107 - Crazy! Criticizing the Prime Minister for Being a Servant

Chapter 107: In Between (1) [I wonder if they've grown to resemble that reliable figure from my past life.] [All these abilities have a reason behind them; it's all everyone coming together to save ourselves once more.] [Now, only two problems remain unresolved.] [Who exactly wrote that book, and... ] [This visit to Tiancheng Immortal Sect, firstly to find the one behind it all, and secondly to find Xiao Wan Cheng. This matter must be connected to her.] [!!!] [Realm of Refinement?!] [With my master's guidance in cultivation, special techniques, and the aid of the heavens and earth, it has only taken me from Nascent Soul to Deity Transformation in these years, while Jiang Mang has directly ascended from Nascent Soul to the Realm of Refinement.] [Oh please, Jiang Mang, you're the most passionate swordsman I've ever seen; don't get involved with this thing.] [……] After waiting anxiously for half a month without receiving a letter from Ning Jing Yang, Ning Song Wu felt somewhat uneasy. Zhou Hua Xiu asked her every few days. "Fog, have you received a letter from your father?" "Fog, has something happened to your father?" "Fog, I need to return to the capital immediately; perhaps your father is in trouble." "Fog, your father has lived to this age without having grandchildren..." On this day, as Ning Song Wu got off the carriage, Zhong Xiang, who had been waiting at the gate for some time, approached with a cheerful expression. "Young Master, you've finally returned! The Master has sent a letter, and the Madam is waiting for you to read it to her." Zhou Hua Xiu, being a woman from a humble background, had not received much education and could hardly read. In his early years, when Ning Jing Yang was struggling and almost perished on the streets, Zhou Hua Xiu's father took him in out of kindness, sparing him from hunger and allowing him to focus on studying for success, living under the same roof, and eventually developing feelings for each other. Later, when he became an official under Shengzong and accumulated some savings, he married her. "Dear Hua Xiu, your husband has arrived safely in the capital several days ago, do not worry." "The Empress Dowager is blessed with fortune and will recover increasingly well; His Majesty is delighted and has granted Fog a one-month leave to return to the capital for the Mid-Autumn Festival with family." "Once the official duties are smoothly handed over, we will set out for the capital at the start of August, hoping for a reunion with my wife, Fog, and Fan Yin." Ning Song Wu finished reading and handed the letter to Zhou Hua Xiu. "Your father says the emperor has invited us back to the capital for Mid-Autumn; that’s wonderful, we can finally go back to Kyoto. Quickly pack up, don't forget anything." Zhou Hua Xiu stood up, pacing the hall, giving orders for the servant girls to pack the valuables, eager to leave immediately. "Mother, we still have to return to Chongzhou, there's no need to pack too extensively; we’ll return in a month." Ning Song Wu saw Zhou Hua Xiu's grand preparation with a wry smile, seeing it more as a permanent move rather than a mere vacation. Ning Song Wu: "Moreover, the Sima Residence has everything, just pack some personal clothing and bring some money; staying at the official lodgings won’t cost much." Zhou Hua Xiu: "Yes, yes, this return to the capital is for vacation, not for becoming an official again, so pack lightly. But we must bring some Sangjin back, let those young girls envy us! And also Hongji smoked duck, Xuji ham, high-quality jujube pastries, Yan family sausages... We must bring some of each." Though Zhou Hua Xiu did not particularly like Chongzhou, its delicacies had undeniably captivated her taste buds. Ning Song Wu: "Mother, there’s over half a month until the early days of August; there's time." Ning Song Wu initially intended to discreetly send the Shanhe Jinxiu Map to the capital, but this timely letter granting a month’s leave meant she could bring it without risk. Fortune and misfortune go hand in hand; as Ning Song Wu was busy with transitioning official duties for the capital return, a drowned male corpse was discovered downstream of the Zimo River. The coroner’s autopsy concluded: Male aged between twenty to thirty. The deceased had a bloated face, peeling skin, lips turned outward, eyes bulging. The left pinky finger was partially missing, likely pre-death, thick calluses were on the right thumb, and there were sword wounds on the right thigh