Lu Weng’s legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.
He trembled as he spoke, “R-reply to Young Minister Lu… there are no leeches the size of an arm in this world, you must be joking… Besides, even if such a rare species did exist, leeches are only used in medicine to promote blood circulation and remove stasis. How could they possibly achieve ‘blood exchange’? That’s all nonsense, not to be taken seriously.”
A low chuckle.
“When did this official ever say that leeches would be used for blood exchange?”
The color drained completely from Lu Weng’s face.
“This official only mentioned chest tightness and the two-year-old rumor of blood exchange.”
Lu Jin slowly leaned forward, his shadow enveloping the collapsed Lu Weng. “It was you who, in your haste to clear yourself, linked blood exchange with leeches.”
Lu Weng opened his mouth, but his tongue seemed tied in knots. For a long while, he couldn’t utter a complete sentence.
He only felt the cold sweat on his back soaking through his inner garments, chilling him to the bone, clinging to his skin with an itchy, terrifying sensation.
Had… had Young Minister Lu not said it?
He was so frightened he could hardly remember.
“Still not talking?”
Lu Jin straightened up, his gaze sweeping over Lu Weng’s deathly pale face. “This Lü's Clinic of yours has been passed down from your father’s generation to this day. It can be considered an old establishment in Yong'an Fang.”
Ming Yi, standing nearby, seized the moment to fan the flames. “Young Minister Lu is merciful, giving you this chance. If we wait until Dali Temple resorts to torture, forget whether your clinic can be saved—whether your old bones can survive the cold nights in Dali Temple Prison is another matter entirely.”
Lu Weng lay sprawled on the ground. His family’s clinic had been around for nearly a century.
He was still waiting for his grandson to finish his studies and inherit the clinic, while he himself could enjoy a peaceful old age.
He absolutely could not die in Dali Temple.
“This humble one’s clinic did indeed sell leeches as thick as an arm.”
Lu Weng trembled as he spoke. “But they’re all gone now, all bought by a single customer.”
“Who is the buyer?”
Trembling with fear, Lu Weng cried out, “This humble one truly doesn’t know! That person always wore a wide-brimmed hat whenever he came to the clinic, covering even his eyebrows and eyes. He was also wrapped in a thick robe. This humble one never got a clear look at his face!”
In his current situation, Lu Weng dared not refer to himself as “this commoner,” only as “this humble one.”
Lu Jin said calmly, “A physician is skilled in observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking. Your sense of smell should be sharp as well. Get down.”
Lu Weng was stunned, his mouth hanging open as he failed to react for a long moment. He stared blankly at Lu Jin.
“Young Minister Lu means for you to learn from Shen Niangzi earlier—smell that cat skin on the ground.”
Ming Yi reminded him sternly.
Not daring to delay, Lu Weng scrambled over on all fours, pressed his face close to the cat skin, and took a deep sniff.
In just a moment, his brows furrowed, and a hesitant expression appeared on his face.
“Did you smell anything?”
Ming Yi pressed.
Lu Weng quickly crawled back to his original spot and replied to Lu Jin, “Reply to Young Minister Lu, the fragrance on this cat skin does indeed resemble the scent on that person.”
“Is that so.”
Lu Jin asked again, “Where did you obtain those arm-thick leeches?”
Lu Weng dared not raise his eyes. “They… they were sold by a farmer from the outskirts of the city.”
“A farmer?”
Lu Jin raised an eyebrow. “How would a farmer have such a rare species?”
“He said they crawled out from the ditches along the ridges when his ox was plowing the fields.”
Lu Weng hastily explained, his words tumbling out rapidly, "At first they were only as thick as horse leeches. He thought they were unusual and caught one, but who knew that leech secretly wrapped itself around the plow ox, sucked its blood, and after feeding, swelled to the size of an arm. My clinic has always been famous for using leeches to treat chest tightness and shortness of breath. When he heard from others that I collected rare medicinal materials, he brought the leeches to sell."
"Such a rare item—what price did you pay for it?"
Lu Weng stiffened, trembling as he replied, "F-five hundred coins… each. He brought five in total, and I bought them all."
"And what did you sell them to that person for?"
Lu Weng's lips quivered, his head hanging even lower, refusing to speak for a long while.
"Speak!"
Seeing this, Ming Yi suddenly shouted sternly.
Lu Weng trembled in fright and quickly responded, "F-five thousand coins each."
Ming Yi sneered, "Five hundred coins to buy, five thousand to sell—such a markup. You truly have a black heart for profit."
He soon pressed on with a severe tone, "Bold Lu Weng! In recent days, Chang'an has been plagued by a series of bloody cases where victims died after having their essence and blood sucked by unknown creatures. You sold these abnormal leeches at exorbitant prices—did it never occur to you that these tragedies might be related to them?"
"You knew but did not report it, allowing this deadly creature to roam freely, causing panic in Chang'an and one tragedy after another. For the crime of harboring such evil, tell me, what punishment do you deserve!"
