Chapter 27 Beauty Ruins: Crescent Moon
Once upon a time, he too was devoted and full of sincerity.
Lu Ya ignored Xie Xingzheng's cold gaze, and instead smiled and looked down at the masked man at his feet, whose knife had been taken away and who was being held down by the black-armored soldiers.
The masked man was still writhing, trying to break free, his throat emitting a dry, unpleasant hiss.
Lu Ya stepped forward, his beautiful peach blossom eyes narrowing slightly, and suddenly stomped on the man's neck. The man immediately became like a snake with its vital point caught, utterly powerless to struggle.
He released his foot with a half-smile, as if casually teasing someone, then suddenly stomped on it again!
With a loud "crack," the sound of bones breaking rang out, and the masked man instantly went limp, lifeless.
Lu Ya raised his eyes, a playful smile playing on his lips, and said lazily, "It really doesn't hold up well."
This ruthless and somewhat absurd method made Tang Yu feel uncomfortable, and a sense of repulsion towards this person arose in her heart. When those smiling peach blossom eyes swept over her, her hair stood on end, and sensing the strong threat, she subconsciously hid behind Xie Xingzheng.
Lu Ya withdrew his gaze, his smile still lingering, and lazily ordered, "Take away all the masked men and guests who are still alive."
As he spoke, he turned around, feigning apology, and smiled at Xie Xingzheng, saying, "Oh, I'm sorry, General Xie. But this time I've saved you from danger, and I'm sure you're magnanimous enough not to mind that these people... were taken away by my Surveillance Department, right?"
Xie Xingzheng glanced at him coldly, his heart sinking.
He guessed that Lu Ya might have already found out about the Beauty Ruins and even secretly planted people, which is why he appeared so timely.
Perhaps he didn't originally intend to act so soon, after all, Emperor Chu Wen was putting more pressure on him, hoping that if he failed to solve the case by the deadline, he could then take action against the Xie family with a clear conscience. Lu Ya, however, was a man who understood the emperor's mind and was naturally clever, knowing how to maximize his own interests and satisfy the emperor.
But he didn't expect that, with Su Yutang's help, they would also trace the trail to the Beauty Market. They even disrupted the current situation, making it seem like it was about to spiral out of control. He was afraid that his credit would be stolen, so he deliberately chose this moment to make his move.
Although he did manage to save the two people, taking everyone away at the same time was also an opportunity to claim credit for himself in the Censorate.
Xie Xingzheng remained silent and did not respond. The black-armored soldiers were clearly somewhat wary of the Xie family and did not actually make a move. Lu Ya was not annoyed. Instead, he turned and came to the side of the girl Tang Yu had rescued.
His smile vanished, and his tone suddenly turned cold: "Take her with you too."
He immediately raised his hand, his finger suddenly shifting to point directly at Tang Yu: "And her too."
That emotionless, sinister voice made Tang Yu's heart tighten, and she subconsciously took a step back.
Xie Xingzheng stepped forward at the same time, his broad figure firmly blocking her way, and raised his hand to stop the black-armored soldiers from grabbing her.
"General Xie, please hand over the women from the Southern Frontier being sold at the Beauty Market." Lu Ya's chilling tone made one feel as if they were in an ice cave, the coldness lingering for a long time.
Xie Xingzheng met those captivating, alluring eyes head-on and coldly questioned, "Arrest her? She works for me. Do you want to arrest her, or do you want to arrest me first?"
Lu Ya raised an eyebrow, but instantly put on that fake smile again, as if it had just been a trivial misunderstanding: "What are you saying, General Xie? Since you're one of yours, I'll give you face. However..."
He paused, leaned closer, and said with a mocking smile, "The rest of them, without exception, will all be taken away by my Inspectorate."
Xie Xingzheng's face darkened, but he knew he was truly at a disadvantage, so he could only coldly utter two words: "Go ahead."
Upon hearing this, Tang Yu looked up in disbelief and saw the girl she had painstakingly saved being led away like a prisoner by two soldiers in black armor. Instantly, her heart ached, and she clenched her fists tightly.
She tried to step forward to stop him, but Xie Xingzheng grabbed her arm and even shook his head silently.
Tang Yu gasped for breath and abruptly shook off his hand.
Although she rationally understood that there must be interests involved, the fear and despair in the girl's eyes when she looked back at her in terror still made Tang Yu feel a knot in her heart and an unquenchable anger.
