Chapter 455: Slaughter in the Hidden Love Shenjing

Jin Ling, Yumin Alley, nightfall, a bright moon hangs in the sky.

In the Qu family courtyard, a tea table was set with tea, candied fruits, and other delicacies.

Several sat together admiring the moon, the atmosphere relaxed and easy; Qu Qu Hongxiu and Qin Qin Keqing were whispering and laughing softly.

Three days ago, Guo Lin's memorial on the Jin Ling major case had been urgently sent to the Love Shenjing; Jia Cong waited only for the imperial decree before returning to the capital to report.

Jia Cong, however, was reading a letter—this one from Seeing Yingchun, a family letter mentioning the imperial marriage proposal.

The letter had been sent to the Jia family's old residence in Xinglong Alley, and only just now had Jiang Liu personally delivered it to Mingze Lane.

Seeing Yingchun's thoughts were always on Jia Cong; though he had been in Jin Ling for only two months, she had already sent several family letters.

In this letter, besides asking about Jia Cong's current situation and when he would return, Seeing Yingchun also mentioned recent rumors in both households.

As Jia Cong grew older, his reputation grew ever more prominent; among the old noble families, there was much talk of arranging a marriage for him, and as the eldest sister, she naturally cared deeply about his match.

Not long ago, the Zhen family of Jin Ling sent a letter hinting at marriage; then the imperial dowager Zhen, in the palace, sent gifts to Jia Mu to show favor.

Later, word spread in the palace that the imperial dowager Zhen had orchestrated it, and the Retired Emperor intended to bestow a marriage between Jia Cong and the Zhen family's third daughter.

This rumor spread wildly through both the Eastern and Western Prefectures; Seeing Yingchun knew Lin Lin Daiyu had even fallen ill for several days.

Seeing Yingchun's thoughts were always on Jia Cong; she had clearly seen how Lin Lin Meimei felt for her brother, and knew Jia Cong's feelings for Lin Daiyu were vastly different from those he held for his other sisters.

She hoped they might become a perfect pair, that Jia Cong might attain his heart's desire; this sudden appearance of the Zhen third daughter troubled her.

Moreover, Jia Cong was far away in Jin Ling and likely knew nothing of the marriage rumors.

That was why Seeing Yingchun had mentioned it in her letter—to let him be aware, to be cautious in his conduct in Jin Ling, and avoid stirring up gossip.

…

After reading the letter, Jia Cong felt a strange unease; he had spent little time with Zhen Zhen Fangqing in Jin Ling, yet here in the Love Shenjing, thousands of miles away, rumors of an imperial marriage had erupted.

Qu Qu Hongxiu noticed Jia Cong's odd expression and asked: "What did Seeing Yingchun's letter say? Why do you look so uneasy?"

Jia Cong handed the letter casually to Qu Qu Hongxiu; Qin Qin Keqing, beside her, also leaned over curiously to look.

Qu Qu Hongxiu read the letter and was momentarily stunned, murmuring: "The palace wants to arrange a marriage between you and the Zhen third daughter? Where did this come from?"

Qin Qin Keqing's voice carried a hint of bitterness: "I've met that Zhen third daughter a few times—she's not only exceptionally clever, she manages the Zhen family's business.

And she's a peerless beauty, one of the most exquisite women alive. Knowing this, I wonder how delighted you must be, Congdi."

Jia Cong's face stiffened; he forced a smile at Qin Keqing: "Don't say that—I've only met the Zhen third daughter a handful of times. I have no such thoughts. This rumor about an imperial marriage is utterly absurd!"

Qin Qin Keqing's lovely face flushed with mild anger, her expression clearly doubting; she deliberately turned her head away from him.

Qu Qu Hongxiu, however, looked puzzled: "The Zhen family's dowager lives deep in the palace—why would she suddenly think of matching you with the Zhen third daughter? Someone must have mentioned it to her.

Your own elders wouldn't initiate this; it must be the Zhen family in Jin Ling who wrote to the dowager. But why would the Zhen family suddenly entertain such thoughts?"

Qu Qu Hongxiu's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze sharp as she looked at Jia Cong: "Congdi, I've heard that shortly after you arrived in Jin Ling, the Zhen third daughter personally visited you at Xinglong Alley.

