Along the edge of the area (I)
Inside the luxurious room, Yu Hongning clearly saw the two girls' tired smiles and couldn't help but feel a little envious.
"What's wrong with you?" Xiao Hanfeng asked her.
Yu Hongning looked up at her, and her disappointed gaze made the two of them feel uneasy.
Chen Zhuangmu seemed to remember something and said, "But you haven't finished your studies yet, so of course you can't go to work."
Yu Hongning pouted to the other side, and Xiao Hanfeng excitedly comforted her, "Why are there still people trying to steal your work? You'll be busy when the time comes."
After saying this, Yu Hongning seemed even more upset; their words had no effect whatsoever.
“If you have a job you like, you can start working on it now. You can get closer to what you like every day. Will it still be too late?” Chen Zhuangmu stared at Yu Hongning, observing her reaction.
These words resonated in Yu Hongning's heart, stirring up a few other emotions. Chen Zhuangmu could tell from the change in her eyes that this person was no longer stuck in a rut.
Winter is fast approaching, and the nights are falling faster and faster. Right now, the sky is dark, and the moon hangs low in the sky, waiting for its time.
Chen Zhuangmu and Yu Hongning bid farewell to Xiao Hanfeng and each took a carriage back home.
The oppressive dampness of the evening was instantly blocked the moment the carriage was stepped into. The carriage was covered with thick woolen cushions, and warm incense and fox fur were placed on it. Chen Zhuangmu was not in good health, so she also brought an extra set of thin blankets.
After wrapping herself tightly in warm clothing, the discomfort gradually subsided, and Chen Zhuangmu could finally think about the day's events.
What was Xiao Zhong thinking that made such a big difference in quality between the interior and exterior of the courtyard? Let's put that aside for now and just think about Xiao Hanfeng's bedchamber.
Judging from the current situation, Xiao Zhong must have some connection with the previous dynasty. The pillow and mat are still relatively unworn, with every stitch neat and tidy. Moreover, Xiao Hanfeng said that he asked his father to buy another one, which proves that the pillow and mat is not very old.
Xiao Zhong certainly couldn't embroider, so did he have an accomplice or did he ask the shop to embroider it?
The answer to this question can only be found by investigation. After returning to the mansion, Chen Zhuangmu went straight to the study and drew the shape of the pillow and mat, focusing the main strokes on the two birds on the mountain.
She gently blew on the painting, and the paper in her hand bulged backward with the force of the blow, causing Chen Zhuangmu to freeze in place.
Since we cannot confirm Xiao Zhong's relationship with the previous dynasty, what if we assume that Xiao Zhong was a person from the previous dynasty? At least his name would certainly be fake.
This idea thrilled Shen Zhuangmu, who excitedly arranged for Li Chu to investigate again the next day. After saying this, she went to rest, but due to her excitement, she couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
Therefore, when Li Chu brought the medicine the next day, she immediately saw Chen Zhuangmu sitting on the edge of the bed yawning with two big dark circles under her eyes, and a feeling of tension spread through Li Chu's heart.
"Princess, did you stay up late reading again yesterday?" Li Chu handed her the medicine.
"I didn't." Chen Zhuangmu downed the bowl of medicine in one gulp, her face contorted with bitterness. After she recovered, she said, "I didn't sleep last night."
Li Chu took the bowl and placed it on the table beside her. "No matter how sleepy you are, Princess, you can't take any more naps."
Li Chu took out the envelope. "A letter from the Dali Temple. Today is supposed to be a day off, so why..." Chen Zhuangmu listened as she opened the envelope. Upon seeing the few words on it, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Zhuo Ci is dead?!"
"Li Chu, help me change my clothes. We need to hurry to Dali Temple."
Princess Rongshu's carriage was speeding along the road. Because it was going so fast, the little house behind it was shaking as if it were about to fly away. After speeding along, the carriage finally stopped with a piercing sound.
"Bang!"
Two carriages collided at the entrance of Dali Temple. Chen Zhuangmu clung tightly to the carriage door amidst the violent shaking, fearing she would fall out. As the shaking subsided, she simply jumped off the carriage while holding onto the door.
As she approached the other carriage, she saw Zhao Yi standing to the side with his usual smug face. Only when he saw her did he suddenly raise his eyes.
