The faint dark fragrance filled the air, as if there is another person was right before him. Xiao Chenyuan's body move inched closer, drawing near. QingWu, enveloped in the eerie ghostly fire from the Netherworld Lamp, lifted her gaze and locked eyes with his piercing wind-like gaze. Despite Xiao Chenyuan wearing dark attire and covering his face with a black veil, QingWu recognized him instantly. Though the Netherworld Lamp was lit, making it impossible for Xiao Chenyuan to see her, QingWu couldn't shake the feeling that this man might have sensed something...?
Xiao Chenyuan's eyes shifted slightly as he turned and walked toward the bookshelf.
Judge's Pen: "How did he sneak in too? Could he be searching for evidence of Yun Houxing's crimes as well?"
QingWu fixed her gaze on Xiao Chenyuan's retreating figure. "Who knows?"
Xiao Chenyuan was searching for something in front of the antique bookshelf, clearly with a purpose in mind. He crouched down, his hand reaching for an inconspicuous bamboo scroll in the lower right corner. Just then, a faint bird's chirp echoed from outside. It was a signal between him and his subordinates. The guard, who had been diverted earlier, was returning.
Xiao Chenyuan sniffed the faint fragrance, his eyes darkening. Yun Qingwu, if you're here in this room, what would you do next? His fingers tapped three times on the bamboo scroll, and without hesitation, he stood and left.
Once Xiao Chenyuan had gone, QingWu walked straight to the bookshelf and grabbed the bamboo scroll. She immediately noticed something was wrong—the scroll wouldn't budge. She twisted it, and a low sound of machinery clicking echoed. The bookshelf split open in the middle, revealing a narrow gap just wide enough for a person to slip through. Clearly, there was a hidden chamber inside. QingWu sneered. As expected, Xiao Chenyuan had intentionally revealed this to her—a man with a black heart.
Judge's Brush : "A secret chamber! How did Xiao Chenyuan know about it? Wasn't this once your home?"
QingWu walked into the hidden room as she spoke. "I left the capital when I was ten. I rarely came to the study, and as for him... hehe, I probably brought him here once."
Her older brother, Yun Zheng, and Xiao Chenyuan were of similar age and had been close friends, sharing such a bond that they could practically share the same pants. Not only would Xiao Chenyuan know about the hidden room in the study, but he likely knew all the secret passages in the mansion. The hidden room wasn't large, but as soon as QingWu stepped inside, her eyes were stung by the sight—it was crammed full.
Judge's Brush: "Oh My Goodness! So much gold and silver, easily worth tens of thousands of taels! Is this how officials make their fortune in this human world?!"
QingWu chuckled. "Like a rat in a rice jar, it couldn't help but stuff its belly." She sneered, "Yun Houxing was the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue." Ignoring the treasure, she headed straight for the desk in the corner of the hidden room. There, a box sat, locked with several padlocks.
QingWu weighed the box in her hand. It didn't seem to be made of gold or jade, but without a second thought, she decided to take it with her. As for the treasures—hehe, when she got back, she'd use the Five Ghosts Transport Technique and leave not a single cent for that old dog Yun!
With one hand holding the box and the other holding the lamp, QingWu's red lips parted slightly, and she blew out a gust of ghostly mist. The mist spread quickly, disorienting the returning guards outside the study. She boldly walked out of the hidden room, leaving the study, glancing briefly at the chaos in the main hall before exiting the Minister's residence. This time, returning to the Dread King's Mansion, she was in a hurry, as if racing against someone.
Back at Yuanwei Courtyard, she lifted the spell from Lü Qiao and Hong Rui. The two women stretched and woke up, unaware of having fallen asleep. They simply thought their eyes had closed for a moment. QingWu's voice echoed from within the room, "Prepare hot water, I need a bath."
Hot water was always ready in the master's room, so it didn't take long. Soon, the bath tub was brought into the side room, and buckets of hot water were poured in. QingWu, however, said it wasn't enough and asked the two women to bring more. After they left, she roughly opened the box, examined its contents, and found a place to hide it. Then, she undressed and submerged herself in the bath.
