Lu Ying listened and asked: “Chen Dalang was morally corrupt, secretly marrying a government slave until she became pregnant?”

Wang Daxia chuckled: “Both Qianhu Chen and his son are dead, which actually benefits any illegitimate child. If that government slave fiancée gave birth to a son, with the Chen family having single-heir transmission for five generations, this illegitimate child could inherit the Imperial Guard Qianhu title. If the Chen family doesn’t acknowledge him, the title would be canceled by the court for having no heir. So the Chen family would have to hold their noses and acknowledge him.”

Lu Ying disdained: “Nonsense. Setting aside whether Miss He’s child was male or female, or even survived—killing one’s father and even grandfather for a title is too fantastical.”

“Lord Lu manages his household well with harmonious family relations, so Commander Lu would naturally think I’m talking nonsense.” Wang Daxia first flattered Lu Bing obsequiously, then his gaze darkened as he said:

“My family is different. I’m the eldest legitimate son, but my stepmother has her own biological child. Her selfish thoughts are like Sima Zhao’s intentions—obvious to all. Besides those with blood feuds against Qianhu Chen and his son, it could also be someone who benefits from their deaths.”

“So stop focusing only on me—go find others instead. I merely fought with Chen Dalang once. Please spare me.” Wang Daxia laughed heartily, as if the gloom in his eyes moments before was an illusion.

Hearing this, Lu Ying felt Wang Daxia had found an alternative angle that seemed somewhat reasonable, so he said: “Sir, please return home to rest. I need to detour to the Chen family to ask about that government slave fiancée.”

Lu Bing pointed at Wang Daxia: “Take him along to investigate the case.”

Wang Daxia immediately waved his hands: “This has nothing to do with me.”

Lu Ying’s face darkened: “Sir doesn’t trust my abilities, yet trusts a dandy who was once a suspect?”

Lu Bing said: “Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. In understanding human nature, the three teachings and nine schools, and worldly darkness, you’re not as good as Wang Daxia. To solve this case quickly, you need assistance. Working step by step behind closed doors won’t work.”

Before Lu Ying could react, Wang Daxia quickly said: “I don’t agree. In this sweltering heat, aren’t watermelons delicious enough or cooling mats comfortable enough to sleep on? I won’t go looking for trouble hunting murderers.”

“This case has a connection with you—it always involves you somehow. With my years of intuition in the Imperial Guard, you should be able to play a major role. Besides…” Lu Bing leisurely picked up his tea bowl and said:

“If you don’t help the Imperial Guard investigate, I’ll immediately have you tied up and sent to the Wang residence.”

Wang Daxia looked like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, extending his hands: “Come on, tie me up right now. Who knows me better than myself? I’ll just find another chance to escape home.”

“What will you use to escape?” Lu Bing suddenly drew his sword. Wang Daxia crouched to dodge, feeling a chill on his back as Lu Bing’s sword flicked away the bundle from his shoulder!

Lu Bing threw the bundle into a chest and locked it: “This should be all your private savings, right? Penniless, do you plan to beg for a living after escaping?”

Wang Daxia jumped around anxiously: “Lord Lu, what skill! Bullying the small with the big! Using strength to oppress the weak!”

Seeing Wang Daxia suffer, Lu Ying felt secretly pleased and said sarcastically: “Where could he go? Definitely to find some Miss Yingying, seeking out his female confidant, living off women.”

Lu Bing laughed: “Your father has already sent people to stake out Miss Yingying’s neighborhood, waiting for you to walk into their trap. However, if you cooperate with Lu Ying to solve the case, I’ll return your private money and help you plead with your father to lift the house arrest and let bygones be bygones. How about it?”

Worthy of being the Imperial Guard Commander, Lu Bing’s moves were lethal, blocking all of Wang Daxia’s escape routes.

Wang Daxia was a rogue, but Lu Bing was a thousand-year-old fox who had long since become a spirit, completely controlling Wang Daxia.

Wang Daxia dejectedly hugged his head and squatted in the carriage corner: “What else can I do? I have no choice. But Lord Lu, such a high official, must not go back on your word.”

Lu Bing nodded with satisfaction: “You two can get off the carriage now. I hope to know the results soon.”

Wang Daxia and Lu Ying looked at each other, then turned away—each looked down on the other.

The two got off the carriage together. Lu Bing said from the carriage window: “Don’t stay up late—you’re at the age where you’re still growing.”

Then pointing at Wang Daxia: “Give him the tasks that require staying up late. He’s at your disposal—his private money is in my hands, so he doesn’t dare disobey orders.”

The dignified Imperial Guard Commander actually practiced double standards openly.

Wang Daxia protested: “I’m also growing. I also can’t stay up late.”

Lu Bing said: “You’ve repeatedly opposed the Imperial Guard, caused a ruckus at our headquarters today, and hid under my carriage. Don’t the Imperial Guards need face? If we don’t make you suffer a bit, who will fear us in the future?”

Lu Ying was in excellent spirits, beckoning to the helpless Wang Daxia: “Come, let’s go question the Chen family.”

Wang Daxia, concerned about his private money and freedom, wished he could solve the case tonight—he was even more anxious than Lu Ying: “The Chen family line is extinct, leaving only two widows. Chen Dalang definitely hid the scandal of getting his government slave fiancée pregnant from his mother and legitimate wife. What could you possibly get out of them? Those two widows could cry your ears deaf.”

Lu Ying was stumped and asked: “What do you propose?”

“Follow me.” Wang Daxia rode his horse, leading Lu Ying to a bathhouse near the Royal Armory called Huaqing Pool.

By now it was dark. Night watchmen struck their drums, reminding people to return home immediately—curfew would begin in half an hour.

