Lord Chu's Immense Authority!

Shangguan Yunfei's mouth twitched. "Lord Chen, isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Chen Mo shrugged. "Heaven Capital City is massive. Without a lead, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. Rather than buzzing around like a headless fly, we might as well have a drink, listen to some music, and touch some thighs..."

"..."

That sounded strangely familiar...

At this moment, Lin Jingzhu said in a deep voice, "Lord Chen, isn't that going too far?"

Shangguan Yunfei's eyes lit up. Could it be that Constable Lin had been provoked into finally taking the case seriously?

With Lin Jingzhu's ability, if she could settle her mind and investigate with full effort, combined with the Demon Suppression Bureau's ability to track demonic aura, they might actually complete the mission before the deadline!

"I am a woman; how am I supposed to go to the Music Bureau?" Lin Jingzhu looked displeased.

Chen Mo rubbed his chin. "That was my oversight. Then we shall drink here instead... The misty rain, a light drink, a slight buzz—it has its own charm."

"Then you must punish yourself with three cups first," Lin Jingzhu said.

"Fair enough." Chen Mo complied readily.

?

Shangguan Yunfei's forehead was covered in question marks.

How could these two be even more unreliable than each other?

The deadline was only half a month away; they should be racing against every second, yet they were in the mood for a drink?

Especially Chen Mo. He was the lead investigator, and with the Highness herself watching this case, if he messed it up, he would bear the primary responsibility!

Wait, does Lord Chen already have a lead?

It must be. If he weren't confident, how could he be so calm?

The reason he isn't telling us is because this is our first time working together, and we haven't built trust yet...

Shangguan Yunfei looked at Chen Mo, who was sipping his wine slowly and leisurely, appearing as if he didn't care about anything. Yet, the sharp glint that flashed in his eyes suggested he had a plan hidden in his heart!

With thunder in his chest but a face as calm as a lake—Lord Chen was truly unfathomable!

Shangguan Yunfei's internal monologue went wild, unaware that Chen Mo was purely slacking off.

Solve the case?

There were no witnesses and no clear motive; even if he brought Di Renjie here, it would be useless.

Rather than wasting time in vain, he might as well handle the matters the Highness had entrusted to him... though he would certainly be punished by her in the end anyway...

Life is like a thong: one step forward and you're covered in filth, one step back and you're neck-deep in crap... Surviving in the cracks, how is that easy?

Lord Chen sighed inwardly, using wine to drown his sorrows.

The rain grew heavier, with bean-sized droplets hammering against the window lattice, making crisp "patter" sounds.

Lin Jingzhu sat by the window, her back to the curtain of rain. The alcohol rose, brewing a rosy flush on her cheeks like fine rouge.

She glanced at Chen Mo, lifted her cup, and drained it in one gulp.

She had drunk a bit too much today.

It was mostly Chen Mo's fault. His face was so pleasing to the eye that just looking at him made the wine taste better...

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the window.

Clatter, clatter, clatter—

She turned her head to look and saw four riders breaking through the curtain of rain, galloping toward them. One of them was the burly man who had been beaten earlier.

Of the remaining three, two were dressed in purple brocade and looked powerful, while the third was an old man with white hair and a white beard. The rain evaporated before it could even touch him, and the air around him was slightly distorted.

Following in the distance was a black carriage pulled by two horses. It bore no insignia, and the curtains were drawn tight, hiding the interior from view.

"Beat the small one and the old one shows up. Looks like there's more work to do."

Lin Jingzhu's expression was indifferent; she was long accustomed to this.

The four arrived nearby and reined in their horses. The white-haired old man asked, "Is this where you were beaten?"

The burly man nodded. "Right here. The person might have run off, but I remember her face..."

He scanned the area, and suddenly, he saw a woman on the second floor of the Drunken Moon Pavilion smiling and raising her glass toward him.

"That's her!"

The burly man gritted his teeth, his bloodshot eyes filled with hatred.

"Let's go."

The group dismounted and walked into the tavern.

