"I shouldn't have gone to the Hongyan Workshop," Princess Mingzhu said self-reproachfully. "I just tried the new face powder from the Hongyan Workshop, and in a blink of an eye, Snowball was gone. The Maidservants and eunuchs searched everywhere, scouring the entire Hongyan Workshop, but still couldn't find Snowball."
"If it's really impossible, ask the Embroidered Uniform Guard for help," Pei Muwan said. "They are professionals at searching."
"No," Princess Mingzhu shook her head. "If the Embroidered Uniform Guard makes a big fuss just to find a kitten for me, the censors will definitely impeach me."
Pei Muwan had the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate Nanny Yi's case for over a month, expending a lot of manpower and resources. Strictly speaking, there was a suspicion of abusing the Embroidered Uniform Guard's power, but it was a murder case, and it happened in the Grand Tutors Residence, so it was barely justifiable on theoretical and principal grounds.
But Snowball was just a cat!
"This..." Pei Muwan thought of an annoying face.
"Just say it," Princess Mingzhu chided playfully. "Why are you hesitating? Do you have something else you're hiding from me?"
"The truth about Nanny Yi's death is about to be uncovered."
"Really?" Princess Mingzhu's beautiful eyes widened. "Didn't we have no clues at all just two days ago? How did it suddenly get solved?"
Pei Muwan recounted how Lu Zhenghai had taken over the investigation from Fang Qian and had clarified most of the details in just a day or two.
"How is this person's brain wired? The culprit is a prisoner in the Ministry of Justice's prison? That's amazing..." Princess Mingzhu praised with a hint of surprise, then snorted. "That fool Sui Mingxin probably couldn't come up with such an ingenious murder method. It seems Vice Minister Sui gave her guidance and help. The Ministry of Justice's prison itself is Vice Minister Sui's domain."
"Sui Zhenliang will pay the price," Pei Muwan said, then suddenly spat lightly, "I thought Lu Zhenghai, being so smart, wouldn't be an ordinary person, but..."
She then told Princess Mingzhu all about how Lu Zhenghai demanded payment for his favor.
"Hehehe..." Princess Mingzhu suddenly became happy, her beautiful eyes showing a hint of charm, and she winked at Pei Muwan. "Even Mu Wan, the Fairy, has a day where she's ignored by a stinky man. Is Mu Wan, the Fairy, feeling uncomfortable?"
"What Fairy..." Pei Muwan's earlobes turned red.
Because her looks were truly outstanding, her admirers called her a Fairy or a Goddess.
How embarrassing.
"Since this Lu Zhenghai is so clever and talented at solving cases, it must be very easy for him to find a kitten, right? It's a pity he's an Embroidered Uniform Guard," Princess Mingzhu sighed.
If Lu Zhenghai weren't an Embroidered Uniform Guard, she could have simply offered him gold and silver to find her cat.
But since he was an Embroidered Uniform Guard, she couldn't.
"Alright, I should go too. I still need to look for Snowball," Princess Mingzhu stood up.
She had come over early in the morning simply because Snowball was lost, and she was worried. With no one else to confide in, she could only share her worries with her good friend, Pei Muwan.
But she couldn't stay forever.
She knew that the Embroidered Uniform Guard would be coming today... "Mingzhu, don't worry too much. Snowball is so cute, even if someone picks it up, they won't harm it," Pei Muwan comforted her.
"En," Princess Mingzhu left the Grand Tutors Residence and got into her sedan chair.
Just then, Lu Zhenghai walked by in the distance. He curiously glanced at the enormous, luxurious sedan chair carried by sixteen people, and couldn't help but mumble enviously, "What an awesome sedan chair. I wonder who it belongs to?"
Lu Zhenghai entered the Grand Tutors Residence, and not long after, Zhou Hu arrived.
Then, Centurion Song also arrived.
Led by a Maidservant, everyone came to Nanny Yi's room.
Pei Muwan was already waiting in Nanny Yi's room.
After everyone was seated.
Centurion Song didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point:
"Everything has been investigated. The murderer who assassinated Nanny Yi is named Yang Zhong, from Pinglin County, Tongzhou Prefecture. He was originally an honest, middle-aged butcher."
"This Yang Zhong had a beautiful wife, and he treated her very well."
"But unfortunately, his wife was not a faithful woman and had an affair with the Pinglin County Magistrate."
"Not long after, Yang Zhong's wife died from 'accidentally falling into a well'."
"The Pinglin County Yamen sent people to investigate the case, and the adulterous County Magistrate happened to be accompanying them."
"So, in Yang Zhong's home, Yang Zhong used a pig-slaughtering knife to stab the County Magistrate to death, and along the way, he also stabbed several yamen runners."
