Chapter 215
Chapter 215
Yan Zhengchu worked through the entire night and finally opened the box at daybreak.
Yet it contained only several letters.
When Ren Fengjue opened them, he found only a single name written on each letter, with no other contents. There was no indication where they had come from, leaving everyone baffled.
After opening them all, he found only one familiar name.
The Minister of Works, Meng Zhiyuan.
He was the good official who had seemingly burned himself to death in his study and was mistakenly believed to have committed suicide out of guilt, when in truth he had met a violent death.
His killer was not human…
Ren Fengjue’s heart jolted. He vaguely felt that he had grasped a clue, yet he could not connect all the pieces.
Meng Zhiyuan’s death had been suspicious, but one point was essentially certain.
His death had to be connected to the grain transport map.
Someone at court had not wanted the map to reach the Emperor. That was why Meng Zhiyuan had been killed and framed.
Could that person have been Zhong Yi?
But Zhong Yi had spent years in the capital at the Ministry of Justice, ultimately serving as its minister. What use would such a map have been to him?
After considering the matter, Ren Fengjue copied down every name from the letters. He planned to contact Yaoguang of the Shadow Guard and have her investigate them secretly.
“Where is Yu Lang?”
It was already late morning, yet Vice Minister Yu was nowhere to be seen.
Axia replied, “I went to call him before breakfast. I assumed he slept too late last night and had not yet risen.”
Ren Fengjue frowned and went directly to Yu Lang’s door, where he knocked.
Even after a long while, no one answered from inside.
Axia was puzzled. “Could he still be asleep?”
Sensing something was wrong, Ren Fengjue immediately pushed the door open.
The moment it opened, a fragrant breeze rushed toward them.
Ren Fengjue instinctively covered his nose and mouth. Looking inside, he saw Yu Lang lying fully dressed on the bed. He had not even removed his shoes and socks, yet he slept soundly.
Axia grew even more puzzled.
“Why does Young Master Yu’s room smell of a woman’s face powder?”
And the fragrance was so strong…
Ren Fengjue was surprised as well. He knew Yu Lang well. Yu Lang was always joking and teasing beautiful women.
In truth, however, he was very disciplined.
He would never behave recklessly…
Ren Fengjue asked Axia to open the doors and windows so the scent of powder could disperse.
Only then did he approach the bed and call Yu Lang twice.
To his surprise, Vice Minister Yu appeared not to hear him. Yu Lang even smacked his lips and rolled over.
Ren Fengjue’s sharp eyes immediately noticed something clenched tightly in Yu Lang’s right hand. It looked like an embroidered sachet.
Its vivid colors clearly marked it as a woman’s possession.
Had a woman visited him last night?
At the thought, Ren Fengjue’s expression grew complicated. Unsure what to make of it, he reached out and shook Yu Lang firmly.
“Yu Lang? Wake up!”
Even after being shaken several times, Yu Lang showed no sign of waking.
Axia came over and called him several times as well, but still could not rouse him.
Only then did the two realize something was wrong.
Ren Fengjue immediately instructed Axia, “Go and summon Daoist Yan.”
Yan Zhengchu had slept for only about two hours and could barely open his eyes.
Only after hearing that something had happened to Yu Lang did he force himself to hurry over.
After examining Yu Lang, his expression darkened.
“I knew I sensed something wrong last night…”
Ren Fengjue quickly asked, “What happened to Yu Lang?”
Yan Zhengchu pointed at the object in Yu Lang’s hand. “The problem likely lies with that sachet.”
The sachet was indeed strange, and no one knew where it had come from.
“I have never seen that sachet on Yu Lang before…”
Yan Zhengchu asked, “Did anything unusual happen while you were out last night?”
Ren Fengjue considered the question. “We did encounter a nighttime funeral procession. Other than that, nothing.”
“Do you know who died?”
“The stall owner said it was a young woman who died of illness.”
“She likely did not die of illness.” Alarm immediately entered Yan Zhengchu’s voice. “It appears Young Master Yu has become entangled with a Vengeful Spirit.”
Ren Fengjue glanced at Yu Lang on the bed. “Is there any way to save him first?”
Yan Zhengchu looked troubled. “This sachet must have belonged to the Vengeful Spirit before her death. Young Master Yu is unconscious and refuses to release it. I fear the Vengeful Spirit has already lured away his spiritual consciousness.
“If I act by force and subdue the Vengeful Spirit, Young Master Yu may be harmed as well.
“All I can do for now is protect him with talismans. But as the saying goes, the one who tied the bell must untie it. To resolve this completely, we must discover the cause through the Vengeful Spirit…”
Ren Fengjue immediately understood. “We must dispel the Vengeful Spirit’s resentment?”
“Correct,” Yan Zhengchu said. “She would not have become a Vengeful Spirit for no reason. She must have suffered some injustice and met a violent death.”
After a moment’s silence, Ren Fengjue instructed Axia, “Search the residence and see whether Zhong Dingyan is here.”
Before long, Zhong Dingyan hurried over.
After hearing what had happened to Yu Lang, he too grew anxious. “If there is anything I can do to help, I will not refuse.”
Ren Fengjue gave him a general account of what the stall owner had said about Miss Wen the previous night.
Then he analyzed, “The rumors may not be accurate, but in my view, Miss Wen did not simply die of illness.
“So I must trouble you to send several reliable people to learn the exact circumstances.”
Without another word, Zhong Dingyan summoned his trusted servants and immediately gave them instructions.
Meanwhile, Yan Zhengchu drew a spirit-protection talisman and placed it on Yu Lang’s forehead, then arranged a Soul-locking Array around him.
After considering the matter repeatedly, Yan Zhengchu quietly called Ren Fengjue aside. “Young Marquis, there is one other method, but we may need Miss Xia’s help.”
Ren Fengjue froze slightly.
Watching his expression, Yan Zhengchu probed cautiously, “Given your intelligence, Young Marquis, you must already have guessed who rescued Young Master Zhong’s soul that day, correct?”
Hearing this, Ren Fengjue no longer intended to conceal the truth.
“I already know Miss Xia’s identity.”
Yan Zhengchu nodded. “This concerns Young Master Yu’s safety. Miss Xia will not stand aside.”
Ren Fengjue understood and was about to go find her himself.
But the moment he stepped out, he saw a figure approaching from the distant covered walkway.
It was Xia Ximo.
She walked calmly up to Ren Fengjue and asked directly, “Has something happened to Yu Lang?”
Ren Fengjue answered truthfully, “I was just coming to ask for Miss Xia’s help…”
Xia Ximo said nothing more and was about to enter, but he could not help reaching out and lightly catching her arm.
“Will you… be in any danger?”
Xia Ximo lowered her eyes to his hand and slowly answered, “No.”