The next morning, Yan Liang got up early, washed up, and then picked up a stick to practice martial arts. Yan Shendu was too weak, but he had indeed made some progress in practicing martial arts these days, and his complexion had become much rosier.
Wang Lianhua also got up early and lazily watched Yan Liang practice his staff technique.
He had observed for many days and could see that the techniques of the staff were quite profound, but he didn't quite understand where Yan Liang had obtained those staff techniques and the long staff.
For Wang Lianhua, it had only been a little over three years since he and Yan Liang parted ways, but he did not know how long it had been for the other person.
What happened to Yan Liang and Dongfang after he left?
He hadn't intended to pry into Yan Liang's past, but after their conversation last night, Wang Lianhua noticed a change in Yan Liang. It wasn't that he disliked his friend because of this change, but rather he was curious about the reason behind it.
Yan Liang himself is an enigma, a mystery that intrigues people.
Wang Lianhua looked at Yan Liang. Sweat beaded on the young man's forehead, and his eyes were bright and clear. Even though he had a different face from "Chi Xiuyuan," the light in his eyes was the same.
Yan Liang used his final move, holding the staff upright in front of him. After pausing, he tilted his head and smiled at Wang Lianhua, "Why are you looking at me like that? Could it be... that the Thousand-Faced Prince is fond of me?"
“Some people are always dreaming, and they’re always daydreaming.” Wang Lianhua sneered. “Who said I was looking at you? I was looking at the stick in your hand.”
Yan Liang glanced at the black iron staff in his hand and finally remembered that he hadn't introduced his family's staff to Wang Lianhua yet, so he introduced it: "It's called the Divine Staff."
Wang Lianhua: "...A charlatan?"
Yan Liang: "Mm."
No, even if this person has changed, their mind hasn't changed at all... they're still as cunning as ever.
Wang Lianhua thought indifferently.
Yan Liang sat down opposite him and asked about the Vice Minister of Rites again. They had drifted off-topic last night, but Yan Liang still had complete trust in Wang Lianhua's information channels.
—Back then, Wang Lianhua thrived in the other world on his own, and now, in this native world, he will only be even better and surpass everyone else.
As Yan Liang expected, although Wang Lianhua said last night that he hadn't arranged too many people in the capital, he himself had been in the capital for some time, and investigating those matters was a piece of cake for him.
After learning about the death of the Vice Minister of Rites, Wang Lianhua went to investigate. Although he said that it had nothing to do with him and that he was just doing it out of boredom, he still went to investigate.
The Vice Minister of Rites, surnamed Cheng, had a beautiful wife and concubines, enjoying the best of both worlds. He was extremely respectful and cautious in his actions—in short, a coward. He had a mediocre reputation in the capital; no one paid attention to him during his lifetime, and the same was true after his death.
But he was a prime example of someone who put on a two-faced act in public and in private. Wang Lianhua investigated further and was disgusted to the point of nausea.
—The Vice Minister of Rites was humble and polite in front of outsiders, and acted cautiously. In reality, he often vented his anger at home by punishing his servants. It was common for him to injure, whip, and beat people when he was drunk. His beautiful wife, concubines, servants, and maids had all been beaten by him. Wang Lianhua accidentally glimpsed the scene in the backyard and saw that several servants and maids had marks on their arms and the back of their necks that were still visible.
Yan Liang then planned to start his investigation with the concubines of the Vice Minister of Rites. Wang Lianhua, hearing his earnestness, poured cold water on his idea: "Do you even have the time to investigate? Let me tell you upfront, don't expect me to help you."
"..."
Yan Liang was speechless. After all, the time of a miserable office worker and an unemployed person is incomparable. At most, he can only grill a few fish or go out for a meal after work.
Wang Lianhua smiled at him maliciously: "If you want me to help you, beg me."
Yan Liang: "You must be dreaming."
Li Xunle stepped out of the room and, as was his habit, saw Yan Liang and Wang Lianhua sitting opposite each other in the courtyard chatting. He smiled at them and said good morning.
After a night's rest, Li Xunle had composed himself. Although he was still concerned about Liu Changmin, he knew that worrying was useless.
