Chapter 18 Floating Light and Swimming Dragon: Unveiling the Challenge
What kind of heart is hidden beneath the disguise?
The imperial edict on the notice board, with its bold gold script and fresh ink, drew crowds of people who whispered among themselves, yet dared not get too close, intimidated by the surrounding imperial guards.
Tang Yu pushed through the crowd, her gaze never leaving the notice, and raised her hand to take it down.
A long, slender arm suddenly reached out from the side and blocked her way.
"etc."
The voice was deep and cold as frost, and Tang Yu couldn't help but glance at it.
Sure enough, the person who stopped her half a step to the side was Xie Xingzheng.
His expression remained expressionless, but his deep, dark eyes were fixed on Tang Yu, clearly showing some wariness.
"The imperial edict gives you three days to solve the case. Do you know the consequences?"
Tang Yu chuckled. How could she not know that if one accepted the challenge but failed to solve the case, the emperor would be furious, and they would face certain death?
But she had only one purpose in coming down the mountain: to find an antidote for her brother. She was determined to do it, not just talk about it or hesitate.
Ignoring the warnings, she stepped forward and quickly reached out to the imperial edict.
Xie Xingzheng frowned slightly, not expecting her to be so stubborn, and quickly grabbed her wrist to stop her.
With this grasp, Tang Yu's hand, which was about to touch the corner of the imperial edict, was instantly immobilized.
She looked up and glared at him. Xie Xingzheng was about to explain the pros and cons when he suddenly froze.
The skin beneath his fingers was soft and delicate, and his arm bones were narrow and thin, unlike the hand bones a man should have.
It's her!
Xie Xingzheng's eyes dimmed slightly, and as his thoughts surged, past details strung together like beads on a string.
He suddenly realized that Su Yutang's so-called identity as a traveling doctor was fake.
She is the woman who infiltrated the Xia Nan Prince's Mansion to steal the Blood Spirit Mushroom, and who sneaked into the镖局 (escort agency) pavilion the night before.
Xie Xingzheng took a step forward, almost instinctively wanting to take her down.
But then, as if remembering something, he slowly released his grip, not revealing his identity on the spot, but his voice was even colder: "Take down this imperial edict. If you can't solve the case within three days, your death is your own business. But do you know that this matter may also implicate the Wang family, or even the Xiao family?"
His cold eyes held a warning as he added, "You are suspected of breaking into the Prince's mansion and stealing from the escort agency. I'm not arresting you today only because A-Yue and Fang Liang consider you a friend. I'm just giving you a piece of advice."
Tang Yu smiled enigmatically: "If General Xie has evidence, he can come and arrest me directly. There's no need to scare me."
The surrounding area was bustling with noise, but the two seemed to be completely silent, so quiet that they could hear each other breathing.
Tang Yu suddenly sighed, "That's enough, that's enough."
She lowered her eyebrows, turned and left, as if she had completely given up on the argument.
Seeing her walk out unhurriedly, Xie Xingzheng assumed she had given up, and the sharpness in his eyes gradually faded. He even took a step back to the side.
Just as he lowered his guard, Tang Yu's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, only to vanish in an instant.
The next moment, she turned around abruptly, her movements incredibly fast. With a flick of her sleeve, she tore down the notice with a "whoosh"!
Tang Yu waved the notice in her hand, meeting his slightly angry gaze, and smiled slyly, "Sorry, I've already taken it down. What will General Xie do to me now?"
Xie Xingzheng's fingers twitched slightly in his sleeve, but he ultimately did not make a move.
The imperial edict has already been issued; even if we try to snatch it back now, it will be too late.
"Do they know that you are skilled in martial arts?" Xie Xingzheng said coldly, not inquiring but more like a warning.
"It's not a crime to know a few moves when you're traveling the martial world, is it?" Tang Yu wasn't intimidated and replied calmly, "I've never said that I don't know martial arts."
At this moment, compared to the notice in his hand, the risk of exposing his identity in front of Xie Xingzheng was insignificant.