Then you went to the Zhen residence to pay respects for her birthday. Tell me honestly—did you find her beautiful and secretly court her? Otherwise, why would her family rush to propose marriage?"

Qin Keqing listened, puzzled: "Sister, what do you mean 'secretly courted'? Does Congdi have courted other girls too…?"

Jia Cong sighed helplessly: "Sister, you're overthinking. I've never courted the Zhen third daughter. Marriages between great families are always about alliances and influence—it's common.

The Zhen family likely only sees the Jia family's status. But right now, the Zhen family faces a disaster; this imperial marriage, this honor, will never come to pass."

Qu Qu Hongxiu and Qin Qin Keqing exchanged glances.

Jia Cong then recounted in detail the events of yesterday's outskirts of the western city, adding: "The Ottoman iron in the illegal workshop came from the Zhen family's Haiyun Pavilion warehouse; the Embroidered Uniform Guard has been watching this for a long time.

The battalion commander Ge Ge Zhi Cheng's behavior clearly aims to implicate the Zhen family, and Zhen Zhen Shiwen is deeply entangled in this matter."

Qu Qu Hongxiu smiled faintly: "That Zhen third daughter is a rare beauty. If her family is about to fall, won't you, Congdi, show her some mercy and help her?"

Jia Cong sighed: "Manufacturing firearms violates the Emperor's and the court's greatest taboos. If the Zhen family truly participated, no one can save them.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard only needs an excuse to bring Zhen Zhen Shiwen into the battalion headquarters—even without torture, they'll use countless methods to make him confess.

Zhen Zhen Shiwen is merely a pampered noble youth, reckless and careless. He won't withstand the Guard's methods; once he breaks, the matter will spiral beyond control.

But the Zhen third daughter is exceptionally clever. She must have sensed something about Haiyun Pavilion—perhaps she already has an escape plan…."

…

Jin Ling, Western Gate Wharf.

This was not a major port like Longtan Harbor, where ships over five hundred dan could freely enter and exit.

The Western Gate Wharf was merely an ordinary riverside harbor, handling only small and medium-sized merchant vessels—a small, unremarkable dock in Jin Ling.

At nightfall, the wharf was silent; apart from a few moored, empty boats, not a soul was in sight.

On the riverside pier, Master Zhao led Sun Dacheng toward a passenger boat moored at the dock.

A dim lantern hung from the boat's bow, swaying gently with the waves—the only light in the night harbor.

Before boarding, Master Zhao told Sun Dacheng: "This boat will take you downriver to the Love Shenjing. We have people there who will arrange your return to Datong."

Sun Dacheng asked: "The Embroidered Uniform Guard raided the workshop. All the Liaodong firearms were stored in the warehouse—they'll surely trace the guns from the Love Shenjing to Jin Ling."

Master Zhao asked: "Have you mentioned the Deng Hongchun leather business to anyone else?"

Sun Dacheng replied: "How could I speak of such a thing? Master Zhao, rest assured—the buyer knows nothing of the cargo's true nature. He thinks it's just a specialty from Datong bound for the south. He suspects nothing."

Master Zhao smiled: "That's best. Go in peace."

Master Zhao watched Sun Dacheng enter the cabin; a sturdy, dark-skinned riverman swiftly untied the ropes, pushed off with a pole, and the boat slowly drifted toward the river mouth.

Sun Dacheng watched Master Zhao's retreating figure on the dock, and behind him, the distant city of Jin Ling—he exhaled a long, relieved breath.

He was thinking about settling down quietly once back in Datong, when suddenly a hand clamped around his throat, followed by a searing pain in his back.

"What are you doing? My father is the Datong Commandant! You don't know who you're—"

He never finished; a hand clamped over his mouth. Behind him, the riverman's cold voice whispered: "I'm a riverman—I take money to do jobs. Your nonsense is wasted on me!"

Sun Dacheng was stabbed several more times in his ribs and waist; his eyes rolled back, and he quickly died—then his face was slashed and stuffed into a sack.

The passenger boat seemed as if nothing had happened, still drifting lazily out of the dock.

When the boat reached the mouth of the Great River, the sack filled with stones was tossed into the water—and sank quickly to the riverbed…

…

Jin Ling, Western City, Xiuchun Street.

