BVAHEDLA[W Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Ancient Times 12 – An Affair

According to Zhang Qingji, Qi Fu had been placed in another cell.

After asking a few prison guards, Qian Ming finally learned of Qi Fu’s current location and led Chu Li-fei and Lu Mo-chen there.

Whether intentional or not, the overall environment of the prison area where Qi Fu was now held was significantly better than the previous one.

The previous room was located in the northern part of the prison, dark and damp, with a faint musty smell in the air.

This area was not only located in the southern part of the entire prison but also had a small window near the ceiling. Although it was just a small one and sealed off with iron bars, at least there was some air circulation. Although it was winter, when the sun was good, at least a ray of sunlight could shine through the window, making people feel better, even if it might not be much.

Moreover, the bedding here looked drier and cleaner than that in the previous cell. Unlike the damp straw pile in the previous cell, sleeping on it in such cold weather would be like sleeping on ice.

As they approached Qi Fu, Chu Li-fei put his index finger to his lips, signaling Lu Mo-chen and Qian Ming to be silent and to lighten their steps. Then, he waved his hand and took the lead, stopping at a roughly appropriate position.

Due to the angle of vision, this position allowed Chu Li-fei to clearly see what Qi Fu was doing, but for Qi Fu, Chu Li-fei and his party were perfectly located in his blind spot.

By the light of the fire, Chu Li-fei saw a thin man sitting quietly in a corner of the cell.

He didn’t cry and shout like Qi Shou, but sat quietly like Qi Lu.

However, unlike Qi Lu, Qi Lu’s quietness stemmed from his composure as the new head of the family, his helplessness in having to shoulder the heavy burden of the entire Qi Mansion alone. If he were still the child who only knew how to follow behind his brother, the Qi Mansion would not have been able to maintain its current glory.

Qi Lu knew he couldn’t panic. If he lost his composure, it would give the real mastermind an opportunity to take advantage of.

But Chu Li-fei could still see, beneath his quietness, the weariness and decadence that were carefully hidden, as well as bewilderment, resentment, and unwillingness.

But Qi Fu…

Chu Li-fei stared at his face. Perhaps due to his leg ailment, Qi Fu’s face appeared an unhealthy pale. His eye sockets were slightly sunken, his nose hooked deeply downwards, and his mouth carried a serene smile.

His overall temperament seemed inexplicably discordant.

Moving his gaze down, Chu Li-fei noticed his two calves wrapped in clothing. Qi Fu’s legs looked much thinner than those of a normal adult male. Especially the injured leg, due to years of inactivity, the muscles had atrophied, and even with servants massaging it for him, there was little improvement. It lay bare on the ground like a withered branch.

But he seemed not to care at all, his expression gentle and peaceful. It was as if he were a noble young master from a prominent family reading and practicing calligraphy in his study. One couldn’t even see traces of his military background.

A breeze blew, and the flames in the torches used for lighting along the road rose with a “whoosh,” casting a shadow on Qi Fu’s face.

Half in light, half in darkness.

It was as if yin and yang were divided on his face, clearly demarcated.

The half of his face illuminated by the firelight looked no different from before, but the other half submerged in shadow… inexplicably looked somewhat sinister.

But Qi Fu still sat there quietly.

This quietness stemmed from himself, or rather… from his own heart.

He seemed too composed.

Either he was a person of such detachment, or… he had confidence.

All of this was worth pondering.

The flickering firelight was also reflected in Chu Li-fei’s eyes, revealing his inexplicable emotions.

After recording this scene in his mind, Chu Li-fei turned to leave.

Before leaving, he specifically asked Qian Ming for the case files related to the Qi Mansion case, requesting that nothing be omitted, no matter how minor.

In the evening, the four of them finally returned to the entrance of the Qin King Manor.

After Chu Li-fei got out of the carriage, Lu Mo-chen also wanted to follow, but Chu Li-fei stopped him.

Lu Mo-chen looked at Chu Li-fei with wide, puzzled eyes.

Chu Li-fei pushed Lu Mo-chen back into the carriage: “This King remembers that the Fourth Prince’s residence doesn’t seem to be here.”

“Ning Yan, Liu Shuo-yu, send the Fourth Prince back to the palace.” Afterwards, Chu Li-fei pulled the carriage curtain and turned to leave alone.

Inside the carriage, Lu Mo-chen was slightly stunned. It wasn’t until the jolting of the carriage moving again brought him back to reality.

He opened the curtain to the side, and the howling cold wind poured in, but Lu Mo-chen seemed completely unaware, still stubbornly widening his eyes, trying to find that figure.

His eyelashes instantly turned snow-white, but unfortunately, he found nothing.

A faint sense of loss came from Lu Mo-chen’s heart.

After a long while, he focused his gaze on a figure outside the carriage door – Liu Shuo-yu.

Regarding the last incident, no matter what reason Chu Li-fei was dissatisfied with him, it must be related to Liu Shuo-yu.

Or should he just kill Liu Shuo-yu? Anyway, Chu Li-fei’s death in his previous life was also caused by him.

But Lu Mo-chen instantly gave up this idea. Liu Shuo-yu, after all, was bought by Chu Li-fei from the brothel. Before he figured out his Royal Uncle’s thoughts, it was better not to act rashly, lest his Royal Uncle’s dissatisfaction with him increase.

