Chapter 46

Shangguan Yunfei's lips twitched. "Chen my lord, isn't this inappropriate?"

Chen Mo shrugged. "Ducheng is vast. Without leads, it's like searching for a needle in a sea. Better to sip some wine, listen to a tune, and stroke a thigh…"

"…"

This sounded oddly familiar…

At that moment, Lin Jingzhu said gravely, "Chen my lord, isn't this going too far?"

Shangguan Yunfei's eyes lit up—was Lin the constable finally provoked, ready to properly investigate?

With Lin Jingzhu's abilities, if she could focus fully and cooperate with the Demon Suppression Bureau to track demonic qi, they might actually complete the mission within the deadline!

"I'm a woman—how am I supposed to go to the pleasure quarters?" Lin Jingzhu's expression was displeased.

Chen Mo pinched his chin. "I overlooked that. Then let's drink here… The misty rain, a light sip, a gentle haze—quite charming."

"Then you must punish yourself with three cups first," Lin Jingzhu said.

"Naturally." Chen Mo readily agreed.

?

Shangguan Yunfei's forehead was covered in question marks.

How could these two be even more unreliable than the last?

The deadline is only half a month—now is the time to race every second, yet they still have the leisure to sip wine?

Especially Chen Mo—he's the lead investigator. The Empress herself is watching. If he messes up, he'll bear the primary blame!

"Wait—has Chen my lord already found a clue?"

"Probably. If he weren't confident, how could he be so calm?"

"He's not telling us because this is our first collaboration—we haven't built trust yet…"

Shangguan Yunfei turned to Chen Mo, who sipped slowly, leisurely, as if he cared for nothing—but a flash of sharp brilliance in his eyes revealed he had a plan!

Calm as a still lake, yet harboring thunder within—Chen my lord is truly unfathomable!

Shangguan Yunfei was raging with inner drama, unaware that Chen Mo was simply slacking off.

Solve the case?

No witnesses, no motive—even if you brought in Di Renjie, it'd be useless.

Better to waste no time and finish the Empress's orders… though he'd surely be punished by her in the end…

"Life is like a thong—step forward and you're covered in scandal, step back and you're drowned in shit… surviving in the middle? How hard is that?"

Chen my lord sighed inwardly, drowning his sorrows in wine.

…

The rain intensified; pea-sized droplets slammed against the window frame with sharp "pīpā" sounds.

Lin Jingzhu sat by the window, back against the rain curtain, alcohol rising to her cheeks, painting them a deep crimson like fine rouge.

She glanced at Chen Mo, raised her cup, and drained it in one swallow.

She'd had too much today.

Mostly it was Chen Mo's fault—his face was so pleasing to look at, just gazing at him made the wine go down easier…

Suddenly, a rapid clatter of hooves came from outside.

Tātātā—

She turned to see four riders smashing through the rain, galloping toward them—one was the burly man who'd been beaten earlier.

The other three: two men in purple brocade robes, muscular and imposing; and an old man with white hair and beard, whose very presence caused raindrops to evaporate before touching his skin, the air around him slightly warped.

Behind them followed a black two-horse carriage, bearing no emblem, its curtains tightly drawn, revealing nothing inside.

"The little one got beaten, now the big one's come—looks like we've got more work ahead."

Lin Jingzhu's expression remained calm; she was used to this.

The four halted nearby. The white-haired old man asked, "You were beaten here?"

The burly man nodded. "Yes, right here. The person may have fled, but I remember her face…"

His gaze swept the area, then locked onto a woman at the second-floor window of Yan Yue Pavilion, smiling and raising a cup toward him.

"That's her!"

The man gritted his teeth, eyes bloodshot with hatred.

"Go."

The four dismounted and entered the tavern.

The waiter hurried forward. "What would the gentlemen like to drink—"

"Get lost!"

Pōng!

The burly man kicked the waiter flying—he spat blood, crashing into nearby tables and chairs.

The other diners lowered their heads, silent, afraid of attracting trouble.

Dēngdēngdēng—

The four stormed up the stairs.

The owner crept out, dragging the unconscious waiter behind the counter.

Running a tavern in Ducheng meant sharp eyes—these men were clearly powerful, not someone he could interfere with. Damaged furniture was better than losing his life.

On the second floor, the burly man rushed into the private room—only to be flung backward the moment he stepped inside!

The white-haired old man frowned, reaching out to catch the man steadily.

A clear voice came from within: "Provoking trouble, assaulting others with objects—according to the Da Yuan Code, eighty strokes of the cane… Did you forget the pain already, with your scars still fresh?"

The man shuddered involuntarily.

Those fifty strokes just now left him with no small psychological shadow.

If not for having taken a "Stabilizing Yuan Pill," he'd be struggling even to walk right now…

The white-haired old man gave a cold laugh. "Young and ignorant, not knowing the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth!"

Striding into the private room, he saw two men and one woman seated inside.

A man in black had his back to him, drinking on his own; another, a middle-aged man, was propping his nose bridge with one hand, as if pondering the philosophy of life; and the woman directly opposite, full of heroic bearing, was crossing one leg over the other, a long pitch-black staff propped in her hand.

"Was it you who injured my son?" The white-haired old man looked toward that woman and said in a deep voice.

Lin Jingzhu nodded. "If the one from earlier was your son, then yes, I did hit him."

The white-haired old man's eyes narrowed. "Since you know the Great Yuan Legal Code so well, you should know that assaulting an imperial court official is a grave offense, yes?"

Lin Jingzhu inclined her head. "I know."

"Good. Then come with me."

The white-haired old man flashed his waist badge and said sternly, "I am Chu Zhuo, Centurion of the Tianlin Guard! Committing violence in the street, with ironclad evidence—I now take you into custody to await sentencing!"

Centurion Chu was also nursing a bellyful of fury.

Lately nothing had gone his way. Of his two Squad Leaders under him, one had been thrown into the Imperial Prison, the other had been "turned." He had soldiers but no officers, and among the Ten Bureaus he had already hit rock bottom.

And Chen Mo had been promoted to Centurion, a real threat to his position!

Remembering what Chen Mo had said that day—"A widow sleeps, with no one on top"—Chu Zhuo deeply agreed, and resolved to find himself a powerful patron to cling to.

Coincidentally, at that very moment the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue had taken the initiative and extended him an olive branch.

Chu Zhuo was overjoyed!

The Ministry of Revenue controlled taxes and salaries—it was the imperial court's moneybag!

If he could latch onto this thick thigh, he'd have inexhaustible wealth and glory in the future!

Today he had arranged to meet Young Master Zhou at the teahouse, and he had even specially called his son, who served in the Imperial Guard, to come along, hoping to show his face in front of Young Master Zhou.

After all, at Chu Zhuo's age, his ceiling was right about here; but if Chu Chen could be given a leg up, the future would hold great promise!

And yet this unfilial wretch had nearly been beaten to death on the way here!

"Making me lose all face in front of Young Master Zhou—this isn't over!"

"It's too crowded and full of prying eyes here. If we move directly, I'm afraid it'll give people something to talk about. Once I get you back to Lin Siya, I'll make you unable to live, unable to die!"

Chu Zhuo's eyes stared coldly at Lin Jingzhu, already contemplating how to torment her.

Yet upon hearing his identity, Lin Jingzhu showed not the slightest fear, and instead looked toward the man in black with a strange expression.

"Lord Chen, is this your colleague?"

"Mm?"

Chu Zhuo's brow furrowed. Looking carefully, that back seemed somewhat familiar…

"What great authority, Lord Chu," the man in black said lightly.

"Ch-Chen Mo?!"

Chu Zhuo's scalp tightened!