Chapter 20: Chang'an Tong Que Ming (Melody of Golden Age)

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Chang'an Tong Que Ming (Melody of Golden Age)

 Chapter 20: 

Husband, Please Join Me for a Meal

"Speak."

Zhu Yan hesitated for a moment and reached out to touch the banknote, her suspicion growing.

This year, rainfall had been sparse. Guinyu[1], Empress Dowager Zhou Zhao came to Ximing Temple to pray for rain, and since then, it had rained twice. The most recent downpour was on the 15th of the fourth lunar month last month. Given the heavy rain, the water should have already soaked into the soil, and even the corpses had begun to decompose. So why was this banknote, apart from the parts that were covered, still in such good condition?

However, this was just her suspicion at the moment, and there wasn't enough evidence to prove that it was related to the case. Zhu Yan shook her head and suggested, "It's nothing. I just find it odd how this banknote came to be. But since it’s been found as evidence, I suppose we have to make a trip to the Li Family Bank."

As the sun set behind the western mountains and the evening glow filled the sky, the Li family’s money house was located on the southwest side of the West Market, a somewhat remote area.

In the morning, they had been in a rush, and Zhu Yan had hastily eaten a bun. Now her stomach was starting to protest. She had no choice but to negotiate with Shen Du, “Um... husband.”

Shen Du paused and looked at Zhu Yan with interest, “Why are you calling me ‘husband’ now?”

Zhu Yan was too tired to argue at this moment. Since food is essential for survival, she was worried she might faint halfway if she didn’t eat soon, which would be even more embarrassing.

“I’m hungry. I didn’t eat much this morning. You must be tired too, right? How about we find a restaurant to have lunch before continuing?”

Jing Lin, sweating, held the reins and thought to himself, “It seems like you haven’t even walked a step yet.”

After the recent events, Jing Lin was temporarily afraid to provoke Zhu Yan again. This woman always seemed to easily enflame his master and used him as a shield.

“Since wife has asked me, I will certainly agree. Otherwise, if it gets to others’ ears, they might say that Shen Du doesn’t provide food for Liuniang, of the Zhu family, and spread rumors that I mistreat people.”

Zhu Yan had to suppress her urge to turn and leave. What he was talking about wasn’t just rumors but a fact; everyone knew how the White King of Hell earned his reputation. It didn’t need to be fabricated.

But now she was so hungry that her stomach was touching her back, and she didn’t have the strength to argue with him.

“You’re right, husband.”

After leaving the palace gates, Zhu Yan walked straight into the nearest restaurant, which, to Shen Du’s surprise, turned out to be Taibai Restaurant.

The restaurant was not far from Pingkang Fang, bustling with people of various backgrounds including Persian merchants and Uighur traders. The constant flow of different languages made it overwhelming to discern.

In this era of prosperity and harmony, the peace of the Han people was complemented by the flourishing of all things.

Zhu Yan had already ordered a few small dishes and a pot of tea and was now busy placing her order with the waiter:

“Sesame cakes, oh, no, change that to Guluzi. Please add more pepper to the roasted ones, and also some soup cakes, mutton in water basin, braised cucumber with chicken, crab roe with pie crust, and stir-fried alfalfa…”

The waiter looked a bit troubled: “Doesn't Madam Shen know how expensive pepper is? This…” Noticing Shen Du sitting there with a cold and stern expression, his eyes like those of a reaper, he stopped. “Madam Shen really knows how to hit the mark with her orders[2]...”

Outsiders spread rumors that on the day of the White King’s wedding, he threatened Madam Shen with a knife. But today, it was clear that these were just baseless rumors.

Looking at Madam Shen, who was meticulously ordering dishes, and White King, who was sitting beside her with a “deeply affectionate” gaze, it was evident that this was not mere love.

The waiter, who thought he had grasped the true essence of their relationship, happily took the wooden token and went to the kitchen.

Shen Du patiently observed her slender figure. When she spoke, her brows would lift slightly, her plain face not adorned like that of ordinary noblewomen, but rather giving off a pleasant impression. He glanced at Jing Lin, who was about to speak, and Jing Lin retreated, arranging for everyone to take their seats.

Zhu Yan completely missed the meaningful look the waiter gave before leaving. She turned around, puzzled, and saw Shen Du disdainfully staring at what appeared to be an oil stain on the table, refusing to come closer.

