“My subordinate understands and will do everything possible to find the culprit and clear the suspicion. Should we report this matter to the Elders? Since those around Young Master are unreliable, wouldn’t it be more prudent to have someone secretly assigned by the Elders to protect him?”
Shen Weimu retorted to Kang Anyun,
“Do you believe in Miss Dongling from the Red Sleeve Pavilion?”
Kang Anyun was momentarily stunned, then shook his head.
“I don’t know her. I’ve never met her, so how could I trust her?”
“Good, then you understand.”
Kang Anyun hesitated again before finally grasping the Young Master’s meaning.
The Young Master had never met the Eight Elders.
Even the people he met every day betrayed him, so why would he trust someone he’s never seen before?
That made sense.
Kang Anyun then promised that from now on, when arranging meals for Liu Wuyou, there would always be at least four people guarding the entrance to ensure the safety of everything coming in.
“Hmm.”
Shen Weimu continued flipping through the Sheng Shi Ji.
Kang Anyun wanted to say more but held back, a flicker of pity flashing in his eyes.
He had heard about the meal the Young Master personally cooked last night.
It was a hard ordeal for the Young Master—poisoned multiple times, now forced to personally prepare food for safety.
He would catch the murderer soon!
The spring sunshine was bright, awakening the earth.
A few sparrows chirped lively on the drooping green willows, lifting one’s spirits.
But at the side hall of Tang County Yamen, the atmosphere was tense and hostile.
The Tang County County Captain had cleverly “gone missing,” leaving the two opposing groups inside the room glaring daggers at each other.
Qian Zhiyong, the Captain of the Jingzhao Prefecture Constables, sat upright at the lower right seat, loudly objecting to Song Qiyun and the others opposite him.
“By convention, if the county yamen can’t solve a murder case, it must be reported to the Jingzhao Prefecture before they take over. Only then can the Dali Temple intervene.”
“But the county captain hasn’t reported the case to Jingzhao Prefecture yet, and there’s no clear evidence linking it to the martial world. So neither Dali Temple nor the Jianghu Department should interfere.”
Bai Kaiji tried to reason with Qian Zhiyong: at a time like this, everyone should unite to investigate the Lin Gui suicide case thoroughly.
“There are twenty-four deaths in total. How could a small county yamen possibly solve the case so easily? They don’t even have enough men to carry the bodies!”
Qian Zhiyong snorted,
“Rules are rules. The Dali Temple hasn’t had its turn yet. If you insist on meddling, that’s abuse of power. I’ll have to write a letter reporting this to Shen Fuyin!”
Naturally, reporting to Shen Fuyin gave Shen Yuzhang the opportunity to grab hold of the Dali Temple’s overstepping, retaliate at court, and fiercely impeach Minister Zheng Chengliang.
Zheng Chengliang was already furious with Shen Yuzhang; this would make the old man fly into a rage and scold them all over again.
Song Qiyun lowered his gaze, contemplating a solution.
Lu Yang couldn’t stand the anger and grabbed his broadsword, standing up to shout,
“What are you so arrogant about? You’re nothing but a dog for Shen Fuyin. We don’t answer to you, nor do you have the right to interfere!”
“No, no, no. I’m different from you all. I’m here on the county captain’s personal request during my day off to assist with the investigation. I’m not representing Jingzhao Prefecture right now; it’s a personal favor to an old friend, completely different from you lot.”
“You—”
Lu Yang had never seen such an arrogant and shameless lackey.
His anger flared, and he was almost drawing his sword.
Wei Chi Feng quickly grabbed Lu Yang, then whispered to Song Qiyun,
“I didn’t expect this guy to be so big and imposing, yet so sharp-tongued. If he really insists on clinging to rules to bind us, then we’re stuck. We’ll have to plan carefully.”
Song Qiyun nodded slightly, warning Lu Yang and Bai Kaiji not to act rashly.
Seeing their submission, Qian Zhiyong laughed heartily.
“Hahaha, that’s better.”
At that moment, Shen Weimu entered the side hall.
Just a moment ago, Qian Zhiyong had been loud and arrogant.
The instant he saw Shen Weimu, his laughter died in his throat.
He hastily stood up and saluted.
“Oh, Young Master, what a surprise!”
Song Qiyun, Bai Kaiji, and the others looked at Shen Weimu in astonishment.
“Just passing by and happened upon this case. Now I’m staying as a witness.”
Whenever he encountered acquaintances of his original self, Shen Weimu always responded with a calm and unchanging demeanor.
“Young Master, please have a seat.”
Qian Zhiyong respectfully gestured to Shen Weimu, then loudly ordered tea to be served.
“You actually know each other?”
Bai Kaiji asked in surprise.
Qian Zhiyong was even more surprised.
“What are you saying, Bai Sizhi? This is none other than our Shen—”
Catching Shen Weimu’s glance, Qian Zhiyong immediately changed his tone.
“—Young Master! Who doesn’t know him! Shen Young Master’s unmatched beauty, unparalleled in the world—whoever sees him never forgets! I have admired Young Master for a long, long time… heh heh.”
“I’m not talented. I run a humble Ba Gua Lou in the capital and have met Captain Qian a few times,”
Shen Weimu explained politely.
Qian Zhiyong blinked and nodded in agreement.
“Right, right.”
“Ba Gua Lou? I don’t think I’ve heard of that,”
Bai Kaiji thought carefully.
Shen Weimu said,
“A shabby place, nothing special.”
“Oh, so Young Master Shen is skilled in Ba Gua, like fortune telling?”
