Chapter 32 It's as if Da Shan is her and Pei Xu's child...
The Zhou family members who had fled were all brought to justice, and the officials of the Dali Temple were once again in a state of chaos.
The interrogation room was dark and cold, filled with a lingering stench of blood. Pei Xu pushed open the wooden door, the sunlight streaming through the corridor making him squint slightly. After several days of relentless interrogation, even someone as young, strong, and resilient as him couldn't hide the weariness etched on his face. He raised his hand and gently pressed his cool fingertips against his brow.
Just as he was about to return to his official residence for a short rest, his gaze caught sight of a figure loitering not far away. It was Shen Xiaoshan.
The young boy changed into a clean indigo cloth robe, the uniform of a lower-ranking constable of the Dali Temple. Wrapped around his still somewhat thin body, it always carried a touch of inappropriate immaturity.
Shen Xiaoshan paced back and forth in the courtyard, sometimes clasping his hands together, sometimes letting them hang down, raising his head and lowering it again, looking as if he wanted to go in but hesitated and was preoccupied with something on his mind.
Clearly, he was waiting for someone.
Pei Xu pondered for a moment, then strode toward him.
Upon seeing him, Shen Xiaoshan immediately stood up straight and nervously bowed, saying, "M-Sir!"
Pei Xu stopped, his voice slightly hoarse, "Shen Xiaoshan, what brings you here?"
Shen Xiaoshan suddenly looked up, meeting Pei Xu's deep, unwavering eyes, then quickly lowered his head, his ears turning red, and stammered, "This humble one dares to..."
Pei Xu hummed in agreement, signaling him to continue.
"I'd like to ask for a short leave to...go to the Meng residence." Shen Xiaoshan mustered his courage and said, "I bumped into Miss Meng at the temple earlier, and she was very worried. At the time, the situation was urgent, and I had official duties to attend to, so I didn't say anything. Now that I'm back, I'd like to go and let her know I'm safe."
He paused, a deep worry on his face. "But I'm clumsy with words, and I'm so grateful to Miss Meng for saving my life. I'm afraid I'll get too excited when I see her. What if... what if I accidentally reveal some details of the case that shouldn't be circulated within the Dali Temple... breaking the rules and ruining your plans, sir?"
The young man was simple-minded, and all his worries were written on his face, showing his sincerity.
Pei Xu listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over the top of his head, which was covered with a layer of light blue, and remained silent for a moment.
"Now that the Zhou family and their associates have been apprehended, the crucial arrest phase of this case has come to a temporary close." He finally spoke, unhurriedly, each word carrying an undeniable certainty. "It's only natural for you to want to report that you're safe; there's no harm in it."
Shen Xiaoshan's face instantly lit up with unbelievable joy, his eyes shining brightly, "The master has given his permission?"
Pei Xu nodded slightly. "Mm."
His gaze was cold as he stared at Shen Xiaoshan. After a moment's pause, he continued, "When you see Miss Meng, just say that the main culprits have all been apprehended, and the rest are matters for the government to investigate according to the law. There's no need to mention anything else. In particular, don't say a word about the various arrangements in Ci'an Temple or the people you see, lest you cause unnecessary trouble."
"Yes! Yes! I understand! Thank you, sir!" Shen Xiaoshan was overjoyed, bowed deeply, and was about to take his leave.
"Wait a minute," Pei Xu called out to him.
Shen Xiaoshan immediately stopped and turned around, bowing respectfully with his hands at his sides. "My lord?"
Pei Xu didn't look at him, but turned his gaze to the corridor, and simply ordered in a low voice, "Go."
Shen Xiaoshan was somewhat puzzled, but he still answered "Yes" as instructed and quickly walked towards the gate. He had just stepped over the high threshold when he suddenly heard someone calling him from behind.
"Brother Xiaoshan! Wait a minute!"
Looking back, it was Qingzhou. Pei Xu's personal servant, who took care of his daily life, often stayed away from the mansion for days at a time when he was busy. Qingzhou was often waiting at the Dali Temple, and Shen Xiaoshan had seen him several times.
Qingzhou jogged after him, clutching a bulging indigo purse in his hand.
"Take this." Qingzhou stuffed the purse into Shen Xiaoshan's hand without saying a word.
