Chapter Ninety-Three: The Shen Family

The visitor was none other than Lu Yi’s father, Lu Fusheng, Deputy Minister of Personnel. Behind him trailed the same group of sycophants from the gate, each brimming with arrogance and imperiousness, as if their master, Lu Fusheng, was their talisman.

At the sight of his father, Lu Yi struggled to stand.

“Lord Ji, what is the meaning of this?” Lu Fusheng looked at Ji Changge with a stern gaze.

“Lord Lu, I am merely following procedure. I asked Young Master Lu a few questions at the Supreme Court,” Ji Changge replied with a faint smile.

Lu Fusheng glanced at his son kneeling on the ground, his face swollen and bruised like a pig’s head, and sneered coldly, “Is this how your Supreme Court conducts investigations? Torturing confessions out of suspects?”

Wen Jing tried to explain, but Ji Changge interrupted swiftly, “That was only because Young Master Lu refused to cooperate.”

Lu Fusheng snorted disdainfully, unwilling to argue further, “Have you finished your questioning, Lord Ji? May I take my son away now?”

Ji Changge waved at Ding Wu, who released Lu Yi. Lu Yi hurried to his father’s side.

“Father…” Lu Yi looked at him with frustration. He had never suffered such humiliation in his life. Since childhood, he had always been the one stepping on others, never this disheveled.

“We’ll talk at home,” Lu Fusheng said expressionlessly.

Ji Changge watched them disappear outside the gate, then said to Ding Wu, “Go to the Moonlit Pavilion.”

“Yes, my lord,” Ding Wu replied.

“I’ll help you inside first, quickly apply some medicinal wine,” Wang Erlang said.

Wen Jing nodded, still distracted by the scene and almost forgetting the pain in her own foot.

Ji Changge noticed Wen Jing limping and was about to ask what had happened when a guard entered.

“My lord, we have found the hunter.”

“Bring him in.”

“I, the humble Wang Hong, pay respects to my lord,” a burly man with a face full of stubble stepped forward.

“Wang Hong, tell me where you were on the sixteenth of this month and what you were doing,” Ji Changge inquired.

“My lord, I am a hunter living at the foot of Mount Xiqi. On that day, I found a scholar unconscious in the forest. I gave him some dry food and water, then helped him out,” Wang Hong explained.

Ji Changge nodded; this matched what Cheng Shi had said. He ordered Ding Wu to bring Cheng Shi out.

“Benefactor,” Cheng Shi bowed deeply upon seeing Wang Hong. After only a few days in prison, he seemed to have aged considerably.

Wang Hong scratched his head and said loudly, “I just happened to save him. I would have saved anyone—even a dog.”

A couple of guards stifled laughter.

Cheng Shi merely smiled faintly.

“Cheng Shi, you may go home,” Ji Changge said.

“Thank you, my lord,” Cheng Shi bowed and left, his face devoid of any joy. The one dear to him was gone; what fear was there in death, or joy in life?

The laughter ceased as everyone watched Cheng Shi’s lonely silhouette fade away.

Ding Wu hurried in and whispered something to Ji Changge’s ear. Ji Changge’s eyes sharpened, his expression suddenly complicated.

“Assign someone to shadow him discreetly, keep watch for twelve hours,” Ji Changge ordered.

***

Ding Wu led several guards out.

Wen Jing and Wang Erlang stepped outside.

“Sit down quickly,” Wang Erlang helped Wen Jing into a chair.

“How’s your foot?” Ji Changge asked.

“It’s nothing serious, just a slight sprain,” Wen Jing replied.

Wang Erlang’s voice rose anxiously, “How can you say it’s slight? It’s clearly swollen!”

Surprised by Wang Erlang’s sudden anger, Wen Jing and Ji Changge exchanged glances. This was the first time they’d seen the usually gentle Wang Erlang lose his temper so fiercely.

“Feiran, seeing how badly injured Qiuniang’s foot is, how about giving her the day off?” Wang Erlang suggested to Ji Changge.

Ji Changge glanced at Wang Erlang, his gaze chilly, then bent down to examine Wen Jing’s foot. “This injury isn’t serious. Brother Wang, you should head home early. Qiuniang is under my jurisdiction, so it’s my duty to care for her. Don’t worry.”

Wang Erlang’s expression shifted slightly, clearly not expecting Ji Changge to refuse so confidently. The two men stared at each other silently.

“Very well. I wouldn’t want to disrupt your work here as an outsider. I’ll leave first. Qiuniang, I’ll pick you up after work tonight,” Wang Erlang smiled.

“No need to trouble you, Young Master Wang. Zhou Quan will come for me,” Wen Jing said simply, not wanting to impose further.

Wang Erlang said nothing and left.

Wen Jing looked at Ji Changge with suspicion. What was this scheming man planning now?

