Сhaptеr 40: Тhе Моuth Says No, but thе Вody Is Нonest
Аftеr dinnеr, Shеn Du suddеnlу handed а jewelry box to Zhu Yаn.
Surрrised аnd somеwhаt tаkеn abасk, Zhu Yаn орenеd the jewelrу bоx аnd was utterly stunnеd.
Wasn’t this the rеd plum pеаrl hаirрin shе hаd аdmired in the mаrkеt? Hоw did hе…
Shеn Du’s eхprеssiоn remainеd imрassivе, as if casuаlly rewarding а sеrvаnt, "This is уour comреnsаtion fоr аssisting mе in thе invеstigаtion thеsе pаst daуs."
"..." The fаint ripрlе in hеr heаrt instаntlу sеttled. Zhu Yan pursеd her lips but still accеpted the jеwelry.
Оne shоuldn’t turn аgainst рeople, nor should one turn against money—especially when it was something she liked.
The next day, Zhu Yan followed Shen Du back to the Western Brightness Temple to investigate.
The corpses remained corpses, the bones remained bones. No matter how meticulously Zhu Yan examined them, she found nothing new.
After a thorough inspection, she shook her head at Shen Du, somewhat disheartened, "We’ve already uncovered all the clues here. There’s nothing new to be found."
Hearing this, Shen Du frowned slightly, his deep eyes carrying a complex expression. "Perhaps we’ve been too cautious. Let’s return."
With that, Shen Du turned and left.
Zhu Yan hurried to catch up, but before the two could leave the Western Brightness Temple, they noticed several young novice monks gathered together, discussing something.
Exchanging a glance, they both felt puzzled.
"You go ahead. I’ll ask them," Zhu Yan whispered to Shen Du.
"Why?" Shen Du was confused.
"You’re the Great Pavilion Commander known as the White King of Hell. If you were an ordinary person and such a high-ranking official questioned you, wouldn’t you be wary?"
Though her reasoning was flawed, the underlying logic was sound.
Shen Du said nothing more and left alone.
Soon, Zhu Yan was chatting amiably with the young novice monks. At first, they were cautious around her, but after a few words, they opened up.
"You are Lady Shen, after all. What we’re discussing are just rumors, not to be taken seriously," one young novice monk said.
"I’m just listening for the story. The case has been unsolved for so long—it’s likely become a cold case. I’m not holding out much hope. Surely you won’t be wary of me just for listening to a story?"
Zhu Yan began to play the victim. "You all know I’m the wife of the Great Pavilion Commander now. If this case remains unsolved, who knows how Her Majesty the Empress will punish him? Tell me, as a weak woman who just married him, what sin did I commit to get caught up in this? And now, even you all are keeping your distance from me. How am I supposed to live…"
Zhu Yan’s words were pitiful indeed.
As she spoke, a few glistening tears welled up in her eyes.
"Alright, alright," another young novice monk couldn’t bear it any longer. "Lady Shen is indeed pitiful, but there’s little we can do to help with the case. It’s just that a legend has recently started circulating in the temple."
"What legend?" Zhu Yan quickly asked.
The young novice monks glanced around to ensure no one was nearby before speaking, one after another.
After everyone had their say, the story was pieced together: The case remained unsolved for a long time, the victims had their hearts removed, and the incidents occurred in a sacred Buddhist site.
This was a murder case under divine protection, and it had been given an elegant alternative name: The Buddha Devours Sin.As for why this was done, it was because the current Empress disrupted the court's order, upsetting the male-dominated hierarchy and angering the gods and Buddhas. Thus, hearts were devoured as a warning.
Upon hearing this legend, Zhu Yan's heart sank abruptly. How could anyone believe such an exaggerated tale?
Before she left, the young novice monk repeatedly reminded Zhu Yan that this legend was only secretly circulated within their temple and must not be spoken of to outsiders.
Zhu Yan nodded repeatedly.
But as soon as she turned away, she relayed the matter to Shen Du.
