Chарtеr 12: Тhе Serial Disaррearаnce Саsе
Zhu Yаn nоddеd. Besidе her, Lu Chuichui, whose legs hаd grоwn numb from stаnding, said shе wоuld gо inquirе abоut Коng Sui'еr аnd Kuаng Zhanxin befоrе leаving.
Xu Xiangrеn smiled. "Miss Lu is still аs spirited аs еvеr." Shаking his hеаd, hе took оut а doсumеnt аnd handеd it to Zhu Yаn. "I'vе alreаdу discussеd this matter with the Сhief Constаblе, аnd he аsked me to infоrm уоu as wеll."
Zhu Yаn ореnеd it. Inside thе dоcumеnt werе severаl reсоrds оf disaрреаrance сases.
Without exсeption, аll were рrostitutеs whо had gоne missing, and all had occurred between April 15th and May 10th.
The portraits attached showed different faces, yet they all shared common traits.
Including Kuang Zhanxin from this case.
At first glance, they all bore a vague resemblance.
"Disappearance cases are common every year, but the proportion involving prostitutes is extremely low," Xu Xiangren said. "The Chang'an Magistrate first noticed this because last year, the Brothel Matron of the missing prostitute was no easy character and caused him such a headache. After seeing Kuang Zhanxin's portrait, he felt something was off and summoned the Chief Constable."
"I heard that after the Inner Guard Bureau took over, they didn't take the matter seriously. So, the Chang'an Magistrate didn't dare bypass the Inner Guard Bureau and report directly to the Ministry of Justice," Xu Xiangren sighed. "It's common knowledge throughout Chang'an that court officials fear the White King of Hell when standing and dread the Black Yama King when sitting. Neither the Chief Constable nor the Chang'an Magistrate dared provoke the White King of Hell. Since you're in the Ministry of Justice, if you sense something amiss, you can report it and let the Minister of Justice decide. Besides, the White King of Hell surely wouldn't draw his sword to kill his wife over this..."
Zhu Yan smiled. "You've misunderstood."
If not for the recent marriage and the Empress Zhou still remembering the matter, the head beside the one in the sedan that day would have been her own.
Flipping through the document, Zhu Yan said, "I'll discuss this with the Director. If it truly is a serial..."
"Serial what?"
A voice cold enough to pierce bone silenced the bustling street noise in Zhu Yan's ears.
She didn't turn around, but from Xu Xiangren's respectful bow and retreat, she knew who the cold-blooded, detestable person behind her was.
Taking a breath, Zhu Yan turned her head. "What brings the Great Pavilion Commander to Pingkang Ward? Could it be that you have a paramour here? If so, this humble official will not disturb you and will take her leave..."
Her chin was lifted by a firm grip.
Shen Du stood in his official robes, his sword-like brows slightly raised, his deep phoenix eyes narrowing at her as he let out a cold laugh. "Isn't my paramour right here? If you leave, how am I supposed to meet my paramour?"
He repeated the word "paramour" twice. Though Zhu Yan knew he was mocking her, the spot where he held her felt hot and burning, like a boiling stone thrown into cold water, threatening to bring her entire pot to a boil.
Quickly stepping back, Zhu Yan rubbed her chin and asked, "I... why is the Great Pavilion Commander here?"
Jing Lin, standing behind Shen Du, said coldly, "It's all because the Sixth Lady didn't return all night. This morning, Minister Zhang sent someone with gifts but couldn't find the Sixth Lady. They nearly thought we had done something to the unrestrained and rule-breaking Sixth Lady, almost alarming even His Majesty."
Shen Du said indifferently, "I doubt His Majesty expected you to be here, and with an Unrighteous Agent at that."
Setting aside the issue of her being with an Unrighteous Agent, Zhu Yan was first astonished that her mere absence overnight as a concubine-born daughter of the Zhu family could disturb Emperor Zhou.
After a long silence, Zhu Yan understood. For the first time, she realized how terrifying a political game her marriage to Shen Du truly was.Zhang Xingwei's early morning gift was certainly not sent with any hope for her safe survival. Most likely, he knew about her substitution in the marriage and had planned that if she lived, she would monitor Shen Du, and if she died, he would submit a memorial to condemn Shen Du to death.
