Chapter Ninety-Nine: Night Interrogation

Inside the Dali Temple, in a pitch-dark interrogation room, a man and a woman knelt side by side.

Ji Changge looked at Lu Yi, who no longer bore the arrogance and domineering air he once had, and a smile curved on his lips. “Young Master Lu, you met with Minister Cao’s concubine in secret late at night—does Minister Cao know about this?”

Lu Yi’s face stiffened, a flicker of resentment flashing across his features, but he forced a smile and said, “Lord Ji, please don’t mock me. As for this matter... I hope you can keep it confidential.”

“Confidential? Very well.” Ji Changge’s eyes gleamed with amusement.

Lu Yi seemed taken aback by how readily Ji Changge agreed, but his brief happiness soon faded. Knowing Ji Changge well, if something didn’t benefit him, he would never consent so easily.

“What do you want?” Lu Yi asked bluntly. People like him were easier to deal with—each taking what they needed.

Ji Changge’s tone turned serious. “Where were you on the afternoon of the thirteenth of this month? Who did you meet?”

Lu Yi gave a bitter smile. “Lord Ji, don’t you already know? I went to meet that wretched woman.”

Ji Changge turned to the trembling woman beside them. “Is that true?”

The woman nodded repeatedly. “That day, Young Master Lu was indeed with me.”

Ji Changge’s gaze fell on her loose robe. “Are you pregnant?”

A blush rose on her cheeks. She bit her lip and nodded.

“It’s not mine!” Lu Yi quickly said, looking away nervously as he caught Ji Changge’s probing gaze.

A trace of disgust appeared in Ji Changge’s eyes. “If it’s not yours, why do you keep seeing this ‘wretch’ again and again?”

Lu Yi was speechless. He hadn’t wanted to go today, but feared the woman might do something reckless that would alert Cao Tai—and that would be disastrous.

“Because she’s pregnant, you planned to use this to force Lu Yi to elope with you, but he kept evading you. You used a wine jar to send the message to the Lu household, didn’t you?” Ji Changge said coldly, staring at the woman.

Lu Yi glanced at her, snorted coldly. “Who knows whose bastard it is in your belly.”

“You heartless beast! If you hadn’t seduced me, would I have done such a despicable thing? And now you deny it! Fine! Today, we die together! I have nothing left to live for!” The woman lunged at Lu Yi.

Two guards hurriedly restrained her, but Lu Yi still got two bright red scratches across his face.

“Stop!”

Ji Changge shouted, then paused. “I will pretend I didn’t see today’s incident. You’re on your own.”

Hearing this, Lu Yi relaxed and cast a hateful glance at the woman.

“Oh, one more thing. Do you remember the case from two years ago when Miss Liang Shuxuan of Inspector Liang’s family disappeared from Grand Academician Wang Xuelin’s home?”

Lu Yi pondered for a moment. “It’s been so long, I don’t remember clearly.”

“Did you speak to Liang Shuxuan that day?”

“I only glanced at her from afar, didn’t say a word.”

“Did you notice any suspicious strangers with her?” Ji Changge fired question after question.

Lu Yi shook his head. “No. Liang Shuxuan was beautiful and pursued by many young gentlemen. She was always surrounded by young ladies and noble sons. Even if a stranger tried to approach, it would have been difficult.”

“Why didn’t you go?”

“Because of some previous misunderstanding, my relationship with Liang Shuxuan was very bad.”

Ji Changge recalled rumors from years ago: Lu Yi had spoken lightly to Liang Shuxuan, only to be reprimanded by her, souring their relationship.

“Wasn’t that case closed long ago? Why ask me now?” Lu Yi said irritably.

Ji Changge ignored the question and asked, “What about Shen Ying?”

At the mention of Shen Ying, fear flickered across Lu Yi’s face. “That case truly has nothing to do with me. I was only fifteen then, and Shen Ying was close to my elder brother Lu Xun, not me.”

“Calm down. I’m just asking casually. Did your brother say anything about Shen Ying’s death?” Ji Changge asked.

“Are you suspecting my brother?” Lu Yi’s face darkened.

Ji Changge’s expression grew cold. “Answer my question.”

“After Shen Ying died, my brother was distant for a long time. He was always taciturn, then almost mute for a while. Later, he gradually recovered. I guess he must have liked Miss Shen.”

“That’s all for now. You may leave.”

Ji Changge thought for a moment, then smiled. “You’d better resolve this quickly. I promise I won’t speak of it, but if others spread it, don’t blame me.”

Lu Yi’s face darkened. Ji Changge’s ruthlessness was even faster than his. Silently, he cursed himself for giving this man any leverage.

Watching Lu Yi storm off, Ji Changge’s smile faded. The lead on Lu Yi had broken; could it be Lu Xun?

