At noon, there was the sound of the door opening, accompanied by the smell of fish. Huo Fenglie whispered: “Qing-ge?”

A casual response came from behind the bed curtains. Huo Fenglie stepped forward and opened them. He saw Liu Zhenqing lying in bed and reading a book, chewing on dried fruit comfortably.

“Qing-ge, it’s time to eat.”

Liu Zhenqing raised his hand and threw a book toward Huo Fenglie.

Huo Fenglie caught it at once, not understanding. But Liu Zhenqing suddenly turned sideways and held his head with one hand, his long black hair hanging down as he raised his eyebrows and smiled with a charming look.

Huo Fenglie was stunned.

Liu Zhenqing’s eyes immediately narrowed. He raised his leg and stepped on Huo Fenglie’s strong waist and abdomen.

Standing beside the bed, Huo Fenglie immediately tensed up and looked at Liu Zhenqing in shock.

“Qing-ge?”

“Er-gou, what do you mean by finding this kind of book for me? Could it be that you…..” Liu Zhenqing narrowed his eyes seductively while moving his foot along the undulating texture.

Huo Fenglie wanted to retreat, but didn’t dare move, and his body grew even more tense. He knew that Liu Zhenqing’s actions sometimes had no meaning and just came from restlessness, so Huo Fenglie didn’t think much about it at this moment and just endured it. However, for some reason, the picture that caught his eye made him instantly feel like his whole person had fallen into hellfire.

Huo Fenglie’s pupils shrank and his hand unconsciously exerted force, causing the entire book to crack.

“No, Qing-ge, this is a misunderstanding. I didn’t know this book was in the pile. I…..” Huo Fenglie tried his utmost to explain as he threw away the burning hot book in his hand.

This was the first time Liu Zhenqing had seen Huo Fenglie in such a panic since they had met again. He was completely different from usual and seemed to be quite frightened.

Liu Zhenqing held back his laughter, and said in a tone that made his feelings unclear, “I’m not angry, why are you nervous? It’s just such a coincidence, and I don’t believe it.”

In fact, Liu Zhenqing had figured it out just now. Because there was such a short time to collect them, Liu Zhenqing guessed that Er-gou must have gone to a street bookseller. No matter what was there, he packed it up and brought it back. After all, he didn’t like poetry much, and preferred more miscellaneous books, so the books at this kind of informal little book stall were the most suitable for him. Only, he didn’t expect that the boss was carrying contraband. He had probably disappeared before the boss had time to explain it to his customer, which led to this absurdity.

Before, Liu Zhenqing felt that he had been teased by Er-gou, which made him think of some strange images. Therefore, he couldn’t help but bully Er-gou to regain his position and make himself feel more balanced.

Liu Zhenqing looked at Huo Fenglie when he spoke, and the other already looked quite embarrassed. He even deliberately slid his toes down, almost reaching his lower abdomen, but Huo Fenglie suddenly reached out and grabbed him.

“Qing…..Qing-ge, it’s really a misunderstanding.” Huo Fenglie lowered his head and his voice shook, as if he was really afraid of Liu Zhenqing misunderstanding him.

Huo Fenglie’s mood swing was so great that Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but tease him.

“Really? That’s a pity. I was going to say that if it wasn’t a misunderstanding, I really want to try…..”

Huo Fenglie instantly raised his head with wide eyes. He looked at Liu Zhenqing in disbelief and almost stuttered: “Try…..try what?”

Liu Zhenqing raised his face slightly and moved his eyes up and down Huo Fenglie’s tall body, saying: “What do you want to try?”

He felt Huo Fenglie take a deep breath, looking very stimulated.

Feeling that he had teased him enough, Liu Zhenqing nearly choked to death holding in his laughter. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly saw Huo Fenglie’s eyes shift, and the other party captured his foot with sudden force.

Just then, there was movement at the door. “Brother Liu, are you there? Ai? What book is this? Why is it thrown on the ground?”

That was Bai Su’s voice.