and abdomen, not fatal. A wound behind the ears suggested impact with a hard stone, with drowning being the cause of death. The corpse was in a giant state, with an estimated death time of three to five days prior. The day after the body discovery notice, Qin Luo Fu came to the office to report the case. Ning Song Wu sighed at how things had changed. After the farewell at Sanglin, seeing Qin Luo Fu again now, her eyes were vacant, hair disheveled, seeming as if she hadn’t slept well for days. Cha Le panted heavily before speaking, "Sir, this lady from the Qin family insisted on seeing you, I couldn't stop her." "Sir, my husband has been missing for days; that floating corpse can't be him, right? Sir, he's so young; how could he be dead..." Qin Luo Fu cried uncontrollably. Ning Song Wu felt at a loss, not knowing how to console her: "Calm down, collect your thoughts, and explain the situation to me." Half a month ago, Qin Luo Fu recounted, she was delivering fabric from the countryside for Jiang Yun to sell in the city. Intending to stay a few days, as she hadn't seen Jiang Yun for a while, Jiang Yun went out five days ago to deliver goods but hadn’t returned since. With no word from Jiang Yun for days, Qin Luo Fu reported it and immediately saw the notice at the office entrance. Worried that her husband might have met an accident, she lost control and, remembering Ning Song Wu's help some time back, regarded him as a good official and cried for Cha Le to let her see Ning Song Wu. Cha Le told her to wait for a notice, as the official was busy and couldn't see everyone who wished to. Qin Luo Fu cried and fought her way through, running into the office. Ning Song Wu asked: "I understand your situation; the corpse is swollen, with severe damage to the features, making identification difficult. Describe any unique traits Jiang Yun had, like a birthmark? Or any personal items?" Qin Luo Fu immediately replied: "I remember he had no birthmarks; he always carried a sachet embroidered with yellow plum flowers on the front and the character 'Jiang' with dark blue thread on the back." "Also, a few days ago he cut his finger while trimming fabric, losing the tip of his left little finger." "You should return home; we will do our best to investigate. Don't worry excessively; no evidence suggests the deceased is Jiang Yun at this point." Ning Song Wu reassured her. The body did indeed carry the sachet Qin Luo Fu described, and the left pinky finger matched the description, but Ning Song Wu could not bear to inform her directly. He also harbored doubts; why would Jiang Yun, a person who made a living selling cloth and didn't do manual labor, have such thick calluses on his hand? After Qin Luo Fu's departure, Ning Song Wu ordered someone to investigate the Li Ji Tailor Shop in the southern suburb. The body was found at Minjiewe Section downstream of the Zimo River, and Li Ji Tailor was only three li from the crime scene. The tailor shop owner confirmed that Jiang Yun delivered three rolls of fine silk the evening five days ago. Tailor shop owner: "I saw his left hand wrapped in cloth, seemingly injured, with some dirt on him. Out of concern, I asked what happened; he said he had an accidental fall on the road, and the hand injury was from cutting fabric." Tailor shop owner: "Moreover, with a kind heart, he only charged me three taels instead of three taels and sixty wen for the silk, since it had been a tough year for everyone. We barely talked before he left quickly, saying his wife was waiting for him at home for dinner." The three taels of silver from the sale matched the amount carried by the body, showing the perpetrator did not take the money, indicating the motive likely wasn't theft. The findings veritably pointed to the deceased being Jiang Yun. Ning Song Wu feared the case might not resolve soon, delaying his journey to the capital, making it difficult for him to sleep soundly. The creaking sound from the chaise lounge further aggrieved Ran Fan Yin, who had finally been dozing off. Ran Fan Yin asked why he couldn't sleep. Ning Song Wu hesitated to inform her but recalled that Ran Fan Yin was the most talented woman in the capital, and perhaps she could provide insights. He proceeded to consult her. Ran Fan Yin summarized: "According to you, Jiang Yun disappeared five days ago with the body found at Minjiewe Section downriver from the tailor three li away. The last person to see him was presumably the tailor." Ning Song Wu replied immediately: "That’s the preliminary conclusion." "But the time of