Chapter 22: Tomb Robbery

"No rush if you can't think of anything now. Let's eat first, then take your time to think," Zheng Qi said unhurriedly.

Zhu San was momentarily taken aback but quickly composed herself, sitting silently. Silence was a skill she had mastered.

Zheng Qi didn't press for an immediate response, simply stating, "Let's have the meal served."

A young attendant responded and quickly set out, soon returning with a spread of food that rivaled the local magistrate's in quality and quantity. The young attendant apologetically remarked, "It's humble here, only this much is available."

Zhu San thought to herself, "And this is considered lacking?" Her suspicions about Zheng Qi's origins deepened.

Zheng Qi, unconcerned about the "coarse" food, washed his hands leisurely, dried them, and with genuine interest, picked up his chopsticks to Zhu San, "Come, don't be shy. After a busy morning, you must be hungry."

A basin of clear water was brought before Zhu San, complete with a towel on its edge. Zhu San glanced at the basin, then at Zheng Qi, and finally at Jin Liang. Both men indicated for her to go ahead, raising Zhu San's alertness towards Zheng Qi to the highest level. People like him, she reasoned, are either very good or very bad. But regardless of which, she was not in a position to control the current situation.

Bold yet not foolish, Zhu San didn't continue her charades as she had in the Chen family's graveyard. Rolling up her sleeves, she dipped her hands into the basin. Having run on her feet to the graveyard, she truly was hungry. Observing her clean hands, Zheng Qi lifted his chopsticks again, "The chef's skills are modest, but the ingredients are fresh."

Zhu San smiled in thanks and started eating heartily.

Zhu San ate quickly, initially causing Jin Liang some concern. Only when he saw that she didn't spill food from her mouth did he relax slightly, a faint smile crossing his face.

Surprised by her natural eating, Jin Liang coughed lightly, and Zhu San, with a rib in her mouth, glanced at him, "Hmm?"

Zheng Qi, too, picked a piece of vegetable deliberately, and Zhu San, puffing her cheeks, resumed eating. Observing her enjoy the meal, Zheng Qi also tried a rib, found it just as mediocre but couldn't help reaching for another.

Eating delightfully, Zhu San's mind raced – she must flee, abandoning her carrier if necessary.

In the wilderness, she surely couldn't outrun horses, perhaps not even Zheng Qi, but in a station with people and buildings, her chances of escape significantly increased. She was 80% confident.

Quickly finishing her meal before Zheng Qi could put down his chopsticks, Zhu San waited patiently. Meanwhile, someone brought her tea. Zhu San paused, and Jin Liang explained, "For rinsing your mouth." Such refinement for mouth rinsing seemed excessive.

After rinsing her mouth and sparingly sipping her tea, Zhu San waited for Zheng Qi to finish his meal and rinse before asking, "What are you going to do with me?"

Zheng Qi chuckled, "You see, I'm not a bandit. How could I 'do anything' to you?"

"Then why did you capture me?"

"To have a chat?"

Zhu San shook her head, "We don't even eat the same way; what's there to chat about?"

As Zheng Qi was about to respond, a commotion arose outside, followed by chatter within the station: "They're here! Ah...no, it's not the imperial envoy! Another arrival from the city..."

Jin Liang gestured, and one of the attendants checked outside, returning shortly to report, "It seems they know each other. It's an official from the city magistrate's office, oddly not in uniform or official attire. They're well-dressed though, in civilian clothes but not in plain style."

With a slight nod from Zheng Qi, the noise outside grew again as the newcomers were directed to the "secluded courtyard." Upon hearing their lodgings were occupied, the leader loudly demanded, "Who is it? Who has taken the upper room at this time?"

Zhu San's ears perked up at the voice, familiar to her as one of Mr. Huang's associates from the magistrate's office, whom she had seen accompanying Yu Miaomiao. This individual often spoke rudely on Mr. Huang's behalf.

"I'll take a look," Jin Liang said.

Zheng Qi nodded in approval.

As Jin Liang left, the commotion from the opposing side diminished slightly, yet their conversation remained clear, "We are here by the magistrate's orders to await the new imperial envoy! What mission are you on?"

"No comment," Jin Liang responded firmly.

After doing something unclear, the newly arrived people mumbled some pleasantries, and Jin Liang returned. Zheng Qi commented, "They are quite eager," to which Jin Liang responded, "Probably they have something urgent and want to lodge a complaint first."

Zhu San felt something off in their conversation, and without any segue, Zheng Qi asked her again, "What did you notice in the Chen family cemetery today?"

