Volume One: The Youngest Among Three Hundred Chapter Thirty-One: The Beginning

The day passed swiftly, with Li Shu and Wu Yuanheng leisurely enjoying a performance in the marketplace. Meanwhile, Chen Chang’an and Su Dingfeng sat by the roadside, admiring the passing ladies of good repute. The white-robed swordsman, who happened to be his brother-in-law, scoffed, “What’s the point for a blind man like you to look?” Chen only chuckled, replying, “As long as I can tell their general shape, that’s enough!”

Su Dingfeng made no effort to conceal his disdain, but then seemed to recall something, and grinned slyly, “Hey, about Xiaolian’s death—what really happened? Will we truly learn the truth tomorrow?”

Chen Chang’an nodded, “Yes.”

A simple word, yet spoken with utter confidence.

Su Dingfeng pouted, “Once the truth is out, remember to recite the entire poem to me.”

The reason he was even more eager for the case to be solved than Li Shu or Wu Yuanheng was precisely this.

Turning to meet the white-robed swordsman’s gaze, Chen Chang’an promised, “Of course, once it’s over, I’ll tell you everything, brother-in-law. What was that last line again?”

“Oh, and I bet tomorrow, more than just that mysterious butcher will show up—there’ll be other killers. You’d best make sure to protect me.”

With a sharp hiss, Su Dingfeng stood, sword raised to the sky, and declared, “With me here, let them come in thousands—they won’t step a foot closer!”

…

On the sixth floor of the Hidden Soldiers Tower in Dark Robe Alley, Deputy Commander Cao Wu was sipping tea. She withdrew her gaze from the sand table and a book titled “The Chronicle of Chang’an,” massaging her eyes for a brief respite.

A knock sounded at the door. Cao Wu set down her blue-and-white porcelain teacup and responded, “Come in!”

The maid Cai’er entered, bowing with hands lifted in respect. “Sister Wu, you asked someone to keep an eye on Chen Chang’an and the Xiaolian case. The Justice Office just issued an announcement—the truth has been revealed!”

“Oh, is that so?” A spark of interest flashed in Cao Wu’s cold, beautiful eyes.

“Yes!” Cai’er nodded, explaining, “Not long after the Xiaolian case began, the three bureaus discovered a headless corpse in the western city woods. According to the investigation, the two are connected.”

“Chen Chang’an joined the three bureaus in the search, and clues led to the Spring Cloud Brothel. Then, the Deputy Arresting Commissioner, Hua Mulan, and a youth named Ye Lin who was also investigating were attacked by a mysterious figure in Peaceful Prosperity Ward. The attacker seemed to know the original Butcher’s Art.”

“Butcher’s Art?” Cao Wu’s gaze sharpened.

“Yes, the Butcher’s Art!” Cai’er confirmed.

Cao Wu said no more.

Cai’er continued, “Hua Mulan and Ye Lin were badly injured during the attack, leaving only Chen Chang’an to pursue the case. But he did nothing else that day and simply went home to sleep.”

“This morning, Chen Chang’an and the others gathered with Li Shu and Wu Yuanheng, then visited the Princess of Changning’s residence. Apparently, they uncovered a crucial clue and suddenly announced that Xiaolian and the headless corpse were lovers who died in a lovers’ quarrel while attempting to elope.”

“The murderer is currently being pursued!”

When she finished, Cao Wu lowered her eyes in deep thought.

Having served her mistress since childhood, Cai’er knew her temperament well and asked, “Sister Wu, is there something wrong?”

Cao Wu smiled, “Of course there is—something very wrong.”

Cai’er immediately adopted a humble posture, eager to learn.

Cao Wu analyzed, “If Xiaolian truly died in a crime of passion, and the headless corpse was her lover, why is there a connection to the courtesans of the Spring Cloud Brothel?”

“Furthermore, if this was merely a murder arising from a simple elopement, there’s no way Hua Mulan and that Ye Lin would have been attacked in Peaceful Prosperity Ward. Clearly, there are powerful forces at play behind the scenes!”

Cai’er grasped the significance, thoughtful. “If that’s the case, why would the Justice Office release such a statement? Are they just trying to fob it off with some random excuse?”

“No.”

Cao Wu shook her head. “The Empress’s birthday is the day after tomorrow. They would never gloss over such a matter now and hand their political enemies a weapon.”

Cai’er was even more puzzled. “Then why—?”

Cao Wu seemed to have a theory. “Perhaps tomorrow is the true beginning. We need only wait.”

Just then, a female officer entered and bowed. “Deputy Commander Cao, we’ve just received a sealed letter from Deputy Commissioner Li Shu of the Criminal Office. It’s written by Chen—by Chen Chang’an himself, and he asks that you read it personally!”

Of course, given Chen’s poor eyesight, the contents were dictated, with his brother-in-law Su Dingfeng as scribe.

