Su Liuyue picked up a file and said: “Assistant Prefect Ping, are you deliberately testing me? Such an obvious irregularity—did you truly not notice it?”
Assistant Prefect Ping’s eyes narrowed. With his sharp vision, he immediately saw that she was holding a list. The file was folded upward, revealing its final page. There, a name originally written had been crossed out with striking red ink. He had read that file himself—it was the record of all the victims from the case fifteen years ago.
Su Liuyue explained: “There are seven names recorded here. The first six are the women killed fifteen years ago. But the last name was crossed out. Though most of the characters are obscured, it’s clear the name had the ‘female’ radical, so it must have been a woman. Yet in all the other files, there is no mention of this person at all! My guess is that fifteen years ago, the investigators initially believed this woman was connected to the case, but later, for some reason, they struck her name out.”
As for why she was thought to be involved, and why her name was later removed—there could be many possibilities.
Assistant Prefect Ping raised his brows slightly. “You think this mysterious seventh person could be the breakthrough in the case?”
“I don’t know.” Su Liuyue shook her head. “But in an investigation, no clue can be overlooked. And something this conspicuously unusual must not be ignored. Assistant Prefect Ping, I’ve finished reading all the files here. Now I’d like to meet Lord Kang, who served as Assistant Prefect of the Capital fifteen years ago.”
At her words, even Fengyang—usually expressionless—looked at her in surprise. So many files, and she had finished them already? From the time she began reading until now, it had only been a little over an hour!
Su Liuyue seemed to notice their astonishment and muttered under her breath: “These government documents are full of tedious, useless details. If I had to read every word without skipping, I’d still be at it until tomorrow morning.”
Whether in modern times or in the past, the working style of official institutions really is much the same.
Assistant Prefect Ping looked at her with a half‑smile for a moment, then stood up. “Miss Su, you’ve worked hard. I’ll have Fengyang escort you home. Tomorrow morning, I’ll send someone to bring you to the Court of Judicial Review.”
Home? Su Liuyue was in the middle of her investigation, brimming with energy. She almost blurted out that they should go to the Court tonight—but fortunately, she restrained herself in time. In the past, whenever she caught hold of the thread of truth, she would press on relentlessly, working overtime until she unraveled it completely.
She glanced at Assistant Prefect Ping, bowed, and said: “Very well. I’ll trouble Assistant Prefect Ping then.”
With that, she followed Fengyang out of the room.
Assistant Prefect Ping remained where he was, his dark eyes watching her figure gradually recede. His gaze was cool, but the corners of his lips curved faintly.
This woman was even more intriguing than he had imagined. Just moments ago, her face had been filled with unmistakable eagerness, reluctant to stop.
As Su Liuyue stepped out of the Prefect’s Office, she was startled to see Madam Yun and Xue Chengyi waiting anxiously at the gate, pacing back and forth.
The first to spot her was Ersi. Overjoyed, she cried out loudly: “Miss has come out!”
Madam Yun and Xue Chengyi froze, then rushed to her side, nervously scanning her up and down.
Madam Yun grasped her hand tightly, her voice urgent: “Liuyue, are you alright? Did anyone inside mistreat you?”
Su Liuyue’s eyes softened slightly. “Aunt, don’t worry. I once helped Assistant Prefect Lu with a case, and this time he invited me in to assist with another investigation.”
As for Assistant Prefect Ping, Su Liuyue harbored suspicions about him, so she deliberately left his name unmentioned.
Madam Yun and Xue Chengyi had already heard from Ersi and Er’an that Su Liuyue had been helping the Prefect’s Office investigate. Though deeply shocked, they knew this was not the time to press her with questions.
Xue Chengyi, with a growing sense of foreboding, couldn’t help but ask:
“Which case is it?”
Su Liuyue looked at him and replied: “It’s… the serial murder case involving young women—the very case my cousin has been implicated in. The case is not yet solved, and I cannot share more details with you for now.”
Madam Yun and Xue Chengyi were stunned, exchanging a look of disbelief.
Su Liuyue, worried they might press her with endless questions, quickly added: “Just now I was inside the Prefect’s Office reading all the case files related to this matter. I’m already quite tired, and tomorrow morning I must continue the investigation. Uncle, Aunt, I promise I will find a way to clear my cousin’s name. As for other matters, once the case is resolved, I’ll explain everything to you clearly.”
Hearing this, Madam Yun grew even more anxious and distressed. Though she had countless questions, she couldn’t bear to ask them.
Xue Chengyi looked deeply at Su Liuyue, then suddenly sighed heavily. His voice was low and bitter: “To think my son is in trouble, and I can do nothing. It falls to you, a young girl, to step forward. Your uncle is truly useless…”
Su Liuyue was startled. “Uncle, don’t think that way…”
But Xue Chengyi shook his head. “Liuyue, your cousin’s fate rests with you.” With that, he turned and walked heavily toward the nearby carriage.
Madam Yun leaned closer to Su Liuyue and whispered: “Just now, when your uncle arrived, he was frantic. He sent people to seek out old acquaintances among the officials, and even swallowed his pride to personally beg his superior, Vice Minister Feng, for help. You know your uncle—though he seems rough and straightforward, deep down he has the pride of a scholar. He rarely lowers himself to ask favors. But once those officials heard this case involved the Prefect’s Office, they all avoided him like the plague. Vice Minister Feng didn’t even grant him an audience. Your uncle’s heart is broken…”
Now, in all of New Capital, who doesn’t know who commands the Prefect’s Office? At such a critical moment, who would dare intervene?
Su Liuyue pressed her lips together, seeing Madam Yun’s eyes redden as she said: “Liuyue, though your uncle and I are ashamed to say it, your cousin truly can only rely on you now…”
If not for their own helplessness, how could they let Liuyue—a young woman—take on such a bloody, terrifying task?
Moreover, the fact that the Prefect’s Office would allow her to participate in such a major case, though Madam Yun was no court official, she instinctively sensed something was amiss.
But now, they truly had no other choice.
Su Liuyue quickly reassured them: “Aunt, don’t worry. These next few days, I’ll likely be leaving early and returning late to investigate. For convenience, I’d like to stay at the Xue household during this time. As for the Su family, I’ll trouble you to explain things to them.”
Madam Yun sighed. “Very well, leave that matter to me.”
True to his word, the next morning, Assistant Prefect Ping sent someone to fetch Su Liuyue. But it wasn’t Fengyang, who had escorted her the night before—it was another officer from the Prefect’s Office.
When Su Liuyue stepped out, the officer was momentarily stunned.
Her hair was tied up in a scholar’s knot, and she wore a sky‑blue round‑collared robe with narrow sleeves. With her delicate features framed by this attire and carefully applied makeup, she carried an air of quiet strength. At first glance, she looked exactly like a refined young gentleman.
The officer frowned slightly, but said nothing, simply leading the way.
When they arrived at the Court of Judicial Review, Fengyang appeared. Like the officer, he gave Su Liuyue a surprised look, then silently led her onward.
She didn’t know how Fengyang managed it, but they wound their way through the Court with countless turns, never encountering another soul. At last, they reached a hidden entrance to the dungeon.
At the doorway, Fengyang gestured politely. “Please.” He stepped inside first.
Su Liuyue’s eyes flickered with thought, and she followed him in. But once inside the dungeon, she couldn’t help but freeze in place.