"Four people now."
Fang Jie frowned slightly, and after Qiu Yu finished speaking, he couldn't help but ask, "Four students from the Martial Arts Academy have died in two days. The Imperial Guards must be investigating, and the academy won't be idle either. These four people… do they have anything in common?"
"Yes."
Qiu Yu looked at Fang Jie and answered, "They were all students in your class."
Fang Jie was taken aback, suddenly feeling a little guilty: "When you mentioned their names earlier, I just felt they sounded familiar. I really didn't expect they were all in the same class. I've really been too distant from them. So far, I think I only remember one girl's name, Marilyn."
"That's not your fault."
Qiu Yu He said, "You were imprisoned in the Imperial Guard's secret cell not long after entering the Martial Arts Academy. Even if you wanted to remember your classmates, it would be difficult. The murderer must be someone familiar with the academy's rules, striking during these three days of rest. But what I don't understand is, why target only your class? The three students who died today died within an hour of each other at most. It's likely the murderer was the same person, killing one and then rushing to another place to kill the second."
"Who could harbor such hatred for the students of the Martial Arts Academy?"
Qiu Yu sighed and said, "I came to remind you that you should return to the Martial Arts Academy. Even if the murderer is powerful and cunning, they wouldn't dare infiltrate the academy to kill."
"Find these dead…" "The key to solving this case lies in finding some common ground among the students."
Fang Jie said, "Luckily, I have someone who can vouch for my innocence, otherwise they would inevitably link me to this. I had just come out of the secret prison of the Imperial Guards when Yuan Chengshi died that very night. And when he died, the Right Guard patrolling the city encountered me on the street. The next day, three more people died..."
Qiu Yu rolled his eyes at him and said, "No one would be foolish enough to suspect you. When the first person died today, you were still waiting for His Majesty's summons in the palace; when the second person died, you hadn't even left the Taiji Palace; and when the third person died... what were you doing?"
Fang Jie smiled and said, "Listening to a talkative owner telling a ridiculous story in a secluded teahouse." "Let's go back to the Martial Arts Academy."
Qiu Yu stood up and said, "I still need to find the other students. Many professors have come out; I reckon the murderer from today might not dare to kill again. In the hundred years since the founding of the Sui Dynasty, no one has dared to target the Martial Arts Academy. He won't escape."
"Not necessarily!"
Fang Jie shook his head: "If he only killed four people and fled Chang'an, who could possibly find him? No one has seen the murderer's face yet. Even if he walked past my shop right now, no one would recognize him. Unless he truly has a compelling reason to kill all the students in our class, it's not certain we'll catch him anytime soon."
As Fang Jie spoke, he pointed towards the door. Just then, a young man passed by and glanced inside. Seeing Fang Jie pointing, he was surprised. Fang Jie quickly withdrew his finger and smiled apologetically at the man. The man nodded to Fang Jie and then quickly left. Qiu Yu ignored these concerns and said with a hint of helplessness, "No matter what, you can't stay outside. Go back to the Martial Arts Academy now. I need to check other places. With these three days off, the students have scattered like sheep once they leave the academy; most probably don't even know about the murder."
"I'll go with you."
Fang Jie stood up and said, "After all, there are some places it's inconvenient for you to go in."
Qiu Yu was about to ask what inconvenient places she could go, but then suddenly remembered that there were indeed places she couldn't easily enter. For example, brothels and pleasure boats, and most of those students were playboys; it would be strange if they didn't go to such places. Students from military backgrounds, being relatively poor, often stayed in the Martial Arts Academy even during their breaks.
She hummed in agreement, then thought for a moment and added, "Have your friends pack up and come later."
Fang Jie thought about how Da Quan and the others were being monitored like they were at the Sanjin Marquis's mansion when he was imprisoned; if they entered the Martial Arts Academy, the three of them would have no freedom whatsoever. So he shook his head and said, "Since the murderer targeted the students of the Martial Arts Academy, they should be fine. Besides, it's not easy for anyone to cause trouble in the Sanjin Marquis's mansion."
