Cui Buqu placed his focus on enjoying the change of expression on Princess Leping's face. There wasn't time for him to pay attention to other things until Feng Xiao tugged at his sleeves, causing him to lower his head in question.
Then he saw that guilty-looking fox staring back at him.
Cui Buqu: "…"
Between 'something is wrong with this person's brain' and 'this is a man-child', Cui Buqu chose the first. However, the moment Feng Xiao derailed his thoughts, he practically forgot what he wanted in the first place. Instead, he was pulled back to reality by Princess Leping, who had finally returned to her senses.
"Ren Yue plotted treason and even kept me oblivious. You knew of this, yet you chose not to tell me but instead to create a scene out of this banquet!" Princess Leping picked the opportunity to interrogate him, "Today, the Crown Prince, Prince Jin, and everyone else are present. If they had been wounded because of this, could you have borne the responsibility?!"
Cui Buqu reprimanded Feng Xiao under his breath for ruining his plans, before pulling back his thoughts with all he could and said coldly, "Pray tell, why is your Highness furious? First of all, before this matter is exposed, we cannot relay anything. We had to wait for the culprits to show their foxtails before we could take them down all at once!"
Once he mentioned foxes, his head very naturally lowered again.
The picture of a fox made by mandarin shreds was prowling, its eyes half-lidded as if it was keeping an eye on its prey, ready to pounce on it.
It could be seen that Feng Xiao's artistic abilities were quite prominent.
Did the great Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau really came here just for the banquet with no other goals in mind?
They say that Princess Lanling was in love with Feng Xiao, and the Emperor also had intentions to arrange a marriage between them. But Feng Xiao could not possibly come here on purpose simply for the princess, could he?
As that thought flashed across his mind, Cui Buqu spoke slowly, "Second of all, this man, Ren Yue, bears another name."
He paused on purpose and observed the expression on Princes Leping's face. Her face had already turned into a very ugly looking color, and right now, there's not much difference about the way she looked.
"His former name was Yuwen Yi."
Those who are able to attend the banquet today are either a prince or a princess, or people from noble houses. Everyone was members of high society, so when they heard the words 'Yuwen' they could immediately conjure of a string of ideas.
Prince Jin spoke first, "Remnants of the former dynasty?"
Cui Buqu, "Correct. His father was the tyrant from the former court, Yuwen Sheng. That year when he fled, the Ren family took him in, thus he changed his name to Ren Yue and told the rest of the world that he was a distant nephew of the Ren family. He hid his true identity for many years, using the name 'Ren Yue' to create a name for himself in the Jianghu province so that he could gain recognition from the princess. Regarding the banquet this time, he offered on his own accord to help organize it. Naturally, the princess gave him full responsibility and order over the banquet so he could arrange everything smoothly, ultimately designing this scheme today."
Ren Yue shouted in protest, "I am not Yuwen Yi! You are speaking nonsense! You are just adding accusations to my name. Princess, save me please!"
The princess's face became extremely pale, her lips quivered softly and she could not even speak a word.
She wanted to reprimand Cui Buqu, but she knew that, if Cui Buqu had the guts to speak these words, then it was a given that he had gathered a lot of evidence prior, so if she chose to challenge him, then she was only looking for her own shame.
"I know nothing about this. This time I am also in the garden, so if I die, I will die with everyone!" Princess Leping shot a glare at Ren Yue, disgusted as she questioned him, "Ren Yue, I was never unkind to you, why are you biting the hand that fed you!"
Ren Yue gave a look of shock and shouted back, "Princess please, I am not a traitor! I have no idea where those fuels in the flowerpots came from. I have been framed! Princess, do you not believe in me? You said you would love me for life!"
Before he could finish talking, Princess Leping had already silenced him with an even louder voice, "Men! Take him!"
All the people present held strange gazes, and many more behaved as if they heard nothing, feigning deafness.
For the princess to possess a manstress wasn't anything unusual. Princess Leping had been widowed for many years, so it was completely normal that she could not stand the loneliness.
However, these are only one's private manners. As long as it wasn't brought to the surface, everyone would turn a blind eye to it and treat the princess as one would never marry again.