Yu Niang poured wine eagerly; Zhen Zhen Shiwen was drunk, his eyes glazed, pulling Yu Niang close in affection.

The maid Cui'er, standing nearby serving food and drink, blushed deeply.

Yu Niang, teased by Zhen Zhen Shiwen, spoke in a coy, flustered voice, telling Cui'er to return to her room and rest—she didn't need her service anymore.

Cui'er had seen this scene many times; she understood exactly what the two intended. Pouting, she left the room and closed the door behind her.

Zhen Zhen Shiwen was handsome, wealthy, and from a noble family; Cui'er had watched him charm Yu Niang countless times, and her heart had long stirred with longing.

Though she was sixteen, her looks were plain; Zhen Zhen Shiwen, accustomed to the world of courtesans, never even glanced at her.

This left the young maid Cui'er deeply frustrated—perhaps this was precisely why Yu Niang chose someone like her as her personal maid.

As soon as Cui'er stepped out of the room, she saw two shadows entwined against the window lattice—Zhen Zhen Shiwen's laughter, Yu Niang's coquettish protests.

Soon, the candlelight in the main chamber was extinguished. Cui'er stormed into her own small room, furious.

As Yu Niang's personal maid, her room was right beside the main chamber, for easy service—but the thin wall meant no sound was hidden.

Soon, the embroidered bed shook violently, as if about to collapse, accompanied by uneven gasps, moans, and Yu Niang's trembling pleas.

Cui'er had witnessed such scenes before, yet each time she heard them, her heart raced, her breath grew short, her mind clouded with desire.

She covered her ears, but to no use—the sensual sounds rolled like waves, relentless, piercing her ears like needles.

Cui'er's face burned red, her mind dazed—she didn't notice a dark shadow silently leaping into the courtyard, creeping stealthily toward the main chamber…

Suddenly, Cui'er heard a heavy thud from the next room—unusually loud.

Then came a muffled, choked cry, like a moan, faintly mixed with her mistress's plea—then the sound abruptly cut off.

Cui'er paused, slightly startled, but not overly surprised; she'd seen enough. She knew Yu Niang's bedroom tricks well.

Whenever Yu Niang was pushed too hard, she deliberately made shameless noises—truly outrageous.

The sensual sounds from next door finally ceased. Cui'er, dizzy and disoriented, soon felt sleep overwhelm her and sank into slumber.

Only when dawn broke did Cui'er wake, drowsy, and rise to boil water.

In the past, when the Third Young Master and Yu Niang had spent the night in passion, they always bathed in hot water by morning. Though Cui'er resented it, she still performed her duties faithfully. She had just stepped out of her room when she noticed the main chamber's door was slightly ajar—she frowned.

Yesterday, Yu Niang had sent her away after their tryst; she had closed the door firmly when she left.

Cui'er pushed open the door and called: "Mistress, are you awake? I'll boil hot water right away."

She called twice—no answer. Gathering courage, she stepped inside—and the sight before her froze her in terror.

On the embroidered bed, two naked bodies lay entwined, pale and glaringly visible—but far more shocking was the blood covering them, staining the bedding crimson.

Cui'er let out a shrill, twisted scream: "Murder! …"

…

Jin Ling, Rongyu Alley, Zhen residence.

Though the Zhen family was a wealthy and powerful household in Jin Ling, they had always maintained strict family discipline; their descendants rarely committed crimes or abused the poor, and their reputation among noble families was decent.

Though Zhen Zhen Shiwen had recently been involved in smuggling firearms, in the eyes of Grandmother Zhen, this was not a case of cruelty or oppression.

Zhen Zhen Shiwen had been confined to the house for several days by Zhen Zhen Yingjia, and this punishment was meant to teach him discipline; they assumed he would now behave properly.

But recently, he had caused another scandal—rumors said he kept a mistress outside and often stayed out all night; the Third Young Lady of the main house had already wept several times to the Lady of the main household and Grandmother Zhen.

Grandmother Zhen had scolded her grandson once, but Zhen Zhen Shiwen claimed it was merely due to business obligations, denying any such rumors.

After that, Zhen Zhen Shiwen still occasionally stayed out overnight, but nothing further happened.

As long as he didn't bring unsavory women into the house, Grandmother Zhen chose to ignore it—after all, such foolishness was common among young nobles.

