The news of Gao Shicai’s death came without warning. Even Lu Chang was momentarily stunned. He had devoted all his energy to this case lately, mobilizing every resource at his disposal to uncover the truth quickly. He had thought Gao Shicai would be a turning point, only to be met with the news of his suicide from fear of punishment.
“Lu Chang?” Wei Zhuo’s call brought him back from his shocked contemplation.
Cao Hai had already risen, and hearing this name, gave Lu Chang an extra look: “Is this our Jiangning’s great talent, the new Top Scholar Lu Chang?”
Lu Chang finally cupped his hands in greeting: “Lu Chang pays respects to General Cao. The General is too kind.”
Though their official ranks differed greatly, Cao Hai was the highest commanding officer of the local garrison forces, wielding real power and counting among Jiangning Prefecture’s most important figures. Lu Chang, as a newly appointed civil official, showed appropriate deference to Cao Hai.
Like Wei Zhuo, Cao Hai was a military man who understood literature, though his mannerisms retained the roughness of one who had long wielded weapons. His smile showed honesty, appearing even more approachable than Wei Zhuo.
“Truly, heroes emerge young these days. Well done,” Cao Hai patted his shoulder.
Lu Chang had no mind for pleasantries, merely returning a polite smile before asking: “General, did Gao Shicai leave any last words before his death?”
“The Jian family case is under the Third Prince’s jurisdiction, now fully entrusted to Lu Chang’s responsibility. If there’s anything suspicious, you may tell Lu Chang directly,” Wei Zhuo added from the side.
Though Cao Hai appeared rough, he was astute. Only after Wei Zhuo’s words did he say: “Gao Shicai left a confession letter before his death.”
As he spoke, he pulled a letter from his chest and presented it to them with both hands. Lu Chang accepted the letter but didn’t immediately open it. Wei Zhuo said: “This isn’t the place to discuss such matters. Let’s go to my study.”
Lu Chang nodded, tucking the letter into his sleeve before turning to Ming Shu and Madam Zeng, saying softly: “Ming Shu, return with Mother first. Uncle Wei and I have urgent matters to discuss. I likely won’t be able to join you for dinner tonight, don’t wait for me.”
Ming Shu responded with an “All alright,” asking no questions as she supported Madam Zeng in leaving.
Late at night, the horse stopped outside Wei Manor, and Lu Chang dismounted to enter. He had already gone to see Third Prince Zhao Jingren that night, reporting Gao Shicai’s suicide.
Walking heavily back to his courtyard, Lu Chang’s steps were slow and weighted.
He had read that confession letter. Before death, Gao Shicai had taken responsibility for all crimes in the Jian family robbery case. The confession was extremely detailed, including several major crimes beyond the Jian case, such as collusion with bandits and accepting bribes.
Looking at the letter’s contents alone, there were no problems.
The sequence of events was described in minute detail.
The Jian family was wealthy and had long been envied and coveted. Though Gao Shicai wanted to make his move, Jian Jinhai, despite appearing crude, was a cautious businessman with real ability. His legitimate business practices had never given anyone leverage against him, leaving Gao Shicai no opening until Jian Jinhai married Concubine Zhou.
This Zhou was originally the daughter of a wealthy Jiangning family and had known Gao Shicai before her family’s decline. Later she entered the Jian family as a concubine and happened to reconnect with Gao Shicai. One thing led to another, and they began a secret affair. Since Jian Jinhai had no son, only a daughter Ming Shu, Gao Shicai, and Zhou plotted to seize the Jian family fortune. Behind Jian Jinhai’s back, they had an illegitimate son to pass off as the Jian family heir. They had planned to use the child to claim the inheritance, but unexpectedly, Jian Jinhai doted solely on his daughter and intended to give her half the family fortune as dowry. Zhou was unwilling to let the fortune slip away and conspired with Gao Shicai to devise a poisonous scheme, planning to kill father and daughter under the guise of a bandit raid.
Gao Shicai already had connections in both legitimate and criminal circles in Jiangning, so linking up with mountain bandits wasn’t difficult. After planning together, Gao Shicai bribed the city guards and yamen officials to let the bandits enter the city smoothly. The bandits would then strike, raiding the Jian mansion at night, stealing all their gold and silver, and silencing the entire family. To avoid suspicion, Gao Shicai had arranged to meet Zhou at their usual trysting place, Water Immortal Temple on Cloud Flower Mountain. However, they hadn’t expected Ming Shu to secretly follow Zhou to the temple, suspecting her of having an affair, and overhear their conversation.
After discovering her, Gao Shicai attempted to silence her and every one with her, intending to kill them all, but Ming Shu alone escaped. After her escape, Gao Shicai lived in constant anxiety, widely dispatching men to search for her whereabouts. Fearing exposure, he dared not bring Zhou back home, instead setting up a separate garden residence for her and their illegitimate son, who had already been arranged for safety and didn’t die in the massacre. However, Zhou gradually grew dissatisfied with her hidden life and, due to disputes over the spoils with Gao Shicai, feared he would silence her. She abandoned her son and fled, hiding in Jiangning Prefecture for two months before being found by Lu Chang’s men and escorted to the capital.
