With the death of his cousin and the future successor of the Liang family, Liang Wuji had little interest in socializing and walked ahead to guide Ling Cheng and his companion, surrounded by guards and servants. Yuan Shen accompanied them while Shao Shang observed their surroundings as they walked.
As a centuries-old aristocratic family, Liang Manor was comparable to the Wan residence in terms of size, layout, and grandeur, yet the aura it presented to the world was entirely different. Liang Manor resembled a wise beauty whose elegance stemmed from her profound knowledge—every rock, every plant exuded a subtle charm, leaving a lasting impression. Much like the Governor of Liangzhou himself, though no longer in the prime of youth, decades of tempering had only deepened his dignified and imposing presence, commanding respect effortlessly.
Although Old Man Wan had been very kind to Shao Shang, she had to admit that Lao Wan’s taste was rather crude and nouveau riche. The estate had originally possessed a refined heritage, but after Wan Songbai lived there for a few months—every pavilion and tower was hastily coated with fresh tung oil, and any faded carvings were slathered with glittering gold powder.
In truth, there was beauty in age and patina. The luster of lacquerware polished patiently over time carried far more depth than a crude, fresh coat of paint, offering a lingering sweetness of years gone by. One had to wonder what had happened in Old Man Wan’s childhood—despite being born into an aristocratic family, his aesthetic sensibilities paled in comparison to his mother, Old Madam Wan, who had come from humble origins.
Shao Shang looked around and sighed in admiration, "What a splendid place—not a hint of extravagance, yet it feels like stepping into a realm of opulence."
Ling Buyi smiled. "In the future, our own residence can be arranged just as you like..."
A soft snort came from Yuan Shen, who was walking slightly ahead to their left.
Shao Shang glanced at him and whispered, "Why is Young Master Yuan upset?"
Ling Buyi replied with a smile, "His maternal uncle just passed away. Did you expect him to be all smiles?"
Finding this reasonable, Shao Shang raised her voice slightly and said, "Young Master Shanjian, I must offer my condolences for your loss."
Yuan Shen took a deep breath and walked closer to Shao Shang. "My mother was the daughter of my grandfather’s first wife. By the time she married, my uncle had not yet been born. Even afterward, she only saw her two younger brothers once every few years."
Shao Shang studied Yuan Shen and whispered again, "Young Master Yuan, it’s fine to admit you weren’t close to Liang Shang. I won’t tell the Governor of Liangzhou."
Yuan Shen nearly tripped over his own feet. "You—!" He wanted to snap at her, but upon reflection, her words weren’t entirely wrong. Choking on his indignation, he flicked his sleeve and stormed ahead to walk beside Liang Wuji instead.
Shao Shang blinked in confusion and quietly asked Ling Buyi beside her, "Did I say something wrong? Young Master Yuan seems even angrier now."
Ling Buyi’s face was radiant, his eyes glimmering with amusement. "Nonsense. You’re the most eloquent woman in the world."
Shao Shang shot her betrothed a playful glare—always stating the obvious, how annoying!
As it was already noon, Liang Wuji invited Ling Cheng and his companion to dine first. When the group entered the hall, Shao Shang spotted an elderly man with graying hair and a gaunt frame, engrossed in his meal. Noticing the half-eaten dishes on the other two dining tables, she realized that the three of them had been having lunch when she and Ling Buyi arrived.
Ling Buyi immediately offered polite and gracious apologies to Liang Wuji. The elderly man inside lifted his head impatiently and said, "Zisheng, come and eat quickly. There’s still work to do afterward."Liang Wuji frowned. "We've said all there is to say. Why must Lord Ji interrogate us point by point?"
The old man ignored him and continued eating with his head lowered. Ling Buyi smiled. "Governor Liang, don't take it to heart. Marquis Yang has always been this straightforward and unyielding in temperament. He judges matters, not people."
Marquis Yang Ji Zun looked up with a cold laugh. "'Judge matters, not people'? That's nothing but empty words to deceive others and oneself. Since ancient times, when handling cases and interrogations, it's always been about judging people and dealing with people. How can one possibly only judge matters and not people when balancing kindness and authority?! Ling Zisheng, those were your own words at sixteen. Now that you're older, you've become more tactful."
"You actually said that? How insightful!" Shao Shang beamed.