“Ding Wu just reported that several girls at the Moonlit Pavilion can confirm that Lu Yi left the pavilion at noon on the thirteenth and only returned at four in the afternoon. During those two hours, Lu Yi had ample time and motive to commit the crime,” Ji Changge explained.

“This Lu Yi was furious about He Yunxiu’s infidelity, calling her a wretched woman. He hated her betrayal, which led him to behead her. The evidence on the corpse supports this; the killer staged it like a trial. Since He Yunxiu was unfaithful to Lu Yi, he is the prime suspect,” Wen Jing pondered.

“If Lu Yi is truly the culprit, what connection does he have to Shen Ying and Liang Shuxuan’s case?” Ji Changge frowned. Lately, he had been studying the files of these three cases, hoping to find a clue. Yet the three were neither close friends nor shared any mutual acquaintances. The investigation had reached an impasse.

“We should visit the Shen residence to gather more information,” Wen Jing suggested.

Ji Changge nodded, then asked, “Can you walk on your foot?”

Wen Jing teased, “You said it was a minor injury yourself, so naturally I can.”

“The weather’s lovely today, neither cold nor hot,” Ji Changge remarked, looking outside.

Wen Jing took a few tentative steps and noticed the pain had lessened. The herbal remedy Lin Bai had left for bruises and sprains was truly effective.

“Mount up,” Ji Changge pointed to his horse.

Wen Jing stared at the towering beast, about her height, thinking it looked ready to glare at her even before she mounted. She feared the horse would throw her off at the slightest provocation, so she refused.

“Where’s the carriage?” she asked.

“They’re all in use,” Ji Changge said, mounting his horse in one fluid motion.

“All... in use...” Wen Jing’s forehead creased with frustration.

“Give me your hand,” Ji Changge extended his hand.

After hesitating, Wen Jing did not take it. Had this been a year ago, she might have fainted happily, but now, as Wang Erlang’s fiancée yet before their formal engagement, she could not do anything to disgrace either the Wen or Wang families. At least avoiding suspicion was the minimum.

While Wen Jing was distracted, Ji Changge suddenly lifted her onto the horse.

***

Wen Jing had never ridden a horse before, only seen it in period dramas. Before she could settle, Ji Changge squeezed the horse’s belly with his legs, and the black steed bolted forward. Terrified, Wen Jing grabbed the horse’s mane tightly.

“Relax, hold the reins. If you hurt it, it’ll throw us both off,” Ji Changge half-joked.

Wen Jing obediently loosened her grip and grasped the reins firmly.

“Put this on,” Ji Changge handed her a hooded veil.

As Wen Jing donned it, she grew increasingly puzzled by Ji Changge’s thoughts. He had accompanied Minister Wang to propose to Wang Erlang, yet now she felt he was displeased about her impending marriage into the Wang family. How deep was this man’s scheming?

***

The journey was silent. Ji Changge saw Wen Jing’s displeased expression and knew she was unhappy. The fiery anger he had felt earlier at Wang Erlang’s possessiveness toward “Miss Wen” instantly cooled. He realized he had only vented his own frustrations without considering Wen Jing’s feelings.

They arrived at the grand vermilion gates of the Shen family, flanked by imposing stone lions. The aura of wealth and power was undeniable—it was truly the home of the capital’s richest family. The estate was at least ten times the size of the Wen residence.

“Who are you two?” the gatekeeper asked.

“Ji Changge of the Supreme Court,” he replied.

“Please come in,” the gatekeeper hurried to notify inside.

Ji Changge and Wen Jing entered the main hall, where Master and Mistress Shen came to greet them.

“We did not expect the young lord’s visit. Please forgive our lack of preparation,” the Shens bowed, preparing to kneel.

“No need for formalities,” Ji Changge quickly stepped forward to help them up.

Wen Jing observed the couple. Both appeared somewhat aged and frail. The death of Shen Ying years ago had clearly been a heavy blow.

“Butler, serve the finest tea,” Master Shen instructed.

“Please, no need for ceremony. I am here only to ask a few questions,” Ji Changge said.

Master and Mistress Shen exchanged a glance.

“May I ask the reason for your visit today, young lord?” Master Shen inquired.

Ji Changge hesitated briefly before speaking plainly, “I have come to inquire in detail about the case of Miss Shen from five years ago.”

Master Shen’s face turned pale, his hands trembling uncontrollably before he suddenly fainted.

“Master Shen!” Ji Changge reacted swiftly, catching the elder man. He had expected emotional distress but not a full faint. Even after five years, the death of Shen Ying remained a monumental shock.

“Butler! Butler!” Mistress Shen called anxiously.

The butler and a few servants quickly carried Master Shen inside.

“Is he all right?” Ji Changge asked.

“He will be fine. No need to worry, young lord. But never mention his daughter; whenever anyone does, this is how he reacts,” Mistress Shen sighed.

So that was it. Ji Changge frowned deeply. If even the name could not be spoken, he would have to direct his questions to Mistress Shen instead.