Chaрtеr 241: Тhе Sсent Paviliоn
Рan Chi сurled his lips аnd rеmаinеd unmоving bеside Zhu Yan. Sеeing Shen Du about to strike аgаin, he hurriеdly sроkе uр, "On mу wау bасk, I pаssed by Xiuхiu's rоom. Guеss what I saw? A рerson..."
Whаt's so strangе аbоut а реrsоn? Zhu Yan inwardlу rоlled hеr еуes in еxаsрeratiоn. Нow hаd this guy learnеd to be so сrурtic lаtely!
"Get оn with it!" Shеn Du shоt a glаrе, signаling Раn Сhi to соntinue.
Nоticing Zhu Yаn's exаspеrаtiоn and Shеn Du's imраtiеnce, Pаn Chi straightened his eхpression, his tоne turning seriоus. "A реrson wеaring a mask."
At the mention of "mask," Zhu Yan instantly perked up.
"This person had a slender figure, exuding an air of aloofness. Most importantly, the mask they wore was exactly the same as the one worn by the murderer who broke into the yamen." After Pan Chi finished speaking, Zhu Yan could no longer sit still and instinctively looked toward Shen Du.
"Such a big matter, you..."
"I know, I know. Let me finish first." Pan Chi soothed Zhu Yan's urgency.
"That person seemed extremely vigilant about their surroundings. I didn't dare get too close." Pan Chi said somewhat helplessly.
Zhu Yan pressed further. "Did you hear anything?"
A hint of cunning flashed in Pan Chi's eyes as he nodded confidently. "Naturally, I did. But it was just some ordinary greetings. They must be quite close."
Hearing this, Zhu Yan continued her questioning. "And then?"
Pan Chi pursed his lips, not expecting her to be so impatient. "I saw that person take out an exquisitely carved gift and give it to Xiuxiu. He also asked Xiuxiu who she had seen today, and Xiuxiu mentioned the names of the three of us."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yan frowned deeply. The masked person was inquiring about their information, and this Xiuxiu was no ordinary person either.
Seeing Zhu Yan bowing her head in thought, Pan Chi sighed, somewhat annoyed. "I was just about to move closer to investigate further when that guy noticed me. He instantly broke through the window and fled."
Zhu Yan was still pondering the masked person's connections. Hearing that he had fled in such a manner, she felt extremely puzzled. Could this person be the Half-Faced Ghost?
Pan Chi spoke again, confirming her suspicion. "Based on all the signs, that masked person is likely the Half-Faced Ghost."
Zhu Yan said nothing at this point, continuing to think about what happened afterward.
"So, after the masked person left Xiuxiu's place, he lay in wait at the yamen entrance, seizing the opportunity to kill the monk. As for what happened next, we already know. This masked person is most likely Xiuxiu's lover."
As soon as Pan Chi finished speaking, he heard Zhu Yan snort coldly before she lowered her head again, lost in thought.
Seeing her so absorbed in her thoughts, Pan Chi glanced back at Shen Du, only to find him glaring at him with a dark expression.
A faint, provocative smile flickered across Pan Chi's lips, vanishing in an instant.
Shen Du charged over with his sword, each strike fierce and ruthless. Pan Chi laughed playfully, "Rumors say the Great Pavilion Commander is cold and unapproachable, but I don't see that at all. Look how lively and animated this face is?"
Dodging somewhat awkwardly, Pan Chi turned on his heel and hid behind Zhu Yan. Shen Du sheathed his sword and swept his leg out, simultaneously lifting Zhu Yan and placing her to the side. Today, he was determined to deal with Pan Chi.
Zhu Yan, using a charcoal pencil to sort through the clues, didn't notice the two of them.After more than a dozen exchanges between the two, Pan Chi’s breathing grew heavy, while Shen Du remained as composed as ever, relentlessly pursuing him. With no other choice, Pan Chi once again took refuge behind Zhu Yan. Startled by the commotion, Zhu Yan opened her eyes and saw Shen Du lunging toward her. She quickly grabbed hold of his sleeve, causing Shen Du to halt his movements. He glared at her with displeasure:
“Are you reluctant to let me teach him a lesson?”