"That's true."
Qiu Yu didn't insist and walked out of the shop first. Fang Jie instructed someone to watch the shop carefully, then followed Qiu Yu out. The two walked straight along East Twenty-Three Street; the next stop was bound to be Hongxiuzhao. It would be strange if those wealthy young men didn't go to Hongxiuzhao to pretend to be refined and watch the song and dance performances.
"Mo Wanwu must be going crazy, right?"
Fang Jie asked as he walked behind Qiu Yu, noticing the young man who had passed by his shop earlier sitting not far away eating hot soup noodles, gulping them down, sweating profusely, looking so thoroughly enjoying himself. Fang Jie couldn't help but wonder how long it had been since he had eaten a meal so heartily and slept so soundly. "He hasn't gone back since the first person died last night. If he finds the murderer, he'll tear him to pieces."
Qiu Yu replied, taking out his purse and buying two tea eggs from a stall.
Hongxiuzhao wasn't far from Fang Jie's shop, both located on East Twenty-Third Street. East Twenty-Third Street was the most bustling street in the eastern part of Chang'an, and with Hongxiuzhao's reopening, it was even more lively. Pedestrians thronged the street, and the cries of vendors rose and fell. Especially in front of Hongxiuzhao, it was a veritable sea of people. For nobles, powerful figures, and wealthy gentry, not entering Hongxiuzhao was as if it lowered their status.
"Sir, please wait here. I'll go in and find the person."
Fang Jie knew Qiu Yu was a cold person and might not necessarily enjoy the noise of Hongxiuzhao. Sure enough, Qiu Yu nodded and said, "I'll wait for you at the door. Hurry up, we still have to go to other places."
Ignoring the stares of others, she calmly ate the tea eggs she had just bought right at the entrance of Hongxiuzhao. She used a clean handkerchief to catch the eggshells, ensuring none fell to the ground.
Fang Jie nodded, went inside, and went straight upstairs to find Xiao Dingdian.
He whispered a few words in Xiao Dingdian's ear. Her expression changed, and she immediately stood up and ordered a servant to set up the stage and beat the drum. After the drumbeat, the scene immediately quieted down. Xiao Dingdian herself went up on stage and said apologetically, "If there are any young masters from the Martial Arts Academy here, please come to the door immediately. A professor from the Martial Arts Academy is waiting; it's urgent."
Although her voice wasn't loud, it carried clearly throughout Hongxiuzhao. Fang Jie couldn't help but look at this young woman with new respect. Clearly, she was not as weak as she appeared.
Shortly afterward, more than twenty young men poured out of Hongxiuzhao, bowing respectfully in unison when they saw Qiu Yu.
"You must all return to the Martial Arts Academy immediately, in groups. Do not separate, and do not go home. Treat this as a military order; do not disobey."
"Yes, sir!"
These students, who had been training at the Martial Arts Academy for over half a year, were all from wealthy families, but upon hearing the words "military order," they immediately became solemn.
"Sir, what happened?"
Someone asked instinctively. Qiu Yu shook his head: "You all hurry back to the academy. I will tell you when I get back."
...
...
Chang'an City was too large; trying to contact all the students and get them back to the academy as quickly as possible was clearly unrealistic. Fang Jie and Qiu Yu didn't want to delay any longer as sunset approached, so they boarded a carriage traveling through the city and returned to the Martial Arts Academy. Accompanying them was another student.
And this person was the only female student Fang Jie remembered by name.
Marilian.
She was strolling down the street with two maids when she happened to encounter Fang Jie and Qiu Yu. Qiu Yu then allowed her to accompany him. Ma Lilian dismissed the two maids and followed Fang Jie and the others into the carriage. Sitting beside Qiu Yu, Ma Lilian occasionally stole glances at Fang Jie opposite her, her face slightly flushed.