Yuan Shen looked as if he'd smeared his face with soot and seemed about to flick his sleeves again.
Ling Buyi glanced at the girl with an amused smile. "At sixteen, I thought Marquis Yang was nearing sixty and would soon retire. Who knew Lord Ji would remain so vigorous and spirited even now? It seems most of what one says in youth isn't very reliable."
Translated into plain terms, this meant: Why hasn't this damned old man kicked the bucket yet?! — Shao Shang imagined the fiery, youthful Ling Buyi at sixteen and compared him to his current deep and composed demeanor, marveling at how time changes people.
"How about joining me later to examine the case?" Old Man Ji asked without taking offense.
Ling Buyi smiled. "No need. I'm only here on His Majesty's orders to observe. The case is entirely under your discretion, Lord Ji."
Liang Wuji glanced at him and frowned.
"Don't play dumb. His Majesty would never let you dirty your hands with such thankless drudgery!" Though aged, Old Man Ji's gaze remained sharp. "You volunteered to come—wasn't it at the behest of another noble figure...?"
Both Liang Wuji and Yuan Shen fixed their eyes on Ling Buyi, their expressions grave.
Shao Shang quickly interjected, "Lord Ji, please understand—it wasn't me who insisted Lord Ling accompany me. He said His Majesty ordered him to oversee this case. And don't overthink it—I'm hardly a noble figure either..."
Yuan Shen snorted, turning his head to suppress a laugh. Liang Wuji smiled helplessly and shook his head. Old Man Ji smacked his lips, took one look at the silly, flower-like girl, and resumed eating. Ling Buyi pulled Shao Shang to sit behind the dining table, his eyes filled with tender amusement.
Liang Wuji was preoccupied, and Ji Zun had much on his mind. Both hastily finished their meals and took their leave. Before departing, Liang Wuji entrusted Yuan Shen with the words, "Zisheng and Miss Cheng will trouble you, Shanjian." Yuan Shen respectfully acknowledged.
Even without being told, Shao Shang knew Liang Manor must be bustling at the moment. In the distance, faint cries, arguments, and the sounds of objects being thrown could be heard—likely from the crowd of relatives and friends Aunt Liang had invited, gathered on the other side of the manor.
With only the three of them and the servants left in the hall, Yuan Shen set down his chopsticks and sighed deeply. "Young Lady Shao Shang, I only learned after that day that you fell into the water the day before the Empress's birthday. Are you feeling unwell?"
Why did everyone assume she'd been wronged? She really hadn't suffered any losses. Shao Shang put down her soup bowl resignedly and replied politely, "I was perfectly fine. Actually, I know how to swim—those who pushed me in had it much worse."
Yuan Shen murmured, "Good, that's good..."
"Young Master Yuan," Ling Buyi said, "how goes your marriage prospects?"Yuan Shen said coldly, "This seems to have nothing to do with Lord Ling."
"Then let's talk about the murder case at Liang Manor. That must be relevant," Ling Buyi replied.
Shao Shang nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes! Young Master Yuan, I actually have many questions and hope you can enlighten me."
Yuan Shen exhaled with difficulty. "Ask away, as long as I know the answers."
"Why did Madam Qu marry your uncle in the first place? Uh... Young Master Yuan, we've known each other for a while now. It's not that I want to speak ill of the deceased, but no matter how I look at it, those two... well, they just didn't seem matched at all!" From appearance to talent to temperament—what a waste!
Yuan Shen sighed. "Many years ago, the Liang and Qu families became bitter enemies, locked in endless conflict, with lives lost on both sides. Later, when Emperor Li's tyranny ravaged the land, both families suffered greatly. They had no choice but to set aside their grudges to survive the crisis and agreed to form a marital alliance."
Shao Shang looked puzzled. "Emperor Li's rebellion was decades ago. How did it come down to Madam Qu?"
"First, after the chaos, both families had few surviving main lineage members, and even fewer suitable for marriage. Second..." Yuan Shen smiled faintly. "My uncle—the Governor of Liangzhou—if he hadn't married a Qu woman first, my mother would have been the one sent to the Qu family. Unfortunately, my aunt passed away young, leaving no children for the Governor."
"...So in the end, Madam Qu had to marry Young Master Liang?" Qu Lingjun really drew the short straw.
