Another Murder

Actually, Song Caitang slept very poorly that night.

Nighttime in Bianliang was simply too cold.

The door was shut fast and her blanket was thick, but they could not prevent the chilly night air from getting to her. Her body was warm because it was under the blanket, but her nose and mouth were exposed and they were icy cold. She felt like there were icicles in her nose that were making the air she breathed in so cold.

She ended up waking up earlier than usual in the middle of the night.

After she woke up, she was confused for a moment before she subconsciously reached out to touch her nose…

It was so cold, she shivered.

She pulled the blanket over her head for a long time and felt better.

Then, she pulled the blanket away and put on a coat. She pushed the heavy ashes on the coal burner in the room and was relieved when she watched the coal start burning again.

The tea on the table was icy cold by now, so she didn’t want any of it.

She could hear a faint breathing sound coming from outside the room. That was the maid on night duty. She didn’t call for her.

She pushed the window open slightly and her lips curled into a sad smile.

Even the moon looked frosty.

So, this was Bianliang…

The night wind howled and its temperature could chill one to the bone. Song Caitang dared not open the window too wide and wasn’t in the mood to admire the moon either. After thinking about it, she decided to return to her bed and covered herself with the blanket again as she leaned against the head board and looked at the small piece of sky she could see through that tiny window crack.

This place was very cold and very strange, yet she seemed to adjust very quickly. Guan Wan too.

Their uncle had left the house and their cousin had to go to school, and Guan Qing wasn’t around to oversee things, but Guan Wan was able to take charge of household matters without any problem. Of course, she was best at overseeing the kitchen. She had just arrived, but she had already arranged for their meals and cooked so much good food for both Song Caitang and Guan Lang.

Guan Lang was still a man of very few words. He wasn’t like that just to his two cousins, but he was the same to the servants as well. He was always holding a book, as though that book was the closest person to his heart. He had to have one by his side at all times, or he would feel awful inside.

Everyone seemed a little distant and unconcerned about each other in this house that wasn’t very big, but everyone knew each other well and understood what each other needed. There was no need to pretend to care or give unnecessary attention. If there was something to be said, they could just speak their mind. If there was nothing to be said, they could just do what they wanted.

Song Caitang spent her previous life as an orphan and had seen the way people treated each other. Sometimes they were nice, and sometimes they weren’t. She had all sorts of ideas about what family could be like, but this particular one, this way of living as a family without feeling any pressure made her feel very much at ease here.

She felt like… she could just go on living like this.

But even though she was comfortable and very pleased with things now, she kept having this nagging feeling in her heart.

It was as if something deep inside her was reminding her that she didn’t like this place. That she didn’t like the weather here, she didn’t like the people here, she didn’t like anything here at all.

As if she had come here before and was badly hurt, so she hated the place.

She closed her eyes and sighed.

Should she stay here or not?

Guan Qing’s letter had already been delivered and she had completed her mission. So, should she head back to Luanze?

She clutched the blanket tightly as she looked at the vast sky through the small crack in the window and stayed that way for a while.

And there was still him.

What was he doing right now?

Was he in the palace?

Zhao Zhi seemed to be shouldering a heavy burden and was holding onto a lot of secrets. From the first day she met him, he seemed to be weighed down by all these things and she had never seen him do anything to deserve the nickname “King of Chaos”. She was even beginning to suspect if someone got it mixed up and gave him this nickname when it was meant for someone else.

But at the Night Sanctum, after the case was cracked and the love tragedy between Ye Nan and Liao Xingjian was uncovered, it was like the seal around him was broken. He had understood something, decided on something, was resolved about something. Slowly, he began to display a different sort of dominance. He still behaved appropriately and was still as intelligent as ever, but when he was with her, sometimes he would push the boundaries.

Did his change have something to do with his past?

Zhao Zhi was a member of the royal family and was very close to those in line to the throne from a young age. Was it something from this part of his life?

From this angle, Song Caitang couldn’t see the palace. She could only see the deep, dark color of the night sky. It was quiet and peaceful, yet seemingly dangerous.

Guan Lang left first thing the next morning. He had left before the sun had even risen and had not made any efforts to say goodbye to his cousins. He only told Butler Hu that the two ladies were now in charge of the household. The last of autumn had passed and it was almost winter. His cousins had come from the south and might not be used to the change of seasons, so he instructed the butler to make sure the kitchen prepared nourishing soups for them.

When Guan Wan heard about this after getting up, she quickly packed a whole box of snacks that she had just made the night before. These were snacks that could be kept for a long time without losing their taste too quickly. She got Butler Hu to send these to Guan Lang.

