Chapter 329: Secretly Growing Feelings (3)

Ming Jian walked closer and realized it was the female official from Qingfeng Hall—Fuling. Seeing her looking as if she were thinking about something, Ming Jian originally didn't want to disturb her, but if she continued walking in such a daze, she was going to trip over the sharp flower shears by the side of the road. Ming Jian thought for a moment and still called out to remind her: "Miss Fuling, be careful."

A clear male voice sounded beside her. Fuling was stunned for a moment. She looked up and saw a face that was thirty percent similar to the person she was thinking about, causing Fuling to be startled and take a step back.

Clearly, he had frightened her. Ming Jian crouched down, picked up the shears from the ground, placed them by the roots of the flowers, and smiled. "Don't think about things while walking; it won't be good if you hurt your feet."

It was one thing not to look where she was going, but just now he had kindly reminded her, and she had been so rude. Fuling felt very embarrassed and hurriedly bowed. "Thank you, Commander Ming."

Ming Jian smiled lightly. "Miss Fuling, no need for formalities."

Ming Jian was in a hurry to enter the palace and hadn't changed into his official uniform. Dressed in casual clothes, he had a white jade waist pendant hanging from his belt. Fuling felt it looked very familiar and couldn't help but take a few extra looks.

Fuling didn't rise after bowing. Ming Jian felt a bit strange. Looking closely, he saw her staring at the hem of his garment and asked curiously, "What is it?"

"This jade pendant..." It looked just like the one Ming Ze had. The difference was that Ming Ze's was slightly smaller, oval-shaped, and tied only with a red string. The one Ming Jian wore at his waist was more circular, tied with a fine ink-green silk knot, making the jade pendant look white and lustrous.

"Have you seen it?"

"I..." Meeting Ming Jian's surprised gaze, Fuling realized she had been indiscreet. Saying she hadn't seen it now would only make people more suspicious. Fuling calmed her mind, smiled slightly, and replied, "It's all my fault for not paying attention while walking. Two days ago in Qingfeng Hall, I accidentally bumped into Guard Ming, and a jade pendant fell out of his bosom that looked very much like yours. I don't know if it broke. Seeing you wearing one today, I was just curious and took a few extra looks."

Fuling tried to sound as casual as possible, fearing Ming Jian would see through her. She didn't expect the usually calm Commander Ming to stare at her very nervously and ask urgently, "Are you saying that Ming Ze also keeps this jade pendant with him?"

Fuling didn't know why Ming Jian had such an expression, but she could only reply, "Yes."

As soon as Fuling finished speaking, Ming Jian suddenly laughed heartily, looking very pleased. Fuling wanted to know the origin of that jade pendant; it was probably impossible from Ming Ze. Clearly, Ming Jian knew, so she might as well ask. "I don't know if Guard Ming's jade pendant broke yesterday. Where can I buy one like yours? If it really broke, I can buy one to apologize to him."

Ming Jian was in a great mood. He smiled, shook his head, and explained, "When the men of the Ming family reach adulthood, the head of the family gives them a jade pendant. All the jade pendants come from the same piece of jade. This probably cannot be bought." That kid Ming Ze, although he refused to admit it on the surface, still cared about this family in his heart.

So it wasn't a gift from someone else... Fuling felt a sense of relief she couldn't explain. Thinking of the characters on the back of the jade pendant, Fuling asked curiously, "Is there a special meaning to the characters carved on the back of the jade pendant?"

"On the back of the jade pendant are our respective 'courtesy names'."

"No wonder that jade pendant of his had... Qi..." It was a pity she hadn't seen the character after it. Fuling deliberately stopped halfway, and Ming Jian indeed readily continued: "Qiyu."

How could Ming Jian not see that Fuling was fishing for information? His younger brother had quite a bit of charm; he had only been at Qingfeng Hall for a few days and had already won the favor of a beauty. Fuling had been in the palace for many years, and her conduct and character were quite good. Since she was interested in Ming Ze, Ming Jian told her generously.

"Qiyu..." Fuling whispered the two characters. Under Ming Jian's smiling gaze, Fuling felt uncomfortable all over. She coughed lightly and smiled. "Such a precious jade pendant really can't be bought. I hope it didn't break. Commander Ming must have things to attend to, so I won't disturb you further."

She really was the type to discard the monk after the prayer was finished. Ming Jian laughed but didn't make things difficult for her. "Farewell." After speaking, Ming Jian walked toward the Imperial Study; he indeed had important matters to attend to.

Not until Ming Jian had walked far away did Fuling sigh in annoyance. What was wrong with her today? She was so impatient to know about him. If Ming Jian went home and told him... Fuling smiled bitterly. How embarrassing.

She silently recited the two characters "Qiyu" a few times and suddenly felt they sounded familiar. Had she heard or seen them somewhere before?

It was almost noon. Qingfeng had just finished feeding the child when Fuling returned. Qingfeng glanced at the large bamboo basket in her hand and wondered, "So fast?" The harem wasn't small, and she had to deliver to each palace and hall, which should have taken at least two or three hours, plus a trip to the Cold Palace. Had something gone wrong?

Fearing she would worry, Fuling explained, "The mistresses of each palace were considerate of this servant's hard work and sent people to fetch them, so I was able to return earlier." Fuling handed the empty basket to Ruyi, walked to Qingfeng's side, and said softly, "My lady, come here for a moment."

Qingfeng handed the child to Shen Yao, and the two walked to the flower hall. Fuling took the pouch from her sleeve and handed it to Qingfeng.

Qingfeng took it while asking in a low voice, "What is this?"

Shen Yao was still behind the screen, so Fuling didn't speak clearly, only saying softly, "She asked this servant to give it to you, saying it was a gift for the little prince."

