Chapter 10: Heartfelt and Willing 3
The bright light shines everywhere, both in heaven and on earth.
The next morning, Song Huaishi and his party left Kuailvzhuang first. The people from the Dali Temple brought back Du Ruyue's body. The commander of the patrol battalion, Liao Zheng, left most of his men to guard the villa and then left.
Zheng Xiangrui was weak, and Zheng Yan waited until she was a little more energetic before taking her to the carriage, where they met Cheng Jue, Zhou Zhenzhen and Yan An.
The carriage of Prince Zheng'an's Palace was spacious, and with Yan An on the road, it would be easier to take care of Zheng Xiangrui if she felt unwell again. Zheng Yan suggested that Cheng Jue and the other two go along.
Zheng Xiangrui's face was as pale as paper, even her lips were pale, and she shrank into a corner when she saw Cheng Jue. Zhou Zhenzhen felt distressed and took the initiative to sit next to her, blocking most of her view.
Zheng Yan shook his head helplessly. He originally wanted Cheng Jue to come up and let Zheng Xiangrui talk to him so that they could get closer, but when she saw Cheng Jue, she was so nervous that she couldn't even finish her words. He was getting more and more confused about his sister's attitude.
"By the way, Doctor Yan is also going to Chang'an City? Have you found a place to stay? If not, you can stay at my Zheng'an Palace for a few days, so that I can show my hospitality as a good host."
Yan An glanced at Cheng Jue beside him, cleared his throat and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but I am no longer a freelance doctor. This time I came to Chang'an to help Master Cheng solve this case. Master Cheng has provided my food and lodging."
Zheng Yan said, "Master Cheng is really good at recruiting talents. I am ashamed of myself. This time I am a step late."
Yan An actually wanted to ask how much his offer was. If it was more than Cheng Jue's, he would reconsider it. However, when he noticed Cheng Jue's unfriendly look, Yan An held back.
Cheng Jue's unfriendly eyes were not actually directed at Yan An, but rather at Zhou Zhenzhen and Zheng Xiangrui who were sitting over there.
Zheng Xiangrui was weak, and after sitting for a while her head rested on Zhou Zhenzhen's shoulder. Zhou Zhenzhen sat closer to her, holding her hand with one hand and supporting her shoulder with the other to prevent her from being bumped by the bumps on the road.
Even though that was a woman, Cheng Jue felt more and more uncomfortable the more he looked at her.
Even Zhou Zhenzhen had never treated him so intimately!
Cheng Jue's eyelids drooped and his body suddenly leaned towards Yan An.
"Hey, hey, hey, Master Cheng, what's wrong with you?" Yan An helped him up in panic, and Zhou Zhenzhen's eyes were drawn to him: "Master!"
Cheng Jue curled the corners of his mouth and thought to himself: She is still the one who is most worried about me.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about the case so intently that I didn't sit still." I never thought that I could be so childish.
The carriage stopped at the Dali Temple, and Cheng Jue and Yan An got off the carriage one after the other. Zheng Xiangrui had fallen into a deep sleep, his head resting on Zhou Zhenzhen's shoulder, breathing softly, his hand still holding Zhou Zhenzhen's, hooking her fingers like a child.
Zheng Yan smiled at Zhou Zhenzhen apologetically: "Xiangru likes to cling to people whenever he is sick. I am sorry to make you laugh, Lord Zhou."
“No, no.”
Zheng Yan stepped forward and gently pried open Zheng Xiangrui's hands, coaxing her in a low voice. Zheng Xiangrui then let go of her hands, lay on her brother's shoulder and continued to sleep, with her back to him and her eyes tightly closed.
Zhou Zhenzhen smiled knowingly and got off the carriage.
The case happened in Kuailu Villa, and the news was suppressed, and it did not cause any disturbance in Chang'an City. Meng Fan took Yan An to familiarize himself with the terrain in Dali Temple, while Zhou Zhenzhen stood at the door of the Detective Department and watched from afar, recalling the scene when she first arrived at Dali Temple.
Less than half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
The door opposite was opened, and Cheng Jue came out holding a book. His eyes were always gentle when he looked at her now, and he looked as elegant as a teacher.
