Green Mountain

The two originally bustling lanes of Nanqu Lane are now empty.

The patrons and clients hurriedly escaped before the Imperial Guard sealed off the alley, leaving behind some who didn’t have time to flee, just coming out from the brothels, barely dressed and blocked by the arriving Imperial Guard.

Mr. Feng sat steadily on the second floor of the tavern, keeping watch over the soundly sleeping Bai Xingzhen. Opposite, Princess Liyang and Old Yao remained, with Princess Liyang holding a bowl of wine, leaning against the railing, sipping lightly.

Seeing Mr. Feng looking her way, she smiled and raised her bowl to greet him.

Not far from Mr. Feng, two Imperial Guards who were originally responsible for watching over Princess Liyang wanted to approach for questioning when they saw them greeting. However, before they got close, Mr. Feng picked up a chopstick and gently tapped the rim of a cup, creating a crisp sound.

The two Imperial Guards inexplicably fell into a daze, only coming to after two breaths, forgetting what they were about to do, standing there looking at each other in confusion.

Princess Liyang turned back to the table and curiously asked Old Yao, "Master, who is the person beside Bai Xingzhen? He talked a lot with Chen Ji earlier. Are you acquainted?"

Old Yao did not respond.

At this time, the Imperial Guards downstairs surged into Nanqu Lane like a tidal wave, completely sealing off the brothel and the tavern.

Dozens of forensic doctors from across Shangjing City were temporarily summoned, nervously entering the brothel "Tuan’er Workshop" one by one to conduct autopsies, writing and signing their verdicts on paper, with mistakes resulting in family ruin and exile.

Originally watching the commotion, Princess Liyang couldn’t see inside clearly as the Imperial Guard drew all the curtains of Tuan’er Workshop: "Do you think my Fourth Brother was poisoned or had his throat cut?"

Liang Gou’er puzzled: "Wasn’t it you?"

Princess Liyang rolled her eyes: "I wouldn’t have the courage; just establishing my residence, I wouldn’t create extra trouble."

Liang Gou’er shrugged: "If not you, then Yuan Xiang."

Princess Liyang returned to the table, cheerfully filling a bowl of wine for herself: "Today we celebrate; someone killed the Fourth Prince to entertain us, let’s drink it all!"

With that, she clinked her bowl against each person’s wine bowl, and finally, against an empty bowl, then drank it the whole thing.

Princess Liyang let out a hiccup after drinking, tossed the bowl onto the table: "Master, do you think the imperial power is interesting? If it were an ordinary family, one might mourn a brother’s death, but I’ve heard they find joy in a brother’s demise."

Old Yao sluggishly eating his meal, replied casually: "They’d be happy if you died too."

Princess Liyang smiled gently: "Then I won’t give them the chance. Thinking they might be happy makes me upset already."

Footsteps thudded on the stairs, more than ten armored Imperial Guards were coming upstairs.

Liang Gou’er lounged against his chair back: "We’re not leaving?"

Princess Liyang turned to look at the second floor of Tuan’er Workshop: "No, waiting for Lu Jin."

Liang Gou’er took a swig of wine, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand: "Why wait for him?"

Princess Liyang, without turning her head, replied: "Now that the Fourth Prince Lu Jin supported died under his watch, no matter how he fights for power, it’s all for nothing. So, he now needs another prince."

Old Yao glanced at her: "Making deals with a tiger."

Princess Liyang laughed and said: "Master, afraid of losing a chance for a noble title for a lifetime, seeking stability, I’ll never get ahead; my dealings with tigers didn’t start with Lu Jin, before him there were two fierce tigers... Lu Jin is here."

The sound of carriage wheels pressing the bluestone road came from downstairs, the carriage stopped firmly before Tuan’er Workshop, Lu Jin lifted his robe hem and hurried to the second floor.

The second floor was packed with Imperial Guards, and the forensic doctors stood trembling to the side.

Lu Jin saw the Fourth Prince lying naked on the bed, a wound on the chest, another on the neck, and one between the legs.

A Vice General of the Imperial Guard handed him a pile of verdicts written by the forensic doctors: "Sir, the Fourth Prince was first cut in the neck while attempting to fornicate with Wang Tuan’er, the cuts on the chest and between the legs were added later."

Lu Jin acknowledged with a nod, flipping through the verdicts one by one, then handed them back: "Lock all personnel inside the brothel at the Imperial Guard’s prison, anyone having past dealings with Wang Tuan’er, bring them to the government office together. Also, convey the order that the matter must not be discussed in the street, lest the prince’s death in the brothel tarnishes the Heavenly Family’s prestige."

At this time, the Vice General of the Imperial Guard whispered: "Sir, Princess Liyang and Duke Huang are also in Nanqu Lane tonight, could it be Princess Liyang the demoness’s doing?"

Lu Jin remained silent, and his aide Lu Qian reprimanded the Vice General: "Maliciously speculating the reigning princess? Is that for you to guess?"

Lu Jin pressed his hand lightly: "Enough, enough, encountering such a matter, anyone would speculate."

He gently said to the Vice General: "Go attend to your duties."

The Vice General rushed to bow his hand: "Yes."