After having breakfast, Yan Liang and Li Xunle walked to the Hanlin Academy. The streets were already bustling with life. The two walked side by side, tacitly avoiding mentioning what had happened the day before.
It's just that the two of them probably won't be in the mood to eat grilled fish anytime soon.
The horrific state of Liu Changmin's body yesterday was too jarring. Despite telling themselves not to think about it, they couldn't help but think about it, and the thought made them feel nauseous.
It seemed that no one in the Hanlin Academy knew about Liu Changmin's death. Yan Liang thought that the Western Depot had probably kept the news a secret, but unexpectedly, someone brought the news into the Hanlin Academy in the afternoon.
The death of Liu Changmin, which was identical to that of Vice Minister Cheng of the Ministry of Rites, brought the case back to the minds of the people who had almost forgotten about Vice Minister Cheng's death. The people of the capital were abuzz with discussion, and people in the Hanlin Academy were also talking about it.
It is said that Yu Huatian has already received orders from the emperor to investigate the case. Now, the Western Depot is burdened with a heavy responsibility, with one being the Vice Minister of Rites and the other the newly appointed second-place scholar in the imperial examination. It is both reasonable and logical for them to find the murderer.
Yan Liang watched the people in the Hanlin Academy talking with worried expressions and couldn't help but wonder about Yu Huatian's actions. He had thought that Yu Huatian had secretly led them to the West Depot to identify the body because he didn't want the news of Liu Changmin's violent death to be exposed, but it had spread in less than a day... Could it be that he did it on purpose?
Wang Lianhua was unwilling to help him, so Yan Liang decided to go to Liu Changmin's place himself, but before that, he had to figure out a way to trick Li Xunle away.
If he had told Li Xunle that he was going to Liu Changmin's house, Li Xunle might have gone with him, but Yan Liang didn't really want to take him along.
Yan Liang and Li Xunle walked side by side down the street. People kept casting their gazes at them. Yan Liang was used to it and absentmindedly thought about how to start a conversation with Li Xunle.
Without him having to say a word, they encountered the uninvited head of the Western Depot, who ruthlessly provided Yan Liang with a perfect excuse.
It was the same very simple carriage as yesterday. Before the carriage stopped beside them, Yan Liang and Li Xunle were casually discussing what to eat that night.
Neither of them had any appetite for grilled fish for a while. The mere mention of grilled fish reminded them of Liu Changmin's corpse that they had seen the day before, and the memory only made them lose their appetite even more.
Yu Huatian, with his sharp ears, overheard Yan Liang and Li Xunle's conversation. He instructed the coachman from inside the carriage, and the carriage stopped beside them.
Yan Liang watched as a black-sheathed sword lifted the curtain, revealing Yu Huatian, whom he had met just yesterday, sitting inside the carriage.
Their eyes met, and Yan Liang blinked.
"Come up."
Yu Huatian looked at Yan Liang and spoke succinctly.
Yan Liang quickly got into the carriage. Li Xunle wanted to follow, but Yu Huatian held his sword across the carriage door and said, "Li Xiuzhuan, there's no need for you to get in."
"..."
Li Xunle looked at him silently.
Yu Huatian's expression was indifferent, his meaning clearly leaving no room for refusal.
Li Xunle and Yan Liang exchanged a glance, then reluctantly got off the carriage. Yan Liang waved to him from inside the carriage and said cheerfully, "Brother Li, go back first, and remember to save some food for me."
Yu Huatian let out a soft hum behind him.
Li Xunle glanced worriedly into the carriage, only catching a glimpse of a faint corner of clothing. He looked away, smiled at Yan Liang, and watched as the carriage drove away after Yan Liang lowered the curtain.
Inside the carriage, Yan Liang leaned against the wall and smiled at Yu Huatian: "Where does Chief Supervisor Yu wish to take me?"
"Go to Liu Changmin's house."
Yu Huatian spoke slowly and deliberately, as if he were always the same, unmoved even in the face of a collapsing mountain.
"How did Chief Supervisor Yu know I wanted to go to Liu Changmin's house?" Yan Liang clapped his hands and exclaimed, feigning sudden realization. "Ah, could it be that Chief Supervisor Yu and I are telepathically connected?"