"What are you staring at?"
After being tapped lightly on the head, Zhou Zhenzhen shook her head and said with a smile, "Nothing. By the way, everyone from Dali Temple who went to Kuailv Villa has returned, why is Huo Chi not here?"
Cheng Jue blinked slowly and read slowly: "Huo Chi? Are you familiar with him?"
"We have been colleagues for such a long time, so we are naturally familiar with each other. When we are free, Brother Huo often tells me some anecdotes about the underworld." Zhou Zhenzhen didn't realize anything, nor did she see Cheng Jue's fake smile. She continued to talk, "Brother Huo is such a good person. If it weren't for Princess Jintai... Forget it, let's not talk about this... Hey, Master Cheng, what's wrong with you?"
Why... this expression?
It's like it wants to eat people alive.
Cheng Jue closed his eyelids and shook his head gently: "Nothing, I heard you say that you have a good relationship with 'Brother Huo', and learned that my subordinates get along so well with each other. This is because I have taught them well, and I am happy."
He deliberately emphasized the three words "Brother Huo".
Zhou Zhenzhen was somewhat skeptical about the truthfulness of Cheng Jue's words, but she didn't know what else to say, so she had to believe him.
"So, what did Brother Huo do?"
…
Meng Fan had already led Yan An back. As soon as they turned the corner and saw Cheng Jue and Zhou Zhenzhen talking, Meng Fan kindly reminded them, "Doctor Yan, remember to keep a certain distance from Zhou Zhenzhen in the future, otherwise you will be in trouble, either physically or mentally."
Yan An asked: "Ms. Zhou owes someone a loan shark and hasn't repaid him. Is there anyone who wants to stop her and beat her up?"
Meng Fan held onto the wall with one hand and started coughing violently, almost coughing out his lungs: "Doctor Yan, your mind is too crooked, can't you see that she is so close to Mr. Cheng..."
He paused at the right time, and Yan An suddenly realized: "I understand."
Meng Fan breathed a sigh of relief.
Yan An added: "It was Master Cheng who lent Master Zhou a loan at high interest rates."
"Oh, crack, crack..." Meng Fan's face flushed red, Yan An patted him on the back: "I see that Lord Meng's complexion is not good, and there are symptoms of depression in the chest. Coughing more will make you feel better."
Meng Fan covered his chest and indeed felt much better.
"I've seen a lot of things between men and women in this town. I saw it at Kuailu Villa. On the way back in the carriage, Master Cheng even deliberately fell on me to attract Master Zhou's attention!" Yan An rubbed his hands with a smile, "Then I went to find Master Cheng, and he gave me hush money."
Meng Fan: "...Dr. Yan is really like that. He will do anything for money!"
Yan An patted his chest and said, "If you need me in the future, Lord Meng, just ask. I will give you a discount."
Meng Fan sighed and thought: This detective department really can't recruit normal people, and will never recruit one in this lifetime.
As the night deepened, in the study of the Du family, Du Zhimo looked pale and depressed.
He really didn't expect that last night was the Mid-Autumn Festival when families reunited, but today he got the news that he had lost his daughter. Prince Min meant to keep the matter under wraps for now. Du Zhimo called his son who was present at the time of the incident and asked him about the whole story. He was struck by lightning.
Du Rufeng stood aside and dared not say a word. His legs became stiff. His father still did not say a word. Finally, Princess Qingyang felt sorry for her son and came in to help him out. "She's dead, but she always wanted to find her mother. Now she can finally go and find her."
Although Princess Qingyang is not young anymore, the lines around her eyes and eyebrows are bright and sharp, and her words are particularly harsh when she says this.
"You!" Du Zhimo gritted his teeth, his voice full of anger, "No matter what, Ruyue is still my daughter, the blood of my Du family, what are you talking about?"
"Since something has happened, just hand it over to the Dali Temple for investigation. Master, you can't save her life no matter what you do, so why bother? Ruyue is so sensible, and she doesn't want her death to make you sad." Princess Qingyang gave a look, and Du Rufeng quietly retreated.
