Seeing him go in, Duan Xiaoyan remembered something and got up to shout: “Oh right, the Deputy just came back and seemed to be looking for you.”
Pei Yunying entered the division and first went to the military records room. After putting away the military roster in his hands and exiting the room, he was blocked at the door by Xiao Zhufeng.
“You’re back early.” Pei Yunying walked toward the quarters, with Xiao Zhufeng following behind.
“I took people to the Military Horses Division today.”
Pei Yunying: “How did it go?”
“Lei Yuan is dead.”
Pei Yunying entered the room: “As expected. The Lu Dashan affair implicated many people. With several of the Military Horses Division’s operatives in my hands, they’re naturally busy eliminating witnesses.”
Xiao Zhufeng turned to close the door: “Lu Dashan’s case involves the Crown Prince. Now that the Military Horses Division and Criminal Justice Division are implicated… the Crown Prince probably already has the Grand Tutor’s Manor’s support.”
“Don’t worry,” Pei Yunying smiled, reaching to unbuckle his sword from his waist. “This imperial city is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. It’s not over yet—victory and defeat are still uncertain. Why are you nervous?”
Xiao Zhufeng paused, then continued: “There’s another matter.”
“What?”
“Today I saw Dr. Lu at Criminal Court Chief Judge Fan Zhenglian’s residence. She came out of the Fan residence.”
Pei Yunying’s motion of removing his sword paused.
Xiao Zhufeng reminded him with a wooden expression: “The female doctor we met at Wan’en Temple before—you helped her out of a predicament, but she didn’t want to acknowledge you.”
Pei Yunying laughed in exasperation: “Which eye of yours saw that she didn’t want to acknowledge me?”
“Both Duan Xiaoyan’s and my four eyes saw it.” Xiao Zhufeng asked: “Aren’t you curious about her purpose in visiting the Fan residence?”
“Honestly, a bit curious.” Pei Yunying placed his sword on the table and sat down in a chair. “This Dr. Lu seems to dislike the powerful and wealthy, finding them extremely distasteful. When officials come to buy medicine, she makes them beg repeatedly. Her personally visiting the Fan residence is unexpected.”
“I don’t believe she has no ulterior motive.”
Xiao Zhufeng asked: “Should we have someone watch her?”
Pei Yunying smiled: “No need. The division has been busy lately—we barely have enough people. Don’t waste manpower.”
Xiao Zhufeng said “Oh.”
Pei Yunying then changed his mind: “Actually, go tell Duan Xiaoyan to have someone watch the Fan residence and also pay attention to Lu Tong’s movements in and out of the Fan residence.”
Xiao Zhufeng gave him a meaningful look.
Pei Yunying picked up a paperweight from the table and threw it at him, laughing: “Don’t misunderstand. I just think that since Fan Zhenglian has secret dealings with the Grand Tutor’s Manor, we might be able to extract quite a bit of information from his residence.”
“As for that Dr. Lu…”
He tapped the table with his fingertip, speaking thoughtfully: “Fan Zhenglian is a court official, not an ordinary merchant. If something happens, it will inevitably trigger official investigation. Moreover, the Fan residence keeps guards.”
“…Even if she’s extremely bold, she surely wouldn’t dare kill someone in an official’s residence, right?”
This story is purely fictional. Don’t give dogs diet pills, and humans shouldn’t eat them either. Exercise is the best way to lose weight!