Warm Jade

The chancellor's paternal affection instantly overflowed like a burst dam. Lifting his official robes, he rushed over and reached Shen Tingjue in the blink of an eye. He wrapped an arm around him protectively, patted his back, and said remorsefully:

"Ah, it's all Father's fault for making you attend this poetry gathering and frightening you. Don't be afraid. When I came, His Majesty said that your health is frail and you needn't get involved in this. He has specially permitted you to return to the residence and rest first. Have a bowl of bird's nest soup to calm your nerves."

Shen Tingjue was delighted and was just about to go along with it and say, "Then I'll go back," when he caught sight of the crown prince from the corner of his eye. The words on his lips abruptly changed course.

"That won't do. Everyone in Spring Garden could be involved in the case. Since they are investigating, I cannot leave, lest people say His Majesty is showing me favoritism. It would also damage your reputation, Father."

Seeing how sensible Shen Tingjue was, the chancellor felt both gratified and even more fond of him. He pulled his fox-fur cloak tighter around him, his gaze gentle. "The Court of Judicial Review is merely questioning everyone one by one. Other than Qufeng Courtyard, did you go anywhere alone earlier?"

Shen Tingjue shook his head. "No. After arriving, I stayed in the pavilion eating until I wanted to go home. When I passed Serenity Lake, I saw a crowd gathered there and only then learned that someone had died."

The chancellor stuffed the hand warmer he had brought into Shen Tingjue's arms. "Then that settles it. This matter has nothing to do with you. It's cold out. Be good and go back to the residence first."

Shen Tingjue glanced at Xiao Hanye, who was talking to Wen Jingkong. His eyes glistened as he lightly tugged the chancellor's sleeve. "But I want to wait and go back with you. With Father here, there's nothing for me to be afraid of."

Seeing his son rely on him so much, the chancellor's paternal vanity was immensely satisfied. He chuckled. "All right. Go sit inside the pavilion first. Father will go see what's happening over there, and I'll come find you once I'm done. Don't run around, understand?"

Shen Tingjue nodded obediently. "Mm-hm."

The chancellor left with frequent backward glances, still worried about him. He followed the Chief Judge of the Court of Judicial Review to inspect the victim's body. The Imperial Guard worked with swift efficiency and quickly searched all of Spring Garden before reporting, "Reporting to Your Highness and Commander: no suspicious persons or locations were found."

The Imperial College students were all deeply uneasy as the Imperial Guard called them over one by one for searches and questioning. Shen Tingjue had once again become the young master of the Chancellor's Residence who had fallen out with the crown prince. Leaning against the railing, he gazed at him with an indifferent expression, his fingers continually stroking the Warm Jade at his waist.

Xiao Hanye stood at a neither-too-near-nor-too-far distance from him. He narrowed his eyes slightly, inexplicably feeling as though he himself were that piece of Warm Jade.

Though the other man did not say a word, he somehow always gave the impression that he was flirting at every moment. Especially that look in his eyes—it was utterly wicked.

Following Xiao Hanye's gaze, Wen Jingkong suddenly exclaimed, "Hey, why does the Warm Jade at his waist look exactly like yours? Huh? Where's the Warm Jade you always wear?"

Xiao Hanye shot him a sidelong glance from the corner of his eye and said nothing.

Wen Jingkong's eyes slowly widened, as though he had uncovered some shocking secret. In disbelief, he asked, "Don't tell me the one he's wearing is yours?"

Xiao Hanye turned away, unwilling to pay him any attention.

His silence was a wordless admission. Wen Jingkong pestered him, deeply dissatisfied. "You're going too far. As your own cousin, I've never received so much as a gift from you, yet you gave him even something Aunt left you. We're both your cousins, and I'm even related to you by blood. Why are you treating us so differently?"

Xiao Hanye said mercilessly, "I judge by looks."

Wen Jingkong: "..."

Was there really any need to wound his heart like that?

