Pan Chi pursed his lips, remaining by Zhu Yan’s side. Seeing Shen Du about to strike again, he hurriedly spoke up, “On my way back, I passed by Xiu Xiu’s room. Guess what I saw? A person…”
Zhu Yan mentally rolled her eyes in exasperation. What’s so strange about seeing a person? Since when did this man learn to be so cryptic?
“Out with it!” Shen Du’s eyes narrowed, signaling Pan Chi to continue.
Noticing Zhu Yan’s impatience and Shen Du’s irritation, Pan Chi straightened up, his tone turning serious. “A person wearing a mask.”
Zhu Yan perked up instantly at the mention of a mask.
“This person had a slender build and exuded an air of aloofness. Most importantly, the mask they wore was identical to the one worn by the assailant who broke into the yamen,” Pan Chi explained. Upon hearing this, Zhu Yan couldn’t sit still and instinctively looked towards Shen Du.
“Such a significant matter, you…”
“I know, I know. Let me finish,” Pan Chi placated Zhu Yan’s eagerness.
“That person seemed extremely alert to their surroundings. I didn’t dare get too close,” Pan Chi added, somewhat helplessly.
Zhu Yan pressed on, “Did you hear anything?”
A glint of cunning flashed in Pan Chi’s eyes as he nodded confidently. “Of course, I did, though it was just some ordinary greetings. They seemed to have a close relationship.”
Zhu Yan continued her questioning, “And then?”
Pan Chi pursed his lips, surprised by her impatience. “I saw the person present an exquisitely carved gift to Xiu Xiu. They also asked Xiu Xiu whom she had met today, and she mentioned our three names.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yan furrowed her brow. The masked person was inquiring about them, and this Xiu Xiu was no ordinary individual.
Seeing Zhu Yan lost in thought, Pan Chi sighed, expressing some regret, “Just as I was about to move closer to investigate further, that person sensed my presence and immediately fled through the window.”
Zhu Yan, still pondering the masked person’s connections, was suddenly filled with doubt upon hearing about their hasty departure. Could this person be the Half-Faced Ghost?
Pan Chi confirmed her suspicion, “Given all the evidence, it’s highly likely that this masked person is indeed the Half-Faced Ghost.”
Zhu Yan remained silent, contemplating the subsequent events.
“So after leaving Xiu Xiu’s room, the masked person must have hidden near the yamen entrance, seizing the opportunity to kill Bhiksu. The rest we know. It’s almost certain that this masked individual is Xiu Xiu’s lover,” Pan Chi concluded.
As soon as Pan Chi finished speaking, Zhu Yan let out a cold snort before lowering her head to ponder further.
Seeing her deep in thought, Pan Chi glanced back at Shen Du, only to find him glaring with a dark expression.
Pan Chi’s lips curled into a fleeting, provocative smile.
Shen Du charged forward with his sword, each strike vicious. Pan Chi chuckled, “I’ve heard rumors that the Grand Commander is cold and unfeeling, but I don’t see it. Look how animated that face is!”
As Pan Chi dodged awkwardly, he eventually sought refuge behind Zhu Yan. Shen Du sheathed his sword and swept his leg, simultaneously lifting Zhu Yan and placing her aside. Today, he was determined to deal with Pan Chi.
Zhu Yan, busy outlining clues with a charcoal pencil, paid no attention to the two men.
After exchanging over a dozen moves, Pan Chi’s breathing grew heavy while Shen Du remained composed. As Shen Du continued his pursuit, Pan Chi had no choice but to hide behind Zhu Yan again. The commotion startled Zhu Yan from her thoughts. She looked up to see Shen Du leaping towards them and instinctively grabbed his sleeve. Shen Du halted, glaring at Zhu Yan in displeasure:
“You don’t want me to teach him a lesson?”
The air was thick with jealousy.
Although Zhu Yan was sometimes slow to grasp matters of the heart, she wasn’t a fool. She could see Shen Du’s pent-up anger. Quickly turning her head, she saw Pan Chi hiding behind her and couldn’t help but laugh:
“I didn’t realize he was behind me. Besides, I still don’t know why you two started fighting.”
Not getting the answer he wanted, Shen Du pursed his lips in dissatisfaction. However, seeing the sincerity in Zhu Yan’s eyes made him feel petty. He shot Pan Chi another fierce glare before moving Zhu Yan to the side.
Zhu Yan shook her head and, remembering something, asked Pan Chi over Shen Du’s shoulder, “Is there any other information?”
Pan Chi shook his head. It was such a shame that such an important person had slipped away!
Unwilling to dwell on Pan Chi, Shen Du spoke calmly, “Are you certain the masked person you saw is the same as the Half-Faced Ghost?”
Pan Chi looked at Shen Du’s profile, deliberately curling his lips and addressing Zhu Yan while ignoring Shen Du, “I can’t be sure if they’re the same person now, but the build was indeed very similar to someone…”
Zhu Yan leaned past Shen Du again to look at Pan Chi, “Think carefully, are they the same person or not?”
Pan Chi rubbed his brow but still shook his head.
The disappointment on Zhu Yan’s face was evident.
Shen Du felt that after baring his heart to Zhu Yan, she should have some awareness. Yet here they were, looking at each other over him, completely disregarding his feelings. His dark eyes narrowed:
“I recall a useful piece of information.”
Zhu Yan’s hands clung to Shen Du’s arm, her eyes bright, “Tell me quickly.”
Shen Du pursed his lips, his expression darkening as he thought of something.
“If you’ve discovered anything, just say it. Don’t keep it to yourself.”
Shen Du looked down at Zhu Yan’s hands on his arm, feeling their softness even through the fabric. He glanced at Pan Chi, then bent down to speak only to Zhu Yan, “Remember when I tore that person’s clothes during our fight in the courtyard?”
Zhu Yan nodded, recalling the incident.
“That person had a fire moth tattooed on their skin.” Zhu Yan was upset that Shen Du had kept such important information from them for several days.
Ignoring Zhu Yan’s reproachful look, Shen Du explained that he had intended to investigate further but decided to reveal it after hearing Pan Chi’s account.
“So I suspect that Yingzhou, right here, is the headquarters of the Fire Moth Party,” Shen Du suddenly turned serious, pointing at the ground beneath their feet. Zhu Yan immediately felt goosebumps rise on her skin, sensing an inexplicable chill behind her.
Pan Chi nodded in agreement with Shen Du’s deduction.
“So the Empress sent me here already knowing the circumstances but lacked a suitable pretext before. Now it’s simply a matter of seizing the opportunity,” Shen Du explained. With this clarification, Zhu Yan understood.
The thoughts of officials and the Emperor’s considerations were not for them, as mere subjects, to speculate upon or discuss further.
Zhu Yan composed herself, her face returning to its usual calm. “Regardless of whether the Empress knows or not, we must thoroughly investigate the Fire Moth Party!”
As Zhu Yan said this, her emotions surged again. She stepped forward, her gaze fixed in the direction of the capital, “If this matter comes to light, we could truly overthrow the Procuratorate, couldn’t we?”
Seeing her so motivated, Shen Du didn’t have the heart to discourage her. How could the Procuratorate be so easily toppled?
“Mm, it should give us a better chance,” Shen Du agreed.
Zhu Yan immediately smiled, her whole demeanor relaxing. She rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought for a moment. Suddenly, a person flashed through her mind, and her eyes lit up. She turned her head abruptly, about to speak, only to find Pan Chi and Shen Du both staring at her.