"The case caused quite a stir, and it involved the death and injury of officials. Yang Zhong was escorted to the Imperial City for a retrial. He was sentenced to death again 12 days ago and beheaded at the execution ground 11 days ago."
"Now, Yang Zhong is dead, and it's almost impossible to obtain solid evidence of Sui Zhenliang and Sui Mingxin instigating the murder."
"Even the jailer who released Yang Zhong from the Ministry of Justice's prison for an hour at the time also died of a sudden illness 7 days ago, and his family cremated him the next day. It's said that after the cremation, his ashes accidentally fell into the river."
...As expected of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, truly impressive, almost no flaws!
After Centurion Song finished speaking, Zhou Hu was the first to exclaim, "Boss, the murderer really was a prisoner from the Ministry of Justice's prison. You're truly a genius."
"Truly a genius. Fang Qian already knows the entire process of the case. He said he wants to treat you to dinner later; he admires you so much!"
Centurion Song also looked at Lu Zhenghai, extremely excited.
Just based on Lu Zhenghai clarifying the case of Nanny Yi's death within a day or two.
And connecting the Embroidered Uniform Guard with the Grand Tutor.
Lu Zhenghai's act of beheading Luo Wang and Zheng Qu in the street was now a thing of the past.
Centurion Wang would definitely not dare to utter another word.
Lu Zhenghai's position as Banner Commander was secure.
If it weren't for Lu Zhenghai's insufficient strength, he might even have had a chance to become a Centurion in a short time.
Centurion Song thought that the higher-ups would probably also give Lu Zhenghai merit rewards, perhaps more than 20,000 points.
"Miss Pei, if we close the case now, Sui Zhenliang and Sui Mingxin will suffer virtually no damage."
Centurion Song looked at Pei Muwan somewhat awkwardly and cautiously, and said.
"Close the case directly. As for Sui Zhenliang and Sui Mingxin, they will soon pay the price for this," Pei Muwan's voice was icy. Then, the iciness dissipated by three points, and Pei Muwan cupped her hands. "Thank you for your hard work, Centurion Song."
"You're welcome. It is my honor to do things for Miss Pei and for the Grand Tutors Residence," Centurion Song spoke eloquently.
Saying that, Centurion Song stood up and was about to leave.
Zhou Hu also stood up.
But Lu Zhenghai did not stand up.
"Changqing, you..."
Centurion Song gave Lu Zhenghai a look, meaning, hurry up and leave.
The case was over, what was he still doing lingering in the Grand Tutors Residence?
"Young Master Lu still has some things to tell me," Pei Muwan said indifferently.
Centurion Song gave Lu Zhenghai a deep look, shocked in his heart.
This kid, could he even be involved with Pei Muwan?
Zhou Hu's shocked and admiring gaze was practically overflowing from his eyes.
After Centurion Song and Zhou Hu left, Pei Muwan said seriously, "The clarity of Nanny Yi's death is all thanks to Young Master Lu. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Pei Muwan turned and gave her Maidservant Bai Zhi a look.
Bai Zhi then stepped forward, holding a tray.
On the tray were bank notes.
"Young Master Lu, these are 50,000 taels of bank notes."
Lu Zhenghai didn't act modest at all, took the 50,000 taels of bank notes, and tucked them into his bosom.
Then, he cupped his hands: "Miss Pei is generous. It was a pleasant cooperation. Next time..."
"Get out!"
Pei Muwan's exquisite face instantly turned bone-chillingly frosty.
Next time?
What did she mean? Next time the Grand Tutors Residence has another case, she'll find him again?
Was this a curse for the Grand Tutors Residence to have frequent deaths?
"Hehe, a slip of the tongue."
Lu Zhenghai chuckled and left directly.
No matter how beautiful a woman was, she was not within his reach at the moment.
It was still that saying: if your strength isn't enough, don't play at a high level.
Pei Muwan watched Lu Zhenghai's free and decisive departing back, a trace of annoyance flashing in her beautiful eyes.
He had clearly helped her a great deal.
Clearly, 50,000 taels of bank notes meant nothing to her.
But it still made her angry.
That scoundrel, from beginning to end, only had a desire for bank notes.
In your eyes, I, Pei Muwan, seem to be less attractive than 50,000 taels of bank notes.
Although, if Lu Zhenghai had shown her an adoring and longing gaze or emotion like a pig, she would have disliked him even more.
But Lu Zhenghai completely ignored her, and she felt an indescribable displeasure.
In any case, she had remembered Lu Zhenghai; this scoundrel was just a smart, greedy, and blind Embroidered Uniform Guard Banner Commander.