Chapter 44: Investigation

When Xiao Mucheng and Murong Huan stepped out of the Lady Xie's courtyard, they still felt a lingering sense of terror and could not quite gather their wits. This was because Lady Xie had uttered a statement completely beyond their expectations.

"For these past years, he has constantly been doing tasks for a person of noble rank, committing murder and robbery, illicitly manufacturing weapons, keeping private assassins, and he even intended to use the Crown Prince's Token to rally the heroes of the realm!"

When Murong Huan asked what the Crown Prince's Token was, Lady Xie shook her head to indicate she did not know, adding only: "I only overheard them talking about finding the orphaned descendant left behind by the former Crown Prince. Perhaps that Crown Prince's Token is with that child. Originally, that Crown Prince's Token was held by a shadow guard by the side of the Crown Prince named Yueying, but Yueying is already dead, leaving the whereabouts of the Crown Prince's Token unknown..."

"Who is Yueying? Which Crown Prince is the one they are speaking of? And who is this person of noble rank you mentioned just now?"

To this rapid-fire succession of three questions, Lady Xie could not provide a reliable answer. In the end, Murong Huan and Xiao Mucheng had no choice but to give up for the moment and take Lady Xie away from the Guo estate.

As they walked out of the courtyard gate, they discovered two domestic servants lying on the ground outside, taking a nap and seemingly still not awakened from their slumber.

Leaves drifted before the courtyard gate. A dark figure vaulted over the wall, treading across the bamboo stalks, and with a few leaps and bounds, arrived directly before Xiao Mucheng.

The newcomer was none other than Xuanyu.

"Is everything done?" Seeing it was Xuanyu, Xiao Mucheng asked directly.

Xuanyu replied, "Yes, it is done. That bondservant indeed still wanted to go and inform Guo Hongba. However, by now, I have already sent her to the Dali Temple. Furthermore, that steward of the Guo estate has already confessed the truth within the prison of the Dali Temple. He stated that those two deceased concubines of the Guo Second Young Master were originally intended by Censor Guo to be presented to a person of noble rank. Unfortunately, those two women actually attempted to assassinate the noble person on the spot while serving him. Fortunately, guards by the noble person's side intervened and killed the two women.

As for why the faces of these two women were utterly disfigured, the Guo estate's steward went so far as to say that they had slashed their own faces to pieces before dying. In order to appease the noble person, Censor Guo once again subjected their corpses to flagellation and branded marks upon their faces to vent his spleen."

"Did he confess who this person of noble rank is?" Xiao Mucheng asked.

Xuanyu's expression darkened slightly, and he lowered his voice to say, "The steward said that the place they went to was a secluded pavilion within the Pavilion of Tender Blossoms, named the Fantasy Snow Pavilion, which is also a place frequently visited by high-ranking and influential dignitaries. The identity of the noble person was concealed, and when Censor Guo met with him, that person wore a veiled bamboo hat, so he did not clearly see the noble person's face. However, there was a person by the noble person's side whom he recognized—that was the Grand General of the Jinwu Guards, Qiu Shenji!"

Upon hearing the name Qiu Shenji, both Xiao Mucheng and Murong Huan wore expressions of sudden realization.

"Did he confess why, after committing the murders, they set up this scheme to frame Fourth Young Master Su?"

Xuanyu shook his head. "He did not say. He only stated that this was General Qiu's instruction, or perhaps the intention of that noble person."

Xiao Mucheng nodded, his gaze deepening somewhat, and he said with a solemn expression, "Very well, next you will do as I say. I am going to interrogate this person in person!"

"Understood!"

Having said this, Xiao Mucheng further instructed, "You shall stay right here! In the guise of Lady Guo, cooperate with Censor Guo to act out a play."

Xuanyu was abruptly startled, as if he had not quite understood, and asked in astonishment, "What does My Lord mean by this? Stay here in the guise of Lady Guo? You want me to disguise myself as Lady Guo?"

Xiao Mucheng nodded. "Of course. If you do not stay here, how can I be at ease? Bear with it and play the role of Lady Guo."

"No, My Lord, with my build, you want me to disguise myself as Lady Guo?"

Xiao Mucheng pointed to Murong Huan and Ashu standing beside him. "Are there not two ready-made role models right here?"

Part 1 of 3

"How can that be the same?" Xuanyu was so anxious his eyes turned red, yet he refused to give up, saying, "Moreover, if I am left here alone, are you not worried? The Guo family also keeps several private assassins, and Guo Hongba's name sounds formidable enough as it is. His imposing aura is a notch higher than mine!"

Who would have thought Xiao Mucheng would reply with a straight face, "Then how about I change your name to Xuan Yaba? Your imposing aura should be higher than his then, right?"

Xuanyu widened his eyes, momentarily speechless: Is this a matter of a name?

You can have me play a woman and leave it at that, but the crux is that I'm playing a madwoman who is about to be silenced by her ungrateful husband! The difficulty level is not just a notch higher, all right?

"Hahaha..."

Ashu had already failed to hold back and burst into unrestrained laughter.

Xuanyu glared fiercely at her, which finally made her quiet down slightly.

Xiao Mucheng paid Xuanyu no more heed, instead calling upon another shadow guard to take Lady Xie out of the Guo estate. He then led Murong Huan to take their leave of Guo Hongba. At this very moment, several political guests discussing matters in the main hall of the Guo estate's front courtyard were already arguing fiercely.

Just as the three of them reached the doorway, they heard one person slap the table and curse:

"Damn it, that Chief Censor Xiao has been lingering in the Madam's courtyard for nearly three hours with some damn miracle-doctor. From morning till evening, the sun is about to set, and why haven't they come out yet? Could it be he has some special fetish?"