"Your carriage hit my carriage, what should we do?" Zhao Yi asked, looking at her.
Chen Zhuangmu didn't want to talk, and she couldn't explain why herself. To avoid a conflict with him, she went around to Li Chu and said, "Li Chu, you handle this matter."
After giving her instructions, she went directly into the Dali Temple.
As soon as she entered, someone walked in front of her on her left, leading her to the prison and telling her about the day's events. "According to the jailer, he went to check the prison as usual recently and saw Ci's body hanging from the ceiling of his cell in a hanging position."
“Time,” Chen Zhuangmu said.
The man handed over a booklet.
Chen Zhuang didn't turn the curtain, but strode into the prison. The Dali Temple prison was like a different world from the outside. No matter how bright the sun shone outside, inside it was still damp, dark, and filled with a heavy smell of decay.
Inside, there was a figure dressed in white. After taking a few steps closer, it was clear that it was Zhang Jiao.
"Did you find anything?" Chen Zhuangmu asked.
"It's hard to say whether he was already injured before he hanged himself, and whether the hanging hastened his death."
"This doesn't sound like suicide."
“If suicide was a way to buy time, he could have concealed his wounds and waited to die slowly. Besides, the rope he used to hang himself was tied to the window above, and he was already very weak after being injured; he didn’t have the strength for that.” Zhang Jiao shook her head.
The moment Chen Zhuangmu opened the booklet, nothing seemed amiss.
They then had the body of the deceased and the rope used for hanging carried out of the cell, and summoned all the jailers who were on duty that day.
As soon as she arrived, Zhang Jiao suddenly said, "I'll go outside and take a look."
The guards from yesterday are all standing here, a total of six. According to them, they work in shifts of four hours, and they can only leave after the next person arrives.
The six people, of varying heights and builds, stood together. Suddenly, Chen Zhuangmu said to the dwarf, "Come out with me."
The dwarf followed her to the prison gate, where the dwarf made him stand in the spot where he had stood the day before, and asked him to look up, "What can you see?"
The man said, "I see the top of this door."
"Can't we see anything after that?" Before Chen Zhuangmu could ask, he answered:
"You won't be able to see it anymore."
Just then, Zhang Jiao walked over and said, "I sent someone to check, and there are signs that the window of the prison cell has been moved. It's murder."
The air grew quiet again.
"Have you found the reason?" Zhao Yi asked in his usual nonchalant tone.
He uttered those words, but no one answered him. He wasn't embarrassed; he simply leaned against the wall and watched them busy themselves.
Finally, after an hour, they reached a basic conclusion: murder, which occurred around 15 minutes past 3 AM. However, the identity of the assassin and the motive for the assassination still require further investigation.
"Did the envoy send you again?" Chen Zhuangmu asked.
Her impolite yet practiced tone startled Zhang Jiao, who stared at the two of them in surprise.
Chen Zhuangmu didn't notice, and Zhao Yi, though he saw it, didn't care and said, "Well, I have something to tell you."
Unlike Chen Zhuangmu, who was completely bewildered, Zhang Jiao seemed to have guessed something and led the two of them to her official residence.
After the three of them sat down, Zhao Yi said.
"You guys don't need to get involved in this."
With a look of suspicion on her face, she thought, "If they don't care about this, who will?"
But soon, Zhao Yi gave her an answer, and it was the most incomprehensible news she had ever heard in her life.
“The person was killed by Zhu Jian. You can either say it was suicide, or just let this matter pass quietly.” Zhao Yi shrugged, as if this matter was nothing more than a trivial matter.
A father sent someone to kill his son? Is that even possible?
Chen Zhuangmu had difficulty processing the message at first, but then she saw Zhao Yi and Zhang Jiao exchange a glance, as if they were discussing something.
"Have you come up with a solution?" Chen Zhuangmu asked without hesitation.
"Just mind your own business and wait to see the show," Zhao Yi said with a sly smile.
That smile was beautiful in Shen Zhuangmu's eyes, but at this moment, a heart full of doubt rushed to her heart, because Zhang Jiao had agreed.
"How could you agree to this?" Chen Zhuangmu's eyes widened. "This happened at the Dali Temple, shouldn't we give everyone an explanation?"