disappearance doesn't prove Jiang Yun was harmed that night. Assuming he died three days ago, do you remember that night three days ago?" Ran Fan Yin pointedly reminded him of the storm that night. * Three nights ago. They maintained their routine, with one on the bed and the other on the chaise. Suddenly, a thunderstorm broke out during the night. Having been afraid of thunder since childhood, Ran Fan Yin used to ask Wen Xiang to accompany her in such circumstances, though now having Wen Xiang accompany her was obviously inappropriate. ⊿ Curled up in bed, Ran Fan Yin felt weak and feverish, her heart racing, body trembling incessantly, overwhelmed by a sense of suffocation as if an invisible force were strangling her, reminiscent of a stormy night from over ten years back. Compelled by fear, she whimpered as though at death's door. Noticing Ran Fan Yin's distress, Ning Song Wu approached, finding her wrapped tightly in a quilt, attempting to loosen it slightly to let her breathe. "Are you unwell? Is it an illness? I’ll fetch a doctor immediately." Qin Luo Fu's hands clutched onto her, preventing Ning Song Wu from forcibly moving her. "No need, could you sit by the bed with me?" Ran Fan Yin pleaded softly, voice trembling. Ning Song Wu: "Are you sure all is well? Perhaps I should fetch mother; she knows some medicine." Zhou Hua Xiu, concerned that Ning Song Wu's identity might be exposed, had taught herself some medical skills. Though Ning Song Wu appeared frail and delicate, she was healthy and had never been seriously ill. "No need, I'll be fine in a moment," Ran Fan Yin said slowly, uncovering her face to reveal a pale complexion, her fine hair wet and clinging to her cheeks. Carefully wiping the sweat from Ran Fan Yin's face with the corner of her clothing and tidying the hair covering her eyes, Ning Song Wu found herself holding Ran Fan Yin's hand, which became her lifeline in that moment. Due to the pull of inertia, Ning Song Wu bent over, ending up sitting sideways on the bed, while Ran Fan Yin leaned against Ning Song Wu's lap, clutching her sleeve tightly. The subtle fragrance of gardenia emanating from Ning Song Wu was akin to a sedative, providing comfort, allowing Ran Fan Yin to drift into sleep. In the middle of the night, Ning Song Wu attempted to gently free herself from Ran Fan Yin's grasp to return to the chaise lounge, but her grip tightened with each tug. Reluctantly, Ning Song Wu settled for a night's rest by the bedside. The following morning, Ran Fan Yin awoke to find herself resting on Ning Song Wu's lap. Ning Song Wu teased, "Awake already? So, you're afraid of thunderstorms, huh?" Remembering the events of the previous night, Ran Fan Yin was mortified, trying to maintain her composure. "Fog, you misunderstood; I wasn't feeling well because my monthly cycle started." In her heart, she had already covered her face with her hands, embarrassed that Ning Song Wu had seen her vulnerable side. "Well then, my lady, next time there's a thunderstorm or you're on your cycle, remember to call for me." Ning Song Wu mischievously emphasized "thunderstorm" before walking cheerfully out of the room. Misunderstanding Ning Song Wu’s comment, Ran Fan Yin assumed he referred to the thunderstorm three days ago. During that night, frightful of the storm, she sought Ning Song Wu's company. *The next morning, Ning Song Wu woke up early and grabbed a quick breakfast with Lu Jin at a street vendor before rushing to Fengming Courtyard. "Lord Ning, slow down! There's still plenty of time," Lu Jin called out, holding onto his robe’s hem, struggling to keep up with Ning Song Wu. "No worries, Lord Lu, take your time. I'll go ahead and check it out for you," Ning Song Wu said, weaving through the crowd with an urgency that seemed to wish he could fly straight to Fengming Courtyard. One eager to meet his long-desired official wife, the other curious about what strategies Fengming Courtyard had devised overnight to gain renown. "Lord Lu, Young Master Ning has arrived, please come in." Xiao Liu greeted them from afar, guiding them to a reserved prime spot with great courtesy. "This bunch of grape crystal biscuits is specially sent by Yun Niang, and this is Celestial Joy, carefully crafted by Miss Yu, cooling and refreshing. Please enjoy, the musicians will arrive shortly." The gentle voice of the hostess, half veiled, carried a subtle charm. Inside, incense wafted alongside the music, with groups of guests arriving and settling in. Musicians half-hidden behind partitions played the pipa, their nimble