When Shen Fengyu found Shen Suining at the Spring Breeze Pavilion, she had already changed out of her servant’s attire and transformed into a scholar in white robes, quietly sitting by the window playing the zither.
A court musician in the room, holding a pipa, performed “Crane Soaring to the Sky” in duet with her.
Soft duckweed leaves, bright apricot blossoms,
A painted boat glides clear.
A pair of mandarin ducks bathe, emerging from the green shore,
As oar songs drift.
Spring water—windless and waveless.
Spring sky—half rain, half clear.
Rouged faces follow each other to the southern shore at dusk,
How full of tender feelings.
(Quoted from “Crane Soaring to the Sky” in the Donggao Qinpu.)
Though Shen Fengyu knew nothing of music theory, she could see the look in the court musician’s eyes as she gazed at Shen Suining—soft enough to wring out water—and instantly felt uncomfortable all over.
When the piece ended, Shen Fengyu stood at the doorway and applauded. The court musician, perhaps not expecting a third person to be present, picked up her pipa, stood up, and blushed instantly.
Shen Fengyu nodded to her. “You may leave now.”
“Yes, young master.” The court musician lowered her eyes, bowed, and left with lingering glances over her shoulder.
Once the other person had gone, Shen Fengyu finally couldn’t hold back from scolding Shen Suining. “Can you stop charming a few young girls everywhere you go?”
“Just playing a tune—how is that charming anyone?” Shen Suining seemed to be in a good mood and deliberately played a cheerful, playful melody in response to Shen Fengyu. “I just appreciate beautiful appearances, that’s all.”
Shen Fengyu rolled her eyes at her.
Looking back at the elders of the previous generation at Shuyu Villa, each one was exceptionally devoted and loyal, completely unlike Shen Suining, who seemed to like anyone as long as they were beautiful—every single one of them.
“Any news on Sheng Qingge’s whereabouts?”
Shen Fengyu hummed in affirmation and finally got down to business. “She’s hiding in Qianchun Alley to recover from her injuries. When Sheng Qingge was at Wan Hua Lou, she was skilled at disguises. Though not as convincing as our face-changing techniques, she could blend into a crowd without being easily noticed. Qianchun Alley has many travelers coming and going, and with Song Sanniang’s protection, it’s a decent hiding place for her.”
“Then let’s not alert the enemy for now. We should both keep a low profile these days and wait for the right opportunity. As long as Sheng Qingge realizes we’re not here to kill her, she might seek us out on her own.”
Shen Fengyu thought for a moment. “But do you think Sheng Qingge will easily trust us?”
“Given how desperate she is, she has no choice but to trust us,” Shen Suining sneered. “Shuyu Villa’s standing in the martial world isn’t something others can easily match. If she willingly tells us who wants her dead and why, even if Shuyu Villa won’t intervene openly, we can still find other ways to help her survive.”
“Then…what if it’s really someone from Huadu who wants her life?”
“If those two from Huadu were here to take Sheng Qingge’s life, as assassins, they’re far from qualified. I suspect they’re like us—trying to get some information from Sheng Qingge. It’s just that Sheng Qingge is being hunted now, like a startled bird, and they’re probably racking their brains over it too. Even if we consider the worst-case scenario—if Sheng Qingge really dies easily at their hands,” Shen Suining laughed mockingly, “then she truly doesn’t have the fate to live.”
Although Shen Suining wasn’t usually very serious, her insights at critical moments were something Shen Fengyu deeply trusted. Otherwise, among all the capable and righteous individuals at Shuyu Villa, she wouldn’t have been so steadfast in following her.
Hearing Shen Suining speak with such confidence, Shen Fengyu also set her mind at ease. “Then we’ll just wait and see.”
“Mhm,” Shen Suining played a short melody on the qin, then suddenly thought of something. “Right, we need to change our faces and identities again.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want those two from the capital to interfere with us.” Shen Suining had deliberately acted relaxed in front of He Hansheng, hoping to make him believe her mission was complete and thus lower his guard against them.