Huo Fenglie suddenly flashed out, and Liu Zhenqing heard Bai Su say in surprise: “Zhanyuan? What are you doing?”

Liu Zhenqing looked curiously and saw tiny pieces of paper scattered in the sky like falling snowflakes, having been shattered by internal force.

This was almost to the point of destroying a corpse and eradicating the traces.

Before Huo Fenglie could explain to Bai Su, Liu Zhenqing was already laughing so hard that he hammered the bed board. Such commotion naturally attracted the attention of the two people at the door.

Bai Su didn’t understand, but Huo Fenglie’s expression was ever-changing. Seeing Liu Zhenqing laugh like this, there was still something he wasn’t clear about.

“What’s going on?” Bai Su had thought that Liu Zhenqing was in a bad mood, so he came back to visit him at noon. Unexpectedly, he saw Huo Fenglie acting strange as soon as he came in, and Liu Zhenqing was laughing so hard that he was about to burst into tears.

Liu Zhenqing sat on the bed and said while laughing: “Brother Huo found an interesting book for me.”

Bai Su asked in confusion: “What book? The one that was just destroyed?” Why destroy it if it was interesting?

Liu Zhenqing looked at Huo Fenglie with a smile and said: “Now you can only ask Brother Huo about that book.”

Huo Fenglie looked embarrassed and said: “It’s nothing. Yuzhou, you and Brother Liu have a meal. I have something else to do, so I’ll leave first.”

Bai Su just thought there was some small secret between them and didn’t delve into it. Seeing how Huo Fenglie left in a hurry, he looked at Liu Zhenqing.

Liu Zhenqing shrugged and got out of bed to greet Bai Su and eat. However, as soon as his feet touched the ground, he felt a slight residual pain. Liu Zhenqing was taken aback. Er-gou had grabbed him rather hard that last time.

Bai Su saw the things on Liu Zhenqing’s bed and looked at him helplessly.

Liu Zhenqing smiled and said: “I really have nothing to do, so I can only lie down to kill time.”

Bai Su said with a sigh: “I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing to me?” Liu Zhenqing said. “Is Cheng Xi okay?”

“He coughed for a while and took medicine before getting better. Then he kept working,” Bai Su said with a frown.

Liu Zhenqing sat down and took the food out of the food box. It was hot, and the grilled fish had all the bones picked out. How had he done such a difficult thing?

He imagined Huo Fenglie picking fish bones and said casually: “Is he still angry?”

Bai Su looked a little unnatural. “He just cares so much about my brother.”

Liu Zhenqing raised his eyebrows and said: “It’s not that simple.”

Bai Su was a little embarrassed, and said: “You saw it too? To tell you the truth, my brother was indeed interested in Cheng-daren, and now it seems that Cheng-daren is also…..”

Bai Su said with some envy in his eyes: “Their friendship was so deep, but they missed the opportunity. It is a pity that they were not destined.”

Liu Zhenqing recalled Bai Yu’s disposition. He didn’t know if it was just that he was emotional after being treated with hostility, but Liu Zhenqing felt that Bai Yu wouldn’t have been happy with Cheng Xi. Looking at Bai Su now, Liu Zhenqing frowned slightly.

Liu Zhenqing still had an impression of Bai Su as a child. Bai Su admired Bai Yu very much and regarded Bai Yu’s hobbies as his own. He liked to be close to Bai Yu in everything. In fact, his nature was more lively when he was a child, but now Bai Su lived like Bai Yu in every aspect.

Seeing Bai Su like this, Liu Zhenqing suddenly said: “Forget it, let’s not talk about this. That’s right, I read a lot of interesting story books today. The love stories were very beautiful and enviable. They made me want to fall in love.”

Bai Su’s attention was diverted by this interesting statement, and he said with a smile: “Really?”

Liu Zhenqing said with unclear implications: “Sometimes when I read them, I really wish I was the hero in the book and could enjoy the same love.”

After speaking, Liu Zhenqing happily began to eat, but the person across from him didn’t pick up his chopsticks for some time. It wasn’t until Liu Zhenqing urged him that Bai Su started eating.

