The man was a wine merchant.
While carrying cargo at the docks, Mu Yi saw the merchant grappling with a young boy. The boy was crying and begging him not to sell him. He had given the merchant his first time—and every time after that. The merchant had clearly promised to take care of him for the rest of his life, so why was he now selling him to a brothel?
The merchant kicked the boy to the ground and called for the brothel’s thugs to take him away. As he wiped his hands, he cursed, “What a nuisance.”
Another one of those—another swindler who deceived people with promises of love!
Mu Yi stood there in a daze, feeling something awaken inside him.
It was only after the workers beside him urged him several times to get back to work that he came to his senses.
At the time, Mu Yi did not think much of it.
But that evening, after finishing his work and dinner, he encountered the merchant again on his way home.
This time, the man was holding a pretty young male escort as he entered the brothel.
Mu Yi waited until the merchant came out. He followed him into a dark alley, picked up a stone, and knocked him unconscious. Then he stuffed him into a sack and carried him back to the small house halfway up the mountain.
He stared at the merchant.
Were these people not shameless?
He was determined to turn these self-proclaimed nobles into the lowest of dogs.
He took off his trousers and climbed onto the bed.
Then, just as before, he dismembered the body and disposed of the remains.
After the second one, it was as if Mu Yi had opened the door to an entirely new world. He began with the third, then the fourth…
Until Yu Weizhu, the ninth victim discovered today.
No—not just nine. There were two more. He had disposed of their bodies in another direction. At the time, he had been filling in for someone on a delivery of beef to Yangzhou, so he had taken the opportunity to dump them there.
Mu Yi had heard about Yu Weizhu at the Niu Yamen. The people there had been gossiping about Yu Weizhu, and the more Mu Yi listened, the angrier he became. That was when he decided to kill him.
Mu Yi pointed at the pieces of the corpse. “Lord Yan, you went to the Niu Yamen. I knew you were investigating the case, and I knew you were good at solving cases. I had already planned to stop and run away with my things. But that cloth merchant, Wu Zhou, was too despicable. Just like Jiang Han, he got beneath a man and moaned and cried out in pleasure, yet he still cursed other people for being cheap.”
Mu Yi roared hoarsely, “They’re the despicable ones!”
Tears streamed down his face. “I never wanted to kill anyone. I truly didn’t. I had already prepared to run away, but they kept forcing me. They forced me to kill him—to kill them all. They were the ones who deceived people. It was their fault. They deserved to die…”
Feng Jien sighed and shook his head.
What a cursed entanglement.
One was lustful and heartless; the other was lonely and greedy.
A pair bound together by a doomed relationship that could hardly even be called love.
Not one of the victims had been innocent.
Yan Tongshu sighed as well. She then sent two constables to notify Yangzhou and inquire about the exact circumstances surrounding the two corpses there. She also ordered Xu Qiu to search the small house halfway up the mountain where Mu Yi lived for the tools used in the crimes.
Dismemberment certainly required knives. And since Mu Yi had dismembered his victims in that mountain hut, there would undoubtedly be plenty of evidence there.
After a long while, Xu Qiu returned, his face pale.
“Lord Yan, we found a great many knives in Mu Yi’s house, all of different sizes, for skinning and cutting through bone. There was no bed in the house. The bed had been modified into a special dismemberment table, and there was a great deal of blood on it. Mu Yi likely hadn’t had time to clean it.
“We also found half a finger beneath the table. After comparing it, we determined that it belonged to today’s victim.
“There was a hole in the floor, about the same size as the bundle of stolen goods. It was likely where he buried them. Beside the hole, we found two pieces of old oil paper. They had already rotted from being soaked in the ground. Mu Yi must have dug the goods up, wrapped them in fresh oil paper, and then stuffed them into the cow’s stomach. There were traces of old blood on the ruined oil paper as well.”
With both witnesses and physical evidence, and with Mu Yi confessing without reservation, there was no need for further questioning.
Yan Tongshu had Mu Yi taken away to await the Ministry of Justice’s approval. Once it was granted, he would be executed.
Smack!
The judge’s block struck the bench.
Court adjourned.
Yan Tongshu descended from the bench, and Pearl hurriedly offered her a cup of hot tea.
