“So it’s Young Master Pan. Indeed a descendant of Pan An, not only handsome but also exceptionally talented,” Zhuyan said admiringly, her face once again showing an infatuated expression.
This scene further irritated Shen Du, his face darkening to the extreme. He wished he could lock this woman in his arms, making her realize who truly belonged to her.
Mo Qianzhi didn’t notice Shen Du’s expression and continued, hearing Zhuyan’s praise, “Young Master Pan isn’t just an expert in solving cases. He’s also the top scholar in both civil and military exams. His pursuers could wear down the threshold of the Pan family’s door every day.”
Mo Qianzhi spoke the truth. Before Zhuyan embarked on her path of solving cases, she had heard of Pan Chi. His achievements at a young age were not just talk. He had not only attained the top rank in the civil exam but also in the military exam – a double top scholar, how many such individuals had there been throughout history?
Moreover, he was exceptionally handsome. It was hard not to cause a stir in Chang’an back then. Zhuyan remembered when Pan Chi rode through the streets after achieving his double top scholar status. People crowded the streets, jostling each other just to catch a glimpse of him.
The bolder ones threw everything they had at Pan Chi. To say his carriage was filled with fruits and melons would be most appropriate.
However, Zhuyan later dedicated herself to solving cases and gradually forgot these youthful memories.
“Indeed, a true golden boy…” Zhuyan couldn’t help but sigh. She had finally seen the real person; her girlish heart was aflutter.
However, Zhuyan’s words left everyone present confused.
“What do you mean by that, miss?” Pan Chi looked at Zhuyan with a puzzled expression.
Zhuyan hurriedly explained, “Shining wherever you go, isn’t that a rare treasure?”
Hearing Zhuyan’s explanation, Pan Chi seemed a bit embarrassed and lowered his eyes with a smile. This charming smile further stirred Zhuyan’s heart.
“Tsk tsk tsk…” Zhuyan clicked her tongue regretfully and sighed, “Such a beautiful man should be immersed in romance all day, yet he faces these corpses daily. What a waste.”
Hearing this, Pan Chi looked at Zhuyan with regret and said, “Isn’t the same true for you, miss? Being so beautiful, you should be enjoying glory in your boudoir, yet you’re also facing corpses and solving cases. It’s equally a pity.”
Receiving Pan Chi’s compliment, Zhuyan seemed a bit embarrassed.
Zhuyan glanced sideways, happening to look at Shen Du, only to find his face had darkened to the extreme.
His fists were tightly clenched, the veins on the back of his hands visibly protruding. From his state, it seemed he was about to hit someone.
Mo Qianzhi continued, “I don’t need to introduce these two to Young Master Pan, do I?”
Pan Chi waved his hand, “Of course not. I recognize the imposing White King of Hell, and the lady beside him must be the famous case-solver, Sixth Miss Zhu.”
“Yes, yes, I am Sixth Miss Zhu. My name is Zhuyan. I’m new here, please guide me.”
“Certainly,” Pan Chi also showed respect. “In the two major cases that swept Chang’an, though they seemed unsolvable, everything stemmed from human nature. Sixth Miss being able to solve both cases must mean you understand the key points. I truly admire you.”
“Finally, someone who appreciates me,” Zhuyan sighed. “To be honest, meeting Young Master Pan for the first time feels like we should have met long ago. Do you feel the same, Young Master Pan?”
“I feel the same. If time permits, I’d like to drink with Miss Zhu and discuss our methods of solving cases.”
“Why not…” Zhuyan eagerly agreed, but before she could finish, Shen Du suddenly coughed coldly from the side. “Since there’s already a great detective here, we’re not needed. We have other matters to attend to, so we won’t stay. Let’s go.”
With that, he stepped forward and grabbed Zhuyan’s wrist, ready to leave.
Mo Qianzhi looked bewildered. They hadn’t even started, why were they leaving?
Pan Chi, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned. “Leaving before we’ve even started? Could it be that Lord Shen feels his skills are inferior and is too ashamed to stay?”
Hearing this, Shen Du’s heart sank. He turned and coldly asked, “What did you say?”
The corner of Pan Chi’s lips curved up meaningfully. “I believe Lord Shen has already heard what I said. I don’t need to repeat myself.”
Shen Du’s gaze was exceptionally sharp. He stared coldly at the man before him. Except for those in Luozhiwei, no one had ever dared to be so presumptuous in front of him.
Pan Chi was not at all intimidated by Shen Du’s stare. His expression remained casual, and he occasionally winked at Zhuyan behind Shen Du.
Zhuyan truly had no defense against such a capable and handsome man. A single wink made her blush.
Seeing this, Shen Du became even more displeased. He pulled Zhuyan behind him and said in a deep voice, “If you want to compete, fine. But you should understand one thing clearly: regardless of who wins or loses, you can no longer use the title ‘Sixth Miss Zhu’ for her, because she has another identity – Madam Shen.”
Shen Du emphasized the words “Madam Shen” particularly strongly, stressing that Zhuyan was his woman.
Other men shouldn’t harbor any fantasies, let alone try to touch her.
Pan Chi shrugged, showing indifference. He was aware of the situation between Zhuyan and Shen Du. The title “Madam Shen” was merely nominal.
Seeing the atmosphere becoming tense, Mo Qianzhi quickly intervened, “Everyone gathered here is for the case. I am deeply grateful. Please don’t start internal conflicts. For the sake of the people, let’s focus on the case, shall we?”
Hearing Mo Qianzhi’s words, Shen Du’s expression slightly relaxed. He then glanced at the corpse on the stretcher and said two words, “Examine the body!”
The three of them examined the body together. The headless corpse showed signs of being dead for several days. The cut surface was smooth, indicating the killer’s hand was extremely steady. The brutality suggested a ruthless person. Besides this, there were no other obvious wounds.
Pan Chi examined the deceased’s clothing while explaining, “I came across this case by chance and was asked by the suspect’s brother-in-law to investigate. When the suspect was arrested, his clothes were very clean, and no murder weapon was found. He might have been wrongly accused.”
“Young Master Pan is an upright person. How could he watch innocent people be wronged?” Zhuyan said, intentionally or not. Shen Du, standing nearby, gave her a cold look.
They hadn’t known each other for even the time it took to drink a cup of tea, yet she could judge him as an upright person. How did this woman’s brain work?
After hearing Zhuyan’s praise, Pan Chi’s smile deepened. He turned slightly to study her for a moment, then shook his head. Indeed, he had never seen anyone like her before.
“Do we know the relationship between the killer and the victim?” Shen Du turned his gaze to Mo Qianzhi.
It was clear he didn’t want to deal with Pan Chi anymore. Even if he had questions, he didn’t want to ask him.