Chapter 32: Isn't It Just Playing the Piano?

Chen Qiluo returned to the inn. In the main suite, three of her subordinates were already waiting for her.

"My Lady, the informant who provided us with intelligence last night has died under mysterious circumstances again..." one of the tall, thin subordinates said with a frustrated look on his face.

Hearing this, Chen Qiluo frowned. Irritated, she grabbed a teapot and gulped down a large amount of water.

She then said, "Keep investigating! This case involves far too much. The Chief Justice is overseeing it personally, and those old fogies at the Ministry of Justice are watching us like hawks. If we fail to solve this, we’ll have no face left to return to the Divine Catcher Bureau!"

This case involved a murder within the Imperial Palace. They had tracked it all the way here, only to find that the perpetrators would likely make another move during the upcoming sacrificial ceremony. But now, the trail had gone cold again!

This certainly placed immense pressure on Chen Qiluo. At twenty-three, she had joined the Divine Catcher Bureau five years ago. During that time, she had cracked five major cases and captured seventeen notorious outlaws who had been on the run for years, earning her fame as one of the "Four Great Divine Catchers."

However, compared to the other three, her seniority and record still fell short. Consequently, many whispered behind her back that she only held her position because of her father, the Duke of Anguo!

Chen Qiluo did not care for empty prestige, but what she hated most was being told she relied on her father. Of course, she also detested being told she relied on her sister the Empress, her brother the Great General of the South, her grandfather the Minister of Justice, or her brother-in-law the Emperor.

But this case was truly tricky. She constantly felt an invisible force obstructing her investigation. Whenever she made any progress, either an informant was killed, a key figure went missing, or evidence was even stolen!

Clearly, there was a mole within the Divine Catcher Bureau! If the opposition had managed to infiltrate the Bureau, one could only imagine the immense power wielded by the mastermind behind this case. The most humiliating part was that the mole had yet to be unearthed!

The Chief Justice was naturally furious upon learning of this. Therefore, the case had been listed as the Bureau's top priority for the year—and it had become the first case Chen Qiluo absolutely had to solve.

Night soon fell. The annual Ceremony of Ascending Immortals was set for the first quarter of the Xu hour, as that was the time when the founding Martial Emperor had passed away.

Before the Xu hour, as the sky began to darken, Xue Yuan boarded a massive official vessel, sailing upstream toward the site of the ceremony, "Juyang Port."

The ship was structured in two levels and was quite spacious, with each level capable of accommodating at least seventy or eighty people. Inside, it was resplendent with gold and jade, decorated with luxury, while outside, it was adorned with colorful lanterns, adding a touch of festivity.

By tradition, those allowed to board this official vessel today and accompany the Prince to the sacrificial site were either the Prince's trusted aides or meritorious officials and outstanding figures from the past year. It was a grace that could bring honor to one's ancestors.

Unfortunately, Ningzhou had never followed this custom, nor did anyone care for such "grace." The wealthy merchants, scholars, and officials of all ranks in Ningzhou had always prided themselves on sharing a boat with Prefect Chen Zaidao. After all, who didn’t know that the true power in Ningzhou lay in the hands of Prefect Chen?

In Ningzhou, the Prince was worth less than a dog, for the Prince was an "idiot dog"—this was a mandatory label attached to the head of every person in Ningzhou.

Xue Yuan had once tried to communicate with the label, asking if it could be hidden, but the label simply turned it red and bolded it. In short, the luxurious cabin where Xue Yuan currently sat was, aside from him, only occupied by Su Ruowei and Jian Qi, presenting a scene of utter desolation.

"The list has been given to Chen Qiluo; there are five of them," Jian Qi said, half-reclining on a wooden couch inside the cabin, reading a book.

The list was what Xue Yuan had just asked Jian Qi to verify. Previously, when Wang Yu'er had taken the official seal, Xue Yuan hadn't known where she had stamped it, but after what Chen Qiluo said, he suspected it might have been on the invitations for the ceremony. After all, it would be impossible to sneak into the heavily guarded ceremony without a legitimate invitation.

By cross-referencing the list of those accompanying the ship with the original registry of invitations issued by the Prince's mansion, they could identify the individuals who were not supposed to be there—those who had sneaked in. It seemed the troublemakers were members of the Association of Loyalists. But what were they planning to do?

Xue Yuan did not respond to Jian Qi. Instead, he shoved a handful of peanuts into Su Ruowei's hand and said, "Eat some peanuts and drink some tea. It will be very lively when the ceremony starts later. Don't go running around; it would be a shame to miss it!"

Su Ruowei looked at Jian Qi, then at Xue Yuan, feeling that they were slightly different from their usual selves.

Just then, Chen Qiluo descended from the sky and hopped onto Xue Yuan's ship. Entering the cabin, she grabbed a peach, took a bite, and said, "I've found those five who sneaked in, and I have people watching them. If I actually catch the right people this time, I won't forget this favor."

She said this to Jian Qi, as she assumed that since Xue Yuan was merely an idiot, the operation must have been orchestrated by Jian Qi.

Jian Qi’s gaze remained on his book, *The World-Tilting Princess*, but he nodded and said, "After the ceremony, let's fight again."

"We'll see if I have time!"

Su Ruowei stretched, and Chen Qiluo said to Xue Yuan, "You be good now. I've sent two experts to protect you—one named Lao Qi and one named Lao Ba. They are fierce warriors from my Divine Catcher Bureau, and they are right outside the door."

This was her way of returning the favor.

Xue Yuan immediately let his clear eyes flutter and, pushing his luck, said, "Then stay and protect me too, Sister! I'm so scared right now!"

If Chen Qiluo stayed, it would increase security, and he could deepen their bond—how could Xue Yuan pass that up?

Unexpectedly, Chen Qiluo pointed toward a trailing official ship and heartlessly refused.

"No, the Great Scholar Chu is selecting personal disciples through the Six Arts of a Gentleman. I heard many masters of the zither have come, so I'm going to take a look."

Since childhood, Chen Qiluo had been fond of men who... played the zither. Her father was a master of the instrument, and every time she watched him play, he looked so elegant and transcendent—no wonder her mother had been so enamored with him back then!

Chen Qiluo wasn't necessarily looking for a man who played the zither; with her lazy and laissez-faire personality, it didn't even have to be a man. It was just that since she had heard of it, she wanted to go and take a look.

Xue Yuan valued his dignity. Back on Blue Star, he would have been too embarrassed to insist after hearing that, but fortunately, he was an idiot now!

Without a word, he went up and hugged her arm, shouting like a little rascal, "Don't go, Sister!"

The movement was a bit forceful, and his arm accidentally and very coincidentally brushed against the softest part of Chen Qiluo’s chest.

It was a strange, tingling sensation... not that Xue Yuan felt it, but Chen Qiluo did. After all, since she had grown up, no man had been able—or dared—to touch her there!

Chen Qiluo’s cold eyes narrowed slightly.

"Does he want to donate this hand?"

The thought flashed through her mind like lightning, and just as fast, her fist flew toward Xue Yuan’s face.

But suddenly, she saw a pair of innocent, clear, child-like eyes. Those eyes seemed to be questioning her: *I'm just an idiot, what could I possibly have in mind? Pfft, your heart is truly dirty!*

Chen Qiluo immediately dismissed the idea of giving him a sound thrashing, instead turning her fist into a palm and grabbing Xue Yuan's wrist.

She said coldly, "What are you doing?"

Xue Yuan blurted out, "Isn't it just playing the zither? As long as you stay, I can play for you too!"