Is there someone named Miao Jie in the prison?"
Upon hearing the name, Zeng Fan's smug expression deepened.
Everyone knew who Miao Jie had killed. Lu Wuxie's visit to find him was undoubtedly at the behest of the courtesan from the pleasure house. Always bringing up women, it truly lived up to his reputation as a dissolute fellow.
"Yes, he was brought in two days ago," Zeng Fan replied truthfully.
"Since he was sent by the Dali Temple, why has he not been dealt with yet?" Lu Wuxie asked.
Zeng Fan let out a laugh, it was unclear whether he was laughing at Lu Wuxie's ignorance or the case's ambiguity. He shook his head. "The young lord might not know, but Miao Jie was not sent by the Dali Temple. Minister Chen requested him from the Dali Temple."
Hearing this, Zhong Li, who had been following behind them, raised her eyebrows slightly.
What Zeng Fan meant was… the Dali Temple had not thoroughly investigated the case?