Wang Daxia dismounted and pushed aside the Huaqing Pool’s door curtain to enter.

“What are you doing at a bathhouse?” Lu Ying asked.

Wang Daxia said: “Behind the bathhouse is an underground gambling den. As the master, so the servant—Chen Dalang’s book boy is a regular at this gambling house. I’m going to grab him for questioning. This book boy has followed Chen Dalang since childhood, inseparable—Chen Dalang couldn’t even use the toilet without him bringing paper, let alone getting a woman pregnant.”

Indeed, only opponents truly understand each other. Though Wang Daxia feuded with Chen Dalang, he knew him best.

Lu Ying’s steps stopped at the bathhouse entrance.

Wang Daxia turned back: “Why aren’t you moving? There are many people in the underground gambling den. The book boy will probably run when he sees me—I alone might not be able to catch him. Are you planning to be a hands-off manager?”

Lu Ying steeled himself and waved his hand: “Let’s go!”

The counter manager was about to pull the rope under the counter to send a warning, but Wang Daxia vaulted over the counter and pressed down his hand: “Imperial Guard business—we’re only arresting one person, then leaving immediately. If you warn them, we’ll shut down the gambling house. Do you believe me?”

The manager smiled ingratiatingly: “Of course I trust Young Master Wang.”

Lu Ying thought: Wang Daxia is familiar with everything here—it seems despite his young age, he’s already a gambling house regular.

“Let’s go.” Wang Daxia led the way.

Lu Ying walked through the bathhouse with eyes on nose, nose on heart, his body rigid as a wooden figure.

Wang Daxia mocked him: “Why so nervous? They have what you have too.”

Lu Ying gritted his teeth: “I find them ugly! A bunch of freaks and misfits!”

Wang Daxia looked around—indeed, not one was handsome, too painful to look at.

Passing through the bathhouse, they came to a brightly lit basement. The air was foul with indescribable sweat odors that nearly made the pampered Lu Ying vomit!

“Third table on the left, the one in mourning clothes is the book boy.” Wang Daxia stepped aside: “Your turn.”

Lu Ying commanded his subordinates to tie up the book boy and drag him out—Lu Ying really couldn’t stand the nauseating smell.

As Lu Ying was about to begin questioning, Wang Daxia said: “Let me go first.”

With that, he kicked the book boy flying, followed by a storm of punches and kicks, fierce and rapid—just not hitting the face.

He beat the book boy until he lost all desire to escape, collapsing like a pile of mud. Wang Daxia nodded to Lu Ying: “He shouldn’t lie now—this saves time. Commander Lu, please question him.”

This move amazed even the Imperial Guards. A subordinate whispered in Lu Ying’s ear: “Commander Lu, this Young Master Wang’s methods are more like Imperial Guard than we are.”

Lu Ying asked: “Chen Dalang’s former fiancée Miss He was once pregnant. What happened to that child?”

Before the book boy could speak, Wang Daxia stepped on his wrist: “Tell everything from beginning to end. One lie and I’ll chop off one of your hands.”

The book boy cried: “Our Chen family are the victims here. You Imperial Guards don’t look for the murderer—why torture me for a confession?”

Wang Daxia smiled coldly: “We’re helping you quit gambling. Without hands, what can you gamble with? Speak quickly!”

The book boy, left with no choice, told everything about Chen Dalang violating Miss He: “…The Chen family wouldn’t let a government slave bear offspring, plus the young master was discussing marriage arrangements and feared scandal spreading, so they had Wang Pozi kill Miss He and her unborn child. Originally they wanted to poison the child to mute him to cover up the scandal, but the child somehow disappeared—probably kidnapped by human traffickers. There’s been no news since. Later the Chen family claimed Miss He died of depression and illness, and the child drowned while playing by water. Anyway, two government slaves were like pigs and dogs—just family property. No one investigated deeply.”

Every word was blood.

Even the steady, calm Lu Ying couldn’t help but whip the book boy twice.

The book boy screamed in pain: “Please don’t chop off my hands! I really didn’t lie. If you don’t believe me, go dig up the He sisters’ graves—one large coffin, one small. The large one definitely contains adult and fetal bones, the small coffin is empty with nothing inside!”

Lu Ying whipped him again: “Where does that Wang Pozi live? Lead the way quickly!”

The book boy led everyone to a village by West Sanli River outside the city—this was where the Chen family had settled the He sisters.

Wang Pozi was a midwife living on the east bank of Sanli River.

From far away, they smelled smoke. Drawing closer, they saw elegiac couplets hanging at the door and a group of mourners in funeral clothes kneeling on the ground burning paper money, clothes, shoes and other items.

Wang Pozi was dead. Today happened to be her seventh day—the seventh day after death, the night of soul return, when family burned clothes for her.

Summer heat made it difficult to preserve corpses, so Wang Pozi was hastily buried on the third day.

“How did she die?” Lu Ying asked.

“She was washing clothes by the river at night, accidentally fell in and drowned.”

Meanwhile, in Sweet Water Lane in northern Beijing, Wei Caiwei was soaking in a bathtub.

Water lily petals floated on the bathwater like small boats. Wei Caiwei leisurely extended her index finger and easily pressed a petal under the hot water.

Just like on the first day of her rebirth, when she went to West Sanli River and held Wang Pozi underwater until she drowned—the same Wang Pozi who had killed her sister and unborn child.

Revenge, from easy to difficult, starting with Wang Pozi—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life.

In her previous life, this was how she had killed Wang Pozi. Reborn, she used the same method to kill the woman a second time.

No retreat, no forgiveness, no regret. Murder pays with life.

No one would investigate deeply into a rural woman’s death, just as no one had cared about the lives and deaths of two government slaves back then.