Even if he couldn’t finish eating them himself, he could offer them to his classmates or his friends.

It was at this time when the auntie that was always by Old Madam Li’s side arrived.

Auntie Liu immediately bowed deeply when she saw Song Caitang, then fell to her knees, her face nearly on the floor as she said, “I’m sorry for coming so early in the morning without making any appointment. I apologize for disturbing you so suddenly.”

“Don’t say that, Auntie Liu.” Song Caitang immediately sensed something amiss and tried to help Auntie Liu to her feet. “Get up first.”

But Auntie Liu kept her head down and dared not get up.

Song Caitang knew that something was very wrong.

“Has something happened to Old Madam Li?”

She had asked this question very gently, but it was filled with concern. Old Madam Li was getting on in age and her health was not the best. Bianliang was so cold, so if she fell ill…

“Old Madam… has told me to come here because she has a very difficult request to make.”

Song Caitang was relieved.

As long as the old lady was fine.

“Auntie Liu, you don’t have to be so formal with me. Get up first and we can talk about it.”

Auntie Liu finally stood up and folded her hands in front of her as she stood by the side.

But before she could say anything, Guan Wan came running in with Butler Hu. “Cousin! Oh my goodness! There’s been a murder at Zhaoze Temple!”

Song Caitang noticed that Auntie Liu gripped her own hands even more tightly than before and her expression stiffened up.

Butler Hu came in, bowed and stood by the side. He did not join the conversation between the cousins and just glanced calmly at Auntie Liu.

Auntie Liu did not say anything either. She took two steps back and quietly bowed her head to allow Guan Wan to speak to Song Caitang first.

Guan Wan was probably very anxious and had run very quickly, so her nose was glistening with perspiration. She didn’t bother sitting down and grabbed hold of Song Caitang’s hand. “A student has died and he died in front of everyone! There was blood everywhere! There were a lot of people there, men, women, including court officials and aristocrats, so the news has already spread everywhere! The murderer was caught on the spot and has admitted their guilt, so the murderer has already been sent to Jingzhao Jail… It’s huge news out there!”

“How… did you find out about this?”

“Butler Hu told me,” Guan Wan looked at Song Caitang, “the entire city already knows about it!”

Song Caitang calmly glanced at the rest of the people in the room and understood what was going on.

Butler Hu had used Guan Wan to tell Song Caitang about this matter to remind her that this was no small matter. She had to consider all parts of the matter carefully and find out as many details as she could before making any decisions about it.

And he was clearly bringing this up because of why Auntie Liu was here.

So, this was the reason that brought Auntie Liu here?

Song Caitang looked at Auntie Liu. “What request does Old Madam Li have?”

Auntie Liu knew that Song Caitang was an intelligent girl who could figure everything out easily, and Old Madam Li had already instructed her beforehand to be honest with Song Caitang and tell her everything she knew.

She fell to her knees again. “The murderer who was caught at the scene of the crime is of the surname Gu, a younger person whom Old Madam likes very much. Old Madam doesn’t think this person could have done such a thing, so she has told me to ask if you could help to sound this person out.”

A younger person that Old Madam Li liked…

Song Caitang raised an eyebrow. “It’s a woman?”

“Yes. The wife of the head of the Ji family of Qingliu in Bianliang, Madam Gu,” explained Auntie Liu before proceeding to pass on the message from Old Madam Li, “Old Madam Li knows Madam Gu very well and feels that there’s something amiss here. But Madam Gu has already admitted her guilt and the case is both complicated and sensitive. It’s alright if you don’t want to be involved. Old Madam just… can’t stop thinking about it, and she feels she can’t rest well if she doesn’t try to do something about it.”

Butler Hu finally broke his silence, “This is a very big matter, so I hope Cousin Young Mistress will think carefully before making any decision. If you need to, I can send someone to inform Young Master.”

Guan Wan looked at Song Caitang with a worried look on her face as well.

Song Caitang knew what they were trying to tell her. They were afraid that something bad might happen to her if she were to get involved. But Old Madam Li had been so kind to her. And besides their first meeting, the old lady had never asked her for anything…

Song Caitang paused to think, then asked Auntie Liu, “Can I meet with this Madam Gu?”

Auntie Liu nodded. “Old Madam said that if you’re agreeable, you don’t have to go over. She will get the necessary administration done so that you can get to speak to Madam Gu at the jail. You don’t have to do anything until then.”

Song Caitang nodded. “Alright, please tell Old Madam Li that I’ve agreed to help.”

