Chapter 19: Her Talent

“Secondly, I suppose that Chief Lu is investigating not only the death of Zhou Jiulang but also a case within the case, is that correct?”

Having spoken, Murong Huan noticed Lu Ling’s expression darken further. As an investigator, Lu Ling naturally harbored suspicion towards everyone involved in the case.

Lu Ling asked coldly, “And how do you know that?”

Murong Huan smiled again. “Given Chief Lu’s status, it would be unusual for a mere fourth-rank official like you to personally investigate the death of Zhou Jiulang—unless there is something more compelling within the case, or some matter that demands your attention. One possibility is the existence of a deeper case within the case; another is the case’s significance, enough to attract the court’s notice and an imperial edict ordering Chief Lu to swiftly resolve it.”

Lu Ling’s expression shifted abruptly.

Then Murong Huan added, “There is one more thing… Chief Lu carries the scent of decayed corpse and the damp, cold rot of a well’s depths. I suspect you found a body submerged in a well at the crime scene, didn’t you?”

Upon hearing this, even the red-clad youth standing nearby, who had been watching with amusement, suddenly lost the playful glint in his eyes and fell silent in surprise.

Lu Ling’s face grew stern, unable to utter a single retort.

The corpse at the bottom of the well had been discovered by several constables left at the scene after Zhou Jiulang’s body was taken to the Court of Justice. Lu Ling had kept the matter quiet, fearing it would alarm the local citizens.

Yet now, this seemingly young man, barely past a boy’s age, could deduce the presence of a submerged corpse simply from his scent—this was truly extraordinary.

Lu Ling’s suspicion deepened.

A breeze rustled the phoenix tree leaves at the Su family mansion’s gate, their gentle sound momentarily freezing time itself. Lu Ling seemed to snap out of his tumultuous thoughts and raised his hand again. “Continue. What about the third matter?”

“The third matter…” Murong Huan beckoned A Shu to bring ink, brush, paper, and inkstone. “With a single stroke, I will draw Chief Lu as he appeared at ten years old. Let him see if it resembles him—how about that?”

At this, the red-clad youth beside Lu Ling grew even more intrigued and astonished.

“You can draw? And you can sketch what Chief Lu looked like as a child from his current appearance?”

Murong Huan nodded.

“Please! Please draw!” The red-clad youth eagerly interrupted before Lu Ling could reply.

Murong Huan signaled to A Shu, who prepared the ink, brought a folding screen, and spread out white paper. Murong Huan then began to carefully outline the portrait stroke by stroke.

She painted with such concentration that Lu Ling, under her penetrating gaze, felt somewhat embarrassed.

The red-clad youth could hardly wait and stood behind Murong Huan, watching every brushstroke and splash of ink until the drawing was complete.

A look of profound shock appeared in the youth’s eyes. “Are you sure this is Chief Lu at ten years old?”

Madam Su, sensing something amiss, quietly approached to look. The drawing depicted a small child of quite plump and rotund stature.

Madam Su immediately grew anxious and scolded harshly, “You scoundrel! Apologize to Chief Lu at once! Chief Lu is dignified and heroic—how could he have looked like this as a child? This is mockery, inviting trouble!”

The red-clad youth frowned in displeasure. “What does Madam Su mean? What’s wrong with this appearance?”

“Yeah! What’s wrong with this look?” A Shu chimed in. “Chubby is very cute!”

The youth gave A Shu a disdainful glance, then turned to Lu Ling and said, “Jiu Lang, come see! Tell me if it resembles you. You know, we grew up together, and your clumsy look at ten years old is something I can’t forget even now…”

Before the youth finished, Lu Ling shot him a sharp glare. Realizing his mistake, the youth covered his mouth and swallowed the rest of his words.

Lu Ling, curious, approached Murong Huan’s drawing.

To everyone’s surprise, the usually somber Lu Ling was momentarily stunned by the portrait. His expression shifted to one of disbelief, and finally, he couldn’t help but lay his hand on the child’s cheek in the painting.

“How is it? Is this exactly what you looked like as a child?” the red-clad youth whispered in his ear.

Lu Ling seemed to recall something, his eyes tinged with sadness. After a long silence, he withdrew his hand from the drawing and looked toward Murong Huan.

“So this is your skill? To discern scents with such acuity and even paint a person’s childhood likeness?”

“Painting Chief Lu’s childhood is no great feat,” Murong Huan smiled. Then she suddenly shifted tone. “My specialty is to depict the appearance of the dead in their living form, and to paint the evil soul of the murderer!”

Her words fell like a hush over the assembled crowd. Everyone at the Su mansion looked at Murong Huan in astonishment.

“To depict the dead as they lived, and the murderer’s malevolent soul?”

Lu Ling repeated the phrase, genuine surprise and curiosity now apparent in his eyes.

He looked at Murong Huan, who met his gaze with confident and unwavering eyes.

“Yes! May I become your assistant in solving this case and hunting the culprit?”

At last, a smile—the first of the day—danced at the corner of Lu Ling’s lips.

Suddenly, he stretched out his long arms, his black cloak billowing, then mounted his horse and commanded the constables, “Take them all away!”

