CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 27: CONSIDERATIONS

Finally getting down from the mountain, Zhu Yu’s stamina, which was still quite abundant during the autopsy, was completely depleted. She leaned against the carriage and dozed off. When she awoke halfway, she lifted the curtain to look outside and realized they weren’t returning to Qingshui County but heading towards the post station where they had stayed before.

"Are we going back to the post station today?" she asked, a bit surprised.

Lu Qing was also holding the curtain with one hand, looking out the window in a daze, lost in thought. Hearing Zhu Yu speak, he withdrew his gaze and nodded at her, "Too many eyes and ears at the inn make it inconvenient. The post station is better, being on the official grounds."

Before long, they arrived at the post station, still only guarded by the old post house manager, very quiet.

The talisman, fearing the old post house manager was too busy alone, went with him to the kitchen to heat several buckets of hot water for Lu Qing and Zhu Yu to bathe, then got busy with cooking.

After tidying up, Zhu Yu went to find Lu Qing, informing him of the findings from the autopsy in the cave today.

At the cave entrance, for one, it was uncertain if someone might suddenly approach; on the other hand, the stench was unbearable. Even Zhu Yu, who prided herself on her experience, was overwhelmed and didn’t want to speak.

"There were five corpses in the cave, two already skeletons, one half-decayed, one found in the Ghost Immortal Temple, and the other was the swollen one we just dealt with."

She told Lu Qing, "Of the three corpses too decayed to discern features, I examined their teeth roughly; they should have all been in their prime. The one from the temple was the oldest.

For the two skeletons, there’s no way to trace them, but for the half-rotted one and the decayed one in the temple, both had puncture wounds in the waist area, suggesting that the two skeletons might have had similar injuries in the same location before they decayed."

"Why then did one swell to such a state? Why didn’t the perpetrator puncture and bleed him too?" Lu Qing asked.

"Initially, I was puzzled too, but after examining, I found this person’s ribs were fractured and pierced into the heart and lungs.

Such injuries cause blood to accumulate in the chest cavity, leading to death within moments.

Once dead, the blood stagnates, and I suppose the perpetrator knew well a dead body wouldn’t bleed, thus didn’t waste the effort.

It is precisely the absence of exit wounds for the putrid fluids that caused the corpse to swell to such a ghastly state."

Lu Qing raised his eyebrows slightly, then suddenly changed the subject, asking: "Could I have a look at Madame’s set of tools?"

Since they were used today, Zhu Yu didn’t plan to hide them anymore. She stood up, returned to her room, and brought them over.

Lu Qing spread the cloth bundle on the table. The fabric was just ordinary coarse cloth with several small inner pockets sewn inside, each containing something, all forged from Black Iron, exuding a dark, soft glow.

Lu Qing’s hand passed over the hollow fine tube Zhu Yu used earlier; it had already been cleaned. He picked up a small knife beside it.

The small knife was finely made. The slender long handle had a blade the size of a willow leaf, with a very thin edge, its side embedded with a fine silver wire.

"Why does Madame carry such a set with her when traveling?" Lu Qing put the small knife back in the inner pocket.

"Probably because I was married off to Jin Country far away, bringing some local specialties for comfort, to soothe homesickness." Zhu Yu replied calmly, with a tone half-true, half-false.

"I heard before that the craftsmen of Shuo Country are highly skilled in forging, their weapons sharp and formidable.

I assumed they were good at making big pieces, but didn’t expect such exquisite craftsmanship."

Lu Qing pulled out another piece from inside, played with it for a moment before putting it back, his gaze sweeping over the dried stains on the cloth bundle: "Later, have someone make a leather one like this, so you won’t worry about getting it dirty."

That’s it?

Zhu Yu glanced somewhat suspiciously at Lu Qing.

He clearly had shown some curiosity earlier. She expected him to ask more questions, and was racking her brain on how to respond, but... that’s it?

Of course, this kind of doubt was just a silent murmur in her heart; she wouldn’t foolishly ask him.

One must know that telling one lie necessitates a hundred lies to cover it.

Now Lu Qing wasn’t asking, which was most effortless and labor-saving for her.

A while later, the talisman returned, and the two assisted the old post house manager, preparing some food. Though they couldn’t expect any culinary skills from the two, and the meal was just plain fare, it was warm and comfortable to eat.

After eating, Zhu Yu returned to her room to rest, and Fu Lu followed her in.

"Second Master," he cautiously changed his address after exiting the room, "Master asked me to give this to you, to wear when going out tomorrow."

After handing the items to Zhu Yu, he hurried back to Lu Qing’s room.

Lu Qing, having seen Zhu Yu off, sat calmly at the table, quickly embarking on a palm-sized piece of paper.

After finishing, he went to the window, opened a slit, took out a delicate Jade Whistle from his robe, and blew it softly.

The whistle’s sound was light, like a bird gliding over the roof.

In a moment, a shadow flitted past the window, and Lu Qing passed the note out; the shadow vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Lu Qing closed the window and returned to his seat. The talisman quickly filled his teacup.

"Master," with a hint of worry on his face, the talisman spoke softly to Lu Qing, "Are you sure it’s prudent to involve Madame in this investigation?

Might it be inappropriate?"

He saw Lu Qing raise his eyes towards him and hastily added, "Fu Lu knows Madame is extraordinarily brave, making even subordinates feel inferior.

But the current matter... doesn’t seem as simple as an abandoned temple and a few lives.

If Madame gets involved, I truly do not know if it’s appropriate."

"She is the Princess Xiaoyao, granted in marriage by Your Majesty." Lu Qing held a teacup, looking at the not-so-clear tea, "If the entire Prince Xiaoyao Mansion falls, how can a nest remain unscathed?

Do you think at that time, Zhu Cheng alone can protect her?"

The talisman shook his head without hesitation: "Though it’s offensive to say, we all know what reputation Master has outside.

Receiving the marriage decree, the daughter sent over is probably not cherished by Zhu Cheng.

If the day ever comes, he might be the first to disassociate from his daughter to ensure his family stays unentangled, rather than trying to find ways to protect Madame."

"So this situation is now beyond her control of whether to enter or not."

Lu Qing set down the tea cup, the nonchalant smile that graced his face during the day long gone: "If she were just a regular, mediocre woman, it might be different. But perhaps fate is unexpected, for in a place like Shuo Country, where daughters are not highly regarded, one of Zhu Cheng’s concubine’s daughters turned out to have such extraordinary talent.

If her skills could lend me a hand, then future matters would need no worrying.

If the Prince Xiaoyao’s lineage eventually faces calamity, allowing her to follow me as a man before then, with few knowing the real face of Princess Xiaoyao, it will be easier to live under a new identity, find a path for survival."