The Judge's Brush: "The box contains account books? Judging by the dates, it doesn't seem related to the old matters you're investigating?"
"It's not related, but it's enough to take Yun Houxing's life." These account books were evidence of Yun Houxing's corruption over the years. No wonder they were hidden in the secret room and locked up so tightly.
"Did Xiao Chenyuan's midnight visit to the Minister's residence have something to do with this?" The Judge's Brush asked. "By the way, why are you in such a hurry to return?"
QingWu narrowed her eyes, soaking in the hot water with a look of enjoyment. "Naturally, I'm waiting for someone to come and ask me for something!"
Footsteps could be heard approaching outside. QingWu opened her eyes. "He is here."
Without waiting for a knock, she spoke first. "Come in."
There was a brief hesitation outside, but the door was pushed open. Xiao Chenyuan heard the sound coming from the side room. Stepping in, he saw a slender hand, still wet, reaching out from behind the screen. "I've slept too long, I'm so tired. Come give me a shoulder massage."
Xiao Chenyuan immediately turned his back, furrowing his brow, preparing to leave. But then he heard the sound of water splashing, as if someone was getting out of the water. A surprised voice called out from behind, "Your Highness?"
"I'll come back later, you don't need to come out." Xiao Chenyuan said, preparing to leave.
A hand grabbed his sleeve from behind, and a slender body pressed close to him. As the other hand was about to wrap around his waist, Xiao Chenyuan swiftly seized her wrist and turned his head to glare at her. QingWu, wearing only a thin nightgown and still dripping wet, smiled brightly at him, her eyes filled with surprise. "Did your Highness come to Yuanwei Courtyard late at night because you missed me?"
Xiao Chenyuan's eyes darkened, his voice low, "What do you think, my Queen?"
"I think Your Highness must have missed me," QingWu circled to his front, casually wrapping her arms around his neck. As she got closer, she caught the unsettling aura of death emanating from him. A flicker of cold light flashed in her beautiful eyes.
The deadly aura on Xiao Chenyuan was indeed troublesome. Just last night, she had helped him drain a portion of it, yet now it was surging again.
Perhaps it was the steam from the water, but Xiao Chenyuan felt the woman in his arms exude a strong fragrance. He was certain it was the same scent he had smelled in the Minister's study—like the first snowflakes of winter, yet also like the cold fragrance of blooming irises. The moment he inhaled the scent, the surging cold aura around him seemed to still, and the tension in his body unexpectedly loosened. However, the brief relaxation only heightened Xiao Chenyuan's curiosity. During the day, his cold symptoms had been alleviated. Could it truly be related to her?
"Has my Queen been in the manor all night?" He didn't push QingWu away but instead tightened his grip on her waist. Her waist was slender, and his fingers settled on her spine. Cold light flashed between his fingers, carrying a sharp edge. With the slightest pressure, the blade-like energy could pierce her bones.
As Xiao Chenyuan lowered his gaze, his eyes met hers—those sly, fox-like eyes that seemed to carry a smile. "What about it?"
"Minister's Manor, the study," Xiao Chenyuan mentioned briefly, his words heavy with meaning.
QingWu feigned ignorance, acting as if she felt no danger. "Hmm? What's wrong with my family?" The fragrance enveloping her seemed like a hook, luring him into its depths. Xiao Chenyuan could distinctly feel a vast abyss within him, thirsting for the proximity of this scent. But he had always been resolute, his rationality suppressing his desires. The more aware he became of his cravings, the more he suppressed his body's reaction.
Yet, his hand around QingWu's slender waist tightened with more force. QingWu winced, "You're hurting me."
Xiao Chenyuan grew frustrated with the abnormal sensations in his body. He despised being led by others and was too impatient to continue playing games with her. "Yun Qingwu, are you going to keep pretending like this with me?"