Yan Tongshu rotated her waist from side to side.
Her waist had been aching ever since she had ridden hurriedly on horseback last time, and it still had not recovered.
As she stretched, Yan Tongshu said to Pearl, “Prepare eleven envelopes.”
Pearl asked in confusion, “Why do you need so many?”
Yan Tongshu smiled. “I’m going to write letters informing the county offices in the victims’ places of household registration about the details of the case. They can summon the victims’ families and tell them the truth. After all, they are the victims’ relatives. They have the right to know what happened.”
Especially the victims who had wives and children.
The county offices should gather their families and make the truth public.
Their wives deserved to know that they had been deceived.
As for what the wives chose to do afterward, that would be up to them.
If they felt that the men were already dead and wanted to rely on their children and in-laws’ guilt to continue living as they had, then the victims’ families—now that they knew the truth—could stand united and keep it within the family.
But if they refused to endure such a life and wanted justice, she would instruct the local magistrates in the official documents to provide as much assistance as possible.
Sigh…
Yan Tongshu sighed again and returned to the office to prepare the letters.
She looked around.
The memorials on the desk were gone.
Yan Tongshu asked Jinbao, “He left?”
Jinbao nodded. “The case was just beginning, and His Majesty went to the courtroom to listen. Eunuch Lu Xi then brought people over to pack everything up.”
Pearl added, “This servant saw it too. His Majesty lifted the curtain and stared at Young Master the entire time without moving. His gaze was so strange. It was just like…”
For a moment, Pearl could not find the right words. Then she suddenly exclaimed, “Oh! It was exactly the same look Young Master had the first time he tasted Aunt Yang’s soup cakes!”
Yan Tongshu tilted her head.
Had her expression really changed when she first tasted Aunt Yang’s soup cakes?
Never mind. There was no time to think about that now.
She had to finish the official letters for the county offices in the victims’ places of household registration first.
Yan Tongshu returned to the desk, picked up her brush, and began writing rapidly.
Inside the carriage.
Qin Yi sat with his cheek propped in one hand. The warm yellow light of the setting sun passed through the carriage curtains and traced a faint golden outline along his profile.
His eyes were lowered, and his brows were tightly furrowed.
Lu Xi sat beside him, secretly stealing glances at Qin Yi from the corner of his eye.
His Majesty had been thinking ever since he left the courtroom after hearing the trial. Had he encountered some difficult problem?
“You know…” Qin Yi suddenly spoke, his voice thoughtful. “Is it possible for people’s tastes to be connected?”
Lu Xi froze. A puzzled “Hm?” escaped his throat, and he had no idea what His Majesty was talking about.
Qin Yi lowered the hand supporting his cheek and sat up straight.
His eyes dropped to his waist and abdomen.
Was the sight of muscle really that alluring?
Mu Yi had been so ordinary-looking, without any distinguishing features.
That time in the bathhouse…
He had felt guilty and left somewhat hastily.
Yan Tongshu had simply stood beside the bath, as dazed as a goose, without moving an inch.
Suddenly, the snow seemed to melt from between Qin Yi’s brows, and a knowing smile appeared at the corners of his lips.
“So that’s how it is,” he murmured. “I was looking in the wrong direction.”
Lu Xi’s face was full of confusion.
What exactly was His Majesty talking about?
Qin Yi’s gaze turned cold. The smile vanished from his face, and he once again assumed the bearing of an iron-blooded emperor.
“Convey my edict.”
Lu Xi hurriedly knelt.
Qin Yi said, “Order Academician of the Longwen Pavilion and Acting Prefect of Kaifeng, Yan Tongshu, to work with the Ministry of Rites in overseeing all reception arrangements after the Northern Liao envoys enter the capital.”
Lu Xi lowered his eyes respectfully. “Yes.”
After a moment’s thought, Qin Yi added, “Summon Pei Jin’an to the palace.”
Lu Xi replied, “Yes.”
…
The case had been solved, and Yan Tongshu was in an excellent mood. During the time it had taken her to crack the case, the Yan and Pei families had formally exchanged the birth cards of Yan Liangyu and Pei Jin’an.
The marriage was now completely settled.
Next came the preliminary betrothal, the formal betrothal, the choosing of an auspicious wedding date, and the wedding ceremony.