Yuan Shen glanced at Ling Buyi and said tactfully, "My aunt was renowned for her beauty and talent from a young age, with countless admirers, while my uncle... Initially, the Qu family opposed the marriage. It was only after my aunt agreed that the union took place."
Shao Shang frowned disapprovingly. "See? What good does being understanding and considerate do?" Though she had just praised herself for being considerate earlier, she'd already forgotten.
Yuan Shen chuckled. "You're probably thinking it would've been better if she'd been as fiery and willful as you—life might have been easier."
Shao Shang laughed at herself. "Better others suffer than myself. Secure your own happiness first, then help others when you can. Never throw yourself into a bottomless pit."
Yuan Shen seemed lost in thought and sighed. "To be honest, I've always admired your philosophy, Shao Shang. One must look after oneself first before planning for the future."
With a loud clatter, a bowl was slammed onto the dining table. Ling Buyi said coldly, "Are you two done? Can we go inspect the crime scene now?"
...
As Ling, Yuan, and Cheng made their way to the scene, they passed the eastern side of Liang Manor. From a distance, they saw a spacious hall packed with people—likely Liang family relatives and friends seated along the walls, while those shouting in the center were presumably Liang clansmen.
In the middle stood the Governor of Liangzhou and a wailing elderly woman who clung to his sleeve, her cries faint but piercing.
"...Everyone is blaming Mother for making such a scene and escalating things beyond repair. They say this could've been settled privately, but now the Liang family's reputation is ruined. The Governor advocates patience, but Mother demands blood for blood," said a haughty young man who approached them.Shao Shang looked over and saw that the young man bore a strong resemblance to Liang Shang, though he was taller and more robust, with a somewhat burly appearance.
"Second Uncle," Yuan Shen bowed in greeting, then introduced the man to Ling Cheng and the others as Liang Shang's younger brother, Liang Xia.
Upon learning that the man before him was the Emperor's adopted son and trusted confidant, Ling Buyi, Liang Xia's demeanor shifted from arrogance to obsequiousness. He was full of polite flattery and eager to ingratiate himself. Turning to Yuan Shen, he said, "I've grown tired of listening to their quarrels. Let me accompany you in showing Lord Ling around. Lord Ling, please follow me—this way, come, come, I'll lead the way..."
Ling Buyi curved his lips in a perfunctory smile. "A guest follows the host's lead."
The place where Liang Shang had met his end was his own study, a small brick-and-wood cottage built by the lake. The base was rectangular, with the longer sides running north to south. One side faced the lake, while the other had windows and doors. Tall bamboo stalks stood at the entrance, their age unknown, yet they remained lush and green even in winter, standing straight and proud. Beyond these bamboo stalks lay the Liang family school—a spacious two-story wooden building.
As they passed through the central hall of the school, they saw Old Man Ji seated in the teacher's position, his face stern as he meticulously questioned the students who had been present that day. Yuan Shen beckoned a boy of about ten, Liang Dong, and asked him to recount the events of that day.
Liang Dong was lively and articulate, nearly bursting with excitement upon seeing Ling Buyi. He almost launched into questions about the northwestern campaigns and southern bandit suppression but restrained himself out of deference to Yuan Shen. When he noticed Shao Shang's delicate beauty and the faint blush on her cheeks, he grew even more flustered.
"Why are you so afraid of Young Master Yuan?" Shao Shang teased, eyeing the boy's pink-tipped ears.
Liang Dong mumbled, "Young Master Yuan often comes to the school to lecture us on the Six Classics."
Shao Shang nodded in understanding—ah, a specially invited guest lecturer. No wonder.
"Enough," Yuan Shen said with a frown. "Tell us in detail what happened yesterday."
Liang Dong quickly complied and began his account—
The Governor of Liangzhou placed great emphasis on nurturing the younger generation of his clan, hence the establishment of this family school. Children of the Liang family and their relatives were all welcome to study here, with learned scholars hired to teach them. Writing materials and meals were provided free of charge.
"Didn't Young Master Liang Shang attend the school?" Shao Shang asked, not meaning to include Liang Xia, but the latter still snorted disdainfully from the side.
Liang Dong answered awkwardly, "Uncle Shang preferred the art of metal and stone engraving, while Uncle Xia... was skilled in archery and horsemanship."