Zhen Zhen? Qingfeng examined the pouch in her hand. The stitches were dense, the thread was exquisite, and the embroidered Qilin was not only lifelike but also possessed an extra touch of spirit. Only Zhen Zhen had such skillful hands. Holding the pouch in her palm, Qingfeng sighed softly, "She is truly thoughtful." It seemed she hadn't sent any decent gift when that little baby was born. By comparison, she hadn't been as thoughtful as Zhen Zhen.

"By the way." Fuling remembered meeting Little Liuzi at the gate of Qingfeng Hall this morning and hurriedly said, "Lady Lou sent word saying she wants to come see you with Miss Qing."

Qingfeng's eyes were full of joy, but then she thought for a moment and replied, "No, let them wait until the child's one-month celebration and come with Lou Xiyan and Su Ling."

"Yes, I will go reply to him later." The mistress must be worried about the Empress making things difficult for her sisters, which is why she wouldn't let them enter the palace alone. Her protectiveness toward her family was truly enviable.

Qingfeng and Fuling had only talked for a while when a clear cry came from the inner chamber. The two looked at each other, and Qingfeng smiled with a mix of indulgence and helplessness. "Why is this little ancestor crying again..."

Qingfeng sounded like she was complaining, but her feet were already moving toward the room. After taking two steps, she stopped and handed the pouch in her hand to Fuling. "Help me keep it safe." After saying this, she hurried to the child's side without stopping. Fuling looked at the pouch in her hand, then at Qingfeng, who was holding the child and smiling softly in the room, and suddenly felt that if life could continue peacefully like this, it wouldn't be bad.

Outside the Imperial Study, Gao Jin looked at the two playing Go leisurely at the table, secretly groaning. When the Emperor and the Prime Minister were playing Go, it was not to be disturbed unless there was an emergency. Yet, before the Prime Minister arrived, the Emperor had specifically instructed that if Commander Ming returned, he was to be reported immediately, leaving him in a dilemma.

Xiao Yu came out of the room after delivering hot tea and, passing by Gao Jin, said softly, "Go in and report." Without waiting for him to speak, he walked toward the side hall.

Xiao Yu told him to report, which meant the Emperor and the Prime Minister's game hadn't reached a critical point. Gao Jin breathed a sigh of relief, walked into the hall, and said in a low voice behind Yan Hongtian, "Emperor, Commander Ming requests an audience."

Sure enough, there was no sign of anger on the Emperor's face; he only said flatly, "Summon him."

Gao Jin bowed and retreated from the hall. Before long, Ming Jian walked into the hall quickly. Seeing the Emperor playing Go with the Prime Minister, he was also stunned. Before he could pay his respects, Yan Hongtian had already asked in a deep voice, "How is the investigation going?"

Ming Jian faintly felt that the Emperor seemed somewhat impatient today. But seeing him holding a black piece, his move steady, it didn't seem so.

With a "clack," the black piece in Yan Hongtian's hand fell heavily, making a clear sound. Ming Jian hurriedly gathered his thoughts, not daring to speculate on the imperial will, and immediately reported what he had found in recent days. "Among the top killers of the Ling Shui Alliance, three remain in the capital—two men and one woman. In the days before the incident, they all appeared in the vicinity of the villa. However, they acted alone and never appeared together. The two men were cautious and almost never left their homes, but the woman often wandered around the city. For the past two days, she has often been active near the residences of several officials of the Ministry of Justice."

Ministry of Justice? Yan Hongtian's dark eyes narrowed slightly, and Lou Xiyan's hand holding a white piece also paused slightly. But these subtle expressions lasted only for an instant, and the two returned to focusing on the game as usual.

The two played a few more rounds before Yan Hongtian seemed to remember that Ming Jian was still standing to the side and replied, "Since they are still in the capital, keep a close watch on them. Don't alert the enemy."

"Yes." Just as Ming Jian was about to leave, Lou Xiyan's characteristic clear and moist voice suddenly sounded low: "The leader of the Ling Shui Alliance, Zhan Guxing, became famous in the martial arts world forty years ago. He should be quite old by now."

The whisper, sounding like a casual remark, made Ming Jian groan inwardly. This Prime Minister was clearly trying to say that the Ling Shui Alliance had always only concerned itself with the martial arts world, but this time it had meddled in court affairs, so the person in charge might have changed, and he was asking him to find out who this person was. Ming Jian sighed in his heart and said loudly, "This subordinate will find out as soon as possible who the Ling Shui Alliance is colluding with in the court, and who is currently in charge of the Ling Shui Alliance."

"You may withdraw." The contrast between Ming Jian's somewhat helpless voice and Lou Xiyan's leisurely expression made Yan Hongtian want to laugh. He coughed lightly to suppress the arc of his lips, but there was a faint smile in his eyes.

"Yes." Ming Jian hurried away; who knew what the seemingly harmless Prime Minister would come up with next.

The room fell silent, seemingly quieter than before. The two each held a piece; Yan Hongtian's black piece had long been placed, but the white piece in Lou Xiyan's hand remained unplaced for a long time.

Yan Hongtian waited for a long time, finally sighing almost inaudibly, and called out loudly, "Gao Jin, summon Dan Yulan."

"Yes."

Lou Xiyan slowly set down the white piece in his hand and finally raised his head, which had been lowered all along. His expression was calm, and even his voice was flat, without a ripple. "Before the matter is fully investigated, are you going to move against him?"

Yan Hongtian threw the black piece in his hand back into the Go box and coldly spat out a few words: "It's been long enough."

Twelve years—he had indeed waited long enough.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 330 =====