The whole process would take at least two or three months.
Lady Yan and Chen Meirong were so busy they could barely keep up.
On the day of the preliminary betrothal, one procession after another carried jewelry, clothing, wedding sheep, wedding wine, and other gifts into the Yan residence. Chen Meirong beamed so broadly that she could hardly close her mouth. She grabbed Yan Tongshu’s hand and said, “Now this is what you call sincerity! This is what you call valuing our family! Unlike that Zhou family—bah, bah, bah! It’s a joyous occasion, so we won’t mention those unlucky people.”
Yan Tongshu smiled and nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes. Auntie, this is only the preliminary betrothal.”
The smug smile on Chen Meirong’s face nearly reached her ears. She gave a triumphant little hum. “If even the preliminary betrothal is this grand, how could the formal betrothal gifts be any less? Ah, my heart has been on tenterhooks all this time, but now it can finally settle down. I won’t chat with you anymore. I’m going to find Old Qian and Big Sis. Since the Pei family has shown such sincerity, we ought to add more to Liangyu’s dowry.”
Chen Meirong had always been brisk and impulsive. Whatever came to mind, she said—and whatever she said, she immediately did.
Without waiting to see how Yan Tongshu reacted, she hurried off happily to find someone to discuss it with. “That’s right, that’s right! Big Sis, Old Qian, add my private savings too—all of it! Give it all to Liangyu for her dowry.”
Yan Tongshu tugged at Yan Liangrong and said, “Auntie actually has private savings?”
Yan Liangrong’s eyes curved with amusement. “Last time, Auntie pulled me aside and told me how much she had saved.”
Yan Liangyu held up one hand and turned it over twice.
Two thousand silver taels.
Yan Tongshu was stunned. “Who would have guessed? Auntie is quite good at saving money.”
“By the way, Tongshu,” Yan Liangrong said, “I heard His Majesty issued an edict appointing you to oversee the Northern Liao envoys’ arrival in the capital together with the Ministry of Rites?”
Yan Tongshu nodded. “Perhaps it’s because I’m Acting Prefect of Kaifeng. I was bound to be involved. But those old fellows in the Ministry of Rites don’t like me, so they assigned me nothing more than maintaining public order. I’m quite happy to have an easy job. Why do you ask, Sis?”
“Yesterday, someone from the Ministry of Rites came to notify the Legal Office that we should make preparations as well and select one or two people to meet the delegation.”
“The Legal Office?”
“Yes. I hear it was the Northern Liao delegation that requested it. They said that women in Liao could participate in politics only through the emperor’s consorts, their families, or their family backgrounds. They had heard that our dynasty had established the Legal Office as a precedent and were very curious to meet someone from it.” Yan Liangrong smiled. “It seems the two of us will be working together again.”
Yan Tongshu smiled and cupped her hands in a respectful salute. “I’ll be counting on your guidance, Sis.”
As the two of them were speaking, someone called for them from inside the house. Yan Tongshu and Yan Liangrong exchanged a glance, then hurried over to help.
After the preliminary betrothal ceremony, Yan Tongshu entered the palace with the officials from the Ministry of Rites for an audience.
There were many matters to discuss. Besides the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War and several other departments also needed to coordinate with it, attend the audience, and make arrangements.
They entered the palace in the afternoon. After two full hours of work, they finally reached the matter of security and public order, which fell under Yan Tongshu’s responsibility.
Yan Tongshu had just been about to enter the Hall of Chui’gong when Lu Xi stopped her and said quietly, “Lord Yan, His Majesty suddenly felt unwell and has already returned to his chambers to see the imperial physician. Please wait a moment.”
“Felt unwell? Has he still not fully recovered from the fever he had last time?” After thinking for a moment, Yan Tongshu said, “In that case, we shouldn’t disturb His Majesty’s rest today. I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Lu Xi hurriedly stopped her. “His Majesty said he can take some medicine and rest for a while before receiving you in his chambers.”
“All right, then.”
Yan Tongshu returned to her seat, pulled out her little storybook, and continued reading.
After a while, Lu Xi announced that His Majesty had taken his medicine and summoned Yan Tongshu for an audience.