Bai Kaiji asked in surprise.
“No.”
Bai Kaiji, Song Qiyun, and the others looked at Shen Weimu in confusion.
“I just do some small-time business collecting information,”
Shen Weimu explained.
“That has nothing to do with Ba Gua. You’re just putting on a false front!”
Lu Yang sneered,
“Places like that in the martial world are called Bai Xiao Lou or News Pavilion.”
“More accurate than Ba Gua.”
Bai Kaiji immediately praised him enthusiastically.
“Young Master Shen has great ambition!”
Song Qiyun and Lu Yang:
Didn’t want to accept him as a teammate at all!
“Since Captain Qian wants to investigate the case alone, please go ahead. We won’t disturb you,”
Song Qiyun said, then led Wei Chi Feng and the others to leave.
“Su Lushi, follow them.”
Wei Chi Feng walked a few steps, then noticed Su Nan wasn’t following.
He called out to the clerk, who was still immersed in recording, holding a ledger.
“All right,” came the rough voice.
Shen Weimu’s gaze immediately fixed on this bearded young clerk.
“You don’t seem to believe I’m more accurate than Ba Gua. Well, I happen to have some news about Su Lushi. May I reveal your true identity, Miss Su?”
Shen Weimu politely yet audaciously exposed Su Nan’s identity.
Song Qiyun and the others at Dali Temple were shocked.
Was Shen 23 crazy?
Blind?
He actually called a bearded man ‘Miss’!?
Su Nan was the Dali Temple’s clerk, notoriously rugged and masculine!
Su Nan nervously glanced at Shen Weimu, certain she had never met such a strikingly handsome young master before.
“Young Master Shen, don’t joke! This joke isn’t funny at all!”
Su Nan retorted angrily.
Shen Weimu coughed, ignoring the rebuke.
He neither argued nor explained further.
It was like casting a fishing hook: believe it or not, those who want to bite will bite—his own version of Jiang Taigong.
“Haha, how funny!”
Lu Yang scoffed, completely disbelieving Shen Weimu’s nonsense.
“Please, Young Master Shen, don’t joke about our Dali Temple officials anymore!”
Shen Weimu continued coughing, still silent.
Song Qiyun’s thoughts were similar to Lu Yang’s, but he had just noticed a subtle change in Su Nan’s expression.
Although she masked it well, her tightly clenched hands and the cold sweat quickly breaking out on her forehead were real.
Song Qiyun held back his reaction, signaling Bai Kaiji after leaving.
“Oh!”
Bai Kaiji suddenly pretended to stumble beside Su Nan, grabbing her beard.
A whole patch of beard was easily pulled off, revealing a fair and delicate face.
Su Nan screamed in panic, forgetting to use her disguised voice and letting out a feminine shout.
In that moment, Song Qiyun’s mind buzzed like a bomb, as if slapped twice across the face.
Su Nan was really a woman!
Song Qiyun was young and brilliant at solving cases, proud of his keen judgment.
Su Nan had been working before their eyes for a year, and he hadn’t noticed.
His eyes reddened with anger and frustration.
Wei Chi Feng and the others, who had never seen Song Qiyun so unrestrained, immediately fell silent.
Su Nan knelt and apologized,
“I had no choice but to disguise myself! My brother fell ill with a violent disease and died. My mother and I had no means to continue, and I feared the clan would mistreat us. So I had to dress as a man and take my brother’s position at Dali Temple.”
“Is that so?”
Shen Weimu suddenly appeared behind Song Qiyun and the others, startling everyone.
“Yes, yes,”
Su Nan replied.
“I heard you like growing mushrooms?”
Su Nan’s face turned pale, lips trembling.
“I-I don’t.”
“What is Young Master Shen doing with them? These people are boring!”
Qian Zhiyong laughed and hurried over to invite Shen Weimu to dinner.
Shen Weimu turned to Qian Zhiyong.
“I heard you also like growing mushrooms.”
Qian Zhiyong’s expression changed abruptly, looking uneasy.
“Wh-what is Young Master talking about? I don’t understand.”
Song Qiyun and Wei Chi Feng, experienced in solving cases, immediately sensed the abnormality between these two.
“Ah, I just remembered that Shen Fuyin entrusted me with an important matter I haven’t finished. I must take my leave first.”
Qian Zhiyong slapped his forehead and hurriedly left like fleeing.
Bai Kaiji was puzzled.
“Again with growing mushrooms? What could that mean?”
Song Qiyun waited for an explanation.
Clearly, the term “growing mushrooms” wasn’t simple.
It likely stood for something or someone else, like how people in times of war don’t say human flesh directly but call it
“two-legged sheep.”
Shen Weimu said,
“You can ask Su Nan.”
“No!”
Wei Chi Feng shouted.
Suddenly, Su Nan coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, swayed, and collapsed to the ground.
Even after dying, her eyes remained open.
Song Qiyun reacted immediately,
“Go after Qian Zhiyong! Quickly!”
Bai Kaiji and Lu Yang immediately set off in the direction Qian Zhiyong fled, with everyone else close behind.
When Shen Weimu, Song Qiyun, and the others reached the county yamen’s stable, Qian Zhiyong was already lying on the ground, with Lu Yang and Bai Kaiji crouched beside him confirming his death.
Lu Yang pressed Qian Zhiyong’s chest, feeling it soft and caving in with pressure.
He yanked open Qian Zhiyong’s clothes to reveal a purple-blue palm print clearly stamped on his chest.
“This is—”
Bai Kaiji’s face turned pale.
“The Broken Heart Palm!”