In the jail of the Prefecture Office, Wu Yu was awakened once again by a bucket of cold water. Zhan Yang looked at Wu Yu with stern eyes. “Wu Yu, if you still refuse to speak, this won’t be all.”
Wu Yu’s body was covered in bloody marks. Not far away, dozens of torture instruments hung on a wooden rack. A yamen runner had already placed the sharp hook for piercing shoulders into a brazier burning red-hot. The hook alone was terrifying enough, but once heated red-hot, it would only make the torture even more unbearable.
Wu Yu raised his head angrily. “Captain Zhan, I’ve told you everything I know, but you don’t believe me. You torture me here while the real killer roams free outside. Captain Zhan, is this your justice and righteousness?!”
Zhan Yang narrowed his eyes at Wu Yu. “Justice and righteousness? I only believe what I see!”
Wu Yu spat blood on the ground. “What you see? Seeing is believing, but sometimes what eyes see isn’t necessarily the truth. Captain Zhan, you’ve been deceived! You’ve been fooled by the real killer!”
Though Wu Yu’s face was filthy and his body covered in bloody marks, his eyes were bright and intense as he spoke. Zhan Yang frowned, showing a moment’s hesitation before asking, “Then tell me, why were you in that house?”
Wu Yu gave a cold laugh and lowered his head. “My presence in that house has nothing to do with the case you’re investigating. Why should I tell you?”
Zhan Yang turned and leaned against the table edge, his expression between a smile and not. “Is it because it’s unrelated to the case that you won’t speak, or because you’re afraid the old Wei Yuan Earl won’t forgive you if you do?”
Wu Yu’s expression changed slightly, the certainty instantly vanishing from his face.
Seeing his change in expression, Zhan Yang’s smile grew colder. Wu Yu was a tough one, unlike the pampered young masters from other noble houses. But it was precisely this that proved he was no simple character.
Zhan Yang continued, “Among the Wei Yuan Earl’s four sons, the other three are all useless. You’re not the old Earl’s biological son, but he had no choice but to entrust you with the official duties that support the family. All these years, you’ve done your utmost for the Wei Yuan Earl’s household. Without your hard work holding things together, the Wei Yuan Estate would have completely fallen apart long ago.”
Zhan Yang looked Wu Yu up and down for a moment. “Your mother remarried with you in tow, facing much hardship. That’s why you serve your mother with such filial piety. But the Wei Yuan Earl isn’t your birth father, and your elder brothers – the first and second – aren’t your blood siblings. They’re just good-for-nothing wastrels who idle their days away. You watch yourself struggling to keep things afloat, yet the old Earl still wants to divide the family property among them. You felt deeply resentful, so you began switching things around, trying to turn the family’s public assets into your private property.”
“Third Young Master, am I right?”
Zhan Yang’s words carried mockery, and Wu Yu’s lips pressed into a sharp line.
Zhan Yang continued, “But that wasn’t enough. You wanted to seek wealth and glory, wanted to save your mother. So when you heard about this ritual, you wanted to try it. Six years ago, you traveled west and learned about the Moon Worship Sect’s evil techniques. Later, on your way back to the capital, you stopped at Guanyin Town south of Lin’an. There, you killed three people to experiment but had to give up when the victims reported it and the authorities arrived. That case eventually fell on Master Zhang’s shoulders, and he served six years in your place.”
Wu Yu’s expression changed from anxiety and gloom to surprise, then he laughed helplessly. “If Captain Zhan weren’t serving as a captain, he’d make an excellent storyteller. Six years ago, I did indeed travel to study in the southwest, but I never heard of any Moon Worship Sect. As for this Guanyin Town you mention, I don’t even know where it is!”
Zhan Yang’s expression changed. “After so much time has passed, of course you can deny it!”
Wu Yu gave a cold laugh. “Since you know how I got my house, I’m not afraid to tell you – the person I was meeting at my western house was one of my subordinates. My three brothers are all useless – why should the wealth I’ve worked so hard to accumulate be divided among them?! The Wei Yuan Estate’s assets have already been squandered by the eldest and second brothers! If it weren’t for me these past few years, they’d all be rotting in prison! What’s wrong with me privately keeping the public assets? I deserve them!”
At this point, Wu Yu wasn’t afraid to speak out about these things. Zhan Yang’s eyes grew cold, and Wu Yu continued, “The eldest and second brothers’ debauchery would be one thing, but one’s a lecher and the other’s a gambler, and they’ve committed terrible acts for these vices. Captain Zhan claims to be righteous – you should be arresting them! As for my fourth brother, he was simply led astray by the eldest and second brothers! The Wei Yuan Estate sounds grand, but it’s completely rotten inside, just an empty shell of former glory. If I stop managing things, within two years the Wei Yuan Estate will become the laughingstock of the capital!”