Lu Weng was terrified by Ming Yi's thunderous interrogation, shaking like a sieve, his mouth only able to repeat pleas for mercy: "I beg Young Minister Lu to spare my life!"
Lu Jin stared at Lu Weng. "That person—did he have any distinguishing features?"
"H-he always wore a bamboo hat covering his face, wrapped tightly from head to toe. I truly couldn’t see his appearance clearly…"
"Think again."
Lu Weng broke into a nervous sweat, desperate.
"Ming Yi."
Ming Yi stepped forward, placing a hand on Lu Weng’s head, and said gravely, "Don’t force Young Minister Lu to get serious."
"Yes, there are features!"
Lu Weng gasped, his eyes panicked. "When he handed the money to me, I touched his hand. That hand was very clean, his nails trimmed extremely neatly, without a speck of dirt—it didn’t seem like he did rough labor. And… and the pad of his right finger had a thick callus, as if he often held a brush or something slender."
Lu Jin raised an eyebrow slightly. "If you were to identify that hand on the spot, could you recognize it?"
Meeting his icy gaze, Lu Weng hesitated for a moment, but seeing Lu Jin’s eyes darken further, he quickly nodded like a pestle pounding garlic. "I make my living by observation, listening, questioning, and diagnosis—I still have that much memory!"
Lu Jin smiled again. "That’s good then."
Shen Fenghuo stood to the side, listening in astonishment.
Ming Yi was incredibly fierce.
Yet whenever he spoke to Xiangling, he was as gentle as a spring breeze.
Lord Lu.
Though smiling, he also seemed quite fierce.
Shen Fenghuo was engrossed in the scene when Lu Jin, who had just been overwhelmingly intimidating, suddenly turned to her with a warm, gentle smile.
His tone was soft, as if discussing everyday matters. "A'He, would you like to go to Ximing Temple together?"
Shen Fenghuo let out an "ah." "But I still need to return to the Dining Hall to prepare the evening meal. The Officers are waiting to eat."
"Don’t worry."
The smile in Lu Jin’s eyes remained undiminished. "I promise to bring you back before the evening meal. After all, you were the first to notice the scent of incense ash. We still need you to go to Ximing Temple to identify it again."
Shen Fenghuo lowered her gaze and thought for a moment.
As long as the blood-sucking case remained unsolved, Chang'an would know no peace. Every day, she had to go to and from work in fear.
Moreover, Lord and Ming Yi cannot escort her back and forth every day; this is not a sustainable solution in the long run.
Wanniang kept talking about going to Pingkang Ward—she was never one to stay idle. Given the current situation, how could they dare let her go out alone?
Not to mention, Brother Yu had mentioned during casual conversation that aside from the Harmonizing Tunes Gentleman, all the other victims were youths around her age or even younger. To die so unjustly in the prime of their lives was truly lamentable.
Yankang Ward wasn’t far; going there to identify them wouldn’t take much time.
Shen Fenghuo looked up at Lu Jin, her gaze clear and resolute. “Alright, I’ll go.”
“Mm.”
Outside Ximing Temple, there were no ordinary citizens in sight, only two rows of Jinwu Guards standing at attention. Two lavishly decorated imperial carriages were parked nearby.
Cui Zhi stood beside one of the carriages, glancing into the distance but seeing no one approaching.
“Empress, Assistant Minister Lu has kept you waiting for so long—he truly is too arrogant. Previously, he trespassed into the outer chambers of Zichen Hall, an act of grave insolence, yet you merely punished him with kneeling overnight and let it go. This is far too…”
From behind the curtain came the Empress’s calm and steady voice, as if she were resting with her eyes closed. “Since he has already knelt through the night and diligently investigated the case during the day, the punishment is sufficient. You’ve been at odds with him for nearly a year now—haven’t you had enough?”
The curtain stirred slightly as the Empress stepped out gracefully. She wore a black robe woven with golden phoenix patterns, which accentuated her dignified bearing, while the depths of her phoenix eyes held an inscrutable gaze.
She turned to look at Li Hong, who stood slightly slender at her side. “Hong’er, accompany your mother inside to offer incense—it will also serve as a blessing for the people of Chang’an.”
Li Hong nodded slightly. “Your son obeys Mother’s command.”
Cui Zhi watched their retreating figures, standing rooted in place, filled with resentment.
The Lu clan of Wu Commandery was an insignificant family from Jiangnan, unworthy of being mentioned alongside the prestigious Cui clan of Qinghe.
Lu Jin was merely a scholar from a humble background who passed the imperial examinations, yet he acted with unrestrained audacity, even daring to trespass into the palace grounds—where was the upbringing of a noble family?
His own Cui clan of Qinghe had produced ministers for generations; he had entered officialdom through hereditary privilege—in what way was he inferior?