“Oh?”

Cao Wu rose, took the letter, and as she read it, her cold, striking features gradually softened into admiration. She gently stroked the silver spear standing beside her and smiled, “What an interesting man, this Chen Chang’an!”

…

In a certain residence in Chang’an, a man with hawk talons embedded in his arms, a certain Master Fen Yang, and the master of the house sat together, all wearing cheerful expressions.

The host clasped his fists and said jovially, “Sir, your plan is truly brilliant. Tomorrow, we’ll quietly obtain the method to reveal the text on the command register, all without anyone noticing.”

“And if you hadn’t cut off Hua Mulan and Ye Lin’s investigation in Peaceful Prosperity Ward, more trouble might have arisen. I’m sincerely grateful.”

Master Fen Yang waved a hand. “Think nothing of it—we’re partners. It’s simply what I ought to do. Just don’t forget your promise when the great task is accomplished.”

The host replied heartily, “Naturally, naturally. Rest assured, what I’ve promised, I shall deliver!”

Laughter rang out from the room.

“So, this Chen Chang’an is nothing special after all. In the end, he just made up a story about Xiaolian dying in a lover’s quarrel to placate the three bureaus. I really thought he might have some skill.”

“Wu Yuanheng and the others are so naïve, thinking they can rely on a blind man to solve the mystery. It’s laughable—truly the joke of the age.”

…

The next day dawned bright and clear, with gentle winds and drifting clouds. Xu Hezi arrived punctually at the princess’s residence. After exchanging polite greetings with Changning, he entered the studio prepared for him. On the desk lay brushes of various lengths and a palette for pigments. Before him was a sheet of paper, its faint outlines depicting the current Empress.

Xu Hezi’s gaze fixed upon it, and he murmured, “Bai Wu, Bai Wu, who would have thought—even a woman can rule an empire. But alas, she shall not hold it for long. Soon, all this will belong to us.”

He broke off abruptly, then flicked his fingers, and, focusing his intent, incinerated the portrait of the Empress until not even ashes remained. He then drew out a fresh, spotless sheet of paper and laid it out. Once everything was ready, he raised his voice and called, “Quick, summon Her Highness the Princess! Summon Her Highness at once!”

The maids outside hurried to report, and in less than half a minute, Princess Changning burst in, flustered. “Master Xu, what’s happened?”

Xu Hezi, breathing quickly and sweating profusely, replied, “Your Highness, I—I don’t know how this happened. The portrait I finished for Her Majesty last night has vanished without a trace!”

“What?”

Changning’s eyes darted about, confirming with her own eyes that there was indeed only a blank sheet on the desk.

“How could this be? How could this be!”

She began to stomp her feet in agitation. “Tomorrow is Mother’s birthday, and I’d planned to offer this painting as a gift. When I checked last night, it was perfectly fine. Why has it suddenly disappeared?”

“Master Xu, if you start over now, can you finish before the grand celebration tomorrow?”

Xu Hezi looked troubled. “I’m afraid not. Painting Her Majesty’s portrait is a solemn affair and must be done with care—it takes at least three days. The schedule was tight but feasible, but who could have foreseen that the finished work would simply vanish? I truly do not know what happened, Your Highness. Please, punish me as you see fit!”

Changning, wringing her skirt and stamping her feet, was all anxiety.

Xu Hezi, still bowing, stole a glance at her expression, then gently suggested, “Your Highness, do you think the issue might be with the paper?”

“The paper?”

Changning paused, then her face brightened. “Yes, the paper! I remember when you first arrived, you said the paper for Mother’s portrait was called ‘tung oil paper,’ right?”

Xu Hezi’s lips curled in a subtle, sinister smile. His tone was certain. “Yes, it’s tung oil paper—impervious to water and fire, lasting for centuries.”

Changning’s face cleared with sudden understanding and a sigh of relief. “That explains it! Tung oil paper not only resists water and fire, but it also has another property—the things drawn or written on it will mysteriously hide themselves.”

“Ah!”

Xu Hezi feigned surprise. “Such a miraculous effect! Then, Your Highness, may I ask how one might make the hidden contents reappear?”

Impatient and distracted, Princess Changning blurted out, “It’s simple, just—”

“Wait!”

At that moment, a sharp voice rang out, cutting her off. Both Princess Changning and Xu Hezi turned to look. There stood Chen Chang’an, Li Shu, and Wu Yuanheng in the doorway, with nearly a hundred officers from the three bureaus behind them.

Further off, in the branches of a courtyard tree, the white-robed swordsman Su Dingfeng stood tall, his robe fluttering, his bearing poised and sword at the ready, surrounded by an aura of pure energy.

Changning was startled. “What—what is the meaning of this?”

Li Shu and Wu Yuanheng said nothing.

Chen Chang’an bowed and replied, “Your Highness, we are here to arrest the murderer of Xiaolian.”