Another person gave a ha-ha sound and spat out a mouthful of tea. "Bah, what on earth are you thinking? No matter what special fetish he might have, he surely wouldn't take a fancy to a madwoman. With a face as peerless as that, if you said some princess or bigwig was drooling over his looks, I'd find that far more likely."

"Pfft—"

Before the words of the person inside had even finished, Ashu could not help covering her mouth and snorting with laughter.

This laughter naturally drew Guo Hongba's attention, and several pairs of eyes instantly converged upon Xiao Mucheng, who was stepping into the hall.

Guo Hongba's expression changed abruptly. The errand boy he had sent to gather intelligence had yet to return, and he had not expected this Chief Censor Xiao to appear unannounced right at the doorway.

"Chief Censor Xiao, why... why have you come here?"

"The servants in Censor Guo's estate are truly arrogant!"

Xiao Mucheng dropped these words, neither heavy nor light, and Guo Hongba instantly dropped to his knees. "I am sorry, Chief Censor Xiao. It is because the servants in my estate are rude and do not know how to speak; they are merely rough men. I will punish myself on their behalf!"

With that, he actually delivered a resounding slap across his own face. Seeing this, those political guests also knelt down one after another and began slapping their own faces!

"Censor Guo knows his errors and is willing to correct them, which is the greatest virtue. Nor am I someone who holds onto grudges. However, I wonder if Censor Guo's outward appearance matches his inner self?"

Guo Hongba did not understand the implication, but he could already feel himself breaking out in a cold sweat.

"Your esteemed wife's illness has largely recovered. I shall now take my leave with the physician. I hope Censor Guo will take good care of himself."

"Yes, yes!"

Part 2 of 3

Xiao Mucheng said no more. After casting a glance at Guo Hongba, he took Murong Huan by the hand and left the Guo estate.

As soon as they departed, Guo Hongba recalled that something seemed amiss and asked, "Where are the people I just sent to keep an eye on them? Where have they all gone?"

Scarcely had he finished asking when a guard dragged two errand boys into the main hall. "Master, these two good-for-nothings actually fell asleep outside First Madam's doorway, so as to what exactly transpired inside, they are completely clueless!"

"Useless scoundrels! Worthless trash, drag them out and behead them!"

"No, Master, you cannot arbitrarily beat and kill us. According to the laws of the Great Tang, even if a servant commits a fault, the Master must first petition the official authorities before he is permitted to execute us!"

"Who said that? Who told you that? I want to kill you—do the authorities have any say in the matter?"

Guo Hongba was so enraged that he grabbed a saber and made to cut them down, but a middle-aged man in scholar's attire by his side advised him, "Master, do not be overly agitated. There is indeed such a clause in the laws of the Great Tang. At a time like this, it is better not to cause any more loss of life! Master, why not go and check on the Madam?"

"And there is another matter!" the middle-aged man lowered his voice to say. "Ever since the steward went out early this morning, he has never returned. Today, this Chief Censor Xiao made a sudden visit to the Guo estate, and his intentions are bound to be malicious! If the Madam has truly been cured..."

Guo Hongba's expression also underwent a drastic and sudden change. "Not good. It seems this madwoman truly cannot be kept alive. Since Chief Censor Xiao has brought a miracle-doctor, we might as well borrow this favorable wind and let her die by the quack's blade!"

...

As twilight descended, the lingering rays of the sunset dyed the green mountains and clear waters. Xiao Mucheng did not lead Murong Huan far; instead, they found a tranquil spot to sit down and admire the water-side villages and mountain contours gradually vanishing into the evening mist, with moonlight casting its cold gleam upon the river.

Seeing Murong Huan deep in thought, Xiao Mucheng initiated the conversation by asking, "Are you wondering about the identity of that shadow guard named Yueying whom Lady Xie mentioned?"

"Yes!"

"Do you feel it is highly likely that this person is your mother?"

"Yes!" Murong Huan nodded once more. "When I was young, I could never understand what Qiu's faction was actually trying to unearth from my mother. What were they plotting? Thinking back on it now, it must have been that Crown Prince's Token mentioned by Lady Xie, though I have no idea what use that Crown Prince's Token could possibly have."

"The identity of a Crown Prince can be used to accomplish many things. Back then, Li Jingye launched his rebellion by borrowing the identity of Crown Prince Zhanghuai, Li Xian, finding someone who looked extremely similar to Li Xian, and then under the banner of coming to the aid of the sovereign, saving the nation, and supporting the restoration of Prince Ying, Li Xian—supplemented by a stirring and impassioned *Proclamation Denouncing Wu Zetian*—he was able to rally over a hundred thousand troops in a short span of time. Had he not abandoned the attack on Luoyang in pursuit of the auspicious regal aura of Jinling, the current Great Zhou might well have changed its dynasty." At this point, Xiao Mucheng added with utmost solemnity, "This is the influence that the identity of a Crown Prince brings!"

Murong Huan gazed at Xiao Mucheng for a long while before finally nodding. "Hearing you put it this way, I understand. Thank you for clearing my doubts."

Hearing these words, Xiao Mucheng felt a profound ache in his heart and could not resist reaching out to brush away the stray lock of hair obscuring her eyes, saying, "You do not need to thank me. In truth, we owe you far too much, Junior Sister..."

That single word, "Junior Sister," caused Murong Huan to look up at him in startled incomprehension.

Just as she was about to ask what he meant, a sudden, fierce gust of wind rushed past her ears. Being exceptionally sensitive to sounds, she immediately stood up and gave chase in the direction from which the wind had come.

"Pursue! It must be her who has come!"

Part 3 of 3