Chapter 106
Chapter 106: Right Chancellor
Hearing this, Li Mu Sheng looked deeply at Cang Yin Yue.
This young lady truly did tasks impeccably. He had entrusted her with finding the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury, and she had become even more diligent than himself.
Indeed, if any employer found such a dedicated worker, they would surely be prosperous beyond dreams.
With such a swift and efficient partner by his side, how could he fail to gather all seven keys for the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury?
“Miss Cang speaks truly. Come, let us leave immediately.”
Li Mu Sheng rose from his seat, withdrawing his gaze from Cang Yin Yue’s delicate, flower-like face with a faint blush of shame.
Cang Yin Yue glanced briefly at him, lightly nodded without a word, then turned gracefully and walked beside Li Mu Sheng toward the courtyard exit.
They boarded the carriage arranged by the Heavenly Brocade Guard. However, to avoid attracting attention, Li Mu Sheng didn’t take any guards along.
Soon, the carriage sped away from the Heavenly Brocade Guard’s headquarters, the wheels rumbling swiftly down the road.
Not long after, from the shadowed alley not far from the Heavenly Brocade Guard’s mansion, Guan Tian Qian stepped forth. His gaze followed the carriage as it disappeared into the distance, his expression wavering uncertainly.
[Could that young man, temporarily residing in the Heavenly Brocade Guard headquarters, be the Eighth Prince that Xue’er mentioned, the one following closely behind Cang Yin Yue?]
Guan Tian Qian’s aged and weathered face filled with suspicion.
Considering Cang Yin Yue’s unusual behavior after returning to Shang Yang City and what Guan Shan Xue had revealed, his instincts honed by years of investigation told him there was more to their relationship than met the eye.
He stood, hesitating in thought, then finally decided to quietly follow after them.
If the murders at Marquis Cang Yuan’s manor and Consort Ji’s death indeed had something to do with that young man accompanying Cang Yin Yue, and if that young man truly was the lost Eighth Prince living secretly among commoners—
Then the truth was hidden behind a mere thin sheet of paper, waiting only for his finger to pierce through. He couldn’t bring himself to simply walk away.
…
Great Li Imperial Palace, Feng Yi Palace.
In simple attire, the queen reclined upon a soft couch of golden-yellow silk, eyes half-closed in restful repose. At this moment, an elderly eunuch approached softly.
The queen opened her eyes slightly, glancing briefly at him, and before he could speak, asked gently, “Any reply from Fu Qi Wen?”
At her words, the old eunuch halted respectfully before the couch, bowed deeply, then slowly shook his head, answering,
“Lord Fu sent no reply. Instead, the Eighth Prince currently residing at the Heavenly Brocade Guard directly refused the Imperial decree.”
“The Eighth Prince?”
The queen looked toward the eunuch, slightly surprised.
“What exactly did he say?”
The old eunuch hesitated momentarily, then honestly reported,
“The Eighth Prince said all of Heavenly Brocade Guard’s resources are currently searching for the Fire Qilin and have no time to hunt down murderers. He stated if your ladyship wished their help, you must personally meet him first.”
The queen shook her head, sitting up slowly from her couch, her expression turning unreadable.
“Such bold words indeed. He truly fears nothing.”
At these words, the old eunuch’s expression shifted subtly.
“The Eighth Prince defies your decree openly, clearly showing no respect for your ladyship. How would you wish to deal with him?”
Yet the queen merely glanced at him, responding calmly,
“The Eighth Prince has lived among commoners since childhood and doesn’t know the Imperial Capital or palace customs. Why should I argue with such a young junior? If I did, wouldn’t I appear petty?”
Hearing this, the old eunuch quickly bowed his head apologetically.
“This servant has spoken thoughtlessly.”
The queen waved her hand dismissively, eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
“The Heavenly Brocade Guard has made significant moves lately, though I cannot guess Fu Qi Wen’s intentions. However, it is no surprise he refused to involve them at this time.”
She gazed meaningfully at the old eunuch.
“This matter shall end here. As for how the Third Prince and Right Chancellor choose to act, that is beyond my control.”
…
On the central axis of Black Tortoise Avenue stood the grand residence of the Third Prince, currently steeped in oppressive gloom.
Ever since the tragedy that befell Consort Ji, the Third Prince’s temperament had dramatically worsened. He would explode in anger at the slightest provocation.
Servants and guards moved about with great caution, terrified of being dragged away and publicly beaten to death.
At this moment, within a secluded study inside the mansion, all servants and maids had been sent far away.
Inside were only the Second Prince Li Que, the Third Prince Li Zhu, and the elderly, white-haired Right Chancellor Ji Song.
“Right Chancellor, you are advanced in years; please take care of yourself. Leave matters regarding Consort Ji and Madam Zhu to me and my third younger brother. We swear to find the murderer and publicly execute him.”
Li Que respectfully clasped his hands toward the haggard, aged man.
The elder’s eyes were clouded and vacant; he slowly lifted a skeletal hand in return but uttered not a word.
“Grandfather…”
The Third Prince Li Zhu clenched his fists tightly, struggling to speak yet unable to voice his sorrow. His eyes were swollen and red from grief and anger.
Already consumed by sorrow himself, he found it impossible to console this elder who had lost two daughters overnight, forced to see their deaths while he still lived.
Li Que observed the scene quietly, letting out a gentle, sorrowful sigh.
After some time, outside the study, where there should have been no one, a swirl of wind lifted fallen leaves.
Suddenly, from midair appeared the figure of a scholarly middle-aged man, clothed in robes of a scholar with a neat square cap, gracefully descending upon the leaves without a sound.
His robes fluttered elegantly around him, a gentle breeze continuously circling his form. His gaze fixed on the study as he spoke softly,
“Sir Ji, I trust you have been well.”
The gentle, soothing voice drifted into the study. The Right Chancellor Ji Song, who had seemed lifeless and carved from wood, finally showed signs of life.
Slowly, Ji Song turned his frail body, bowed slightly toward the doorway, and spoke in a voice as dry and creaking as an ancient wooden door in the wind.
“Sir You Shan, please, come in and speak.”
Immediately, the doors of the study opened silently, then closed again without a sound.
Li Que turned at the sound but saw no one. Yet when he faced forward again, a refined, scholarly man stood quietly before the study’s writing desk.
Ji Song raised his cloudy eyes slowly toward the gentleman and moved his dry, withered lips to speak.
“Sir You Shan, you surely understand why I have sought you out?”
The middle-aged scholar nodded gently, his expression filled with compassionate sorrow.
“Sir Ji, you saved my life once. Although we have not met in over twenty years, I never imagined our reunion would be under such tragic circumstances.”
Ji Song shook his head weakly, his voice hoarse and strained.
“I have already buried half my body in the earth, and I long since ceased to fear death or seek repayment for past kindnesses.”
“But…losing one’s daughters is a grief far greater than I ever imagined. Thus, I had no choice but to trouble Sir You Shan.”
Once more, the scholarly man sighed gently, compassion evident in his voice.
“Rest assured, Sir Ji. I will command all the resources of Shang Yang City’s Heaven’s Secrets Pavilion to help you uncover the murderer.”