Chapter Seventy: Bones White as Snow

After the morning court, Chen Qing spent the entire afternoon confronting the Prince of Anping. Finally, when the prince left the palace and returned to his residence, Chen Qing was just about to settle down for some much-needed rest when the faint shuffle of eunuchs’ footsteps echoed from outside the hall.

Though the sound was subtle, his light sleep was easily disturbed; he decided against closing his eyes. Watching Xu Nuo approach, he asked, “Is there an urgent summons outside the hall?”

Xu Nuo crouched down, carefully smoothing the creases on Chen Qing’s imperial robe and fastening the jade pendant and fragrance pouch at his waist. Only then did he speak softly, “Your Majesty rises before dawn for court; now is the time for rest. Who is so lacking in tact as to come and disturb you?”

Xu Nuo, once a trusted confidant of the late emperor, was unwaveringly loyal to Chen Qing.

“Go and see, then. It’s likely something important,” Chen Qing replied.

Xu Nuo gave a quick assent and stepped outside. Waiting there was none other than the man the emperor had met earlier that morning. How bold of him to return near noon—did he intend to linger for lunch as well?

“Lord Qin.”

Qin Shu quickly bowed his head in greeting. In front of Xu Nuo, few dared show arrogance.

“Don’t flatter me, Lord Qin,” Xu Nuo replied, accepting the offering as Qin Shu produced a bulging, exquisitely crafted purse from his sleeve. “Please, don’t despise my humble gift,” Qin Shu said.

Xu Nuo accepted the tribute with a nonchalant lift of his chin. “What brings you here, Lord Qin?”

His voice, raspy as a drake’s, carried a peculiar cadence that made Qin Shu shudder, sweat prickling his skin.

“Eunuch Xu, it’s urgent, very urgent!” Qin Shu insisted.

Xu Nuo frowned and ushered Qin Shu inside.

Chen Qing, fully dressed, saw Xu Nuo lead Qin Shu in and couldn’t help but worry—had something happened to his cousin? Though anxious for Jiang Lan, his face remained serene as he perused the memorials recently brought in by the Empress Dowager.

“What is it?” he asked.

Qin Shu dropped to his knees with a thud.

Chen Qing’s brows furrowed. Had they truly punished his cousin? To scare him so!

Qin Shu presented the memorial, both the document and its contents, with trembling hands. Xu Nuo immediately stepped forward, received it, and placed it on the table.

The silence stretched, and Qin Shu’s heart thudded like a drum. In the end, he could hardly recall how he’d left the palace; upon arriving at the magistrate’s office, he found Liu Yue anxiously awaiting at the gate, and was so moved his legs nearly gave way.

“What happened with His Majesty?” Liu Yue asked, suppressing his urge to shove off the clingy Qin Shu and striving for calm.

Qin Shu poured tea down his throat, rushed off to the latrine, and finally settled into a chair, panting.

Liu Yue followed quietly, neither angry nor impatient, observing Qin Shu’s every move.

After recovering, his spirit restored and mind clear, Qin Shu finally spoke, “I knelt in the hall for ages, but His Majesty said nothing and sent me back.”

Liu Yue, receiving the answer, sat in a daze in the adjacent chair.

“Yue, your arrangements are hopeless. I waited at the palace gate forever and saw not a single thug. They acted too early, apparently intercepted before they could strike. It's so unprofessional—hundreds of taels wasted. Don’t hire this lot again; they're useless,” Qin Shu complained.

Liu Yue ignored him, his mind occupied with the emperor’s strange attitude: not speaking, not showing joy or anger, simply sending Qin Shu away. Was this indifference, or was there some hidden plan?

“Liu Yue, say something! Who did you hire? They’re unreliable. If I hadn’t been quick-witted and lucky today, I’d have been caught in the palace!” Qin Shu pressed.

Liu Yue, annoyed by the incessant chatter, shot him a glare.

Qin Shu trembled into silence. He still needed Liu Yue; best not to offend him.

After some time, Liu Yue still couldn’t unravel the puzzle. Seeing Qin Shu’s disgruntled expression, he sighed and explained, “They were indeed capable, each one a rare expert. Yet today’s events were odd. The assassins planned to cause chaos and ambush you, but unexpectedly, all of them were drugged within the night. The people we hired were about to pose as the attackers to complete the task, but likewise, a gust of wind and they too were felled by the same drug.”

“Just drugged? That mastermind is rather merciful,” Qin Shu remarked, unperturbed by the disrupted plan—at least he was unharmed and avoided imperial punishment.

Merciful? The word sounded familiar. Who had whispered it in his ear before? Liu Yue dug through his memory. Yes—it was that person!

Unexpected! So well hidden, after all.

To endure so long—could they be a secret pawn?

As Liu Yue pieced together the clues in his mind, Cai Xiao returned to the office with a group of constables carrying something, trailed by a white-robed Daoist priest.

The Daoist, though white-haired, had the youthful face of a man in his twenties, a jade token at his waist engraved with the words “Imperial Inspector.”

Liu Yue hurriedly urged Qin Shu to rise and whispered, “It’s the master, be respectful.”

Qin Shu was unimpressed—having risen through the imperial exams, he held little regard for such mystical paths. Still, Liu Yue’s warning meant there must be a reason.

Qin Shu cupped his hands. “May I ask your name, Master?”

Rong Mu nodded, returning the salute with a casual elegance that made Qin Shu’s formality seem stiff by comparison.

As Qin Shu approached, he realized the Daoist, despite his white hair, was a young gentleman, extraordinary in appearance. The white robe added a touch of ethereal grace, making him seem all the more like an immortal.

“I am Rong Mu. Passing by Maple Leaf Manor, I sensed a surge of demonic energy and investigated. I happened to save them,” Rong Mu explained.

Learning that a celestial master had rescued his subordinates, Qin Shu was deeply grateful, setting aside worldly prejudices and bowing again.

He wanted to call Cai Xiao over, but noticed the constables’ lifeless expressions. Looking closely, he saw their canvas was piled high with white bones, which nearly made his legs give out again.

Recalling Rong Mu’s mention of “demonic energy,” and confronted with such a horrifying scene, Qin Shu edged closer to the Daoist.

“Master, were these people killed by demons?”

Qin Shu stammered, terrified by the thought of such a vicious monster.

Rong Mu shook his head. “Though they carry lingering resentment, I have examined them; none were killed by demons.”

Qin Shu was relieved, but pressed on, “Then what did you mean by ‘demonic energy’?”

Rong Mu merely smiled faintly, offering no explanation.

Qin Shu guessed it must involve secrets unsuitable for discussion and let the matter rest. After thanking the master profusely and seeing him out of the office, he summoned Cai Xiao and the others.

“What exactly happened last night? And what’s the story behind those bones?”