Damn, they're still not letting me off the hook!

Zhu San remained silent.

Growing impatient, Jin Liang pressed, "Speak up if you've seen something! Do you have blood on your hands? What could be more significant than human life?"

Zhu San was startled, looking at him wide-eyed. Zheng Qi also called out, "Jin Liang."

Jin Liang pointed to his eyes and said, "People with blood on their hands look at others differently; I can tell. It wasn't an accident; it was premeditated murder!"

Zhu San, who would never admit to such a thing, rolled her eyes in response, "I've been captured by you, and like that Mr. Jian from the magistrate's office, you can pin any crime or blame on me you like. No need to fabricate such charges! Save your energy."

Zheng Qi gestured for Jin Liang to stop his rebuke, still speaking gently, "I merely wish to inquire."

Zhu San knew that the more she spoke in front of clever people, the more mistakes she could make. If possible, she wouldn't want to utter a single word, "Might as well kill me then. If you can pin a murder on me, you wouldn't care about having blood on your own hands, right?"

Jin Liang, infuriated, partly because Zhu San had returned his purse at the tea stand, which had earned her some favor, found his patience wearing thin due to her obstinate behavior. He stepped forward and grabbed Zhu San by the collar.

Zhu San wasn't afraid; she didn't actually want to die but thought: With officials waiting for the imperial envoy and the station full of people, let's see how you handle this. If I drag this out until the envoy arrives and cause a scene... Wait! Why would they dare to make such a commotion in the station with the envoy expected soon? Are they confident they won't alarm the authorities? I'm not really dead!

A sudden, unsettling realization hit Zhu San.

"You're not the new imperial envoy, so why care so much about the Chen family? Family scandals should not be aired publicly; knowing your teacher's family issues might not earn you their gratitude."

Zheng Qi counters, "What if I am?"

Zhu San blinks twice, realizing the implication: "You're the imperial envoy?"

Zheng Qi orders the seal to be fetched, and Jin Liang sets her down. Watching the seal being placed firmly in its box, Zhu San feels a wave of despair.

She had hoped that uncovering the truth and presenting evidence would lead to justice for Zhu Shenhan, even if it wasn't immediate release—any punishment seemed bearable. Now, she doubts the fairness of any verdict, given the character of the local officials and her inability to gauge Zheng Qi, who claims to be a student of Chancellor Chen. Zhu Shenhan's entanglement in the Chen family's scandal complicates matters further.

Zhu San realizes that Zheng Qi could either genuinely be the envoy or confident enough that making a scene at the station would lead to no consequences.

After inspecting the seal, she admits, "I've never seen these before and can't tell if they're authentic."

Zheng Qi explains, "You're smart but guarded, likely due to concerns. Although I'm Chancellor Chen's student, I am first and foremost a servant of the Emperor. I came ahead of the official procession to clarify this case and prevent deception. Any more questions? Share what you know, and your desires; I will arrange accordingly."

Aware she can neither spring Zhu Shenhan from jail nor ensure his safety, Zhu San sees no choice but to gamble on luck.

"Is the younger Chen son short of money?"

Zheng Qi confirms, "Chancellor Chen's discipline is strict, but his wife dotes on her son, who lacks nothing thanks to her wealth."

Zhu San reveals the gold and silver pieces, sighing, "Then my guess was right. You come from wealth, but have you seen decline? A family once rich, wasting away until resorting to desecrating ancestral graves for survival."

Zheng Qi acknowledges, "You must have witnessed such decline."

Without pursuing his non-answer, Zhu San elaborates on the desperation that drives once wealthy families to plunder their ancestors' graves for valuables to sell.

Initially impatient, Jin Liang, persuaded by Zheng Qi's interest, follows the conversation and realizes, "Monsters! Desecrating their ancestors' graves!"

Zheng Qi inquires, "Do you think Chen Er behaved similarly?"

Zhu San shakes her head, then pulls a small cloth bag from her bosom, placing it on the table to unveil its contents. Everyone in the room, initially displeased with her demeanor, is now drawn in by her bizarre tale, softening their attitudes towards her.

Zheng Qi frowns at the two unrelated items: a jade hairpin broken in two and a copper bell. Accustomed to luxury, he recognizes the quality of the hairpin, whereas the bell, despite some intricate casting, seems crude and unfinished to him.

Picking up the hairpin, Zheng Qi comments, "This design looks ancient..."

Jin Liang wonders aloud, "Could Chen Er really have..."

Zhu San shakes her head, "I don't think so."