As for why the Zhou Emperor would take action in this matter, it was simply because she needed to rely on the struggles between powerful ministers to maintain a balance of power.
Zhu Yan’s question about whether her parents would be implicated suddenly became unnecessary, because no matter what, both Zhang Xingwei and Shen Du would surely be able to persuade the Zhou Emperor to remain calm and unworried.
“I stayed at the Ministry of Justice with Erniang last night,” Zhu Yan said. “Since we are an incompatible couple, returning home would only mean mutual disgust.”
After examining Kuang Zhanxin’s body yesterday, Zhu Yan and Lu Chuichui had hurried to Pingkang Ward. However, as they rarely visited such places, they only learned upon arriving at Bright Hall that new guests needed to meet the Brothel Matron or have a recommendation from a regular patron to enter. Planning to get a recommendation from Lu Chuichui’s cousin today, and considering the long distance back to the Zhu and Lu residences inconvenient, Zhu Yan and Lu Chuichui returned to the Ministry of Justice before the palace gates were locked.
At that moment, Shen Du was completely forgotten by her, and she only remembered him again when she was settling down to sleep at the Ministry of Justice.
Recalling how she had tossed and turned, unable to sleep last night because of this detestable man, Zhu Yan lowered her eyes, unwilling to even look at Shen Du.
Shen Du glanced at her and acknowledged, “It’s a good thing you have self-awareness.”
Zhu Yan had no desire to speak with him further. She curtsied slightly and turned to look for Lu Chuichui. But as she passed Shen Du, a raised horizontal saber blocked her path.
“However, no matter what, you are already Shen Madam in the eyes of everyone,” Shen Du lowered his arm. “To prevent Zhang Xingwei from speaking nonsense before His Majesty, claiming that I, Shen Du, am mistreating my new wife, today you must stay with me.”
If she had to stay with him all day, how could she investigate the case?
Zhu Yan reluctantly said, “The Inner Guard Bureau handles countless matters daily, and the Great Pavilion Commander still has to deal with the Liang family’s second branch for His Majesty. Bringing me along would surely be inconvenient…”
“Are you dead or disabled?”
Zhu Yan choked, looking up at Shen Du. “What does the Great Pavilion Commander mean?”
Shen Du gestured with two fingers to his subordinate behind him and said to Zhu Yan, “Since you are neither dead nor disabled, where is the inconvenience, Madam?”
Without giving her a chance to argue, she was pulled over. Zhu Yan watched as Jing Lin very naturally took her horse and led her toward the ward gate.
When the Inner Guard Bureau handled matters, everyone made way. The vendors and pedestrians on the long street wisely scattered. Zhu Yan, hanging from Shen Du’s arm, stumbled backward and caught sight of Lu Chuichui in front of Lanran Smoke. She mouthed a plea for help, but Lu Chuichui merely shrugged, indicating there was nothing she could do.
Zhu Yan resigned herself to her fate. When they reached the ward gate, Shen Du’s horse was still held by his subordinate.
She thought he would let her go, or at least not maintain this posture, but to her surprise, Shen Du nodded toward his horse and said to her, “Get on.”
Zhu Yan didn’t move.
She thought Shen Du was probably insane.
“I can ride my own horse and follow behind you,” Zhu Yan suppressed the urge to curse at Shen Du and spoke calmly.
Shen Du refused to budge. “Get on.”
Zhu Yan’s eyelashes fluttered as she was about to speak, but Shen Du lowered his head and leaned closer to her.
She saw her own reflection in his pupils and noticed his straight, well-defined nose.
The uniquely masculine heat radiating from him made her face burn with discomfort."If you don't get on, I have plenty of ways to make His Majesty see our 'deep marital affection.'" Shen Du's fingers brushed her chin, his thumb grazing Zhu Yan's full, soft lower lip. "My lady, I presume you've never been intimately touched by a man before?"
Zhu Yan abruptly looked up, clearly seeing the cold curve of Shen Du's lips.
"If I were to kiss you right here in the street, I doubt anyone would dare say a word."
Zhu Yan's spine stiffened as if struck by lightning, and in an instant, she swiftly stepped onto the stirrup and mounted the horse.
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