13 - Investigation

Chapter 13 – Investigation

The pitiful and innocent Yeqing just stared at them blankly, unable to keep up with their thoughts. He could not be blamed because he grew up in Shadowless Gate since he was a child. He was trained to be serious and impassive and with no experience in the joy of playing, he did not understand the sisters’ virtues.

From the time they were children until they became adults, Shangguan Yan and her sisters have been playing together. They would play all sorts of mischievous games with tacit understanding and would bet on everything and anything ever since from children to adulthood.

Now, looking at the expressions of the three sisters as they count their money, they showed the looks of gamblers. The sisters’ graceful temperament has long been thrown over the horizon by them. In addition, after working as constables for a long time, they had cultivated an occupational disease and love to arrest people the most.

And Yeqing, who is skilled in the art of invisibility, is the most suitable candidate to assume the role of an invisible ghost for them to catch.

After the gambling session was over, Shangguan did not forget to remind Qianqian and Yuxiao to help her check on Di Jing’s background. Then they regained the gentle image of a lady and returned to their seats as if nothing had happened.

As Hua Qianqian was dragging Yeqing away, she kept on nagging that he had caused her to lose ten taels of silver.

In fact, it was wrong to blame Yeqing. He was only sensitive to the murderous air of others and Shangguan Yan did not exude any murderous intent. At the same time, she was also the Eldest Senior Sister of his woman, therefore, why should he be on guard against her?

When the banquet was about to end, Shangguan Yan ordered her maid to take out the little boxes of makeup powder that she had brought with her and gave them out to the noble ladies as gifts.

The boxes of powder were not considered as actual gifts but for the ladies to make friends, and occasionally they would give out small gifts to cultivate good feelings. Although the gifts were not expensive, they were still the favorites of women.

During this period, the Ninth Prince had all the time tried to talk to Shangguan Yan and she avoided him by making excuses. Then after getting on the carriage, she hurried away.

While she was investigating Di Jing, he was also investigating her.

“Old Master Shangguan has only one family consisting of two sons and six daughters. All the children came from that one family. At present, the family’s businesses and properties are managed by the eldest son and the second son. Among the six daughters, four of them are married while the other two are still in the family. Old Master Shangguan especially loves his fifth daughter, Shangguan Yan, who is talented in doing business. He allows her to disguise as a man and is given the freedom to venture out and follow her two brothers to learn business management.”

While Di Jing listened to Qiu Dan’s report, he slowly paced in the study as he pondered and then asked. “In Shangguan Mansion, did you see anyone that looks like Ma’er?”

“This humble one had once explored Shangguan Mansion but couldn’t find anyone that looks like Ma’er.”

“Is there anyone similar to her in the Yamen ?”

“This humble one had checked…….there’s none.”

Di Jing was in deep thoughts and after a while, he suddenly asked. “Do you feel that Shangguan Yan looks like that Ma’er?”

Qiu Dan was startled and thought to himself that two years had since passed…….can it be that the Lord has not forgotten Ma’er? It looked like the Lord was still bothered by that matter regarding Ma’er. However, the blame should not be on the Lord since such a big man like him was tricked by a woman in that way. If it was another man, he would also bear grudges. He recalled that time when he returned to look for the Lord, Qin Jikang was pressing down on the Lord and was about to remove his robes. Fortunately, he arrived in time, if not, the consequences would be dire.

Qiu Dan quickly gathered his thoughts and responded respectfully. “Is my Lord thinking that Shangguan Yan was disguised as Ma’er?”

“Don’t you think that the two of them have similar temperaments?”

Qiu Dan thought for a while and replied. “This humble one can’t see any similarity. How are their temperaments similar?”

“Really? Can it be I’ve thought too much?…….” Di Jing muttered softly with a tinge of sadness as if he was talking to himself.

Unable to hear clearly, Qiu Dan could not help but wonder. “My Lord?……”

“Alright, let’s put this aside for the time being. What did you find out about the grave robbery of the Tian Family?”

“In reply to my Lord, this humble one had secretly investigated this matter and found that the incident was indeed strange.”

“Oh? Tell me.”

“When Lord Tian’s grave was robbed, the Tian Family did not report to Yamen . Later, due to carelessness, the news of the robbery leaked, and only then did the Tian Family make a report.”

“Who is in charge of this case?”

“It’s Lord Chen from the Ministry of Justice.”

“Were the grave robbers caught?”

“They were arrested and brought to justice. There were two robbers and one of them had died while the other had escaped. The dead robber was named Guo Tiewang and he died on the night he was imprisoned.”

Di Jing said coldly. “Hmph, he must have been killed to silence him. Someone made a move first. What about the other robber?”

“The one who escaped from prison is called Liu Shan. In Jianghu , they call him the ghost-footed monkey and the man is as thin and small as a monkey. Our people are trying their best to find him.”

Di Jing nodded and then went to the table to take a close look at the list of stolen items. Finally, his gaze stopped on a listed item…….green jade flute.

“Check on the whereabouts of the stolen goods, especially this green jade flute. It’s not easy to get rid of this and it’s the most precious item.”

“This humble one had sent people to the black market and the big pawnshops to search. I believe they will find something before long.”

“This must be done in secret. You’ve to remind the other three constables that this is an order from the Emperor. Everything must be carried out in secret and don’t let anyone get ahead of us.”

“Understood.”

Qiu Dan turned around to leave but was stopped by Di Jing again.

