Chapter 398 Yue Maiden Picking Lotus by the Autumn Water
"If the second possibility is true, Your Excellency means..."
"The murderer almost slipped through the cracks of our investigation?"
The middle-aged female official asked solemnly.
Rongzhen nodded, then shook her head, and suddenly asked:
"Is it possible that both possibilities exist?"
The middle-aged female official was slightly taken aback. Before she could ask any questions, the cold-blooded palace-dressed girl, Long Xiu, walked to the window and stood in the spot where someone had stood before, looking down at the bustling street below.
He muttered to himself, "How on earth did they do that... in the bustling city, surrounded by guards, all he saw was a head falling to the ground... Did they use some kind of mythical artifact, or some kind of sorcerer?"
The middle-aged female official glanced at the man who had died on the street and couldn't help but ask:
"Your Excellency, what level of cultivation do you think this person possesses? A mid-level Qi Refiner?"
“His cultivation level isn’t important; what matters is the way he killed people and that weapon.” After a pause, Rong Zhen asked without turning his head, “Also, why did he kill Zhao Rushi in the street?”
The middle-aged female official frowned.
Rongzhen lowered her eyes; there was something she hadn't actually mentioned in detail.
Zhu Lingxu attempted to escape but was intercepted and beheaded by Ouyang Lianghan at the city gate.
However, according to Rong Zhen's meticulous investigation afterward, Zhu Lingxu actually received two messages in the hour before his escape, one before the other.
One is the well-known defection of Zhu Yuheng and his vanguard army in Jiangzhou.
This is also what almost everyone believes to be the direct reason that facilitated Zhu Lingxu's escape.
Only Rong Zhen knew that there was another piece of news that had been passed on to Zhu Lingxu's ears along with the previous one.
This refers to the assassination attempt on Zhao Rushi in Longcheng.
Looking back afterward.
Although it is unclear what Zhu Lingxu's exact state of mind was at the time, this follow-up message may have prompted him to make the decision to disguise himself as a woman and flee without hesitation, based on the verge of verifying the truth of Zhu Yuheng's matter.
He even fled without taking anything, fearing he might be a step too slow. And indeed, he was right; his speed was faster than Rong Zhen and the others who were unprepared. If the city gate hadn't been blocked, he would have definitely escaped.
Therefore, there must be a connection between the two messages, a connection that made Zhu Lingxu immediately realize something, and caused him great anxiety, leading him to take a dangerous path.
Rong Zhen had met Zhu Lingxu and knew that he was not stupid, but very steady, even cunning and shrewd.
The one who could drive such a clever person to their death must be someone even more clever.
Rongzhen didn't quite understand this situation.
But I could smell the scent of masters exchanging blows.
Having witnessed firsthand the chain reaction caused by the affair between Zhu Lingxu and his son—the Wei clan suffered repeated defeats in the court, the Prince of Wei returned to the capital in disgrace, and the Wei clan's attempt to expand through military achievements failed once again, much to the schadenfreude of all parties.
From a political standpoint, the Xunyang Prince's Mansion and Ouyang Lianghan in Jiangzhou, the Xiang Prince's Mansion in Luoyang, and even the pro-Li faction led by Master Di all had suspected motives for facilitating this matter.
Especially the closest ones: Xunyang Prince's Mansion and Ouyang Lianghan.
After all, the secret conflict between Ouyang Lianghan and Zhu Lingxu was well-known in Jiangzhou's official circles.
On that very day, Ouyang Lianghan ignored her completely, beheading Zhu Lingxu, who had fled in fear of punishment and attacked the guards, showing no respect for Rongzhen whatsoever.
This is certainly highly suspicious.
However, judging from the subsequent outcome, after the incident escalated, Ouyang Lianghan refused the coveted position of Chief of the Marching Camp after the redistribution of power.