Ah, so one was an artist, the other a warrior—and not a particularly renowned one at that. No wonder the Governor of Liangzhou was so anxious. Earlier, during the banquet, his gaze at Ling Buyi and Yuan Shen had been full of admiration and envy—how is it that the cabbages in other people's gardens grow so plump and sturdy? These two clearly lacked proper nurturing, yet they flourished. Meanwhile, no matter how hard I toil, my own family's youngsters remain mostly useless. Why is this? How I'd love to dig one up and plant it in my own backyard!Liang Dong continued, "We arrived at the family school one after another around 7:45 in the morning. At that time, the study's doors and windows were tightly shut, so we didn’t know if anyone was inside. Uncle Shang usually disliked socializing, especially when he was carving, and forbade anyone from approaching. We didn’t dare disturb him. It wasn’t until near noon, when Aunt came to deliver lunch, that we learned Uncle Shang had entered the study early in the morning. Later, we went to the back room for lunch. Not long after, there was a loud crashing sound from the study, as if something had fallen to the ground. We all rushed out and saw Aunt running out of the study with her head down, hurrying away along the path in front of the door."
"After lunch, we resumed our studies. Around 3:45 in the afternoon, Aunt returned, followed by two servants carrying a large lacquer wood box on a bamboo pole. As she passed the family school, she exchanged a few words with our Teacher, saying that the ancient seal-carving books she had collected for Uncle had arrived and she was taking them to him... Not long after, we heard Aunt’s piercing scream from the study. We all rushed over and saw Uncle leaning against the wall, covered in blood, with a dagger plunged into his abdomen! The plum vase on the nearby high table had been knocked over, spilling water all over Uncle’s head and face."
As they spoke, the group arrived at the study. Since the incident, Old Man Ji had posted guards to watch the place, restricting access. Stepping inside, a cold, foul odor greeted them, reminiscent of the underworld.
The study was spacious. One corner was partitioned into a clean room, while another section was set up as a resting bedroom with bedding. The rest of the space held simple furnishings, including a large empty wooden box on the floor. The most striking features were two towering bookshelves that reached the ceiling—though they held mostly raw materials of metal and wood, finished or half-finished carvings, rather than books. One of the shelves had toppled over, scattering its contents in disarray.
Beside the large southern window stood an enormous worktable, as big as two long tables combined. It was cluttered with various carving knives, chisels, files, whetstones, ink markers, fine brushes, and numerous objects of metal, stone, bamboo, and wood—presumably Liang Shang’s workstation.
"That’s the spot!" Liang Dong pointed to the western wall, where the floor and padded wall still bore large patches of dark red bloodstains. "When we rushed in, Uncle Shang was slumped against the wall, his head hanging, knees bent, with a short blade—or perhaps a dagger—sticking straight out of his body. Aunt was collapsed on the floor, trembling and unable to speak."
"...That’s all there is to it." After hearing this, Shao Shang was momentarily puzzled. "Did Madam Qu have an argument with Liang Shang when she delivered the books and accidentally killed him?"
Liang Dong gave a bitter smile. "Not quite. When the incident first came to light yesterday, the Old Madam nearly wanted to tear Aunt apart..."
Liang Xia snorted coldly. "A mother’s heart is tied to her child. Witnessing her elder brother’s tragic death, my mother was utterly devastated. It’s only human to seek vengeance."
Liang Dong quickly apologized for his poor choice of words and continued, "But when the Teacher touched Uncle Shang’s body and found it already cold, he reasoned with the Old Madam: if Aunt had just killed Uncle, how could the body have turned so cold so quickly?"
"So that’s it!" Shao Shang exclaimed. "Thank goodness your Teacher was both knowledgeable and quick-witted.""But the fatal part is here!" Liang Dong said with a tearful face. "Since we started studying at the family school, Uncle's study has only been opened twice, and both times it was Aunt who entered!"
Shao Shang's mouth fell open. After a long pause, she said, "Could you have been mistaken? Maybe you were too focused on your studies to notice the study?" When she concentrated on reading, she didn't even like to lift her head.
Liang Dong said mournfully, "Today, our original teacher was sick and didn't come, so we weren't supposed to have class. But the Governor of Liangzhou sent his advisor to supervise. The advisor didn't like to talk and just had us read and write the whole time."
—So it was a self-study session! The Governor of Liangzhou was truly a devoted fan of education.
