“Please continue, Zi Ming,” Pei Yan said.
Cui Liang collected his thoughts and began, “From examining the fire scene, the point of origin was the horse stables. However, the most intense burning occurred in the main hall where Jin You Lang resided. I inspected the structure and materials of the main hall – they weren’t as flammable as other buildings. Yet the fire spread from the stables to the main hall extremely rapidly. By the time people realized and tried to escape, the main hall was already engulfed in flames.”
“Are you suggesting someone placed accelerants in the main hall?” Pei Yan inquired.
Cui Liang nodded, “On the surface, it appears the fire started when an oil lamp in the stables tipped over and ignited the hay. But judging from last night’s wind direction and strength, even if the northwest door of the main hall caught fire, the flames shouldn’t have instantly surrounded all four sides. There should have been time to escape through the small window on the southeast side. It’s highly suspicious why His Excellency Jin You Lang couldn’t get out in time.”
“The envoy delegation said Jin You Lang had drunk quite a bit last night. He may have been in a drunken sleep when the fire started.”
“What about the other fifty-plus people who perished? The Huan Kingdom delegation claimed everyone at the embassy drank some alcohol last night. But I questioned the minor official from the Ministry of Rites responsible for supplying provisions to the embassy in detail. He has itemized records. The Huan people are known for their drinking capacity. To incapacitate over fifty people to the point they couldn’t escape would require at least twenty vats of strong liquor. But the Ministry of Rites never supplied that much alcohol to the embassy.”
Pei Yan fell into deep thought. “So you’re saying these people weren’t drunk, but likely drugged?”
“They probably did drink, but weren’t drunk – more likely stupefied or dazed.”
“Then why weren’t the other ten-plus people affected?”
“Some people had to escape, and most importantly, Vice Envoy Lei needed to get out and make a fuss.”
Pei Yan gave a cold laugh. “Quite a thorough plan indeed.”
Cui Liang continued, “There’s another obvious point – none of the victims had soot in their mouths. People who die from burning would struggle and cry out, inevitably inhaling large amounts of smoke and soot. This is strong evidence that the people in the embassy were incapacitated before being burned to death.”
Pei Yan nodded, “All this proves it was deliberate arson, but that’s even more disadvantageous for us than an accidental fire. If the Huan Kingdom insists our country deliberately set the fire, the situation will worsen. We need to find the real culprit.”
Cui Liang hesitated for a moment before saying, “There’s one more major question, though I’m not entirely certain yet.”
Pei Yan smiled, “Go ahead, Zi Ming. Speak freely.”
Cui Liang tapped his fingers on the table a few times, then said slowly, “I suspect the body found in the main hall is not Jin You Lang!”
Pei Yan was startled but quickly regained composure, furrowing his brow, “That’s quite perplexing. Whichever side is responsible, as long as Jin You Lang was burned to death in the embassy, it would achieve the goal of disrupting the situation. Why go to great lengths to abduct the real Jin You Lang and substitute another body?”
Cui Liang shook his head, “That’s unclear. According to the Huan people, Jin You Lang fell from his horse two years ago and broke his right tibia. His groom survived this fire, and I questioned him in detail. When Jin You Lang fell, his right foot was crushed against the ground, fracturing the tibia. The body’s right tibia had indeed been broken before, but from examining the fracture, it’s unlikely to have been crushed. It looks more like it was deliberately broken.”
Jiang Ci finished tidying up the kitchen and entered the main hall. Seeing the two men discussing official matters, she sat quietly to the side and listened. Upon hearing this, she couldn’t help interjecting, “To have the real envoy smuggled away and a body with a previously broken leg brought in – the security at this embassy must have been extremely lax!”
Her comment reminded Pei Yan of something. He said, “Summon An Chen here.”
Jiang Ci went to the garden gate where the Chang Feng Guard had been standing watch. After relaying the order, she didn’t return inside but sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, watching the two men engrossed in discussing the case from afar.
In the lamplight, Pei Yan’s brow was slightly furrowed, his usually handsome and refined features now serious and stern. Cui Liang alternated between deep thought and doubt, his normally gentle countenance now especially cautious and heavy.
Jiang Ci watched the two men silently, suddenly feeling that these high-ranking officials weren’t so different from common folk – all busy and troubled in their ways. The jianghu and the imperial court weren’t so different either – both full of scheming and struggles.
An autumn chrysanthemum petal drifted down in the wind, landing on Jiang Ci’s skirt. She gently picked up the bright red flower and said softly, “The wind blew you down, I didn’t pluck you. If you must blame something, blame the autumn breeze.”