Zhu Yan silently took out a handkerchief and cleaned the table in front of Shen Du. When she looked up, her silver eyes, as large as apricots, reflected the shadow of the person opposite, cold and aloof.

"Madam, you are truly virtuous and adhere strictly to the Code of Conduct for Women."

"Too kind." Hmph, it’s not that she was being modest—she was just afraid that he would find it repulsive and refuse to sit down to eat, which would be more humiliating than starving.

Zhu Yan pretended not to hear Shen Du's sarcasm, ignoring his probing gaze, and changed the subject:

"What are you thinking about, my lord?"

"Do you really believe the killer is a woman?" Shen Du played with the rim of his cup, watching Zhu Yan eat voraciously. 

Once she was full and satisfied, she answered, "Most likely."

Upon hearing this, Shen Du couldn't help but frown, reflecting on the fact that most of the male corpses discovered were adult men with considerable weight. It would be difficult for a woman to transport them without assistance.

Seeing his disbelief, Zhu Yan put down her chopsticks and said seriously, "Think about it carefully. Why would a man want to destroy the appearance of every woman? Of course, there have been cases where men have killed and mutilated bodies before, but usually, the victim was someone with whom the perpetrator had a direct emotional connection. However, in this case, there are so many female corpses, all disfigured, and none of the victims seem to have any direct connection with each other. If it were a man, what would be the purpose of mutilating their faces?"

"What's so difficult about that? A man who was hurt by a woman might harbor resentment. So, when he encounters someone who resembles that woman, his hatred is triggered, leading him to commit murder and disfigurement. It makes sense."

"Heh, if he was hurt by a woman, it would be a matter of emotional injury. If it's emotional injury, the hatred would be directed more at the other person involved in the relationship. So, logically, it would be the man's face that should be targeted."

Shen Du's expression darkened, nearly as grim as a sky in the plum rain season.

Zhu Yan swallowed her soup cake, irritated with herself for speaking out of turn. She was about to explain further when she noticed Shen Du, eating a piece of ancient-style cake, was still watching her intently. Deciding not to explain, she said, "Why don't we bet on whether it's a man or a woman, Grand Chief Guard?"

Zhu Yan with her doe eyes and a smile that hinted at mischievousness, with an oval face and skin as fair as snow. When her slender eyebrows furrowed slightly, they were like distant mountains emerging from the mist. As her dark brows relaxed, the distant mountains seemed to disappear back into the clouds, making it hard for anyone to see clearly.

However, what Shen Du was focused on at the moment was the tiny sesame seed near the corner of Zhu Yan's light pink lips, delicate like a red lotus. Without thinking, Shen Du's fingertip landed right on the line of Zhu Yan's tightly pressed lips.

The contact felt like water splashing into hot oil, instantly exploding into flames that quickly spread to Zhu Yan's cheeks, turning them a rosy pink, like the sunset hanging among the clouds.

Before Zhu Yan could express her anger, the hand had already withdrawn. Shen Du's expression remained unchanged; his eyes were still as cold as the snow on Mount Li, as if that moment had been nothing more than her imagination.

Seeing a tiny black sesame seed lying on Shen Du's fingertip, Zhu Yan's blush did not fade. Shen Du, however, curled his thin lips into a slight smile and teased in a low voice:

"You don't actually think I have feelings for you, do you, Madam?"

"Of course not." Zhu Yan replied, moving a bit farther away, and the small ripple that had just formed in her heart settled back into calmness.

[Author's Note:] The story is officially starting, the updates have begun! Hooray!!!

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[1] Guinyu (谷雨): or Grain Rain Day, is one of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. It marks the end of spring and the beginning of the planting season for summer crops. This solar term typically falls around April 20th to April 21st. Guinyu is not a ceremony, but it has cultural significance as it signifies the time when rain is crucial for the growth of crops. Traditionally, this period was important for farmers as it influenced agricultural activities and was also associated with various folk customs and agricultural rites to ensure a good harvest.

[2] The reference to “拍到马腿上” (pāi dào mǎ tuǐ shàng) and “拍对了，为何？” (pāi duìle, wèihé?) means "to hit the horse's leg" and "why hit it correctly?" In this context, it’s a figurative expression that likely refers to how Zhu Yan’s choice of dishes is directly hitting the mark or being exactly what she wants, and why she is so specific about her preferences.

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