As Wu Yu spoke, he began laughing, his laughter bitter and mocking, with hints of madness showing on his face. “Captain Zhan says I would kill for my mother? That I would set up rituals and kill people for wealth and glory? Haha… Captain Zhan probably doesn’t know that I’ve never believed in any Buddha or Heavenly Lord! Since childhood, I’ve only believed in myself. All these rituals and ceremonies are nothing but jokes in my eyes, yet you think I did all this… Those who believe in Tao and Buddha are nothing but waste in my eyes. I’m someone who can climb up by my own hands – why would I need to set up any rituals…”
Wu Yu seemed to have opened up completely, both defending himself and venting his frustrations about the past two days. Zhan Yang watched him with icy eyes. Suddenly, a yamen runner entered and whispered something in Zhan Yang’s ear. Zhan Yang frowned, looked at Wu Yu again, and ordered the guards, “Take him back and watch him carefully!”
The runner nodded, and Zhan Yang took his sword and left.
Walking along the corridor towards the outside, Zhan Yang’s expression was extremely dark. Only when he walked out of the prison and felt the bright light on his face did he let out a breath, his expression becoming somewhat more composed? He didn’t stop but went straight to the rear hall where they usually held discussions.
When he reached the rear hall, Qin Wan was already there. Seeing him appear, she turned and asked, “Any results?”
Zhan Yang cupped his hands in greeting and shook his head. “He still won’t confess, though he admitted to privatizing the Earl’s estate’s assets.”
Qin Wan nodded. “Perhaps Third Young Master Wu truly has nothing to do with this matter.”
Zhan Yang immediately frowned. “Princess, this…”
Qin Wan looked at Zhan Yang and said, “The killer failed to kill someone the previous time, but Captain Zhan should know there’s still one chance left – that is tomorrow night…”
Zhan Yang quickly said, “Princess means—”
“Master Zhang said before, the more people the killer sacrifices, the stronger the ritual’s power becomes. Therefore, the killer won’t miss tomorrow night’s opportunity. Whether Young Master Wu is the killer or not, perhaps we’ll know the answer tomorrow night.”
Zhan Yang wanted to speak but held back. He trusted Qin Wan, and besides, the Wu family’s third son couldn’t escape now. Even if he investigated others, Wu Yu would still be in prison. Qin Wan continued, “Master Zhang was the victim of the previous tragedy, so tomorrow night, we’ll still need Captain Zhan’s cooperation.”
Zhan Yang quickly asked, “Does the Princess already have suspicions?”
Qin Wan nodded and beckoned him closer.
Zhan Yang stepped forward, and Qin Wan began giving instructions in a low voice.
……
……
Leaving the yamen, Qin Wan went straight to the An Yang Marquis Estate. When she arrived, Yue Ning and Wei Qizhi were already waiting. Seeing them, Qin Wan said, “I’ve already arranged everything with Captain Zhan. Tomorrow we’ll proceed as originally planned.”
Wei Qizhi’s face showed gravity, appearing more steady and solemn than usual. “If things are truly as the Princess suspects…”
Qin Wan said, “If things are truly as I suspect, then we’ll have caught a murderer. What’s wrong with that?”
Wei Qizhi sighed. “It’s just that the ways of the world and human hearts are hard to fathom.”
Qin Wan and Yue Ning exchanged glances, and Yue Ning said, “What? Having second thoughts?”
Wei Qizhi looked at Yue Ning with a slight smile. “Not at all. I can still distinguish right from wrong. If I couldn’t even do that, how could I dare to be friends with two princesses?”
Yue Ning did not comment, and Qin Wan added, “Tomorrow we’ll meet again at the Marquis Estate.”
Wei Qizhi lifted his chin. “Princess, please rest assured. I won’t dare to mess things up.”
Qin Wan smiled and shook her head seeing Wei Qizhi’s manner. After saying this, Wei Qizhi took out a yellowed book from his sleeve and handed it to Yue Ning. “Princess, see what this is—”
Yue Ning was slightly surprised, took the book, opened it to look, and her eyes immediately lit up. “Is this the military treatise written by the great general Lu Zhigong of the previous dynasty?”
Wei Qizhi quickly nodded. “Indeed it is. The other day, after reading the military books I borrowed from you, I wasn’t satisfied, so I had someone search for more, and they found this volume.”
Yue Ning was overjoyed. “His military writings focus heavily on practical combat experience. They’re very hard to find nowadays.”
As she spoke, Yue Ning couldn’t wait to open it and start reading. After just a few glances, she showed a completely absorbed expression. While reading, she said, “I didn’t expect you would also be interested in military texts.”
Wei Qizhi seemed somewhat proud. “Why shouldn’t I be interested? Are you the only one allowed to like them?”
Yue Ning continued reading the book while secretly sighing. Nearby, Qin Wan looked at Yue Ning, then at Wei Qizhi, raising her eyebrows high. Having received the military book, Yue Ning was overjoyed and occasionally asked a question or two. Qin Wan didn’t understand military matters, so only Wei Qizhi spoke with her. As they talked back and forth, it became clear that Wei Qizhi truly did have considerable knowledge.
