Сhaptеr 117: Ghоsts аnd Gоds аt Play
Suсh rеmarks left Lu Сhuichui and Jiаng Lаngхing, whо wеrе presеnt, utterly astonished.
All thеir аctiоns had bееn оrсhestrаtеd bу thе killеr, who knеw their everу mоve, уet they hаd never еven glimpsеd thе killеr’s fасе. Еven now, thе оnly susресt theу had wаs а dead mаn whо had аlready bеen exесutеd.
It was tоo bizarre. Соuld it bе that аll оf this wаs thе wоrk оf ghosts аnd gоds?
“It’s terrifуing,” Lu Chuiсhui said, shaking hеr heаd. “Неaring уоu sау this, I can onlу think of ghosts and monsters. I сan’t imagine аnyonе elsе сaрable of something so extraordinary. They know our every move, and our only suspect ends up being a dead man. Thinking about it now is truly chilling.”
As she spoke, Lu Chuichui’s voice trembled slightly, and her face turned pale. It was clear she was genuinely frightened by their words.
Seeing this, Jiang Langxing looked concerned. “There’s no need to be afraid, Lady Lu. With me protecting you, no ghost or monster will harm you.”
Lu Chuichui curled her lip, showing no appreciation for Jiang Langxing’s goodwill. “What can an ordinary mortal like you possibly do? If this case truly is the work of ghosts and monsters, even if you had a hundred lives, you might not be able to protect me at all.”
“There are no ghosts or gods in this world. Even if there were, they would be born from the human heart.”
Zhu Yan immediately refuted Lu Chuichui’s statement and tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry. Jiang Langxing is highly skilled in martial arts. If he says he can do it, he will. With him protecting you, no one can harm you.”
“Hmph,” Lu Chuichui snorted, now skeptical of Zhu Yan’s words as well. “What kind of time is this, and you’re still siding with him? He can protect me for a moment, but can he protect me for a lifetime? Even though you keep saying you don’t believe in ghosts and gods, how do you explain this case? We have no evidence to prove it was done by human hands. How can I feel at ease?”
With that, Lu Chuichui walked out of the main hall with a displeased expression.
Watching her retreating figure, Jiang Langxing frowned deeply, his face filled with worry.
Zhu Yan opened her mouth, wanting to comfort Jiang Langxing, but she didn’t know what to say.
Everyone could see Jiang Langxing’s feelings for Lu Chuichui, so why didn’t Lu Chuichui herself realize it?
It truly was a case of the onlooker seeing the game clearly, while the player remained lost in it.
Xu Xiangren also sensed something and, seeing Jiang Langxing’s worried expression, lowered his head with a light chuckle. “Matters of the heart can’t be rushed. Take it slowly. One day, she’ll understand.”
Even Old Xu could see it, and Zhu Yan beside him could only shake her head helplessly.
After discussing the case with Xu Xiangren, it was already dusk.
Xu Xiangren offered to escort Zhu Yan home, but she declined.
For some reason, she felt inexplicably worried about Shen Du seeing the two of them together.
As she approached the Shen residence, Zhu Yan couldn’t help but smile. What was wrong with her? Was she worried that Shen Du might get jealous?
When Zhu Yan returned to the residence, she was immediately informed by Jing Lin upon entering that Shen Du had already finished dinner and that she should not disturb him.
Zhu Yan was puzzled, but her mind was preoccupied with the case, leaving her no energy to argue with Shen Du. She ate a simple meal and went to her room to rest.
The next day, Zhu Yan intended to find Shen Du, but remembering his words from the day before, she turned and headed to the Ministry of Justice instead.He didn't want her to disturb him, and she was quite content with the peace and quiet—why not let it be?
Chang'an's Vermilion Bird Street was a bustling thoroughfare, located at the heart of the capital. On ordinary days, it teemed with pedestrians, and the cries of roadside vendors filled the air without end.