Auntie Liu had come in a hurry and left in an equally big hurry. But Butler Hu and Guan Wan were still worried.

“Cousin Young Mistress, this is a big matter…”

“Cousin, your name is part of Luanze’s list, not Bianliang’s. You won’t be allowed to view the body and all that here…”

Song Caitang turned to face them and smiled. “I know what you’re trying to tell me. I promise you, I’ll be cautious and observe the situation, I’ll make sure I stay out of trouble and not put myself in any danger. Alright?”

Guan Wan clung onto her arm. “But you’re going to see that lady in jail…”

“I have to talk to her first in order to make a decision about whether I want to do anything else.” Song Caitang pinched Guan Wan’s cheek gently. “I’ve never gotten into trouble, have I?”

Guan Wan pouted and didn’t say anything.

“Wan’er, why don’t you cook something nice for me to eat? I’m suddenly craving meat.”

Her appetite had been poor lately and she was finally willing to eat meat. Guan Wan stomped her feet. “You’re doing this on purpose!”

But even though she was worried, she had to get that meat cooked. Guan Wan ran out of the room and headed straight for the kitchen.

Butler Hu kept a straight face, but he did not move or say anything.

“Butler Hu, you don’t have to worry. Whether I help or not, or how I can help, will depend on the outcome of my visit.” Song Caitang held a teacup in her hands, her eyes blurred by the steam rising from the hot tea. “Perhaps after I talk to her, I can confirm that she’s the murderer and I won’t have to do anything else?”

She tilted her head and looked at the butler. “Don’t worry, I know how to handle this.”

Butler Hu bowed with a grave look on his face. “I’m glad to hear that you are able to handle this. Please feel free to call for me if you need anything.”

Song Caitang was someone with no power and no influence, and she was only well known in Luanze and nowhere else. There was really nothing she could do to speed things up now, so she had to sit and wait.

Old Madam Li had lived for many years in Bianliang and had some connections of her own. She couldn’t propel Song Caitang to the palace and make her a big shot, but getting permission to allow Song Caitang to visit someone in jail was still possible.

In less than four hours, a horse carriage turned up in front of the Guans’.

Inside the carriage, Old Madam Li was already waiting for her. She held Song Caitang’s hands tightly and said, “Thank you so much, my dear.”

Song Caitang smiled and sat down next to her. “I’m happy to be anywhere near you.”

“You are really…” Old Madam Li shook her head and laughed. “This is an urgent matter and I know you’re a kindhearted girl. But I must tell you this first. Madam Gu is someone I like very much. She lost her father when she was a child, then lost her husband. She has only one son and her journey thus far has been very tough. I refuse to believe it when she says she’s the killer.”

Song Caitang listened with a thoughtful look on her face.

“You’re a clever girl, so I’m sure you’ve figured this out already. Regardless of what the truth is or whether anyone believes her or not, Madam Gu simply refuses to do anything and doesn’t want to save herself at all. I can’t help but think that there’s more to this than meets the eye…”

“I’m also doing this because we’re close, so I feel I really should do something. Help me to sound her out, alright? If she’s really the killer, then I will not make things difficult for anybody. I won’t defend her just because she’s my friend. But if she has reasons for doing this, I would like her to tell me so that I can see if I can help her, as well as take care of her son in the future. If she wasn’t the one who did this, then she’s in the wrong. Not only will she be letting the victim down, but she’s also letting the people around her down.”

Old Madam Li sighed as she spoke. “Time is the most cruel to people. I’m old and I can’t see people clearly, much less their hearts. But I’m sure you can.”

By now, Song Caitang could understand what Old Madam Li was thinking about. She held the old lady’s hands tightly and said, “Don’t worry. I will do my best.”

The carriage quickly arrived at Jingzhao Jail. Song Caitang helped Old Madam Li to get out of the carriage and they walked toward the jail.

Old Madam Li had brought a lot of things along. She had a plaque of approval, some money to tip the guards, as well as some delicious snacks. Auntie Liu was very alert and was able to placate the guards at every turn without Old Madam Liu telling her anything or even glancing at her.

Song Caitang was very impressed.

And so, they went from the bright outdoors to the dark and depressing jail cell.

It was wet, cold, chilling.

The floor was a little slippery and the air smelled moldy and there was a faint stench. The torch on the wall was lit, but it could only illuminate the area a few steps ahead.

This was a very depressing place.

They had to walk almost to the end of the corridor to see the person they wanted.

But Madam Gu greeted them coldly. “There’s no need to put in all this effort. I killed the man. All of you should go home.”