"Alright." Xie Xingzheng's voice returned to its usual calm and steady tone as he looked at her coldly. "Since you have taken down the notice, as the person appointed by His Majesty to assist in the investigation of this case, I shall stay by your side at all times and watch over Young Master Su as he investigates the case."
Since he couldn't stop her, he would keep an eye on her. Whatever her intentions, he would never give her a chance to take advantage.
Tang Yu felt a chill run down her spine from that cold gaze, but knowing that arguing was pointless, she simply turned and left.
Even when you're far away from the crowd, you can still clearly hear the steady footsteps following behind you.
They were inseparable; it was no joke.
*
Before Tang Yu could even return to Wangyuan Escort Agency, the news of the imperial edict being announced had already reached everyone's ears.
When they saw Tang Yu return, followed by Xie Xingzheng, they were even more certain that this was no exaggeration.
Wang Shanyue's voice boomed: "You really revealed it?"
Tang Yu sat down, placed the notice on the table, and glanced at Xie Xingzheng provocatively. "Take it down."
"Great!" Wang Shanyue slapped his thigh and said with a smile, "I'm also very curious, and now it's perfect to investigate the case with you."
Xie Xingzheng coldly reminded her: "This case has a three-day deadline. If the truth cannot be found out, or if the result does not satisfy the Emperor, she will lose her head, and you may also be implicated."
Wang Shanyue was not worried, after all, Su Yutang was as smart as A Liang in his mind.
He patted Tang Yu on the shoulder and comforted him, "Brother Su, don't worry about me. I always overthink things. I believe that since you dared to take on the challenge, you must already have an answer."
Tang Yu was slightly taken aback, then laughed out loud: "There's no answer yet, but the case will always be solved."
Because when she looked up at the dazzling fireworks in the night sky, there was nothing there...
At this moment, Xiao Fangliang pushed open the door and entered, interrupting Tang Yu's thoughts.
"Brother Su, you certainly have guts." He lightly waved his folding fan, with his usual leisurely demeanor and a slight smile, his words full of teasing.
He immediately stopped smiling and turned to comfort Xie Xingzheng: "The appearance of a dragon at the Floating Light Ceremony has disturbed the people's hearts. Even if Yutang does not issue the imperial edict, Ayue and I will not remain uninvolved."
Wang Shanyue immediately chimed in, "That's right, Senior Brother, please don't blame Brother Su."
Seeing the two men speak up for her, Xie Xingzheng's gaze darkened slightly.
In this life, how rare are truly sincere friends! But what kind of heart is hidden beneath her facade?
Xiao Fangliang's eyes swept between the two of them, seemingly finding it amusing, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly: "We have solved murder cases and uncovered mysteries in Xia Nan and the outskirts of Beijing before. Although there is a time limit this time, it is not impossible to find out the truth."
Tang Yu smiled and said, "Although I am not entirely confident, my life is also on this imperial edict. With General Xie guarding it, I will do my best."
Although Xie Xingzheng was wary of Tang Yu, the three of them showed no fear and were willing to walk side by side, which made it impossible for him to pour cold water on their enthusiasm.
After a moment of silence, he finally replied in a low voice, "If you want to investigate, I won't stop you."
Seeing that this fragile cooperative relationship had been established, Tang Yu took the opportunity to express his thoughts: "When the strange phenomenon first appeared, colored smoke was released, and then a phantom dragon appeared among the smoke. Perhaps someone mixed special incense into the fireworks, which combined with the colored smoke to create the illusion."
Xiao Fangliang nodded, gave the two of them a meaningful look, and suggested, "Why don't we split up? A-Yue and I will go out and investigate. General Xie and Brother Yu will be in charge of investigating the composition of the fireworks and colored smoke."
Tang Yu looked up at him, her smile not reaching her eyes, and feigned a lighthearted tone: "Alright, then I will investigate thoroughly with General Xie."
Xie Xingzheng glanced at her, nodded slightly, and said nothing more.
Xiao Fangliang smiled without saying a word, subtly observing the two women. The subtle atmosphere between them piqued his interest.