When Huo Fenglie returned in the afternoon, Bai Su had left and the bed curtains were lowered. Liu Zhenqing seemed to be asleep inside.

Huo Fenglie brought another pile of snacks. Even in his confusion before, he had noticed that the snacks had been finished off. He didn’t try to open the curtain, but just reached inside.

He was silently placing the snacks on the edge of the bed when his hand was suddenly grabbed.

Huo Fenglie’s expression didn’t change. When he saw the bed curtain open, he just whispered: “Did I wake you up?”

Liu Zhenqing tilted his head and looked at Huo Fenglie with a smile, saying: “What? Are you angry with me? Don’t you want to have dinner with me anymore?”

“I’m not. I’m going to keep an eye on that person.” Huo Fenglie didn’t raise his head to look at him. He tried to pull his hand back, but didn’t dare to use too much force.

Liu Zhenqing tightened his grip and said: “Sorry, Qing-ge went too far. I shouldn’t have teased you like that. Please forgive me, I’ll never tease you like this again.”

Huo Fenglie’s furrowed brow didn’t loosen. He just raised his head and looked deeply at Liu Zhenqing. Liu Zhenqing couldn’t make heads nor tails of the complicated look in his eyes.

Huo Fenglie reached out and pushed Liu Zhenqing’s hand away, his expression gradually turning to normal as he said: “Qing-ge, I’m really not angry with you. That you could tease me means that you’ve regained your spirits, so that’s good.”

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help feeling guilty. He moved closer and touched Er-gou’s head. “Er-gou is still magnanimous.”

Er-gou was so good, and yet he still teased him like this. This was really not good, and he needed to reflect on it.

But Huo Fenglie’s eyes gradually dimmed with such an embrace.

Afterwards, the two got down to business. Having rested all morning, Liu Zhenqing felt full of energy.

“So Du Dongfeng has been acting very normal, and it doesn’t seem like there is anyone else behind him?”

“I suppose we’ll have to wait until evening.”

“En, I had better go to Qin Yu’s place to have a look in the afternoon.”

Soon after, Huo Fenglie sent Liu Zhenqing to the interrogation room. Qin Yu and He Lan were both there, and were a little surprised to see Liu Zhenqing come over.

He Lan said: “Is it appropriate for a young master like him to be here? Lao Qin’s methods are so twisted. After seeing this, he will have nightmares.”

Qin Yu glanced at He Lan coldly.

He Lan immediately apologized with a smile.

Huo Fenglie looked at Liu Zhenqing.

Liu Zhenqing shook his head and smiled. “Don’t worry, I have a strong tolerance.”

Everyone thought he was just worried about his family and wanted to find the truth quickly, so they accepted his presence.

Once Huo Fenglie left, Qin Yu said to Liu Zhenqing: “There is no information about your Liu family.”

He Lan sat directly on the table and crossed his legs in an unceremonious manner, saying: “I was just wondering, what does your Liu family have to do with the Imperial Examinations?”

Liu Zhenqing said: “I don’t know either. I’d like to start with the personal information of the officials. Do you have anything on them?”

Qin Yu pointed to the bookshelf beside them and said: “The information and confessions have been preserved. Take a look.”

Liu Zhenqing finally got what he wanted, and checked them one by one against the list in his memory.

The afternoon passed by, and He Lan received a shock. He spoke in Qin Yu’s ear: “Look, he’s so calm, ah. He hasn’t even raised his head despite so many screams. Could it be that he’s as vicious as you deep down?”

There was a snap as soon as he finished speaking, and He Lan gave an aiyo, touching the leg that Qin Yu had whipped. He could only grit his teeth and say: “You wait, sooner or later, I’m going to whip you hard too…..”

Qin Yu’s narrow phoenix eyes swept over, and He Lan immediately shut up.

Liu Zhenqing nearby didn’t notice their quarrel at all and calmly turned a page.