It also made her vaguely recall the look in her younger brother's eyes when he was kidnapped when she was a child.
My heart was suddenly gripped with pain, but in the end, I could only grit my teeth, suppress my surging anger, and dare not do anything out of line.
I had even praised him for his integrity in my heart! How could he so easily let this Lu Ya take the man away!
Lu Ya's lips curved into a deeper smile, a mocking glint in his eyes, before he turned and said, "See you later."
Without looking back, he led his black-armored soldiers away in a grand procession.
Xie Xingzheng remained silent, watching the crowd recede like a tide until the ruins returned to calm. He then turned to check on Tang Yu's injuries.
The once exquisite and beautiful girl now stood there disheveled and filthy. Her sleeves were torn by herself, and she had haphazardly bandaged her left arm, with blood even seeping through the cloth, making her look extremely wretched and pathetic.
Xie Xingzheng frowned. "How's your hand? Are there any other injuries?" He lowered his voice and reached out to check.
Tang Yu suddenly withdrew her hand to avoid it.
"It's alright, General Xie." She said irritably, deliberately emphasizing the last four words, her tone sarcastic and mocking.
Xie Xingzheng was taken aback, somewhat confused: "Are you angry?"
Tang Yu glared at him angrily, her tone cold and sharp: "Let me ask you, after that girl was taken away like a prisoner, do you think she will have any chance of survival?"
"I don't know." Xie Xingzheng paused for a moment before finally speaking the truth: "Lu Ya of the Censorate is adept at using torture to extract confessions. He is both righteous and evil. Corrupt officials will not fare well in his hands, and likewise, loyal ministers will find it difficult to get ahead. Everything the Censorate does... serves only the Emperor of Great Xia."
"So, if he thinks the girl is guilty, then she is guilty."
Upon receiving the answer, Tang Yu felt utterly dejected, saddened by the fate of the girl from southern Xinjiang. She had just escaped one wolf's jaws, only to fall into another.
Tang Yu looked up at the knife marks and bloodstains all over the ground, a feeling of indescribable oppression welling up in her heart: "Tell me, is this what you call satisfying?"
Xie Xingzheng didn't understand what she meant. He looked up and met her eyes, which were as clear as starlight.
She lowered her voice inch by inch and asked, "Will the head of the Censorate truly punish all those powerful figures impartially? Will everything we've done today have any meaning?"
Xie Xingzheng felt as if he had been gently struck in the heart, and for a moment he couldn't answer.
Perhaps, Lu Ya would use every means to investigate the families that Emperor Wen of Chu wanted to eliminate; but for those who were under the protection of powerful and influential families whose roots were deeply entrenched and whose foundations could not be touched, even if they were taken away today, they would be sent back to their residences unharmed tomorrow.
This is Zhongjing, a place where prosperity and darkness coexist, where desire and power intertwine. It is a place of contradictions, yet it attracts countless people.
Seeing that Xie Xingzheng couldn't answer, Tang Yu already had the answer in her mind.
Although she grew up deep in the mountains, she understood that behind power lay layers of infighting, possibly stained with the blood of millions and burdened with the grievances of millions, and that no one could do anything about it.
So she could no longer suppress her anger, and with a cold snort, she threw down a vicious remark: "He doesn't look like a good person! Neither do you!"
Then he turned around and walked outside.
As Xie Xingzheng watched the indignant departing figure, he seemed to see his younger self in a daze.
Once upon a time, he too was devoted and full of sincerity.
He once questioned his grandfather: Why did the northern border invade our Great Xia for decades, committing countless evils? After capturing the hostage, why did you treat him well and even send him back intact?
At that moment, for the first time, a hint of sadness appeared on my grandfather's weathered and aged face.
He said, "Little Zheng, a general is not only about leading troops into battle, but also about taking on responsibilities. It's good to have justice in your heart, but in this world... sometimes we don't talk about justice or fairness."
The old hand patted his small head, carrying a tenderness he had rarely seen in his life.
"You'll understand when you grow up and become a general who can stand on his own."
Xie Xingzheng only withdrew his gaze after Tang Yu's figure gradually disappeared into the shadows.
Now he understands.
At the same time, I also yearn for the way I was when I first spoke out and held people accountable.
*
When they returned to Wangyuan Escort Agency, it was nearly dawn. The morning light streamed through the window, dispelling the lingering blood and chill of the previous night's Beauty Ruins.