Yet the Empress held Lu Jin in such high regard, indulging his arrogance and brushing aside even the grave offense of trespassing into the outer chambers… It was truly baffling.
Cui Zhi looked up and saw Lu Jin approaching briskly, covered in dust from his journey. Behind him, aside from the people from Dali Temple, were a woman and an old man.
His expression instantly darkened, and he snorted before turning his face away.
How tedious.
Shortly after Lu Jin entered Ximing Temple, the overwhelming scent of sandalwood filled the courtyard.
His brows suddenly furrowed, and he couldn’t help raising a hand to rub his throbbing temples, his body swaying slightly.
Shen Fenghuo quickly steadied him by the arm, whispering with concern, “What’s wrong, Lord?”
The man before her lowered his gaze and remained still for a moment. When he looked up again, a hint of languor had crept into his eyes.
He stared at the sky for a while before suddenly saying, “The sun.”
Then, his gaze shifted to Shen Fenghuo, his smile lingering as he called out, “Wife.”
Shen Fenghuo hastily raised a finger to her lips, signaling “shh.”
As if the previous demeanor had vanished in an instant, Lu Jin steadied himself, and his voice returned to its usual calm.
“It’s nothing. Perhaps I’m just a bit tired from the journey.”
Inside the hall, incense smoke curled upward.
The Empress stood before the incense altar, and even while offering incense, the oppressive aura of her long-held authority remained undiminished.
Crown Prince Li Hong stood to one side, his complexion somewhat pale and his frame slender.
Holding three sticks of incense, he handed them to a monk beside him before covering his mouth with a handkerchief and coughing softly a few times.
Lu Jin bowed in salute. "Empress, Your Highness the Crown Prince, this humble official is late. I beg for your forgiveness."
The Empress slowly turned around and gave a faint "hmm," her tone betraying neither joy nor anger.
Shen Fenghuo followed Lu Jin in bowing, her heart tense.
She was the Empress!
The Empress's gaze soon fell upon Shen Fenghuo as well.
Though she wore no extravagant attire, her bright and clear eyes were striking. Standing beside Lu Jin, she appeared exceptionally well-matched.
After completing his salute, Lu Jin turned to the person beside him. "A'He, carefully discern whether the incense in the hall now shares the same scent as that from last night and the cat skin."
Shen Fenghuo focused her senses and inhaled. The hall was filled with the interwoven fragrance of sandalwood, along with that familiar, faint scent.
After a moment, she nodded with certainty. "It is the same scent."
The Empress handed the partially burned incense in her hand to the monk beside her and instructed, "Place it on the incense table."
Though Lu Weng was fearful, he also wished to catch another glimpse of the Empress. Suddenly, he noticed the monk's hand holding the incense, adorned with a string of prayer beads, and his eyes widened in shock. "Young Minister Lu, it is this hand! He is the one who bought the leeches!"
A monk's hand is a hand of compassion, meant to remain pure, washed several times a day, with nails trimmed short.
Frequently holding prayer beads and rubbing them over time leaves a thick callus on one fingertip.
The monk lowered his gaze to receive the incense. Upon hearing Lu Weng's words, his palm suddenly flipped, and a gleaming dagger hidden in his sleeve was unsheathed, thrusting straight toward the Empress's heart.
"Mother, be careful!"
Li Hong's face abruptly changed, and he instinctively rushed forward to shield the Empress.
Lu Jin stepped forward, reaching out to precisely seize the monk's wrist. With a slight exertion, a faint "crack" was heard.
The monk winced in pain and released his grip, the dagger flying from his hand.
Lu Jin raised his elbow and struck heavily against the monk's back. The monk grunted and collapsed to the ground, where he was promptly pinned down by the Jinwu Guard who had rushed over.
Pinned to the ground by the Jinwu Guard, the monk still struggled and roared, "Release me, you accomplices aiding a tyrant!"
Lu Jin looked down at the restrained man and said solemnly, "Master Shi Liang… or rather, I should call you Wei Liang. Son of Wei Kang, a former retainer of the Lanling Xiao clan, Wei Liang."
"You…"
Wei Liang trembled all over, his struggling movements ceasing as he looked up at Lu Jin, his face filled with disbelief and panic. "How do you know? I changed my name and entered the temple as a monk years ago, completely altering my appearance. No one in this world should know my origins."
"The Dali Temple archives record an old case. When the Lanling Xiao clan was demoted, the retainer Wei Kang died protecting the young master of the household, leaving only a son who disappeared. The archives include the testimony of Wei Kang's servant, which mentioned that you contracted pea sores as a child. Though you survived by chance, your face was left covered in scars."
The person before him, also known as Master Shi Liang of Ximing Temple, fit this description exactly.
Wei Liang, having failed in his assassination attempt and having his identity exposed by Lu Jin, glared with bloodshot eyes and cursed angrily.
"Lu Jin, you lapdog of this sorceress Empress! You aid a tyrant and will die a wretched death!"
"How dare you!"