She crouched down and buried the chrysanthemum in the soil. Brushing the dirt from her hands, she murmured, “Actually, blooming brilliantly for a season and then returning to the earth to nurture even more beautiful flowers next year – that’s not so bad. It’s like humans being reborn after death. If I, Jiang Ci were to truly perish, I’d just have to sweet-talk King Yama, flatter him a bit to make him happy, and be reborn into a good family in my next life.”
She paused, then added resentfully, “Just as long as it’s not into a family of nobles or officials. It would be best to return to Deng Family Village!” She raised her head to look at the starry sky, talking to herself, “I wonder when Shi Jie will marry and have children. If I could be reborn as her child, that would be perfect!”
An Chen entered the garden and passed behind her, overhearing her monologue. He couldn’t help glancing at her.
Seeing An Chen enter, Pei Yan said, “Go investigate if there are any missing persons in the city, particularly anyone with a build similar to Jin You Lang’s and a previously broken right leg. Also, thoroughly check the records of people and vehicles entering and leaving the capital these past two days. Immediately inform Jiang Yuan to have the Imperial Guard start inspecting everyone and every carriage entering or leaving the city. Detain anyone suspicious.”
An Chen responded affirmatively and was about to leave when Pei Yan added, “Wait!”
After thinking for a moment, Pei Yan continued, “Jiang Yuan isn’t entirely trustworthy, and the Imperial Guard’s waters may be muddied. Assign four men, each leading fifty Chang Feng Guards, to closely watch the four city gates. Also, thoroughly investigate any unfamiliar faces and jianghu figures that have appeared in the city.”
Cui Liang said, “If they wanted to smuggle Jin You Lang out, he’s likely already been taken from the city between last night and now.”
Pei Yan shook his head, “I have a feeling Jin You Lang is still within the capital.”
After An Chen left, Pei Yan turned to Cui Liang, “Zi Ming, besides the broken leg, is there any other way to prove that body isn’t Jin You Lang?”
Cui Liang replied, “First, we need to question Jin You Lang’s attendants again in detail. Second, we need to re-examine the body.”
“How long do you estimate it will take?”
“Ideally, three to five days.”
Pei Yan nodded, “Alright. The Ministry of Justice will also release their forensic conclusions in five days. I estimate it will take twenty days for the Huan Kingdom to send the fire news back home by express horses and dispatch people here day and night. We need to confirm Jin You Lang isn’t dead within these twenty days, then find the real culprit.”
He stood up, “Jin You Lang’s body is already in the coffin. If we want to re-examine it, we’ll have to play the role of midnight gentlemen. Zi Ming, you’ve had a long day. Rest for two hours first. We’ll go examine the body at the Zi Hour (11 pm-1 am).”
“Your Excellency hasn’t slept for a night and has been busy all day. Please rest a while too. Even an iron body can’t withstand such constant exhaustion,” Cui Liang said with a nod.
Pei Yan smiled slightly, “No choice. One in a position must fulfill one’s duties. Eating the emperor’s grain, one must repay the emperor’s kindness. In this life, I’ll never be able to be as carefree as you, Zi Ming.”
Cui Liang gave a small smile and walked Pei Yan out of the room.
As they reached the courtyard, Jiang Ci popped her head out from among the flowers, smiling brightly, “Is Your Excellency leaving?”
Pei Yan looked at her. At that moment, the clear moonlight filtered through the vine trellis and fell upon her. She was holding a begonia flower, plucking its petals and putting them in her mouth as she spoke.
Pei Yan frowned slightly, “Is that edible? You do dare to eat anything.”
Jiang Ci held the begonia out to him, “It’s sweet and sour. Would Your Excellency like to try?”
Pei Yan smiled somewhat smugly, “I only know that in this world, some things shouldn’t be eaten carelessly.”
Jiang Ci wasn’t upset and laughed, “I also know to drink today’s wine today, who cares about tomorrow’s wind and frost? Even if one is to meet King Yama tomorrow, one must still fill their belly today.”
Cui Liang, not understanding the tension between them, smiled and said, “Some begonias are indeed edible, and begonia fruit has long been used in medicine. Little Ci isn’t deceiving anyone.”
Pei Yan turned and said, “Zi Ming, I’ll come back at the Zi Hour.” He walked towards the garden gate, but his ears caught the conversation between Jiang Ci and Cui Liang behind him.
“Cui Ge, are you going out again at the Zi Hour?”
“Yes.”
“So much hard work?”
“It concerns the people of two countries, of course, it requires effort.”
“In that case, the emperor who manages all the people in the world must work even harder, right?”
Cui Liang seemed to pause for a moment before answering, “You think it’s so easy being a noble or an official?”