"Besides, even if I alone missed it, could all twenty-some classmates have missed it too? Especially since the advisor was sitting right across from the study's door and window. He also said that apart from Aunt, he didn't see anyone else enter the study."
Shao Shang was speechless. Did the evidence have to be so ironclad?
Liang Xia snorted coldly. "At this point, even a fool could guess. She must have killed him when she brought him lunch at noon, then pretended nothing was wrong and came back in the afternoon to 'discover' the body—but man proposes, heaven disposes. Who knew no one would enter the study all day yesterday, so she had no one to frame! This is truly irrefutable evidence!"
"...Then what I said earlier wasn't entirely wrong either," Shao Shang stubbornly continued to assert her wisdom. "It's just that instead of 'Madam Qu had a dispute with Young Master Liang when delivering ancient texts and accidentally killed her son-in-law,' it's 'Madam Qu had a dispute with Young Master Liang when delivering lunch and accidentally killed her son-in-law.'" It seemed the murder was undeniable, but perhaps it could be considered a crime of passion to garner some sympathy.
Liang Xia's face was livid, Yuan Shen remained silent, and Ling Buyi stared fixedly at a small dining table beside Liang Shang's workbench, where half-eaten food remained.
"If it were just an accident, Lord Ji probably wouldn't still be investigating now," Ling Buyi said as he slowly bent his tall frame and nudged the cups on the table. "There are cups but no pot, dishes but no wine... Young friend Liang Dong, where is the wine pot?"
Liang Dong looked admiring. "Lord Ling is truly perceptive! Indeed, there was originally a wine pot on the table. No one noticed it earlier, but later Lord Ji actually discovered there was a sleeping draught in the wine! Then he sealed off the area and took the wine pot away..."
Liang Xia's face twisted with rage. "Did everyone hear that? That vile woman even used a sleeping draught—this was clearly premeditated! Qu murdered her own husband, a crime that cannot be forgiven! She deserves to be torn limb from limb!"
Liang Dong took two steps back in fright, unable to suppress a soft sob. "Aunt is a very good person. She never looked down on us distant relatives, always giving us clothes and medicine, caring for our well-being. Since she married into the family, life has been much better for the poorer branches of the Liang family. That year when my mother was seriously ill, it was Aunt who hired a skilled physician to save her life! She's also very learned—our old teacher often said that if Aunt were a man, she would have made a name for herself. But, but... how could this...?"
Shao Shang could no longer smile.
She looked at Ling Buyi, who gave her an almost imperceptible nod—now she finally understood why the Governor of Liangzhou was in such a dilemma. If it had just been a dispute leading to accidental killing, some reasons could still be stretched. But with the addition of a sleeping draught, it was undeniably premeditated murder!Shao Shang refused to give up and went to ask Liang Dong: "What was Madam Qu's expression when she left after delivering lunch? Was she utterly grief-stricken?"
Liang Dong hesitated before answering: "Well, I didn't actually see Aunt's face."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"At that time, Aunt was wearing a fur cloak with the hood down, covering her face."
Shao Shang's temple twitched: "What about her maids then? Did they see what happened inside?"
"Uncle Liang hates being disturbed when he's engrossed in his bronze and stone studies. At noon, Aunt went into the study alone carrying the food basket. In the afternoon, she wasn't wearing the cloak anymore, and the servants carrying bookcases entered the study too, but there was a large screen blocking the entrance..."
He pointed to the four-panel lacquered wooden screen at the entrance, painted with Mohist disciples listening to teachings, and said, "So the servants claimed they saw nothing either. After entering, they carried the book chest just inside the door before retreating and closing it."
Shao Shang was utterly shocked.
She looked around. The room was a single space, with its southern doors and windows facing the family school—visible to all as witnesses. The northern side faced the lake with only three character-shaped round windows, each less than a foot in diameter. No one older than five or six could possibly squeeze through.
"Could it have been someone with exceptional skills who swam across the lake and threw a knife through the small round window to kill Uncle?" Liang Dong speculated wildly.
"But your uncle was leaning against the western wall when he died, with the knife wound straight through—as you just said. Unless that master's throwing knife could curve, how could it have been possible?!"
Ling Buyi, who had been standing with his hands behind his back, gazing at the lake through the three character-shaped round windows, noticed the girl's pale face. He walked over, took her hand, and said gently, "Let's not stay here. Let's go see Madam Qu."