The underlying tone of Xie Xingzheng's gaze had changed from the simple suspicion of a few days ago to a deeper probing and wariness.
It makes one curious: what did he discover, and why doesn't he say anything?
*
The grand celebration has passed, but its aftertaste lingers. In the streets and alleys, people are talking about the "Wrath of the Heavenly Dragon" that night, and the stories are becoming increasingly fantastical.
From the moment Wang Shanyue and Xiao Fangliang stepped into the market, they were overwhelmed by all sorts of bizarre and outlandish versions. Even the storytellers in the teahouses seized the opportunity and adapted them into suspenseful and supernatural tales overnight.
According to them, there are not only dragons in the sky, but also the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden and a million heavenly soldiers!
"It's really mysterious." Wang Shanyue munched on sunflower seeds, watching the storyteller on the stage with great enthusiasm, and listened with amusement.
"Hmm..." Xiao Fangliang answered unconsciously, his fingertips rubbing the side of the cup, his eyelashes drooping, lost in thought.
"...Behold the golden dragon descending to earth, its entire body radiating golden light, its horns like hooks, accompanied by lightning, emerging from behind the clouds. In that instant! The dragon's roar was like thunder, possessing a power that shook the heavens and the earth!"
The storyteller spoke with great enthusiasm, and Wang Shanyue listened with rapt attention.
At that moment, several people nearby were whispering to each other:
"What golden dragon? It's clearly a blue dragon."
"No, no, I can see it clearly, that dragon is completely black."
Some were certain, some were perfunctory, and some suddenly stopped talking halfway through, as if someone had glared at them and shut them up.
Most people's attention remained on the stage, and they paid no attention to these few words of debate.
But Xiao Fangliang took these words to heart.
He stopped what he was doing, lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before tapping Wang Shanyue's hand with his fingertip.
"What's wrong?" Wang Shanyue immediately leaned over and asked in a low voice.
"Did you see a dragon last night?" Xiao Fangliang raised an eyebrow.
He nodded, then scratched his head. "I could vaguely see a dragon's shadow moving in the clouds."
"What color?" Xiao Fangliang stared straight at him.
His gaze was intense, and looking up at the mountains and peaks only added to the pressure. He didn't know what answer to give.
She nervously patted the non-existent sunflower seed crumbs off her hands and wiped them on her sleeve before finally leaning close to his ear, her tone awkward: "I...I actually didn't see clearly."
"..."
idiot.
Xiao Fangliang cursed silently in his heart.
But then he felt that the answer wasn't so bad after all; it actually confirmed what he had in mind.
He pulled Wang Shanyue away from the teahouse. The latter looked back, clearly still thinking about the next part of the storytelling, but dared not disobey A Liang.
"Where are we going?" Wang Shanyue couldn't help but ask, his voice tinged with a hint of grievance.
Xiao Fangliang released him, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Of course, I'm sending you to ask those people who witnessed the strange phenomenon."
The two walked and asked around, receiving all sorts of different answers—golden, white, purple. They figured if they asked a few more places, they could collect all seven colors and create a rainbow.
Wang Shanyue was completely confused: "This isn't right! Some say it's a golden dragon, some say it's a blue dragon, and there are red, orange, yellow, and green ones. What color is this dragon? Who is right?"
Xiao Fangliang stood to the side, his brows slightly furrowed, gently waving his folding fan.
If a true dragon were to appear in the world, the people's accounts should be consistent, but now their accounts differ, making it seem as if everyone is lying.
But if someone deliberately induced the statements, why is there such a discrepancy in the testimonies?
He closed his folding fan and looked at the decorated pavilion at the far end of the bustling crowd, which was now covered by a black cloth, as if this could stop the rumors.
“That’s not right at all,” Xiao Fangliang said, a cunning, fox-like smile returning to his face.
His gaze fell on the children who were playing and frolicking among the crowd.
"This dragon is not a dragon at all, but rather a play that manipulates people's hearts under the cover of night."
[Author's Note]
Collect all seven colors to summon the dragon! (Just kidding!)
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