Unexpectedly, Wang Shanyue and Xiao Fangliang hadn't slept all night, waiting for the two at the escort agency. Seeing them return covered in blood, their hearts tightened. They also noticed that Tang Yu's left arm was still wrapped in bandages, soaked with blood, a deep, wet crimson.
Wang Shanyue gasped in shock and rushed forward, but stopped abruptly halfway through, afraid of hurting her wound.
"Brother Su! Your hand..."
Xiao Fangliang also put down his teacup, his tired face, which had been stark after a sleepless night, now showing a hint of seriousness.
Although Tang Yu's face was slightly pale, she still wore a relaxed and gentle smile, and waved her hand: "It's just a minor injury, I was just scratched by a little wolf cub."
"The blood has almost soaked through the cloth, and you still call it a minor injury!" Wang Shanyue paced anxiously to the side.
Tang Yu just smiled and didn't seem to care. Instead, she asked mysteriously, "What, aren't you curious about what's hidden in the Beauty Ruins? You're only concerned about my injury?"
“Of course your injuries are more important!” Wang Shanyue blurted out, disagreeing.
Tang Yu felt a warmth in her heart and gently comforted her, "Don't worry, I am a doctor myself. I will go back to my room to bandage and apply medicine in a while."
Although the injury looks terrible, it is only a superficial wound. She has plenty of good medicine, and it will heal in a few days.
Xie Xingzheng stood beside her, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Do you need any help?"
Tang Yu paused, her smile fading, and said calmly, "Instead of causing me trouble, it's better to stay here and explain the Beauty Market matter clearly. After all... this matter is not over yet."
What the two of them saw this time was merely the lower part of the Beauty Market. According to the woman, only pure-blooded girls from the Southern Frontier were worthy of being sent to the upper market, and who knew what kind of terrifying sight it would be.
After saying that, she turned around and went back into the house, gently closing the door behind her.
She was the only one left in the room at that moment, but Tang Yu still made sure that no one was around before sitting down at the table, untying the strip of cloth on her left arm, and gently rolling up her sleeve over her left shoulder.
Her fair and slender arms were fully exposed, and on the back side of her left arm near the shoulder, there was a very faint crescent-shaped mark. Although the color was very light and it was barely visible, it was hard to ignore.
Tang Yu caught a glimpse of this place out of the corner of her eye, and her hand paused slightly, her fingertips unconsciously reaching out to touch it.
This mark had been there since she could remember; her parents didn't know its origin, and she had never paid any attention to it before. But in the "human-faced dog" case, she clearly saw it on the red-clad girl who had been kidnapped in the cave.
Tonight, when the woman behind the hidden door of the Beauty Market had her sleeve torn by the pearl, even though only a corner was visible and the light was extremely dim... she was certain that it was a similar crescent moon mark.
What exactly is this? And what does it represent?
She gathered her thoughts, took a deep breath, and forced herself to focus as she began to clean the wound. Finally, she carefully applied the medicinal powder, enduring the pain as she bandaged it, a thin layer of sweat beading on her forehead.
At this moment, the usual sly smile was gone from her face. In the complete silence of the room, what was reflected in her eyes was a rare look of confusion.
After cleaning up her other minor injuries, Tang Yu changed into clean clothes and went out again. By then, dawn had broken, and she had once again become the itinerant doctor Su Yutang.
The crisp morning air made her unconsciously pull her coat tighter.
When Xie Xingzheng and the other two saw her come out, their eyes all fell on her well-wounded arm, and they all seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"It's alright now." Tang Yu raised her hand and waved it gently, a nonchalant smile on her lips.
She walked up to the three of them, looked at Xiao Fangliang, her expression hardening, and asked about the important matter: "How is your investigation on Yueying's side going?"
Xiao Fangliang tapped his fingers lightly on the side of the teacup, his expression cold and solemn, and slowly said, "The other guests haven't noticed anything yet. But recently... someone from the Southern Frontier delegation went to Yaohua Pavilion and met Yueying."
Tang Yu frowned slightly, a cold smile playing on her lips, and murmured, "It really was her..."
Raising her eyes, her expression turned cold and stern, and her tone became serious: "We're going to the music hall right now to arrest them."
[Author's Note]
Tang Yu (angrily): You're a bad person too!
Xie Xingzheng (reflecting): You're right.
Tang Yu: Right? ...Is that right?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com