The waiter hurried up to greet them. "What would you distinguished guests like to drink..."

"Get lost!"

Bang!

The burly man kicked the waiter, sending him flying; the man spat out blood as he crashed into the tables and chairs nearby.

Seeing his arrogance, the surrounding diners lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound for fear of inviting trouble upon themselves.

Thump, thump, thump—

The four men hurried upstairs.

The shopkeeper snuck out and dragged the unconscious waiter behind the counter.

Running a restaurant in Heaven Capital City required a sharp eye; these men clearly had significant backing and were not people he could afford to cross. If they broke some furniture, so be it—that was better than losing his life.

Upon reaching the second floor, the burly man took the lead and stepped into the private room, only to be sent flying backward the moment he crossed the threshold!

The white-haired elder's brows knit together as he reached out to catch the man steadily.

A clear, resonant voice drifted from the room: "Disturbing the peace and using objects to assault others is punishable by eighty strokes of the cane under the Great Yuan Law... Have you forgotten the pain before your scars have even healed?"

The man couldn't help but shiver.

The fifty strokes from earlier had left him with significant psychological trauma.

If he hadn't taken a Foundation Solidifying Pill, he would barely be able to walk right now.

The white-haired elder sneered, "Young and ignorant, knowing nothing of the immensity of heaven and earth!"

He strode into the room to find two men and one woman sitting inside.

A man in black sat with his back to him, drinking alone, while another middle-aged man held the bridge of his nose, seemingly contemplating the philosophy of life. Opposite them, a heroic-looking woman sat with her legs crossed, leaning on a pitch-black staff.

"Are you the one who injured my son?" The white-haired elder looked at the woman and said in a deep voice.

Lin Jingzhu nodded. "If the one from just now is your son, then yes, I was the one who hit him."

The white-haired elder's eyes narrowed. "Since you are so well-versed in the Great Yuan Law, you should know that assaulting a court official is a grave crime, right?"

Lin Jingzhu nodded. "I know."

"Good, then come with me."

The white-haired elder revealed his waist token and shouted sternly, "I am Centurion Chu Zhuo of the Heavenly Qilin Guard! You have committed assault in the street with clear evidence; I am now taking you into custody to await sentencing!"

Centurion Chu was also brimming with suppressed rage.

Things had not been going his way lately. One of his two banner officers had been thrown into the Imperial Prison, and the other had been "turned." With soldiers but no commanders, he had hit rock bottom among the ten divisions.

Furthermore, Chen Mo's promotion to Centurion posed a genuine threat to his status!

Recalling what Chen Mo had said that day about "a widow sleeping alone with no one on top," Chu Zhuo found the sentiment deeply relatable and decided he needed to find a powerful backer.

As luck would have it, the son of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue had reached out to him.

Chu Zhuo was ecstatic!

The Ministry of Revenue managed taxes and salaries—they were the imperial court's purse!

If he could cling to this thick thigh, he would have endless glory and wealth in the future!

He had arranged to meet Young Master Zhou at the teahouse today and had specifically brought his son, who served in the Imperial Guard, hoping to show him off in front of Young Master Zhou.

After all, at Chu Zhuo's age, he had reached his ceiling, but if Chu Chen could be given a boost, his future would be limitless!

And yet, this good-for-nothing had almost been beaten to death on the way here!

Making me lose all face in front of Young Master Zhou—this is not over!

There are too many eyes here; acting now might give people something to gossip about. Once I get you back to the office, I will make you wish you were dead!

Chu Zhuo stared at Lin Jingzhu with cold, sinister eyes, already contemplating how to torture her.

However, upon hearing his identity, Lin Jingzhu showed no fear; instead, she looked at the man in black with a strange expression.

"Lord Chen, is this your colleague?"

"Hm?"

Chu Zhuo frowned, looking closer; the back of that man seemed somewhat familiar...

"Lord Chu certainly has a grand display of official authority," the man in black said calmly.

"Ch-Chen Mo?!"

Chu Zhuo's scalp tightened!