Li Hong's face darkened, his pale complexion flushing with anger. "Shi Liang, how dare you speak so disrespectfully to my mother!"
Wei Liang turned to look at Li Hong, the ferocity in his eyes softening slightly.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, you are known throughout the land as a benevolent and kind person. You deserve to be healthy and long-lived, to inherit the throne in the future and become the ruler of the realm."
He coughed once, his gaze sweeping over the Empress, his tone suddenly turning vehement. "But that demonic consort monopolizes court affairs, acting arbitrarily and despotically. She suppresses the Guanlong aristocratic families, persecutes loyal officials, slaughters imperial clansmen, and has thrown the entire court into a state of panic. Such a woman, who brings chaos to the imperial court, deserves to die. Your Highness, how can you be deceived by her?"
Li Hong rebuked, "Utter nonsense!"
His entire body trembled with agitation, causing him to cough violently.
Upon hearing Wei Liang's words, the Empress suddenly laughed, her clear and bright laughter echoing through the incense-filled hall.
"The Wei family—how loyal you were when the Xiao clan held power. Why aren't you protecting your master's son, Li Sujie, now? Instead, you've come to protect my Hong'er?"
Stung by these words, Wei Liang's eyes turned crimson with rage. Struggling, he roared hoarsely, "Crown Prince Li Hong is the pure and legitimate heir of the Li Tang dynasty, benevolent and kind-hearted. He even risked his life to plead for the two princesses, Yiyang and Gao'an, of the Xiao clan. Such a virtuous ruler is even more deserving to be the master of the realm."
He glared fiercely at the Empress, his eyes filled with venom. "And you, demonic consort! Don't think that just because you hold sway over everything, the people of the world don't know what you're plotting."
The Crown Prince was clearly healthy in his childhood, yet now he is bedridden with illness, growing thinner by the day. It must be the demonic consort secretly scheming to remove him as an obstacle, fulfilling her treacherous ambition to usurp power and seize the throne.
How can the Li Tang dynasty fall largely into the hands of a woman?
The Empress laughed for a long while before gradually calming down.
"You claim to protect my Hong'er, yet you raise blood-sucking venomous insects in his villa, harming innocent lives?"
She stepped forward slowly, her imposing presence alone suffocating. "Hong'er rarely visits that villa. If this matter were to spread, the world would believe it was Crown Prince Li Hong who raised venomous insects to kill, tarnishing his reputation for benevolence. That would truly destroy his position as heir."
"Those are not venomous insects."
Stimulated by these words, Wei Liang descended into complete madness. Breaking free from the restraints of the Jinwu Guard, he stared at Li Hong with crimson eyes, his gaze filled with an almost obsessive infatuation. "The texts state that as long as the youngest and freshest blood is exchanged, the Crown Prince can dispel his chronic illness and regain his health…"
Looking at Li Hong's pale face, he spoke reverently, "Your Highness, just wait a little longer… I have almost gathered enough. Once the blood exchange is complete, you will be fully healthy, free from the torment of illness. Then, with a single call from you, the world will respond, and we will surely drag this demonic consort down from her throne!"
Li Hong trembled all over upon hearing this, his face growing even paler. Clutching his chest, he coughed violently. "How dare you! My imperial father is still in good health…"
Frowning deeply, his eyes filled with unbearable pain and disappointment, he said, "You… you are… harming others and yourself."
Stung by Li Hong's disappointment, Wei Liang's gaze grew even more obsessive. He roared hoarsely in defense.
"Your Highness, how can you think this way? The change of dynasties has never been without bloodshed. Your great-grandfather, Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty, during the Xuanwu Gate Incident, shed the blood of countless loyal souls to bring about a prosperous era."
Panting heavily, fanatical and deranged, he continued, "Now, I have merely used the blood of a few individuals. Compared to the great achievements of Emperor Taizong, what does this amount to! For them to donate their blood and sacrifice their lives for Your Highness's blood exchange is the greatest blessing. They must have gone happily. To protect your health and ensure your ascension to the throne, their deaths are worth it!"
"Nonsense, utter nonsense…"
Beside them, Lu Weng trembled all over, shocked by these twisted words.
He was indeed greedy, but with a healer's compassion, he truly sold leeches as medicinal ingredients.
If he hadn't been so cowardly, if he had dared to examine whether the corpse died from leeches, there wouldn't have been so many consecutive deaths.
Leeches suck blood, favoring the fresh and living.
How terrified must a person be, watching themselves die as leeches drain their blood.
Trembling, he continued, "What kind of blood exchange method to prolong life exists in this world? You're treating human lives as worthless grass, you're harming people!"
"How could anyone willingly go to their death?"
Shen Fenghuo frowned. "They were so young, with so much left to do. Chang'an is so lively, no one could ever get enough of it."
Wei Liang noticed Shen Fenghuo standing nearby.
Was she the woman he had captured last night?
