Chapter 26: Temptation

The three of them re-examined the confessions of the seven gentlemen and sorted out the clues of their stay in Qujiang Lake one by one.

"At this point, it appears that those who had the time to commit the crime were Jin Tang, Ming Jiu, and Meng Lanxi; those who had a grudge against Princess Gao and could definitely benefit from her death were Ji Linyou and Shang Luo; and those who had close interactions with Princess Gao were Yan Penglai and Xue Xiyang."

Cui Fufeng pondered as he spoke, then pointed at the names of Jin Tang, Xue Xiyang, and Yan Penglai. "Among them, these three are multiple suspects. They are both familiar with Princess Gao and have a grudge against her. It's not hard to find a time to commit the crime."

"Then we will focus on screening them again, carefully examining and sorting out their traces, past events, and testimonies. I think there will definitely be a breakthrough." Qian Deng said, looking up to see that it was already dark outside, and Aunt Xuanji had come in with a flame to light the palace lanterns.

After a busy day investigating everyone today, Cui Fufeng asked Qiandeng to have a good rest first, and he went back to the backyard with Ling Tianshui.

Qian Deng instructed them, "If the murderer is indeed one of the gentlemen in the backyard, I wonder if there will be any movement tonight. I will mobilize the guards to strengthen the security of the backyard. Please also help keep an eye on it and see if there is anything unusual."

"Alright. Please rest assured, my Lady, as long as the murderer has committed a crime, he will definitely reveal his tracks. He can't hide forever."

After bidding farewell to Qiandeng, Cui Fufeng and Ling Tianshui walked through the path lined with lily of the valley flowers and returned to the backyard.

Cui Fufeng lived in Jinzhutang, which was close to the front yard and only two steps away, while Ling Tianshui lived in Yuansongju, which was at the back.

Cui Fufeng stood in front of the Bamboo Hall and watched him walk back to the side. He raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Is Ling Sijie still going to the Yilan Pavilion?"

Ling Tianshui said naturally, "Now that the conflict in the backyard has begun to emerge, it's best not to slack off, lest something go wrong."

"There's no rush. Why don't you come in and have a cup of tea first?"

Ling Tianshui followed him inside and sat opposite him, but he had no interest in drinking tea. He just asked, "What's going on?"

Cui Fufeng seemed to be just chatting about the case: "Who do you think is the most suspicious among the seven people in the backyard? How should we proceed?"

Ling Tianshui said, "I'm just a coroner responsible for the autopsy and investigation. It's your responsibility, Cui Shaoqing, to deduce the facts of the case."

Cui Fufeng carefully sifted the tea, pushed a cup towards him, and said leisurely, "But I see you seem to have some objections to Xue Xiyang's behavior—why? When did the coroner responsible for the autopsy and investigation of traces start to care about people who approached the county lady?"

Ling Tianshui held the white porcelain cup in his hand, and thinking about what he had just said, he couldn't help but feel strange.

Not to mention Cui Fufeng, in fact, he himself did not understand. Xue Xiyang had nothing to do with him. To him, he was just a passerby who passed by him and was insignificant.

——But, seeing how he tried to please the county lady and how charming and tactful he was, for some reason, I felt an inexplicable anger in my heart.

He could act like this in front of them, so I wonder how many tricks he used against the county lady behind their back.

As for whether his methods would be effective, it all depended on whether the county lady would fall for his seductive tactics and when she would start to fall for them...

Thinking of this, he was suddenly startled and looked up at Cui Fufeng opposite him.

The curling smoke from the small stove obscured the other person's gaze, but how could he not guess what was in his mind?

"It's just that I've been in the army for a long time and can't stand such seductive behavior." He felt his heart pounding, swirling the green tea in his cup, and asked, "What about you? Cui Shaoqing came into the county lady's backyard, claiming to be investigating a case on official business, but now he's also interfering in the county lady's life?"

Cui Fufeng smiled at him and said, "To be honest, the Ministry of Rites is already going through the formalities. It will only be a matter of time before I am officially nominated as the County Lady's husband."

Ling Tianshui suddenly raised his eyes, and there was a sharpness in his gaze as he looked at him.

Cui Fufeng seemed oblivious, calmly refilling his own half-cup of tea. "From now on, I, like all the other gentlemen in the County Master's backyard, will share the same interests as the County Master, advancing and retreating together. Of course, Ling Sijie is an outsider and has nothing to do with us, so you can just sit back and watch. After all, you're only temporarily brought in by the County Master to help. Once you recover from your injuries, you'll disappear from Chang'an forever, never to be seen again, right?"

Ling Tianshui's jaw tightened, and he stared at him for a long moment before asking, "Would your clan, or rather, your father, Minister Cui, actually be willing to let a child of destiny like you wade into the muddy waters of the Changhua Palace?"

"Whether I am willing or not is my own choice, and it has nothing to do with Brother Shu."

Ling Tianshui looked at him gravely without responding.

"I know you had other motives for entering the County Lady's backyard, and that has nothing to do with me. But the County Lady has had a difficult life, and no matter who you are or what your motive is, I don't want to add any more difficulties to her difficult life."

Cui Fufeng stared at him intently, his voice low, yet each word seemed squeezed out from his heart, with great solemnity: "Whether it's you or Meng Lanxi, I hope you won't cause any more trouble. Otherwise, I will certainly do my utmost to seek justice for the county lady."

"Why, you're already determined to secure the position of husband even before you've even made it to the list of the county lady's fiancés?" Ling Tianshui downed the tea in his cup and placed it heavily on the small table in front of him. "Then I wish Cui Shaoqing a speedy fulfillment of his wish, and I also hope the county lady will forget how much we exploited the deaths of her father and grandfather during the palace coup to gain so much benefit."

Cui Fufeng suddenly tensed up his body, and his usually bright and graceful demeanor was inevitably damaged at this moment.

"Look carefully, Cui Fufeng. Neither you nor I have the possibility of staying with the county lady forever in this life. Even if you are willing to risk your life for her, even if you are willing to be by her side and plan for her regardless of everything, even if all the men in her backyard are dead, we are not qualified to be her ideal husband."

Ling Tianshui threw down his last words, stood up suddenly, and strode towards the door.

Cui Fufeng clenched the teacup in his hand, stared at his back, and blurted out: "If that's the case, why did you come to the county lady's backyard and stir up such a storm?"

"You can choose a husband for the county lady, but I can't?" Ling Tian, ​​the sailor, pressed against the door and paused. "There's nothing wrong with Meng Lanxi. He's single and deeply in love with the county lady. He's the perfect candidate for her to escape all the troubles. At least, of all the men you've chosen for her, he's the most suitable."

After saying the last sentence, he strode out of Jinzhu Hall and headed towards Yilan Pavilion.

The camellia flowers above the flowing spring have reached their final bloom. Large red flowers fall into the water, sink with the surging water, and eventually disappear.

He saw the elegant Meng Lanxi beneath the blossoming trees, and suddenly the words Qian Deng had once asked him rang in his ears:

This target... wouldn't it be easier if you were to be it yourself?

Why is it Meng Lanxi, why not himself?

At that time, she was surrounded by snow and fog, with white breath blowing on her cheeks. Through the gauze veil, she looked as hazy as the untouchable mist of distant mountains.

Just like all his emotions, whether they should or shouldn't be, would dissipate like mist in the sunlight as he agreed to Madam Meng's request.

There is no possibility of any converging into a shape anymore.