Lava

Kapitel 153

Zhan Zhao died in the Liao Kingdom, and Mo Yan's current state all these years is because of him. Her inner turmoil remains unresolved, and no amount of effort he puts into her will be of any use. The best way to untangle her inner conflict is to bring her back to the Liao Kingdom and confront everything. Tearing open a wound is painful, but without removing the rotten flesh, it will never truly heal.

"This time I'm going to escort the annual tribute to the Liao Kingdom," Ning Jin said calmly. "Since you've been there before, why don't you come with me?"

"I don't want to go... I can't leave Kaifeng Prefecture either."

Ning Jin had expected her answer, so he didn't press her further. He simply smiled and said, "Anyway, I still have more than a month before I leave, so there's no need to rush. Go back and ask Bao Heizi to make proper arrangements. I reckon the Kaifeng government office won't be that busy."

Mo Yan didn't reply, and absentmindedly ate a few mouthfuls of rice with her head down.

Ning Jin looked at her and sighed inwardly.

The rain outside was falling even harder.

Volume 3, Chapter 3

Liao Dynasty, inside the Datong Pavilion.

Zhao Yu leaned wearily against the soft couch, reading a book. The poetry collection in her hands was one she had bought at the market three years ago when she secretly slipped out of the palace. Liu Yong's poetry collections were not available in the palace; she had secretly hidden them away and had even forgotten about them until she had her maid sort through her old clothes chest these past few days and found them.

"...Amidst the fading light of the setting sun and the verdant grass, who can understand my silent thoughts as I lean on the railing?...My clothes grow ever looser, yet I have no regrets, for I am wasting away for her sake."

As she read the line "I've grown thin and haggard for her sake" aloud, she savored it repeatedly, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Seeing this, the maidservant serving nearby gently advised, "Princess, you are not feeling well right now, so please don't look at these distressing things."

Zhao Yu realized she had lost her composure, stopped crying, and forced a smile as she asked, "How did you know this was something distressing?"

“I’ve heard people say that most of Liu Yong’s poems are very poignant. Although some are good, others are not very elegant. They talk about…” The maid’s face flushed slightly, “…they all talk about love between men and women. And just now I heard the princess read those two lines, something about ‘the belt is getting looser.’ Look, they even wrote about undressing. Isn’t that embarrassing?”

Hearing her words, Zhao Yu couldn't help but smile slightly: "You don't understand, don't talk nonsense. The phrase 'clothes gradually become looser' means that because people are getting thinner, their clothes are becoming looser and looser. It doesn't mean what you're saying about loosening your clothes."

The maid understood then and said shyly, "So that's how it is. Then this poem really suits you, Princess. Look, your clothes are indeed getting looser and looser."

Zhao Yu was taken aback upon hearing this, and said softly, "...Is that so?"

"You've been sick these past few days, so it's natural that you've lost some weight." The maid, afraid that she might overthink things, quickly reassured her, "As long as you listen to the doctor, take your medicine properly, and get plenty of rest, you'll definitely get better."

Zhao Yu seemed not to hear, quietly thinking about something, before finally asking, "When did I start getting sick?"

“Princess, have you forgotten? It was this spring, at the hunting grounds by the Duck River, you went out at night and got caught in the rain. When you came back, you fell ill and had a high fever for three days. We servants were so worried.”

“Oh… I remember now, it was in the spring.” Zhao Yu lowered her eyes slightly and said wistfully, “It’s almost winter now, and as soon as it rains, the cold air rushes in.”

"It's already past the Cold Dew season, and it gets cold here early," the maid replied.

"Time flies..." Zhao Yu smiled bitterly, realizing that he had been ill for more than half a year without even noticing. "When is the big gift?"

"I heard it's planned for the winter solstice," the maid said with a smile, trying to cheer her up. "Princess, you should eat more so you can look your best in your plain brocade robe with red floral embroidery."

Whether it fits or looks good, Zhao Yu doesn't care at all. All she has left to do is to perform the grand ceremony with Yelü Hongji smoothly, and that will be considered fulfilling her duty.

As for that person, he had his own things to do. She suppressed the bitterness in her heart. What she looked like was naturally not something he would care about.

Ning Jin is not stupid at all.

He knew that persuading Mo Yan would not be easy, but it would be much easier to get Bao Zheng to transfer Mo Yan over under the guise of official business.

“I have long heard of Officer Mo’s meticulous mind and her numerous successes in solving strange cases over the years. It just so happens that we are good friends and she has been to the Liao Kingdom. This time I am escorting the tribute, and I need someone familiar with the area by my side. Lord Bao, please do me a favor and let Officer Mo come with me on this trip.”

One autumn afternoon, he sat in Bao Zheng's study with a slight smile, looking quite dashing and elegant, and spoke eloquently. After speaking, he lowered his head to sip his tea, knowing in his heart that with his status as the Prince of Ning, he was merely borrowing the position of a minor constable in Kaifeng Prefecture, and Bao Zheng would have no reason to refuse.

But after he finished speaking, Bao Zheng remained silent for a long time.

After a long pause, Bao Zheng slowly said, "This matter is somewhat difficult. There have been many things going on in Kaifeng Prefecture lately..." He had only spoken half a sentence when someone outside the door announced loudly, "Lord Bao, I have an important case to report."

Upon hearing the voice, Ning Jin looked up and saw Mo Yan.

"Come in." Bao Zheng nodded, then turned to Ning Jin and said, "I apologize for my rudeness, Your Highness. Please wait a moment."

"State affairs are of utmost importance, state affairs are of utmost importance, may I excuse myself?" Ning Jin made a gesture.

Bao Zheng laughed and said, "That won't be necessary."

Mo Yan stepped inside, skipping even the formalities of bowing. She took out a small cloth bag from her bosom and handed it to Bao Zheng, saying, "This is the hairpin from the head of the woman in Li Family Lane. I have examined it; it was made by Master Ouyang of Yu Gui Pavilion. I have conducted a preliminary examination of the body. There are lividity marks on the chest, the back of the head was struck by a sharp weapon, and the body is already decomposed and smelly, indicating that it has been soaking in a water vat for more than three days."

Upon hearing this, Ning Jin couldn't even finish his tea.

Bao Zheng listened very attentively and then asked, "What kind of weapon is it? Can you tell?"

"The skull was fractured and shattered, so it must have been a hammer. And to be able to exert such force, the murderer must have been very strong and used hammers regularly."

Bao Zheng nodded, as if remembering something: "How is the rice shop situation?"

"We can close the net tonight. My men have been waiting for days," Mo Yan smiled slightly, "just waiting to catch them red-handed tonight."

"We still need to be careful."

"Understood."

With several cases showing promise, Bao Zheng seemed much more relaxed. He smiled at Ning Jin and said, "I've been too busy with official business and have neglected Your Highness. Please forgive me."

Ning Jin laughed and said, "It's alright, it's alright. It seems that Xiao Qi has really been trained in your Kaifeng government office. There are corpses and stench, it's making my head spin."

“If you take a look, you’ll be even more dizzy.” After reporting her official business, Mo Yan no longer stood on ceremony, sat down, poured herself some tea, and asked Ning Jin curiously, “What are you doing here?”

"Have you come to ask your superiors for someone back?"

"Who do you want?" she asked casually.