Inside the living room, An Chenghu sat rather stiffly in his chair.
As a county constable, the highest-ranking official he ordinarily saw was the county magistrate. He had never expected a major figure like Tang Jinxian to visit so suddenly. Apprehension warred with utter bewilderment in his heart.
He naturally knew of Tang Jinxian’s background. She was the sole granddaughter of the late Divine Martial Great General Tang Meng—a true tigress from a military lineage. Her house had risen to prominence through battlefield achievements, yet had also been decimated by them; both her parents had died fighting on the sands. To manifest Imperial grace, the Emperor had personally selected a husband for her, settling on the youngest son of the former Grand Preceptor, Wang Zhao. Yet who could have foreseen that on the wedding day, enemy death warriors hidden among the guests would suddenly strike, seeking to assassinate the highly venerated Wang Zhao. In the ensuing chaos, the groom Wang Yuanzhi shielded his father with his own body, intercepting the blade and perishing on the spot. The bridal hall became a funeral hall in an instant; red silk gave way to white mourning banners. Thus, before she could even bow at the marriage ceremony, Tang Jinxian had become a widow.
Thereafter, she remained with the Wang family in her widow’s status. Perhaps out of guilt toward their daughter-in-law and pity for her lonely state, the Wangs doted on her as if she were their own child. Whatever she desired, they never refused. The very reason she could now break precedent to assume the important post of Chief of the Yancheng Patrol Office was due to the couple’s machinations behind the scenes.
“I have come rather presumptuously today. First, to visit your nephew, Mu Jiang. In the case investigation last time, he was injured in the line of duty. Both emotionally and logically, this official ought to pay him a visit.”
Tang Jinxian raised the teacup with slender fingers and took a small sip. Her jade-white throat moved slightly. When she set down the cup, a moist glistening lingered on her lips, setting off their tender softness.
“Second, I wish to consult Constable An regarding a case. Constable An has long enjoyed the sobriquet ‘Divine Constable’ in Yancheng. You have solved countless major and minor cases. When it comes to the ability to conduct local investigations, I fear few within the Patrol Office can rival you.”
“You flatter me, Chief. This humble one is but a county constable; the cases I can investigate are merely ordinary minor matters. How would I dare be mentioned alongside the various lords of the Patrol Office? If there is any meager merit, it is due to the county magistrate’s capable leadership and the full support of my colleagues. This lowly one would never dare to claim credit.”
An Chenghu hurriedly replied with fearful reverence. Over forty years of age, he was of ordinary appearance, his skin somewhat swarthy from years of running about, his build rather stocky and solid. Overlook his official uniform, and he looked like an ordinary farmer.
As he spoke, he glanced at his nephew Mu Jiang, who sat by the door. The latter sat quietly in his chair, head lowered, lost in who knew what thoughts.
Three days ago, upon returning from an official assignment, he had learned his nephew had been sent to assist the Patrol Office in a case investigation, and was terrified. After all, he knew all too well the dangers of Patrol Office investigations. He had rushed over, only to learn the group had been buried in a cave. In that moment, he had nearly despaired.
His life had been saved by Mu Jiang’s elder brother. Over the years, he had long regarded Mu Jiang as his own son, even harboring thoughts of betrothing his daughter to him, even if the boy was a simpleton. Had anything happened to Mu Jiang, he would have had no face to meet his benefactor in the underworld.
Luckily, the foolish boy had survived the catastrophe. He had even benefited from the disaster—he was no longer a simpleton. Though he occasionally uttered a few incomprehensible phrases, he was far better than before. This filled An Chenghu with wild joy. He felt it was the silent protection of Mu Jiang’s brother from beyond.
Just last night, he had discussed with his wife that when their daughter returned from the Purple Cloud Sect in a few days, they would choose an auspicious day for the two children to marry. Only, his wife did not seem particularly enthusiastic about the matter.
“Constable An,” Tang Jinxian’s cold yet alluring voice pulled his wandering thoughts back. “What is your opinion on the cases of missing and murdered women over the past two months?”
Tang Jinxian cut straight to the point. An Chenghu composed himself, pondered briefly, and replied cautiously, “To answer your lordship, what this lowly one normally handles are ordinary cases such as civil disputes. I know very little about ‘spirit disaster’ cases, which fall under the Patrol Office’s specialty, and dare not speak rashly.”
Tang Jinxian said indifferently, “Though cases differ, the principles are the same. Even if a spirit disaster is at work, the perpetrator must leave traces in his actions; there must be motives and patterns to follow. Now that the murderer has lost his spirit object, he should not dare to commit another crime against the wind in the short term. But clues about him are far too scarce. I wish to ask Constable An to analyze the methods of the crime for me—what kind of person might this murderer be?”
An Chenghu asked, “This lowly one heard that your lordship rescued surviving women last time?”
Tang Jinxian gave a slight nod. “In the hidden chamber of that trap-rigged cave. We found two women still alive, and… four corpses. But the two survivors had gone completely mad. We tried questioning them, but unfortunately obtained extremely limited clues. The murderer always wore a mask; no one has seen his true face.”
The woman clenched her delicate fists, her nails nearly digging into her palms. After witnessing the horrific states of those women, she wished she could tear the murderer limb from limb, skin him alive, and pull out his tendons. But the murderer was too cunning. Not only was his counter-investigation ability formidable, but he could actually deploy weapons like the “Heaven-Shaking Thunder,” which were standard issue of the Patrol Office, forcing her to suspect there was an internal leak.