The entire Xunyang Prince's Mansion only managed to obtain the nominal position of Prefect of Jiangzhou. Moreover, in the eyes of discerning people, it was unclear whether this was a blessing or a curse for Li Fusu, the heir of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion. After all, apart from the princesses and noblewomen, the male members of the Li royal family who were being "taken care of" by Her Majesty the Empress seemed to be having some bad luck. It was a case of fortune and misfortune being intertwined.
After the public beheading at the city gate, Ouyang Lianghan, who had gained control of the Jiangzhou court, handled the aftermath without harming Zhu Lingxu's concubines and servants. He even treated most of the generals and confidants appointed or dismissed by Zhu Lingxu leniently, showing no sign of taking the opportunity to purge any remaining "remnants."
The methodical approach attracted many inquiries, but very few were actually imprisoned.
The whole process of wrapping things up was all bark and no bite.
Apart from Zhu Lingxu and his son, who died the most tragically, very few others were harmed; the number of people affected was far less than what the female officials in colorful robes had to deal with.
It's fair to say that this is completely out of character for the somber atmosphere of a "turbulent time".
This doesn't seem like a case of settling a personal score at all.
It's more like... helping to clean up someone's mess or covering for them.
Moreover, if we infer from the perspective of the one who benefits the most, who is also the most suspicious.
The most likely suspect should be Qin Jingzhen, who is rushing to Jiangzhou.
Wei was suddenly disgraced and dismissed from his post, but was recommended by the Master and obtained the highly anticipated position of Grand General of the Jiangnan Road Army.
This retired general, who had been unemployed for many years, was successfully reinstated and quietly reaped the benefits of others' misfortunes.
They've won so many times they're numb.
So, if it really was Ouyang Lianghan who did it, why go through all this trouble for no reward, risking being targeted by them and the court and palace investigation agencies, getting himself into all this trouble, and doing all the work for someone else?
Was it just an itch to kill the old fox Zhu Lingxu for fun that he ended up making dumplings for a plate of vinegar and feeding other passersby as well?
It was also said to be... a belief or principle that Rongzhen couldn't understand?
By the window, the girl in palace attire coldly gazed at the bustling street below, and shook her head.
She didn't believe that anyone could be completely selfless.
Just like Ouyang Lianghan's previous bold and decisive actions in disaster relief and flood control in Longcheng County,
His outstanding political achievements, which stood out from the crowd, in turn made him famous throughout the country, becoming a recognized expert in water conservancy, and allowing him to be promoted to the position of Prefect of Jiangzhou. He even managed to curry favor with the rising power of the Prince of Xunyang.
However, this makes Ouyang Lianghan seem less suspicious.
Rong Zhen frowned slightly, slowly nodded, glanced at the five scraps of paper in the red cloth bag, and asked the middle-aged female official directly:
"What discoveries have we made with this new clue of scraps of paper?"
The middle-aged female official shook her head with some guilt:
"It's because my subordinates are not skilled enough; even scraps of paper cannot trace the killer, nor can they detect the presence of an unknown weapon."
"However, these scraps of paper with residual ink are clearly part of a note. Although we can't find the whole thing, I'll still send people to investigate the origin of the corresponding paper and ink. We can trace it back a bit, but it will take time..."
"The reason we invited you here this time is to let you try... to see if you can catch this cunning fellow out of his depth."
Rongzhen didn't speak, but stretched out her fair hand and took the red cloth bag.
Five scraps of paper fell into her palm.
The palace-dressed girl by the window clenched her fist, closed her cold eyes, and remained silent. She paced around the table, turning in circles, following a certain pattern.
The middle-aged female official dared not urge them and waited patiently.
At one moment, Rong Zhen suddenly stopped, turned her back to the middle-aged female official, and shook her head:
"The source of his aura cannot be traced. This person probably has a method to conceal his aura. Also, that murder weapon has no trace of aura left, it looks like an ordinary object."
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged female official's face immediately showed disappointment. Even a high-ranking official of the sixth rank, a woman of exceptional beauty and talent, wasn't acceptable...?
"but."