From beginning to end, Shen Suining couldn’t be certain of He Hansheng’s true purpose, or whether it conflicted with her own. The only thing she knew for sure was that he had definitely come south from the capital, and judging by his clothing and appearance, he likely held a significant official position.
Based on their conversation, Shen Suining guessed that his search for Sheng Qingge was almost certainly related to the deceased Princess Biyue—perhaps Sheng Qingge was connected to the princess’s death.
In any case, Shen Suining couldn’t afford to have any further involvement with them.
Shuyu Villa had an ironclad rule: no interactions with court officials were permitted, and they must never participate in any matters that might involve court politics. This was something her parents valued most and worried about deeply.
Shen Fengyu naturally understood this reasoning well, though she expressed some slight regret. “I was just thinking that young man might be your type.”
Shen Suining: “?”
“Your courage grows by the day, daring to say such things right to my face.” Shen Suining laughed in exasperation and threw a teacup at her.
Shen Fengyu caught it with one hand. “Isn’t it true? I’ve always thought our Shao Zhu had special feelings for men she couldn’t defeat in combat, especially when that fellow has such handsome features. Both his martial prowess and appearance are excellent—doesn’t that perfectly suit your preferences?”
Shen Suining rolled her eyes, too lazy to respond.
Just then, commotion arose outside. Shen Suining said irritably, “Go take a look.”
“Right away.”
No sooner had Shen Fengyu left than one of the room’s windows suddenly swung open. A figure flashed past outside, hurling something directly at Shen Suining.
Shen Suining slapped the table with her palm, leaping up to avoid the projectile. The teapot on the table instantly shattered, tea splattering everywhere.
Once steady on her feet, Shen Suining immediately rushed to the window. Outside lay a pond still covered with unmelted ice, with no trace of anyone to be seen.
Turning back, she noticed something mixed among the fragments on the floor.
Kneeling, Shen Suining picked up the object, accidentally pricking her finger on a shard stuck to it. She felt no pain, simply sucking the blood from her fingertip. The object that had shattered the teapot was none other than the half-gilded mask Song Sanniang had worn yesterday, already cracked with age.
“Sanniang…” Shen Suining’s eyelid twitched, a bad premonition stirring in her heart.
Moments later, Shen Fengyu returned, her complexion noticeably worse than when she had left.
“What happened?” Shen Suining’s unease grew stronger.
“Sheng Qingge… something’s happened,” Shen Fengyu seemed hardly able to believe it herself. “She died in Song Sanniang’s room.”
…
At 7:45 in the morning, Song Sanniang—who should have been on duty at Nanfeng House—remained in her room, the door tightly shut.
Her personal maid Xingchun found it strange, fearing that Third Lady might have drunk too much the previous night and overslept, so she pushed the door open to wake her. Instead, she found Sheng Qingge lying in a pool of blood, dressed in red, her face mangled beyond recognition.
Xingchun was terrified and immediately reported it to the authorities. Chen Shilin, the Prefect of Suzhou, rushed to the scene with his men.
Once the news broke, it spread throughout the city in an instant. The once-bustling Qianchun Pavilion was suddenly deserted and had to close its doors.
By the time Chen Shilin arrived at the crime scene, He Hansheng was already there.
Seeing the young man before him, Chen Shilin paused briefly before promptly raising his hand in salute. “This humble official did not know the young Lord was also here. My apologies.”
“No matter.” He Hansheng was crouched on the ground, examining the corpse’s wounds.
Jiang Yuchu saluted Chen Shilin and said, “The Lord has come south under His Majesty’s secret decree to investigate a case. It would be best not to draw too much attention. We hope you will keep this confidential upon your return.”
“This humble official understands, but…” Chen Shilin hesitated for a moment. “Could it be that the case the Lord is investigating is related to Princess Biyue’s case?”
Hearing this, He Hansheng stood up. “Precisely that case.”
He Hansheng’s mother, the Jinling Princess, is the current Emperor’s biological sister. By relation, Princess Biyue was He Hansheng’s cousin.
