Chapter Four: The Weeping Plum Chapter Twenty-Five: The Enigmatic Blood Plum Case

"I was merely reminding you!" The man in black beneath the tree gradually stepped into everyone's view.

"I don't need your reminders! Don't forget your own place! What right do you have to meddle in my affairs?" After Su Liuyun rebuked Ji Shui Bao—known to everyone as Master Xu Liang—she probed Yubing with narrowed eyes. "Yubing, you lived in Qinghe Town for years, and I never realized you were skilled in martial arts! You hid it well! Who are you, really? The events of eight years ago have nothing to do with you! Why must you muddy the waters?"

Yubing ignored her probing. Instead, her mind raced, searching for a crucial link between their names—a clue that might reveal everything. Yes! Their positions!

She smiled faintly, meeting Su Liuyun's gaze with utter certainty. "I understand now! The master you speak of and the lord he refers to are one and the same, aren’t they? If I’m not mistaken, he is your leader, isn’t he? Am I right?"

"How do you… How could you possibly know?" Ji Shui Bao and Su Liuyun were both stunned, but Ji Shui Bao recovered first, pointing at Yubing. "Ah! I see it now. You’re the little girl who escaped that year, aren’t you?"

"Not only do I know who your master is, I know what each of you represents," Yubing replied, masking her intentions with words. As the two exchanged shocked glances, she deftly flicked her finger in Ji Shui Bao's direction, diverting their attention again. "You are the lowest ranked among the Eastern Seven Stars of the Twenty-Eight Constellations!" Catching them off guard, she turned her hand and pointed at Su Liuyun. "And you, codenamed Heart Moon Fox, rank fifth among the Eastern Constellations! Both of you must be among the Twelve Fiends!"

The crowd stared at each other in confusion, unable to comprehend the strange exchange.

But the two on the opposite side were filled with horror—what was there that she didn't know? With a silent nod to each other, they agreed: this woman must die. She knew too much.

Just as they reached for their weapons to make a final attack and complete their mission, they were horrified to discover they could not move. "What… what did you… do to us?" Su Liuyun struggled to speak, carefully avoiding biting her own tongue.

"Did you not notice the pain in your chest?" Yubing spread her hands playfully. She had not intended to reveal her Soul-chasing Needles so soon.

But now, with her identity nearly exposed, she had no choice but to eliminate this threat before more bloodshed occurred.

"Could it be… just now, you…" But they would never finish that thought, for Yubing had already retrieved her silver needles.

"I also know it was you who forced my parents to their deaths eight years ago and killed Uncle Li, wiping out over three hundred members of the Di family! They’re all waiting for you in the afterlife," Yubing recited silently.

After this assault, Zhang Huai insisted on accompanying them to the Zhongzhou Prefecture office. He now realized that Yubing was constantly at risk of assassination.

Though he still did not fully understand, he knew everything had begun with her father’s legacy.

Their journey continued without further incident. Along the way, Lord Xu explained the development of the Plum Blossom Case:

The crime had occurred at the ancestral home of Lord Chang, Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, in Xiaqiu County, which was under Yan Prefecture’s jurisdiction. Eight years had passed; when the case was reported, half a month had already elapsed since the night of the incident. The magistrate of Xiaqiu had reported: Lord Chang’s entire family had mysteriously vanished.

At the time, Lord Xu had been a record keeper in Yan Prefecture, and the news nearly scared him to death. Lord Chang was a third-rank imperial official, permitted to enter the palace and advise the emperor! For such a figure to disappear in a small county under his watch—how could he bear the responsibility?

So he immediately consulted with his superior: some men were sent to investigate locally, while an urgent dispatch was sent to the Yan Prefecture Governor’s office. But before their agents found anything, the governor, as though discarding a hot potato, sent an express dispatch straight to the palace!

They had expected the case to cause an uproar at court, but to their surprise, it vanished without a trace, as if swallowed by the sea. Their men in Xiaqiu also returned empty-handed. With everyone passing the buck, the case was delayed until early March. Just as the governor was about to submit another urgent petition to Elder Di, tragic news arrived: Elder Di had died of illness, and due to the contagion, there were no survivors in the Di household.

