The man was Xu Liufeng. For him to rush to the Ministry of Justice in the middle of the night... could it be for me?
Luo Jin sat at the other end of the desk, his face etched with exhaustion. Between them, the silver blade lay quietly on the table, the gemstones on its scabbard shimmering with a fluid brilliance under the candlelight. It was not just a fine weapon; it was a beautiful one. Looking at it, I felt a faint, sudden pang of reluctance to let it go.
I forced my gaze away, only to meet Xu Liufeng’s searching eyes. He stroked his beard with one hand, his eyes flickering with an indecisive light that made him look exactly like an old fox waiting for his moment.
The old fox rose and took a few steps toward me, a smile playing on his lips. "I have come specifically to return this blade." His gaze swept over the silver weapon before settling back on my face. "How can a Silver Blade Constable be without her silver blade?"
He seemed to be testing me. I glanced at Ming Shao; he was frowning slightly, yet his expression held deep respect for Xu Liufeng. I suddenly remembered that these scions of the imperial family had likely studied together since childhood, meaning the Crown Prince’s teacher was Ming Shao’s teacher as well. No wonder Ming Shao kept his head down and remained silent.
"What are your plans, Constable Xi?" the old fox asked, his voice pleasant.
Still thinking of his "watching the fire from the opposite shore" act in the imperial study earlier that afternoon, I replied crossly, "Time is precious. If you have something to say, please say it plainly."
Ming Shao shot me a slightly reproachful look, but Xu Liufeng merely nodded. "Straightforward, as expected. I have come deep into the night only to ask Constable Xi one thing."
I arched an eyebrow at him, still unable to fathom what he was playing at.
"I witnessed the scene in the imperial study today, and it left me with much to ponder." He fanned himself twice with his folding fan, a faint, indiscernible smile touching his lips, though his gaze suddenly turned razor-sharp. "Constable Xi, why are you in such a hurry?"
I thought he was going to say something profound, but it was only this? I just didn't know on whose behalf he was asking.
"Not hurry?" I let out a cold laugh. "And give the mastermind behind Lady Changping enough time to silence the witnesses and sever every lead?" I looked at Luo Jin again. He knew the stakes better than anyone, yet he remained silent, his eyelids drooping.
Xu Liufeng shook his head with an air of detached calm. "Though the Emperor is headstrong, he is not a fool."
My heart gave a sudden throb. What did he mean by that? I looked up at him, but he only gave me a meaningful smile. "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince originally intended to return this silver blade in person, but I stopped him. He asked me to pass a message to you: the days ahead are long."
My heart throbbed again. What did Ming de’s words mean? It felt as though he were secretly on my side but didn't dare show it openly. Was he trying to recruit me? I immediately shook my head, dismissing the absurd thought. I had enough self-awareness to know that a dignified Crown Prince wouldn't place much importance on a lowly seventh-rank official like me. If I were Shen Qian, recruitment might be a possibility...
Xu Liufeng stood up and slid the silver blade across the table toward me. With a slight smile, he said, "Keep the blade safe. The Emperor knows nothing of this, so you must not act on impulse again. You would do well to learn from this old man—watch and wait for the tides to change."
Having finished his ambiguous speech, Xu Liufeng let out a long sigh of relief. "My task is finally complete. I might as well gift you two more words: temper your wrath."
He gave a casual cupped-fist salute and turned to leave. Luo Jin and Ming Shao hurried to escort him out, leaving me alone in the empty room to stare blankly.
Though the old fox hadn't said much, I instinctively felt there was more to this than I knew. Otherwise, why would the Grand Tutor himself visit someone of my status? After thinking it over, the conclusion that felt closest to the truth was this: Crown Prince Mingde valued my martial skills and wanted to offer help in my hour of need to secure my loyalty, so that I might serve him faithfully once he ascended the throne.
By the time Ming Shao escorted me back to the Ji Manor, the night was already deep.
I held a stack of case files, but sleep eluded me. Too much had happened today, and my mind was a chaotic mess. I kept wondering: what kind of person could make a noblewoman of Lady Changping’s status serve them so willingly?
According to the depositions from Fei Mao, the second steward of Sishui Manor, and several maidservants, Lady Changping had lived in near-seclusion since becoming a widow. Aside from visiting the Empress Dowager on the fifteenth of every month to pay her respects, she almost never left her gates. Only a few regular tailors and jewelers visited her; otherwise, she had very few guests.
But Master Jiu was dead. This was a real headache; if I wanted to investigate his background, I might have to start with his bizarre martial arts style...
Based on the conversation I had overheard, Master Jiu and Lady Changping were accomplices, and he was likely sent by the mysterious mastermind to assist her. So, how did this mastermind first select Changping, and how did they contact her?
I paced the room, my head beginning to throb.
Light footsteps sounded behind me. I turned to see Ying Xue entering with a tray. Seeing my disheveled hair and intense concentration, she couldn't help but laugh. "Miss, you’re looking more and more like the Master every day."
I shook my head, pushing the headache aside for a moment to focus on the tray. "What’s for the midnight snack? Please tell me it’s not sweet porridge again."
Ying Xue said mysteriously, "This is a tonic bestowed by the Palace to the First Madam. She said you’ve been working day and night and specifically sent a bowl over for you."
I froze for a moment, a warm current flowing through my heart. It seemed my eldest aunt was no longer angry with me. The weight on my chest finally lifted. "Is she asleep? I’ll go thank her in a moment."
As she ladled the soup from the pot, Ying Xue said, "No need. First Madam said for you to focus on your work in peace."
I let out a long breath. "Alright, bring it over. Let me have a taste."
Ying Xue shook her head helplessly. "Your desk is covered in things that can't get wet. My dear Miss, don't make it hard for me. Come over here to drink it."
