Chapter 29 I Saw Spring Return (Part Six) "Killing Master Yuanhe will get you a hundred taels of gold..."
Yan Chao's gaze immediately faltered, he glanced at him, then looked back into the void.
Deng Xun sighed inwardly, then turned and called out to her, who was lost in thought, "Your Highness?"
She grunted in response, ignoring Xiao Jiu's pleas for mercy, and simply said, "I'll bring you back once the case is cleared up," before turning and leaving the interrogation room with Deng Xunyi.
Deng Xunyi followed closely beside her, slightly puzzled, and after a moment's hesitation, asked, "Your Highness, what is your purpose in interrogating that eunuch?"
“I don’t have any particular purpose,” she lowered her eyelashes, glancing at the light footsteps beneath her feet, and pursed her lips, “I just came in here because I have to see someone, and I don’t want to please some people.”
The next plan wouldn't involve Meng Tingke in the slightest. So she wanted to take a gamble, betting her confidence on it.
She tilted her head and asked Deng Xunyi, "Have you found any clues about that dagger?"
He snapped out of his reverie and replied softly, "Your Highness, my investigation suggests that the dagger appears to be from the palace. Nothing else was found..."
Yan Chao was somewhat surprised and murmured, "From the palace?"
Upon closer reflection, I vaguely remembered that the short sheath was indeed decorated with intricate patterns. At the time, I only thought it was very luxurious, but I didn't think of it as something from the palace.
It was getting late, but the Crown Prince did not ride a horse when he returned to the palace; instead, he traveled by sedan chair. After seeing off the imperial carriage, Deng Xun stood quietly at the gate for a long time before instructing his attendants, "Let's go to Juehui Temple again."
The attendant responded, asking, "Do we need to bring a few more people?"
He nodded slightly: "Not too many, I'll pick some out, anything efficient and neat will do."
.
As evening approached, the sky was half-light and half-dark. There was still some time before curfew, and the streets were already deserted.
Lu Xun walked down the street, his steps still steady, but his vision was blurred, and he felt like a walking corpse. He turned his head blankly, glanced at the teahouses and taverns on the street, then lowered his eyes and walked towards a snack stall.
He didn't hear what the vendor said, and just nodded stiffly: "Yes. A piece of perilla cake."
The vendor's smile froze slightly, and he asked again, "How much?"
"piece."
The vendor stopped talking and bent down to wrap it for him.
Lu Xun paid the bill and said casually as he left, "It's getting late, you should go home too."
The vendor, puzzled, frowned and muttered something to himself. When he looked up again, the person had vanished.
The worshippers at Juehui Temple had gradually left. Lu Xun climbed the stone steps and saw a monk talking to a noblewoman in the courtyard.
He took a few steps forward and heard the woman's sorrowful voice: "...Regarding Master Yuanhe's passing, I hope the masters will take heart."
The monk stood with his palms up and bowed his head, saying "Amitabha."
“My son died tragically. I will have to trouble the monks to perform a memorial service for him in the next few days. The incense money has already been sent to the temple.”
"You're too kind, benefactor. It is our duty to perform rituals for the departed souls. May the Buddha, in his mercy, surely bless you, benefactor Cao, to ascend to the Pure Land soon..."
It turned out to be Madam Cao. Lu Xun deliberately avoided her and turned to walk to the side.
Around the corner, a monk happened to pass by. He was wearing a kasaya, his hair and beard were completely white, his eyes were lowered, he was holding a string of prayer beads in his hand, and he was silently chanting something. He had a kind and benevolent appearance.
As Lu Xun passed by the monk, he suddenly spoke up: "If you wish to offer incense, please go to the Buddha Hall in front."
"My mind is not pure, and I fear I may defile the purity of the Buddhist hall. I will go to the back to clear my mind first."
The monk asked, "The temple is about to close; where are you going, benefactor?"
"Head west, I'll be out soon." He frowned, not really understanding why he was bothering him.
“You have a violent aura about you and should not go to bloody places. Go back to the Buddhist hall and chant sutras with me for half an hour, and you will be able to calm your mind.”
He suddenly looked at the monk, almost blurting out, "How did he know I was going to Zhongwen Bridge? And this resentment... this resentment? He's so dejected and lost now, where does this resentment come from?"
"Who is Master?"
“My Buddhist name is Yuanguang, and I am Yuanhe’s fellow disciple. Since you know who killed him, why won’t you say? Now we are left in a state where the dead are without life and the living are without heart.”
Lu Xun looked at him quietly, a hint of pain flashing in his eyes. His throat was dry, and he said hoarsely, "Master, please accept my condolences. The murderer will be punished."
He clasped his hands together and said "Farewell," then quickly left amidst a long sigh behind him, hurrying on before the last rays of twilight disappeared.
Zhongwen Bridge was quiet. When Lu Xun reached the bridgehead, he paused, then turned and whistled towards the other side. A clear cry rang out as he flew across. It was as if a startled bird was in the bamboo grove. A black figure emerged from within and ran across the small bridge toward him.
“Brother Xun”.
Lu Xun suddenly took a few steps back, gestured for silence, and led the man to a secluded corner.
The hood was lifted, revealing a beautiful face. The girl was only sixteen or seventeen years old, and her bright eyes shone especially brightly in the twilight.
Lu Xun was momentarily lost in thought, then quickly looked away. He handed her the piece of perilla cake he was carrying, listening to her mutter about how he had only brought one piece. He pursed his lips and remained silent.
