Chapter 81: Unexpected Discovery (1)

It was noon, and the street downstairs was bustling with noise and excitement, but he was the easiest to recognize. A white robe in the prosperous downtown area was particularly eye-catching. Walking slowly, all the clamor seemed unable to get near him.

Following Zhuo Qing's gaze, Lou Xiyan could easily spot Su Mufeng's tall and slender figure.

"Are you familiar with him?" Zhuo Qing stared at Su Mufeng downstairs and asked softly.

Shaking his head gently, Lou Xiyan also watched the man walking leisurely through the crowd downstairs and replied indifferently, "I am an old acquaintance of the Su family head, Master Su. When I was young, he also taught me the zither. A performance of 'Feng Huan Chao' at the celebration six years ago made him famous throughout the world, and many people admired him and sought to be his apprentice. But he never accepts apprentices; he generally only gives a few pointers, never teaches more than ten lessons in one family, and never gives pointers to the same person twice. I spent quite a lot of effort to invite him to teach Xiwu this time."

"So, he has taught many, many people?" No wonder he left after giving Xiwu only four lessons. So-called capable people and strange scholars all seemed to have some quirks.

"In the capital, all those who can be considered noble families have sent him invitations. I guess about half of the young masters and young ladies of noble families should be considered his students." Looking at Zhuo Qing's enthusiastic appearance, Lou Xiyan smiled low: "Why are you so interested in him?"

Resting her chin on her hand and looking back at Lou Xiyan frankly, Zhuo Qing sighed low: "He gives people a very strange and attractive feeling." A tranquil and distant temperament should be refreshing, but it was mixed with a faint cold arrogance. The pressure he gave people was very different from ordinary people; she couldn't explain what the feeling was.

Lou Xiyan smiled. Su Mufeng was indeed a strange person.

The afternoon, which was originally filled with a bit of summer restlessness amidst the clamor, was stirred up by screams and frantic hoofbeats.

"The horses are spooked! Get out of the way, get out of the way!"

Following the frantic roars from the carriage that came from far to near, two galloping horses pulling a carriage rushed toward the downtown area, crashing into small vendors along the road from time to time. People walking on the road fled in all directions, and even if they could avoid the carriage in time, they were tripped by things on the side of the road and stumbled.

"Get out of the way!"

Panicked roars mixed with the screams of pedestrians, and the carriage continued to rush over. Opposite Lengyue Restaurant was a row of small shops selling accessories, and the shops were all gathered with many people, most of whom were women. If the carriage rushed over, many people would definitely not be able to avoid it!

Lou Xiyan's eyes darkened, and he called out in a low voice: "Mo Bai!"

Just as his words fell, an extremely fast figure made a few leaps and bounds, rushing toward the carriage that was close at hand, landing lightly on the horse's back. Mo Bai grabbed the reins of the two horses and pulled back with force, but the spooked horses in the gallop were like crazy. After a few shrill neighs, they rushed toward the crowd even more crazily. A strange light flashed in Mo Bai's eyes, and his figure leaped violently, a heavy and ruthless iron fist slamming toward the horses' heads. The two spooked horses didn't even have a chance to neigh, the tall horses falling to the ground with a bang, and the carriage finally stopped.

Zhuo Qing and Lou Xiyan also breathed a long sigh of relief at the same time, looked at each other, and walked downstairs together to check.

Although the carriage had stopped, the frantic gallop along the way had caused many people to be injured. An old man over sixty years old was scared and fell heavily to the ground the moment the carriage stopped.

Su Mufeng was also standing not far from where the carriage stopped. The commotion just now also made him have lingering fears, but the expression on his face was already indifferent, and he didn't look very panicked. The old man fell to the ground, and many people had already gathered around. Su Mufeng squatted down beside the old man and asked in a low voice: "Old man, are you alright?"

Sitting on the ground holding his foot, the old man replied painfully: "My foot hurts so much."

Staring at the old man's leg, the usually indifferent Su Mufeng was stunned, but he didn't make any further moves. At this time, Zhuo Qing and Lou Xiyan had also entered the crowd. Seeing Su Mufeng squatting blankly beside the old man, Lou Xiyan called out in a low voice: "Young Master Su."

Su Mufeng recovered his senses, stood up and took a step back, then nodded and replied: "Miss Qing, Prime Minister Lou."

The old man's face was full of pain. Zhuo Qing squatted down beside him and said softly: "Old man, let me see your wound."

The old man nodded, and Zhuo Qing carefully lifted his injured right leg, gently lifting his trouser leg. A wisp of bright red blood had flowed down his calf to his ankle. Zhuo Qing carefully checked his leg injury, and after a while, she comforted him softly: "Old man, your foot is fine, but don't move around." Fortunately, the impact on the ground wasn't too strong, only causing abrasions and a slight calf fracture.

"Good." The old man nodded repeatedly.

"Someone, send the injured people to the nearest medical clinic." This carriage galloped all the way, and there were more than just this one old man injured. Qiongyue had long had laws that horses were not allowed to enter the downtown area, and horses were not allowed to gallop in the capital. If it hadn't been stopped in time today, who knew how many people would have been injured! Lou Xiyan said coldly: "Mo Bai, catch the person driving the carriage, send him to the yamen, and let the government investigate and deal with it strictly!"

"Yes."

The people on both sides of the road praised loudly, and they also felt admiration for this Qiongyue Prime Minister who had a very good reputation but was extremely low-key.

Submerged in the crowd, two figures, one tall and one short, quietly withdrew from the crowd and walked into the alley next to them. The boy in cloth clothes slowly stopped, and the light flew in his eyes, which looked incomparably bright and pure. His slightly raised voice carried a few traces of playfulness and interest, and he smiled low: "Is that the legendary Lou Xiyan?"

