Chapter 51

Shen Qing was surrounded by mysteries, prompting Li Daoxuan’s curiosity about what she knew.
Facing his rapid-fire questions, she steadied herself. She lifted her head and said, “What’s in it for me? Are you going to clear me of murder charges?”
Li Daoxuan lowered his gaze, surveying her. “Cooperate with me. I can not only clear your name but also let you intervene in this case. Fighting alone can never compare to working together. You know the stakes.”
“Now there’s not just Bai Shuisha, but an unknown great demon. The situation is complex. If you insist on acting alone, you’ll hit walls everywhere, possibly falling into an inescapable trap.”
“Though I don’t know your exact purpose, I suspect it’s closely tied to the true culprit who framed you and sent you to the underground palace.”
Walking alone truly couldn’t compare to working together.
Moreover, Shen Qing had already intended to involve Li Daoxuan in dealing with the fiends, though she hadn’t yet acted on it. Now he had shown a keen interest in investigating the matter himself.
Cooperation was clearly advantageous and harmless for her. This was the second time Li Daoxuan had proactively made a promise to her; it seemed he was finally willing to regard her with some respect. Shen Qing knew well that once he gave a promise, he would not break it lightly.
So, under Li Daoxuan’s gaze, Shen Qing slowly sat upright, extended her palm, and said with graceful courtesy, “Your Highness’ kindness is impossible to refuse; I, Your Humble Subject, cannot decline.”
Li Daoxuan stared at her deeply, then reached out and clasped her hand.
After this brief moment of peace, Shen Qing suddenly asked, “By the way, where’s my silk ribbon?”
Li Daoxuan slowly stood, not looking back. “Lost.” Seeing a few lotus pods nearby, he casually plucked one.
“Lost? I told you that was important! How can it be lost?!” Shen Qing’s eyes blazed with fury.
“Did you say so? Then I must have forgotten.”
“Stop right there! Where are you going?!” Shen Qing reached out to grab his sleeve but caught nothing.
Li Daoxuan lightly leapt, leaving only a few words: “Naturally, it’s to clear your ‘suspicion.’ This is a quiet place, stay here for now. Once the heat dies down, I’ll come for you.”
“Bastard!”
Inside Yuanchun Pavilion, the fake madam wept under her handkerchief, wailing, “Master Qinglan! My two daughters died so horribly! You must find the culprit and avenge Shanzha and Haitang!”
The middle-aged woman’s cries instantly filled her face with wrinkles. Shi Qinglan, feeling some disgust, brushed off her clinging hands. “Madam Wang, don’t touch me. Answer our questions properly.”
The fake madam straightened with effort, wiping her tears. “It was…”
Shi Qinglan frowned. “You said the guest left first, and then you found the two corpses inside?”
“Yes,” the fake madam replied. “Shanzha’s little maid, seeing her not come out, pushed the door open, only to find the two skinned corpses.”
“What did the guest look like?”
The woman thought a moment. “A little taller than me,” she gestured the height, “delicate features, dressed in fine fabrics of a wealthy household…”
Halfway through, she lowered her voice. “To be honest, that guest was actually, ”
“Whatever the case, one only knows after seeing the corpses,” a voice interrupted in time.
“Greetings, Prince Cang!”
Everyone present bowed at Li Daoxuan’s appearance.
Ignoring them, he walked straight to Shi Qinglan. “I want to see the corpses.”
Shi Qinglan was surprised; the man usually avoided meddling, yet today he showed unusual interest. He still gestured respectfully: “Please, Your Highness, follow me.”
They arrived at the spot where Shanzha and Haitang’s bodies were found. The attendants lifted the cloth covering the skinned corpses. Their faces were bloodied and unrecognizable; their eyes, missing eyelids, stared fixedly.
Everyone else turned away in horror, but Li Daoxuan bent calmly to inspect them.
After a while, he replaced the bloodied cloth. “Was the skin found?”
“Yes,” Shi Qinglan replied. “We found it next to the bodies. The culprit didn’t take it, just tossed it on the ground.” He waved, and two wooden trays were presented.
Under the white cloth on the trays lay two human skins.
“The killer struck from the spine. The blade was precise, smooth, clearly a butcher’s knife. The method is extremely similar to how butchers cut raw meat,” Shi Qinglan explained.
“For more details, the bodies must be sent to Dali Temple for experienced coroners to examine.”