Yue Ning, as if having found a kindred spirit, spoke with unusual animation with Wei Qizhi.
Qin Wan sat to the side, drinking tea and watching, feeling increasingly unsettled. Seeing that it was getting late, she finally reminded Wei Qizhi that it was time to leave. Wei Qizhi departed reluctantly, looking back three times…
Qin Wan watched Wei Qizhi, while Yue Ning was still reading the military book. Qin Wan said, “I didn’t expect Young Master Wei to be so knowledgeable in this field…”
Yue Ning quickly said, “Yes, I didn’t expect it either. Looking at him now, he seems much more steady and reliable.”
Qin Wan mulled over these words, silently cursing Wei Qizhi!
……
……
Early the next morning, just as Wei Qizhi had risen, a servant came to report, “Young Master, someone outside seeks an audience. They say they’re from the Ran Mo Painting Gallery, here to see you—”
Wei Qizhi was slightly surprised. “Did they say what for?”
The servant shook his head. “No, they just said they needed to see you.”
Wei Qizhi didn’t dare take it lightly and hurried to the front hall, where he indeed found a servant he had seen at the Ran Mo Painting Gallery standing there.
Upon seeing him, the servant quickly said, “Young Master Wei, the painting that should have been delivered yesterday was delayed. That elderly gentleman who wanted to buy the painting said the buyer should come to collect it in person. Our master is bedridden, so he specially sent me to inform you.”
Wei Qizhi was surprised – he was supposed to go to the Marquis Estate later—
Wei Qizhi didn’t need to deal with this matter urgently, but thinking that Qin Wan’s interest in buying the painting was genuine, he asked, “Where is this elderly gentleman your master mentioned?”
The servant quickly produced a note. “This is what our master instructed to give you.”
Wei Qizhi took the note and opened it. The house was located in the southeast of the capital, not far from the address Ning Buyi had mentioned before, though it was somewhat distant from his current location. He hesitated for a moment, thought it over, and decided he could make it there and back before noon. He nodded, “Very well, I’ll go collect it now.”
The servant quickly responded, “Then I’ll return to report to our master.”
Wei Qizhi waved his hand, and seeing the servant leave, he quickly had someone help him change clothes. Taking enough silver with him, he mounted his horse and left. Wu Shu followed Wei Qizhi, and they rode towards the south of the city.
After riding for less than half an hour, they reached the house written on the note. The house wasn’t large and looked somewhat old, but its entrance was neat and inhabited. Ning Buyi usually collected paintings from fallen noble families, and this house seemed to fit that pattern. Wei Qizhi dismounted and had Wu Shu go forward to knock on the door.
Summer had arrived, and the morning heat was already rising. Looking at the sun climbing higher in the sky, Wu Shu looked at his master in confusion. “Master said we needed to go to the Marquis Estate, but this detour will take quite some time.”
Wei Qizhi raised his hand and gave Wu Shu a sharp knock on the forehead. “What do you know! I didn’t bring any small gifts today, but if I bring a painting, won’t the Princess be happy?!”
Wu Shu rubbed his forehead helplessly. “But this painting isn’t for Princess Yongning…”
Wei Qizhi raised his hand and knocked Wu Shu’s head again. “What do you know! Since when do you manage your master’s affairs!”
Wu Shu’s face was full of suffering. He wanted to argue more, but suddenly the old courtyard gate creaked open. Behind it stood a gray-robed elder who looked at Wei Qizhi, then at Wu Shu, and asked, “Here to buy paintings?”
The words weren’t particularly polite, but Wei Qizhi, intent on buying the painting, couldn’t be bothered with such details. He nodded, “Yes, elder, please trouble yourself to take me to see your master—”
The gray-robed elder smiled and nodded, first letting them into the courtyard.
After they entered, the elder closed the gate and then led them toward the main hall. When they reached it, it was empty, but the gray-robed elder led them past the covered walkway toward the back courtyard. While the outside had looked clean and tidy, the inside was equally orderly – so orderly it seemed as if the courtyard was only maintained but not lived in.
Wei Qizhi felt some doubt rising in his heart but didn’t ask anything. When they reached the back courtyard, tea and snacks had already been set out in the cooling pavilion, along with an incense burner. The gray-robed elder said, “Young Master Wei, please be seated for a moment while this old servant goes to invite the master.”
Wei Qizhi nodded and walked over with Wu Shu. At a glance, he saw that the tea, snacks, and incense burner were all quite exquisite. Wisps of sandalwood incense rose from the burner. Wei Qizhi lifted his robe to sit down and glanced at the refreshments but didn’t touch them.
The back courtyard was full of flowers and trees, creating quite an elegant atmosphere. Shortly after sitting down, two figures emerged from the rear hall. Wei Qizhi instinctively stood up to greet them, but when he saw who had come out, his expression suddenly changed.