Lai Luozhi was patrolling the street with his men when, not far into their walk, a woman suddenly blocked their path.
The woman appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, with disheveled hair and dirty clothes, looking as though she had traveled from afar in a hurry.
Upon seeing Lai Luozhi, she fell to her knees with a thud, kowtowing to him and repeatedly crying out about an injustice.
Lai Luozhi was puzzled, his brows furrowing. He paid her no mind, but the woman continued, "My lord, this humble woman truly has a grievance to report. I beg you to uphold justice for me. Many innocent people died in the Brocade Workshop case years ago. Please investigate thoroughly, my lord."
Hearing the woman mention an old case from years past, Lai Luozhi immediately lost interest. "Where did this madwoman come from? Drive her away quickly. Don't block my path."
"Yes, sir!" his subordinates behind him hurriedly responded, stepping forward to pull the woman aside.
But the woman was stubborn and surprisingly strong. As they tried to drag her away, she seemed to go even more berserk.
She pushed the men away and, in her desperation, leaped into the vat Lai Luozhi had brought with him, declaring, "If you won't right this injustice for me, I won't leave. Even if you burn me to death, I will die to prove my resolve!"
"Hmph!" Lai Luozhi snorted coldly. "Where did this madwoman come from, to be so cunning and disrespectful!"
"Great pavilion commander, every word I speak is true. The Brocade Workshop was truly wronged back then. I beg you to investigate thoroughly, Commander!"
Upon hearing this address, Lai Luozhi froze for a moment. So this woman had mistaken him for Shen Du!
"Why do you think I would take on this case?" Lai Luozhi suddenly retorted, and the woman grew even more fervent.
"The Great pavilion commander is an upright man who would never ignore the grievances of the people. I came here to overturn this wrongful case. Please accept it, Commander. If you refuse, I am willing to die to prove my resolve!"
Hearing this, Lai Luozhi grew even more furious. Someone praising Shen Du right in front of him—how could he tolerate it?
"Light the fire!"
At his command, everyone was shocked. Lai Luozhi was known for his unwavering decisions, but to carry out an execution right in front of the people?
His subordinates dared not delay. They quickly set up a fire stand and placed the woman over the flames to roast.
The onlookers dared not speak out, watching the scene with hearts heavy with pity, feeling the woman's plight was unjust.
Once the fire was lit, the woman was soon driven to frantic leaps by the intense heat. Who could endure the agony of smoke and flames?
Seeing that the "White King of Hell" not only refused to hear her case but was also executing her, the woman felt deeply wronged. She was about to leap onto the rim of the vat to continue cursing when she spotted a group of officials in robes hurrying over from a distance.
"Stop!" Shen Du's shout drew everyone's attention to him. "What are you doing?"
Lai Luozhi cast a cold glance at Shen Du. "A troublemaker insulted me in public. Naturally, I must teach her a lesson. Stay out of this."
Shen Du paid him no mind and simply waved his hand. Jing Lin led his men forward to rescue the woman.
Surprisingly, as soon as the woman was pulled down from the vat, instead of expressing gratitude, she leaped back onto it again, continuing to cry out about the injustice.Such a person who did not value his own life was truly rare.
Shen Du also felt quite helpless, but as an official, he could not simply watch a living life perish before his eyes.
"Vice Minister Lai," Shen Du looked at Lai Luozhi, "this is Chang'an's Vermilion Bird Street, and the common people are all watching. Vice Minister Lai should not treat human life as worthless."
"Treat human life as worthless?" Lai Luozhi looked at Shen Du with disdain. "Hasn't the Great Pavilion Commander of the Grand Cabinet treated human life as worthless enough?"
Shen Du remained silent, but the conversation between the two was heard clearly by the woman in the sedan chair.
The Great Pavilion Commander of the Grand Cabinet!
So the one who arrived later was the White King of Hell, the Great Pavilion Commander!
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