Chapter Forty-One: Journey to the South

“Sir, do you think there are any leads on the Divine Physician Gu within the Bureau of Music?” On the way to the Court of Judicial Review, Jiang Kui asked tentatively.

Li Yunjie nodded with a smile. “Jiangnan.”

“Excellent.” Jiang Kui echoed, “I will send someone to Jiangnan immediately!”

“No need.” Li Yunjie waved his hand. “I’ll go myself.”

Jiang Kui was momentarily stunned, his brows furrowing. “But what about the tax silver case?”

Li Yunjie halted, his tone grave. “I’ve combed through every file on the tax silver case in these past few days. From the testimonies to the investigation process, even the punishments—there is not a single flaw.”

Jiang Kui pondered for a moment, muttering, “Could it be this case is not a miscarriage of justice?”

“On the contrary.” Li Yunjie’s gaze turned cold. “It’s precisely because it’s too perfect.”

The others exchanged bewildered glances.

Wasn’t a flawlessly handled case supposed to be a good thing?

“I’ve reviewed many case files at the Court of Judicial Review,” Li Yunjie went on. “There are always some trivial errors, here or there. But the tax silver case is seamless.”

Chang Yuan, quick-witted as ever, soon understood Li Yunjie’s implication. “Sir, are you suggesting someone falsified this case?”

The other two suddenly widened their eyes in realization.

Li Yunjie didn’t answer, his silence an admission.

“So, even you have no leads,” Qin Fang murmured.

Li Yunjie’s lips curled slightly. “Why confine ourselves to the files when re-examining old cases?”

“Sir, you’ve found a lead?” Jiang Kui asked curiously.

Li Yunjie nodded again. “Jiangnan.”

With that, he resumed his walk.

The others trailed behind, whispering among themselves.

“Isn’t the reason he’s going to Jiangnan to find the Divine Physician Gu?”

“Could it be that Gu was involved in the tax silver case back then?”

“That doesn’t make sense...”

“What’s really going on here?”

Back at the Court of Judicial Review, Li Yunjie glanced at the austere Pavilion of Purity in the rear courtyard and asked Jiang Kui, “Has Chen Jingshan returned?”

Jiang Kui replied, “Master Chen wrote a letter of resignation as soon as he arrived, but Master Xu has yet to approve it.”

“That’s good. I still need his help.” Li Yunjie said, pulling a sealed letter from his sleeve. “Give this to Chen Jingshan.”

Jiang Kui accepted the letter and nodded.

...

Dusk.

Prime Minister’s Residence.

Li Yunjie began packing his belongings as soon as he returned to his room.

“Young Master, what’s this about?” Eleven asked in confusion. “Are you planning to run away?”

After all, the last time Li Yunjie packed so efficiently, that’s exactly what he’d said.

“Not running,” Li Yunjie replied. “You pack up as well. We’re leaving for Jiangnan tomorrow.”

“Jiangnan?” Eleven frowned. “What are we going there for?”

“I’ve found a lead on Gu Xian’er.”

Eleven paused, then smiled knowingly. “I didn’t expect you to be so concerned about Miss Qingmeng.”

“That’s not the whole story.” Li Yunjie plopped down on the bed. “It’s mainly for the investigation.”

“Investigation?” Eleven’s mind was full of question marks.

Li Yunjie let out a long sigh, his voice low. “For that, I should thank that physician for the reminder. As the master of Bright Tower, Gu Xian’er is surely well-versed in every form of magic in the world.”

“So what?” Eleven pressed.

“Northern Wasteland sorcery is magic, too,” Li Yunjie’s eyes glinted.

“Oh!” Eleven finally understood. “So you mean, since His Highness the Crown Prince can’t make a move, it’s better to start with the Northern Wasteland shamans?”

“Smart one.” Li Yunjie fondly ruffled Eleven’s hair.

Having packed, Li Yunjie made his way to Su Qingmeng’s door.

He knocked.

“Come in.” Su Qingmeng’s voice was tinged with drunkenness.

Li Yunjie entered at her word.

By the flickering candlelight, Su Qingmeng lay sprawled across the table.

Li Yunjie sighed, stepped around the shattered wine bottles on the floor, moved aside the haphazardly scattered cups, and found a place to sit.

Su Qingmeng’s cheeks, flushed by wine and candlelight, looked all the more alluring.

“What’s all this, Miss Qingmeng?” Li Yunjie asked, surveying the mess.

“Can’t you see?” Su Qingmeng replied weakly. “Drowning my sorrows in wine.”

“But why?” Li Yunjie frowned.

Su Qingmeng raised her cup and drank deeply. “I have studied diligently, never slacking since I entered the martial path. Now I have reached the fourth rank, but it’s all for nothing.”

“So, tell me, shouldn’t I be troubled?”

“That is indeed troubling,” Li Yunjie said after a moment’s thought.

With that, he lifted a wine bottle and took a hearty swig. “We are both wanderers, fallen from grace!”

“What’s your trouble, then?”

“What else?” Li Yunjie’s gaze drifted to his waist, a pained look on his face.

Su Qingmeng followed his eyes and instantly understood.

They fell silent, each drinking in their gloom.

After a few more cups, the haze of drunkenness settled in.

Spurred on by drink, Li Yunjie spoke in a melancholy tone. “Although the backlash of true qi is agonizing, at least there’s hope for a cure. But this purity curse on me—there’s simply no solution!”

With that, he drained his cup.

“Brother Li!” Su Qingmeng was by now thoroughly drunk, clutching Li Yunjie’s hand and calling him brother in camaraderie.

“Don’t worry!”—hic!—“When the time comes for cultivation, I’ll do all I can to help you! I will see you break through to the fourth rank!”

Li Yunjie struggled upright and seized Su Qingmeng’s hand. “Brother Su! Do you mean it?”

“I do!”

“You’re truly my benefactor!” Li Yunjie declared, scrambling to stand. “Tonight, I must kowtow to you!”

“No, no!” Su Qingmeng hurried to support him. “You’re the young lord; I can’t accept that!”

“I must bow to you!”

The two argued back and forth, neither yielding, until at last, drunkenly, Li Yunjie suggested, “How about this? We bow together!”

With a thud, both dropped to their knees.

“Let me call out the ritual,” Su Qingmeng said, hiccupping.

Li Yunjie only nodded.

Su Qingmeng grinned, eyes narrowed in mirth, and called out, “First, bow to heaven and earth—Second, bow to the honored elders—Third, the couple bow to each other—”

When the bows were done, both lost consciousness, slumping against each other’s shoulders and drifting into sleep.

Outside the door, dozens of people from the Prime Minister’s Residence had gathered, witnessing everything through the open door, all struck dumb with astonishment.

Even the glutton Su Xiyan paused mid-bite, her face filled with disbelief.

“Minister Su,” Fang Zhong remarked, his face full of gossip, “the wedding ceremony left unfinished that day has finally been completed tonight.”

Su Ming stood with his hands behind his back, a knowing smile on his face.

The following morning.

Blinding sunlight roused Su Qingmeng.

She opened her eyes slowly—then jolted awake in shock!

Her chest? Her back?

Slap! Another resounding smack.

“Scoundrel!”

This time, though, she didn’t draw her sword—she simply glared daggers at Li Yunjie.

Li Yunjie sat up in alarm. Feeling the warmth in his hand, his brows knitted tightly.

“How did I end up here?”

“I could ask you the same!” Su Qingmeng snapped. “What are you doing in my room?”

Li Yunjie glanced around the room, silently wondering—Did I black out last night?