Da Li Temple - Chapter 62.2

Chapter 62.2
Earrings
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“Light the lamp!” With a command from the visitor, the dark surroundings lit up.
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Only then did Lin Wanqing see clearly from afar that the person coming was none other than Song Sanlang, dressed in wedding clothes. He had a solemn look, and as soon as he entered, he had the guards look around the study.
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“There’s no one here, Third Young Master,” the guard reported, bowing to him.
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“No, it must be here,” Song Sanlang said, his gaze darkened, “Besides father’s chamber, she could only have come here.”
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Lin Wanqing immediately understood, thinking someone had returned to their wedding room and realized the bride had disappeared. So, right now, he must know her identity. Thinking about this, she couldn’t help but feel apprehensive, secretly gripping the thing in her hand and holding her breath.
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“Go and search my father’s chamber once more,” Song Sanlang instructed, “The rest of you come with me.” After he spoke, he led a few guards and strolled toward the end of the bookshelves.
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Not sure whether it was on purpose or not, but Song Sanlang plodded with each step, making a frightening sound in the candle-flickering silence, as if he were chiseling his temples one by one, making her heart skip a beat until the corner of the flaming red robe stopped in front of her eyes. Her breathing suddenly stalled, and the official document in her hand was almost soaked in sweat.
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Song Sanlang seemed to have stopped before the bookshelf she had just moved and was silent for a long time.
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“Swish?” A cold weapon whizzed.

Song Sanlang violently drew the sword in his hand, and a cracking sound ensued in the study room, accompanied by the muffled thud of thick velvet hitting the ground.
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At the end of the bookshelves were two thick velvet curtains used to block out light, hang down to the floor, or hide people. Just then, Song Sanlang used his sword to slice down one of them.
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There was no one there. Song Sanlang lifted the sword without hesitation and headed for the other curtain.
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“Swish–“
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There was another ear-piercing cracking sound, and the thick velvet fell to the ground, violently shaking the candles in the room.
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There was still no one.
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“Third Young Master,” the guard said as he came over, “It seems that no one is here.”
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“Could it be that it’s already gone?” He muttered, “But this bookshelf clearly shows signs of being moved.”
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“Maybe it’s gone.” The guard said.
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“Gone?” Song Sanlang narrowed his eyes slightly as he spoke, his gaze falling on the two flannel cloths falling to the ground. Just as his father had said, today was just too strange. Ever since the murder of Concubine Zhao, the Emperor was still as good as ever to the Song family on the surface and had even given some rewards as a sign of consolation. But secretly, Song Zhengxing knows that the power in his hands is being emptied bit by bit by Emperor Yonghui.
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Even now, Emperor Yonghui personally visited his wedding; it was puzzling. Until Song Zhengxing reminded him to go back to the room to take a look, he only reacted: Emperor Yonghui may be playing a trick ‘going to the east to strike the west’ by using the Emperor’s visit to increase the guards, so that the Song Mansion loosened its internal security, and take advantage of the opportunity to send people to his father’s chamber or study to plant the evidence. However, he knew all the secret places, and everything was present. Now that this person has come and left, could it be that the person didn’t find it and has already given up?

Between thoughts, a panic sounded outside the door.
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A boy rushed in and said shakily, “Third Young Master, not good. Someone assassinated the Emperor just now. Now, the Emperor has asked the secret guards surrounding the Song Mansion to search for someone!”
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“What?” Song Sanlang staggered two steps. Emperor Yonghui had come in person, so he had this in mind.
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The Song Mansion was quite large, and where the evidence was stored was only known to his father, his elder brother, and him. If they were to send someone to look for it, they wouldn’t be able to find it even at dawn. But this way, the search has become justified. Harboring assassins was tantamount to plotting a rebellion; Su Moyi would not rest until he turned the Song Mansion upside down.
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Song Sanlang’s complexion was slightly austere as he marched over to one of the pearwood bookshelves at the side of the study, took out a book from the crowd of books, and opened it up – surprisingly, it was a concealed box.
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“These,” he handed all the paperwork inside to a few guards, saying, “Burn them all, leave nothing behind.”
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After ordering, they locked the door to the study and headed for the main hall.
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Lin Wanqing twisted the loosened earring before she climbed out of a wooden box containing books underneath the bookshelf. After realizing someone was there, she took out all the books in the box, placed them around it, and hid herself inside.
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This place is a study; it’s usual to have books next to the wooden box. Fortunately, Su Moyi’s side started in time so that she could escape. She searched for the hidden box Song Sanlang had said, opened it, and put the paperwork in her hand inside.
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After she had done everything, Lin Wanqing clapped her hands and leaped out of the study window again.

Su Moyi sits at the guest table in the Song Mansion’s front hall. The tea temperature in his hand was just right; the tea was his favorite Huangshan Mao Feng. The dense aroma washed away the pungent firecracker smell. He picked up the teacup and sipped leisurely.
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Emperor Yonghui gave him full authority and returned to the palace first. Now, the secret guards surrounded Song Mansion. Su Moyi ordered all the Song Mansion’s servants to stay in the main hall, watched by Da Li Temple’s magistrates.
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The search has only been carried out for a quarter of an hour. However, Song Zhengxing has long been cold and sweaty.
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“Lord,” a Da Li Temple guard marched over and said to Su Moyi: “I found this in Zhongshu Song’s study.”
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“Oh?” Su Moyi faked surprise and took the box over.
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Inside was the same evidence he had handed over to Ye Qing.
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“Put it away and present it to the Emperor tomorrow.” He casually answered, carelessly sweeping the empty box, and said, “Keep this box as well. Da Li Temple will use it for evidence.”
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The guard carried the order and left.
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“Come back!” Su Moyi called out to him in a stern voice.
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The teacup in his hand knocked onto the table, making a “clang” sound, causing everyone present to be stunned. He stepped forward, pulled the earring in the hand of the guard, and looked at it several times. Finally, his face darkened as the bottom of a pot.
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Under the red candle, a carnelian-embedded gold peony earring was quietly lying in the dark box.
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Su Moyi took it out; his long, slender fingers held the earring tightly; he made people feel as if he wanted to crush it.
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“This,” Su Moyi asked, his tone was cold, “What is it?”
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The petrified guard hurriedly kneeled and cried: “I gave this hidden box to the Lord as soon as I found this. I don’t know whose earring is in this box, ah ……”
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“Earring ……” Su Moyi coldly smiled, yanked the earring in his hand, and said: “I leave the matter here to Da Li Temple Junior Chief, Lord Zhu, and Guard Ye. Any founding must be reported directly to them.”
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After saying this, he lifted the train of his robe, jumped onto a carriage, and said gravely: “Go to Da Li Temple.”
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——
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Qingqing: oh my, exposed —
Dog Su: Heh! You have finished the ceremony, so why don’t you continue the wedding night?