"We'll get the results. We'll use other methods to investigate." Zhang Jiao's face remained expressionless. She took a sip of scalding hot tea, forcing herself to close the cup so she wouldn't grimac.
He endured the pain and said, "Special times call for special measures. This case will continue, and I will personally oversee it." He looked into Chen Zhuangmu's eyes.
"Yes." Upon hearing this, Shen Zhuangmu knew that Zhang Jiao had already devised a plan to deal with the situation and was to observe it so that she could intervene if necessary.
As she was pondering how this matter could be resolved, Zhao Yi turned around with a serious expression, staring directly at her, and said, "I have something to tell you."
Their business? What could it be? We certainly can't talk about that here.
"I haven't resigned yet," Chen Zhuangmu waved her hand in refusal.
"Why don't you just tell your superior? It won't take long," Zhao Yi insisted.
Is it a matter of whether he agrees or not?
Since returning from the palace, Chen Zhuangmu has carefully considered her cooperation with Zhao Yi during this period and always felt that there was hidden danger. It was not only because the two of them lacked sincerity, but mainly because her uncle's words made her feel that a great disaster was about to befall her.
It's good to talk it out.
She said, "Come to my place." Without waiting for Zhao Yi, she turned and left.
Zhao Yi braced himself on the table and stood up abruptly. With his long legs, he quickly caught up with Chen Zhuangmu and walked side by side.
People passing by always glanced at them more than usual, making Chen Zhuangmu feel extremely uncomfortable. She deliberately kept some distance from Zhao Yi, but the man followed her directly. Chen Zhuangmu stopped in her tracks, annoyed, and said to him, "What are you doing?"
Zhao Yi was taken aback by these words, but then he realized what they meant and said with a wry smile, "I thought you wanted me to come along to avoid the sun."
Chen Zhuangmu then noticed that Zhao Yi, who had been standing on the edge of the shade, was bathed in the scorching sun. He was wearing his official uniform, and now there was a layer of fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
"Is this alright?" Zhao Yi moved a little further away from her, avoiding the shade.
Chen Zhuangmu pursed her lips before realizing how shocking her reaction had been. She said, "It's okay, I'll move in a bit, you move in a bit too."
Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Yi strode over with a triumphant smile on his face. He thanked Shen Zhuangmu and walked ahead, leaving Shen Zhuangmu stunned.
What did that mean? Just as I was wondering, I suddenly heard Zhao Yi say, "Aren't you coming? I don't know the way."
Before long, they arrived at the main hall of the temple, where the makeup curtains were drawn.
That's how autumn is; it's so hot outside you feel like you're being roasted alive, but once you go inside, it's just cool and refreshing. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
"Perfect timing, I also have something to tell you." Chen Zhuangmu sat in the chair, and seemed a little tired as she said these words.
"Hmm? You go first." Zhao Yi casually picked up a booklet from her desk and started reading.
"What do you want?"
"Me? Well, let me go first. The festival is in a few days, you..."
It seemed there was nothing important going on. Chen Zhuangmu felt a growing panic and hastily interrupted him, "Wait a minute, let me speak first."
Under Zhao Yi's watchful gaze, she uttered those simple words, words that would later cause both of them sleepless nights.
Let's end our cooperation.
In the silence that followed, she looked into his eyes.
"We're both wary of each other, so there won't be any real progress. Besides, those rumors in Huijing are really bothering me..."
In his eyes, she showed no sign of backing down, looking at him with unwavering determination, as if afraid he wouldn't agree.
"Alright. I was originally going to tell you about that old man from your Dali Temple, about that guy who had an eagle embroidered on his shoulder." As he spoke, he glanced at Chen Zhuangmu's eyes out of the corner of his eye, only to see her suddenly erupt in a commotion.
How did you know?
"The guards at your Dali Temple are like they're playing around. I could walk here and no one would have noticed."
Their hearts pounded, a sound that seemed clearly audible amidst the strange silence.
“I know who that person is, so... won’t you reconsider?” Zhao Yi said.
These words, spoken softly, quietly touched Chen Zhuangmu's heart. Unlike his usual style, her heart leaped into her throat, a feeling she couldn't control.
Forget it, let's not bother with any clues anymore. Her uncle will surely get some results if he investigates this.
"Let's forget about it." Her voice was equally gentle.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
