Chapter 29 Ling Tianshui
Since she couldn't avoid him, she simply raised her chin towards him on the steps and asked, "Ling Tianshui?"
Sunlight filtered through the shade of the trees, passed through the corridor, and shone on her face. A halo completely different from that night enveloped her, making her eyebrows and eyes look even more vibrant and bright.
Her skin was extremely white, her eyes were deep black, her lips were bright red, and her eyelashes covering her eyes were a little too long, like crow's wings or butterfly wings.
Although her eyebrows were damaged, the slight flaw on her jade-like face made her face look more lively and vibrant. Moreover, because of this damage that could only be detected upon closer inspection, when she looked at others, it always made people feel that their hearts also moved slightly with the brilliance of her eyebrows and eyes, which was difficult to control.
Ling Tianshui studied her with an interested expression on his face. "Yes, Ling Tianshui, currently serving as Si-jie of the Divine Strategy Army of the Northern Court's Imperial Guards, your new husband-to-be."
Qiandeng stared at him and walked down the steps.
The closer she got to him, the more she looked up at him, and the more concrete that oppressive aura became.
She walked up to him, raised her hand to measure his height, and frowned: "Didn't you say five feet seven inches? Why do I feel like you're much taller than six feet?"
"I just came back from Longyou. The Ji family only remembers my height from a few years ago."
"But Ji Linyou said you are fair and elegant." She walked around him, examining him critically.
Although he couldn't be called dark, his light wheat-colored skin and fierce aura made him look nothing like an ordinary man whose parents had both passed away and who was committed to a menial job.
"My parents died, and I joined the army to fight on the battlefield. How can I still be fair and elegant?"
"A good calligrapher?"
“I can write.”
"A good Jiegu?"
"See others fight it."
This casual attitude, even the so-called "knowing when to advance and when to retreat" is fake.
Qiandeng turned her head away to avoid his sharp gaze, secretly annoyed at his lack of etiquette.
"Please sit down first." Qian Deng invited him to sit across from her in the corridor and asked, "Were you familiar with corpses when you were in Longyou?"
He obviously didn't expect the county lady to ask him such a question. He raised his eyelids and looked at her: "Yes, very familiar."
Qian Deng recalled that he could tell at a glance that night that Mrs. Meng had internal bleeding symptoms. He must have had a lot of experience dealing with the dead.
"Last time I saw you and Madam Meng were quite familiar with each other. I wonder how you met?"
"She gave me the grace to live." Ling Tianshui replied in a slightly deeper voice, "If it weren't for her, there would be no me in this world."
"So Madam Meng saved your life?" Qian Deng was a little surprised. Madam Meng, who was so weak, actually saved the life of the strong and tall man in front of her?
But then he thought again, Madam Meng left the Northwest in her early years, and she must have rescued Ling Tianshui when he was young.
The two of them stopped talking. Qiandeng sipped his teacup and looked at Ling Tianshui in front of him...
Even when he sat silently drinking tea, he still exuded a murderous aura, a demeanor that disregarded life and death. Could it be that...he had rolled out of the pile of corpses in the charity cemetery?
Thinking back to the several coroners she had met, she felt that Ling Tianshui's temperament was really different from theirs.
After all, the temperament of dealing with the dead is completely different from the temperament of turning the living into the dead.
And what Ling Tianshui possesses is obviously the latter.
Although it was just a candidate brought in temporarily, she needed him to be reliable, confidential, available and easy to use. Otherwise, why would she waste such a position and cause trouble for him and herself?
Just as he was thinking, he heard footsteps outside. Aunt Xuanji led the way and walked in through the courtyard gate. She said in surprise, "County Lady, Cui Shaoqing is here. According to your instructions, Jinzhu Hall has been decorated."
The young man who came through the courtyard had a clear and noble demeanor, and it was Cui Fufeng.
He looked at the thousands of lights in the corridor and was about to greet her when he caught a glimpse of the person sitting opposite her. His eyes narrowed slightly and the words in his mouth got stuck in his throat.
Seeing him constantly gazing at Ling Tianshui, Qian Deng grew suspicious. He glanced at the man opposite him before standing up and saying, "Young Master Cui, I'm very pleased to welcome you."