Everyone was silent except Cui Buqu, who laughed, then exposed her with a single sentence, "With Yuwen Yi's looks resembling the Emperor from the former dynasty, it was difficult for your Highness to not give your heart to him."
Princess Leping felt her knees going weak, it was fortunate that her maidservants helped her on both sides.
Cui Buqu waved his hand, allowing his men to take Ren Yue and every suspect present away.
With a white-colored cloak on the outside, concealing a robe that was green in color, he stood in the midst of the blowing wind, a sense of strictness and a killer's aura lingering around him. After this change of events, no one dared to come near him.
And Yan Rende, who took out the jade ball to make it difficult for Cui Buqu just now was even more intimidated that he dared not speak. He was afraid that Cui Buqu would remember what happened and use that chance to take revenge.
Unexpectedly, Cui Buqu did not forget him. He raised his finger and pointed, "That man. Bring him away as well."
Yan Rende was stunned and immediately protested, "Marquis Cui, just now I did not make it difficult for you on purpose. You cannot take revenge like that, making use of official matters for a personal grudge!"
Cui Buqu coughed twice, "Young Master Yang, you overestimated yourself. I ordered you to be taken away because, when Ren Yue came to the capital, you were the first one he befriended. The one who recommended him into the princess's manor was also you. I wanted to ask, why would you recommend him to the princess, unless, you have long known that it was because he looked like her deceased husband?"
Yan Rende, "I did not! It's not like this!"
Qiao Xian tapped his meridians and he immediately shut up.
"How can one separate both the string and the ball without destroying the other? I have no idea, but Young Master Yang, once you entered the prison, there would be plenty of time for you to think about it. Perhaps you can finally solve this riddle on your own." Cui Buqu mocked him, before switching his tone completely, "Bring them away!"
Feng Xiao practically laughed out loud: When this person makes use of his mouth, it really is quite destructive.
After such a huge incident, who would still have the heart to continue? Both the guests and the host already lost their mood, unable to pull themselves back.
The Crown Prince and Prince Jin both left first, and following them, the rest of the guests left themselves.
The butler who was in charge of sending the guests had been incredibly busy, added with the remaining members of the Zuoyue Bureau who were still in the princess's manor searching for evidence of other kinds. Everything was in chaos. The original Thousand Lantern Banquet had turned into a shadowy gloom.
Cui Buqu turned around and left along with the group of Zuoyue soldiers, flipping his robes to divulge the color of the night sky underneath it.
Behind him, almost no one noticed that the fox made of mandarin orange shreds have been made a mess of up by him on purpose, rendering the image no longer discernible.
The color on everyone's face changed as he walked by, no one dared to block his path.
It can only be said that after today, Cui Buqu's reputation in the capital would turn from a man of conquest to the challenger of the Judge of Hell.
After they left Qingli Garden, Cui Buqu allowed the Zuoyue Soldiers to split apart into two groups. One group would remain in the Qingli Garden to search for evidence, and the other group would bring Ren Yue and the rest back to the prison.
As for himself, he was accompanied by Qiao Xian to take a carriage as they left.
However, just as he stepped onto the carriage, a hand grabbed his robe.
At the speed of light, with a monstrous strength, even Qiao Xian was unable to come to her senses just yet, Cui Buqu himself was practically pulled to the ground by the hand.
He turned his head around abruptly only to be greeted with an innocent gaze from Feng Xiao.
"Master Taoist Cui, how crafty you are. After an entire night, you did not even mention the promise we made that day."
After a moment of silence, Cui Buqu said, "After three days, we meet in Zhangle Yi outside Tonghua gate."
Feng Xiao smiled, "Wouldn't it be nice if you told me earlier? How can you always force me to be the one to chase after you, I'll be shy about it."
Cui Buqu, "…Are you going to let go?"
Qiao Xian lashed out at Feng Xiao, forcing him to release him, but Feng Xiao could foretell her actions, so he used his other hand to block her attack.
As both of them engaged in the offensive, it was difficult for Qiao Xian to not turn into a defensive stance, taking two steps back herself.
Feng Xiao shook his head, "Last time you were wounded so heavily. After returning for half a month, your wounds have not healed. If Ren Yue knew about it just now, I wager he would not give in so easily."