The tall man behind him bowed respectfully and replied: "Exactly."

The boy nodded slowly, the smile at the corner of his mouth grew stronger. It seemed that the Emperor hadn't lied to him. This Qiongyue seemed quite interesting.

On this side, Lou Xiyan and Zhuo Qing had just finished dealing with the old man's injury when a young man's low call suddenly came from behind: "Young Master! Young Master!"

Zhuo Qing turned her head and saw Su Mufeng's face pale, his head full of cold sweat, his breathing tight and slow, his eyes half-closed as he sat on the ground. He looked even more miserable than the old man just now. Zhuo Qing walked to his side and asked in a low voice: "Young Master Su, are you alright?"

Su Mufeng not only didn't answer her, but closed his eyes and directly—fainted!

"Young Master Su?!" Zhuo Qing was stunned, grabbed his wrist with one hand to check his pulse, and flipped his eyelids with the other. His pulse was weak and his breathing was shallow. It seemed he had really fainted.

He was fine just now, and the horses didn't hit him, so he shouldn't be injured, right? Could it be that he had some sudden illness?

Lou Xiyan had also come to her side. Seeing Su Mufeng's unconscious appearance, he sighed: "Let's send him to the medical clinic first."

The young man dressed as a servant who had been supporting Su Mufeng, although full of anxiety, said with certainty: "No need, let the Young Master rest for a while and he will be fine."

Zhuo Qing asked: "Does Young Master Su always have some old illness?"

"Young Master he..." The man paused for a while before replying stutteringly: "Young Master he is afraid of blood."

Afraid of blood? What kind of illness was this, and there was no blood just now? Lou Xiyan was a little stunned, but Zhuo Qing already understood. It turned out that Su Mufeng had blood phobia, so there was really no need to go to the hospital. Zhuo Qing said to the guards beside her: "Help the Young Master to Lengyue Restaurant to sit for a while."

A group of people helped Su Mufeng to a private room in Lengyue Restaurant and lay him on the bench. The young man knelt halfway in front of the bench, carefully wiping his cold sweat. Zhuo Qing sat on the bench on the other side and asked softly: "Does your Young Master always faint at the sight of blood?"

The man nodded and sighed: "Mm, everyone in the Su family knows that the Young Master cannot see blood. He has fainted at the sight of blood since he was a child! The doctor has seen it, but it hasn't gotten better."

Blood phobia is a non-organic disease and a type of phobia. Seeing an ordinary doctor is definitely useless! But just a little blood from the foot was enough to make him faint; Su Mufeng's illness was quite serious!

"Young Master, you're awake!" After a long while, Su Mufeng finally opened his eyes slowly, his face still as pale as paper, cold sweat dripping. With the help of the man, he barely sat up straight.

Handing the tea to the young man, Lou Xiyan said softly: "Young Master Su, drink some hot tea."

The young man carefully handed the hot tea to Su Mufeng's lips. Su Mufeng reached out to take the teacup, his hand still trembling slightly. After sitting for a while, he slowly recovered, and his lips had some color. Putting down the teacup, Su Mufeng said in a low voice: "Thank you both, I've made you laugh."

Zhuo Qing shrugged and smiled: "Blood phobia is a common illness, Young Master Su doesn't need to worry too much." It was just a bit ridiculous for a big man to faint at the sight of blood, but precisely because of this, he, who was indifferent and arrogant, seemed to be closer to ordinary people.

His face was a little embarrassed. Su Mufeng stood up uncomfortably and said: "I feel much better. I won't disturb you two, I'll take my leave."

Lou Xiyan didn't stop him and replied with a smile: "Please, Young Master Su."

Su Mufeng turned and left. Zhuo Qing and Lou Xiyan looked at each other and smiled.

Yingtian Prefecture Yamen Study

Dan Yulan was opening the case files. Lv Jin stood at the door and said in a low voice: "Minister, Prime Minister Lou and Madam have arrived."

Raising his head, Dan Yulan looked at the setting sun in the west and replied: "Invite them in quickly." He thought Qing Ling wouldn't come today, but he didn't expect her to come with the Prime Minister.

"Yes." Lv Jin went out for a while and led Lou Xiyan and Zhuo Qing in, followed by Cheng Hang, who had just returned from investigating the case. He seemed very curious about Zhuo Qing. As soon as he heard she was coming, he rushed over.

Dan Yulan stood up to welcome them and cupped his hands: "Greetings, Prime Minister Lou, Madam."

Lou Xiyan replied with a smile: "Minister Dan, no need for formalities. The Emperor hopes you can solve the case as soon as possible and ordered me to assist you in closing the case early."

Dan Yulan's expression remained as usual, and he just replied indifferently: "Thank you, Prime Minister Lou."

"Minister Dan is too polite." Lou Xiyan also responded habitually.

Zhuo Qing rolled her eyes. In officialdom, every time they met, they had to exchange such polite greetings! Waving her hand, Zhuo Qing interrupted their conversation impatiently: "Alright, don't say so many polite words, let's get straight to the point! It's been almost a month since the first victim died, have you found any clues?"

Lv Jin and Cheng Hang looked at each other, both pursing their lips tightly, not daring to laugh out loud. This Madam was really quick-spoken and did things her own way. But who were Dan Yulan and Lou Xiyan? Facing Zhuo Qing's impatience, neither of them showed any embarrassment. Dan Yulan's expression remained as usual, and he said to Cheng Hang, who was laughing secretly with his head down: "Cheng Hang, you tell her."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 82 =====