Rong Zhen suddenly spoke, turning around to see that she hadn't opened her eyes, her fists were still loosely clenched, and her cold expression remained with her eyes closed.
"I saw something else."
What is it?
"Literary style... is a poem."
Having said that, the girl in palace attire immediately opened her eyes. With one hand still loosely holding five scraps of paper, she spread the empty red cloth on the table with the other, smoothing it out. Concentrating intently, she commanded without turning her head:
"Bring me ink."
I didn't ask for a pen.
The middle-aged female official, full of energy, disappeared in a flash, and soon returned with an inkstone and ink.
Five scraps of paper had been placed in different positions on the flat red cloth by Rongzhen.
The middle-aged female official stared intently, unable to clearly see how the cold, palace-dressed girl in front of her moved.
However, most of the ink in the inkstone had been used up.
On the red cloth, there was an additional poem, the ink fresh.
"This is a poem, 'Butterfly...Loves Flowers'?" The middle-aged female official exclaimed in surprise after quickly reading it.
Rong Zhen was also taken aback, then frowned and softly recited:
"A Yue maiden gathers lotus by the autumn waters, her narrow sleeves and light silk revealing her twin gold bracelets... She picks flowers, her reflection mirroring her face, her heart entangled with the silk threads... The wind and waves are late at Mandarin Duck Beach, the fog is heavy and the smoke is light, her companions from the past are nowhere to be seen... Faintly, the song of returning boats fades into the distance, the sorrow of parting leads... to the south bank of the Yangtze River."
Silence fell over the table.
The two women had different expressions as they silently appreciated the poem.
"Does the sorrow of parting lead to the south bank of the Yangtze River..." The cold, palace-dressed girl pondered for a moment, her voice not so cold: "The lyrics are good."
The middle-aged female official looked curious, trying to pinpoint the key phrase: "Yue woman?"
Rong Zhen remained calm, pointing to the red cloth: "The handwriting, the handwriting of the owner of this poem, 'Butterfly Loves Flowers'."
The middle-aged female official's eyes lit up.
But after she carefully examined the sample reconstructed from the ink, she exclaimed softly, "What kind of handwriting is this? What kind of pen was it written with?"
Rong Zhen frowned slightly: "Actually, it's better to have distinctive features, as they make it easier to identify. Also... I'll try again to see who this person really is."
She suddenly reached out and brushed her finger across the strangely written characters on the red cloth, while her other hand quickly made a finger gesture under her wide sleeve.
He closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to deduce some kind of divine secret.
The middle-aged female official noticed that a crimson glow flowed across the snow-white skin of the youngest "Jade Maiden" of the Imperial Observatory, and the sleeves of the girl's palace dress, which was adorned with hand seals, shimmered with iridescent light... As if knowing what Rong Zhen, whose eyelashes trembled, was doing, she became excited, smiled, and looked expectant in her eyes.
"Hmm..."
But in the next instant, the cold-blooded girl in palace attire let out a muffled groan, and a thin line of bright red blood slowly trickled down her lips.
"How is this possible!" Rong Zhen staggered, her obsessive-compulsive disorder forcing her to press down on the greasy edge of the table in front of her. She opened her eyes and looked down at the strange handwriting on the red cloth, her small face full of surprise and confusion: "Something that is unknowable, unattainable, and inexplicable?"
This was the first time Rong Zhen had encountered such a situation since she advanced to the Yin-Yang School's Qi Refining Realm with her monstrous talent.
The reaction was even more unbelievable than discovering that this calm suspect possessed the ability to conceal his true intentions and was also a highly accomplished literary figure.
Rong Zhen touched the corner of her lips with her finger, lowered her head, and stared blankly at the bright red bloodstains on her fingertip.
This is the first time.
She felt a little thirsty and turned to look at the middle-aged female official, whose eyes were also filled with shock. The latter swallowed hard.
Just then, at the corner of the bustling street downstairs, the figures of a group of constables in blue uniforms appeared faintly.
