BLHO Chapter 38
by VolareChapter 38 Little Superstition
The hidden hidden guards appeared, like a black tide silently sweeping, surrounding her.
Lin Shuangxu, dressed in white, was the only one whose appearance could be clearly seen in the night.
“What does this mean?” Shen Tan’s expression was light, calmly looking at Lin Shuangxu, “Last time I saved your lives, is the young master going to repay kindness with enmity and take my life?”
“Commander Shen is mistaken.” Lin Shuangxu stepped forward politely, answering, “It’s just that seeing you is too difficult, and we were forced to block your path.”
Shen Tan sneered, “I saw your letter, I’ve been too busy these past few days to make time. What do you want from me? Speak.”
“I want to ask Commander Shen to clarify why you let Yuncheng and me leave the secret prison in Imperial Prison that day. Also, what is your purpose in wanting the He family’s military seal?”
“Are you here to interrogate me?”
“I wouldn’t dare. The General’s Manor sincerely wants to form an alliance with you, and hopes that you can reveal your identity frankly.”
“Sorry, I don’t have that obligation. Right now, you’re the one asking me, not the other way around.”
Lin Shuangxu’s attitude was humble, “I have no intention of forcing you, I just want to know if Commander Shen and the General’s Manor are friends or foes.”
“Neither friend nor foe.” Shen Tan replied.
“However, Young Master can rest assured, my Embroidered Uniform Guard belongs to the imperial court, and we handle cases according to the laws of Bei Sheng. In court, we will never collude with others to frame innocent people. In the case of the princess, if it was done by General He, the Three Judicial Divisions will naturally judge him. If he didn’t do it, provide evidence. No one can pin trumped-up charges on him.”
The pale moonlight shone on Shen Tan’s face, and Lin Shuangxu couldn’t guess her true intentions.
“Good.” He readily agreed, “With Commander Shen’s words, I can rest assured.”
He took a step forward, and said seriously, “There is evidence, but I still need Commander Shen’s help.”
Shen Tan looked at him calmly, as if she had already guessed what he was going to say.
As expected, Lin Shuangxu said to her, “I want to take Song Lian away.”
“Sorry, I can’t help you.”
Shen Tan refused decisively, giving her reasons: “You kidnapped Song Jiting and caused a ruckus at the Imperial Prison. Li Yuliang is now alert and has moved the place where Song Lian is being held.”
“Moved to where?”
“I don’t know.”
Shen Tan didn’t seem to be lying, and there was no need for her to lie to him.
Lin Shuangxu pondered in silence.
Shen Tan’s eyes darted, and she said to him, “Seeing as the Young Master made a special trip to see me, I’ll give you a word of advice. Use the witness Song Jiting with caution. Li Yuliang has treated him well. What good will it do him to help you kill Li Yuliang? So what if his father is rescued? Song Lian is someone the Empress Dowager wants to get rid of. Does your General’s Manor dare to deceive the Empress Dowager for his sake?”
Lin Shuangxu didn’t speak.
“Also…” Shen Tan lowered her voice, ambiguously saying, “Why are you so sure that Li Yuliang killed the princess?”
What does she mean?
Lin Shuangxu tilted his head, “If you know something, please tell me.”
Shen Tan smiled, shrugged, and said, “I didn’t say anything, and I don’t know anything.”
Without finishing her words, she turned to leave.
The hidden guard immediately stepped forward with his blade, blocking her path.
She didn’t resist, calmly turning her head to look at Lin Shuangxu.
Lin Shuangxu had a grave expression. No matter how unwilling he was, he couldn’t really attack her.
He said, “I apologize for tonight’s offense. I hope that in court, Commander Shen will do as she says and not collude with treacherous people.”
“Naturally.”
Lin Shuangxu waved his hand, and the hidden guard withdrew his blade and retreated, letting Shen Tan leave.
She repeatedly said that Li Yuliang didn’t do the princess’s matter. If it wasn’t to protect someone, then it was to remind them that there was something else hidden.
Who could have done it?
This person not only had to have meticulous thoughts, but also have excellent means.