“Wait, who was the person who caught the two criminals?”

“It’s a female constable. Does my Lord want to summon her for questioning?”

“Get the Ministry of Justice to send over her information to me first.”

“This humble one obeys.”

***☆☆☆***

“You mean to say that Di Jing is a distant relative of the Zhangning Hou Family?”

“Correct, that’s what Wangye told me.” Bai Yuxiao said.

“Doesn’t he hold an official post in the imperial court?”

“ Wangye said that the man is an idle Gongzi who likes to travel all over the country.”

Shangguan Yan frowned and was lost in her thoughts.

Bai Yuxiao could not help but ask curiously. “Why is Eldest Senior Sister investigating this man?”

“I have a feeling that this man is not so simple.”

Shangguan Yan recalled everything that happened in the Qin Mansion. Di Jing had a secret guard beside him and always gave people a mysterious feeling. Unfortunately, at that time she was anxious to return to hand over the name list and did not have the time to check on his background.

Two years after the matter, the man appeared again in the imperial capital. She always had the feeling that something was going on and her constable-like nose seemed to smell some kind of conspiracy.

“Are you sure the Wangye told you the truth? He didn’t lie to you, did he?

Bai Yuxiao was stunned. After thinking for a while, she replied. “It can’t be…….does he need to lie to me?”

“That’s hard to say…….didn’t you lie to him for two years?”

Bai Yuxiao felt it was reasonable after listening to her. “That’s also right. I didn’t think of that.”

“When he was telling you this, did his face look abnormal?”

“Er…….it shouldn’t be but he asked me why I was asking about Di Jing.”

“How did you reply?”

“I told him that I saw him in Cheng En Gong Mansion and I’ve never seen this person before, so I was curious.”

“You’re showing curiosity for a stranger, are you not afraid that the Wangye will be jealous?”

Bai Yuxiao’s face suddenly showed a trace of shyness but with a little pride as well. She said sweetly. “So what if he feels jealous, I have a way to cure his jealousy.”

As soon as Shangguan Yan heard, she understood.

What other method does she have? Isn’t it just a cure carried out on the bed? That’s nothing new!

This time, Shangguan Yan came to Ling Wang Mansion to meet her Fourth Junior Sister with the excuse of delivering new products. While the two of them were talking in the house, Hua Qianqian returned from the outside.

“Eldest Senior Sister.” She smiled then sat between the two sisters and whispered to her Eldest Senior Sister. “You told me to check on that Di Jing……there’s news.”

Shangguan Yan’s eyes lit up. ‘Tell me.”

So the three sisters put their head together and whispered among themselves.

“Yeqing had investigated that person. Why don’t I ask him to tell you himself?”

“That’s good. Call him.”

Hua Qianqian immediately called out furtively in all directions. “Qing Lang…….Qing Lang……”

Shangguan Yan and Bai Yuxiao also looked around and wondered where Yeqing would appear from. Unfortunately, they did not get to see how Yeqing makes his appearance because he was already directly behind Hua Qianqian.

“I’m here.”

The three of them were shocked. They turned their heads around simultaneously to find him standing behind Hua Qianqian.

Just now, they were very certain that no one standing behind Hua Qianqian!

“How did you…….forget it. Just speak, what did you find out?” Shangguan Yan put away her shock and knew that the invisibility technique was so-called because other people could not see nor guess his whereabouts.

Bai Yuxiao was already used to this and if Wangye did not know that Yeqing was extremely obsessed with Hua Qianqian, he would never have allowed this person into his mansion and let him follow Hua Qianqian in and out of the rear courtyard at will.

Yeqing said solemnly. “There is a martial expert beside this person, so I can’t get close to him.”

Shangguan Yan was stunned and immediately thought of the secret guard beside Di Jing.

“You’re not his match?”

“His martial skills are above mine in a face-to-face fight but in terms of qinggong , my skills are better than his.”

Shangguan Yan nodded and had the same thoughts. “That’s right. To deal with that person, one has to use underhand methods.”

Thinking back, she only managed to escape from that person after playing a trick on him.

That person is so powerful………what is his background?

Yeqing continued. “The Four Great Constables are so highly skilled in martial arts that even the martial experts in Jianghu fear them.”

“What did you say? The Four Great Constables? Is he one of them?” Shangguan Yan was shocked and subconsciously, her voice rose.

“That man is Qiu Dan, one of the Four Great Constables.”

Upon hearing the name Qiu Dan, even Hua Qianqian and Bai Yuxiao were surprised. Hua Qianqian frowned.

“Eldest Senior Sister, for someone who has one of the Four Great Constables as a guard beside him, he should not be an ordinary person.”

Shangguan Yan’s brows furrowed and involuntarily, she turned solemn. She only knew that man was Di Jing’s guard but did not know his name. Qiu Dan, Lei Feng, Yi Dingfeng, and Ao Yuanjie were the Four Great Constables of the current dynasty. These four people were personally appointed by the Emperor, awarded gold medals, and were promoted to the position of fourth rank officials.

Since Qiu Dan is Di Jing’s secret guard, it makes people wonder……..who is this Di Jing?

Shangguan Yan’s eyelids twitched and had a premonition.

Did she provoke a big shot that she should not have provoked?

It looks like someone had deliberately concealed Di Jing’s identity. Since he has a powerful backing, she decided that she will avoid him and take a detour if she is to see Di Jing in the future.