Madam Li frowned. “To see my husband? Not to pick up Miss Ming Yue?”
“Indeed.”
Ming Yue stood up and said, “It must be urgent.”
Madam Li smiled. “To think that you aren’t jealous and that you’re worrying instead. Let’s go. My husband isn’t back yet. Let’s invite him to sit with us inside so that he doesn’t have to stand and wait.”
Madam Li was pregnant, so she walked slowly. As a guest, Ming Yue could only trail behind Madam Li, as it wasn’t proper for her to walk in front. Once they reached the lobby, Su Yunkai had neither sat nor touched his tea. When he saw people coming, he found it interesting how his gaze immediately found Ming Yue, despite the fact that she was walking behind Madam Li. He made a motion at her before turning to Madam Li and greeting her.
“Sit down first. My husband hasn’t come back yet,” said Madam Li. “Why have you come in such a hurry? After my husband brought Ming Yue here, he went to the yamen again. If they aren’t too busy today, the yamen should release him soon.”
Su Yunkai said, “It’s about a yamen matter.”
It was a default custom for family members of officials to not ask about government affairs,so Madam Li did not ask again.
Seeing that he had come back alone, Ming Yue asked, “Where is Constable Bai?”
Su Yunkai paused, his eyes carrying a hint of guilt. As Madam Li was there, he only said, “He’ll be back soon.”
Ming Yue knew something was up the moment she saw his expression. However, since he hadn’t asked to speak to her alone, Bai Shui must be safe. Why hadn’t she returned to the capital with him, though?
As the night grew dark, the noises outside the house gradually subsided. Suddenly, they heard the sound of a carriage rattling in the quiet night. Su Yunkai, who had keen ears, got up to take a look outside.
The door opened and Li Kang entered. Seeing the bright lights in the hall, his wife came forward and said, “Lord Su is here.”
“Have you come to speak with Miss Ming?”
“I’ve come to see you.”
Li Kang was slightly surprised and walked forward faster. Su Yunkai had also left the lobby. “Brother Li.”
“The study, please.” The two didn’t waste time conversing. Understanding that Su Yunkai had something important or that he had discovered something that he was willing to share, Li Kang was certainly eager to invite him inside to talk about it privately.
Su Yunkai started to follow. He called Ming Yue to come along as well.
Madam Li was curious. Why was Ming Yue with them? She shook her head and did not accompany them. Instead, she called a servant over to bring tea and headed back to the lobby by herself.
The study was full of scholarly fragrance. Six big, round candles were lit, but not blindingly so. They were not a dim yellow, either; they were the perfect brightness for if one wanted to read. Su Yunkai wasn’t in the mood to enjoy it. He waited for the servants to exit before requesting in a straightforward manner, “Help me investigate a person.”
Li Kang asked with a smile, “Who? Who could be powerful enough that you need me to help you check?”
“I can only find out what I want to know by investigating through you, because you are an outsider to the matter.”
Li Kang frowned and thought for a moment. “Are you saying you’re being watched?”
Su Yunkai nodded. “The person I want you to check for me is the Marquis of Pingxi.”
Li Kang’s brows furrowed. “Why investigate him? Because he secretly forced you to come back from Damingfu and demoted you?”
“It’s not only that. I was busy before, so I didn’t investigate the matter carefully. Now that I’ve thought about it more, it all makes no sense.” Su Yunkai had originally intended to postpone discussion of this matter, so he did not elaborate. “Help me investigate his properties and his relationship with Chen Lilang.”
“Chen Lilang?” Li Kang thought for a while and asked, “You mean Old Chen, former minister of the Ministry of Works?”
“Yes.”
“What do you want the information for?”
“The summer resort on Mount Gu is owned by Shen Wei, who was the mastermind behind the pond corpse case. I learned from Shen Wei that Chen Lilang owned the house at first, but his family didn’t even know about it. Later, when I went to the summer resort, the Marquis of Pingxi also came. Just now, I came back from the mountain. Someone set the villa on fire.”
Li Kang smiled, almost reluctantly. “So you suspect that Yu Fenglin entrusted the villa to Old Chen, who built it? You suspect that there are hidden secrets there, so he burned it? It’s so far-fetched to connect these two things. Maybe the marquis was just there by coincidence?”
Su Yunkai shook his head and said slowly, “After the first murder case at the villa, the perpetrators cut the suspension bridge, which was the only path to get there. Later, Constable Bai learned from an old woodcutter that there was still a channel. Only the people who stayed at the villa know about this. When we went to the secret road just now, we found that it was also sealed.”
If one thing could be considered a coincidence, two could not. While Li Kang was not as sharp as Su Yunkai, he was not dull enough to ignore the implications. “Then what are you checking his properties for?”
Su Yunkai did not explain this. “Just help me check.”
Li Kang smiled. “Brother Su, although you and I have been friends for many years, this is the Marquis of Pingxi. If he knows that I am investigating him, I will be in big trouble.”
Su Yunkai looked at him and said, “If two don’t serve the same lord, they will be enemies.”