He didn’t go back in the evening and just had dinner here. Facing the smell of blood and the cursing in the room, Liu Zhenqing felt nothing and thought about what he had read.

He had noticed two strange things.

Firstly, the First Princess had come here with Rong Shiming two years ago. Officials including Magistrate Yao and Cheng Xi had participated in the reception. And the Imperial Examination fraud model had begun almost two years ago.

Secondly, the list of officials involved in the Imperial Examination fraud had a high degree of overlap with those who may have been involved in the tax money corruption case, except for Magistrate Yao.

Although it seemed normal to say that corrupt officials would do all kinds of wicked deeds, there was one thing that was very strange. There were very few officials in the capital who were involved in the Imperial Examination fraud. After all, such a model didn’t require the participation of many officials at all. As long as there were exam questions, just one was enough. The focus was on the academy and the candidates. But so many officials were involved in the south, as if they had all heard about this and were roped in to get a share of the pie.

Was this a plot by someone behind the scenes?

Magistrate Yao was not among the officials who committed fraud. Could it be that he was plotting against these officials behind the scenes? Why? He was already the local boss, and others couldn’t shake him at all. Even in the tax fraud case, they were all grasshoppers on the same string, so why bother?

Or were these people just well-informed and trying to make money?

Huo Fenglie suddenly came over at this time. Seeing his expression, it was obvious that Du Dongfeng had made a move.

Huo Fenglie didn’t say much, and picked him up directly.

He Lan had originally wanted to complain to Huo Fenglie about his hard work, and thought that everyone could go out to drink and relax together in the evening. But as soon as he turned around, that person was gone. Their work had come to an end, so he took Qin Yu and went to find people to drink with.

As soon as they went out, they saw Huo Fenglie and Liu Zhenqing walking along the eaves, but they were heading toward the courtyard where they were staying.

What were these two playing at?

He Lan was immediately nosy, and took Qin Yu to fly up to the roof and watch the fun.

In the end, they saw them land directly on Bai Su’s roof and lay down.

Qin Yu, who was forcibly dragged over, couldn’t help but become curious. After all, he also stayed in that house.

When the two got closer, Huo Fenglie naturally discovered them. When he saw them descend, he didn’t chase them away, but just shushed them and indicated that there was someone in the room.

The two understood at once and lay down to observe.

Liu Zhenqing was still confused. Weren’t they going to watch Du Dongfeng?

Why did they come to Bai Su’s residence?

Did Huo Fenglie mean that Du Dongfeng was in Bai Su’s residence? What for? To attack him?

After a while, Bai Su returned, looking preoccupied.

Huo Fenglie raised his head and glanced at Qin Yu and He Lan. In order to discover the purpose of the person in the house, it was inconvenient to warn Bai Su, but they also couldn’t put their brother in danger, so the two of them landed at different windows and continued to observe the situation inside. This way, under the siege of three people, Bai Su would be protected no matter what.

Bai Su returned to the house and lit the candles in a daze. He heard movement after a moment, and turned around suddenly to see a figure rushing over.

Startled, Bai Su stood up quickly. Just as he was about to shout, he saw the person kneel on the ground with a thud.

“Greeting Second Young Master Bai!”

Bai Su was taken aback. He saw that the person who was kneeling sincerely was an acquaintance, and couldn’t help but say in surprise: “What…..what are you doing? I remember that you’re Du Dongfeng, a government servant?”

“No, my real name is not Du Dongfeng. In fact, my surname is Yuan. Ten years ago, my father was Yuan Du, a third-rank official in the Imperial court.”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.

Bai Su was even more shocked. “Yuan-daren? Wasn’t Yuan-daren’s entire family……”

One of the evil deeds of the treacherous minister was to levy excessive taxes in the south. The problem was serious, and a good official was recommended to investigate but was assassinated by Liu Zhenqing. In the end, even his family members in the capital were wiped out.

This rumored good official was Yuan Du, who was known for his integrity!

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Chapter Forty-Eight << Table of Contents >> Chapter Fifty