Yan Tongshu followed Lu Xi to the Hall of Tranquil Blessings.
She waited at the entrance while Lu Xi went inside to make the announcement. After a moment, a young eunuch came out and invited her in.
Holding the Regulations for Managing Public Order in Bianjing During the Northern Liao Envoys’ Visit, Yan Tongshu entered.
The hall was dim. The afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the lattice windows, casting a warm halo over the imperial couch.
Qin Yi was reclining against the couch, a silk quilt draped casually over his knees. The collar of his bright-yellow sleeping robe hung half open, revealing a well-defined collarbone and the faint outline of his firm chest.
Yan Tongshu’s steps faltered. Her gaze instinctively dropped.
Through Qin Yi’s half-open collar, his chest rose and fell slightly with each breath. In the dusky light, the contours of his pectoral muscles gleamed with a honey-colored sheen.
Below them, the ridges of his abdominal muscles were just barely visible.
Yan Tongshu paused for the briefest moment, then quickened her steps. She set the Regulations on the couch beside him, reached out, and drew his robe closed. Her tone held a hint of reproach. “It’s freezing, and you’re already ill. Why haven’t you fastened your clothes properly?”
Qin Yi ground his teeth.
Very good. Very, very good.
After saying that, Yan Tongshu picked up the Regulations and handed them to Qin Yi, her expression turning solemn. “Your Majesty, everything I wish to report is included in the memorial. Please look it over and let me know if there is anything that needs further improvement.”
Qin Yi opened the memorial and turned through it page by page. The arrangement was comprehensive, with every necessary detail included.
He nodded. “Well done.”
Delight appeared on Yan Tongshu’s face.
After reading it, Qin Yi offered several suggestions for revision. Yan Tongshu immediately said, “Shall I revise it now?”
“No need to hurry.” Qin Yi’s tone was indifferent. “I’m unwell today. You can report to me tomorrow.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. This subject will take her leave.”
The next day, Yan Tongshu came to give her report.
Lu Xi led her to the imperial gardens.
Qin Yi was practicing swordsmanship. The long sword in his hand moved sometimes like a swimming dragon, sometimes in a whirl of flashing blossoms. Its cold radiance was fierce, and the blade sliced through the air with a sharp whistle.
A sudden autumn breeze stirred the garden, setting the parasol trees whispering. Golden leaves were pierced through by the blade’s relentless strikes.
His body was slick with sweat. The thin garment covering his upper body had been soaked through, clinging tightly to him and turning nearly transparent.
Beneath the sunlight, the distinct ridges of his chest and abdomen could be seen through the fabric, along with the lean line of his waist.
Yan Tongshu drew in a breath of the cool autumn air and hurriedly lowered her eyes.
Lu Xi called out, “Your Majesty.”
Qin Yi drew back his sword and let the momentum fade. Breathing slightly harder, he turned toward Yan Tongshu. Beads of sweat slid from the high ridge of his brow.
When he saw the faintly fractured expression on her face, the corners of his lips curved in an almost imperceptible smile.
He said softly, “Minister Yan has arrived.”
Perhaps because the exercise had been so intense, his voice was husky, carrying an unnatural warmth, as though it were infused with heat.
Yan Tongshu nodded.
Qin Yi casually sat down to one side and indicated with his eyes that she should come closer.
Yan Tongshu walked over and handed him the memorial.
After reading through it and confirming that everything was in order, Qin Yi said, “It shall be decided as written.”
Yan Tongshu nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. This subject obeys.”
“Minister Yan.” As he spoke, Qin Yi reached out and tugged at his collar, seemingly feeling a little warm.
Yan Tongshu’s eyes suddenly went wide.
Did the damned emperor even know what he was doing?
She was standing, while the damned emperor was sitting. With the difference in height between them, once he pulled open his collar, she could see everything!
He really had no sense of caution at all.
Qin Yi said casually, “I heard your younger sister is getting married?”
Yan Tongshu nodded. “They’ve only just completed the preliminary betrothal ceremony.”
“Once the date is set, let me know.” Qin Yi changed the way he referred to himself. “I’ll prepare a gift as well and come personally to offer my congratulations.”
That was an honor of the highest order.
Yan Tongshu immediately beamed. “Then I’ll thank you on Liangyu’s behalf.”
