Chapter 72 Complex Old Case, Haunting Nightmares

Chapter 72: Complex Old Case, Haunting Nightmares

Qin Jiao followed Xie Nai all the way ahead, passing through the lush green bamboo grove and walking past the steaming hot spring, until they finally arrived at Xie Nai's study. After Qin Jiao entered the study, Xie Nai took out a booklet and a rectangular box and handed them to him.

Qin Jiao knew that booklet; it was the register of people coming and going at the Embroidery Recruitment Tower that Xun Xi had risked her life to protect in Nanzhou. As for the rectangular brocade box, if Qin Jiao guessed correctly, it should be the painting that Xie Nai had hidden.

Qin Jiao opened the box and indeed saw a painting inside. The scroll used fine sandalwood, engraved with exquisite and intricate flower-and-bird patterns; the paper was made of precious golden millet paper. Because it had been buried in the soil before, the scroll was slightly damaged and yellowed overall.

The painting depicted a wooden bridge over a mountain stream, with light yellow golden lantern flowers growing by the bridge and silver fish leisurely swishing their tails beneath it.

The entire painting was executed in ink-wash technique, full of charm; the small fish and golden flowers were lifelike. Layers of ink spread out distant mountains and broad clouds. The smooth brushwork and the leisurely, carefree style made one can't help admiring the painter's superb skill.

"How could such a beautiful painting be related to a murder case?" The painting had no signature or seal. Qin Jiao himself wasn't well-versed in art, so he couldn't even begin to guess.

"So what murder case is the prince investigating? Can't you really tell me?" Qin Jiao asked hopefully.

"No." Xie Nai put away the painting, refused flatly. "But you can take a look at this." Xie Nai handed Qin Jiao Xun Xi's personnel register.

"Look at what?"

Qin Jiao took the booklet, puzzled. On the page that was opened, Xie Nai had circled a name.

"Zhu Geyong?"

Qin Jiao froze: "He went to the Tower?"

"Not just him, but one of his subordinates, Liu Yao, went there too." Xie Nai turned a page, and another circled name, "Liu Yao," appeared before Qin Jiao.

Qin Jiao remembered Liu Yao. During today's New Year's lantern festival, the locals and street vendors talked about him with gritted teeth and deep hatred.

"Looks like that big shot in the capital won't stay hidden for long."

The capital and Nanzhou were linked through Xun Xi's register. The Tower's thugs captured in Nanzhou were now all detained in the Dalisi (the Court of Judicial Review). The case had new leads. Xie Nai planned to go to the Dalisi tomorrow: "Want to come with me to the Dalisi tomorrow to see those thugs?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Then I'll have Luo Bei pick you up tomorrow."

"Okay."

After agreeing on the time, Qin Jiao said he wanted to go home. Xie Nai said "Okay," then told Luo Bei to get a horse. The Qin residence and the Prince of Lingnan's residence were not far apart. Xie Nai rode quickly and got Qin Jiao home in just half an hour.

Qin Jiao bid farewell to Xie Nai and watched him ride away.

The Prince of Lingnan looked handsome on horseback, heroic and spirited, with his dark hair flying. Qin Jiao was so enchanted that even in his dreams, he saw Xie Nai riding off...

——

A new willow branch poked out from the high wall, and poking out alongside it was Jiang Qingrong's fuzzy head.

Young Jiang Qingrong still had a chubby face. He held a copper coin and yelled at Qin Jiao: "Qin Jiao, believe me, this time I'll definitely take you to buy a dough figurine. Look, I brought the money! Come out now!"

"No way, you're always tricking me."

"Really not coming out? The temple fair down Jinxing South Street is lively, and there are temple fair dolls too!"

"Fine, let's go."

The bustling Jinxing South Street was extraordinarily lively.

"Qing Rong, where are you?" Qin Jiao panicked, searching for Jiang Qingrong. Suddenly, he crashed into a tall wall.

That wall, like a monster with three heads and six arms that kept pulling Qin Jiao around. "Let go of me! Help! Qing Rong, Mother!"

Qin Jiao flailed his arms, trying to grab something.

"Wow, this temple fair doll is so cute!"

"I want to touch it so bad!"

Darkness engulfed all senses; the noise grew farther and farther away. A terrifying dream he couldn't escape kept dragging Qin Jiao down until—

"Put him down."

A person came galloping on horseback, bathed in golden light, like some god, splitting open Qin Jiao's dark, heavy nightmare!

It was Xie Nai.

Xie Nai? How could it be Xie Nai?

Qin Jiao jolted awake.

"Young master, young master?" Cong Shuang patted his shoulder. "Had a nightmare?"

Qin Jiao glanced around the room, then let out an imperceptible sigh of relief. Luckily it was just a dream.

"Wash your face to wake yourself up." Cong Shuang handed him a hot towel.

"Thank you, Sister Congshuang." Qin Jiao took the towel and smiled.

After Qin Jiao washed up, it was just Si hour (9–11 am). Cong Shuang brought in breakfast too.

As he ate breakfast, Qin Jiao pulled out the red envelope he'd received at the prince's residence yesterday and gave it to Cong Shuang. "Sister, Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year." Cong Shuang pushed it back. "Keep this for yourself. The household handed out red envelopes yesterday, and you have one too. I left it on your desk."

Last night, when Qin Ji and Qin Han brought red envelopes, Cong Shuang originally didn't plan to accept them, but later Qin Han said, "Getting a red envelope at New Year is good luck," so she accepted.

"Okay, I'll go take a look in a while."

Qin Jiao said that and then lowered his head to drink his congee. As she put vegetables in his bowl, Cong Shuang asked: "Young master, dream about when you were little again?"

"Nah, just a normal nightmare. Maybe I was tired yesterday."

"Don't lie to me. In your dream, you kept calling Jiang Qingrong's name over and over and shouted you didn't want to be a temple fair doll."

Cong Shuang said, annoyed: "Did you run into a murder case yesterday? I always said Jiang Qingrong can't be trusted. Young master, you should keep away from him from now on!"

"Sister, you've got it wrong. We didn't run into a murder case yesterday. Qing Rong was always by my side." Qin Jiao quickly stood up for Jiang Qingrong.

When Qin Jiao was seven, Jiang Qingrong had lured him out of the mansion to see a temple fair. Jiang Qingrong was so into watching people play ring toss that he didn't even notice when Qin Jiao was kidnapped by human traffickers. Later, folks from the Qin Manor and the Marquis of Pingning's Manor searched a long time before finding Qin Jiao.

Since then, Cong Shuang had always disliked Jiang Qingrong. If he hadn't forced Qin Jiao to go out to see that damned temple fair, Qin Jiao wouldn't have gotten lost.

"Well, this time Jiang Qingrong was reliable." Cong Shuang's expression improved a little.

Wanting to distract Cong Shuang, Qin Jiao asked: "Sister, you just mentioned a murder case? Did a murder happen in the capital?"

----------------------------------------