“Oh, I thought it was something important! It’s just this small matter!”

For the Hanlin Academy to issue a written decree was a small matter in itself.

There was no need to request instructions from Prince Huyi at all.

Lord Zheng took the written decree and squinted his eyes to look at it.

It was no different from the written decrees usually brought before him.

Moreover, it was written even better than usual, with neat handwriting and very clear explanations!

It was written by a scholar.

Therefore, he had no suspicions.

Immediately, Lord Zheng took out his seal kept in the drawer and stamped it.

Finally done!

However, he couldn’t help but ask: “But, has the Hanlin Academy had any recent business requiring a trip to the Ministry of Revenue? How come I don’t know about it?”

Gong Shilin was naturally fully prepared. He said: “Previously, the Library Pavilion had a rat problem that damaged quite a few historical records, so we need to gradually organize things. But some lost content may need to be cross-referenced with materials from the Ministry of Revenue. After all, these are historical records—we cannot be careless.”

He spoke methodically!

Without a single flaw to pick at.

After listening, Lord Zheng said “Mm.”

He handed the stamped written decree back to him: “Go handle your business.”

“Yes.”

Gong Shilin withdrew.

But Lord Zheng called out to him again, saying: “Oh, by the way, Shilin! How has your father, Left Minister Gong, been lately?”

“Father is well.”

“Tell him to join me for tea when he has time.”

“Yes, I’ll definitely pass that along.”

Gong Shilin then left.

He returned to his own office, took out his personal seal, and stamped it next to Lord Zheng’s seal.

The seal was square, with four characters carved on it: “Hanlin Constant Inspection Seal”!

In the middle of the four characters was a flower, of unknown variety.

This was also uniquely Gong Shilin’s.

After everything was prepared, he left the palace, planning to deliver this written decree to Li Cheng.

He had finally helped him handle this matter!

But what Gong Shilin hadn’t expected was that his carriage had just stopped at his own gate when he saw Li Cheng’s carriage coming from the opposite direction.

They “collided” perfectly.

Gong Shilin thought to himself, could it be that Li Cheng already had a premonition and knew he had finished writing the decree, so he came?

He hid the written decree in his sleeve, wanting to give Li Cheng a surprise.

He got out of the carriage, and a servant held an umbrella for him.

Heavy snow falling, cold wind blowing.

He walked forward a few steps and saw Li Cheng jump down from the opposite carriage, hurrying toward him without even holding an umbrella.

“I was just looking for you,” Li Cheng said.

“I was looking for you too.”

Li Cheng glanced at the servant beside him, “Have your person step away.”

Gong Shilin anticipated this wouldn’t be good news, otherwise Li Cheng wouldn’t be so urgent.

“Let’s go inside to talk.”

“No need, we’ll talk right here. After we’re done, I still have other matters.”

“…” Gong Shilin was speechless and could only instruct the servant beside him, “Go inside first.”

“Yes.” The servant handed him the umbrella and then moved away.

Gong Shilin reached his hand into his sleeve, preparing to take out the written decree, saying as he did: “You came at just the right time. I have something to…”

But who would have known—

He was suddenly interrupted by Li Cheng.

Li Cheng asked directly: “Gong Shilin, I’ll ask you one last time—the day Du Mubai died, did you see him or not?”

Uh!

Gong Shilin’s hand reaching into his sleeve suddenly froze.

His fingertips had already touched the written decree, and at this moment, he could have taken it out and given it to Li Cheng.

But—

He silently withdrew his hand from his sleeve.

His face full of disappointment.

The heavy snow faintly blocked his vision. He looked at Li Cheng standing before him and said: “You already asked me this when we were at the Third Prince’s residence last time. My answer is still the same—no!”

He responded with complete certainty.

“Really not?”

“Li Cheng, just speak plainly if you have something to say.”

“The case now probably has some leads. The preliminary determination is that the person Du Mubai went out to meet that day was the murderer! And the person he went to meet must have been someone who could help him in official circles. But besides our Marquis of Pingyang’s household, the only person I can think of is you. After all, you were the one who originally recommended him to my father. When he was at his wit’s end, perhaps the only person he could think of was you. That’s why I came to ask you.”

In the end, he still didn’t believe him.

Gong Shilin smiled bitterly, thinking that Li Cheng was still dwelling on childhood matters and was now using this as an excuse to interrogate him.

He said: “In the end, you still suspect me and think that Du Mubai’s death must be related to me.”

“Don’t arbitrarily misconstrue my meaning. If I truly believed you were the murderer, I wouldn’t have come here. I would have already sent people to arrest you and take you to the City Bureau for questioning.”

“Then what are you saying now?”

“I just want to confirm.”

“And then?”

“And then…” Li Cheng was at a loss for words.

Gong Shilin said: “Forget it. Round and round, it’s all the same—in your heart, you still believe the person Du Mubai went to meet that day was me. So no matter what I say, you’ll still suspect me.”

“Then provide proof that you weren’t there that day.”

“Proof?”

“In other words, what were you doing the day Du Mubai died?”

“If you don’t believe me, nothing I say will be of use.” Gong Shilin didn’t want to explain. “Didn’t you say you still have other matters? Then hurry and go busy yourself. When you find evidence proving that the person Du Mubai went to meet that day was me, send people to arrest me anytime. I absolutely won’t resist.”

Having said this, he turned and entered the residence.

Li Cheng chased after him a couple of steps, calling out: “Didn’t you say you also had something to find me about?”

He didn’t even turn his head: “Not anymore.”

He had intended to give the written decree to Li Cheng, but he temporarily changed his mind.

He wouldn’t give it anymore!

Looking at his retreating figure, Li Cheng felt conflicted.

His heart was in turmoil, unable to calm down.

Until a guard who had come with him stepped forward to remind him: “My lord, with such heavy snow, you should get in the carriage.”

By this time, Li Cheng’s body was already covered with a layer of snow.

Having no answers, he could only get in the carriage and leave.

And just after Li Cheng left, Gong Shilin, who had been walking into the residence, suddenly stopped his steps. He turned to watch Li Cheng’s carriage gradually move farther away, finally disappearing into the heavy snow.

Even though it was now the cold winter, his palms were actually sweating!

Clenched tightly into fists.

Those originally pitiful and innocent eyes gradually darkened as well.

No one understood him.

Until the servant beside him called out: “Young master?”

Only then did he come back to his senses.

“Young master, what’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.”

He tightened his collar, then took out the written decree from his sleeve and handed it to the servant, instructing: “Take this and burn it.”

Huh?

Although the servant had never worked in official circles, he knew that yellow official documents belonged to the court and couldn’t be burned.

“Young master, this cannot be burned.”

“It’s just waste paper. Burning it is fine.”

Having said this, he headed toward his own courtyard.

The servant didn’t say anything more.

Holding this written decree that had just been stamped with seals, he went to the woodshed, preparing to burn it!