Cui Fufeng withdrew his gaze and greeted her, gathering his composure and saying, "Greetings, County Lady. Since today is a day off, and I've received permission from the palace, I thought it would be better to come and settle in early."
"That's very good. If there's anything lacking in the mansion, Master Cui, please feel free to discuss it with Aunts Xuanji and Yingluo, or come to me directly. There's no need to be restrained." As she spoke, she casually glanced at Ling Tianshui behind her. "It just so happens that I have a new guest here. Let me introduce him to you, Master Cui."
Before Cui Fufeng could say anything, Ling Tianshui calmly stood up and bowed. "My name is Ling Tianshui. I've met Shaoqing Cui several times before under the command of Prince Linhuai. I wonder if Shaoqing Cui still remembers me?"
Cui Fufeng fixed his gaze on him for a moment, sizing up Ling Tianshui's composed expression. He said nothing, but turned to Qian Deng thoughtfully.
Qian Deng raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Do you know each other?"
Cui Fufeng hesitated for a moment, then finally said, "Well, I remember now. The one under the command of Prince Linhuai... right?"
"Yes, I was in the Shuofang Army for a while before. When Chang'an was recovered some time ago, I met my clansmen and returned to the capital. Now I am serving as a rank official in the Northern Yamen Forbidden Army."
Hearing him say this, Qiandeng was also a little confused.
It turned out that Ling Tianshui came from the Shuofang Army. The murderous aura he exuded was indeed similar to the group of people around King Linhuai.
Cui Fufeng asked him, "I wonder what brings you to the palace?"
Ling Tianshui pointed to the files on the table and said, "As you can see, I'm the new candidate for the County Lady's husband—I heard that the County Lady specifically asked for me."
Not only did he speak frankly, but his expression was even more frank, saying that the county lady asked for him as if she was showing off her capital.
Cui Fufeng glanced at Qiandeng and raised the corner of his lips slightly: "I see."
Although he didn't say anything, Qiandeng couldn't help feeling embarrassed and coughed dryly to send the others away.
The three of them sat opposite each other in the corridor, the shadows of the trees filtered out faint light and shadows, tea was brewing on the small clay stove, and the autumn air was cool.
Although everyone has their own ulterior motives, the current atmosphere is relatively peaceful.
"It's like this. Ling Tianshui, Ling Sijie, is one of the candidates on this list. I heard he's familiar with the coroner's profession, so I'd like to meet him." Qian Deng poured tea for the two and said, "Since Cui Shaoqing and Ling Sijie know each other, let's talk openly. Cui Shaoqing is here because there are doubts about the other candidates in our palace regarding the Imperial College case, and I hope they can conduct a thorough investigation. As for Ling Sijie, I'm here because I feel the coroner's examination of the body was too crude, and I hope Ling Sijie can provide a thorough examination for us to find any clues."
Cui Fufeng frowned, holding the cup in his hand and looking at Ling Tianshui: "He... is the coroner performing an autopsy?"
Ling Tianshui sat in front of them holding a teacup. Due to his tall stature, his hands were also particularly broad. The small teacup was pinched between his three fingers, making it look particularly delicate.
He gently swirled the light blue tea in the cup, his captivating eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, "Why, I can't?"
Cui Fufeng curled his lips into a meaningful smile. "Of course. The place with the most corpses in the world is the battlefield. There are all kinds of shapes and causes of death... Ling Sijie must be very familiar with them."
When Qian Deng heard him mention the battlefield, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "I heard that Prince Linhuai was injured while suppressing the rebellious army. I wonder how his recovery is going now?"
"Yes, I heard about it too. I was worried about the prince's injury." Cui Fufeng looked at Ling Tianshui calmly.
Ling Tianshui casually said, "I'm not sure about that. I only heard from the military doctors that he might not be able to get out of bed within the year and needs to be well cared for."
Hearing that the situation was so serious, Qian Deng couldn't help but feel a little worried: "I hope Prince Linhuai gets better soon."
Although she believed that Prince Linhuai was not a loyal minister or a good general, he had saved her many times after all. Moreover, half of the country was in turmoil, and he was expected to stay in the northwest. If something happened, it would not be good for the country and the people.
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