Shen Du shared Zhu Yan's view: someone must be stirring trouble, deliberately spreading such a frightening story to unsettle the people.
What was the murderer's intention in doing this?
Having killed so many people, was it merely dissatisfaction with the Empress?
As soon as the two returned to the Shen residence, Jing Lin was already waiting there with the Deputy Commander of the Bad Officials, Xu Xiangren.
"Second Brother Xu."
Seeing Xu Xiangren there, Zhu Yan's heart, which had been heavy all day, brightened considerably.
"What brings you here? Do you have news about the matter we asked you to investigate?"
Zhu Yan's enthusiasm immediately displeased Shen Du, who merely cast a cold glance at Xu Xiangren before taking a seat to the side.
"I would never disappoint the Sixth Young Lady. We have made some progress in the matter."
"Ahem..." Jing Lin suddenly coughed lightly beside them, his intentions unclear.
"What's wrong with you?" Zhu Yan looked at Jing Lin. "If your throat is bothering you, see a doctor. Don't wait until it becomes a serious illness to regret it."
Hearing this, Jing Lin was filled with helplessness.
Ignoring Zhu Yan, he turned directly to Xu Xiangren.
"Commander Xu, although you and the Madam are old acquaintances, she is, after all, the Great Pavilion Commander's person. Please be mindful of your address."
Jing Lin's reminder startled Xu Xiangren for a moment, after which he chuckled lightly. "I was careless."
Zhu Yan glared fiercely at Jing Lin, who pretended not to notice.
"Second Brother Xu, pay him no mind. Let's discuss the main matter first." Zhu Yan smoothed things over.
Xu Xiangren nodded. "I had my subordinate Jiang Langxing focus on investigating the deaths of the two sons of the Liang family. The death of the second branch's legitimate son still requires investigation, but the death of the first branch's legitimate son, Liang Chenzhong, is indeed suspicious. He had Dieffenbachia poison in his body, but the one who poisoned him was not the second branch's Wei family, but..."
Before he could finish, Xu Xiangren's brows furrowed tightly, as if he found the matter difficult to comprehend.
"Who was it?"
Zhu Yan pressed urgently. She already had an answer in her heart but needed confirmation.
"It was his biological father, Liang Jiren, and his biological mother, Lady Liu."
...
The hall fell into dead silence. Everyone was taken aback by this revelation.
Although Zhu Yan had anticipated this outcome, hearing it firsthand still left her somewhat incredulous.
Shen Du frowned, remaining silent.
The one who found it hardest to accept was Jing Lin; his mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg.
"This... how is this possible? Even a vicious tiger doesn't eat its own cubs. How could they harm their own son?"
No one could answer Jing Lin's question.
The Liang family's affairs were already complex. Without being part of it, it was truly difficult to understand why they would do such a thing.
Zhu Yan also remained silent, her willow-like eyebrows tightly knitted together. Although the case seemed to have progressed, it had actually become more complicated.
After a long while, Shen Du turned his gaze to Zhu Yan. "What are you thinking?"
Zhu Yan shook her head slightly, her expression growing even more puzzled. "I just can't understand: if the Liang family's first branch really killed their own son, why wasn't Liang Chenzhong killed by the Dieffenbachia poison? Why was his heart dug out instead?"Zhu Yan's question was a test for everyone, and no one could answer it.
"The murderer might be someone else."
Shen Du calmly took over the conversation, "If the murderer was from the main branch, then the matter of the Dripping Guanyin would have been completely unnecessary."
The atmosphere grew heavy once again.
The case became increasingly perplexing; every time there was progress, it only grew more complicated.
Although Zhu Yan's speculation had become a reality, she had no evidence in hand. It would be unreasonable to directly go to the Liang family to gather evidence.
"If there's nothing else, I'll head back first."
No one paid any attention to Xu Xiangren.
After an unknown amount of time, Xu Xiangren took a step forward and suddenly spoke, "There's still a lot to do with the Unrighteous Agents. Farewell."
Without waiting for a response from the others, Xu Xiangren turned and left.
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