…

Watching the riders gallop off, Murong Huan and Su Sanlang were roughly seized by several constables and hoisted onto horseback, soon swallowed into a distant speck amid the rising dust.

Madam Su seemed to awaken from a nightmare, emitting a piercing scream before fainting. Several maids hurried out to support her, and chaos erupted at the mansion’s gate.

When Madam Su finally regained consciousness, she wept bitterly.

“What a curse! Only a few days since their return, and the Su household has been turned upside down! If this continues, will the entire clan suffer?”

“What is she trying to prove? If she cannot paint, then she shouldn’t try! Chief Lu is a nobleman of great renown and stature—how dare she depict him in such a ridiculous way? Is she mocking him, inviting death?”

“If she wants to bring death upon herself, so be it! But why drag my grandson Sanlang into this?”

Madam Qin also cried beside them. “What shall we do now? The Court of Justice won’t torture Sanlang, will they? Didn’t you say that as long as I kept silent, Sanlang would be safe? Then why was he taken away?”

Su Qing’s heart was restless. With a sharp shout, he commanded, “Enough noise!”

“Murong Huan did not err in her drawing. It truly is Chief Lu as a child. I heard the red-clad constable whispering to Lu Ling! But the problem now isn’t the painting, nor was that the reason for their arrest!”

“If not for the painting, then why?”

“To investigate the case! Isn’t that obvious?”

Su Qing paused, then said, “My only worry is whether they will be attacked or framed once inside the Court of Justice.”

“This cannot be. I must find help and bring them back swiftly!”

Thinking of his third brother’s wife, Qiu Shi, he hurried to find her and said, “Sister-in-law, our Sanlang and Murong Huan surely have no connection to Zhou Jiulang’s death. Could your father help watch over them?”

Qiu Shi’s eyes glinted. “Of course. I will speak with my father immediately. We’ll surely rescue Sanlang!”

“That’s good, that’s good!”

…

On the streets of Guiyi Lane, a monk led a group of riders recklessly charging through, scattering terrified townsfolk.

Lu Ling ordered his constables to clear the way. As they passed, they saw the havoc caused by the pounding hooves. A woman and child barely escaped being trampled.

Quick as a flash, Lu Ling threw a flying dart that grazed the horse’s hoof, causing the steed to bolt wildly in another direction. Meanwhile, the red-clad youth leapt forward, scooping up the child who had nearly fallen under the horse’s hooves.

Murong Huan’s gaze darkened, her thoughts revealing glimpses of this man’s past and even a forewarning of his death.

“Who is he?” she asked.

The red-clad youth handed the child back to the woman and came to Murong Huan’s side. “Xue Huaiyi!” Then he leaned close and whispered, “Officially, a monk of White Horse Temple, but actually a favorite male companion to the sage who builds the imperial halls.”

At this, Lu Ling sharply interrupted, “Enough, Eleventh Brother! What nonsense are you speaking?”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop! I’ll stop!” The youth chuckled, but as Lu Ling looked away, he whispered again to Murong Huan, “His real name is Feng Xiaobao. Recommended by the Thousand Gold Princess, he gained the sage’s favor and became a bedchamber companion. They say his skills in bed are quite remarkable…” Before he could finish, A Shu’s sharp whisper interrupted, “Hey, sir, what nonsense are you spouting now?”

Startled, the youth glared at A Shu. “Did I say anything wrong? It’s all the truth. Why are you blushing?”

A Shu, embarrassed and fearing exposure of her true gender, fell silent.

Murong Huan, unconcerned, remarked, “So he abuses the sage’s favor to act recklessly on Luoyang’s streets?”

“Exactly! Feeling invincible, he rides fast horses with his gang through the city. Over the years, nearly a hundred people have died beneath his hooves, some even dozens at a time. The censor has impeached him, but no one dares touch him!”

Then the youth laughed and added, “Though I heard the sage’s favor now falls upon a certain doctor named Shen, so this monk’s temper has grown short lately!”

A Shu glared at Murong Huan, wishing she could silence the red-clad youth’s mouth.

At that moment, the sound of galloping hooves approached again—it was the same Xue Huaiyi returning.

“Lu Ling, what do you mean? Why did you throw a dart to wound my horse just now?”

Lu Ling replied, “Your horse frightened the townsfolk and nearly trampled a little girl.”

“And what’s so serious about frightening the people? It didn’t scare you. Mind your own business!”

Lu Ling was rendered speechless; not one for clever argument, he fell silent.

Just as he was about to urge his horse onward, a voice followed from behind.

“Frightening the people is no small matter. It concerns the heavens. Under the sage’s rule, Buddha’s compassion for all beings ensures the people’s peace and prosperity are the foundation of a strong nation. To disdain the people’s livelihood shows utter disregard for the sage’s governance.”

Startled, Lu Ling turned to see the speaker—Murong Huan.

The red-clad youth’s eyes brightened in delight upon seeing Murong Huan’s boldness.

Xue Huaiyi’s glare turned venomous as he spurred his horse closer, shooting a vicious look at Murong Huan.

“Who is this brat? One of Chief Lu’s suspects? A mere suspect dares to challenge me? Guards, kill him!”