I sighed, my body aching so much I didn't want to move. But the girl had a point; it would be bad if I spilled soup on the case files. As the saying goes, if the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain...
A light suddenly flashed in my mind. The mastermind’s identity was so well-hidden that if Lady Changping were to receive instructions, she would have to meet him in person... or perhaps they were relayed through Master Jiu. But if she went in person, then... she only went to one place regularly: the Empress Dowager’s palace!
"Miss?" Ying Xue saw me freeze mid-motion as I was about to stand up. Thinking I was having another spell, she rushed over to support me. "What’s wrong? Does the wound hurt again?"
I waved her off, signaling for her to be quiet as my mind raced down this new path. In the Empress Dowager’s palace, who could she have contacted? The Empress Dowager herself, palace maids, eunuchs, imperial guards... Then it occurred to me: if the mastermind truly used these people to pass orders, now that Changping was exposed, that line must have been cut.
I punched myself in the head. How could I be so stupid? I wanted to run to Luo Jin immediately, but Ying Xue grabbed me. "It’s the middle of the night! Where are you going?"
Her words jolted me back to reality.
Yes, it was the middle of the night. Even if I didn't want to sleep, others had to. I sighed and sat back down. As I watched Ying Xue carefully place the bowl of tonic before me, a thought suddenly surfaced: since I was still a constable of the Ministry of Justice, my investigations were legitimate. In other words, if they wouldn't let me investigate openly, I would do it secretly—could I go see Changping in private?
In the darkness, the faint murmur of the Sishui River could be heard.
I crouched cautiously on the wall, peering inside. I could see patrolling bailiffs passing by from time to time. The Ministry of Justice in the capital couldn't spare many men, so Lady Changping’s house arrest was primarily guarded by bailiffs sent from the Dai County Prefecture. There were about twenty to thirty of them.
Because I had slept for a long time in the carriage during the day, I felt refreshed. Seizing the moment when the bailiffs were changing shifts, I slipped inside. The path was familiar; without much effort, I reached the Yixin Pavilion and climbed the old thicket tree.
Lady Changping’s window was open. I could see a few flickering shadows inside, but no lamps were lit. Judging by their breathing, they were people with no martial arts training...
"Madam, it is late. Please rest," a soft female voice said.
Lady Changping gave a faint sigh and said wearily, "All of you, leave."
The shadows retreated quietly. As soon as they left, I slipped inside. Changping said impatiently, "Didn't I tell you all to leave?"
Faint light filtered through the open window, showing Changping reclining on a soft couch. When she turned and saw it was me, she froze in surprise.
I said quickly, "I have a blade. If you stay quiet, I won't hurt you."
Her breathing quickened. She looked like she wanted to scream but forced herself to hold it back. Her shoulders were trembling slightly.
"I only want to ask you a few questions," I said, keeping my voice low while staying alert to the surroundings. "Since you aren't the mastermind behind the gold mining, why don't you defend yourself?"
Lady Changping remained silent.
"Are you truly willing to take the fall for someone else?" I was getting anxious. The bailiffs might patrol this way at any moment. If they found someone entering or leaving, they might report it to Luo Jin, and he would guess why I had asked for two days of sick leave...
Lady Changping let out a cold, mocking laugh. "This person is of such high rank and power that even the Emperor can do nothing to him. Even if I named him, what would it change?"
My heart jolted. There weren't many people the Emperor couldn't touch...
"He sent you to trick me into talking, didn't he?" Lady Changping seemed to realize something and said warily, "Go back and tell your master: one crime is death, and two crimes are death. I won't need his company on the road to the Yellow Springs." She paused, then smiled meaningfully. "Besides, everyone has their own fate. If the Emperor truly wanted to deal with me, he would have done so long ago. If my master is willing to put in a good word for me, and I, A-Luo, can truly survive this ordeal, I wouldn't dare forget his kindness."
This woman certainly had a vivid imagination. The fact that the mastermind hadn't moved against her yet meant either he knew she would be fine, or he knew she would never betray him even if caught. Did he hold some fatal leverage over her? Moreover, her calmness puzzled me—did she not know her... boyfriend was dead?
Looking out the open window, I saw several lanterns approaching. I quickly slipped out and retreated from Sishui Manor the way I had come. The guards were ordinary bailiffs with no martial arts; if even I could enter and leave freely, then if someone truly wanted her head, it wouldn't be difficult.
That could only mean "he" didn't want to kill her at all.
On the way back, I replayed her words in my head. She had referred to herself as "A-Luo." That day in the water pavilion, Master Jiu had also called her "A-Luo." But I had checked the palace records; the name she used there was Jin Shuyun. "A-Luo" must have been her stage name from her days in the brothel—Bi Luo.
Could this mastermind be a former patron from when she was a famous courtesan?
My head throbbed even more. Would anyone still remember the history of a courtesan who was the "beauty of the age" over a decade ago?
To my surprise, the first acquaintance I saw upon returning to the city was Chen Zhan.
I saw him through a bamboo curtain, riding his horse out of Jewelry Street. I quickly lifted the curtain and called out to him.
Chen Zhan saw it was me and leaned down from his horse to look at me closely. "I heard you went to see a highly skilled physician?" he asked with concern. "How was it? What did the doctor say?"
I shook my head to indicate I was fine. Having made up a lie, I felt a bit guilty hearing him ask so earnestly. I quickly changed the subject. "How is the matter I asked Lord Luo to investigate before I left?"
Chen Zhan looked around, then leaned in and lowered his voice. "Two eunuchs in the Empress Dowager’s palace have died of illness."
I frowned. "Truly of illness?"
Chen Zhan shook his head. "No one can say for sure. The word from the palace is that they caught a sudden ailment—vomiting and diarrhea. They were gone after a single night of suffering."
My heart turned cold.
***