They chatted for a while longer before Yan Tongshu finally left.
Before departing, she couldn’t help looking back at the imperial gardens again. She had the nagging feeling that something was off.
Half a month later, Yan Tongshu was certain.
Something really was off.
Over the past half month, Qin Yi had summoned her to the palace every few days.
Sometimes it was to ask about her work. Sometimes it was to have her admire paintings.
Even when a fresh tribute of tidal-flat mutton arrived, he summoned her to the palace to enjoy it together.
All right.
It really was delicious—rich with a milky fragrance, completely different from ordinary mutton. The flavor lingered in one’s mouth, and after one meal, she wanted another...
But that wasn’t the point.
The point was that Qin Yi seemed to suffer from heatstroke—or perhaps he was simply overheated all the time.
The weather grew colder by the day, yet he wore less and less.
At first, he had merely dressed lightly, his skin visible through the gaps in his clothes.
Later, after warming himself up while eating mutton, he undid his top completely. Completely.
All right.
Qin Yi really did have an excellent figure. His chest muscles were impressively large—surely they would feel wonderfully springy to the touch. His V-line was nice too, and his abs looked quite...
No!
That still wasn’t the point!
Yan Tongshu sighed and turned helplessly toward Pearl. “I really am not that kind of person.”
Pearl let out an “Ah?” “Young Master, what kind of person?”
Yan Tongshu sighed again.
“Oh, right, Young Master,” Pearl said. “The Qin heir is putting on a shadow-puppet play at the North Market entrance tonight. We promised we’d go and support him. We absolutely can’t be late.”
“I know.” Yan Tongshu propped her chin in both hands, distracted.
It was so cold. Wasn’t he afraid of catching a chill dressed like that?
Hadn’t he suffered enough from the fever last time? Did he want to fall ill again?
That evening, Yan Tongshu brought Pearl and Jinbao to the North Market entrance early to help Qin Yunduan.
Qin Yunduan had chosen a spot at the very edge of the North Market entrance. It was a prime location with expensive rent, but Qin Yunduan had money to spare—and he wasn’t trying to make a profit. He simply loved shadow puppetry.
Before the performance, he had hired people to advertise it far and wide, announcing that there would be a free shadow-puppet show for children at the North Market entrance that night.
It was his first performance, and he wasn’t sure how it would go. When advertising, he had even specifically promised that every parent who brought a child to watch would receive a free sugar pastry.
People were poor in those days, and sugar was expensive. The moment they heard about the sugar pastries, everyone brought their children along.
Before long, every seat was filled.
At last, the performance was about to begin.
Yan Tongshu, Pearl, and Jinbao sat in a row, each holding a dried sunflower.
After a while, Qin Yi and Lu Xi arrived as well.
Qin Yi sat down beside Yan Tongshu. She held her breath, stiffened her neck, and slowly turned her head to look at him.
Thank goodness, thank goodness.
He was dressed warmly and properly.
After seeing Qin Yi dressed so scantily every day lately, whenever she closed her eyes, his bare upper body appeared in her mind.
Then came his chest muscles, his abs, his V-line...
Yan Tongshu shook her head frantically.
This was definitely mental pollution.
She had to be going crazy. Just now, when she heard Qin Yi’s voice, she had actually imagined that he was still dressed lightly despite being surrounded by a crowd.
“Dunce.” Qin Yi tapped Yan Tongshu on the head. “What are you spacing out for?”
Yan Tongshu’s face flushed. She handed him the sunflower in her hand. “Want some?”
Qin Yi reached out and took it, but it didn’t come free. He looked at Yan Tongshu in confusion.
Yan Tongshu said angrily, “You’re so rude. These are dried sunflowers I had someone transport all the way from Dali. And you actually wanted to take the whole thing?”
Qin Yi ground his teeth. “Weren’t you the one who told me to eat it?”
Yan Tongshu said, aggrieved, “I told you to eat some. I didn’t tell you to take the entire thing.”
Qin Yi narrowed his eyes, his gaze lingering on Yan Tongshu’s face. “Yan Tongshu, I only wanted to eat a few sunflower seeds. Did you really have to get so angry that your face turned red?”