Liu Shuo-yu… Liu Shuo-yu… Lu Mo-chen kept repeating this name in his heart.

In his previous life, he thought that Liu Shuo-yu was sold into the brothel because of a family misfortune and didn’t think much about it, let alone bother to investigate later.

Now that he thought about it, there were many suspicious points about him.

And the letter on Chu Li-fei’s desk that day…

Could the things written on the letter be related to Liu Shuo-yu?

Lu Mo-chen gradually immersed himself in his thoughts.

Outside the carriage, separated by a curtain from the inside.

A smile of amusement appeared on the corner of Ning Yan’s mouth, his gaze constantly sweeping between the road ahead and Liu Shuo-yu.

But fortunately, he was usually like this, so Liu Shuo-yu didn’t find it strange.

However, Liu Shuo-yu still grabbed the whip and flicked it casually, his face seemingly expressionless. He lowered his voice: “What are you looking at me for?”

The horse was whipped and suddenly accelerated. Ning Yan seemed to have been prepared for this, not even swaying. Seeing this, Liu Shuo-yu helplessly curled his lips and stopped looking at him.

But there was no way Ning Yan would let Liu Shuo-yu off so easily. He always spoke without restraint: “What’s wrong with looking at you? It won’t cost me a piece of meat.”

“Why do you think the King brought you back in the first place? Was it because he liked your face, or because you could play the pipa?” Ning Yan looked very distressed. He tugged at the hair beside his temples, twirling his fingers: “If I could play the pipa like you, would the King make me a concubine?”

Ning Yan continued to chatter on: “I’ve also heard that there are people in the world who are skilled in disguise. What if I found one and disguised myself as the most beautiful person in the world… Eh, that’s not right, what kind of person does the King like…”

Ning Yan pondered, suddenly, he seemed to have thought of something, and bumped Liu Shuo-yu with his shoulder: “Do you know what kind of person the King likes?”

To prevent Ning Yan from continuing to harass him, Liu Shuo-yu coldly spat out three words: “Don’t know.”

These three words were indeed quite effective. Ning Yan immediately stopped his original thoughts, but his eyes were flickering, not knowing where he had gone in his mind.

And in the corner where Ning Yan couldn’t see, Liu Shuo-yu recalled Ning Yan’s mutterings just now. As if something had touched him, a dark light flashed in Liu Shuo-yu’s eyes, quickly disappearing.

Evening.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

Someone knocked on Chu Li-fei’s door. Listening to the knock, it seemed to have a certain rhythm.

Hearing the sound, Chu Li-fei put away the scattered papers on the table. These were the case files about the Qi Mansion case that he had asked Qian Ming for before they parted.

Putting the case files on the bookshelf behind him, Chu Li-fei loudly called out to the door: “Enter.”

A blue figure walked in from the door, it was Ning Yan.

Chu Li-fei wasn’t surprised to see him. He raised his eyes and glanced at Ning Yan, took a sip of tea, and then asked: “How is it?”

Ning Yan didn’t answer immediately. He first looked around the room, and seeing that there didn’t seem to be a chair for him to sit on, he actually walked directly to Chu Li-fei’s side, put his hands on the table, and with one exertion, sat on it, leaving his two legs dangling under the table.

Chu Li-fei glanced at him, a look of disgust in his eyes: “Get down.”

Then he called out to the door: “Uncle Wang, bring a chair over.”

Hearing this, Ning Yan immediately obediently went back to stand properly.

Butler Wang moved quickly, and within a few minutes, he directed someone to bring a small round stool.

After Ning Yan sat down, he was still restless. He first crossed his legs, but after a while, he felt uncomfortable all over again, and changed to putting his calf on the other thigh.

During this time, Chu Li-fei poured another cup of tea.

Seeing that Ning Yan was finished with his fussing, he gently blew away the steam floating from the teacup: “How is it, can you talk now?”

Ning Yan’s eyes rolled, and a strange smile appeared on his lips, seemingly wanting to tease Chu Li-fei: “Which matter is Your Highness asking about? Is it about the Qi Mansion, or…”

He paused: “The affair between the nephew and the sister-in-law?”

A row of black lines appeared on Chu Li-fei’s face.

The affair between the nephew and the sister-in-law…

How could he think of that?

Not to mention whether Lu Mo-chen could be considered his nephew, where did this talk of a sister-in-law come from?

Seeing that Chu Li-fei seemed to be about to get angry, Ning Yan changed his tone, and the whole person instantly became serious: “In response to Your Highness, there was nothing noteworthy on the Qi Mansion’s side today. The Fourth Prince and Liu Shuo-yu didn’t say a word after you left. As for whether they used any methods to transmit messages that I don’t know about, that’s unknown.”

“Of course, it’s also possible that they sensed something and deliberately avoided me.”

Hearing this, Chu Li-fei nodded to indicate that he understood, and then ordered Uncle Wang to send Ning Yan out.

Then he turned around, preparing to take down the case files that he had just placed on the bookshelf.

Just then, a white slip of paper accidentally fell out.

It was the secret letter that Ning Yan had given him a few days ago.

The slip of paper turned a few times in the air, and was about to be swallowed by the flames of the candle on the table, but Chu Li-fei caught it one step ahead with quick eyes and hands.

But when he turned the slip of paper over, he suddenly widened his eyes.

The originally empty white paper now had a line of small characters floating on it.