His words left no room for response. Shen Qiyuan fell silent for a moment, then turned to Zhou Tingchuan: “Is this how you handle matters?”

Zhou Tingchuan spread his hands pitifully: outnumbered and outgunned, what could he do?

Song Zhenshan over there had already seen the corpse on the ground and sighed slightly: “I still have wedding celebrations to attend to. How can I do such things?”

Shen Qiyuan reminded him kindly: “Lord Song, you’ve been married for half a month.”

“Half a month is still newlywed bliss. There are many things to keep busy with every day.” Song Zhenshan shook his head. “Someone like you who has never married wouldn’t understand.”

Saying this, he did squat down to lift the deceased’s clothing and take a look.

It would have been better not to look. After one glance, he turned to instruct the servants following behind: “First, escort the Princess back to the manor to rest. This place is quite filthy.”

Li Zhaoying didn’t understand the situation but knew something was wrong, so she pulled Ruyi to retreat.

But Song Zhenshan said, “I trouble Miss Liu to stay.”

Li Zhaoying was displeased: “Sister Ruyi can stay, but I can’t?”

Song Zhenshan wiped his fingers, stood up, and walked back to her side, saying gently: “Since someone has already been attacked and killed here, there may still be some wild beasts lurking nearby. You are naturally brave, but what about these maids and servants behind you? Over a dozen lives—can you bear it?”

Li Zhaoying’s body went half limp from his water-like gaze, and she said with a red face: “Then, then what about Sister Ruyi?”

After glancing at Liu Ruyi, Song Zhenshan pulled Li Zhaoying aside and whispered, “Lord Shen is still here. What are you worried about her for? If we encounter wild beasts today, Lord Shen would rather be injured himself than let your Sister Ruyi be hurt.”

He had tried his best to avoid the parties involved, but with Shen Qiyuan and Liu Ruyi’s hearing, these words practically echoed across heaven and earth, making the already awkward atmosphere between the two even more suffocating, like having paste smeared on one’s face.

—Who would save her?

—Who cares about his rescue?

Shen Qiyuan stiffened his neck, keeping his back ramrod straight.

Ruyi stood lazily, the smile at the corner of her mouth ice-cold.

Li Zhaoying was quickly persuaded by Song Zhenshan and left by carriage, looking back three times with each step. Song Zhenshan turned back to glance at the lightning and thunder above the other two’s heads, then walked over with a smile: “An expedient measure. Please don’t hold it against me, you two.”

“Lord Song.” Shen Qiyuan spoke first. “This is a Ministry of Justice case. Involving too many unrelated people is improper.”

“Quite right.” Ruyi nodded mockingly. “How could we let common people investigate cases? What would that make the officials who eat government rice feel?”

Shen Qiyuan’s face darkened, but he only addressed Song Zhenshan: “There are precedents for civilians investigating cases. For the sake of justice, there’s no distinction between high and low. But this case is peculiar—you can’t have someone with great suspicion serve as the investigating judge.”

“This is interesting. The corpse is still warm, dead for less than two hours, and I’ve been with the Princess and Lord Song since early morning. If I’m highly suspicious, then the Princess and Lord Song must be accomplices too.”

“Hiring someone to kill is also murder. How can one clear suspicion just by not being present?”

“Lord Song, listen to what he’s saying. Everyone in the world is suspicious—then who can investigate this case?”

These two spoke without looking at each other, both directing their words at him. One after another, with sharp tongues and cutting words, Song Zhenshan in the middle was about to be riddled with holes.

He quickly raised his hand: “Please allow me to speak.”

Pointing at the corpse on the ground, Song Zhenshan said to Shen Qiyuan: “I know you called me here because you suspect this wound was caused by a demon. I’ve seen more demons than you, so I might know what demon’s claws made this wound.”

“But Lord Shen, if we’re talking about demons, wouldn’t Miss Liu know even more?”

Shen Qiyuan sneered: “You must eliminate demons and protect the world. Yet when you encounter demons, not only do you not take action, but you want to join them?”

“My lord, let’s be reasonable.” Song Zhenshan said with incomprehension. “Am I her match?”

When Liu Ruyi was constrained by mortal flesh, he still wasn’t enough for her single strike. Now this person had recovered her demonic power—would he go seek death?

He didn’t want Zhaoying to become a widow.

Moreover, rather than forcing a powerful demon into desperation to become his enemy, it was better to befriend her for mutual benefit. Song Zhenshan felt this was the long-term way of the divine.

Shen Qiyuan disagreed: “If this case was her doing, even if we’re not her match, you and I should still fight with all our strength.”

Ruyi lazily yawned, her eyes drooping with overflowing mockery: “Since you’ve said so, if I still help you, wouldn’t that be disgustingly cheap?”

Shen Qiyuan frowned sharply.

He rarely heard such cutting words from her mouth, and it made his chest feel uncomfortable.

Ruyi didn’t care whether he was comfortable or not, standing alone at a distance to look at the scenery.

Song Zhenshan had a bit of a headache: “Lord Shen, I don’t recognize this wound, so I need to ask Miss Liu. Why must you anger her away?”

Shen Qiyuan pressed his lips together: “You don’t recognize it?”

“I’ve only seen some minor demons in the human world. Those that still dare to act recently are high-level demons—how would I recognize them?” He sighed, then looked at the corpse again. “But what use is it for them to kill these laborers?”

The person before him didn’t answer, only his face became even more unpleasant.

To accomplish what he had promised the emperor, he had already broken precedent by using magic. As long as Great Qian could build this defensive wall within three months, it would be fine.

However, now that a large batch of laborers had been killed, it proved that demons had already detected his intentions and planned to oppose him. If his guess was correct, strange legends would soon spread in the city to frighten those who wanted to go build the defensive wall.

Shen Qiyuan found it hard not to suspect Liu Ruyi. Besides her, who else had both the intention and ability to oppose him?

Ruyi stood by the small stream, absentmindedly watching the fish swimming in the water, when she suddenly felt malicious eyes on her back.

She had been somewhat irritated, but thinking of something, Ruyi suddenly turned around and gave him an extremely provocative look.

The distant figure was slightly stunned, then tightened his jaw into a displeased line.

She sauntered back, slightly bending to support her knees as she looked at him: “How could I watch a beauty in distress without helping?”

Shen Qiyuan was momentarily flustered by her sudden change, then resumed his indifference: “Oh?”

“This is Wuyou’s handiwork.” She looked at the wound that had nearly severed the ribs. “Wuyou are demons formed from women who were heartbroken by men, so no matter how powerful a man is, they can kill him with one strike.”

These words were somewhat suggestive. Song Zhenshan felt embarrassed for Shen Qiyuan.

Shen Qiyuan avoided her face: “You’re telling me this to say the culprit isn’t you?”

“No.”

Narrowing her eyes wickedly, Ruyi said, “The culprit very likely is me. As long as my lord finds evidence, I’ll confess and submit to punishment.”