She was the one who burned down Yichun Villa, destroyed the peonies planted by His Highness the Crown Prince himself, and nearly killed his treasure.
She was Lu Jin's… He was shocked.
His wife!
Wei Liang flew into a rage. "It's you! You're the one who burned my treasure, you wretched—"
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Lu Jin's consecutive slaps landed crisp and heavy, instantly reddening and swelling Wei Liang's cheeks, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"What right do you have to take human lives?"
Lu Jin spoke to him word by word, "Yang Cheng from the spice shop in Xi Shi, just nineteen years old, mature beyond his years, merely supplying spices to Ximing Temple, became your target. Lady Wu Fang, the laundress, sixteen years old, only this month took on washing monks' robes for Ximing Temple to support her family. Her grandfather is blind, and the household relies entirely on her."
He hadn't yet told the old man that his granddaughter was dead, yet the old man sat at the village entrance every day, waiting.
He leaned closer to Wei Liang. "Ximing Temple is lush with flowers and trees, and the back hill even has rare plants hand-planted by Master Xuanzang. Recently, Chang'an had heavy rain and snow, an old locust tree on the back hill fell, and the forest keeper You Xiangnian, just seventeen, was only asked by the village head to help clear it. And Zhou Tian, the messenger, only fifteen, delivering sutras and letters for Silla monks—how utterly innocent!"
"The investigators worked day and night, visiting and verifying, only to piece together their faint connections to Ximing Temple. They were all fine youths of the Great Tang, each with their own livelihoods, their own attachments. By what right did you, driven by your own obsession, decide their life and death? By what right did you take their lives?"
Wei Liang, dazed by Lu Jin's blows, still roared, "For His Highness the Crown Prince, their deaths were worthy!"
What a marvelous plan, killing three birds with one stone.
It could obtain fresh blood for His Highness the Crown Prince, create rumors of a demonic empress, and restore the reputation of the Xiao clan.
"Worthy deaths?"
Lu Jin laughed in extreme anger, delivering another slap. "They died without even knowing why. You're not protecting the Crown Prince; you're destroying him."
As if not hearing, Wei Liang glared with bloodshot eyes, fixed intently on Li Hong, muttering to himself, "Your Highness, just wait a little longer. Only one more person is needed. Just one more portion of blood, and you can exchange blood and regain your health."
Li Hong's eyes reddened, his chest heaving violently.
Trembling with rage, he shouted sharply, "In the past, I often discussed Buddhist teachings with you, thinking you were a devout practitioner. Yet you… you treat human lives so carelessly, unworthy of being a Buddhist disciple."
In fury, he flicked his sleeve and turned away, unable to bear looking any longer.
"Your Highness, you must have been bewitched by this demonic empress. Let me kill her!"
Wei Liang roared, throwing his head back in mad laughter, chanting incessantly.
From the shadows behind the altar in the hall, several leeches as thick as arms crawled out in dense clusters.
They twisted and crawled across the floor, their bodies glistening with mucus. As they moved, thin wings sprouted from their backs, and with a flutter, they took flight, lunging straight at the people in the hall.
"Ah—!"
Shen Fenghuo’s face turned deathly pale with fright. She screamed and threw herself beside Lu Jin. "Lord, it’s Fei Zhi! It’s the Fei Zhi that Di Sicheng spoke of!"
But wasn’t it supposed to be just a legend?
There really are leeches that can fly… leeches can grow wings!
Wei Liang laughed even more fiercely, "Naturally, they are Fei Zhi. Since Fei Zhi exist in this world, then the blood exchange method must also exist."
"Jinwu Guard."
The Empress commanded sternly. Though in peril, her expression remained unchanged, her aura imposing.
Cui Zhi acknowledged the order. Several blazing torches were raised high, and a whole bag of salt grains was scattered into the air.
Fei Zhi fear fire and salt. Upon contact, they emitted a sizzling sound as they burned. A few Fei Zhi that couldn't escape in time fell to the ground, struggled briefly, and then burned into charred lumps.
Dealing with these Fei Zhi took only a moment. They couldn't even get close to the Empress.
Wei Liang couldn't understand how they could have been prepared in advance.
The last Fei Zhi had its wings singed by a torch. The thin wings instantly incinerated, and with a "thud," it fell beside Wei Liang's feet.
Before it could crawl away, it suddenly latched onto Wei Liang.
"Ah—! It hurts so much!"
Wei Liang screamed miserably, convulsing as he tried to break free, but the Fei Zhi only tightened its grip. He could only watch helplessly as the Fei Zhi fed on his blood, his face contorted in agony.
Lu Jin stared at him coldly. "Taichang Temple Harmonizing Tunes Gentleman Zhou Wen, why did you want to harm him?"
Wei Liang trembled in pain. "I don't care about his blood. That fool was just unlucky, targeted by a hungry Fei Zhi."
The Fei Zhi on his body, now full of blood, had swollen several times in size and began crawling toward his neck.