It seemed to be the criminal police officers of Longcheng County, led by an old county lieutenant surnamed Yan.
Glancing out of the corner of her eye, Rong Zhen silently wiped the blood from her lips with her thumb by the window, took a deep breath, and resumed her icy expression. She folded the red cloth, turned and handed it to the middle-aged female official, giving her detailed instructions:
"You stay here and first re-examine the suspects registered at the restaurant who previously lingered at this seat, using handwriting analysis. If there are no leads, expand the search area and investigate handwriting again."
"Also... this time, don't bring any local government officials with you, not even the most experienced constables. Our people will investigate on their own."
The middle-aged female official said in a low voice, "What does Your Excellency mean..."
Rong Zhen's expression was very serious, no longer showing the three parts of calm she had shown before: "Just in case."
After thinking for a moment, she asked again, "Where is Zhao Rushi's body now?"
"Dagushan Mountain, Donglin Temple".
Rongzhen nodded.
In the next instant, the beautiful figure at the table vanished.
...
Night, Donglin Temple, Sanhui Courtyard.
From the moment I met Ouyang Rong.
Aqing never asked Ouyang Rong what he was coming back for.
Ouyang Rong did not speak.
The two had a tacit understanding.
Aqing carefully packed away the bundle of autumn clothes.
Ouyang Rong strolled around the Sanhui Courtyard for a while, and also helped Yunniang with some heavy housework.
A short while later, Mother Liu regained consciousness, and Aqing and Yunniang immediately surrounded her and busied themselves with her.
Upon seeing the arrival of Ouyang Rong, who was equivalent to a "half-son" of her, Liu's mother was naturally delighted. She tried to get up, but Ouyang Rong gently pressed her back down.
They exchanged pleasantries for a while.
Ouyang Rong accompanied them and had a meal together.
Liu's mother liked to ask about everyday family matters, and Yunniang was a little reserved.
Ah Qing buried her head in her rice, listening intently to her mother and Ouyang Rong's conversation. Today, she seemed to have a big appetite and ate exceptionally well, which made Ouyang Rong smile and frequently put food on her plate.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious and pleasant.
Ouyang Rong asked a few questions, such as whether Magistrate Diao often came to visit them.
Yunniang immediately replied:
“Yes, Magistrate Diao visits every half month, but he came an extra time these past two days. It was the day before yesterday. I heard that he was sending some kind of corpse up the mountain, and a ritual was to be performed there. Magistrate Diao visited my mother-in-law on the way.”
"Corpse?" Mother Liu seemed to be hearing this for the first time, and her face showed curiosity.
Yunniang nodded, sighing:
“A few days ago, an official from out of town was passing by Di Gong Street in the county when he lost his head right there on the street. It was a real head loss; he was still on his horse when his head landed in front of a fruit and vegetable stall. No one knows what caused it or who did it. The county government couldn't figure it out and it was delayed for several days. Some people started to suspect that it was the work of ghosts and gods.”
"Since the downfall of the Liu family and the eradication of illicit cults, our county no longer practices religious rituals, but people in Jishui County still believe in them."
"So the family members who rushed over discussed it with the county government and decided to send the body of the out-of-town official to Dagushan Mountain so that the eminent monks of Donglin Temple could chant sutras to help him pass on to the afterlife..."
"It seems the body is still lying in the Buddhist temple. Fortunately, it's cold in autumn. If it were hot, the monks performing the rites would have suffered. Abbot Shandao is busy with the rites and the burial is expected to take place in the next couple of days."
"I see."
The old woman gently patted Ouyang Rong's shoulder, her face filled with worry:
"There was fighting last month, and this happened this month. Things are getting more and more unsettled these days. You have to be careful when you're out there."
"good."
Yunniang spoke with great interest, and the so-called ghosts and gods made Aqing shrink back, while Liu's mother listened with a solemn expression.
Only Ouyang Rong calmly ate his rice.
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(End of this chapter)
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