Qiao Xian believed herself to be expressionless, but she couldn't believe that he'd expose her. Her face changed immediately, "You!"
"Marquis Cui!"
Cui Buqu heard the voice of a female and felt impatience drill into him. If Feng Xiao had not stopped him just now, he would have already left.
But he still turned his head around.
"Xuanzhu, do you need something?"
Yuwen Xuanzhu, under the help of her maidservant, was guided to his door.
"Marquis Cui could have told my mother in private so that she would be prepared, there was no need for the scene just now. This incident tonight will definitely have make her lose all her dignity and pride. We should be merciful as people so that future days will be better. Marquis Cui, before you decided to execute such a cruel plan, did you ever think of the future?"
Cui Buqu replied plainly, "I have already reported everything to the Emperor. If Xuanzhu has more questions to ask, you can question the Emperor himself."
At this time, even Princess Lanling had walked out.
Tears were brimming through Yuwen Xuanzhu's eyes as she said pitifully, "May I know where has my mother offended Marquis Cui? That you would take revenge upon us today. If that is the case, I can kneel down and apologize to you on her behalf, would that be enough?"
As she finished speaking, Cui Buqu could react to it, she immediately knelt and bowed to the ground.
That time, there were many guests who have yet to leave. Many people gathered at the gate, and everyone who has seen this scene, could not help but feel that Cui Buqu had been too cruel, especially towards Princess Leping and her daughter. Both of them were obviously no threat to the Imperial Court, they were only a widower and a child, yet they needed to sustain such a bully.
Princess Lanling helped Yuwen Xuanzhu up. She has always been gentle, but she could not help telling Cui Buqu, "When one can let go, then one should let go. Why was there the need for this, Marquis Cui?"
Cui Buqu did not say anything in protest, only excused himself as he left, turned around and got onto the horse carriage, leaving the remaining three people behind.
However, once he entered the carriage and sat down, a look of confusion surfaced on him.
The wheels of the carriage carried on rolling slowly.
Cui Buqu raised one corner of the curtain.
Princess Lanling was consoling her niece as she helped her wipe her tears.
"Strange." Cui Buqu released the curtain and mumbled to himself.
"What is so strange?"
When one was alone in a carriage mumbling to themselves, and their questions were answered, it was either that they've met a live ghost, or that someone has sneaked onto their carriage.
Cui Buqu turned his head around abruptly, and he saw, on the other side of the carriage, there was a head poking itself inside, and immediately after, his entire body slipped into the carriage so quickly that Cui Buqu could not stop him.
"I feel that, since you were busy cracking that case tonight, you have no time to chat leisurely with me, so you would have felt some sort of regret. Therefore, I've decided to come here myself so that you have the chance to make up for it." The other laughed cheekily.
Before he could speak, Feng Xiao has already hurried close to him, immediately pressing himself on top of Cui Buqu in the carriage, pressing both his wrists on both his sides and the top half of his body practically leaning against his own. Even their noses were only millimeters apart, their breaths brushing against one another. Cui Buqu could even see himself in the other's eyes.
Within the carriage, it was even warmer than the outside. So now he was sweating so furiously that it could be seen with the naked eye.
However, the reason Cui Buqu did not really shout, wasn't because Feng Xiao has sealed his meridians, neither was it because he was stunned mute by his beauty.
But it was because the other man's lips were pressed against his own, he spoke against his lips soundlessly word by word: Someone. Is. Underneath. This. Carriage.
Author's Notes:
A small scenario completely unrelated to the main plot:
When the Jiejian Bureau was first established, Feng Xiao used to carry a peacock feather around, wanting everyone to put one on their heads to prove how extraordinary the Jiejian Bureau was. Everyone declined; and right now it still has not been decided, so that feather was now placed in a vase in his room. Every time Feng Xiao saw it, he would sigh and say: The world is so vast, but no one pitied the heroes!
Challenger of the Judge of Hell: In Chinese, it's a different text which literally translates to 'The Judge of Hell's evil star' but it just means that Cui Buqu and the Judge of Hell are mortal enemies, aka, he has the say in who's to die and who's not, which is the job of the Judge of Hell to begin with.