Lu Xun was connected to all three cases—he liked Shen Ying; he was at the Wang family when Liang Shuxuan disappeared; and He Yunxiu was betrothed to the Lu family. Lu Xun was a man of few words, a mysterious enigma.

“Keep an eye on Lu Xun,” Ji Changge instructed Ding Wu.

Suddenly, the door was kicked open with a loud bang.

“My lord, I’m going to tail the suspect.” Ding Wu clenched his fist and dashed off, vanishing instantly.

Ji Changge raised an eyebrow. This kid never learned a thing from him about investigations, but he had learned half the art of scheming.

“Old Liang, come out here!” Ji Changge rubbed his ear. Old Master Liang had been clever enough to avoid appearing at the mansion these past few days, so Ji Changge had no choice but to steel himself and go out.

...

The Wang Residence.

Wen Jing finished acupuncture on Wang Jue. “How do you feel this time?”

“Nothing,” Wang Jue said expressionlessly.

Wen Jing frowned slightly. The knee had shown some reaction last time; why was it worse now? Perhaps acupuncture was just like this—not as quick as western medicine.

“Seventeenth Young Master, don’t be discouraged. Given time, you will surely recover,” said Xiaocui.

“Mm,” Wang Jue replied, his expression slightly uneasy.

“Take good care of yourself. I’ll be going now.” Wen Jing picked up her medicine box.

Xiaocui nodded.

“Wait.” Wang Jue suddenly spoke.

Wen Jing turned and saw Wang Jue pull out a stack of papers. Taking them, she unfolded them, surprised to see that all the previously faceless portraits now had eyes, noses, and mouths—vivid and lifelike. Each picture depicted a scene, dozens in total. Her heart stirred as she glanced at Wang Jue, who kept his eyes lowered.

“Just a way to pass the time,” Wang Jue said, lifting the corners of his mouth into a faint smile.

“Thank you, Seventeenth Young Master.” Wen Jing smiled back and turned to leave.

She carefully packed the drawings into the medicine box, not wanting to cause Wang Jue any trouble. Thinking it over, she realized Wang Jue was bold to have drawn those faces—if the Wang family saw them, there might be trouble. Perhaps that was why he hadn’t drawn the features before, but after her joking remark, he had actually added them.

Lost in thought, Wen Jing found herself disoriented. She was naturally bad with directions, and the Wang residence was vast. Looking around, she saw no one.

This place seemed to be a remote annex of the Wang mansion. The Carp Garden was already secluded, and perhaps she had taken a wrong turn to end up here. The annex looked neglected, overgrown with wildflowers and weeds. Not far off, a thicket of hibiscus blossomed brilliantly—not manicured like other gardens, but possessing a natural, unadorned beauty.

The sky suddenly darkened as if rain were imminent. Wen Jing wandered anxiously like a headless fly, growing more worried. If the heiress of the Wen family got lost in the Wang mansion and emerged soaked like a drowned rat, it would surely become tomorrow’s gossip.

Just as her anxiety peaked, a small cottage appeared before her. Relieved, she quickened her pace, hoping the rain would come and go quickly if she could take shelter.

As she neared the door, Wen Jing caught a faint, unpleasant metallic smell. Sensitive to scents, she peeked inside cautiously and startled—Uncle Wang Qi, the madman, stared at her with wide eyes and suspicion.

Composing herself, she smiled. “Uncle Qi, so you live here?”

“What are you doing in my house? Trying to steal my food?” Wang Qi clutched several blackened steamed buns.

“Of course not, Uncle Qi. Don’t be afraid. I got lost and just want to take shelter from the rain here, okay?” Wen Jing said gently.

After a moment’s hesitation, Wang Qi nodded.

Inside, to Wen Jing’s surprise, though Wang Qi was dirty, the room was fairly well stocked. Though messy, with clothes strewn everywhere and leftover food on the table, it was clear the Wang family did not mistreat him as she had feared.

“Uncle Qi, who do you like best?” Wen Jing asked.

“Second Brother!” Wang Qi smiled, adding, “Second Brother never hits me and always brings me delicious food.”

Wen Jing smiled. “Why do you throw your clothes on the floor?”

“They’re ugly. I only wear the clothes Mom made for me.” Wang Qi said this while biting into a bun.

So that was it. Watching Wang Qi contentedly munching, Wen Jing thought: who says fools can’t be happy? The more you think, the less joy you find; the more you desire, the greater your disappointments.

“Uncle Qi, does your eldest brother often hit you?” Wen Jing asked further.

Wang Qi stopped chewing and suddenly began to cry. “Don’t hit me... I won’t steal anymore. I won’t dare again...”

Seeing his terrified expression, Wen Jing couldn’t bear to ask more.

“Seventh Sister, what are you doing here?” came Wang Erlang’s voice nearby.

Startled, Wen Jing turned and saw Wang Erlang looking at her in surprise.

(To be continued…)