Upon receiving this news and fearing exposure, Gao Shicai arranged for private soldiers to pursue and kill them in the capital, planning to eliminate Zhou, Lu Chang, and Ming Shu all at once. Unexpectedly, his men were captured alive by the Imperial Guard and revealed everything…
Believing his fate was sealed upon reaching the capital and wanting to protect his family from consequences, he chose suicide.
Additionally, the confession mentioned those killed on Cloud Flower Mountain. To prevent discovery, the bodies had been secretly moved to the Jian residence and counted among the robbery victims. The Jiangning County officials were all his men, so tampering with evidence and covering tracks was simple. After razing the Water Immortal Temple, no one would know what had happened on Cloud Flower Mountain that day.
From the letter’s contents, the case’s cause and effect and sequence of events showed no flaws. Various details matched up, and the handwriting was indeed Gao Shicai’s, raising no major doubts.
If Gao Shicai was the true culprit, his death would close the Jian family case, and Ming Shu could escape danger.
However, while the letter confessed to various aspects of the case, it never mentioned the gold and silver stolen from the Jian family.
With the Jian family all dead, apart from Ming Shu herself and the murderer, probably no third person knew exactly how much silver the Jian family had lost.
This money’s whereabouts remained a mystery.
Another point: how had Gao Shicai known Ming Shu was in the capital?
Though the confession letter seemed nearly flawless, Lu Chang’s doubts remained and grew stronger. But Gao Shicai was dead, the bandit chief who had worked with him was executed, and Zhou had vanished…
All leads were cut off.
Unknowingly, he and Ming Shu had fallen into the same predicament.
“Brother!”
Someone called loudly by his ear, and Lu Chang suddenly snapped out of his thoughts, realizing he had already reached the door, and Ming Shu stood beside him holding a tray.
“Why are you here?” Lu Chang asked while taking the tray from her hands.
The tray held the dumplings Madam Zeng had made that evening.
“Haven’t you eaten?” Ming Shu asked in return.
He pushed open the door, and she followed him inside.
At Ming Shu’s reminder, Lu Chang realized he indeed hadn’t eaten, and his stomach was now faintly aching.
Seeing his expression, Ming Shu knew she had guessed correctly. She had been waiting for his return.
Lu Chang washed his hands and sat at the table to eat the dumplings. Ming Shu leaned sideways against the chair back watching him. When he had eaten most of it, she finally spoke: “Has Brother encountered a thorny problem?”
“Why do you say that?” In front of Ming Shu, Lu Chang kept his concerns hidden.
“I’ve never seen you so lost in thought with your brows so tightly knit,” Ming Shu said as she reached out, her fingertip touching his brow, gently massaging.
Lu Chang stared at her for a moment, his brows gradually relaxing under her fingertip’s kneading.
“Nothing escapes you. Indeed, I’ve encountered a difficult matter. Remember I mentioned that Jiangning Commander Cao Hai would escort the suspect who tried to assassinate us to the capital? The man this evening was Cao Hai. That suspect committed suicide from fear of punishment while being escorted to the capital.”
“Brother suspects that person wasn’t the true culprit?” Ming Shu asked directly.
If that person were the true culprit, Lu Chang wouldn’t show such an expression after their suicide.
Lu Chang said: “I have such concerns.”
“If something feels wrong, investigate until you find the truth,” Ming Shu suddenly said. “Don’t worry, Brother. I’m here too.”
These were the words Lu Chang had used to comfort her yesterday. Now, she returned them to him.
Lu Chang froze, but her fingertip pressed harder, pushing against his brow center and back.
“Stop thinking about it, or you won’t be able to sleep,” she smiled sweetly as she withdrew her hand, standing to clear the table.
Lu Chang suddenly felt waves surge in his chest, each wave seeming to envelop him, carrying her innocent tenderness and lingering, attacking from all sides, pushing his hidden, suppressed emotions to the extreme.
In life, everyone encounters moments of lost control, such as this moment of emotional surge when reason is crushed by feeling. He was, after all, only human, not always able to maintain cold rationality and self-restraint.
“Ming Shu.”
At his low voice, Ming Shu’s hand was caught by Lu Chang, and she was pulled back to the chair. Her vision darkened as Lu Chang bent down, stopping just two fists’ width from her.
Their eyes met, neither speaking, only the sound of breathing remaining, brushing past like silk threads.
Lu Chang’s fingers gripped the chair arms tightly, the struggle in his eyes growing heavier, as if something were about to burst from his chest. His mind was chaos with only one thought—just reveal everything now, regardless of past or present, stop hiding in the shell of an elder brother, forget about gentlemanly promises…
Ming Shu gazed at him quietly. Her heart was racing, yet she had no thoughts.
