The medicinal hot spring pool had a pleasant temperature, with rising mist carrying a faint, fresh scent of herbs. Regular soaking here would undoubtedly strengthen one’s body, making it an excellent place for health cultivation.
As she entered the pool, Zhu Yan quietly enjoyed the wonderful moment, lowering her eyes slightly. The feeling was incredibly comfortable.
Madam Tang followed her into the water, sitting beside her. “How is it? Doesn’t the medicinal spring feel extraordinary?”
“Mm.” Zhu Yan lowered her guard and nodded slightly, raising her eyes to look at Madam Tang. Her gaze was drawn to a red mark on Madam Tang’s shoulder.
It was a birthmark-like red mark, about the size of a palm. Upon closer inspection, Zhu Yan realized it was a tattoo.
A fiery red tattoo…
In this era, tattoos were uncommon, typically seen only on criminals or members of certain special sects.
Where did Madam Tang’s tattoo come from?
Noticing Zhu Yan staring at the tattoo on her shoulder, Madam Tang lowered her eyes and smiled, explaining, “This is a fire moth. There’s a legend that says it will live forever unless it meets an unexpected death.”
Zhu Yan was stunned. She had never seen such a thing, nor heard of such a legend.
Madam Tang lowered her gaze, her expression tinged with melancholy as if recalling past events.
“Many years ago, in my youthful ignorance, I joined a sect. The fire moth was this sect’s symbol. However, after many years, I’ve completely put it behind me, though this mark can no longer be removed.”
Zhu Yan nodded, somewhat understanding. “Madam Tang must have been a passionate young woman in her prime. I admire that.”
Madam Tang scooped up some spring water and gently stroked her slender neck, smiling faintly. “Life is but a few short decades. If there’s something you want to do, don’t hesitate. Once a youth has passed, even if you still want to pursue your dreams, you may lack the strength to do so.”
“Madam Tang speaks wisely. I’ll remember that,” Zhu Yan quickly agreed. Although she still considered Madam Tang a suspect, given the current situation, she wouldn’t be foolish enough to show any disagreement.
“Mrs. Shen, you’re intelligent and deeply in love with the Grand Secretariat. Entrusting the serial murder case in Chang’an to you two is truly reassuring. However, so much time has passed without a resolution. Have you encountered any difficulties?”
Zhu Yan knew Madam Tang wouldn’t invite her to the medicinal spring bath without reason. Now that she had spoken plainly, it was clear Madam Tang wanted to learn about the case’s progress.
“What difficulties could there be?” Zhu Yan replied casually. “The case is progressing smoothly. As long as no one deliberately causes trouble, we’ll catch the culprit soon.”
“Mrs. Shen jests. This case was assigned to you by Her Majesty the Empress. Who would dare interfere?”
“Madam Tang is right. I was merely overthinking things.”
Hearing this, Madam Tang said no more.
Zhu Yan was far too clever. It seemed unlikely that Madam Tang would get any information about the case’s progress from her.
As the two women closed their eyes to rest, a palace maid suddenly entered to deliver a message. “Mrs. Shen, the Princess commands that after you change clothes, you are to go directly to the side hall. The Princess has matters to discuss with you.”
The maid delivering the message was none other than the overseer of this place, as Zhu Yan recognized her voice.
“Very well, I’ll go immediately.”
Having received the summons, Zhu Yan no longer lingered to enjoy the medicinal spring’s effects. She rose and headed to the changing room.
Seeing Zhu Yan leave, Madam Tang didn’t stay long either, soon getting up to leave as well.
Madam Tang understood Zhu Yan’s thoughts clearly. To dispel Zhu Yan’s suspicions about her, Madam Tang changed clothes and caught up with Zhu Yan.
“As long as the serial murder case remains unsolved, people’s hearts will be uneasy. Does Mrs. Shen have any suspects in mind?”
Madam Tang’s words carried hidden meaning, which Zhu Yan immediately understood.
She responded with a faint smile, “Of course there are suspects. If Madam Tang is not involved in this case, I would advise her not to inquire too much about it. After all, given my official position, it would be inappropriate for me to disclose too much.”
Zhu Yan politely declined to answer Madam Tang’s question, and this exchange left Madam Tang visibly discomposed.
After all, she was a friend of the Princess, while Zhu Yan, though the wife of Shen Du, was merely a ninth-rank official. How dare she refuse her so bluntly?
It seemed Zhu Yan didn’t hold her in high regard at all.
Having been so thoroughly rebuffed, Madam Tang said no more, though her eyes darkened.
Reaching a fork in the corridor, Zhu Yan politely bowed to Madam Tang. “I must go to the side hall to meet the Princess. Please, Madam Tang, carry on.”
Refusing to walk the same path as Madam Tang, Zhu Yan left her speechless. Madam Tang could only nod slightly in courtesy before they parted ways.
However, shortly after separating from Zhu Yan, a forceful voice sounded behind Madam Tang. “Zhu Yan is no ordinary woman. You’d do well to be careful.”
Startled by the warning, Madam Tang turned around to find Princess Yong’an behind her, her face grim. The Princess’s deep, clear eyes seemed to have already devised some strategy.
“Princess,” Madam Tang said timidly, stepping aside.
Princess Yong’an looked into the distance as she passed by Madam Tang, her profound eyes showing an unusual glint. “Those eyes of hers are unlike those of ordinary people. They’re clear to the bottom, like Kuang Zhangxin from Pingkang Ward. When conversing with her, one must be on the highest alert and cannot be careless.”
“Yes, Ciran will heed the Princess’s teachings carefully.”
Arriving at the side hall, Zhu Yan waited for half a cup of tea time, but still saw no sign of Princess Yong’an.
Zhu Yan couldn’t help but wonder: the Princess had summoned her to discuss matters, yet she had been waiting here for so long without seeing anyone. Could something have happened to the Princess? Or perhaps, knowing that she had been with Madam Tang, was the Princess deliberately doing this?
With no one around, Zhu Yan sat in a chair to the side, picking up the tea prepared for her on the table. However, she hesitated to bring it to her lips.
Her mind kept replaying the image of the tattoo on Madam Tang’s shoulder, as well as the details from examining the corpses in recent days.
The fire moth mark, the moth-shaped jade, the fire moth tattoo…
Could it be that the deaths were somehow connected to a martial arts sect?
Madam Tang’s suspiciousness increased, but at the same time, the case grew more complex, with countless threads yet no clear lead.
As Zhu Yan was lost in thought, a gentle voice reached her ears. “What are you thinking about?”
Zhu Yan quickly snapped back to reality. Princess Yong’an had somehow arrived at her side without her noticing. She hurriedly stood up and bowed to the Princess. “Your Highness.”
“It’s just the two of us here. No need for formalities,” Princess Yong’an said, her expression friendly, as if chatting with a long-lost sister.
“I’ve been here for quite some time and saw you lost in thought, not saying a word. What were you pondering?”
As she spoke, Princess Yong’an had already taken the main seat. The pink hem of her dress, bordered with gold thread, draped to one side as she gently waved a silk fan decorated with butterflies and peonies.
“Nothing,” Zhu Yan shook her head. “Your Highness, I… I was just letting my mind wander because Your Highness hadn’t arrived for so long. Please forgive me.”
Princess Yong’an lightly touched her hair ornament and smiled faintly. “I had some matters to attend to, so I was late.”
“Your Highness’s affairs are certainly important. It was right for me to wait.”
“We’re not meeting for the first time. Why be so formal? There’s no one else here, just sit down and talk with me.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”