"And so, the case faded away. Until recently, when I received this letter, with the scent of plum blossoms you noticed upon it. It reminded me again of the strange case from eight years ago. All the records are still at the Zhongzhou Prefecture office. When you arrive, rest at my residence for the night, and tomorrow you may investigate," Lord Xu concluded, gazing out the window at the fleeting mountains, sighing, "Life is unpredictable."

"Yubing, your troubles also began eight years ago. Are you connected to Lord Chang in some way?" Zhang Huai was first to notice her agitation and could not help but speculate.

"You seem to have a poor memory," Yubing replied, her mood lightened by the change of topic.

"Right! I forgot! When we met, you said you were from Qinghe Town," Zhang Huai answered shamelessly, as long as she was no longer sad.

That evening, they entered Yan Prefecture city. Yubing and the others spent the night at Lord Xu's home, and the next day hurried on to the Zhongzhou Prefecture office.

"My lord!..." As they entered, a man dressed much like a county registrar greeted them and escorted them to the inner hall, unable to contain his curiosity. "My lord, what was the outcome of your journey? What of the letter?"

"The past need not be mentioned. Qiu, go fetch the Plum Blossom Case records from six years ago," Lord Xu instructed, unwilling to discuss his family affairs.

"Yes, sir, I’ll fetch them at once!" Sensing his superior’s stern expression, Qiu obeyed without another word.

"Tea, please," Lord Xu said, inviting Zhang Huai to the seat of honor and courteously seating Yubing. Once tea was served, he addressed Zhang Huai again, "This is the finest Dragon Well tea picked before the rains—Master Zhang, please, have a taste. How is it?" He nearly slipped and called him ‘Your Highness,’ but caught himself just in time.

"Very nice! Yubing, you must try some—the tea here is far better than in those inns," Zhang Huai said, draining his cup in one gulp.

Noticing Lord Xu's twitching lips, Yubing could not help but smile—his mischievous nature was showing itself again.

"My lord, all the records on the Plum Blossom Case are here," Qiu's voice sounded from the doorway as he entered, arms laden with a high stack of scrolls, swaying with each step.

"Careful, don’t let them fall!" Lord Xu hurried to help, taking several scrolls. "Set these on the table to Miss Yubing’s left."

He placed the rest on her right. "Here are all the records on the Plum Blossom Case. Take your time," he said to Yubing, then turned to Zhang Huai, "Your High—er, Master Zhang, I must report to the governor. Would you…?"

"Go ahead," Zhang Huai replied. As Lord Xu passed by, a folding fan suddenly blocked his way. Startled, he looked at the fan in Zhang Huai’s hand, nervous.

Zhang Huai grinned mischievously, "Remember, keep this confidential! Or else…"

"Yes, sir, I understand!" Lord Xu replied, edging away from the threatening fan.

"Go on, then!" As the fan was withdrawn, Lord Xu fled as if granted a pardon.

Zhang Huai could not help but laugh. "That old fellow is rather amusing!"

"Brother Zhang, mind your image!" Yubing chided, half exasperated. At times, his innate dignity made people wary of approaching him, yet now he seemed more like a mischievous child.

He would certainly not leave now, even if she tried to drive him away. On the road, she’d seen his keen interest in the case—he was already deeply intrigued.

Some things are destined; no matter how one tries, they cannot be avoided. Since that is so, why not take the plunge?

Though he was the Crown Prince, he was now entangled in this case and could not easily extricate himself. Judging by his lively interest, he had no intention of leaving anyway.

With that in mind, Yubing said to Zhang Huai, who was rifling through the scrolls, "Stop flipping through them and read them properly! There are so many, I can’t look through them all myself." She took the top scroll and unrolled it. A case both bizarre and chilling unfolded before her eyes:

"Zhongzhou Mystery Case: The Weeping Blood, Cold Plum"

Eight years ago, the village chief of Xiaqiu County reported to the Zhongzhou Prefecture that the entire family of Lord Chang, Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, had vanished without a trace for over half a month.

The case was received by Xu Zhong, then a record keeper. A third-rank imperial official going missing in his own jurisdiction terrified him, and he reported it to the Zhongzhou Prefect.

After a discussion, the prefect decided to investigate in person and sent someone with the case files to the Yan Prefecture Governor, awaiting the governor’s decision.

But the governor was too timid and that very night dispatched the files to the palace.