"What's going on? How did Master Hui Chong die so suddenly?"
Lin Qingge yawned repeatedly and asked, seeing Yan Tinghao and the others looking listless with dark circles under their eyes, she asked in surprise:
"No, why do you all look like this?
Did you all sneak into the treasure vault of Wolong Villa last night to be thieves?"
"Brother Lin, you slept well last night.
We poor, weak, and helpless were all dragged out of our beds by Ling Han, that madman, oh no, the brilliant and mighty Cult Master Ling, and forced to brave the cold wind outside all night!"
"Brave the cold wind?"
Lin Qingge ran the three words through her mind and understood, saying:
"You mean, someone came to steal the treasure map last night?"
Yan Tinghao rubbed his sore neck and shoulders, complaining resentfully:
"It's more than just someone, it was like bees smelling honey, wave after wave, endlessly!"
"Why didn't I hear a single sound?"
"That's because Madam Lin specifically instructed that we shouldn't disturb you and Mo'er's rest, so she told us to drive away the flies ten feet away from the courtyard."
"Oh."
Upon hearing that it was Leng Ningyue's arrangement, Lin Qingge didn't press further. Instead, Hua Jinrong fanned himself and said:
"By the way, Elder Leng Shuang of the Jade Maiden Sect and Elder Qin Ming of the Tang Sect also put in a lot of effort last night."
"So your Heavenly Secrets Pavilion just stood by and did nothing?"
Hua Jinrong, who was asked this, was stunned for a moment before laughing:
"You truly know me, Brother Lin.
But how can you say we stood by?
It's clearly because Brother Yan and the others were too valiant that our Heavenly Secrets Pavilion had no chance to be of use.
Besides, as expected of Brother Lin, or rather, Brother Lin truly did not disappoint me, and a murder did indeed happen at Wolong Villa."
"Is your mouth blessed with prophecy?"
Lin Qingge, glaring fiercely at the "peacock" in front of her and feeling as though she wasn't possessed by someone named Ke, said indignantly:
"What are you all standing around here for? Hurry up and follow this official to the scene of the crime!"
Hearing the long-absent words 'this official', Yan Tinghao eagerly nodded, "Yes, sir!" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Lu Mingxuan, with his excellent eyesight, also chimed in from the side:
"Sir, I will go and invite coroner Murong right away."
At this moment, Leng Ningyue walked over from a distance, holding a large tray, "Don't rush, everyone, eat something to fill your stomachs first."
"This..."
Lin Qingge, unsure, cast her gaze towards Lin Ziming behind Leng Ningyue. The latter immediately understood and raised the half-eaten bun in his hand, "Father, Sister Xiaocao's meat buns are so delicious!"
Lin Qingge stepped forward to take the tray, smiling apologetically:
"Madam, you've worked hard. This small matter of bringing food should be done by this official, how could I trouble you?
In the future, for such small matters, you can just order Constable Yan and the others.
If they are unavailable, it's fine to call An Yi and An Er under Master Hua."
?!!!
An Yi and An Er, hidden in the dark and suddenly called by name, were startled and looked at each other.
After Lin Qingge had stuffed two buns into his mouth, Murong Bai, who was still very grumpy from waking up, finally arrived late.
"Everyone is here, let's go!"
Lin Qingge and her entourage arrived majestically at the courtyard where Master Hui Chong resided. The entrance was already thronged by other martial artists who had heard the news.
Perhaps it was due to their fame from yesterday's battle, or perhaps out of fear of the Xuanming Cult, those people consciously made way for Lin Qingge and her group.
When Lin Qingge passed through the crowd to the entrance, she discovered that there were still soldiers guarding it.
"We are here under the command of Young General Lian to guard this place, and no unauthorized personnel are allowed near!"
The soldier coldly repeated words he had uttered countless times, but Lin Qingge looked unconcerned, "They are unauthorized personnel, it's true, but this official is not!
This official is Lin Jingxing, the acting prefect of Fengtian Prefecture. Having learned that a murder has occurred here, I have come to investigate!"
With that said, Lin Qingge took out her seal, or rather, her cheap brother Lin Jingxing's seal, from her sleeve.
The guards at the gate were stunned for a moment. After confirming that the seal was not fake, they said 'wait a moment', and one of them hurried inside to report.
Soon, Young General Lian, with his arm still bandaged, came out from inside.
He surveyed Lin Qingge for a moment and asked with certainty:
"Are you Lin Jingxing?"
Clearly, he must have heard something about this name.
"I have no other name and no other surname, of course, occasionally I can be particularly agile."
Lin Qingge, who was amused by her own joke, said, showing no intention of bowing.
Although she was currently only a minor official of the eighth rank, one rank higher than the ninth rank, she was still the prefect of a prefecture, representing the face of Fengtian Prefecture.
And Lian Chengyi in front of her, despite the title of young general, was at best a border garrison commander, far inferior to a prefect.
Therefore, even if Lian Chengyi wanted to make things difficult, he couldn't find any fault.
As Lin Qingge was lost in thought, Long Xiaotian also walked out from inside:
"Hmph, I didn't expect that the dignified prefect would also like to disguise himself, even going so far as to disguise himself to attend the martial arts gathering at my Wolong Villa!"
"Master Long, you misunderstand. This official calls it a secret visit to experience the people's sentiments.
Furthermore, this official has always been upright and has not disguised himself!"
Long Xiaotian, having been rebuffed, swept his gaze over everyone behind Lin Qingge and said with a half-smile:
"I didn't expect that the prefect not only likes to meddle in martial arts affairs himself but also likes to keep martial artists by his side, even using them!
I wonder if this matter, if known to the imperial court, would affect the prefect's career?"
"Master Long is talking about them?"
Lin Qingge pointed to the people behind her and introduced them one by one: "This is Constable Yan Tinghao, a scion of a good family, rumored to have had a mother who was invincible throughout the capital.
This is Master Hua Jinrong, who has the title of master but works sporadically, and cries out that he's incapable whenever he has to do work.
In any case, this official has never paid him a monthly salary, so he's not considered an official anyway.
This is coroner Murong, also an external staff member of the prefecture office, who works for pay.
By the way, Master Long, please remember to settle the autopsy fee for Master Hui Chong with Coroner Murong later.
As for the remaining three, they were originally prisoners of the prefecture office, but due to insufficient manpower, this official reluctantly brought them along, which can also be considered an opportunity for them to atone for their crimes.
And among them, Ling Han, the Cult Master of the Xuanming Cult, is scheduled to be beheaded on the ninth day of the ninth month.
In other words, their identities have long been known to the court.
But to be honest, Master Long, you are quite right, they do have a great influence on this official's career.
Without them, this official probably wouldn't have been promoted so quickly!"