“I—”
Yan Tongshu started to explain, then stopped. She couldn’t find a way to explain herself, and even less did she want to admit the truth. All she could do was huff, “Yes, that’s right. I’m red with anger because of you.”
She turned away angrily and refused to look at him again.
It was all that damned emperor’s fault. He had gotten her to the point where, every time she saw him, her mind filled with all sorts of messy, decidedly unsuitable images.
He had corrupted her!
Qin Yi pondered this, then suddenly smiled.
It seemed he really had found the right approach.
Just then, the sound of gongs and drums rang out. Candlelight flared behind the white cloth, and two exquisite shadow-puppet figures appeared against it, immediately capturing everyone’s attention.
Since the performance had been prepared for children, Qin Yunduan had chosen a very simple story.
The first character to appear was a child. A clear, high-pitched childish voice came from behind the screen:
“I am a little boy from the Liu family. This morning, I stayed in bed, and my parents scolded me. Now I’m heading out to take the cow to graze.”
“The cow’s here!”
Someone shouted.
Amid the beating of gongs and drums, a colorful shadow-puppet cow made its dazzling entrance.
The child tried to pull the cow along. The first time, the cow didn’t move. The second time, it still didn’t move. On the third try, he put all his strength into it, only to cry out and fall flat on the ground.
Laughter swept through the audience.
The story itself was quite simple. A child took a cow out to graze, but the two of them refused to get along and kept trying to outdo each other. After finally finishing the task, the child returned home late and was scolded by his parents.
But neither the adults nor the children had ever seen a performance like this before, and the whole process was so amusing that everyone watched with rapt attention.
Yan Tongshu munched on sunflower seeds as she thought.
At this point in time, shadow puppetry had yet to become popular. When people went to watch a show, they still preferred lively acts and acrobatics.
Perhaps once shadow puppetry became truly widespread, Qin Yunduan might even become a pioneering artist.
Yan Tongshu nudged Qin Yi. “Do you think he can make it?”
Qin Yi said, “Difficult.”
“Why?” Yan Tongshu looked at him in confusion. “The Qin heir is performing so well. He can even sing.”
Qin Yi gestured toward the entrance with his eyes.
Yan Tongshu looked over and saw a portly, richly dressed man glaring at the shadow-puppet stall with an expression as dark as thunder.
She jabbed Qin Yi with her elbow. “Who’s that?”
Qin Yi said flatly, “Prince Wuyang, Qin Yunduan’s father.”
Oh dear.
This was bad.
His father had come to catch him in the act.
Although Prince Wuyang looked stern and rigid, Yan Tongshu still clung to a sliver of hope and asked, “Um, Qin Yi, the Qin heir is so honest, optimistic, and cheerful. Like father, like son, right? Prince Wuyang must have a decent personality too, shouldn’t he?”
“Heh.” Qin Yi gave a faint scoff. “You think rather highly of Qin Yunduan.”
Yan Tongshu shot Qin Yi a death glare.
Only after doing so did she remember that Qin Yi was the emperor.
She was so used to glaring at him that she had forgotten.
But since Qin Yi had refused to answer the question properly, it was still his fault.
Yan Tongshu composed her expression and was just about to say a few flattering words to Qin Yi when she heard him say, “Prince Wuyang is a cautious and meticulous man. He is rigid and severe in both his conduct and his dealings with others, and even more so when it comes to educating his children. His visitor has come with ill intent. If he takes Qin Yunduan back with him, the boy will inevitably receive a beating.”
Yan Tongshu: “…”
Qin Yunduan was doomed.
Yan Tongshu silently mourned Qin Yunduan in her heart.
Qin Yi gave a soft laugh. “You want to help him?”
Yan Tongshu nodded frantically, then offered him the dried sunflower in her hands with both hands.
A dazzling smile spread across her face as she gazed at Qin Yi ingratiatingly. “Your Majesty, please enjoy.”
Qin Yi raised a hand and pinched Yan Tongshu’s cheek. “I still prefer the way you glared at me just now.”
Yan Tongshu was utterly stunned.
The damn emperor had been getting crazier and crazier lately.
Now, whenever she glared at him, not only was he especially pleased, he even seemed to take delight in it—as though he considered it something to be proud of.
