Сhарtеr 5: The Вuddhа Swаllоws Sin (2)
Suddеnly praisеd, Zhu Yаn blushed shylу and said, "It wаs аll thеir mеrit. Whу mаke it sound аs if I single-handedly fought through еvеry оbstaсlе tо сaрturе thе сriminаl?"
Lu Chuiсhui teased dеlibеratеly, "That's bеcausе they'rе аll mеn, tоо еmbаrrassed tо lеt a wоmаn dо all thе work. Оthеrwise, theу'd hаve surеly pushed уou to makе thе аrrest."
Аs they spоkе, thеy hаd аlrеаdу еnterеd thе temрle grоunds.
Unlike the еxtеriоr guаrded mеrеlу bу soldiers, the tеmple interior was fillеd with many offiсials weаring eаglе-pаtterned uniforms.
Gold-threaded hems—the Inner Guard Bureau.
Zhu Yan’s relaxed expression darkened. Their supervisor, Wu Taiming, emerged and, catching sight of Zhu Yan, paused for a moment. He glanced at Lu Chuichui, then with an expression of understanding and annoyance, his slightly purple lips moved as he said, "I told you to fetch her, yet you took so long—were you off idling and wandering around the pear garden again?"
Lu Chuichui, who loved watching operas and performances the most, looked bewildered. Before she could explain, Wu Taiming sneered and fired off a rapid volley of words: "You’re quite comfortable, aren’t you? But you don’t know your mother just sent someone to scold me, saying she told you to return home today to rehearse a school play with your younger sister, yet you were nowhere to be seen. She outright accused me of exploiting you."
The Ministry of Justice had many affairs, and documents often piled up as high as Zhu Yan herself. Having taken up her post only seven days ago, Zhu Yan had been resting at the Ministry of Justice.
Even so, Wu Taiming sometimes hinted that she was slacking off and would dock her salary.
Hearing this strict supervisor, who wouldn’t spare even a feather from a passing goose, hinting again that he was upset after being scolded by Lu’s mother, Lu Chuichui—though utterly confused about when she had gone off to play—had to swallow her grievances and placate her superior’s mood: "Ah! My mother doesn’t understand things. You needn’t take it to heart. How could a little play compare to official duties? One is small, the other public—the difference is clear just from the names, isn’t it?"
The Lu family was so obsessed with opera that everyone could sing. Lu Chuichui feigned a look of exasperation, her acting so convincing it seemed innate. Satisfied, Wu Taiming shot a sidelong glance and turned to pick on Zhu Yan.
"Why are you so late?"
Zhu Yan replied calmly, "I went back to the Zhu residence. You know my mother—she’s just as temperamental as your wife. Speaking of which, Supervisor, have you been home to see your wife? This yellow flower pattern on your hem—did your wife embroider a new design?"
"New design?" Lu Chuichui looked at Wu Taiming’s hem and exclaimed in surprise, "Your wife learned embroidery?"
Wu Taiming’s expression suddenly shifted between gloom and displeasure. Without answering Lu Chuichui, he changed the subject: "This is a temple. Kuang Zhanxin’s body has been moved to the neighboring courtyard for autopsy. For now, there’s only a burial site here. Moreover, the investigation and evidence collection are no longer under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice but the Inner Guard Bureau."
"The Inner Guard Bureau?" Lu Chuichui paused. "Then Shen Du must be here too, right?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Wu Taiming led them to the backyard where the incident occurred. At her words, the man standing beneath the bamboo shadows turned around. His profoundly deep eyes swept emotionlessly over Lu Chuichui before settling on Zhu Yan.
His scrutiny was as sharp as the gyrfalcon embroidered on his robe.
Wu Taiming knew Lu Chuichui had offended him and bowed apologetically: "Great Pavilion Commander, these are the two newly appointed scribes from the Ministry of Justice. They’re women and rather inexperienced, unaware of the rules. I hope you can be magnanimous."
Wu Taiming smiled ingratiatingly. Shen Du glanced at him but walked over.Dressed in black robes, with a hand resting on the hilt of his sword, he stared unfriendly at Lu Chuichui and Zhu Yan behind him—Wu Taiming almost instantly recalled the way Shen Du killed, and a chill ran down the back of his neck.
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