A Complete Mess

All of a sudden, all four of them were gathered. The exchange of glances stirred up a storm and caused the atmosphere to grow tense. Even the sun dimmed a little in that moment.

The only one who wasn’t affected was Wei He’an.

He slowly scanned each person as a smirk spread across his face. Out of consideration, he took a step back and gave the four of them space to perform. Of course, he wasn’t going to just walk away. He was going to stay and watch the show.

The four along the corridor remained silent.

Zhao Zhi and Wen Yuansi did not expect the other party to appear suddenly and came almost face to face with one another too. They were surprised, but they also subconsciously put up their guard and reacted a little slower than usual.

Song Caitang was focused on the case, so since they were all here, the first thing she did was to observe Lu Yuxue. This woman seemed to have nothing to do with the case, but actually, there were many details that were linked to her. She did not reveal anything throughout this investigation and it seemed like everyone she interacted with had a good impression of her and wanted to protect her. How did she manage to do that?

Lu Yuxue was the first to burst. Her angry words broke the awkward silence, “Song Caitang, you set me up!”

Actually, she normally wasn’t like this. Lu Yuxue was someone who was very used to holding herself back and exuded great patience in what she did. Saying something so antagonistic upfront was not her style. For example, she didn’t do anything even after receiving the first message.

She would not walk into another person’s trap easily or fall for someone else’s ruse. Even if she did overlook something, she’d find a way to cover it up nicely and make sure the other party didn’t get their way.

But she got more than one message today. Zeng Deyong came knocking on her door personally and spoke to Consort Ping. He told her there was a major breakthrough in the case and he needed Lu Yuxue to go over and sort it out. The consort’s expression barely shifted, but Lu Yuxue had served the consort long enough to know that the consort was very displeased.

Until now, when she thought about the emotionless but threatening look that the consort gave her, her heart would pound wildly in fear.

But she knew what was going on.

She understood well that the drama happening at the Count of Peace’s home was orchestrated and scripted by Song Caitang. Everyone connected to the case was being manipulated by her!

But Song Caitang had covered so many bases and was so confident that she even managed to manipulate the count himself, so there was nothing else Lu Yuxue could do. Even though she knew this was a trap, she had no choice but to walk into it!

In the end, of all the people to run into, the first person she saw was her cousin. Her cousin only had eyes for Song Caitang and was standing next to her in a protective stance too!

What did that mean?! Was he trying to show off? Was he taunting her?!

Lu Yuxue’s aggressive tone was extremely unlike her usual self and it made everyone uncomfortable, so they immediately became wary of her. Before Song Caitang could say anything, Wen Yuansi spoke up first, “Miss Lu, those words are not appropriate.”

He did not have his gentle and warm smile on, but put on his serious and authoritative face instead. “We have asked you to come here because it’s required for the investigation. It is definitely not because any of the people here made a personal request. This country has laws that all officials must follow, so you should not simply accuse another of such a thing.”

The tone of the conversation suddenly became very officious and Lu Yuxue didn’t know what to say.

Zhao Zhi was furious that he had reacted too slowly and lost his chance to Wen Yuansi.

Lu Yuxue only cared about her cousin, so as long as Zhao Zhi was around, she could not see anything else. She was only too familiar with his reaction.

Her cousin was very annoyed that Wen Yuansi had stepped forward to protect Song Caitang, so she quickly added fuel to the fire, “Cousin, they’re ganging up to bully me!”

These words exposed the undercurrents that were previously kept hidden.

Wen Yuansi held a torch for Song Caitang, so being associated with her like that made him secretly very happy. “If I were able to team up with Miss Song and bully someone of such high standing as you are, Miss Lu, that would certainly be an honor.”

Of course, the words he uttered did not sound happy and carried a tinge of sarcasm instead.

Zhao Zhi narrowed his eyes and glared hard at Wen Yuansi. He was so angry, he was about to burst.

Even though he didn’t like admitting it, he knew it was true that he wasn’t as good at talking as Wen Yuansi.

Song Caitang could sense the change in Zhao Zhi’s emotions and was quite confused. What was he thinking? Why was he getting angrier and angrier? This was not the right time to throw a tantrum. They had important matters to settle.

So, she reached out and tugged at Zhao Zhi’s sleeve.