Shao Shang nodded numbly.
Thanks to the Governor of Liangzhou's insistence on family honor, Qu Lingjun was still allowed to remain in her own room. Though she looked haggard, her spirits were steady. When Shao Shang entered, Qu Lingjun was tightly embracing her two children.
Ling Buyi sat sideways in the outer room and asked through the partition, "Madam Qu, I am here by His Majesty's decree to investigate this case. I will ask you only two questions. First, did you kill Liang Shang?"
After a long pause, as if the air had frozen, Qu Lingjun finally replied firmly, "I did not kill him!" After a moment, she added more calmly, "I did not kill my late husband."
"Good," Ling Buyi said, his gaze unwavering, hands resting on his knees. "Now for the second question. Were you the one who delivered lunch to Liang Shang yesterday?"
Qu Lingjun fell silent again before answering after a long while, "...It was me. But I left immediately after delivering the meal. My late husband was still alive at that time."
A mocking curve formed on Ling Buyi's elegant lips. Without another word, he stood and motioned for Shao Shang to leave.
Just then, a maidservant who had been attending Qu Lingjun suddenly rushed out and grabbed Shao Shang, crying, "...Young Lady Cheng, please save our Young Lady! Liang Shang was no man—he was a beast, a monster! Please speak to the Empress—he beat our Young Lady for years...!"
Liang Xia, who had been sitting beside Ling Buyi, flew into a rage. He stormed in like a tempest, kicked the maidservant to the ground, and stomped repeatedly on her head. "You vile wretch! How dare you slander my deceased brother... Ow...!"
Shao Shang couldn't stand seeing this scoundrel bully a woman. She delivered a fierce kick to the back of Liang Xia's knee, forcing him to kneel on one leg with a cry of pain. Shielding the maidservant, she snapped, "Get out! How dare you barge into your widowed sister-in-law's inner quarters? Is this the Liang family's upbringing? I’ll have to ask the Governor of Liangzhou about this!"
Liang Xia clenched his fists but, wary of Ling Buyi's icy glare from outside, could only growl, "That lying wench—I’ll kill her for this!"
"Whether it’s a lie or not, shouldn’t Second Uncle know best?" Yuan Shen, seated across from Ling Buyi, suddenly spoke up loudly.
Liang Xia gnashed his teeth and glared outward. "Yuan Shanjian! Are you betraying your own family?!"Yuan Shen sneered disdainfully, "When has our Jiaodong Yuan Clan ever needed to eat at your Liang family's table? Though my uncle may lack talent, he has one virtue—he knows when to keep silent to avoid becoming a laughingstock!"
Liang Xia was left speechless, his face twisted in fury, almost murderous.
"Young Lady Shao Shang," Yuan Shen continued, "Yesterday, Lord Ji sent a woman to examine my aunt—of course, his original intention was to check if there were any defensive wounds from my uncle's struggle. Unexpectedly, they discovered numerous old and new scars on her, some dating back seven or eight years. Young Lady, you can see for yourself."
Shao Shang was startled and immediately turned to approach Qu Lingjun, reaching to pull aside her collar and sleeves. Qu Lingjun, caught off guard by the girl's swift movements, shrank back but was still exposed clearly.
Her neck and chest bore crisscrossing whip marks, while her arms showed bruises from beatings—based on Shao Shang's extensive experience in fights, these were injuries from blocking blows with her arms.
How to put it? Compared to someone like Old Man Cheng, a seasoned warrior, these injuries might seem trivial. But for a pampered noblewoman living in seclusion, they were truly shocking.
Seeing these scars, the two children threw themselves into their mother's arms, crying like young animals.
Liang Xia cursed under his breath about bad luck and swaggered out with a huff.
The maidservant struggled to her knees before Shao Shang, pleading, "Madam Cheng, please, I beg you, speak on behalf of our Young Lady. She truly didn’t kill Liang Shang. In fact, she—"
"You Tong!" Qu Lingjun snapped sharply, enunciating each word, "If you dare say another word, I will not live. You’ve served me all these years—you know I mean what I say."
You Tong pressed her lips tightly shut, not daring to speak further, and collapsed to the ground in silent sobs.