fingers barely visible strumming the strings, with the harmonious melodies permeating every corner like wisps of smoke into each guest's ears. The music was like a stream cascading over rocks, producing clear and resonant tones, or like a breeze carrying the faint scent of grass, bringing a soothing coolness on the sweltering summer day. Fengming Courtyard had transformed entirely, transcending its brothel-like past to become the embodiment of elegance. Lu Jin, mesmerized, was lost in the atmosphere, lifting his drink without realizing it was spilling, only noticing when the icy liquid reached his leg. Realizing too late, Lu Jin set the near-empty drink down, muttering about the waste, wiping the wet spots on his leg with his sleeve. Due to the free snacks given to each guest, alongside a complimentary cooling drink, a long line had formed outside, as everyone was eager to sample the rare treat. The morning was mainly for a warm-up, covering operational costs, with the main event to take place in the afternoon. "Boom~" Seeing the crowd's enthusiasm, Yun Niang decided the timing was right, striking a gong from the second floor and announced, "Everyone, morning operations end here. In the afternoon, we have a special event not to be missed, but entry will be ticket-based. Interested guests can purchase tickets at the counter; limited availability, first come, first served." "What’s the special event? Can you give us a hint?" "Yeah, what’s with the mystery, you're killing us here." "I can't get enough of this Celestial Joy; can I have another? I’ll pay if I have to!" "Don’t push from the back, who stepped on my new shoes!" "Save me a ticket, please!" "......" People were pushing and shoving at the counter, afraid they’d miss out on tickets. And those outside who couldn’t squeeze in, due to missing the free treat, grumbled yet stayed to watch the excitement at the door. Ning Song Wu sat quietly, his eyes wandering as though searching for something, sipping on Ran Fan Yin's special drink. He couldn’t fathom how such a chill could exist in the summer heat—was she truly so capable of conjuring such winter wonders? His gaze landed on a man causing trouble for a girl serving food nearby. "What’s the harm in letting me touch you? Didn’t your boss teach you how to serve guests?" the man said, reaching out to grab the girl serving iced drinks. "Please, sir, enjoy your drink," she answered, stepping back to evade his filthy touch. "Oh, this is rich; a girl from a brothel gets to play hard to get? Take off that veil, let me see your face, and if I'm pleased, I’ll book you for the night." "Please, sir, have some self-respect." She gripped the tray at her thigh, struggling to control her emotions. "Self-respect? You, a woman of ill-repute, talking to me about self-respect? What a joke." "If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave." She cradled her tray to her chest, eyes welling up with tears. "You wench, don’t be ungrateful." The man, infuriated by her refusal, grabbed a half-drunk iced drink, threatening to throw it. "Stop!" Ning Song Wu acted swiftly, rushing over to grab the man’s arm, taking the drink away. She couldn’t stand to see the man's arrogance, nor allow him to waste Ran Fan Yin's carefully crafted drink. Startled, the girl closed her eyes, expecting the worst. When nothing happened, she opened them to see a kind-looking young man holding the troublemaker firmly. “What’s this to you? Mind your business and get lost.” The man shook Ning Song Wu off, kicking over a stool, then flipping the table in front of him for good measure. "Tsss~" Ning Song Wu clutched his left arm, gasping at the pain. “Is this how your lousy establishment treats guests? Does your owner even care? Bring her out here; I’ll give her a piece of my mind," the man hollered, threatening to make a scene. “In broad daylight, you dare mistreat an innocent girl? Are you even human?” Ning Song Wu rebuked sharply. "So what if I do? I pay money here, don’t I get to say a few words? Hypocritical." The man shouted, raising his voice further. Hearing this, tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Yesterday, Miss Yu had promised them they wouldn’t have to endure indignity anymore and could lead upright lives. Yet now, she was still under someone's thumb. "What’s happening here?" Ran Fan Yin, drawn by the commotion, hurried down from upstairs, seeing the man’s intimidation and Ning Song Wu’s pale face, hand clutching his arm. “Did he hit you?” Ran Fan Yin asked, concerned, reaching to uncover Ning Song Wu's