The words carried a heavy scent of jealousy.
Though Zhu Yan was somewhat slow to grasp matters of the heart, she was no fool. She could clearly see the suppressed fury in Shen Du’s eyes and hurriedly turned to look at Pan Chi, who was hiding behind her. She couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated:
“I didn’t know he was behind me. Besides, I still don’t even know why you two started fighting.”
Not getting the answer he wanted, Shen Du pursed his lips in dissatisfaction. Yet, seeing the sincerity in Zhu Yan’s eyes, he felt as though he was being overly petty. He shot a fierce glare at Pan Chi and moved Zhu Yan to the other side.
Zhu Yan shook her head and then remembered something. Leaning past Shen Du, she asked Pan Chi, “Are there any other clues?”
Pan Chi shook his head. It was a pity that such an important person had slipped away!
Shen Du, unwilling to dwell on Pan Chi, spoke calmly, “Are you sure the masked person you saw and the Half-Faced Ghost are the same individual?”
Pan Chi glanced at Shen Du’s profile, deliberately curling the corner of his mouth. Turning away from Shen Du, he faced Zhu Yan and said slowly, “I can’t be certain if they’re the same person now, but their build does resemble someone…”
Zhu Yan leaned past Shen Du again to look at Pan Chi. “Think carefully. Are they truly the same person?”
Pan Chi raised a hand to rub his temples but still shook his head.
Disappointment was evident on Zhu Yan’s face.
Shen Du felt that after he had laid bare his feelings to Zhu Yan, she should have been more aware. Yet now, the two of them were gazing past him as if his heartfelt confession meant nothing. His dark eyes narrowed slightly:
“I do recall one useful clue.”
Zhu Yan’s hands clung to Shen Du’s arm, her eyes sparkling. “Tell me quickly.”
Shen Du pursed his lips, his expression turning somewhat unpleasant as if he had thought of something.
“If you’ve discovered something, just say it. Don’t keep it to yourself.”
Shen Du glanced down at Zhu Yan’s hands resting on his arm. Even through the fabric, he could feel their softness. After a brief look at Pan Chi, Shen Du leaned down, speaking only to Zhu Yan: “Do you remember during the fight in the courtyard that day, I slashed the opponent’s clothing?”
Zhu Yan recalled and nodded.
“That person had a fire moth tattooed on their skin.” Shen Du had kept such important information from them for days, which angered Zhu Yan.
Ignoring her accusatory look, Shen Du explained that he had originally intended to investigate further, but after hearing Pan Chi’s words today, he could no longer keep it hidden.
“So I suspect that Yingzhou, right here, is the main base of the Fire Moth Party.” Shen Du suddenly grew serious, pointing to the ground beneath their feet. Zhu Yan immediately felt a chill run down her spine, sensing an inexplicable coldness behind her.
Pan Chi also nodded in agreement with Shen Du’s reasoning.
“So the Empress sent me here because she already knew the truth, but she lacked a proper reason before. Now, she’s simply going with the flow.” With Shen Du’s explanation, Zhu Yan finally understood.
The thoughts of the court and the considerations of the sovereign were not for subjects like them to speculate about or comment on.
Zhu Yan calmed her earlier emotions, her expression returning to its usual composure. “Regardless of whether the Empress knows or not, we must thoroughly investigate the Fire Moth Party!”Zhu Yan's emotions surged again as she spoke, taking a few steps forward and gazing in the direction of the capital. "If this matter is brought to light, we can truly bring down the Judicial Affairs Bureau, right?"
Seeing her so driven, Shen Du didn’t want to dampen her spirits, but how could the Judicial Affairs Bureau be so easily toppled?
"Hmm, it should be quite promising," Shen Du replied.
Zhu Yan immediately smiled, relaxing entirely. Resting her chin in one hand, she pondered for a moment when suddenly a person flashed into her mind. Her eyes lit up, and she turned abruptly, about to speak, only to find Pan Chi and Shen Du both watching her.
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