Princess Biyue was the Emperor’s first daughter. Although not born to the Empress of the Central Palace, she was deeply favored by both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. She grew up willful and domineering, and after marriage, her jealousy often led her to beat and abuse the servants in her household. Earlier this year, she even ordered a maid’s eyes gouged out simply because the maid glanced at the Princess Consort during a family banquet.
Over two months ago, the pregnant Princess Biyue discovered that her husband, Gu Wenlang, had been unfaithful during her pregnancy. An argument broke out between them in the residence, escalating into a physical altercation that nearly caused the Princess to miscarry. After the Imperial Physicians carefully treated her and ensured the fetus was safe, the Princess suddenly died inexplicably in her room one afternoon. Prior to this, Gu Wenlang had not returned home for seven full days, and after the Princess’s death, he vanished without a trace.
The Emperor was enraged and immediately ordered the Gu family seized. However, without evidence proving that Gu Wenlang was indeed responsible for the deaths of the Princess and her unborn child, the censors and court officials opposed the move. Left with no choice, the Emperor secretly summoned the recently titled He Hansheng to investigate discreetly.
The case shook the court and remained unresolved for two full months. Chen Shilin had naturally heard of it. Learning that He Hansheng had come south for this investigation, he couldn’t help adding, “Before his marriage, the Princess Consort visited Suzhou and crossed paths with this humble official a few times. In my opinion, though he may not compare to the Lord’s elegance, he was a refined, humble, and talented scholar. He truly didn’t seem the type to murder his wife and child.”
“He did come across as honest—simple and sincere.” He Hansheng nodded, recalling his own encounters with Gu Wenlang. Yet, appearances can be deceiving. Who could say for certain that a gentle, honest scholar would never raise a blade to kill?
While He Hansheng and Chen Shilin spoke, the female corpse on the ground was carried outside. Shen Suining, disguised as a minor official, slipped in among the coroners to examine the body herself.
Just as she had heard, the face was unrecognizable, and there were several deep wounds on the neck, as if she had been strangled from behind.
Shen Suining found it strange. Given Sheng Qingge’s cautious and suspicious nature and her current predicament, even if the other party was someone she had a deep friendship with, it was impossible for her to leave her back completely unguarded.
The other coroners untied the female corpse’s clothing for examination. Shen Suining took the opportunity to observe and found that aside from a fatal wound on the neck and a scratched face, there were no other obvious injuries on the body.
Shen Suining’s heart instantly sank with a thud.
At that moment, He Hansheng and Chen Shilin emerged from the room. Shen Suining instinctively turned her face away, then remembered she had changed her appearance and relaxed.
He Hansheng remained completely unaware, only glancing at the coroners examining the body and asking, “How did you determine the deceased is Sheng Qingge?”
“Actually, we haven’t reached a conclusion yet. After my investigation, I found two women unaccounted for—one is Sheng Qingge, who fled all the way from Hangzhou, and the other is Song Sanniang from Qianchun Fang. Logically, either could be the victim. However, the first witness who discovered the body claimed that after pushing open the door, she saw Song Sanniang jump out the window and escape. That’s why…”
Shen Suining heard every word Chen Shilin said clearly. Combined with her own speculations, a chill crept up her spine.
…The female corpse before her was not Sheng Qingge but Song Sanniang.
A coroner nearby was inspecting the body and, seeing Shen Suining standing motionless, shoved her forcefully. “Stop blocking the way! Come help!”
Shen Suining, lost in a swirl of inexplicable emotions, stumbled forward unprepared. The half-gilded mask tucked in her robe flew out with a clatter and fell to the ground.
Shen Suining’s pupils contracted. She immediately moved to retrieve it, but a guard standing closer snatched it up first.
“What is this?”
Shen Suining turned to flee, but the guard reacted swiftly, drawing his blade from his waist. “Seize him!”
In an instant, the guards on site drew their swords and advanced. Shen Suining stepped back, delivering a flying kick that knocked down several men in front. She then caught the wrist of someone attacking from behind, wrested the sword away, and threw the assailant aside.