Zhao Zhi immediately felt like a fluffy feather had just landed on his heart, soothing it immediately.

His girl was playing the cute card again.

What an adorable girl.

So many people were present and everyone was staring at each other. Yet she ignored them and did something so affectionate only to him. Who cared about anything else now?

There was no need to show off his relationship with his girl.

And there was definitely no need to care about what others thought.

Song Caitang had always been a very independent character who hardly showed affection like that, so Zhao Zhi felt very special now and was himself again. He now stared down at the people around him as though they didn’t exist, or that they were too lowly for him to care about.

Wen Yuansi and Lu Yuxue were speechless.

Romance was often the weakness of women. Lu Yuxue could hardly hide the jealousy in her eyes, but Wen Yuansi was better than that and went straight to the case instead, “We have found out that five years ago, you had some interaction with the victim, Fourth Missy Gan. But when we asked you about this earlier, you did not seem willing to talk about it. Why?”

Lu Yuxue was silent for a moment, then bit her lip and stared at Zhao Zhi. “I will only speak to my cousin.”

Wen Yuansi raised an eyebrow at Zhao Zhi. “I’ll have to trouble you, Commandery Prince Zhao.

Zhao Zhi snorted.

Everyone here had more than enough brains to know what was really going on.

“Sure,” he agreed immediately. Then, he turned and patted Song Caitang on the head. “Be good and wait here for me.”

I came first, so I get priority, don’t you know? I don’t care if you die from anger, thought Zhao Zhi with a smug look on his face.

It was only in such moments when Zhao Zhi finally exuded some childishness and matched the impression that the people of Bianliang had of this King of Chaos.

But over the past few months she was her, Song Caitang had grown accustomed to Zhao Zhi coming close to her. In her mind, what he did wasn’t considered especially affectionate behavior, so she didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

“Got it.”

She was still waiting to gather more clues and to sit down together and analyze them. Of course she wasn’t leaving without him.

Wen Yuansi lowered his gaze. Nobody could tell what he was thinking about.

Zhao Zhi noticed that Wen Yuansi was about to walk over, so he pointed to a spot and told Song Caitang, “Stand over there and don’t go anywhere.”

Song Caitang was puzzled by his instructions, but that was the moment she also happened to catch sight of the look in Wen Yuansi’s eyes…

She suddenly remembered what Zhao Zhi told her before. Zhao Zhi had told her to keep her distance from Wen Yuansi, not because he was a bad guy who could be dangerous, but because he had feelings for her. She thought that Zhao Zhi was just joking back then because she felt that Wen Yuansi treated her just like everyone else, so he couldn’t possibly have feelings for her…

But now, she realized she might have been wrong.

She frowned slightly. If that was really the case, then she ought to watch out.

She had no intention of keeping another man around as a backup or to lead another person on. If Wen Yuansi really had feelings for her, she had to make things clear to him and make sure he knew that she had no feelings for him.

Zhao Zhi walked further down the corridor with Lu Yuxue and the rest instinctively walked away. He leaned lazily against a pillar. “So, what’s your story?”

Lu Yuxue’s brows were slightly furrowed, her eyes watery as she looked terribly aggrieved. “I really have nothing to do with this case. It really wasn’t me…”

“That’s all you wanted to say?” Zhao Zhi turned around immediately. “I’m going back then.”

“No, don’t,” Lu Yuxue quickly held him back. She spoke quickly and a little anxiously, “Five years ago, I went to Qingxian and I did run into Fourth Missy Gan. But we only ran into each other randomly and had no dealings with one another and no feud. There was really nothing else! I would never think of killing her!”

Zhao Zhi stared at her. “That’s it?”

Lu Yuxue could see that he was about to walk away again and sounded even more upset. “You’re not even willing to say more than one sentence to me now?”

Zhao Zhi raised an eyebrow. His expression said it all: That depends on your performance.

Either way, he would only talk to her about the case. He wasn’t going to entertain any other sort of conversation.

Lu Yuxue was about to cry. “I just… I just wanted to spend more time with you…”

“So, even when you’re putting up an act, I have to play along?” Zhao Zhi snorted. “Clever people know how to do the right thing at the right time. Lu Yuxue, I thought you knew this a long time ago.”

