Chapter 117: The First Songstress of the Kingdom of Dongguan

Taking advantage of the Fengyue Pavilion’s weakened state, Hongniang prompted, “Nanyan, recount your experiences in detail. I trust the Magistrate will surely see justice done for you!”

Nanyan wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. “Yesterday, I was resting in my room when I suddenly heard Yue Niang telling a man, ‘This is Nanyan’s room,’ and adding, ‘As long as you complete the Pavilion Master’s mission, the person inside is yours.’

“I realized then that something was wrong. I had hoped there might be a turn of events, but that was merely my own wishful thinking.

“Last night, Yue Niang ordered me to receive guests. Despite my utmost caution, I was drugged and violated. That is what happened. I implore you, my lord, to investigate thoroughly!”

The Magistrate broke into a cold sweat. He had thought he was coming to save the day, but he had walked right into a death trap!

He glanced over at the side where Zhong Li sat, chatting and laughing, his gaze occasionally drifting elsewhere. Gritting his teeth, the Magistrate pointed a finger at Hu Hai. “Hu Hai! What did you promise the Fengyue Pavilion? Speak at once!”

Observing the satisfaction on the face of the man in black, who continued to converse with Zhong Li, the Magistrate closed his eyes, then opened them with a look of grim determination.

Hu Hai felt as if he had been doused in icy water. “No, that’s not it, Uncle! It’s me, Hu Hai! Uncle, I…”

“Insolence! Confess your sordid deeds immediately! Do you want me to summon the troops to drag you away?”

Hu Hai’s legs went weak, and he collapsed to the floor. “Uncle, I…” He stammered, unwilling to admit to his actions. He knew full well that if he confessed today, he would be spending the rest of his life eating prison gruel.

His small eyes darted around, and he turned to glare at Yue Niang, gesturing wildly as if to pin all blame on her. “This was your Pavilion’s idea! It has nothing to do with me! Uncle, if you want to investigate, investigate them! It was the Fengyue Pavilion!”

Yue Niang’s eyes widened. “We—the Fengyue Pavilion—ordered you to do it? Produce your evidence!”

Yue Niang was at the end of her rope. Seeing that the truth was about to be exposed, Guying finally played his trump card. “Yue Niang, have you never suspected that your parents might have long since passed away?”

Yue Niang’s expression went blank for a moment before she reflexively retorted, “Impossible! The Pavilion Master promised me!”

Guying was also somewhat confused. Just moments ago, when Hu Hai and Yue Niang were arguing, the Rat God had suddenly mentioned that Yue Niang’s parents had died of illness after being held hostage. But looking at it now, the Rat God clearly had his own motives!

Guying saw the shift in Yue Niang’s eyes clearly. Combined with what he had just said, it was highly probable that her parents had already sacrificed their lives. Yue Niang was merely a wretched soul kept in the dark, still working for and speaking on behalf of her own enemies until the very end.

Yue Niang glanced toward the pavilion’s attic. Once, a light had shone there; once, a person had always stood there. Now, it was empty.

Under the gaze of everyone present, Yue Niang knelt to the ground. “My lord, ask whatever you wish. I will confess everything…”

The Fengyue Pavilion remained brightly lit throughout the night. By daybreak, the officials had taken Yue Niang and Hu Hai into custody. The Pavilion Master had made a clean escape, leaving behind not a single shred of evidence; they were nowhere to be found, though an arrest warrant was issued. After dispersing all the guests, servants, and women of the house, the authorities sealed the Fengyue Pavilion.

Guying led Hongniang and the others back. At the urging of Xiao Jianjian, Guying also brought Zhong Li along, though the man in black left with the officials. While Guying wasn't entirely certain, he knew that man must be from the imperial court; otherwise, the Magistrate would not have been so obsequious or suddenly turned so incorruptible.