Jiang Ci laughed, “I used to think that princes and ministers were just like in the operas – wearing grand robes, taking a few steps on stage, eating delicacies every day, and enjoying music and dance every night, like this-“
Pei Yan found it amusing and stopped at the garden gate, turning back. He saw Jiang Ci and Cui Liang walking towards the house. She was looking up at Cui Liang with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling, imitating the gestures of a young noble from the opera. Cui Liang was smiling broadly at her antics and gently patted her head.
On this deep autumn night, a thin mist swirled in the Western Garden, ethereal and hazy. Pei Yan gazed at the dim yellow candlelight in the room and watched the two enter before finally turning to leave the Western Garden.
Pei Yan’s mansion was renowned in the capital for its exquisite design. Pei Yan himself was a man who appreciated luxury, and his residence, the Shen Garden, was even more elaborate with its carved beams, painted tiles, winding corridors, and flowing streams over carefully arranged rocks.
Behind the main hall of Shen Garden was a white jade pool. In summer, it was filled with clear spring water from the small hill behind the mansion. In autumn and winter, servants and maids took turns bringing heated water to fill the pool for bathing. The bottom and sides of the pool were made entirely of white jade bricks. Around the pool were various seasonal flowers and green plants, with embroidered chairs and couches arranged nearby – the epitome of luxury and extravagance.
Pei Yan entered the garden and simply said “Bath.” The maid Shu Yun immediately directed nearly twenty maids to take turns filling the pool with hot water, scattering various fresh and dried fragrant flowers into the pool, and setting out grape wine by the poolside to ward off the chill.
Pei Yan allowed Shu Yun to remove his inner robes, giving her an indifferent glance before immersing himself in the pool and closing his eyes to rest. The warmth and fragrance gradually relaxed his tense nerves of the past two days. His inner energy circulated, and soon he felt refreshed and invigorated, all fatigue dissipated.
Light footsteps approached, and Shu Yun knelt by the pool, saying softly, “Your Excellency has been working hard for days. Would you like this servant to give you a massage?”
Pei Yan half-opened his eyes and glanced sideways at Shu Yun. Her hair was slightly askew, her eyebrows like new moons, her eyes full of emotion, her cherry lips curved in a smile – the very picture of gentleness and grace. He turned back, closed his eyes, and gave a soft “Mm” of assent.
Shu Yun reached out and gently massaged Pei Yan’s shoulders. Pei Yan’s eyes were half-closed, his breathing slow and even, seeming extremely comfortable. After a moment, he let out a low sigh and suddenly pulled Shu Yun into the pool.
Water splashed everywhere as Shu Yun let out a startled cry. Pei Yan had already forcefully torn off her light gauze robe. She felt a chill on her upper body, followed by the cold of her back as Pei Yan pressed her down against the pool’s edge.
Shu Yun’s upper body was reclined on the pool’s edge, her back against the cold white jade stone, while her chest felt Pei Yan’s long, warm hands. She gave a coy smile and said nothing, just gazing at him tenderly.
Pei Yan looked at her expressionlessly, reached for the grape wine by the pool, and took a slow sip. His fingers glided over her smooth skin like plucking a zither string, making her shiver involuntarily and let out an alluring gasp. Pei Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly, the corner of his mouth curling up as he slowly leaned toward her.
Shu Yun’s heart leaped with joy, and she was about to embrace him when a great force seized her hands. After a sudden intrusion, there was a storm-like pressure and impact that left her almost breathless and faint. The white jade stone behind her was cold and hard, but the person in front was even colder and harder, slowly plunging her heart into despair.
That hand, slightly warm and fragrant, long and supple, gripped her throat, slowly applying pressure, tightening, relaxing, then tightening again, and relaxing. She moaned in pain, unconsciously writhing, which only brought more violent collisions and ravaging. She felt like a reed about to snap, trembling in the raging autumn wind.
Pei Yan coldly watched Shu Yun climb out of the pool and kneel behind him, still massaging his shoulders. As she got out of the pool, the fresh flowers in the water rippled. A begonia petal floated up and clung to his bare chest, red as if about to drip blood.
He lowered his head and picked up the begonia petal, looked at it for a moment, and said slowly, “Are there any more begonia flowers?”
Shu Yun tried hard to stop her body from trembling and said, “This servant will fetch them right away.” She turned and brought a jade plate from the room, filled with freshly picked begonia flowers.
Pei Yan picked up a begonia, tore off a petal, looked at it, and put it in his mouth. Shu Yun let out a soft exclamation, but he closed his eyes and chewed slowly. After a moment, he smiled, “It is sweet and sour.”
He opened his eyes after a long while, tearing the begonia petals one by one and putting them in his mouth. As he chewed, he said, “Starting tomorrow, I won’t be dining in Shen Garden. You don’t need to prepare my meals.”