Chapter 92

Chapter 92

The Crown Prince’s study was called Yongqing.

At the moment, only one inner attendant stood waiting outside the door.

Before Ren Fengjue entered, he first gave Xia Ximo behind him a slight nod, then stepped into the study.

Yet when he looked inside, his footsteps faltered almost imperceptibly.

Crown Prince Zhao Li, dressed in informal robes, was seated at the desk with two concubines in his arms.

Fine wine, fruit, and pastries were spread before him.

He made no attempt to hide it at all, drinking and amusing himself in the study in broad daylight.

“The Young Marquis is here?”

Hearing footsteps, Zhao Li called out with a tipsy drawl, “Come, sit…”

Then he gestured to the concubine on his right. “You. Go pour the Young Marquis a cup as well.”

The concubine smiled coquettishly and was about to come forward.

Ren Fengjue immediately raised a hand. “No need.”

Faced with such deliberate contempt and neglect, his expression remained unchanged. He merely said in an even tone, “I did not expect Your Highness to be in such high spirits even during the day.”

Zhao Li paid no mind to the implication in his words. He drank from the concubine’s hand, then asked lazily, “The Young Marquis said the Fu Tower Case has made progress. What have you found?”

Ren Fengjue cupped his hands in salute, standing neither humble nor overbearing. “I have discovered that this case is connected to the former dynasty.”

At the words “former dynasty,” Zhao Li froze as expected.

The atmosphere around them froze as well.

“The former dynasty?”

An inexplicable chill entered the Crown Prince’s voice. “Ren Fengjue, do you know what you’re saying?”

Ren Fengjue, however, smiled faintly. “It seems Your Highness… is not drunk after all.”

Realizing that Ren Fengjue had been deliberately testing him, Zhao Li’s long, narrow eyes immediately half narrowed. Then his tone shifted.

“The Young Marquis certainly knows how to jest. If I were drunk, I would not have summoned you here.”

“I only said just now that you should drink with me because I felt that… given the friendship between us, there is no need for ceremony.”

With that, he waved to the side, and the two concubines promptly left the study.

While Ren Fengjue observed his expression without a trace, he took the opportunity to sit down and said, “Since I promised last night that I would give Your Highness an explanation, then anything that must be reported impartially cannot be glossed over.”

“The reason I say it is connected to the former dynasty is because… yesterday, I heard an anecdote from those days while out in the city.”

“Oh?”

Zhao Li was clearly studying him as well. “Let’s hear it.”

“It is said that the Former Dynasty Emperor had nine sons…”

Ren Fengjue spoke in an unhurried manner, as though telling a story. “To fight for the position of heir apparent, the princes stirred up no small amount of turmoil at court.”

“Among them, the Ninth Prince was deeply favored by the emperor. Though the youngest son, he was far more strategic and far-sighted than several of his elder brothers.”

“However, throughout history, the position of heir apparent has always given priority to the Eldest Prince. If the eldest son is incompetent…”

At the words “eldest son is incompetent,” the muscles at the corners of Zhao Li’s mouth gave a faint, visible twitch.

A cold light flashed through those long, narrow eyes.

Like a blade in a winter night.

Ren Fengjue took it all in without showing a thing, then continued, deliberately emphasizing his words. “If the Eldest Prince was incompetent, only then would the emperor choose another candidate from among the other princes…”

“Sensing the danger, the Eldest Prince feared the position of heir apparent would fall into one of his brothers’ hands, so he did not hesitate to scheme in secret and harm his own flesh and blood.”

“His calculations were excellent. He believed that as long as his younger brothers no longer posed a threat, he would be able to sit firmly in the position of heir apparent.”

“Who could have known that a sudden palace coup would throw the court and the world beyond into unrest? Not long after, even the dynasty itself changed hands.”
“But the strange thing is, this Eldest Prince who butchered his own brothers suddenly vanished as if he had evaporated from the face of the earth!”

“Some say he fled the capital long ago, changed his name, and lived out his days as an ordinary man.”

“Others say he actually died during that palace upheaval, and the emperor secretly disposed of his body.”

“And the place where his bones were buried is somewhere around Fu Tower!”

At this point, Zhao Li’s expression shifted uncertainly between light and dark. After a moment, he asked in a low voice, “What connection could such groundless rumors possibly have to Fu Tower?”

“Of course there is a connection.”

Ren Fengjue’s tone cooled as well. “Because just last night, I did indeed discover a male skeleton in a secret chamber beneath Fu Tower.”

“Perhaps the bones in Tongtian Pavilion at Fu Tower were victims of the ghost of that very skeleton?”

Zhao Li shot to his feet, his gaze icy, his voice even colder. “Young Marquis Ren, the more you speak, the more absurd you sound!”

“You cannot find the murderer, so now you claim a ghost is behind it?”

Ren Fengjue’s lips curved, and he suddenly gave a faint smile. “As I said earlier, these are merely bits of hearsay and idle tales. Most likely nonsense made up by storytellers in teahouses. They naturally cannot be trusted.”

“However-”

His expression turned solemn. His tone remained casual, yet there was a pressure beneath it. “The bones inside Fu Tower are very real. And rumor has long spread through the capital that His Highness the Crown Prince is the true master behind Fu Tower. Does Your Highness not intend to explain this?”

“A mere rumor. If the Young Marquis wishes to investigate the owner behind Fu Tower, can that possibly be difficult?”

“When the tower was first built, there must have been documents filed with the Ministry of Works. Whose name was written on them will be clear with a single inquiry.”

Zhao Li spoke as though it were only natural, his face full of arrogance. Yet the fingers of his right hand tapped lightly against the tabletop, revealing the disorder in his thoughts.

“As for my connection with Fu Tower, it is hardly complicated.”

“After falling ill a year ago, I was left with an old affliction. Every so often, I suffer from headaches.”

“It just so happened that Manager Bai of Fu Tower was skilled in a technique specifically for treating headaches, so I went to Tongtian Pavilion twice.”

“As for sending you the tokens, I merely thought the tower elegant and refined, and its wine especially sweet, so I did Manager Bai a favor in passing. Surely that is not enough to cast suspicion on me?”

With that explanation, he had cleared himself rather neatly.

Ren Fengjue did not argue. He only said, “The Ministry of Works has already been investigated. The person who built the tower back then was a merchant from out of town, and he died a year ago.”

“Manager Bai disappeared last night. Since the Crown Prince knows nothing of this matter, it seems the case can only be solved once she is found.”

–

After Ren Fengjue entered the study to meet the Crown Prince, Steward Wang of the Eastern Palace took excellent care of the “page” who had accompanied him, leading her directly to a side room to rest.

However, by the time the attendant returned after pouring the tea, there was no one left in the room.

From the moment Xia Ximo entered the Eastern Palace, she sensed a place thick with yin energy.

Guided by Lantern Spirit Wuyou, she arrived at the entrance of a place called Qianqiu Garden.

Looking in from outside, she saw dense flowers and trees within the garden. In the depths of winter, they gave off a stark, chilling air.

Before she had even entered, Wuyou could not help drifting out.

“The feeling inside is a lot like that secret chamber from last night. Don’t tell me all those Vengeful Ghosts ran here?”

As Wuyou spoke, it hurriedly floated onto her shoulder and peered around in every direction.

“You have to protect me, all right? I heard Vengeful Ghosts eat Yin Souls.”

“If you’re scared, hide in the lamp.”

Xia Ximo gave the cold order, then walked straight inside.