Shen Xiaoshan squeezed the purse; it was heavy, and the hard objects inside were clearly silver ingots. He was immediately startled and hurriedly tried to return the purse to Qingzhou, "Brother Qingzhou! This...this is unacceptable. I can't accept it!"
Qingzhou chuckled and took a step back, refusing to accept the money. "Oh, why refuse? The magistrate said you did a good job investigating Ci'an Temple this time, this is a reward you deserve." Seeing that Shen Xiaoshan was still determined to return it, he quickly stepped forward again, lowered his voice, and said as if he knew everything. "Besides, look at you, you're now working for the government, it's inappropriate to dress like this. Take the money and buy yourself some nice clothes and some good food..."
Seeing that he remained unmoved, Qingzhou changed the subject, "If you're visiting relatives and friends, you can't go empty-handed, can you? There are many places where money is needed, so keep it safe and do your job well in the future so as not to let your superiors down."
Shen Xiaoshan didn't care about clothes or food, but he took Qingzhou's words to heart. Qingzhou was right; it would be too impolite for him to leave empty-handed. He hesitated for a moment, then murmured, "...Thank you for your consideration, sir." In the end, he tightly gripped the purse containing the silver in his hand.
With his money in hand, Chen Xiaoshan's steps became lighter. He carefully browsed several shops on the street, comparing prices meticulously. Finally, he bought some exquisite pastries from a long-established pastry shop, which the shopkeeper said were favorites of the young ladies. The pastries were carefully wrapped in a beautiful paper box. Carrying the pastries, he headed towards the Meng residence with a mix of trepidation and excitement.
Upon learning that Zhou Yizhi had been captured, Meng Lingyao finally felt relieved.
How dare they make a move on her! Thank goodness, heaven has eyes.
"I'm glad you're alright." She held a cup of hot tea and carefully looked Shen Xiaoshan over. "You look much more energetic."
No longer like when I first arrived in the capital, I was like a frightened bird, filled with anxiety.
Shen Xiaoshan lowered her head, her cheeks slightly flushed, "The officials at Dali Temple have taken good care of me."
Seeing his shy expression, Cang Dian couldn't help but pinch his shoulder, her voice full of amazement, "Xiao Shan, you're really daring! You actually disguised yourself as a monk and infiltrated Ci'an Temple. Those who dare to do such a deadly job are all desperate criminals! What if they were discovered?"
"Before I left, Lord Pei said he had arranged for someone to protect me." Shen Xiaoshan paused, then said seriously, "As for impersonating a monk, I had stayed in a temple for a long time, so it wasn't too difficult for me to pretend. However... I had only been at the Dali Temple for a short time and had no experience whatsoever. At the time, due to the circumstances, the Dali Temple did not have a suitable candidate, so I took the liberty of recommending myself to Lord Pei. I did not expect that you would actually agree! Fortunately, I did not disappoint you."
He knew that many people had objected, saying that he was new to the position and lacked experience, and that he might not be able to shoulder the responsibility. They feared that if word got out, it would ruin everything. It was Lord Pei who overruled the objections and appointed him.
Thankfully, thankfully, I have fulfilled my mission.
The teenager's eyes were bright, just like when we first met at the city gate. He was full of vitality, leaving no doubt that as long as he was given a little sunshine and rain, he could climb up and grow strong.
Indeed, he was capable of traveling thousands of miles alone to seek justice for his family; how could he be someone content with mediocrity?
Meng Lingyao asked gently, "You went deep into the tiger's den this time and made great contributions. Has Lord Pei given you any reward?"
Mentioning this, Shen Xiaoshan's eyes lit up even brighter, unable to suppress the excitement in his voice, "Yes! The magistrate said he has already reported my merits to the Emperor! And..." His voice trembled slightly, "The magistrate also found me a master with excellent martial arts skills, so that I can learn martial arts from that master in my spare time. He also said that once my skills are solid, I can get a regular position in the Dali Temple!"
“That’s excellent.” Meng Lingyao clapped her hands gently.
Fortunately, Pei Xu was fair in his dealings; otherwise, she would have definitely gone to his door to demand justice for Shen Xiaoshan.
Songlan clapped and cheered, "Congratulations! Our Xiaoshan is now a legitimate government employee!"