Hongniang did not try to persuade Nanyan to return to the Bieying Pavilion. In the current situation, this was Nanyan’s own choice. It was the extent of Hongniang’s mercy to advise Nanyan to find a respectable family to spend the rest of her days with. Nanyan had harmed Luoyue and betrayed the Bieying Pavilion; these were her own actions, and time could not erase them.

Back at the Bieying Pavilion, Zhong Li and Luoyue were ‘glued’ together. Guying and Hongniang went to attend to the newly awakened Ayue, for a person with the mind of a child could not be left alone.

The daylight was perfect, though the grape trellis in the courtyard was bare, its vines stripped of every leaf. Luoyue rested her chin on her hand. “I wonder when it will snow. The Dongguan Kingdom must be beautiful in the snow.”

Zhong Li only smiled in silence. How could his Lianbao know that her true form was ten times more beautiful than a sky filled with falling snow or mountains carpeted in flowers?

“By the way, Xiao Jianjian told me that someone else went to the Fengyue Pavilion with you that day. I asked who it was, but it played coy. Zhong Li, tell me, won't you?”

Luoyue suddenly began to act coy, tugging at Zhong Li’s sleeve, swaying back and forth, swaying until Zhong Li’s heart fluttered.

In Zhong Li’s eyes, no matter if the person before him was a princess of some dynasty, a lady of an immortal sect, or some other vessel, beneath that skin, he always saw the same face from when they first met, back when they were master and disciple in the deep mountains. Zhong Li never faked anything. At the Emperor’s banquet, the painting he produced was merely what he saw, and he alone was capable of seeing it—a special privilege, and the only one.

Zhong Li felt as if he were drowning in Lianbao’s tenderness. He covered his mouth and gave a soft cough to mask his agitation; his body grew hot, his ears flushed red, and his heart hammered against his ribs.

“Hoo—” Zhong Li carefully exhaled a puff of hot air and gently pushed away the lovely creature leaning against him. “Sit properly.”

His words and the hot breath happened to land right in the hollow of her neck. Lian gave a soft hum. “Why are you blowing on me? It’s burning hot…”

Zhong Li felt he was on the verge of exploding. Forget about burning hot—if he didn't leave now, he would ruin the image he had worked so hard to maintain in front of Lianbao!

“The person that day was the Emperor of the Dongguan Kingdom. I painted for him, and he helped me hold the floor. I just remembered I have some business to attend to. See you later!”

Zhong Li’s retreating figure was filled with sorrow and helplessness. His awkward, stumbling gait betrayed a shy, bashful nature entirely unlike his usual self. Luoyue couldn’t help but let out a light laugh; the sound, like silver bells, was more terrifying than a soul-snatching melody. Zhong Li’s steps grew even more hurried, his face flushed red, lacking all his usual scholarly elegance.

[Master! The Rat God has returned! Yo-ho! Is Master teasing Master Zhong Li again?]

Ever since the Fengyue Pavilion incident, once Guying gave Xiao Jianjian the nickname “Rat God,” the creature had become insufferably smug, prattling on about being the “Rat God” all day long.

“Zhong Li is just too easy to tease. One light touch and he’s blushing like a girl guarding her boudoir. Is my figure really that bad? I threw myself into his arms, and he wasn’t even tempted!?”

Xiao Jianjian rolled its eyes at its master’s questioning gaze. [Master, Master Zhong Li’s love for you doesn’t need to be spoken aloud! That’s called silent love—it’s very noble!]

“Oh, look at you, acting so high and mighty just because you’ve been called the Rat God for a day. Why don’t you just fly up to the heavens?”

[If there were a sea here, I, Jianjian, could even go swimming with the turtles! Ow! Ah! Help! I was wrong, Master! Master! Ah…!]

*Splat.*

A gray-and-white, indistinguishable lump landed on the ground, motionless, before finally raising something that looked suspiciously like a middle finger.

*Bang!*

[Ah!…]

A shoe landed perfectly on the little creature’s head. A piercing scream echoed through the clouds. A beautiful day… had come to an end…