Something in Li Kang’s face changed. He no longer smiled. Su Yunkai continued, “The only one who is equal to the Marquis of Pingxi is the Duke of An. There can’t be two tigers at the top of one mountain. Each wants to hold the other down. If you find the information I need, I can promise you that I will do my best to overthrow the marquis. In addition, I will give all the credit to you.”
“To think you know…that I serve the Duke of An.” Li Kang’s face had turned ugly. No one was supposed to know about their affiliation. He hadn’t even told his wife. Yet Su Yunkai had stated it so calmly, as though he had known it for a long time and was not at all surprised.
Furthermore, Su Yunkai’s last sentence caused his heart to pound.
If the marquis found out that Li Kang was investigating him, Li Kang would at most be on the receiving end of some cold glares.
The Duke of An, on the other hand, had his own secret way of protecting Li Kang.
Therefore, if he found information that could help Su Yunkai overthrow the marquis, and if he trusted Su Yunkai to keep his promises, then the benefits far outweighed the disadvantages.
Li Kang suddenly smiled, albeit slightly unwillingly. “You really got my Achilles’ heel.”
Su Yunkai stood. “I’ll be waiting for good news from you.”
“All right.” Li Kang was anxious to investigate the Marquis of Pingxi. He thought that the other two might have words to exchange, so he simply left the huge study to them. He changed into casual attire and set out.
Ming Yue closed the door and said, “Brother Su, where’s Shui Shui?”
“Even after the secret tunnel was sealed, she still wanted to go to the villa for clues, so she forced her way over the cliff. She is all right, though. Don’t worry. I’ve already had people go and repair the bridge.
After running around for a day, Su Yunkai felt thirsty. He took a sip of tea. “You should stay at the Li residence for a few days. Once I’m finished, I’ll pick you up.”
Ming Yue didn’t care where she lived for the next few days. Seeing that there was green grass on his clothes, she came forward and tried to brush it off, but the traces of sap had dried and left stains. Still, Ming Yue continued to rub at it. “When you told Lord Li that you knew he was the Duke of An’s subordinate, I had a feeling that…aside from his surprise, he felt hostile towards you.”
Su Yunkai looked down at Ming Yue. From this angle, he could see her beautiful nose. When she blinked, he could clearly see her eyelashes flutter. Inexplicably, he felt at peace at the moment. In fact, even his fatigue from all the travel had disappeared. Su Yunkai stroked Ming Yue’s head and said, “This kind of topic is already a taboo amongst officials, but it was the only tactic I had. Li Kang knows that the Su family is only loyal to the emperor and that we don’t join any camps. Therefore, since the words are coming out of my mouth, they aren’t much of a threat to him. It is in his interest to help me.”
Ming Yue had always thought that the Su family was a stereotypical family of loyal officials, but now she realized that it was not as simple as she had thought. It wasn’t that the Su family was stereotypical. Rather, it was that they had not only chosen to remain loyal to the emperor, but also to remain ignorant about many things. Perhaps it was only through this way that they had only offended a few aristocrats, but still stood strong and continued to serve the government and the emperor loyally.
This was no mean feat.
Originally, Ming Yue had been worried that Su Yunkai was no match for the marquis, even after the truth was revealed. Now, this worry had mostly disappeared. Ming Yue looked up at him. “You left me with the Li family for my safety, but you should be careful too. Take a look at your clothes. Look at how tattered they are! Do you not look at the road when you walk? What if your flesh gets scraped…”
Hearing that her voice had become high-pitched, which foreshadowed tears, he smiled softly. “I’m not hurt, am I? What are you sad about? The clothes?”
“I’m sad because I can’t help at all. Shui Shui is feeling so terrible and you’re working so hard, yet I still need your protection. All I can do is stay with the Li family.”
Su Yunkai silently took the hand that was wiping at his clothes in his. He bent over to look at her face and saw that tears were swirling in her eyes. He said with a warm smile, “I don’t mind, so you shouldn’t mind either.”
Ming Yue was stunned. The tears rolled straight down. She nestled closer in his arms, her voice a little choked as she said, “You must investigate the case carefully so that both of you can stay safe.”
Su Yunkai bent over and held her, his face pressed to her hair. Ming Yue knew that Su Yunkai thought that Yu Fenglin was the mastermind.
Su Yunkai had told her that Yu Fenglin was so powerful that he could even sway the emperor. He had also told her that Yu Fenglin was arrogant and could not bear to be offended.
Now, Su Yunkai was telling her that he dared to prick that sharp thorn. He was trying to ruin a marquis with both a grand reputation and great military power. He was trying to remove the marquis from the capital. If he didn’t pull this off, he could lose his life.
Su Yunkai hadn’t mentioned this, so Ming Yue didn’t mention it either. She could only tell him to be careful and stay safe.
Su Yunkai was quiet for a moment. After a while, he said, “I will definitely be safe, because I want to marry you. You’ve been waiting for me for thirteen years. Just wait another thirteen days. Within thirteen days, I will finish this case!”
He, who never liked to make promises, had made a promise for her.
Ming Yue heard it in her heart and looked up at him.
Su Yunkai looked down at the same time. Suddenly, he saw her lean up. He was caught off guard.
The heavy mood was swept away by their kiss.
.
A Hint of Spring 
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