She tried to see his expression clearly before calming down, swallowing the sweet taste in her mouth, and said indistinctly, "It wasn't easy for me to come out... but I heard they found the owner of that dagger?"
Lu Xun hummed in agreement and tilted his head slightly: "The investigation has reached your master."
The girl exclaimed in surprise, "How is this possible!"
Her voice rose slightly, but realizing she might have been a bit too loud, she covered her mouth, and her heaving chest gradually calmed down.
Lu Xun didn't pursue her outburst, but suddenly asked, "Did you kill Yuanhe?"
The girl paused for a moment, then nonchalantly curled her lip and said, "Yes."
"The people involved with Cao Fu that day were not Master Yuanhe at all. Why did you kill innocent people indiscriminately?"
The girl tilted her head, revealing a slight smile, then scoffed: "There is no him. But how can you say the words 'indiscriminate killing'? The other two didn't commit any heinous crimes, they just saw you attack Cao Fu, but you still had murderous intent. You were watching when I finished them off."
Lu Xun's heart skipped a beat. He opened his mouth, but couldn't find a way to defend himself.
He reached out and took a handkerchief to wipe the residue from the girl's lips. She remained motionless, quietly watching him.
After a long pause, she said, "I've taken on another job. Killing Master Yuan will earn me a hundred taels of gold."
Lu Xun lowered his hand, and the handkerchief immediately slipped from his grasp. He stared at her in astonishment: "You're crazy. You're betraying your master."
The girl ignored him, still smiling happily: "...Once Meng Tingke dies tomorrow, the case will be closed and I'll get the gold. Then I can redeem my sister and go back to Jiangnan. You'll come back with me too. We can hide for a year or two, and this money will be enough for us to take care of everything. Then you can change your name and resume your former life, doing whatever you want... How can that not be more powerful than a mere Jinyiwei now?"
"You're thinking too simply," Lu Xun took a deep breath, knowing he couldn't persuade her, but his heart ached. He paused and then asked, "Whose is it?"
The girl smiled softly, tiptoed, and leaned close to his ear. The rouge on her lips, along with the two barely audible words, touched his ear, and he felt a sudden heat rise to his head for no reason.
He was increasingly shocked: "You... how could you..."
The girl shrugged: "It's alright." She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said: "Brother Xun, I can't let them trace it back to my master, you have to help me."
Lu Xun asked, "How can I help?"
"That dagger and Shen..."
Before he finished speaking, an arrow suddenly shot through the air. The two were so close that the arrow grazed past them.
The girl was stunned: "How could there be an ambush!" When her panicked gaze fell on the composed Lu Xun, a clear thought suddenly dawned on her: "Brother Xun, you actually tried to scheme against me!"
Lu Xun moved his lips: "I didn't scheme against you. You invited me, but I walked right into your trap."
"Why!" She heard footsteps and was about to run away without thinking, but she couldn't help but want to ask one more question.
"You secretly switched the cup of wine for Grand Tutor Meng. We are too far apart; I can't forgive you, and I can't forgive myself."
A group of about ten people had surrounded them. Lu Xun looked up, still somewhat incredulous.
It was Lan Huaien. But wasn't this matter supposed to be investigated by Qiu Cong of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? At least it shouldn't have been Lan Huaien.
He thought it would be Deng Xunyi or someone from the Ministry of Justice.
He glanced at Lan Huaien, then turned to look at her, his expression numb: "Haven't you schemed against me many times? This time is no different. That gleaming, identical sword in your arms, was it prepared for me?"
He then lowered his head and smiled, saying, "I made a mistake in saving you back then."
Lan Huaien leaned against the wall, watching the two turn against each other. Only after things quieted down did he order his men to subdue them.
The girl glared at Lu Xun with hatred, then drew her dagger and swiftly attempted to slit her own throat. Lan Huaien didn't have time to stop her; just as she was about to speak, she saw Lu Xun reach out and knock the dagger to the ground.
"You...you won't even let me die with dignity." The girl's face was pale, her hands were tied behind her back, and large tears streamed down her face.
Lu Xun was kneeling on the ground, already bound. "Since you have a life on your hands, you shouldn't die like this, without knowing why."
"Stop pretending to be a gentleman with me, Lu Xun, you..."
Lan Huaien grew impatient and gestured for his men to gag her before calling out towards the bridge, "Lord Deng, your fishing rod has been there for a while; if you don't come soon, it will become a dead fish."
Lu Xun wasn't too surprised.
Deng Xun brought his men over, exchanged a glance with Lu Xun, and bowed to Lan Huaien: "Lord Eunuch, I'm sorry, this isn't the one we're looking for."
Lan Huaien raised an eyebrow.
"Also, the Grand Eunuch has alerted the enemy..." He pursed his lips, quite dissatisfied.
But soon a figure appeared not far behind Lan Huaien. Deng Xun's expression changed drastically, and his voice became urgent: "Grab him!"
Immediately, someone went to give chase. Because preparations had been made in advance, the spies who were lying in ambush quickly subdued the man and brought him back.
Lifting the veil revealed a somewhat unfamiliar face.
However, one of Deng Xun's attendants frowned and asked, "Little Song?"
Upon hearing the name, the girl beside him suddenly became terrified and struggled desperately to signal to Xiao Song with her eyes. However, she was already tightly bound, unable to move or speak, and had no other recourse but to be filled with overwhelming excitement.
Lan Huaien's gaze deepened, and he glanced sideways at the attendant.
Looking at that familiar face, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
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