Zhong Li walked out of Miao Jie's room and stood in the narrow alley, only wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side, observing her surroundings.
When the founding emperor of the Southern Yue Kingdom, Lu Yun Kang, defeated the previous dynasty of Yu Kingdom and destroyed its imperial city, Ling Du City, he began a thirty-year reconstruction. The original four-sided Ling Du City was transformed into the current Bagua (Eight Trigrams) layout.
The imperial palace was in the center, with government institutions, residences of the common people, and commercial markets scattered around it. Thanks to Lu Yun Kang's decision, the traffic, which would have been narrow and complex for the million residents gathered in the imperial city, instantly became smooth. Lu Yun Kang then renamed Ling Du City, calling it Jin Cheng.
Miao Jie's current residence was in the middle section of the outermost edge of the slum area. Adjacent to it was Lan Street, where travelers and merchants temporarily stayed. As for Mao'er Hutong, it was on one side of Lan Street. This meant that if Miao Jie wanted to go to Mao'er Hutong in Liu Lane to commit murder, he would have to pass through Lan Street.
"Huh, someone's here today?"
Just as Zhong Li was deep in thought, a clear male voice suddenly came from behind her.
She turned to see a man dressed as a waiter, holding two cleavers in his hands, peering into Miao Jie's courtyard.
"Are you looking for Miao Jie?"
Zhong Li asked.
The waiter sized Zhong Li up and down, then smiled, "Little brother, are you also looking for Miao Jie? That's fine! I'll wait for you to go in before I do. There's always a first come, first served order."
Zhong Li's gaze fell on the two cleavers in the man's hands. The blades were already rusted, and some even had nicks. She understood immediately, "Are you here to get knives sharpened, little brother, or..."
"Oh! Oh!" The waiter scratched his head and said, "The knives in the inn's kitchen are old, and I wanted to find Master Miao to forge two new ones. I was afraid the style wouldn't fit, so I brought the old ones to make exact copies."
Zhong Li nodded and asked, "You mentioned just now that Master Miao is finally in. What did you mean by that?"
The waiter looked at Zhong Li with a bit of surprise. "Little brother, you're not from 'Nei Li' (the inside)?"
Zhong Li knew that what the waiter meant by "Nei Li" was this slum. The reason it was called "Nei Li" was because the houses were so cramped, it was a derogatory name given by outsiders.
"No," Zhong Li replied truthfully, but without revealing her identity. She didn't want to scare the waiter by revealing the identity of the person inside.
"Then it's no wonder," the waiter nodded. "Actually, it's nothing. It's just that Master Miao seems to have been quite busy lately. I've come several times before, and this is the first time I've found the door open."
As he spoke, he seemed to feel something was amiss and scratched his head. "That's not quite right either. After all, Miao Jie's personality has always been quite strange."
"Oh?" Zhong Li said.
"Tell me, don't we common folk live in Jin Cheng for the prosperity and to make a name for ourselves?" The waiter's flow of words opened up under Zhong Li's persistent questioning.
Zhong Li nodded.
"But this Master Miao is different."
"How is he different?"
"He lives for today and worries about tomorrow. As long as he has enough to eat, he absolutely won't take on any work."
"Is that so?" Zhong Li finally understood why Miao Jie couldn't find a wife and was doing unspeakable things alone in bed.
"But speaking of which," the waiter looked at Miao Jie's residence, a hint of envy on his face, "Master Miao's craftsmanship is quite famous in 'Nei Li.' It's not cheap for him to make things, and he used to live outside Jin Cheng, but he moved in just like that."
"Miao Jie didn't live here before?" Zhong Li was very surprised by the waiter's words.
"Yes!" The waiter looked as if to say, 'Don't you know?' "He used to live in the northern suburbs. He only moved into the city after something happened ten years ago."
"What happened?"
"Little brother, you really don't know?" The waiter looked incredulous.
Zhong Li replied, "Yes, that's right. I'm from An Ding County. I heard Master Miao's craftsmanship is good, so I came to visit."
"Oh, I see!" The waiter nodded. "Ten years ago, there was a murder case in Jin Cheng. All the victims were prostitutes from Liu Lane next to us. It caused quite a stir back then. Do you know who the murderer was in the end?"