Lu Jin approached the edge of Tuan’er Workshop, pulling aside a curtain, witnessing Princess Liyang smiling, raising her bowl, and greeting him across Nanqu Lane.

Lu Jin folded his hands in salute: "Princess Liyang, if there’s nothing, return early to rest. The same goes for Duke Huang, no need to stay long."

Princess Liyang replied with interest: "I thought the Council Chief Executive would hold us for interrogation."

Lu Jin calmly said, "If there is anything that needs inquiry, I will personally visit."

Princess Liyang praised, "Council Chief Executive Officer, you handle numerous military affairs daily, yet you still have to come to Nanqu Lane on Lantern Festival Night to deal with such sordid matters. Truly an overuse of your talents."

Lu Jin remained silent for a moment, did not answer, and then pulled the curtain of Tuan’er Workshop back up again.

Liang Gou’er popped a piece of lamb into his mouth, "What does he mean, not saying a word?"

Princess Liyang smiled and said, "We are both smart people, just hinting is enough. Yuan Xiang took advantage of our time in Nanqu to assassinate the Fourth Prince to provoke Lu Jin to criticize us harshly. But Lu Jin didn’t take the bait and did not wish to become enemies with me, so he simply let me go home without even interrogating me. I promised to help him ascend to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat in the future, and there’s no need for him to answer in a hurry. He can consider it further."

Liang Mao’er was taken aback, "When did Your Highness promise him that? Did you mention anything like this just now?"

Princess Liyang did not explain, instead, she supported Old Yao’s arm and stood up, "Master, let’s go to Vermilion Bird Street to see the lanterns, they are quite beautiful."

...

...

The banquet ended and people dispersed.

In the entire Nanqu Lane, only the Imperial Guard remained stationed, with no one else around.

Lu Jin came out of Tuan’er Workshop but did not leave. Instead, he headed to "Pipa Bar," strolled up to the second floor, and stood beside the table of Princess Liyang and others.

An Imperial Guard responsible for surveillance reported with folded hands, "Master, after Princess Liyang came out of Huaye Xianghui Building, she drove here. From start to finish, she did not converse with anyone else, only drank and recited poetry with a few others."

Lu Jin looked down at the bowl piled with dishes on the table, then at the untouched wine in the bowl, "This is a reunion meal left for someone."

The Imperial Guard whispered, "Yes, I saw each of them using a chopstick to add dishes to it."

Lu Jin’s fingers tapped lightly on the table repeatedly as he looked at the opposite side of the tavern’s second floor. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Is Duke Huang sitting over there?"

"Yes."

Lu Jin then asked, "How many are there in Duke Huang’s group?"

"Three people, but one left early."

Lu Jin turned to look at the Imperial Guard, "One left early... You just mentioned they were reciting poetry. What poetry were they reciting?"

The Imperial Guard searched among the scrolls hanging under the eaves and pointed at a scroll after a moment, "These two poems, another is a doggerel not recorded."

Lu Jin looked at the line ’If a spring breeze can deliver messages, first ask about peace from this night,’ suddenly sighed, "So he was here tonight too."

The Imperial Guard looked surprised.

Lu Jin waved to Lu Kan not far away, "Relay orders to Yuan Hengli Zhen and Lu Zhan. The thieves will probably blend with the commoners to leave the Imperial Capital tonight, tell them to guard the key routes, the thieves are going to leave the Jing Dynasty."

"Yes," Lu Kan accepted the order and left.

The Imperial Guard, frightened and apprehensive, said, "Master, I had no idea the thieves were so audacious, daring to mingle in Nanqu and drink."

Lu Jin brushed his sleeve dismissively, "It’s not your fault, go on."

Once the second floor was left with only Lu Jin, he solemnly gazed at the bowl of reunion meal, lost in thought. After a long while, someone ascended to the floor behind him and whispered, "Master."

Lu Jin recovered and turned to see Lin Chaoqing, "Did you kill them?"

Lin Chaoqing whispered, "Killed them... While Master cultivated Wang Tuan’er with difficulty, although she couldn’t appear publicly in the Jing Dynasty, she might have been deployed to the Southern Dynasty as a Si Cao. It’s a shame to kill her just like that."

Lu Jin chuckled, "She originally could have killed the Fourth Prince with one knife, but she insisted on adding two more strikes, showing that she’s harbored hatred these years while serving others. The person she hates isn’t limited to the Fourth Prince but includes me too, keeping her here remains an ultimate risk."

Lin Chaoqing pondered for a moment, "Reasonable. Why does Master want the Fourth Prince dead? With the Fourth Prince dead, what significance do we have in the competition for the throne?"

Lu Jin stared at the night sky outside the building and said, "Ah Qing, just because one doesn’t compete, no one in the world can compete with them. Let Liyang and Yuan Xiang fight first. Your Majesty won’t die for a while..."

He turned to Lin Chaoqing and teased with a smile, "Liyang has already named her price, offering me the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat."

Lin Chaoqing asked softly, "Whom does Master plan to help?"

Lu Jin headed for the stairs, gently patting Lin Chaoqing’s shoulder as he passed by, "Let’s wait and see, see what Yuan Xiang plans to offer me."

...

There’s another Chapter at night, everyone can read it tomorrow morning.