They stared at each other silently, seemingly just for an instant, yet also seeming like many years, until Lu Chang finally released his grip.
He did nothing.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized, turning his back to walk away.
Ming Shu let out a breath, only then discovering her palms were sweaty.
“Rest early,” she finished clearing the table and bid farewell.
The next day was brilliantly sunny. Ming Shu didn’t see Lu Chang as usual.
“Your brother rushed out early this morning, I don’t know what happened,” Madam Zeng said.
Ming Shu looked outside. Since meeting Cao Hai yesterday, Lu Chang seemed like a different person. She was somewhat worried.
“Don’t worry, Brother knows what he’s doing, Mother needn’t worry,” Although concerned herself, Ming Shu still comforted Madam Zeng.
Madam Zeng could only sigh—the children had grown up and liked to keep things from her. As their mother, she felt helpless.
Lu Chang had received a message, one about Zhou Xiuqing’s whereabouts. With Gao Shicai dead, Zhou Xiuqing was the only remaining witness. He had to find her no matter what.
However, he never expected that the person who sent the message and arranged to meet him would be Lu Wenhan.
“You’re investigating Prince Yu?” Lu Wenhan asked, standing by the river.
“What guidance does Lord Lu have to offer?” Lu Chang returned the formal greeting and asked in return.
The river’s surface sparkled with reflected light, the water’s sheen dancing on Lu Wenhan’s face, making him look somewhat younger. Standing together with Lu Chang, they momentarily resembled father and son.
Since the assassination attempt, although Lu Chang and the others hadn’t mentioned the details to him, how could Lu Wenhan, with his years of connections in court, not find out which case they were investigating recently?
“Ming Shu… isn’t my daughter, is she?” He lowered his gaze toward the distance.
Ming Shu’s true identity had been kept from him as well.
Lu Chang was silent for a moment, then joined him in gazing into the distance: “Mother said, sister… or perhaps brother, passed away just days after you left for the capital.”
At these words, Lu Wenhan closed his eyes, feeling a sharp pain in his chest.
No wonder Yuqing couldn’t forgive him. His youthful indulgence and impetuousness were his fault. Talk of mending broken mirrors—how could lost years ever return?
“The heir apparent remains undetermined, and it’s a time of dispute. Do you know what consequences helping the Third Prince investigate Prince Yu might bring?” When Lu Wenhan opened his eyes again, the emotion had faded from them, returning to calmness.
“I know,” Lu Chang answered.
At worst, he would be drawn into the succession struggle, wagering his decade of scholarly achievements in exchange for uncovering the truth for Ming Shu.
“As long as you’re clear about it. If anything happens, the Lu family will protect you,” Lu Wenhan said coldly.
Lu Chang was like him, possessing his youthful boldness and intelligence; Lu Chang was also unlike him, lacking his concerns and ambitions.
Lu Chang had only one person for whom he was willing to give everything he had.
Lu Wenhan had the entire Lu family behind him, along with the ambitions he wished to achieve.
They were different.
“I have always been a member of the Lu family, naturally protected by the Lu family,” Lu Chang replied.
“Good, as long as you understand.” Lu Wenhan turned around with his hands behind his back, finally ceasing to view him as a son and instead seeing him as a young colleague navigating the official circles like himself.
“North of the city…” he slowly stated an address, “is Prince Yu’s private residence. The person you’re looking for might be there.”
“Thank you for Lord Lu’s assistance.” Lu Chang bowed deeply and took his leave.
When Lu Chang rode quickly with his men to find that private residence, the sky was beginning to darken.
It was a very small two-courtyard residence that, from the outside, looked nothing like property a prince would own. Lu Chang had investigated—this house was registered under a common citizen’s name, with no apparent connection to Prince Yu.
But since Lu Wenhan had directly pointed to this place, there must be something suspicious inside.
Lu Chang dismounted, and immediately the person responsible for surveillance came to report: “Sir, our men are already positioned around this residence. Even with wings, those inside couldn’t fly away.”
“Let’s go.” Lu Chang handed his horse to his subordinate and went to knock on the door himself.
After just a few knocks, an old man opened the door. Lu Chang exchanged a few words with him, but the old man just shook his head and gestured: the master was at home.
He was deaf and mute.
The man beside Lu Chang grew impatient, pushing the old man aside and barging into the residence with curses. Lu Chang didn’t stop him, following inside and proceeding directly through the second gate.
The residence was visible end-to-end, with side wings flanking the main hall beyond the second gate, and no additional rooms beyond these.
Now the main hall was lit with candles. Lu Chang walked to the building without hesitation and pushed open the door with one hand.
Behind the desk facing the door sat a person, with a sheepskin lamp lit at the corner of the desk. Though the day’s light hadn’t fully faded, the candlelight was bright enough, illuminating that person.
“Lord Yin, you’ve finally come. I have been waiting here for many days.”
Tang Li’s face slowly lifted.