Yu Huatian ignored his joke and instead said directly, "You thought about it yesterday but didn't say it, now you can say it."
"..." Yan Liang stroked his chin. "Was my expression that obvious?"
"I can answer the three questions you asked me yesterday if you tell me something I don't know."
Yu Huatian sized up the unseemly third-place scholar, his expression subtle.
Yan Liang: "..."
He was somewhat helpless against the Rain Supervisor who refused to respond, so he could only continue the conversation himself.
"I'll tell you all about it when I get to Liu Changmin's house."
Yu Huatian raised his eyebrows slightly.
The carriage stopped in front of Liu Changmin's residence. Yan Liang got off the carriage and found that there were people from the Western Depot guarding the area. He realized that even if he came here alone, he would still inevitably meet Yu Huatian again.
The house Liu Changmin rented was a bit out of the way; it looked unremarkable from the outside, but inside it was a hidden gem. Yu Huatian mentioned the rent to Yan Liang, who was shocked, because the rent was far higher than Yan Liang's current net worth.
Where did he get the money?
Yu Huatian strode toward Liu Changmin's bedroom, with Yan Liang following closely behind, asking questions as he did so.
"That's a question for you." Yu Huatian said without turning his head. "You're the one who knows him best, surely he didn't tell you these things?"
Yan Liang answered him frankly: "He never mentions his family. I only know that he lost his parents at a young age and grew up in his uncle's house."
Yu Huatian had already sent people to Liu Changmin's hometown to investigate. He listened to Yan Liang's words and seemed to be thinking about something, but he had no intention of expressing his thoughts. He just nodded in front of him and then kept quiet.
The sticky marks were still on the floor of Liu Changmin's room. Yan Liang looked up at Yu Huatian after seeing the marks on the floor.
Yu Huatian nodded, confirming his idea: "Liu Changmin's body was found on the ground."
Who discovered it?
"A petty thief."
Seeing that no one was in the house, the petty thief decided to sneak in and steal some money. After searching several rooms without finding anything, he gave up and ran into Liu Changmin's room. He pried open the door and saw the corpse on the ground.
After seeing the corpse, he didn't think of reporting it to the police, but instead fled in fear. The next day, when he tried to steal again, he stole from Yu Huatian's henchman. In order to save his life, the thief confessed to finding the corpse.
Upon hearing about the man's death, Yu Huatian connected it to the case he was handling, and after seeing the body, he became even more certain of his suspicions.
Yan Liang carefully examined the entire house. Yu Huatian watched coldly. He thought Yan Liang, a scholar, was just pretending to investigate, until the other party pulled out a short stick from somewhere, and in the blink of an eye, the short stick turned into a long stick.
Yuhuatian: "...?"
Yan Liang knelt by the bed and used his magic staff to pull out something from under the bed. It was a black jade hairpin.
Yu Huatian stared at the black jade hairpin, feeling a little unhappy—unhappy because his subordinates were not doing a good job.
He clearly instructed these people to search thoroughly, yet they still managed to find even a jade hairpin... tsk.
Yan Liang stood up, patted his clothes, and examined the black jade hairpin in his hands. After a while without success, he stuffed the charlatan back into his sleeve and stretched out his free hand to Yu Huatian.
Yu Huatian resisted looking at the other person's sleeve: "...What do you mean?"
"Do you have any cloth? I feel this jade hairpin is very important, please wrap it up."
Yan Liang moved his fingers, indicating that he should urge them on.
Yu Huatian remained silent, glanced at him, and tore off a corner of the tablecloth, throwing it to Yan Liang.
Now it was Yan Liang's turn to be speechless.
Yan Liang: ...That's really economical.
Even a poor wretch like him isn't this frugal.
Author's Note: Yan Liang may have seemingly stuffed the charlatan into his sleeve, but he actually put him in his system space!
But the Rain Master doesn't know about this, haha.
Li Xunle (climbing the horse-drawn carriage): Heave-ho, all done.
Yu Huatian (extending his sword to block): You don't need to come.
Li Xunle: ...? ? ?
Yan Liang (pulling out a stick): Alright.
Yuhuatian:...?
Yan Liang (stuffing a stick): Okay.
Yuhuatian:…………? ? ?
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