The Night Watcher of Great Jing - Chapter 45

Fang Huai accepted the situation with remarkable bluntness.

“I walked into it myself. I deserved it.”

What he meant could not have been clearer.

Zhao Li did not answer directly. She continued questioning him.

“Do you know whom You Xiang usually associates with?”

Fang Huai struggled upright and sat cross-legged on the floor.

“If I tell you, will it count as a contribution?”

Zhao Li merely raised a brow.

“I won’t lie to you. This is a serious matter, and I cannot be certain you were not involved. But if your information helps, perhaps you can clear yourself of suspicion. Weigh it for yourself.”

Fang Huai thought for a moment, turned, and spat bloodstained saliva at You Xiang.

Then he faced Zhao Li again and spoke, air whistling through his broken teeth.

“That bastard has always been a fawning hanger-on and petty rogue. He only started having money to throw around this year. It was around the time… around the time…”

As he searched his memory, his expression abruptly changed.

“It began after he started associating with people from Marquis Ningsu’s Estate.”

The moment Fang Huai said it, Zhao Li saw You Xiang shudder and curl into himself like a shrimp.

Once Zhao Li was certain Fang Huai was not merely trying to deflect blame onto someone else, she exchanged a glance with Zheng Lian.

She had decided to make her living in Shengjing, so naturally she needed to know who was who in the capital.

Marquis Ningsu’s line descended from a founding meritorious minister and had continued for six generations.

Hereditary honors, wealth, and marriage alliances had intertwined its roots throughout the court. Though now in decline, no one dared underestimate such a vast entity.

More troublesome still, Marquis Ningsu was on good terms with Shen Zhixing.

Like him, the marquis was one of those damned Eunuch Faction men reviled in the streets.

Zhao Li sighed inwardly.

Complicated social relationships were such a nuisance.

She did not know where Shen Yan would stand.

At the thought, her eyes darkened. If the interests and social obligations of the living prevented the investigation from continuing, she would have to resort to the methods of the dead.

Those children had to be rescued. Otherwise, her conscience would never be at peace.

Zheng Lian did not know what Zhao Li was thinking. He stood with eyes lowered and said nothing, waiting for her decision.

Zhao Li was about to ask the village head to send a message when someone knocked on the door.

Zheng Lian opened it, then froze and hurriedly saluted.

“Lord Shen.”

Shen Yan stood outside in a crimson Flying Fish Robe, a Goose-Quill Saber at his waist. His tall frame blocked most of the light from the doorway.

With worries already filling her mind, Zhao Li looked at Shen Yan in silhouette and somehow found his expression even gloomier than usual.

“Lord Shen.”

She stepped forward and cupped her hands. Before she could say more, Shen Yan produced a large oil-paper parcel and offered it to her.

Zhao Li accepted it in both hands. It was surprisingly heavy.

When she opened it, she found a large packet of spun-sugar candy.

Coated generously with roasted soybean powder, it was an astonishing amount—far more than any normal person could finish.

Spun-sugar candy…

That was exactly what the abductors had used to lure the children.

Was he hinting at something?

She carefully lifted her eyes, but Shen Yan happened to turn his face away.

Zhao Li’s heart sank.

Shen Yan had bought the candy on his way and felt shy after handing it to her. He avoided looking at her.

Instead, he studied the three captives on the floor.

“How are matters progressing?”

“Why did Lord Shen come?”

Shen Yan paused. “I heard Li Qing had returned to the Pacification Office for reinforcements, so I stopped by while passing.”

Zhao Li hesitated, then decided to place a little more trust in Shen Yan.

In a low voice, she summarized what had happened.

When she looked up, Shen Yan’s brows were tightly drawn. The gaze he directed at Fang Huai was deeply unfriendly.

Fang Huai’s scalp prickled beneath it.

He had dared swagger and make threats before Zhao Li. Before Shen Yan, even if his uncle were present, he would not dare show displeasure to his face.

After a long silence, Shen Yan narrowed his eyes and curved his lips.

“Zheng Lian, take them to the Imperial Prison.”

Fang Huai and Zhao Li both changed expression.

“I’m not going to the Imperial Prison! I’m not going!”

Fang Huai wriggled across the floor, desperately trying to crawl backward.

Ordinary people called the Imperial Prison a demonic pit in the mortal world. Men like Fang Huai understood its horrors in far more concrete terms.

It was a place that could make corpses open their mouths and confess.

Anyone who entered emerged with flesh ruined and bones broken.

Even the lucky few who left alive were usually cripples.

Fang Huai’s terror spread directly to Granny Oil and You Xiang. Both began whimpering through their gags.

Shen Yan turned to Zhao Li.

“You did very well.”

Confusion covered her face.

What?

Shen Yan patiently explained, “If anyone speaks offensively to you again, show no mercy. Nor do you need to act personally.”

He meant that?

Her superior, whom she had been suspecting only moments ago, was absurdly protective of his own people.

The realization made Zhao Li ashamed, and she lowered her head.

After a moment’s thought, she spoke directly.

“Lord Shen, Marquis Ningsu’s Estate is involved. What should we do?”

Shen Yan did not hesitate.

“Investigate as you would any other case.”

Then he understood why Zhao Li’s expression had seemed strange.

“You need not worry,” he reassured her quietly. “I’ll back you.”

Only three words.

Yet they sent an inexplicably pleasant tingle through Zhao Li’s heart.

The sensation was immediately washed away by a rush of joy, followed by guilt.

She no longer needed to fear being prevented from finding the children, and now felt terrible for doubting Shen Yan.

Zhao Li raised her head.

“Lord Shen, what would you like to eat when we return? I’ll make it for you.”

Lord Shen seemed to be coughing a little. She should simmer something for him later.

Looking at her upturned face, Shen Yan rubbed his fingers together twice beneath his sleeve.

He raised a fist to hide the smile at his lips and coughed lightly.

“Make me a bowl of pear soup.”

After a flicker of surprise, Zhao Li nodded. “All right.”

As the two spoke, Fang Huai felt he was about to collapse.

Was he truly being sent to the Imperial Prison merely for speaking offensively?

No matter how he struggled, Zheng Lian still dragged him away.

Just then, Lu Zhao strode inside.

“A-Li, we personally investigated the black-pottery workshops and warehouses. Everything is recorded here.”

Zhao Li accepted the booklet and quickly scanned it.

Her gaze stopped on one entry.

A pickling workshop in the neighboring village.

Its address had been circled in red ink.

Lu Zhao had plainly discussed it with Shen Yan on the way. Both believed this location was the most suspicious.

Time was short, so they divided into two groups.

Lu Zhao remained behind to interrogate Granny Oil and You Xiang, hoping to pry open their mouths.

Shen Yan and Zhao Li led the others toward the pickling workshop.

The group galloped the entire way.

The workshop stood at the edge of the neighboring village, at the end of a secluded alley.

The stench of sauce and pickled goods reached them from far away. Filthy water flowed through the alley.

Lu Jianxing was already waiting. He stepped forward and saluted.

“Children have disappeared from nearby villages as well. Preliminary estimates place the number between three and five.”

“Our brothers have watched this place for some time. No one has entered or left, and we have noticed nothing unusual.”

“Good.” Shen Yan nodded and stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhao Li.

Zhao Li opened the Mind’s Eye.

Her brows immediately drew tight.

“This is the place.”

Black corpse miasma towered over the pickling workshop at the end of the alley, mingled with a great mass of gray smoke.