Inside the parlor.
Yan Wenxiu was extremely nervous.
She quietly wiped the fine sweat from her palms against her clothes and explained in a low voice to Tang Jinxian, who sat upright in the seat of honor:
“Chief Officer, my husband… he truly didn’t know beforehand that the prefectural and county yamen had dispatched him to a neighboring county to assist in an investigation. He absolutely had no intention of shirking his duties or refusing to assist Your Excellency with the case…”
Yan Wenxiu’s heart was fraught with anxiety.
She was terrified that Tang Jinxian had come to assign blame for this matter.
Although An Chenghu had comforted her before leaving, saying that Lord Tang was reasonable and wouldn’t make things difficult.
But the other party was, after all, a high official from the capital—noble and powerful, with an inscrutable temperament.
If she truly blamed them, how could a mere constable withstand the thunderous wrath of such a great personage?
“No matter. This official understands Constable An’s situation and difficulties.”
Tang Jinxian’s tone was flat.
Hearing these words, Yan Wenxiu’s suspended heart finally settled back into place, and she hurriedly expressed gratitude:
“Thank you for Your Excellency’s understanding.”
“This official came today specifically to find Jiang Mu.”
Tang Jinxian picked up the teacup beside her, lifted the lid, and gently fiddled with the floating leaves.
The dense steam hazed over the woman’s fine brows and eyes.
Yan Wenxiu caught the underlying meaning in her words and very tactfully said, “Then this common woman shall take her leave first.”
She cast Jiang Mu a warning glance telling him to watch his words with his superior, then walked toward the door.
Seeing Shi Shuangui still huddled beside Jiang Mu, rubbing her small head while stretching out her little hand to earnestly measure something, she conveniently picked up the little one and took her out of the parlor.
“How is the investigation? Any clues?”
Tang Jinxian cut straight to the chase and asked.
Jiang Mu briefly reported the investigation results from the past two days and said:
“For the moment, there are no conclusive clues. However, I believe in Uncle An’s judgment. The murderer is most likely among the remaining three households.”
Seeing Tang Jinxian frowning in thought, he tentatively asked in return, “Chief Officer, have you made any progress on your end?”
Tang Jinxian blew on the tea leaves in her cup but didn’t drink. She only held the warm teacup in her palm and said lightly:
“This official has her own arrangements. If it truly is as you say, and the murderer is among the remaining three households, what do you plan to do after you find out?”
Jiang Mu was startled upon hearing this.
What did she mean, what did he plan to do?
He found the clues; remaining matters like arrest and interrogation naturally should be handled by Your Excellency, the Chief Officer.
Did she want one-stop service from him?
He gave a light cough and replied cautiously, “This subordinate is dull-witted. Everything depends on Chief Officer’s orders.”
Tang Jinxian watched him for a moment, gently closed the tea lid, and extended a slender jade finger, beckoning him.
“Come here.”
“Hmm?”
Jiang Mu didn’t react for a moment.
“Come here.”
Tang Jinxian repeated indifferently, her beautiful face expressionless.
Jiang Mu didn’t understand why, but after a slight hesitation, he still walked over as told.
About two meters from the woman, he stopped.
“Come a bit closer.”
“Huh?”
Seeing the beautiful woman’s phoenix eyes narrow, Jiang Mu had no choice but to step forward two more paces.
At this point, the distance between them was quite close.
He could even smell the rich, mature fragrance wafting from her body—seemingly some kind of precious flower or tree, mixed with the warm scent steamed out by the woman’s body heat.
The fragrance was like an invisible little hand, faintly teasing at the tip of his nose.
“Take this.”
Tang Jinxian passed the teacup in her hand over.
Jiang Mu completely couldn’t figure out what this woman wanted to do and subconsciously reached out to take it.
Tang Jinxian propped her cheek with one hand and leaned slightly against the back of the chair. Her originally elegant posture gained a bit of laziness due to this slight movement, yet the pressure in those eyes didn’t diminish in the slightest.
Seeing Jiang Mu standing ramrod straight, she had to crane her neck to look up at him, so she made a downward pressing gesture.
Jiang Mu thought she was going to whisper some confidential words in his ear, so he slightly bent down.
Tang Jinxian’s downward gesture continued.
Jiang Mu frowned and had no choice but to bend his waist even lower, drawing near.
However, the beautiful woman didn’t lean in to whisper. She only used her slender, jade-sprout-like fingertips to tap the armrest of the chair intermittently, and her vermillion lips parted lightly:
“So if this official orders you to do something, will you truly do it?”
“Uh…”
Jiang Mu was at a loss for words.
“Hmm?”
Tang Jinxian’s final tone rose slightly, carrying the pressure of pursuit.
Jiang Mu was inwardly speechless.
Could it be that this woman had come today specifically to use him as a spear?
After all, the murderer this time came from no ordinary family and had connections inside the Patrol Office. Once exposed, he would inevitably be drawn into the vortex of upper-level power struggles.
A minor yamen runner like him, with no roots or foundation—the deeper he got involved, the faster he would die.
Uncle An’s previous repeated warnings were not without reason.
“What are you afraid of?”
Tang Jinxian seemed to see through the concerns in his heart.
She slightly adjusted her sitting posture. The expensive skirt fabric clung tightly to her supple, serpentine waist, further accentuating curves smooth as water, fully releasing the charm of a mature woman.
Jiang Mu steadied his mind and replied, “This subordinate’s duty is only to assist Your Excellency in investigating the case.”
“Not assist. Obey.” The woman corrected lightly.
Jiang Mu didn’t respond.
