Late at night, the Prince Xian's mansion.
"Xing'er, is what you're saying true?" Xie Yunxi sat at the table, her small spoon idly scooping the bird's nest soup in front of her.
"Replying to Your Highness Consort," the maidservant called Xing'er bowed to the person sitting on the stool. "This servant only knows that the new person by the Heir's side is named Zhong, and that the young Heir met her when investigating the Jia family case in Anding County."
"Oh?" Xie Yunxi raised an eyebrow slightly, her otherwise ethereal face contorting into a semblance of ferocity. "So it was she who uncovered the Jia family's affairs, even using the Jia family's ledgers to implicate Master Zhang of Anding County?"
"This..." Xing'er hesitated, her words caught in her throat.
"Hmph!" Xie Yunxi snorted coldly. "I never realized a mere villager could possess such capabilities."
Simultaneously, a sharp crack echoed from the table as Xie Yunxi slammed her clenched fist down.
"Go and inquire further. Besides the Jia family and Master Zhang's matters, what else has this person named Zhong uncovered?"
"Yes!" Xing'er nodded and turned to leave.
"Wait." Xie Yunxi called her back. The next moment, she stood and entered the study. After a brief interval, she emerged with a letter in her hand. "The usual arrangement. Place this in the old spot. Do you understand?"
Xing'er took the letter, turned, and walked out.
At the same moment, in the study of the East Courtyard of the mansion.
"The Heir wants me to join the Dali Temple?"
Zhong Li, sipping the ice jelly in her hand, looked at Lu Wuxie with surprise.
The two had just returned from the Ministry of Justice. Her dinner had barely settled when the man opposite, who had already finished his meal, revealed his next plan.
Lu Wuxie's eyes glinted with amusement. He casually took out a fan from his embrace, fanning away the oppressive summer heat, and said, "The Dali Temple is responsible for the trial and thorough investigation of all cases in Nan Yue Kingdom. It houses the case files and evidence from the kingdom's founding to the present day.
The person you and I are looking for has taken lives, and it's certainly not just my mother and your adoptive father. Therefore, joining the Dali Temple is your next step."
"But I've heard that Master Lan of Dali Temple is a man of strict principles, especially when it comes to official duties. While I don't doubt the Heir's abilities, given the Heir's reputation... would Master Lan willingly employ someone by your side?"
Zhong Li stared at the man opposite, whose demeanor was so casual, and asked coldly.
Truly unforgiving, she hit the nail on the head.
The fan in Lu Wuxie's hand paused. Meeting the woman's questioning gaze, he inexplicably felt a surge of pity.
He glanced at Lin Jin, who stood beside them.
Lin Jin understood and turned, exiting the study, closing the door of the room behind him.
"Lan Heng, though stubborn and rigid, is a man who values talent. Especially..." Lu Wuxie put away his fan and continued, "the Dali Temple is now filled with incompetent fools!"
Zhong Li raised an eyebrow, looking at Lu Wuxie, a hint of amusement on her face.
Incompetent fools, who was he referring to?
Lu Wuxie, unable to miss the sentiment in her eyes, sighed, calming his desire to erupt, and explained, "The Dali Temple is in need of a coroner."
Zhong Li remained silent.
"Although you came with me from Anding County, prior to this, we were not familiar with each other. Master Lan will find this out with a simple investigation. If this case is solved, and the Jia family case is also credited to you, given the current moribund state of Dali Temple, it would be difficult for him not to notice you.
At that time, if I mention a few things about you to the Emperor, I believe it will not be difficult for you to enter the Dali Temple!" Lu Wuxie stated.
"But don't forget, I am a woman." Zhong Li kindly reminded him.
Lu Wuxie's gaze swept across the woman's face. She was dressed as a man, yet it couldn't conceal her peerless aura and delicate beauty. Did he need her to remind him?
"I will speak to the Emperor about this. The customs in Nan Yue are open, and moreover, during the Ningping era, there was a female constable in Dali Temple. Master Lan will certainly not object," Lu Wuxie said.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li said no more. For her, it didn't matter where she went, as long as she could find clues about that person and avenge her adoptive father.
As for Lu Wuxie...
She had agreed to cooperate with him and would keep her promise to help him find the true killer of his mother.
"By the way," Lu Wuxie suddenly remembered something, sitting up slightly. "What did you mean by what you said at the entrance of the Ministry of Justice?"
Zhong Li put down her small spoon and pushed the bowl of ice jelly aside. "The Dali Temple did not arrest the wrong person. Miao Jie is the murderer."
Lu Wuxie's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this. He merely tapped his fingertips on his lips and asked, "The evidence?"
Zhong Li took out two red coral lotus hairpins from her sleeve and placed them on the table. "I want to see someone."
Lu Wuxie's gaze shifted between the red coral lotus hairpins and Zhong Li's face. The words he had intended to refuse couldn't leave his lips.
Finally, he compromised, stood up, and waved his fan. "You may go, but Li'er must grant me one request."
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At the hour of Chou, the willow alley was aglow with candlelight, and patrons came and went. Especially popular was Huamanlou in Jincheng, which attracted many nobles, wealthy merchants, and influential figures.
"We want to see Miss Lianxue!"
"Yes, it's been all night. We've spent money, and we haven't even seen a strand of Miss Lianxue's hair. What's the justification for that?"
"Yes, what's the justification?"
"Esteemed sirs, it is true that Miss Lianxue was scheduled to perform today. However, fate has intervened. An hour ago, Miss Lianxue was booked..."
"Then refund the silver!"
"Yes, refund the silver!"
......
Inside Nongxiang Pavilion, Tian Lianxue stood by the carved railing, watching the many dandies below arguing with the madam. A hint of helplessness and apology in her eyes made her seem even more pitiable.
"What, you can't bear to part with your ardent admirers?" Lu Wuxie sat at a round table behind her, idly playing with a piece of fine soft jade.
Tian Lianxue quickly withdrew her gaze upon hearing his words and smiled charmingly at him. "What are you saying, Heir? Don't you know what kind of person Lianxue is?"
Lu Wuxie smiled and beckoned to Tian Lianxue, patting the stool beside him.
Seeing this, a glimmer of joy appeared in Tian Lianxue's eyes, and she quickly walked over.
"Do you like it?" Lu Wuxie placed the soft jade back into the box in front of him and pushed it towards Tian Lianxue.
Tian Lianxue picked it up and examined it closely for a while. A flicker of expression suddenly lit up in her eyes. "Is this mutton-fat jade from Shu Kingdom?"
"Mmm," Lu Wuxie replied lazily. "How about I give it to you?"
"Heir... this..." Tian Lianxue could no longer conceal her excitement. She hid the soft jade in her bosom as if it were a treasure. After all, this single piece of jade was enough for her to earn a living at Huamanlou for a month.
"Consider this a return gift. Are you satisfied, Lianxue?" Lu Wuxie added, his eyes full of affection.
"Of course!" Tian Lianxue said, then encircled Lu Wuxie's enticing red lips with one hand, preparing to kiss his cheek.
"No rush!" Lu Wuxie smiled and placed something in front of Tian Lianxue.
Tian Lianxue thought Lu Wuxie had something else to give her. It was only when she clearly saw the object in front of her that her face stiffened. "This..."
"This hairpin shouldn't be from Ming Xia, should it?"