Du Zhimo was usually easy-going, so the sudden anger was quickly dissipated by Princess Qingyang's words. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
He knew that his youngest daughter was not well-received in the mansion, but he had turned a blind eye to it over the years, thinking that he would find a good family for Ruyue to marry in the future. But now, before the marriage was decided, she was gone.
In a trance, Du Zhimo couldn't remember when and what was the last time he looked at his daughter straight in the eye.
Du Rufeng walked out of the study and quickly returned to the courtyard where he lived. As soon as he entered the bedroom, he began to search around.
The servant Du Qi was a little stunned: "What are you looking for, Master?"
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. Get out!"
Du Qi ran out in a hurry. Du Rufeng searched for a long time before he found what he was looking for under the bed. It was a doll made of cloth, the size of a palm, with a little girl holding a flower in her hand. The corners of the little girl's mouth were raised, and she was smiling.
But this smile looks weird no matter how you look at it now.
There was a line of words written on the back of the doll: August 14th, at dusk, go to Green Villa and save your sister.
The night before August 14, he was walking out of the Hexi Restaurant and felt something soft under his feet. He picked it up and saw that it was the doll.
He drank too much that night, and the words were blurry. He took the doll home in a daze, and woke up in the afternoon after a night's sleep. He took a closer look at it and kicked it away in disgust.
"My sister? I only have one sister, and she is not in Chang'an City. Who made this ugly thing? If I know about it, I will not forgive him."
He put on his clothes and rushed to spend a night with the courtesan at Baihua Tower.
It was that night that what he thought was a prank turned out to be a reality.
There really was someone waiting for him at Kuailv Villa with his sister's life in his hands. Before he went there, his sister died.
This realization made Du Rufeng feel cold all over, as if a dark green snake was wrapped around him, tightening inch by inch. The fear and the belated realization made his heart beat wildly. He kept thinking, if he went, would Ruyue be able to survive... Even if they were not close, it was still a life.
A life that was suddenly lost in a game that he thought was malicious.
If anyone knew about this, he would be condemned by everyone and criticized by his father... No, he couldn't let anyone know.
Du Rufeng breathed heavily, wiped the cold sweat from his head with his hand, then stuffed the doll into his wide sleeves and ran out with staggering steps, knocking over three chairs, a screen, and a vase along the way.
The tiles on the roof were quietly moved away and closed again. The person on the roof pressed the trigger on his wrist, and a dart flew out and hit a tree trunk near where Du Rufeng stopped. The thin steel cable was stretched straight, and the whole person slid along it.
What a coincidence, that is also the small garden of the Du Mansion, and also a carefully carved rockery.
Du Rufeng lit a fire and threw the doll in. The flames licked the doll's feet, and its face smiled sinisterly in the jumping red light, revealing a bit of blood. Only then did he realize that this human idol was made in the image of Ruyue...
Ruyue also has a white face like this, and there is a little red at the corner of her eye, which is a scar left from a bump when she was a child.
"Ah...ah..." Du Rufeng couldn't help shouting out, and suddenly a gust of wind blew from behind. His neck ached, and his vision suddenly went dark.
Huo Chi quickly put out the fire on the puppet, put away the mechanism on the tree, picked up Du Rufeng who fell down softly, and left as quietly as he came.
Since he came to the Dali Temple, he learned from Bo Xiang and the others the method of ambushing people and carrying them back to the Dali Temple, just like when he was first following Zhou Zhenzhen and was discovered by Cheng Jue and taken away. Combined with his expertise in mechanical techniques, the effect was doubly good.
This time, Cheng Jue gave him this task and also helped him find the best position in Dali Temple.
Huo Chi shook the person on his shoulder and said sincerely, "Thank you."
The night watchman patrolling the street struck the gong three times, and in the interrogation room of the Dali Temple, half a bucket of cold water was poured on the person on the ground. Du Rufeng frowned and woke up with a start. In front of his blurred eyes, he saw the bright candlelight and the man standing in front of the candlelight.
He had a slender figure and a cold and elegant aura, and even the smile on his lips was cold.
The man turned around, Du Rufeng gasped and tried to struggle, but he was tied up tightly.
In Cheng Jue's hand was a fire-yellowed doll, which flashed before his eyes and was placed on the table.
"Mr. Du, how are you?"