They could enter and exit the General’s Manor as if it were their own home, without leaving a trace. They also knew Li Yuliang’s private preferences very well, using love potion as bait to make them mistakenly believe it was Li Yuliang who did it. This would cause the General’s Manor and the Directorate of Ceremonial to fight each other, while they reaped the benefits from behind.
Who could do it?
Lin Shuangxu couldn’t figure it out.
The joint trial by the Three Judicial Divisions is the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, the Three Judicial Divisions will send people to take He Yuncheng back to the yamen to prepare for the trial.
There is still no news of Song Jiting. Presumably, negotiating with Li Yuliang has yielded no results.
Originally, Lin Shuangxu wanted to go to the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion again.
After Shen Tan’s reminder, he suddenly became a little wary.
Investigating the real culprit was the task of the Three Judicial Divisions. They only needed to prove their innocence.
The most important thing now is self-preservation. Like now, desperately trying to expose Li Yuliang’s crimes, it is indeed easy to be misled and fall into a trap.
He abandoned the idea of coercing Song Jiting again, changed direction, and returned to the General’s Manor.
–
It was already Hai hour when he arrived home. He Yuncheng had already returned from the military camp.
The carriage stopped outside the gate of the residence. The door opened, and He Yuncheng was standing under the moonlight waiting for him.
The cold night mist surrounded him, but couldn’t block the heat in his eyes.
He Yuncheng stepped forward with his palm open, respectfully and politely welcoming him out of the carriage and into the residence.
An uncontrollable surge of emotion rose in Lin Shuangxu’s heart. He slowed his breathing slightly, imperceptibly placing his cold fingertips into the warm palm.
He Yuncheng seemed to have had a moment of conscience, knowing that Lin Shuangxu had been working hard for him these past few days, and was especially well-behaved tonight.
He held Lin Shuangxu’s hand loosely, and walked into the residence with him side by side.
Then, he didn’t enter his bedroom, only escorting him to the courtyard, and then stopping politely.
The bare branches swayed, and the two stood in the lamp light in the courtyard. He Yuncheng asked, “Did you see Shen Tan?”
“Yes.”
“Did you find out? Who is she with, and what does she want to do by stealing my military seal?”
“No.” Lin Shuangxu said truthfully, “She wouldn’t tell the truth, but she promised not to collude with others to slander you.”
“Wouldn’t tell…” He Yuncheng sneered, “The more mysterious she is, the more curious I become. After the lawsuit is over, I must personally meet her.”
“Let’s get through the current crisis first.” Lin Shuangxu’s brows were furrowed with worry, not as relaxed as he was.
“We still lack strong evidence. The Empress Dowager’s intentions are unpredictable. If we can’t prove your innocence, what if she is instigated and wavers, and really convicts you? The imperial court is indeed wary of the military power in your hands, but the Empress Dowager must know that the He family has been loyal for generations. Even if they die unjustly, they will not plot rebellion.”
Loyalty and righteousness were He Yuncheng’s weakness. Li Yuliang dared to press him step by step because he was sure of this point.
He Yuncheng glanced dismissively, “Then she has truly misunderstood. What the He family is loyal to is not the Empress Dowager, not the Emperor, nor the imperial court, but the Bei Sheng nation and the people of the world.”
In the bleak night wind, his dark pupils were brave and firm, “I, He Yuncheng, am not a blindly loyal subject to be manipulated by others. This life of mine can only be spent dying on the battlefield, and will never be ruined in the court’s wrongful prison.”
As soon as he said these words, Lin Shuangxu panicked and stepped forward, covering his mouth.
“Don’t talk nonsense…”
The cool fingertips touched his warm lips, and both of them felt a tingling sensation where they touched.
Whether it’s the battlefield or the court, he must be safe and sound.
“Don’t say unlucky things.”
He Yuncheng’s eyes suddenly softened, and he raised his hand, holding Lin Shuangxu’s fingertips, gently rubbing them, and teasing him, “Young Master has read so many books of sages, when did he become so superstitious?”