Li Daoxuan seized Shi Qinglan’s sword, used it to lift a piece of skin, and studied it carefully.
Suddenly, his expression stiffened. He scraped the sword along a seam in the skin.
When he pulled back, blood stained the tip, and upon close inspection, tiny specks were visible.
No one had noticed this; the others watched in confusion. Shi Qinglan’s eyes widened.
He handed the sword back, and Shi Qinglan carefully examined the specks. They were not human flesh, but pork.
Human and pork flesh are visually similar, making them difficult to distinguish quickly.
While no one else discerned the secret within the human skin, Li Daoxuan had instantly seen it, a testament to his experience and skill. Shi Qinglan realized that the prince’s reputation for idleness was likely a facade, and he dared not ponder why Li Daoxuan allowed his name to be tarnished.
Li Daoxuan’s gaze shifted to the trembling head maid. “You said the little master did this. Tell me, did he have any distinguishing features?”
The maid stammered, “The little master’s hands… very small, very fair…”
“Since you observed so carefully, tell me: the thumb’s base, the pads and sides of the index and middle fingers, the palm, any calluses?” He referred to calluses typical of someone who handles knives for years.
“N…no.”
“The victims were cut precisely and quickly. Clearly, someone skilled with knives. From your description, the young master is delicate, fair-skinned, and from a wealthy family.” He looked at the two guqin on the table.
“These two were once popular, heavy solid-wood instruments, gradually replaced by lighter models. Anyone able to carry such a lute must be strong. How could your wealthy young master have the strength to kill two people and skin them in the time it takes to play a song?”
The maid was speechless.
Li Daoxuan said nothing more. He took a handkerchief, carefully cleaned every corner of his hand, then set it down calmly. “Seal the tower. Arrest all the kitchen staff inside.”
“Yes!”
The maid panicked. She turned, crying, “Prince Cang, if you do this, how will the tower run? So many mouths to feed! Once the Dali Temple intervenes, everyone in Chang’an will know about the murders. Who would dare come? The girls inside might starve!”
Li Daoxuan raised an eyebrow. “Did you report the case to the officials?”
The maid nodded repeatedly. “Yes…”
“Were the deceased tower girls?”
“Yes…”
“Then why waste words?” His lips straightened, his presence pressing down. “Dongshan Temple handles the case, Dali Temple assists. No idle person may leave this tower. Anyone who does, ” His eyes darkened, deadly. “Will be executed.”
The room instantly filled with kneeling voices. “Yes!”
Having issued the order, Li Daoxuan stepped out, his entourage following. Only the stunned Madam Wang remained.
After a moment, she recovered slightly, her face pale as if melting, collapsing to the ground, pounding her chest. “If only… if only…”
She whispered those words over and over; what she meant, no one knew.
While others detained the suspects, Li Daoxuan returned to the small boat.
The moment he stepped aboard, he saw Shen Qing, who had somehow fallen asleep with a lotus leaf over her head.
Rage surged. He mercilessly lifted the leaf, then scooped water and splashed it on her face.
“Mm, ” The cold shock woke her slowly. Opening her sleepy eyes, she saw a large face right in front of her. The youth was exquisitely handsome, long black hair over his shoulders, his lashes casting shadows.
A faint smile softened his sharp aura; he seemed a mischievous young boy teasing pets.
Shen Qing’s sleep vanished instantly. She shoved him away, rubbed the water off her face, muttering “childish” in frustration. She scooped water from the lake and splashed it back at him.
But Li Daoxuan had anticipated this, leapt aside before she acted. The spot she had sat on went wet.
“You’re so childish!” Shen Qing exclaimed.
Li Daoxuan casually shook off the water. “Seeing you sleep so soundly, I couldn’t wake you directly. I had no choice but this method. Lady Shen is broad-minded and shouldn’t mind.”
Shen Qing, surprisingly, fell silent immediately, though her expression remained grim. “You said you’d clear my name. What’s the situation outside?”
Li Daoxuan: “Yes, your suspicion is cleared. But Yuanchun Pavilion is now sealed by Dali Temple. For a few days, you likely cannot return home. Better consider how to explain this to your family first.”
“Your Highness needn’t worry. I have it under control.” Shen Qing had prepared her home beforehand, claiming she would stay with Zhang Miaoyin for a few days.
Then, unexpectedly, she slapped Li Daoxuan across the face.
“Smack!”