Only at this moment did he truly witness the dominance hidden beneath this woman’s cold and gorgeous exterior.
The previous encounter in the cave had perhaps made her somewhat ill at ease when facing him, causing her momentum to be slightly weaker during their last meeting.
However, today she displayed the true bearing of a superior.
Obviously, she wanted to use this to let Jiang Mu understand that controlling a minor runner was as easy as turning her hand for her.
At the same time, perhaps it was also to dispel some of the shame and passivity brought by that previous “pet” incident.
“An Chenghu certainly warned you that after finding the clues, you should hand the follow-up matters to this official so you can withdraw and keep out of harm’s way, right?”
Tang Jinxian’s gaze was sharp and aggressive.
Jiang Mu remained silent with his head lowered.
His gaze fell on the exquisite sapphire-blue embroidered shoes beneath the woman’s skirt.
The shoe surfaces were delicately embroidered with an auspicious pattern of fish playing with lotus, using multicolored silk threads mixed with gold and silver. The shoe shape was elegant. Though they were natural feet, they were small enough to fit in a single grasp.
One could imagine the jade toes within pressed together, surely exquisite and lovely.
“If this official truly ordered you to arrest the murderer, would you do it or not?”
Tang Jinxian pressed.
Jiang Mu simply raised his eyes and frankly met her gaze:
“Capturing criminals is not my duty; this subordinate will not overstep his authority. But this subordinate will do his utmost to help Your Excellency ferret out the murderer. As for whether he can be brought to justice, that depends on Your Excellency’s capability.”
The man’s clear, bright eyes made Tang Jinxian subconsciously want to avert her gaze, but she immediately felt that showing weakness before a subordinate would damage her dignity. Thus, she forcibly composed herself and met his gaze.
Her tone remained flat:
“Rest assured, this official is not so base as to use you as a pawn to wade through muddy waters. However, I truly lack capable people around me who can get things done.”
Jiang Mu suddenly leaned forward, a faint smile playing on his lips:
“Does Chief Officer value this subordinate’s abilities, or… does she simply want to keep this subordinate clutched in her palm for the sake of control?”
The distance between the two instantly closed again.
He could even feel the orchid-like breath exhaling from between the woman’s lips.
Tang Jinxian, who had originally intended to control the situation, looked at the handsome face that had suddenly drawn close. She felt an inexplicable panic in her heart, and the carefully maintained cold, arrogant demeanor showed a crack.
To conceal her momentary loss of composure, she subconsciously raised her hand and slapped the armrest.
“Impudent!”
The woman’s pretty face was frosty.
The ample curves beneath her collar fluctuated violently, like the surface of a rippling lake disturbed by wind.
Jiang Mu smiled, straightened his body, gently placed the teacup he’d been holding back on the table, and cupped his hands:
“Please rest assured, Chief Officer. This subordinate will definitely do his utmost to find the murderer’s whereabouts.
As for Your Excellency’s favor… this subordinate’s abilities are shallow and his temperament lazy. I’m afraid he cannot undertake great responsibilities and can only disappoint Your Excellency’s regard.”
The man’s retreat made Tang Jinxian secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Her heaving front, which had risen and fallen due to momentary anger, gradually settled, and her breathing turned from slightly thick to light and quick.
She grabbed the teacup on the table, seemingly wanting a sip to calm her emotions, but then set it down heavily. Her almond eyes glared at Jiang Mu with suppressed anger:
“Before this official, you have no right to refuse!”
“Of course, your abilities still need to be verified; this official doesn’t accept mediocre talent either.”
“As for your claim that I want to clutch you in my hand… hmph, you, Jiang Mu, are but a minor runner. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, if this official wishes to control you, it would be no difficult matter!”
After speaking, the woman suddenly stood up and walked out of the parlor.
As she moved, her skirt hem swayed lightly,
Occasionally clinging to the side of her leg, revealing a section of smooth, round, plump contour.
That revealed feminine form formed a contrast with the oppressive aura around her and the tranquil expression on her face. Within dignified majesty lay hidden a trace of moving charm.
Jiang Mu rubbed the space between his brows and shook his head slightly. “This woman just has to ride on my head…”
Tang Jinxian walked out of the parlor and saw the little one, Shi Shuangui, squatting in the courtyard, teasing a big white goose.
“What’s your name?”
Seeing the adorable, jade-and-snow-like little girl, Tang Jinxian walked up to her and asked.
Shi Shuangui raised her small head upon hearing the voice, but her line of sight was completely blocked by two towering mountains above. She couldn’t see the speaker’s face at all. In a crisp, childish voice, she said:
“Big Boobie Auntie, my name is Suisui.”
“Ahem, ahem, ahem…”
Jiang Mu, who had followed her out, choked on his saliva.
What the hell was Big Boobie Auntie?
Tang Jinxian’s pretty face darkened. In the end, she didn’t lower herself to the level of this little brat.
She couldn’t help pinching the girl’s soft, bouncy cheeks and corrected in a cold voice:
“Call me Big Sister.”
“Oh, Big Boobie Big Sister.”
“…”
The corner of Tang Jinxian’s face twitched. She turned back to glare at Jiang Mu, who was clearly holding back laughter, let out a cold humph, and left the courtyard with a flick of her sleeves.
“This woman has something wrong with her brain; why’s she glaring at me?”
Jiang Mu muttered under his breath.
He walked over and tugged on Shi Shuangui’s sky-high hair bun, saying, “Don’t be so impolite. Next time call her Big Watermelon Big Sister.”
“Big Watermelon? Can you eat it?”
“What do you think?”