Lu Yuxue’s eyes brimmed with tears and she pursed her lips for a long time, but she eventually broke her silence.

“I don’t know who decided to purposely mention what happened five years ago, I’m sure they’re trying to frame me. But I did not know Fourth Missy Gan back then. But the count and his wife did..”

Zhao Zhi immediately straightened up. “You saw the count and his wife back then?”

“Yes. Five years ago, Zeng Deyong and Madam Wei were at Qingxian too.” Lu Yuxue looked a little less intensely at Zhao Zhi. “You know me, I’m a detailed person. And I wouldn’t lie to you. I don’t know if Zeng Deyong knew that Fourth Missy Gan was around, but Madam Wei definitely spotted her. Fourth Missy Gan was very panicky, as though she was trying to hide from someone. I sensed that she was trying to hide from Madam Wei. I also saw… Sang Zheng. But Sang Zheng was dressed differently, as though he was purposely trying to avoid someone. I only saw him once and I don’t remember it clearly, so I’m not so certain.

Zhao Zhi asked, “Did Sang Zheng come into contact with Zeng Deyong and Madam Wei?”

Lu Yuxue shook her head. “No. I only ran into Fourth Missy Gan then and she saw me too. But we didn’t know each other at all and only ran into each other randomly. That’s all.”

“I never thought you would suspect me like this. Have you forgotten how we were before? Don’t you trust my character?”

Her voice was crestfallen, “I thought it was just something that was on the spur of the moment, just for fun. I didn’t mind at all. Even if you wanted to take Song Caitang as a concubine, I was alright with it. You had always been by my side. You were with me when we were young, so we wouldn’t be separated even after we’d grown up. You’d still return to my side… So, it turns out that you don’t even trust me anymore. Cousin, I’m very disappointed in you.”

“Uh huh,” Zhao Zhi had already started walking back out after he had heard all she wanted to say about the case. The wind brought his last words to her, “Whatever.”

Lu Yuxue clenched her teeth angrily. She was seething, but she couldn’t stop him from walking away.

Meanwhile, Song Caitang and Wen Yuansi were exchanging clues and conjectures. They were getting along perfectly fine.

Wei He’an observed all of this and fell into deep thought.

When he noticed that Zhao Zhi was returning, he got close to Song Caitang and whispered, “There was a young male coroner in Zhending who was an expert in dissecting bodies and solving difficult cases. He was really amazing. But three years ago, this young man suddenly disappeared and nobody could find him.”

After dropping these words, Wei He’an turned and walked away without explaining himself or stopping in his tracks.

Song Caitang narrowed her eyes slightly. Wei He’an must have a reason for mentioning this.

Given when he said to her earlier, was he saying that this young male coroner… was her?

She had dressed up as a man and conducted an autopsy and investigation in another place before?

Song Caitang clutched her chest. She felt a throbbing pain all of a sudden and her heart was beating very fast.

Wei He’an had said those words very softly, but Wen Yuansi was too close and he must have overheard it. He was a very quick thinking person, and his years of handling cases had heightened his senses and the ability to come up with conjectures. It didn’t take long for him to figure it out.

He stared at Song Caitang with an extremely conflicted look in his eyes.

All this time, he had felt that there was a part of Song Caitang’s heart that he simply couldn’t get to. It was hidden deep inside her and she didn’t let anyone near it. He decided to be gentlemanly, to carefully respect her privacy, to make sure he didn’t ask about it… But it turned out that he was the only one being so polite about it. There were others who knew about this part of her already.

Others like Wei He’an. Like Zhao Zhi.

He had sensed something strange in the air when he arrived in Bianliang. He had only arrived a few months later, yet he felt like he was late by an entire lifetime. Was this the reason?

“Song—”

Before he could utter a second word, Zhao Zhi had already marched over and stood between them. He looked at Song Caitang and said, “We’re all done here, so let’s go.”

Song Caitang smiled. “Okay.”

The words that Wen Yuansi hadn’t managed to say dissolved into a sigh that faded with the wind.

Qi Yan appeared at this juncture with a cheerful and energetic skip in his step. “I’m done too! We’ve gathered a lot of information today, so I have a feeling we’ll be able to get to the truth really soon!”