hand, only for him to pull away. “No problem, just a sprain.” Ning Song Wu's palm felt damp and sticky, knowing the wound had reopened and begun to bleed. Clad in a light-colored garment, the stain would be obvious if not covered. Ran Fan Yin's eyes flickered with disappointment. She pulled the girl to her and shielded her, warning the man, then gently asked the girl to explain. Learning the man had been making a scene, with rude and provocative remarks, subsequently resorting to violence, only to be thwarted by Ning Song Wu, Ran Fan Yin felt a surge of anger. The fire of her fury coursing through her veins, realizing he wasn’t here to be a customer but a troublemaker. "Esteemed guest, look at your table; all food is complimentary for the shop opening. You haven’t paid a penny. Fengming Courtyard is unlike the past. The girls are now upright citizens; don’t look down on them. Apologize to the girl and this gentleman." “Not a chance, your whole shop should apologize to me for this!” the man retorted stubbornly. Ran Fan Yin called out loudly, “Is Lord Lu present?” “Here, here, I’m over here.” Lu Jin didn't want to involve himself, but since Ning Song Wu was already entangled and now his cousin seemed to pull him into it as well. "Lord Lu, thank you for honoring us with your presence at our opening ceremony. I'm sure you witnessed everything that transpired just now, didn't you?" Ran Fan Yin remarked, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Yes, I saw everything," Lu Jin replied honestly. Ran Fan Yin continued, "I'm not well-versed in the law, so could you enlighten us on the repercussions for deliberately causing trouble and oppressing civilians?" "Well, uh, this is..." Lu Jin hesitated, recognizing the troublemaker as one of the musclemen from Shihua Pavilion. Noticing Lu Jin wavering at this critical moment, Ning Song Wu spoke up, "According to the law, if one uses their hands or feet to assault someone without causing serious injury, the penalty is twenty lashes. For verbally insulting and harassing a woman, it includes cutting the tongue, marking the face with a tattoo, and exile to a harsh region." Ning Song Wu asked, "Lord Lu, am I correct?" "Young Master Ning speaks the truth. You should hurry up and apologize to the lady and Young Master Ning." Realizing he had failed in causing trouble and that the county magistrate was backing Fengming Courtyard, the man now feared the threat of exile to a harsh land if he didn’t apologize. "I'm sorry, I was wrong. I shouldn't have looked down on you. My apologies to the lady and Young Master Ning. Please, be magnanimous and don't hold a grudge against me," he said, slapping himself as a gesture of remorse. "I'll spare you this time. Go back and tell your master to focus more on the business side rather than these low tactics," Ran Fan Yin remarked, not wanting to escalate the situation further since there were many guests watching; it served as a fitting warning. The man's arrogance dissipated, and he resignedly prepared to leave. "Hold on; you need to compensate for the damaged table and chairs, as well as provide a recompense for the girl's emotional distress." "What?" The man was startled, knowing he indeed broke the furniture but was clueless about what emotional distress compensation entailed. As a henchman, he was merely following orders without much spare cash. Ran Fan Yin raised an eyebrow and asked, "Trying to dodge your responsibility?" "No, no, I just don’t have that much money on me," he conceded, aware of his guilt. Ran Fan Yin: "Give what you have and sign an IOU for the rest." Seeing his hesitation, she added, "Of course, you can refuse, but we'll report it to the authorities with Lord Lu present." "Let's do as the lady suggests," the man conceded, signing the IOU before slinking away in disgrace. Ran Fan Yin looked at Ning Song Wu, whose hand seemed welded to his shoulder, unable to lower it. Ning Song Wu slightly turned away, avoiding her gaze, reluctant to meet her eyes. Ning Song Wu had underestimated the severity of his wound, as blood had already seeped through to the outside of his clothes, with trickles from the palm’s webbing. Is that blood? Is she injured? Is she avoiding me so I won’t find out? Ran Fan Yin's sharp eyes noticed the irregularity in Ning Song Wu's demeanor. "Lord Lu is busy with official work, I'll head back with him first. I’ll come by later," Ning Song Wu said guiltily. Ran Fan Yin, masking her feigned politeness with a smile, replied, "Lord Lu, focus on your important duties. The doors of