Wei Liang's scream abruptly ceased. His eyes widened, his hands clutching his neck tightly as blood gushed from between his fingers.
In just a few breaths, he went limp, his eyes wide open, his breath cut off.
The Fei Zhi, having fed on his blood, wobbled with its bloated body before finally being struck by a Jinwu Guard's torch nearby, burning into ashes.
Lu Weng lay on the ground, his trouser legs soaked with a dark stain.
He had truly witnessed something extraordinary today.
The vastness of the Tang Dynasty encompasses all things.
Lu Jin slowly walked up to the Empress and bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your cooperation. Only with your assistance could we successfully lure out the culprit and solve this case."
The Empress's gaze turned to Shen Fenghuo in the distance.
Though she had been hiding behind Lu Jin in fear earlier, she now held a torch handed to her by a Jinwu Guard, carefully burning the remaining Fei Zhi remnants in the corner.
It was she who burned Hong'er's villa.
She certainly knows how to play with fire.
"Lu Jin."
The Empress smiled as she looked into the distance. "Your wife… next time the palace makes new pastries, come and take some for her to try."
With that, she turned to Li Hong, who still seemed somewhat dazed, her tone returning to calm. "Hong'er, did you know about this?"
Li Hong glanced at Wei Liang's corpse on the ground, then met the Empress's gaze.
After a brief pause, he replied, "Your son did not know."
"That's good."
The Empress chuckled. "Let's return to the palace… In another month, your mother will take you to the Luoyang Palace. The peonies of Luoyang are of unparalleled beauty. When spring arrives, they bloom brilliantly, and your illness is sure to improve."
Li Hong's gaze swept complexly over Wei Liang's corpse on the ground. That face, pale and twisted from blood loss, was a far cry from the gentle, elegant demeanor of the monk who once discussed Buddhist teachings with him.
He nodded silently, his steps heavy as he followed behind the Empress, trembling and appearing even more gaunt.
Lu Jin watched the two departing figures and called out loudly, "The case of the cat demon sucking blood has implicated several innocent lives, and rumors are rampant in Chang'an. I implore the Empress…"
"This palace is aware."
The Empress's voice drifted faintly, growing more distant as she moved away, "There will be an explanation."
Shen Fenghuo was still holding the torch, waving it back and forth.
"A'He, aren't you afraid?"
Lu Jin watched her restless movements and spoke slowly, "Stop waving it around; it's like roasting lamb."
Shen Fenghuo glanced at the sizzling Fei Zhi on the ground and wished she could sew Lu Jin's mouth shut.
How was she supposed to look at roasted lamb the same way after this?
She walked over to him and curiously pressed, "Lord, how did the Jinwu Guard know that Fei Zhi fears salt and fire? It seems they were prepared in advance."
Lu Jin looked at her curious expression and couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Di Sicheng found out by consulting many ancient texts and local records. He also mentioned that a certain lady dreamed of these blood-sucking Fei Zhi at night, which reminded him to be wary of such poisonous insects."
"What, what lady?"
Lu Jin leaned in close, his warm breath brushing against her ear, "A'He, who is this Di Sicheng? Do you think you can hide anything from him?"
Shen Fenghuo tilted her head and took a step back, just catching sight of the sunset glow staining the horizon.
She gasped, "Ahhh! I was so caught up in talking, I need to return to Dali Temple to prepare dinner! Any later and the officers will go hungry!"
Holding the torch, she turned and dashed off like a gust of wind, shouting as she ran, "Lord, I'm leaving!"
Watching Shen Fenghuo's sprinting figure, Lu Jin turned to Lu Weng beside him.
"When you return, you can entrust the clinic to your grandson with peace of mind. Once the punishment decreed by Dali Temple is over, if you remain silent for the rest of your life, you may still enjoy your remaining years in peace."
Lu Jin's gaze sharpened, "This official does not wish to see such a fine clinic vanish from Chang'an County."
Lu Weng kowtowed and never spoke another word.
As for the person hired by Wei Liang to impersonate the cat demon, they were certain to meet a fatal end.
Dali Temple didn't even need to lift a finger.
At dusk, the dining hall of Dali Temple was truly quiet.
So quiet that only the sighs of the clerks remained.
It seemed as though dark clouds hovered over everyone's heads, as uneasy as a procession of a hundred ghosts at night.
Shen Fenghuo pushed the door open, took in the scene, and after a moment of stunned silence, grinned and said, "Hello, officers! Have you eaten?"
Shi Zhubu looked up, finally seeing the newcomer, and replied gloomily, "Shen Niangzi, what do you think?"
Pang Lushi pointed miserably at the rice in his bowl, "Old Chen said dinner was your responsibility, so he only steamed millet rice without even a side dish. Shen Niangzi, tell us, should we mix it with lard, sugar, or just a couple of pickled vegetable stems?"