Zhong Li took a deep breath, waiting for the waiter's next words.
"It was Miao Jie's disciple, Peng Yong!" the waiter said, not forgetting to lower his voice.
Zhong Li narrowed her eyes.
"Miao Jie has a residence outside the city?"
On the carriage, Lu Wuxie was quite surprised by the clue Zhong Li had obtained.
Zhong Li nodded. She never expected this case to have such a hidden aspect, but...
A sharp glint flashed in her eyes. Why didn't Xu Qing tell her? Was it related to Minister Chen? Was this also the reason Minister Chen was so eager to convict Miao Jie?
What did Minister Chen know then?
"Yes, and the murderer in this case from ten years ago, Peng Yong, was Miao Jie's disciple," Zhong Li threw another clue at Lu Wuxie.
Upon hearing this, Lu Wuxie's eyes darkened slightly.
"There is one thing I want to clarify, and I would appreciate your assistance, Your Highness," Zhong Li said.
"You want the case files from ten years ago?" Lu Wuxie gazed deeply at Zhong Li and asked.
"Yes," Zhong Li nodded. The case of Peng Yong had already been closed, so it definitely wouldn't be in the Dali Temple. She could only have Lu Wuxie, as head of the Judicial Department, request the files from the Ministry of Justice for thorough investigation.
Lu Wuxie lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the brilliant lights of Jin Cheng. The people here seemed to enjoy nighttime strolls. Wenchang Street was already crowded with men and women admiring the night view.
"It's getting late, let's head back. Don't worry about this matter. I will definitely deliver the case files to you tomorrow."
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The Prince Xian's Mansion was located east of Jin Cheng.
It only took about fifteen minutes for the carriage to reach the mansion's gate.
"Your room is on the west side of Prince Xian's Mansion. Lin Jin will take you there."
Lu Wuxie got out of the carriage and said to Zhong Li, who was following behind him.
Zhong Li did not reply, merely glancing at Lin Jin.
Just as the two were about to walk towards the small path on the west side, a stern voice came from the opposite direction: "You unfilial son! You still know how to come back?"
Zhong Li's feet stopped. She looked towards the source of the sound and saw a middle-aged man emerge from the dim candlelight of Prince Xian's Mansion. The man had a stern expression, his brows tightly furrowed, and he was wearing a black cloak. In the sweltering summer heat, it seemed somewhat out of place.
"Father!" Upon seeing the person opposite him, Lu Wuxie casually responded. His already nonchalant demeanor became even more careless.
"Hmph, you still acknowledge me as your father?" The man standing opposite Lu Wuxie became even more incensed by his reaction. "You returned to Jin Cheng yesterday, and I only found out you were back tonight. Do you still have me in your eyes as your father?
Speak! Did you go to Hua Man Lou for another night?"
Hearing Prince Xian, Lu Fengyang's words, the smile on Lu Wuxie's face flashed with a hint of coldness. He glanced deeply into the darkness behind Lu Jingyang and said with a sneer,
"Father, how would you know where Mo Cang is playing if you are always confined to your bed? Or is someone being overly concerned?"
"Lu Wuxie! Do you know why your mother gave you the childhood name Mo Cang? You scoundrel! You have let down..."
"Your Highness!" Lu Fengyang stomped his foot in anger and was about to reprimand him when a woman slowly walked out from the darkness. She looped her arm through Lu Jingyang's and said coquettishly.
Lu Wuxie's eyes met the woman's. He casually threw out a sentence, "Mother gave me the childhood name Mo Cang, so of course, I know what it means: Mo Qing Xiao Mo, Cang Lin Jue Ran (meaning 'don't let feelings wear you down, be resolute and unwavering'). So, Father, you see, aren't your children very healthy? Much better than you..."
"You!" Lu Fengyang, furious, raised his hand.
Lu Wuxie glanced at him faintly. Before his hand could fall, he turned and left.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger. Wuxie didn't mean to anger you," Xie Yunxi, whose peerlessly beautiful face slowly appeared in the light, said as she patted Lu Fengyang's back with a gentle and soft tone.