Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Seeing Sister Fu storm over with an imposing air, hand raised as if she were about to scold someone, Ren Fengjue stepped in front of her and said coldly, “Manager, are you trying to obstruct an official investigation?”

Swept by his icy gaze, Sister Fu seemed to abruptly come back to her senses. She hurriedly stepped back and dropped to her knees.

“I would never dare. I only…”

She seemed rather vexed with herself as well. After stammering for a long while, she finally came up with an excuse. “I was only afraid the young lady might misspeak and end up delaying Your Excellency’s investigation.”

Ren Fengjue continued coldly, “Miss Simeng said just now that several incidents of assault and injury have occurred in the building recently. Is that true?”

Sister Fu’s expression turned ugly. She clearly did not want word of these matters getting out, and she tried once more to twist the facts. “It was only a few quarrels between the girls. Where there are many women, how could there not be disputes?”

Her words rang distinctly hollow.

In truth, more than one assault had taken place recently. Even Chunhua, the courtesan queen who had always been known for her excellent temper, had actually struck someone yesterday.

And the person she struck was an honored guest.

One had to know that ever since Chunhua had entered Hongxiu Pavilion, not only had she been gentle by nature, she was also exceptionally skilled at serving others. Officials and nobles had always fought to request her by name.

Yet last night, in her own room, she had injured Young Master Wu, the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue.

At the time, when Young Master Wu came out of the room, his face had been scratched open by fingernails.

If the proprietor of the establishment had not personally come forward to apologize, offered many valuable gifts, and personally selected two Flower Maiden attendants to serve him, Young Master Wu likely would not have let the matter go so easily.

But the strangest part was that after Chunhua injured him, she could not explain why she had done it either. It was as if she had been possessed.

Ren Fengjue knew Sister Fu had not told the truth, so he said, “Since such a bizarre murder has occurred here, before the matter is thoroughly investigated, everyone in the building must first cooperate with the Ministry of Justice’s investigation.”

“If the manager has no objections, then come back to the yamen with me now. We can take our time talking there.”

Sister Fu was badly frightened by this and hurriedly said, “If Your Excellency has any instructions, please give them here. I will certainly cooperate!”

Ren Fengjue nodded in understanding, then took a bead from inside his robe and held it out before her. He instructed, “Look carefully at this bead.”

“From now on, order the servants to thoroughly search every room and see whether this item appears anywhere.”

Sister Fu agreed at once.

Ren Fengjue added, “Pay special attention to the Flower Maiden who have struck others over the past few days. Do you understand?”

Although Sister Fu did not understand the twists and turns behind it, she still agreed readily.

“Rest assured, Your Excellency. I will make sure they search carefully!”

–

When Ren Fengjue and Xia Ximo walked out of Hongxiu Pavilion side by side, Tianqing was still waiting anxiously by the entrance, peering around.

Seeing the two of them come over together, her eyes first lit up, then she became extremely awkward.

She did not know what Miss Xia, whose face was so cold and detached at the moment, was thinking.

Nor did she know whether Miss Xia would be angry with the Young Marquis…

“You go back on your own.”

Xia Ximo gave Tianqing an instruction, her tone as calm as usual.

Tianqing, however, was still a little uneasy. She quietly glanced at Young Marquis Ren, then said in a low voice, “My lord, may I have a word with you in private?”

Ren Fengjue was somewhat surprised. Thinking she had something to tell him, he nodded.

Who would have thought that after Tianqing pulled him aside, she would ask in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, “Was Miss Xia not angry just now?”

Ren Fengjue was completely baffled. “Why would she be angry?”

Tianqing’s almond-shaped eyes widened. “You… went into a place like this, and she wasn’t angry?”
“…”

Ren Fengjue resisted the urge to smack her on the head and said irritably, “I came here to investigate a case. What sort of person do you take me for?”

Tianqing suddenly understood, and at last felt relieved. Then she added, “In that case, Young Master, you should coax Miss Xia a little more. I can tell she still cares about you very much…”

Those words sent a ripple through Lord Ren’s heart.

All at once, he remembered the first thing Xia Ximo had said to him earlier in Ruyan’s room.

It was true that she had followed him in only because she had seen him.

If that could be considered a kind of “caring”…

Ren Fengjue abruptly flicked his sleeve, looking faintly annoyed. “If you don’t understand, don’t run your mouth.”

Tianqing stuck out her tongue and quietly lowered her head.

Only when Xia Ximo’s slightly impatient voice sounded from behind them did the two stop. “Can we go now?”

“Coming.”

Ren Fengjue cast Tianqing another glance before turning to leave.

He asked Xia Ximo, “Will you still ride in my carriage?”

“Mm.”

Xia Ximo answered and walked straight toward Lord Ren’s carriage.

The servant Axia had even prepared the footstool early and was waiting for her, as if she were the true owner of the carriage.

Ren Fengjue followed behind and watched Xia Ximo climb in, then swept Axia with an unreadable glance.

“You don’t need to accompany us on this ride.”

Axia was startled and froze in surprise. “What do you mean, Young Master?”

Ren Fengjue gestured for him to come closer, then quietly gave him a few instructions.

After listening, Axia was even more baffled, but he did not dare object and silently withdrew.

Lord Ren personally drove the carriage out through the west city gate. Following what Simeng had said, they traveled two li south, and sure enough, there was a bridge.

Once they crossed the bridge, the view opened up, and they immediately saw an abandoned Temple standing by the roadside.

Ren Fengjue had once heard others mention that this Temple had been the predecessor of Qingping Temple. Because of an unexplained collapse, its main Buddha hall had been destroyed, and several sweeping Novice Monk had died as well.

At the time, the abbot believed it was the Buddha’s punishment, so he moved the Temple to Qingping Mountain and had the Buddha statue regilded.

Though the new Temple was built high and far away, its incense offerings flourished from then on. Now, several decades later, it had become the foremost Buddhist Temple in Shangjing.

As for the old little Temple, it had gradually fallen into ruin.

“We’re here, Miss Xia.”

The two had not spoken the entire way. Xia Ximo had not asked why Lord Ren had sent Axia away and driven the carriage himself.

Only now, upon hearing his voice, did she lift the carriage curtain, though she did not get down.

Ren Fengjue realized what she meant and hurriedly set the footstool in place, then helped her down.

The two entered the Temple side by side. The first thing that came into view was a courtyard overgrown with weeds. The main hall had already collapsed beyond recognition, and only the side halls on either side could barely shelter people.

When they went inside, they did indeed see a fair amount of plant ash piled on the ground. From the look of it, someone had recently come here to take shelter from the rain or rest.

The two looked around, but other than that, nothing seemed unusual.

Ren Fengjue asked, “Did you find anything?”

Xia Ximo did not answer. Instead, she shook the Soul-Ferrying Lantern in her hand.

Inside the lantern, Lantern Spirit Wuyou trembled. “My dear lady, don’t ask me. I can’t even spare the attention to be scared…”

“Useless.”

“…”

Ren Fengjue glanced at her, then at the lantern in her hand. Though he did not know whom she had been speaking to, he still chose not to ask.

But after they had taken only a few steps, Xia Ximo spoke first.

“Do you think that woman named Simeng is trustworthy?”

Ren Fengjue raised his brows in surprise. “You mean you don’t believe her, Miss Xia?”

No sooner had he spoken than a gust of cold, eerie wind swept past, rattling the broken window lattice with a rustling sound.