Chen Yang, wiping the iron pot by the stove, snorted at these words. It wasn't his problem; she had agreed to it herself.
Shen Fenghuo continued to chuckle, "Though the ready-made millet rice can be topped with some sauce, how can it compare to a hot pot for warming the body? With so many people now, I really can't cook dishes in time. I thought, why not have a hot pot? It's the easiest."
Pang Lushi smacked his lips, "What hot pot? It's not like we're celebrating the New Year; where's the leisure for such indulgences?"
Lu Jin stepped inside, standing behind Shen Fenghuo, and said, "Naturally, there is something to celebrate. The case of the cat demon sucking blood has been solved."
"Solved?!"
The clerks were stunned for a moment before erupting into thunderous cheers, their earlier grievances swept away in an instant.
"Young Minister Lu, invincible in solving cases!"
"Young Minister Lu, I want to serve you!"
"Young Minister Lu, please tell us more!"
"…"
Chief Clerk Shi laughed heartily, "These past few days have been nerve-wracking. My wife hasn’t dared to leave the house lately. It’s finally over."
Recorder Pang joined in the laughter, "Young Minister Lu is right, we should have a hot pot feast, we should celebrate!"
Shen Fenghuo turned and called toward the back of the stove, "Chen Chu, please find some clay pots. We’ll have a hot pot feast today!"
Chen Yang snorted again under his breath, but together with Wu Yu, he dragged out seven or eight clay pots from under the shelves, swiftly lit the charcoal, and carried them to the Dali Temple Dining Hall.
The other two kitchen servants hurried over to lend a hand, wiping the rims of the pots and arranging the tables.
Shen Fenghuo rolled up her sleeves and brought out a block of tightly frozen mutton. Her cleaver moved like the wind, and slices of mutton as thin as cicada wings fell one after another.
Today, she was preparing three types of hot pot broths. She also took out the marinated river deer meat and cured meat, then sliced some mushrooms, bamboo shoots, tofu… Seasonal vegetables also had to be washed and prepared.
First, the mushroom broth: she tossed in various soaked mushrooms, along with ginger slices, scallions, and dried red dates.
A wild, mountain flavor—the mushrooms were fresh and delicious.
Second, the chicken broth: clear chicken broth was simmered with goji berries and a small amount of astragalus, with some crushed fermented black beans added for extra umami.
The broth was clear and bright, savory but not greasy.
Third, the tangerine peel and fermented rice broth: she poured in rendered lard, sautéed minced garlic, ginger, and tangerine peel until fragrant, then let it simmer until bubbling.
Bitter yet sweet, it cut through the greasiness and refreshed the palate.
Once the three broths were ready, she ladled them slowly into the various clay pots. Beside the tables, the bubbling, steaming white mist filled the entire Dining Hall, shutting out the cold air outside the windows.
Shen Fenghuo placed the sliced mutton on flat trays, then cut the river deer meat and cured meat into thin slices, arranging them neatly with the various vegetables, mushrooms, and tofu across several tables.
Everything was ready to be taken as needed.
How could Chen Yang be content with being outshone by her?
When Shen Fenghuo wasn’t around, he had lost interest and couldn’t be bothered to cook much. But now that she was here, he was fired up, busying himself with preparing various dipping sauces.
Some were simple sesame oil dips, others were sesame paste with a bit of sugar, and still others were crushed Sichuan peppercorns and cumin—just that extravagant.
As for coriander and fish mint, there were indeed those who loved to take them.
Whenever a clerk came to take some, Chen Yang would launch into a stream of praise.
Coriander—what a wonderful, vibrant green vegetable!
Fish mint—sweet and fragrant, incredibly crisp, so aromatic. Does it smell fishy?
Not at all!
The clerks gathered around the clay pots, eagerly waiting for Young Minister Lu to start eating from nearby.
As soon as Lu Jin picked up his chopsticks, they moved with lightning speed…
Let’s eat!
The broth in the clay pots bubbled and simmered. With the swift movements of chopsticks, the mutton slices, thin as cicada wings, were dipped into the broth and seemed to melt in the mouth, filled with a milky aroma.
The river deer meat was already marinated and only needed a quick dip.
The tofu soaked up the broth, rich and flavorful. A bite of fresh vegetables to cleanse the palate was simply wonderful.
The clerks ate with great enthusiasm, occasionally discussing some recently solved cases.
Shen Fenghuo stood to the side, calmly slicing mutton with her head bowed, when she suddenly heard a gentle voice above her, "Come, sit down and eat with us."
She looked up and saw Lu Jin standing beside her.
"Young Minister Lu, I still need to slice more mutton. What if everyone doesn’t have enough?"
"This is already plenty."
Lu Jin's gaze swept over the table laden with plates of meat and dishes, then turned to Chen Yang and the two kitchen servants standing nearby. "You all should sit down too. The case is solved, and the Dining Hall's lively atmosphere today is thanks to you."
"Assistant Minister, wouldn't that be against the rules?"