Jiang Yuchu and Chen Shilin quickly shielded He Hansheng.
Chen Shilin shouted, “This must be the murderer! Capture him!”
Though Shen Suining’s combat skills were rumored to be average, she was more than a match for a few guards. Just as the “murderer” was about to escape, He Hansheng commanded, “Yu Chu.”
Jiang Yuchu leaped into the air with his qinggong and delivered a heavy downward kick. Shen Suining, having just dealt with the guards, had no time to dodge and could only cross her arms in front of her chest to block the blow.
Shen Suining was forced back several meters, clutching her chest. A smoke bomb rolled out from her sleeve and she hurled it forward.
Instantly, the courtyard was engulfed in thick smoke. Shen Suining seized the chance to use her qinggong and vault onto the roof, nearly making her escape when suddenly, an iron chain shot out from the smoke below, snagging her ankle precisely.
Pulled by the chain, Shen Suining slid down the roof, tiles clattering to the ground. At that moment, Jiang Yuchu also leaped onto the roof and threw a punch downward.
Just then, another figure jumped out behind Shen Suining and kicked Jiang Yuchu away.
“Shao Zhu, run!” Shen Fengyu yanked the chain binding Shen Suining’s ankle, pulling it free and instantly turning it into a weapon in her hands.
Guards swarmed onto the rooftop one after another, with the skilled Jiang Yuchu joining the encirclement. In desperation, Shen Fengyu released another smoke bomb and shoved Shen Suining away with a palm strike, only to be captured herself and pinned down on the roof.
…
After the coroner’s examination, it was confirmed that the deceased was Song Sanniang from Qianchun Fang, while the real Sheng Qingge had once again vanished without a trace.
Shen Fengyu was taken into custody as the prime suspect in Song Sanniang’s murder and imprisoned in the government jail. Having witnessed her capabilities, the authorities reinforced the jail’s defenses both inside and out. Shen Suining, alone, had no chance of breaking her out.
Moreover, the government declared that even if a forced rescue were attempted, Shuyu Villa would be unjustly implicated in a wrongful death, severing the long-standing goodwill it had built with Qianchun Fang.
Left with no choice, Shen Suining donned the distinctive blue bronze mask of Bifeng Hall and paid a nighttime visit to Chen Shilin’s residence.
Half-asleep, Chen Shilin nearly died of fright upon spotting a figure seated on the table by his window.
Once he recognized the visitor, Chen Shilin exhaled softly. “So it’s Hall Master Shen paying a visit.”
Shen Suining cut straight to the point: “I’ve come for one of my people. The person you arrested today at Nanfeng Hall in Qianchun Fang is my subordinate.”
The magistrates across Jiangnan had an unspoken agreement: to coexist peacefully with Shuyu Villa and other martial sects, refraining from interference as long as they committed no atrocities. The officials were generally willing to extend them courtesy.
But with a murder case involved, Chen Shilin could no longer turn a blind eye. He replied, “That individual is implicated in a homicide. I’m afraid I cannot release her.”
“She is not the killer.”
“How can Hall Master Shen prove her innocence?”
Shen Suining was stumped. Mere eloquence alone could never clear Shen Fengyu’s name, even if she were entirely innocent.
After a moment’s thought, Shen Suining proposed, “Give me a few days, and I will bring you the real culprit. Until then, you must ensure she is well-fed and comfortable—no torture.”
Chen Shilin hesitated. “But the victim is Song Sanniang of Qianchun Fang. Her status and reputation, as you know, carry weight. Though Qianchun Fang has been forced to close, its managers protest daily outside the government office, demanding the killer be executed to appease the deceased’s spirit. I fear it will be difficult to hold them off.”
“Five days,” Shen Suining stated firmly. “I will return for her in five days.”
With that, she leaped down from the table and bowed deeply to Chen Shilin. “I beg of you.”
Left with little room to refuse, Chen Shilin returned the courtesy and acquiesced, “I will do my best.”
Author’s Note:
Where are my bookmarks?! Kneeling and begging for your collections, dear readers!