Zhong Li was experiencing the scenery of Jincheng for the first time.
On a night without a curfew, the street lamps and pavilions, the bright moon and flying light, and the occasional zither music complemented the imperial city in its splendor, vividly showcasing the customs of the Southern Yue Kingdom.
"The residence of Prince Xian is not far. I have already sent a carrier pigeon to the manor, and the steward should have made all arrangements," Lu Wuxie said, lifting the curtain to glance at the street scene.
"No need." Zhong Li, who had changed into men's clothing for convenience, shifted her gaze to an inn not far away and said, "If it's convenient for the Young Lord, you can just drop me off there."
"Are you sure?" Lu Wuxie followed her gaze to the inn – Penglai Immortal Hall.
Zhong Li nodded.
Lu Wuxie sized her up and chuckled, saying, "If I recall correctly, you don't have a single tael of silver to your name. If you stay anywhere, the waiter will probably kick you out before midnight. Moreover..."
He paused and reminded her, "Li'er, you still owe this Young Lord twenty taels of silver!"
To bring up what shouldn't be mentioned.
Zhong Li cursed Lu Wuxie in her heart.
"Don't worry, this Young Lord... is actually not as frivolous as you think, and we are in a cooperative relationship." He coughed lightly, about to continue.
The carriage suddenly stopped, and shouts came from outside.
"Young Lord, Young Lord!"
"Who?" His words interrupted, Lu Wuxie's smile faded.
Zhong Li lifted the curtain and looked towards the source of the sound. She saw a woman standing in front of the carriage, her ample hips cinched by a narrow waist, thin veils draped over her shoulders, and butterfly bones faintly visible on her back. She was breathtakingly beautiful. With just a soft call, she drew the attention of the passing townsfolk.
"Young Lord, it's Lian Xue," the woman's gaze swept over Zhong Li and settled on Lu Wuxie, who was sitting beside her.
Was this Tian Lian Xue, the star performer of Hua Man Lou?
Zhong Li turned and glanced at Lu Wuxie.
So-called gentleman, the slap in the face came so quickly?
Lu Wuxie avoided her gaze and waved to Lin Jin.
Lin Jin, receiving the order, was about to step forward and converse with Tian Lian Xue.
Unexpectedly, as if she had anticipated Lu Wuxie's intention, she knelt down without a second thought, making a 'plop' sound. Ignoring the curious gazes of passersby on the bustling street, she kowtowed three times towards the carriage.
"Young Lord, I heard you were returning to the imperial city today, so I have been waiting for you here for a day and a night. I know you must be tired from your journey, but I have something important to discuss with the Young Lord. I beg you, considering our past intimacy, to grant me an audience."
Past intimacy?
Zhong Li's eyebrows rose even higher as she listened to the woman outside. She actually didn't care about Lu Wuxie's affairs. For one, it was his personal business, and for another, he was already known throughout the Southern Yue Kingdom for his debauchery. She wouldn't even be surprised if someone heavily pregnant stopped the carriage at this moment.
She wanted to see how unrestrained this dissolute noble son truly was.
How could Lu Wuxie not feel the person's gaze? He closed his eyes, deciding to simply pretend he couldn't see.
At this moment, Lin Jin also noticed the surrounding onlookers and retreated to the carriage window to inquire.
Lu Wuxie gave Lin Jin a look.
Lin Jin received the order and whispered a few words into Tian Lian Xue's ear. Tian Lian Xue smiled knowingly and got up to leave.
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Midnight, Hua Man Lou.
Zhong Li watched the woman opposite her, like a pear blossom in the rain, looking utterly pitiable, calmly sipping the fine Longjing tea before her.
It was a bit tough on Lu Wuxie. He sat on a stool, looking somewhat distressed at the alluring woman who kept trying to lean into him.
In normal times, he might have indulged in the soft fragrance and warm jade. But since the nightmare the previous day, he had not slept for over twenty-four hours. Now, with the woman sobbing incessantly beside his ear like a buzzing mosquito, he felt an unbearable headache.
"I heard that Miss Tian is considered a confidante of our Young Lord. Is that true?" Finally, Zhong Li put down her teacup and asked Tian Lian Xue.
Tian Lian Xue, suddenly addressed, paused her tear-wiping motion. She then looked up and met Zhong Li's gaze. She had heard that Lu Wuxie had brought back a capable person from Anding County, someone who had solved the Jia family's perplexing case in three days and even uncovered the Anding County magistrate's embezzlement. This must be the man before her, with his overly delicate appearance.
"Since you are a confidante, Miss Tian, please speak your mind. Crying... won't solve anything, will it?" Zhong Li said.
Hearing Zhong Li's words, the tears that had just stopped for Tian Lian Xue instantly flowed again.
"The Young Lord had just left Jincheng a few days ago, and something happened at Hua Man Lou." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Oh? What happened?" Zhong Li asked.
"My maid Ming Xia is dead! She was practically my half-sister...呜呜..." As Tian Lian Xue spoke, she could no longer control her emotions and began to sob loudly.
Zhong Li looked at the woman before her and felt a measure of sympathy. In ancient times, most women in pleasure houses were sold in at a very young age, some destined to be slaves from birth.
They were often at the bottom of the chain of profit. When they reached an age where they could become concubines, most would die alone with some chronic illness. Therefore, having a capable and trustworthy sister to support them during their glorious times was a rare thing.
"She's dead? Please accept my condolences, Miss Tian..."
"She was murdered!" Tian Lian Xue knew Zhong Li had misunderstood and quickly interrupted her, saying, "She died in Cat Alley, deep in Willow Lane. Not a single part of her body was intact."
"Not a single part intact? What does Miss Tian mean?" Zhong Li pressed.
Tian Lian Xue seemed to recall Ming Xia's death, and her body trembled slightly. She said, "The flesh on her body was cut off piece by piece, like Lingchi."
Lingchi?
Zhong Li knew about Lingchi execution, where a naked condemned prisoner was tied up with a fishing net, and the flesh would bulge out of the net. The executioner would then use a knife to slice off the flesh piece by piece.
"Has Da Li Si taken up this case?" Lu Wuxie, who had been sitting silently and dozing, suddenly seemed to regain his spirit and asked Tian Lian Xue.
Seeing the man opposite her finally react, Tian Lian Xue ignored Zhong Li and grabbed Lu Wuxie's sleeve, saying, "They have taken it up, and even found the killer. However... the killer refuses to confess, even to death, so the case has been shelved and cannot be solved. That's why I sought out the Young Lord, hoping you could bring justice for Ming Xia."
Zhong Li listened to Tian Lian Xue's words without making a sound.
In the Southern Yue Kingdom, any criminal brought to justice required evidence. In fact, all human and material evidence needed to form a chain of evidence before a conviction could be made.
The killer Tian Lian Xue mentioned was likely just a suspect. There was certainly insufficient evidence to convict this person.
However, Tian Lian Xue suffered from the preconceived notion that victims' families often held: that the person caught by the authorities was undoubtedly the guilty party.
"Since the case is shelved, it is likely due to insufficient evidence. It is highly possible that this person is not the murderer. Xue'er should try to be patient. You are kind-hearted and surely wouldn't wish to wrongly accuse an innocent person?"
Lu Wuxie was indeed the foremost rake of Jincheng. Despite his impatience, he could still speak comforting words to a woman.
But at this moment, Tian Lian Xue was not entirely convinced by him.
She shook her head and complained, "I have been with the Young Lord for some years, and I understand the law. But the killer was taken to the Ministry of Justice, and execution is delayed. I suspect something is amiss!"