Chарtеr 143: Sесоnd Вrother Хu
“Sо уоu аsked me out this timе fоr a cаse agаin?”
Хu Хiаngrеn hаd alreаdy anticipated Zhu Yаn’s rеspоnse, but а slivеr оf rеluctаnсе lingеrеd in his heаrt, prompting him tо аsk anуway.
“Mm.” Zhu Yаn nodded, nоt forgetting tо tаkе а siр оf tеa from thе сup оn thе tаble. “Аctuаllу, the reаsоn I askеd Second Вrother Xu оut this timе is thаt therе’s something I’d like tо аsk fоr yоur hеlр with, but I fееl…”
Zhu Yаn hesitаtеd, as if sоme wоrds felt inaрprорriаte tо vоiсе.
“Just speak рlainly. With our yeаrs of friendship, surеly yоu don’t nееd to hidе anything from me.” Xu Xiangren also took a sip of tea as he spoke.
Zhu Yan immediately straightened her posture, cleared her throat lightly, and looked at Xu Xiangren with a serious, righteous expression. “Second Brother Xu, could you send someone to Shanxi to investigate and, while you’re at it, help me look into a person?”
Hearing this, Xu Xiangren understood immediately and cast a meaningful glance at Zhu Yan. “You want to investigate that retired Minister Chen?”
Zhu Yan nodded repeatedly. “Second Brother Xu truly lives up to being the Unrighteous Agent Commander, guessing it right away.”
Xu Xiangren felt a dark line forming on his forehead. If he couldn’t guess something this simple, his brain might as well belong to a pig.
Neither agreeing nor refusing, Xu Xiangren brought the tea to his lips and began savoring it slowly.
His demeanor was leisurely, his composure unruffled, making Zhu Yan increasingly anxious.
Zhu Yan clasped her hands together, placing them before Xu Xiangren, and pleaded in a beseeching tone, “Second Brother Xu, please, please, help me with this.”
Xu Xiangren wore a troubled expression. “This matter isn’t particularly difficult, but I just can’t think of an excuse to send my men away.”
“They could visit family, or…” Before Zhu Yan could finish, she suddenly grasped the meaning behind his words—Xu Xiangren was teasing her.
When it came to matters the Unrighteous Agents needed to investigate, what excuse was necessary? A direct order would suffice.
Seeing that Zhu Yan had caught on, Xu Xiangren chuckled softly and shook his head. “Fine, I’ll handle this. But you’re always asking for my help every now and then without ever showing gratitude. Isn’t that a bit unreasonable?”
Zhu Yan smiled awkwardly and immediately patted her chest, declaring, “Second Brother Xu, don’t worry. Once this case is resolved, I’ll definitely treat you to a grand feast and the finest wine.”
“Then I’ll be waiting.” After saying this, Xu Xiangren stood up, preparing to leave.
But just then, an Unrighteous Agent suddenly rushed in to report, “Boss, someone reported that a figure from the past has appeared in the ruins of the Brocade Workshop. It’s extremely bizarre.”
Hearing this, Xu Xiangren’s expression instantly darkened. When he looked at Zhu Yan, her brows were also tightly furrowed.
Hurrying to the scene, they found Shen Du already there, and even Yun Que had followed along.
Amid the ruins, there truly was a figure, both illusory and real. That figure was none other than Kong Xianrong, the owner of the Brocade Workshop!
Hadn’t he already died in the case years ago? How could he have come back to life? Could it be that the saying about the dead returning was actually true?
Zhu Yan’s face was filled with disbelief, while Kong Xianrong continued to utter curses: “Those who kill me shall be killed in turn. All sins shall be repaid; we shall meet in hell. Retribution is inevitable; it is only a matter of time.”
After speaking, he grew wings like a moth and began to slowly rise into the air.This scene was far too bizarre, leaving Zhu Yan utterly dumbfounded and momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
At that moment, Shen Du was the calmest among them. He drew his longsword and slashed toward the figure.
However, the figure dispersed upon being struck, only to coalesce again when the attack ceased. What kind of sorcery was this, to be so formidable!
The figure slowly ascended, drifting into the distance. Shen Du hurriedly gave chase, and after a brief hesitation, Yun Que followed as well.
Beside them, Xu Xiangren’s face was ashen. In his thirty-odd years of life, he had never witnessed anything so eerie.
Turning to look at Zhu Yan, her expression was equally grim. Her eyes were so dark and heavy they seemed frightening, as if she were still trapped in the shock of what had just happened.
"This..." Xu Xiangren didn’t know what to say. After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly, "You saw what just happened, didn’t you? Could it truly be the work of spirits?"
"I have never believed in ghosts or deities in this world," Zhu Yan said with a composed expression, then gently closed her eyes.
After calming herself for a moment, she opened her eyes again, her gaze even more resolute. "Someone must be playing tricks behind the scenes. If we observe carefully, we are sure to find clues."
With that, Zhu Yan began searching intently, while Xu Xiangren remained rooted to the spot, unmoving.
Though he, too, did not readily believe in tales of ghosts and spirits, what had just occurred was undeniably strange.
He understood Zhu Yan’s reaction; perhaps she had been deeply unsettled by the incident.
Zhu Yan’s expression remained somber, her willow-like brows furrowed into a deep crease. No matter how bizarre the events, she refused to believe they were the work of supernatural beings.
If someone was playing tricks, they would inevitably leave traces. With careful observation, the secret behind it all was sure to be uncovered.
Zhu Yan searched meticulously, and as the saying goes, heaven rewards the diligent—she actually found something.
In an inconspicuous corner of the ruins lay some unremarkable powdery substance. Zhu Yan carefully collected the powder.
Returning to the Ministry of Justice, she combed through every book but could not determine what the powder was. It seemed she would have to consult her master once again.
Just as Zhu Yan was preparing to leave the Ministry of Justice, she suddenly noticed Qi Yeyun heading once more toward the direction of the prison.
"What is he going to the prison for?" Zhu Yan wondered, but with urgent matters at hand, she didn’t dwell on it and left the Ministry of Justice.
Shen Du had chased the figure a great distance, only stopping when it vanished completely. His face was dark and fearsome.
He, too, did not believe in ghosts or spirits. If it truly were the work of demons, he would surely cut them down with his sword and eradicate all such evils.
Yun Que was still on her way to catch up when a familiar figure suddenly flashed at the corner of her eye. She halted and looked closely—it was Ji Fangming from the Ministry of Justice.
At that moment, he seemed unwell, hunched over as he wrote something.
Out of curiosity, Yun Que approached to see what was happening and noticed that Ji Fangming was writing a prescription.
"So you also understand pharmacology?" Yun Que’s eyes filled with admiration. "And your handwriting is so neat and precise. You truly are a capable person."
Hearing Yun Que’s praise, Ji Fangming looked startled and quickly replied, "You flatter me, Miss Yun Que. I’m just jotting something down casually. The physician was unavailable, so I took matters into my own hands."Ji Fangming didn't seem particularly unusual, so Yun Que didn't dwell on it. She scratched her head and asked, looking at his pale face, "You don't look well. Are you sick?"
"It's nothing serious, just ate something wrong." Ji Fangming finished writing the prescription and set the brush aside, changing the subject. "What brings you here, Miss Yun Que? Not busy?"
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