"That settles it," Ling Buyi rose slowly. "Shao Shang, we must return to the palace to report. Madam Qu, Young Master Liang Xia, we will relay the full details of the case to the Emperor and Empress. Rest assured. Young Master Yuan, please convey my farewell to the Governor. We take our leave now." Ignoring Liang Xia's attempts to detain them and Yuan Shen's unspoken words, he took Shao Shang's hand and strode out.
Only after leaving Liang Manor and boarding the carriage did Ling Buyi envelop the girl's icy hands in his own to warm them.
"Something’s wrong. This whole thing feels off, but I can’t pinpoint it..." Shao Shang murmured.
Ling Buyi gazed at her pale, troubled face, his heart swelling with tenderness. He stroked her hair and pulled her close. "It’s alright. If you can’t articulate it, I will. Based on what we’ve seen and heard today, there are six inconsistencies in this case."
"Six? That many!" Shao Shang wriggled out of his embrace, her eyes lively like the little snow marten of years past.
Ling Buyi pressed her back down. "Listen properly and don’t interrupt."
"First, yesterday wasn’t cold—you didn’t even wear your flannelette-lined jacket while running about. Fine, even if Qu Lingjun is frail and sensitive to cold, why would she wear a cloak at noon under bright sunshine but not when the sun dipped westward? Nine times out of ten, the person who delivered lunch to Liang Shang at noon wasn’t Qu Lingjun. But if the murderer is someone else, why does Qu Lingjun refuse to speak? Who is she protecting?"
"Right, that’s what I thought too," Shao Shang nodded against his chest like a pecking bird."Second, although it wasn’t Qu Lingjun who delivered the midday meal, it must have been someone Liang Shang was acquainted with. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have raised an alarm? So, who could this person possibly be?"
"Third, since there was a sleeping draught in the wine, Liang Shang must have become drowsy after drinking and was then stabbed to death. Then, who knocked over the bookshelf? Was it the murderer themselves? Why would they do such a thing?"
"...To mislead everyone into thinking Liang Shang was still alive?" Shao Shang speculated.
"Good, that’s one possible explanation. Then comes the fourth point." Ling Buyi smiled and ruffled the girl’s hair.
"That private school is open on all sides, visible to everyone. Except during the midday meal in the back room, the students were always in the classroom facing the study. If someone intended to commit murder, why not wait until the students had moved to the back room, slip into the study, commit the crime, and then sneak out? After all, the school’s rule was that students couldn’t leave until the teacher had finished eating. Instead, this person entered the study before the meal, in full view of everyone, and then knocked over the bookshelf, drawing the students out to witness their departure?"
"Fifth, to be honest, Qu Lingjun is no ignorant or weak woman. If she wanted to kill Liang Shang, she could have poisoned him, drowned him, or made it look like he died from drinking—there were plenty of methods. Why go to such lengths, leaving herself almost no way to escape guilt?"
"Sixth, and most interestingly..." Ling Buyi looked into the girl’s eyes and said slowly, "Both you and I know someone is framing Qu Lingjun. Qu Lingjun herself knows someone is trying to harm her. Yet she refuses to defend herself. Why is that?"
"Yes, yes, yes! That’s what puzzles me the most! Is Qu Lingjun trying to get herself killed?!" Shao Shang leaned against Ling Buyi’s chest, her mind a tangled mess, stammering, "Then... then what should we do now?"
Ling Buyi held the girl close, reclining against the carriage wall with ease, closing his eyes to rest. "We do nothing. We’ll return to the palace and report the details. Investigating the case is Marquis Yang Ji Zun’s job, passing judgment is Your Majesty’s duty, and the worries belong to the Liang and Qu families... oh, let’s add half the Yuan family to that. In the end, this case has nothing to do with you or me."
Shao Shang froze for a moment before tugging at Ling Buyi’s collar and shaking him. "Is that really okay? Madam Qu is innocent!"
Ling Buyi opened his eyes, his deep brown irises gleaming like polished amber. His expression was gentle, but his words were as cold as the desolate winds sweeping across a frozen plain.
"Qu Lingjun is seeking her own demise. Why should we stop her? If she believes some things are more important than her child possibly losing both parents, then let her have her way... Silly child, you’ll come to understand that some truths, some secrets, are better left unknown."
"The more you know, the deeper the sorrow. Remember my words."
Author’s Note:
Liang Shang, Liang Xia, Liang Dong—aren’t these names I’ve come up with quite brilliant, lol... Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient solutions~
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