Just as Lou Xiwu had changed into fresh garments, a gentle knock sounded at the door. Zhuo Qing glanced at her, and Lou Xiwu gave a small nod. Only then did Zhuo Qing raise her voice and say, "Come in."
The one who entered was Lou Xiyan. Seeing that Xiwu's complexion and spirits had improved, he gently patted her shoulder with affectionate concern and asked softly, "Are you feeling better now?"
Lou Xiwu nodded, knowing she had worried her brother. She nodded once more, smiling as brightly as she could. "Don't worry, Brother. I'm fine now."
The door had been opened, and faint murmurs of conversation could be heard from outside. Zhuo Qing inquired, "Has Jing Sa caught the culprit yet?"
Lou Xiyan shook his head and, not wanting to frighten Xiwu, merely gave a faint smile. "He will be caught eventually."
Jing Sa's martial skills were formidable, and he was aided by numerous guards in the pursuit. Yet, the assailant had still escaped! Either his abilities were unfathomably deep, or he knew the terrain of the Prime Minister's residence and the capital like the back of his hand.
Seeing that Xiwu's spirits were indeed better, Lou Xiyan asked in a gentle tone, "Lord Shan wishes to ask you a few questions. Is that all right?"
Lou Xiwu had already prepared herself mentally and nodded. "Very well."
Hand in hand, the three walked past the screen and into the outer parlor. Only then did Lou Xiyan speak toward the door, "Lord Shan, please enter."
It seemed Shan Yulan had long been waiting outside. As soon as the words left Lou Xiyan's mouth, his tall figure appeared in the doorway. As a noble-born lady, Lou Xiwu followed etiquette, and only two young men accompanied Shan Yulan inside; the rest of the officers remained outside in the courtyard.
Upon entering, Shan Yulan gave a polite clasp of his hands. "Greetings to Prime Minister Lou, Madam, and Miss Lou."
The two young men behind him began scanning the room as soon as they stepped inside. The tall and slender one looked around with little restraint, while the fairer, more reserved young man cast sharp, subtle glances, already surveying the entire room as he entered.
They were likely here to gather evidence but dared not act rashly in the residence of a noble lady. Zhuo Qing gave a small smile and said, "Lord Shan, we haven't touched anything in the room. Feel free to have your men collect any evidence you deem necessary. Xiwu is a little tired, so please be direct with your questions."
One of their greatest challenges in handling murder cases was that the victims' relatives would often disturb the scene, making evidence collection difficult. This young woman's foresight in preserving the scene piqued the curiosity of both Cheng Hang and Lü Jin. Their gazes inevitably drifted toward the young lady sitting beside the Prime Minister.
Two scar-like gashes marred her once exquisite face. Noticing their stares, she offered a calm, courteous smile and nodded in greeting, unflustered. The radiant light in her eyes and her composed demeanor left a striking impression.
"Very well," Shan Yulan said, then instructed the man behind him in a low voice, "Cheng Hang, collect all clues as quickly as possible."
"Yes, my lord." Cheng Hang entered the inner room, while Lü Jin took out paper and brush.
Shan Yulan dispensed with pleasantries and asked directly, "Miss Lou, did you get a clear look at the perpetrator?"
Lou Xiwu shook her head and answered frankly, "No. I don't know what happened. I only remember lying down to rest, and then everything became a blur. By the time I regained consciousness, my brother was already at my side."
Her reply was vague. Zhuo Qing calmly added, "When we heard a noise and rushed over, Jing Sa was already chasing after the intruder. Xiwu was disoriented at the time. Her clothes were disheveled, but she was not harmed."
Xiwu's cheeks turned slightly red, and she lowered her head. Zhuo Qing gently patted her hand to comfort her, and after a moment, Xiwu's expression returned to normal.
Shan Yulan had already asked Jing Sa earlier—he had said the assailant wore a silver-grey mask, concealing his face. The only surviving witness had been unconscious the entire time, and was unlikely to offer much information. Though disappointed, Shan Yulan remained thorough and continued his questioning. "Before you went to bed, did you notice anything unusual?"