This was also why she had come to consult An Chenghu. She could not trust others. And she had no one with whom to discuss matters. After all, the factions within the Office were openly and secretly filled with defiance toward her, a chief who had been parachuted in.
An Chenghu tapped his thigh lightly with his fingers. After a moment’s contemplation, he raised his head. “Chief, might this lowly one be permitted to examine the corpses of the murdered women?”
“You may. The bodies are currently stored in the Patrol Office’s ice chamber. If Constable An has no other urgent duties, you may accompany me now.”
“No urgent matters. This lowly one is at your lordship’s disposal at any time.”
“Good, then let us depart immediately.”
Tang Jinxian rose and walked toward the hall entrance. From beginning to end, she had not looked at Mu Jiang once, as if he were nothing but a puff of air. Yet this deliberate, extreme disregard instead made Mu Jiang increasingly certain that this woman had absolutely not forgotten what happened in the cave. She would definitely not ignore him by coming here today.
Sure enough, just as she reached the hall doorway, Tang Jinxian suddenly paused her lotus steps, her tone flat. “Right. Since your nephew’s health has improved, let him come along as well. After all, he saw the culprit with his own eyes. Perhaps he noticed certain details we overlooked that may help the investigation.”
“This…” An Chenghu hesitated. But Tang Jinxian did not give him a chance to refuse before walking out. He had no choice but to relent.
Outside the courtyard gate, Tang Jinxian boarded the carriage first. Then she raised her fair hand and lifted the side curtain, saying indifferently to Mu Jiang, “Mu Jiang, you have just recovered from your injuries and are too weak to ride a horse. Come up and ride with this official.”
Mu Jiang was stunned, looking at the elegantly decorated carriage compartment. He felt as if that small compartment were a tiger’s bloody maw—a place one entered but never left. He was just about to find an excuse to politely decline when An Chenghu—who was worrying about how to arrange a horse for his nephew—breathed a sigh of relief. He patted Mu Jiang’s shoulder and whispered, “Go. Behave yourself in the carriage. Don’t speak unnecessarily, and absolutely do not anger the Chief.”
Mu Jiang had no way out. Just then, he saw his big white goose swaggering out of the courtyard gate, preparing to go to the small river behind the courtyard to forage and play. He scooped it up into his arms and climbed into the carriage. Even if he were to die, he would drag someone down with him.
The woman’s slender brows furrowed slightly, but she said nothing and shifted inward. Her plump, soft flesh pressed tightly against the cushioned bench, spreading outward to either side and overflowing with full, rounded curves. A palpable sense of weight and soft richness seemed ready to burst forth.
An Chenghu mounted his usual horse and followed behind. Inside the carriage, it was deathly silent for a time. Tang Jinxian’s eyes were lightly closed, as if resting. Her body swayed gently with the carriage. Whenever it jolted, the swelling above her clothing traced rounded trajectories. Mu Jiang also kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, remaining silent. The big white goose in his arms drooped its neck, looking extremely “dead.”
After a long while, Tang Jinxian finally parted her vermilion lips.
“Male or female?”
“Hmm?”
Seeing the woman looking at the goose in his arms, Mu Jiang reacted and subconsciously touched the goose’s chest.
“Female.”
Mu Jiang answered. A male goose has an obvious depression on the chest with a deep groove, while a female goose’s chest is flat or has only shallow folds. However, this big white goose’s crown was different from ordinary geese.
Light pink.
“Let me hold it.”
“Alright.”
Mu Jiang handed the goose over.
“Ga ga!”
The goose was unwilling at first, but after sinking into soft fragrance, its tiny eyes bulged round for an instant, then narrowed in contentment. Tang Jinxian’s jade hand gently stroked the goose’s long neck, her voice pitched extremely low to ensure only the two of them could hear. “That spirit object—are you certain it’s no longer on me?”
Mu Jiang shook his head. “I don’t know. Most likely it’s still there. Or rather, it has only temporarily suppressed your taming seal.”
“Temporarily?”
The woman’s other slender jade finger, resting on her knee, slid sideways and gripped the hilt of the blade placed beside her.
Killing intent!
The goose’s head shrank and burrowed into its feathers. Mu Jiang immediately corrected himself. “Rest assured, everything is absolutely fine.”
“If—”
“Kill me, and the spirit object might no longer be suppressible at all.” Mu Jiang, like a tapeworm in the woman’s belly, didn’t wait for her to speak before fabricating nonsense.
Tang Jinxian fell silent. After a long while, she said indifferently, “This official is not a bloodthirsty person. I will not slaughter the innocent indiscriminately.”
“I think you’d be more convincing if you first moved the knife away from my neck,” Mu Jiang said expressionlessly.
The knuckles of Tang Jinxian’s knife-wielding hand turned faintly white. She seemed conflicted. In the end, she still withdrew the knife, her tone icy. “Remember, you are not to mention that matter to anyone!”
“What matter?” Mu Jiang looked utterly baffled. “Chief, I don’t understand what you’re saying?”
Tang Jinxian glanced at him and turned her head away. After a moment, she asked coldly again, “Back then, you said that spirit object was some kind of ‘taming female ring.’ How did you know?”
Mu Jiang answered honestly, “Actually, I made it up randomly. My intuition told me that thing was dangerous, and I was afraid you would touch it recklessly and harm me, so I spouted some nonsense.”
Regardless of whether the woman believed it, Mu Jiang believed it anyway. But clearly, the woman didn’t believe it. She gripped the knife again, but after hesitating, slowly loosened her jade hand and said in a cold voice, “Be careful recently. That murderer hates you to the bone and will definitely come looking for trouble. Even… the people around you.”