Her grandson was grown; she couldn't confine him at home just because he kept a mistress—that would become a laughingstock.

But this morning, a message came from the second gate: the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard had sent men to the residence, requesting the Third Young Master come to the battalion headquarters for questioning.

When the news reached the inner quarters, Grandmother Zhen was furious—her grandson's affairs outside were matters she turned a blind eye to.

But he has repeatedly gotten himself into legal trouble and tangled with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a notoriously troublesome yamen—that would be disastrous.

So, furious, he ordered someone to summon his grandson for questioning, but the servant woman who went to fetch him returned and said the Third Young Master had stayed out all night again and had not yet returned to the estate.

The old matriarch grew even angrier and summoned her eldest daughter-in-law for questioning, but even the eldest madam could not say where her son had gone.

They could only send more servants out to search, insisting they bring their son back to the estate—to find out exactly what he was up to outside.

At that moment, news arrived at the second gate: several officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, having heard some rumor, suddenly no longer wished to summon the Third Young Master for questioning; they left the Zhen estate in haste, as if afraid they might be too late.

The old matriarch, though aged, had seen much and knew these Embroidered Uniform Guard officers were like dogskin plasters—once they latched onto something, they would never let go easily.

They had come to the estate early this morning demanding to summon her grandson—how could they suddenly vanish without a word?

A bad premonition stirred in the old matriarch's heart.

…

Jin Ling, West City, Xiuchun Street.

At the center of the street, the Huichun Pharmacy had hung a sign reading "Proprietor Absent," its doors tightly shut.

A stone's throw from the Huichun Pharmacy, a two-court small courtyard was surrounded by a large group of Yingtian Prefecture constables.

Both sides of the street had been sealed off by officials; many passersby had stopped to watch and point.

Inside the main house of the courtyard, Zhao An, the coroner of Yingtian Prefecture's criminal office, was carefully examining the bodies.

Outside the main house, the Prefect of Yingtian, Jia Yucun, was also present, his expression grim.

Early this morning, before dawn, a maid from the residence, hair disheveled, burst onto the street screaming "Murder!"—it alarmed the local ground-keeper, who then summoned the patrolling constables.

When the maid revealed that the dead man was the Third Young Master of the Zhen family of Jin Ling, everyone was stunned; the news quickly reached Yingtian Prefecture.

The Zhen family was among Jin Ling's top-tier aristocratic houses, with power and influence far from ordinary; Zhen Zhen Shiwen, though the third son, was the eldest legitimate son of the main branch—his status was extraordinary.

Upon hearing the news, Jia Yucun dared not delay; he personally arrived with coroner Zhao An to investigate.

After examining the bodies, Zhao An emerged from the main house, and Jia Yucun immediately asked for the findings.

Zhao An said: "The deceased, Zhen Zhen Shiwen and Yu Niang, are estimated to have died around the third watch of the night, while they were engaged in intercourse—likely with low vigilance."

"The killer entered the house and swiftly killed both, then stole many valuable ornaments belonging to Yu Niang."

Jia Yucun said: "Then this is clearly murder for profit!"

Zhao An replied: "It does resemble murder for profit, but upon close examination of the causes of death, Zhen Zhen Shiwen's neck was slit in one cut, and Yu Niang's heart was pierced in one cut—both fatal wounds were single, precise strikes."

According to the description of the maid Cui'er, who lived next door, the two had seemed perfectly ordinary inside the room; they likely did not even have time to cry out before being stabbed.

That was why Cui'er only discovered their deaths when she entered the room in the morning.

The killer's method was so clean and efficient—it could not possibly have been accomplished by an ordinary thief…"

…

The Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion Commander Ge Zhi Cheng, upon hearing the news, hurried to Xiuchun Street.

Yesterday, he had interrogated over thirty prisoners from illicit firearms workshops, gaining nothing; he had planned to grit his teeth and make a desperate move—to summon Zhen Zhen Shiwen to the battalion headquarters for questioning.

He had decided that even if he could not use torture, he would exhaust every means to extract the truth from this aristocratic youth.

But he never expected that early this morning, news arrived that Zhen Zhen Shiwen had been murdered—he immediately recalled the captain sent to summon him from the Zhen estate, lest he leave behind any incriminating trace.