Chen Yang stammered.
Did Young Minister Lu really not resent him for the Coriander Porridge?
"Rules are rigid. Today is a celebration—no distinctions of rank. Everyone, sit."
Seeing his firm stance, Shen Fenghuo no longer declined. She wiped her hands and took a seat in the empty spot beside him.
After a moment of hesitation, Chen Yang finally pulled Wu Yu and the other kitchen servants to cautiously sit at the empty seats in the corner, opening a pot for themselves as well.
He intended to fill his dipping sauce bowl with coriander and fish-mint.
Chief Clerk Shi was the first to react, immediately laughing and saying, "Young Minister Lu is right. Today, there are no distinctions among us. Shen Niangzi, you must try the tangerine peel-infused hotpot you made yourself. This River Deer Meat is absolutely delicious when dipped."
Amid the bubbling sounds of the iron pot, Shen Fenghuo was just about to bring a piece of River Deer Meat to her mouth when several slices of fatty and lean lamb rolls suddenly appeared in her bowl.
She froze for a moment, then turned her head and met Lu Jin's gentle gaze.
Shen Fenghuo's cheeks grew warm, and she instinctively patted his leg under the table, signaling him to tone it down.
She truly felt that the Lord during the day was somewhat different from the one at night.
How could this be?
Shen Fenghuo shook her head.
During the day, though he was swift and decisive in solving cases, he was gentle with her. At night, however, he always clung to her, sometimes even biting her when she was half-asleep, and insisting on his preferred sleeping positions.
Shen Fenghuo pondered and pondered but couldn't figure out why.
Still, the words the Lord had used to scold that monk earlier in the day had been truly satisfying.
From this, it was clear that the Lord had a good heart.
Shen Fenghuo ate her meat while lost in thought. When she looked up, she saw Di Sicheng sitting not far away with a bowl in hand, dipping a piece of lamb and glancing in her direction.
Indeed, indeed.
Di Sicheng truly had ears and eyes everywhere.
When exactly had he noticed?
After the evening meal, the clerks left their posts in twos and threes, chatting and laughing, stretching lazily before heading to Chen Yang to ask if there were any leftover hot drinks to take home and savor along the way.
The sunset had completely faded.
After cleaning up the dishes, washing her hands and face, Shen Fenghuo slung her satchel over her shoulder and quietly slipped out through the small door behind the kitchen.
As soon as she pushed the door open, she saw Lu Jin leaning against the opposite wall.
In his hand was the food box she had seen earlier in the day, likely containing the pastries bestowed by the Empress.
Shen Fenghuo glanced left and right, ensuring no one was around, before quickly walking over to him and whispering, "Lord, why are you here?"
"This is a convenient spot, perfect for picking you up to go home."
Lu Jin fell into step beside her as they walked forward.
They walked side by side for a while, the surroundings so quiet that only their breaths could be heard.
Lu Jin suddenly spoke, "A'He."
Shen Fenghuo softly replied, "Hmm."
"Give me your hand."
Shen Fenghuo's palm curled slightly, but before she could react, Lu Jin's warm hand reached over and firmly grasped hers.
His palm was dry and warm, just like the day of their wedding when he had supported her.
Shen Fenghuo's cheeks began to burn, but she didn't pull away, allowing him to lead her forward.
"A'He, are you afraid of marrying the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?"
"It's alright. I used to be quite skilled at slaughtering pigs back in the countryside."
A low chuckle escaped him.
The moonlight gradually brightened, filtering through the sparse branches and casting its glow upon the two of them.
Not far from the Lu Residence, Lu Jin stopped and pulled her back.
Shen Fenghuo turned around following his lead.
They stood extremely close, and she could clearly smell the pomelo blossom fragrance on him.
Moonlight fell upon Lu Jin’s brows and eyes, the weariness from the day completely gone, leaving only an intense gaze.
Shen Fenghuo’s heart pounded like a drum, her breath nearly caught as she looked up at him.
“A’He, do you prefer me during the day or at night?”
Shen Fenghuo was stunned for a moment, unsure how to respond.
Lord.
How could there be a distinction between day and night?
Lu Jin’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he slowly lowered his head, his warm breath brushing her forehead, his lips drawing closer until they were just inches from hers.
Shen Fenghuo clenched the hem of her clothes tightly.
However, Lu Jin’s originally gentle expression suddenly tightened, and his movements abruptly halted.
Veins nearly bulged on his forehead as his thin lips parted slightly.
Shen Fenghuo opened her eyes, clearly seeing the sudden darkness that clouded Lu Jin’s brow.
“Don’t you dare come out. I haven’t finished asking yet.”
Author’s Note: A’He: Lord, day or night? It’s hard to choose.
Lu Jin: Don’t you come out.
Lu Heng: I have to come out.
(Li Sujie is Consort Xiao’s son, and the other two princesses are her daughters.
Pea sores refer to smallpox.)