Da Li Temple - Chapter 32.1

Chapter 32.1
Night Visit

After leaving the Capital Government Office, Su Moyi went to the Imperial Palace to meet the Emperor. He returned to Da Li Temple when it was already past eleven o’clock.
??
The night wind was warm, swaying the candle flame on the desk, causing the shadow of the official document in his hand to sway as well. That document was the false identity given to him by Emperor Cheng Zhao to help him travel to Hongzhou to investigate the case.
??
Upon seeing the short sword left by Concubine Zhao, the limp maidservant from Song Zhengxing’s mansion told Su Moyi that the stone used to forge this sword was from Hongzhou.
??
Unlike government mines elsewhere, Hongzhou’s mine produces gold, silver, copper, iron, and a mineral called Wuzi steel. This mineral is extremely tough, cutting iron like mud, and is perfect for making weapons on the battlefield. However, due to the rarity of this mineral, the Wuzi steel was collected and forged by the imperial court. It will not appear in public unless given by the Emperor. Therefore, the appearance of such a short sword in Song Zhengxing’s mansion proved his unclear relationship with the official mine in Hongzhou once again.
??
Money and weapons have always been the lifeblood of the court. Either one of the two could shake the foundation of the country. What’s more, Song Zhengxing is involved in both of these.
??
Su Moyi and Emperor Cheng Zhao both suspected that the real purpose of the person behind Song Zhengxing was probably not as simple as embezzling money and illegally selling mines.

If 200,000 taels of silver were converted into provisions, not counting horses, it would be enough to sustain an army of 40,000 men for a year. If not for the flood that led to the ‘fake silver case,’ which exposed the conspiracy in advance, they would continue to do this kind of business for an unknown time. But from the official mine to the court, from the mining department to the weapon office, it would be hard to do it unknowingly for more than ten years without immersion training.
??
Therefore, Su Moyi suspected that someone had been quietly planning the layout for a long time, and the real purpose was to start a rebellion.
??
Emperor Cheng Zhao broke into a cold sweat and immediately appointed Su Moyi as the imperial envoy and went to Hongzhou as soon as possible to find out the identity and intentions of the person behind the scenes.
??
The moonlight shines while the night is cold. Su Moyi put the official documents in his hand into a small wooden box and locked it up. The day of departure is tomorrow. Although he had explained to the two Da Li Temple junior chiefs, he still felt worried.
??
Previously, he did not pay attention to Lin Wanqing for a few days, and she sent herself to prison. If he left for half a month, would Lin Wanqing make herself dead when he came back? He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he ignored the nearby Ye Qing. It wasn’t until a shadow covered the candlelight that Su Moyi looked at him and got up to instruct him not to extinguish the candlelight unpleasantly.
??
“My Lord,” Ye Qing looked at the soulless Lord Su and proposed, “Why don’t I send all the things to your chamber first, so you won’t have to return here when you come out of Recorder Lin’s place later on.”
??
“…… ” Being told the center of the matter, Lord Su was a bit flustered but pretended to be calm. He tensed his face and said, “Who said that I’m going to go to Recorder Lin’s place?”

Ye Qing froze, looking at the tip of Su Moyi’s shoes facing in the direction of Lin Wanqing’s residence, “Your chamber is not in that direction ……”
??
Su Moyi pulled the corners of his mouth, and a hint of annoyance surfaced on his face, “I’m …… going to walk the dog.”
??
After saying this, he walked to the hut outside, stretched his leg, and kicked lazy Si Yu on the ground.
??
Ye Qing looked up at the sky and then at the increasingly abnormal man in front of him in disbelief and said, “It’s in the middle of the night….. Lord, are you sure you want to walk the dog?”
??
Su Moyi unhappily pulled Si Yu up, put the chain on, dragged it to go out, and rolled his eyes at Ye Qing when he passed by, “Who says you can’t walk a dog in the middle of the night?”
??
Ye Qing was speechless.
??
“Aw–” Si Yu, suddenly forced to open for business, had tearful eyes when being dragged by Lord Su.
??
Su Moyi led Si Yu in a circle from the direction of his chamber and trekked to the outside of Lin Wanqing’s courtyard. Under the bright lights of the window was the silhouette of a woman combing her hair in the mirror. A hazy shadow was imprinted on the window pane, so distant like a dream. She should have just washed her hair. There was still the fragrance of soap and flower oil in the courtyard, mixed with the smell of her body, like the vapor that fills the air after a summer rainstorm.
??
Su Moyi suddenly felt less brave, stopped his legs, and only stood quietly under the moon, looking at her.
??
“Woof woof!” The originally listless Si Yu suddenly became excited. It maniacally barked twice, then abruptly stood up, dragging Su Moyi, and ran towards Lin Wanqing’s courtyard.

Su Moyi was yanked and stumbled. The person inside heard the commotion and opened the door. She bumped into Su Moyi, who was about to fall on the door panel, and hurriedly reached out to help him.
??
Today, she only wore a thin dress and casually draped a robe outside. Her unbound long hair cascaded like a waterfall, giving the feeling of lazy beauty.
??
Moreover, she had just bathed and hadn’t wrapped her chest yet. Without the outer robe and the cover of the middle garment, Lord Su felt a touch of warmth between their collision. He surprisingly did not let go of his hand for a moment.
??
“Lord …… ” Lin Wanqing pushed him away and picked up a hairpin embarrassedly, “Lord wait, I, I’ll tidy up first …… “
??
“It’s fine. There’s no need in front of me.” Su Moyi stopped her.
??
“Oh, okay.” Lin Wanqing obediently put down the hairpin in her hand, turned to look at Su Moyi, and said, “It’s so late. What are you doing here?”
??
“Cough cough ……” Su Moyi put his fist against his lips and coughed dryly twice. Pulling on the maniac Si Yu while saying, “This stupid dog doesn’t sleep in the middle of the night and wants to come out for a walk.”
??
“Oh ……” They didn’t speak again, and the atmosphere was momentarily awkward.
??
Su Moyi opened his mouth first. He handed Lin Wanqing a bottle of Jinchuang medicine carelessly and said, “This is what Ye Qing asked me to give you.”??

“Ye Qing?” Lin Wanqing froze and looked at Su Moyi, “But he came here just now.”
??
“…… “The experienced Lord Su wasn’t flustered, “Oh, he forgot and didn’t want to come back. When he saw me walking the dog, he asked me to bring it to you.”