Fengming Courtyard are always open for you. Feel free to visit anytime. Xiao Liu, see Lord Lu out." "But cousin, you’re on a break; it doesn’t seem like you have official matters at hand, right? Lord Lu, don’t you think?" Ran Fan Yin interjected as Ning Song Wu followed Lu Jin, emphasizing "cousin" heavily, imbued with a hint of displeasure. Though it was a lively day, with people elbowing in line to buy tickets or arguing incessantly, Ran Fan Yin's eyes remained cool and detached, exuding a chilling aura, making both Ning Song Wu and Lu Jin feel as if they were sitting on pins and needles. "Since we're here, you should stay, Lord Ning. I just remembered some official matters from yesterday that I need to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now." Lu Jin understood Ran Fan Yin's underlying message—that the two were not actual cousins. This was merely a convenient excuse to avoid unnecessary complications. Seeing Ning Song Wu's pleading expression, Lu Jin hurriedly said, "Lord Ning, please stay." Ran Fan Yin whispered a few words to a girl beside her before going upstairs by herself. As she departed, she coldly tossed back a line to Ning Song Wu without turning around: "You, follow me upstairs." Throughout the entire episode, from the moment the man caused trouble, everything was clearly observed by Yun Niang, who stood on the second floor. Ning Song Wu: "The thunderstorm night?" Ran Fan Yin continued, "Three nights ago, there was a thunderstorm causing the river flow to surge, speeding up the current and making the body move faster than usual. Hence, the disposal site couldn't be downstream at the Li Village section, explaining why no clues were found along the riverbanks there. The crime scene likely lies between Li Village and Wu Village." Ning Song Wu asked, "Chen Village?" Ran Fan Yin pondered slightly before responding, "It's too early for a definitive conclusion; it's just reasoning which must be validated on-site." Ning Song Wu's face lit up with understanding, "That makes a lot of sense. Madam, you truly are a genius! Previously, I was restrained by the timeline of the victim’s disappearance and overlooked the rainstorm three days ago. You’ve made the case much clearer with your analysis." "Tomorrow, I'll go with you to the crime scene," Ran Fan Yin proposed, bored of her solitude at home and wanting some fresh air. "Given the summer's intensity, it would be safer for you to stay home," Ning Song Wu expressed concern over Ran Fan Yin’s endurance against the heat and her position. "There's nothing diverting at home; I can handle the heat. Lend me a set of men’s civilian attire, and I'll accompany you," Ran Fan Yin insisted. Having responded to her concerns, Ning Song Wu had no room to decline, knowing her presence could expedite the investigation significantly. * The next day, at the riverbank downstream of Zimo River, in Chen Village, they discovered something of interest. Under the willows along the riverbank, broken branches appeared to have been hacked by a sharp object. On the river stones amid the bushes, bloodstains unwashed by rain were found. Though the traces of a struggle had been washed away by the rain, a glaringly reflective light caught Ran Fan Yin’s attention. Following the light, she retrieved a sharp-edged waist token fragment from an inconspicuous gap in the distant grass. Ran Fan Yin examined the half-pendant in her hand, remarking, "This? It looks like a waist token." Ning Song Wu took it, scrutinizing its intricately gold-plated patterns, yet it was too small to discern its complete form. Considering that Jiang Yun, ostensibly a businessman, bore callouses ill-suited to his profession, and now uncovering the waist token fragment, this murder mystery grew ever more complex and suspicious. [The stench is unbearable.] [Wasn't intending to hold her long with this tactic, but Jiang Mang is breaking through far too quickly.] [Why not even spare her?] [Waiting for this very moment.] [Well, the objective is accomplished.] [Jiang Mang, find a way to communicate what you know.] [Great news, Jiang Yue’s lively emotions suggest she’s safe.] [Perhaps that person experimented on Jiang Mang first but hasn’t yet targeted Jiang Yue.] [All in all, if one remains safe, it's fine.] [Get up, isn’t that enough?] [Master, no, she will definitely use public revenge.] [Heard that while we were in seclusion, she was severely reprimanded by Elder He Lan!] [Master, Master…] [Save me, Master!] [Truly a conniving pair, like attracts like…] [Fine, I’ll ignore Master today.] [……]