“What?!” Madam Yun’s face turned pale, and she staggered back a step.
Su Liuyue quickly steadied her, her sharp eyes fixed on Pingchuan. “Tell us everything you saw and heard just now, in detail.”
“Yes!”
Pingchuan hurriedly explained: “When I arrived at the *wuhou* station where the young master was, I saw men from the Capital Yamen dragging him out. When the young master spotted me, he secretly signaled for me to hide, so I did. I overheard the officers say that a few days ago, while the young master was patrolling the streets, he encountered a lost young woman. She lived not far from our house, so when the young master returned home, he escorted her back. But a few days later, that woman disappeared. Later her body was found dumped outside the city. The officers claimed that the last person seen with her was the young master, so he is a prime suspect!”
Madam Yun’s face grew even paler. “How could this be…”
Su Liuyue frowned slightly. “If that young woman lived in the capital, how could she get lost so easily?”
Pingchuan replied: “I heard she wasn’t a native of the capital. She had come recently with her family to visit relatives.”
Su Liuyue asked again: “When Eldest Cousin escorted her home, was she without a maid?”
Pingchuan shook his head. “Apparently not. She had gotten separated from her family and was alone.”
Such a coincidence?
Just as Su Liuyue finished her questioning, Madam Yun anxiously headed toward the gate. “Wenbai could never commit murder. There must be some mistake! I must go to the Capital Yamen to see him! Pingchuan, hurry to the Censorate and find Master. And instruct the household servants—no one is to mention a word of this in front of the young mistress!”
These days, Xue Chengyi has been busy with official matters and often can’t return home for supper. Today was no exception.
And in a few months, the new emperor would open the imperial examinations. Xue Wenjin, preparing for the exams, often stayed at the academy until late at night before coming home.
At present, the only one able to take charge at home was Madam Yun.
Su Liuyue quickly followed after her. “Aunt, let me go with you.”
Madam Yun, flustered, nodded hurriedly.
The two boarded a carriage and soon arrived at the Capital Yamen. By now, the sky had already darkened. Seeing them approach, the officers at the gate immediately blocked their way and demanded sternly: “Who are you? Why have you come to the yamen?”
“I am Madam Yun, wife of Censor Xue.”
Madam Yun tried to keep her voice steady. “My son is Xue Wenbai, chief of the *wuhou* station on Changxing Street. Today I heard he was taken into custody here. I wish to see my son!”
The leading officer’s face hardened. “It is too late now. And your son is involved in a major case—how could you see him just because you wish to?!”
Madam Yun grew anxious. “I only want to see him once. My son could never commit murder…”
“Madam, please go back!”
The officer cut her off bluntly. “If you refuse to listen, don’t blame us for being rude!”
Madam Yun froze, completely at a loss.
Seeing this, Su Liuyue stepped forward, shielding her aunt behind her. She smiled politely at the officer’s stern face. “Sir, then may I ask—when will we be allowed to see my cousin?”
Su Liuyue’s delicate features and courteous tone softened the officers somewhat. One of them replied more gently: “We don’t know. For a case of this magnitude, to see the suspect requires permission from an assistant prefect or higher. Please, both of you, return home.”
Su Liuyue’s brows furrowed ever so slightly. That meant—even if her uncle himself came, they still wouldn’t be able to see Xue Wenbai. Let alone intervene in the case, they couldn’t even catch a glimpse of him. And who knew how things might turn out in the end!
Su Liuyue couldn’t help but feel a surge of impatience. “We’re family members. Can’t we at least learn about the situation?”
Her attention was focused entirely on the officers in front of her, and she didn’t notice that several people were walking quickly toward the gate from inside the office.
The man leading them muttered quietly to the officer beside him as he walked: “You said the *wuhou* station on Lin’an Street caught a few suspicious people. Why must I personally go check? For something so uncertain, shouldn’t a few officers be sent first to investigate? Did I do something wrong recently, that he’s deliberately making things difficult for me…”
He was still grumbling when suddenly a very familiar voice reached his ears.
Assistant Prefect Lu’s ears twitched sharply. He lifted his gaze, and when he saw the familiar figure at the gate, his steps halted, his mouth falling open. Last time, though he hadn’t found that woman, he hadn’t dared conceal the truth. He had reported to the Crown Prince exactly how the case had been solved. That gamble had paid off—the Crown Prince hadn’t praised him, but neither had he punished him.
However, afterward, the Crown Prince had ordered him to find the woman who had helped solve the case. That had troubled him greatly. The woman had left no name and hadn’t shown her face—how was he supposed to find her? All he could do was sketch her outline from memory and send his men to search in secret. This task had tormented him for days. By now, he could recall her figure even with his eyes closed!
And now—wasn’t the woman at the gate the very one he had been desperately searching for?
His eyes lit up. Under the astonished gazes of those around him, he strode forward excitedly. “Miss! You’ve made me search everywhere! Why did you suddenly disappear last time? And now—why have you come to the yamen again?”
Su Liuyue blinked, momentarily stunned, looking at Assistant Prefect Lu in confusion.
Madam Yun’s eyes widened in shock.
Assistant Prefect Lu, flushed with excitement, immersed in the joy of finally finding her. “Miss, this time you mustn’t slip away again! I already reported to my superior how you assisted me in solving that case. He is very interested in you. Do you have time today to come inside the yamen with me?”
Su Liuyue slowly calmed down, beginning to understand the situation. Her eyes flashed with sharp light, and she lowered her gaze slightly. “Last time, I left suddenly because of urgent matters. To be honest, I came today for my cousin. My cousin is Xue Wenbai, chief of the *wuhou* station on Changxing Street. Today, he was arrested by the yamen, accused of being involved in a woman’s murder case…”
Assistant Prefect Lu froze, utterly surprised—he hadn’t expected that this was why she had come!
His brows furrowed tightly. “So the *wuhou* Xue… is actually your cousin? Hiss, that makes things tricky. Why don’t you come inside the office with me first, and we’ll discuss it in detail?”
Su Liuyue was more than willing. “Alright!”
She glanced reassuringly at the bewildered and shocked Madam Yun and said softly, “Aunt, I’ll be back soon. I’ll leave Ersi and Er’an here with you—they’ll explain everything.”
With that, she followed Assistant Magistrate Lu into the office.
Assistant Prefect Lu led her straight to his usual office. He was just about to order tea when an officer rushed in, bowed, and reported: “Lord Lu, His Highness just sent word asking why you haven’t gone to Lin’an Street yet. Several suspects were caught there, and they may be connected to remnants of the former dynasty. His Highness commands you to go immediately!”
Still basking in the excitement of finally finding her, Assistant Prefect Lu was speechless. Damn it! Ever since this new superior had taken office, he hadn’t had a single moment’s rest!
He silently lamented his life as a workhorse, then looked at Su Liuyue with a pained expression. “Miss, I’m terribly sorry. I’ve been called away on urgent business. I’ll arrange for someone to look after you in the meantime. But you mustn’t slip away again!”
Su Liuyue smiled faintly, lips curving. “Alright, Lord Lu, go handle your duties.”
But in her eyes, a glimmer of deep thought flickered. The “His Highness” that officer mentioned must be the Crown Prince—currently acting as Prefect of the Capital. And he was also General Wu’s direct superior.
Because of General Wu, Su Liuyue had little goodwill toward that man. If not for her cousin’s situation, she would never have wanted to be entangled with these officials at all.
After Assistant Prefect Lu left, Su Liuyue waited alone in the room. Before long, a clear, pleasant, slightly lazy male voice came from outside the door: “So, you’re the young lady Assistant Prefect Lu spoke of—the one who judges cases like a god?”