Qiu Yu, of course, could see through the girl's thoughts, so he couldn't help but smile. This smile made Ma Lilian's face even more strikingly red. To be honest, she wasn't a particularly beautiful woman; her looks were barely above average. But her father, General Guide, was a truly rough man, with a fierce and ugly face. He was incredibly proud to have such a daughter.
Ma Lilian lowered her head, not daring to look at Fang Jie again, nervously staring at her toes. Fang Jie's mind wasn't on her at all; he was pondering who dared to specifically target the students of the Martial Arts Academy. In the Great Sui Dynasty, unless there was an irreconcilable blood feud with the Martial Arts Academy, no one would do something that could lead to the extermination of their entire clan.
Marilyn, realizing Fang Jie hadn't noticed her at all, first breathed a sigh of relief, then felt a pang of disappointment. Fang Jie's gaze remained fixed on the outside of the carriage, so Marilyn boldly raised her head and stared at his profile. The more she looked, the more pleasing he became; the more captivating he seemed.
Seeing Fang Jie, she couldn't help but think of what had happened on Half-Moon Mountain. When she thought she was surely dead, this young man had suddenly appeared before her. At that moment, she felt that Half-Moon Mountain paled in comparison to the imposing figure of Fang Jie. She didn't know how many times she had woken from nightmares of that bloodshed, and each time, Fang Jie's image would become even clearer.
Whenever Fang Jie's name appeared in her mind, all the fear from her dreams would vanish.
The first to notice her change was her father, General Guide. He was astonished to find that his usually boisterous, tomboyish daughter had become quiet and ladylike after returning home, no longer sparring with the soldiers in the manor, but sitting quietly by the window embroidering. His daughter was actually embroidering!
This terrified General Guide, but this burly, straightforward father failed to consider that such a dramatic change in a woman's personality was often related to a man.
"Thank you."
After hesitating for a long time, Marilyn finally looked at Fang Jie and said earnestly. Her voice was soft, as if afraid of disturbing Fang Jie's deep thoughts.
"What?"
Fang Jie turned his gaze from outside the carriage and looked at Marilyn, asking. When his gaze fell on Marilyn's face, two blushes involuntarily rose again: "Last time... at Half Moon Mountain, thank you for saving me."
She said softly.
Fang Jie smiled and said, "We were classmates, no need for thanks."
After saying this, he suddenly paused.
"Your name is Marilyn, right?"
Fang Jie asked, somewhat impolitely.
"Yes."
Marilyn nodded slightly, unperturbed by Fang Jie's slightly rude question. "You knew all four of the dead people?"
Fang Jie asked again.
"Yes."
Ma Lilian's expression changed slightly. She looked up at Fang Jie: "Yuan Chengshi, Liu Xu, Song Meiqi, and Li Sihai were all classmates."
"Were they... all on your team that day? I mean, which team did you split up with later?"
Hearing Fang Jie's question, Qiu Yu and Ma Lilian's expressions changed drastically at the same time. Ma Lilian thought carefully for a moment and nodded, saying, "Except for Yuan Chengshi, the other three were. But... Yuan Chengshi was the first to arrive to provide support besides you. He arrived only a little later than you. He arrived when you were fighting with that Buddhist monk."
At this point, Ma Lilian suddenly exclaimed softly, "Niu Miao arrived with Yuan Chengshi... Stop the carriage! The Grand Scholar's Mansion is just ahead; I need to go see her!"
The carriage stopped by the roadside, and Ma Lilian ran towards the courtyard not far away. Strangely, the Grand Secretary's residence was completely closed, even the side gate for receiving guests was shut. As Fang Jie and Qiu Yu approached, Marilyn knocked on the courtyard gate. A steward peeked out, his expression somewhat strange.
"It's Miss Ma, what can I do for you?"
The steward asked.
He was quite impolite, not opening the door completely but only showing half his body to speak. The Grand Secretary was known for his strict adherence to etiquette and high standards for his servants.
"Where is your young mistress?"
Marilyn asked urgently.
"My young mistress…has passed away."