Besides, he was quite handsome and elegant himself.

Xiao Hanye walked into the pavilion, carrying a chill with him as he stopped beside Shen Tingjue. Shen Tingjue was enveloped by his shadow. He had intended to keep up his act and refuse to speak to him, but he suddenly sniffed, leaned closer, and narrowed his eyes. "Where did that rouge scent come from?"

Xiao Hanye stepped back slightly. "I attended a banquet earlier."

Shen Tingjue grabbed his collar, his tone unfriendly. "Surrounded by beauties, with one on each arm?"

Xiao Hanye said, "I didn't touch them."

Only after speaking did Xiao Hanye realize something was wrong. He slapped Shen Tingjue's hand away, straightened his collar, and put on the cold expression of someone saying, "Even if I had one on each arm, it would be none of your business."

Shen Tingjue pulled out a handful of peanuts from his pocket and tried to stuff them, shells and all, into Xiao Hanye's mouth.

Standing at the foot of the steps, Wen Jingkong watched Shen Tingjue grab the crown prince's collar and shove peanuts at him. His mouth hung open as his respect for Shen Tingjue rose once more. At the same time, he thought indignantly that if it had been him, he would have been punched straight into the snow.

Why did everyone like Shen Tingjue so much?

Was it just because he had such a fair, lovable face?

Wen Jingkong narrowed his eyes and studied Shen Tingjue closely. His skin was white as snow, and with that plain white fox-fur cloak, he looked like a pure white lotus in full bloom.

He was simply too innocent-looking.

Anyone who saw him would be utterly dazzled.

Sure enough, looks really were important.

As Wen Jingkong sighed to himself, he saw the deputy general jog over, shaking the snow from his shoulders and breathing warm air into his hands. "The coroner's examination results are out. The person was indeed drowned after being forced into the water. There were no other injuries on the body, but an even more shocking discovery was made. Guess what it is."

Xiao Hanye glanced at him.

The deputy general had intended to keep them in suspense, but Xiao Hanye's chilly look made him shudder. Clearing his throat, he said, "That Sang Wen was a woman! A woman!"

He shouted so loudly that everyone from the Imperial College heard him clearly. An uproar instantly broke out as they chattered animatedly, making the scene resemble a group of market women gathered to gossip.

Finding the noise irritating, Xiao Hanye coldly barked, "All of you, shut up."

Everyone instantly fell silent. They hunched their shoulders and did not even dare breathe too loudly, lowering their heads like quails as they waited to be reprimanded.

A woman disguising herself as a man to enroll in the Imperial College was, at worst, a crime of deceiving the emperor. But now that she was dead, there was naturally no punishment to discuss. Instead, the case had only become more baffling.

A woman from the countryside had ignored perfectly good private schools and academies, traveling all the way to Chang'an to disguise herself as a man and enroll in the Imperial College.

Could it be that she harbored great ambitions and wished to seek fame and office like a man, becoming a marquis or chancellor?

If that were truly the case, she would indeed have been an extraordinary woman.

But things were likely not so simple.

The identities and ancestral homes of students entering the Imperial College were all registered in detail. The Court of Judicial Review dispatched people overnight to Sang Wen's home in Peace Creek Village, but they were one step too late.

According to the villagers, the Sang Family home had caught fire in the middle of the night. Someone who had gotten up to use the latrine saw flames soaring into the sky in the distance and hurriedly woke the neighboring villagers. They rushed over in a group, but by the time they arrived, the house had nearly burned down. The elderly couple of the Sang Family was nowhere to be seen and had most likely perished in the blaze.

Tragic indeed.

When asked whether the Sang Family's elderly couple had a daughter, the villagers shook their heads. "No daughter, only a son named Sang Wen. He went to the capital at the age of ten to serve as a servant for a wealthy household. He only returned home three years ago. After that, he remained at home caring for his parents and studying diligently, saying he wanted to earn scholarly honors."