Shen Xiaoshan blushed at the praise and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "It's all thanks to Miss and Master."
He gripped his sleeve tightly, his eyes glistening with tears. "My life was given to me by Miss and Lord Pei."
Meng Lingyao listened with a subtle expression.
The way you're saying that makes it sound like he's her and Pei Xu's child...
Pshaw, she's still young.
Banishing the random thoughts from her mind, Meng Lingyao remembered that Shen Xiaoshan always came and went in a hurry and never stayed for a meal, so she asked, "It's getting late. Since you've come all this way, why don't you have a meal here before you go back?"
Normally, Shen Xiaoshan would have been apprehensive and declined, repeatedly saying, "I dare not trouble you." However, today, perhaps because the major case had been solved and he was relaxed, or perhaps because he knew his future path was becoming clearer and he felt more confident, he hesitated for a moment, glancing at Meng Lingyao, then at Songlan and Cangdian, who were also looking at him expectantly. After a moment of silence, he surprisingly nodded slightly, "Then, then I'll have to trouble Miss and Sister Songlan..."
The meal lasted a long time. The chef at the Meng residence was extremely skilled; at least, Shen Xiaoshan felt it was the most delicious food he had eaten since coming to the capital. Slightly tipsy from his full meal, Shen Xiaoshan staggered back to the Dali Temple. As he entered, he accidentally bumped his head on a doorpost. He hissed, rubbed his head, and surprisingly didn't feel any pain.
The quiet of the Dali Temple's backyard was broken by a few small noises. Under the candlelight, Pei Xu, with his well-defined fingers, held a writing brush and wrote annotations on a newly presented case file.
Hearing the sound, he put down his pen, walked to the window, and saw a magnolia tree outside the lattice window, its branches laden with white buds falling silently in the night wind, like scattered snowflakes. In the night breeze, a very soft sigh escaped his lips, and a hint of a smile finally flickered in his usually calm and unwavering eyes.
-
In springtime Chang'an, willow catkins danced in the air. Early in the morning, the main streets leading to the city gates were bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder. News of General Xie's triumphant return with the Zhenbei Army had already spread throughout the capital, and the people spontaneously gathered, eager to witness the prowess of this iron-willed army that had shaken the frontier.
The restaurants and teahouses along the street were already fully booked, and good spots with a view of the queue entering the city were even harder to come by. On the second floor of Keyunju, Meng Lingyao and Xie Chengyu sat together, with several tea snacks and a set of writing implements laid out on the table.
“Luckily, I had someone reserve a table half a month in advance,” Xie Chengyu said, resting his chin on one hand and toying with his wine glass with the other. “You wouldn’t believe it, but yesterday someone offered three times the price to buy this seat.”
"Who can be as well-informed as you?" Meng Lingyao chuckled, picking up the wine pot, about to add some more wine for her.
Xie Chengyu pressed her hand, took the wine pot, and poured wine for her instead. "Good Yaoyao, I have another request."
"Um?"
"Your painting skills are unparalleled in the capital." Xie Chengyu narrowed his eyes. "Could you paint a picture of my uncle returning to the city and the people lining the streets to welcome him? I think it would be more unconventional than some hundred-year-old ginseng or gold and silver jewelry."
The Xie family was a prestigious clan with a century-long history, and its internal affairs were far more complex than those of the Meng family, which had a smaller population. Xie Chengyu was never one to talk much, so Meng Lingyao didn't ask any questions and readily agreed, "Then I need ink ground by Miss Xie herself."
"Of course." Xie Chengyu smiled. "I knew it, Yaoyao loves me the most." Just as she was about to say something more, a familiar voice came from the stairs.
The two turned around and saw Meng Lingyao's two cousins, Zhong Dingming and Zhong Dingyao, walking together, accompanied by an unfamiliar young man.
The man was dressed in a dark blue, fitted outfit with narrow sleeves, and had a tall and slender figure. His skin was not the white that the young men of the capital admired, but a wheat color that showed signs of hardship and experience, which made his features more defined and his aura more imposing, like a knife that had just been used to draw blood and had not yet been sheathed, its sharpness fully revealed.
Meng Lingyao felt that the face looked familiar, but she couldn't remember who it was for a moment.
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