Lou Xiwu thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No, nothing seemed different. Su'er brought me some ginseng soup, and after drinking it, I went to sleep."
"And where is this Su'er girl now?" Could the soup have been drugged?
Lou Xiwu clearly didn't know where Su'er was either. She looked anxiously at Lou Xiyan, who gently patted her shoulder in reassurance and replied to Shan Yulan, "Su'er is Xiwu's personal maid. She usually rests in the side chamber. But now she is unconscious as well, and the physician is currently examining her."
Even the maid was unconscious—just like the maids in the other three victims' rooms. None of them had been conscious during the attack, and when they awoke, they only saw corpses. The same method had likely been used again, though the killer was interrupted this time.
"Do you feel any discomfort now?" If she had been drugged, there should be lingering effects.
Lou Xiwu blinked and shook her head. "No, I feel fine. Just a little sleepy."
Her response made Shan Yulan feel yet another wave of frustration, but his expression remained calm. He continued, "Have you left the residence recently? Or come into contact with any strangers these past few days?"
"I went to the palace a few days ago, but haven't left the estate since. These past days I've only been with Su'er and Sister-in-law. I haven't interacted with anyone else."
She rarely went out to begin with. The master of Qiansi Pavilion hadn't finished designing her wedding attire, and her sister-in-law had been unwell, so she'd stayed home.
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Qing suddenly recalled something. "This afternoon, Su Mufeng came by."
Xiwu nodded, but quickly added, "He only said a few words and left. It wasn't anything important."
They wouldn't suspect Young Master Su, would they? He couldn't possibly be the culprit.
Though Zhuo Qing didn't believe Su Mufeng was involved, every detail needed to be recorded. Identifying the killer was the authorities' job.
A fleeting gleam passed through Shan Yulan's eyes. "Miss Lou, are you also learning to play the qin from Young Master Su?"
Also? The choice of that word was telling. Both Zhuo Qing and Lou Xiyan sensed something amiss and exchanged a quick glance, but neither revealed it.
While Lü Jin recorded everything, he didn't miss the subtle shifts in expression. The Prime Minister was sharp enough to detect the weight behind a single word, and his wife clearly wasn't ordinary either—befitting of her status.
Lou Xiwu, unaware of the undercurrents, replied earnestly, "Yes. I've only just begun this past month. He's given me four lessons. Today, he came to say farewell."
"Why won't the lessons continue?"
She pouted slightly and answered, "He said the capital is in unrest lately, and it's inconvenient to come and go from the Prime Minister's residence, so he won't be returning."
Truthfully, she still wished to continue learning from him.
Shan Yulan nodded in understanding. It seemed there was little more to be gleaned today. Just then, Cheng Hang emerged from the inner room, but instead of returning to Shan Yulan, he went to inspect the wooden door, squatting there for some time before approaching with a grave expression.
Shan Yulan tilted his head slightly and asked in a low voice, "Cheng Hang, are you finished?"
"Yes, my lord." Cheng Hang was carrying several cloth-wrapped bundles. He laid them out on the table: remnants of unburned sandalwood incense, a silk handkerchief, and some unidentified dirt fragments.
Cheng Hang asked, "Prime Minister Lou, may I take these?"
Lou Xiyan nodded. "Of course."
Shan Yulan stood and once again clasped his hands in salute. "Apologies for the disturbance, Miss Lou. If there is anything else we require, we will trouble you again."
Lou Xiwu also rose and returned the gesture. "You are too kind, Lord Shan. I only hope I can be of help in capturing the perpetrator as soon as possible."
Zhuo Qing had been quietly observing Shan Yulan's expression. His brow remained deeply furrowed, lacking his usual confidence and ease. She couldn't help but ask, "Lord Shan, do you have confidence in solving this case?"
Shan Yulan's step faltered slightly. He shook his head honestly and asked in a low voice, "Does Madam have any insight to offer?"
Zhuo Qing shook her head. "Not until I've seen the body. But—I may have a suggestion…"