Ge Zhi Cheng entered the main house of the courtyard, saw the two gruesome corpses, and his face darkened.

He had successfully raided the illicit firearms workshops—but had not obtained what he wanted, and had just been preparing to press Zhen Zhen Shiwen for answers.

Now this man had been suddenly murdered—his timing was too convenient, far too suspicious.

Moreover, Zhen Zhen Shiwen had been killed in his mistress's home, in the dead of night, surrounded by the vulgar, sensual atmosphere of the common quarters—inside and out, it looked exactly like a typical murder for profit.

Ge Zhi Cheng felt utterly despondent; he felt heaven was unjust—as if an invisible hand had violently severed every attempt he had made to escape his entrapment.

…

Jin Ling, Imperial Envoy's Official Hostel.

Early this morning, Jia Cong received a message from Guo Lin, summoning him to the Imperial Envoy's Hostel for a meeting.

Upon arriving, he found not only Guo Lin present, but also the Prefect of Yingtian, Jia Yucun, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion Commander Ge Zhi Cheng—all with grave expressions.

When he learned that Zhen Zhen Shiwen had been murdered last night in his out-of-town residence on Xiuchun Street, he was genuinely startled.

Ge Zhi Cheng said: "Your Excellency Guo, during the raid on the illicit firearms workshops outside the city, the high-quality iron used to forge rifle barrels was found to originate from the Zhen family's shop warehouse."

"I intended to bring Zhen Zhen Shiwen back to the battalion headquarters for questioning, but now he has been murdered at this critical moment—it must be murder to silence him; the Zhen family remains implicated!"

Jia Cong remained silent, watching coldly, sensing the hidden intent behind Ge Zhi Cheng's words.

Ge Zhi Cheng had always wanted to implicate the Zhen family in the illicit firearms case, to use it as a stepping stone toward his own goals.

Zhen Zhen Shiwen's sudden death had robbed him of his pretext to tie the Zhen family to the crime—but he had not given up.

He still sought to frame the Zhen family before Guo Lin, using words alone, leveraging Guo Lin's special status to force the accusation to stick.

…

In Ge Zhi Cheng's view, Guo Lin, as a trusted eunuch of Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, would surely welcome any connection between the Zhen family—closely tied to the Retired Emperor—and the crime of illicit firearms manufacturing and treason.

When he first discovered the illicit firearms workshop on the city's outskirts, wasn't that precisely why he dragged Guo Lin and Jia Cong into it?

But Guo Lin was no fool—otherwise he could never have maintained imperial favor for over a decade beside Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao.

When he first arrived in Jin Ling, he may have been unaware of many things, and thus had been subtly manipulated by Ge Zhi Cheng.

But now Guo Lin had gradually pieced it together: Zhen Zhen Shiwen was dead, Ge Zhi Cheng had no concrete evidence, and his accusations were mere speculation—he immediately saw through Ge Zhi Cheng's scheme.

As Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's trusted eunuch, Guo Lin well understood the subtle tension between His Majesty and the Retired Emperor—the most delicate, unspoken taboo between father and son emperors, never to be voiced by outsiders.

Guo Lin had no reason to risk his life, as Ge Zhi Cheng had, to clear himself of blame for Du Heng's murder by recklessly touching this hornet's nest—he was not suicidal.

"Battalion Commander Ge, the existence of an illicit firearms workshop in Jin Ling is an act of treason—this matter is of grave importance; I will certainly report it to His Majesty."

"You keep claiming the Zhen family is implicated, yet you have no concrete proof—your statements are all conjecture. If they were to be accepted as fact…"

"Then in my report, I will detail the illicit firearms workshop in Jin Ling—but I will not include any baseless accusations against the Zhen family, lest I be accused of deceiving His Majesty! As for your own Embroidered Uniform Guard report—how you choose to write it is your affair; I will not interfere."

After speaking, Guo Lin turned to Jia Cong and smiled faintly: "Jia Yunwu Jian, do you find my words reasonable?"

Jia Cong understood: Guo Lin was pulling him into alignment. He replied solemnly: "Your Excellency Guo sees clearly and speaks with perfect reason—I fully agree."

Hearing this, Ge Zhi Cheng felt bitter inside—none of them were easy to fool; he had tried to trap them, and now they had returned the favor. (End of Chapter)