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"How could that be? It's just that Liu Huai is stubbornly refusing to agree. Moreover, Liu Laoshi has always doted on this daughter, so he didn't force her."
"Then did Xu Liang come back this time specifically to find Liu Huai?" Xing Ruyi glanced at Shengzi, signaling him to continue.
Shengzi continued, "The Liu family's butcher shop has only a simple front door, and behind it are three rooms. One is used as a kitchen, and next to the kitchen is a low tree. However, since the walls of the Liu family are not high, it's very likely that Xu Liang first climbed over the low wall and then sneaked into the Liu household using that low tree. Yesterday, because business was particularly good, both Liu Laoshi and Liu Huai were quite tired and went to bed early. Later, when there was some noise in the yard, Liu Laoshi originally wanted to go out and check, but when he opened the door, he saw Liu Huai standing there in her clothes. He thought it was just a stray cat attracted by the smell of meat that had gotten into the kitchen. Liu Huai urged him to go back to sleep while she checked things out and tidied up the unsold meat. Liu Huai is usually meticulous in her work, and she often does these tidying tasks herself, so Liu Laoshi didn't think much of it.
"Later, after about half an hour, Liu Laoshi suddenly heard a commotion coming from the kitchen. He then came out to check and found his daughter Liu Huai lying on the ground in disarray with bloodstains on her clothes. Nearby lay a sharp knife used for butchering pigs and cutting meat in their household. Xu Liang was sitting on the ground wearing a monk's robe, staring intently at Liu Huai, with chicken legs scattered all around him and grease all over his clothes. Seeing his daughter like this, Liu Laoshi rushed forward and grabbed Xu Liang to hit him. Xu Liang didn't fight back at all. The neighbors heard the commotion and realized something was wrong at the Liu household, so they reported it to the authorities. By the time we arrived, Xu Liang had already been beaten quite badly."
Xing Ruyi asked, "Did Xu Liang explain how he entered the Liu household and how Liu Huai was killed?"
"He explained part of it but only stated that he did not sneak into the Liu household; rather, he had made an appointment with Liu Huai beforehand. He and Liu Huai had feelings for each other; he was forced to become a monk but still longed for worldly life. Perhaps due to fate, when he came down from the mountain a few days ago, he unexpectedly ran into Liu Huai. They held hands and gazed at each other in silence. They secretly went to a secluded place to express their feelings like a couple. After their intimate moment, they were talking when they suddenly heard a chicken crowing next door. Xu Liang lamented that since becoming a monk, he hadn't tasted meat again. This stayed in Liu Huai's mind, so she secretly prepared chicken legs for him and asked him to come over last night. Xu Liang also mentioned that he had already made plans with Liu Huai; once he returned to the mountain after saying goodbye to his master, he would renounce his monkhood and marry her."
Xing Ruyi leaned closer to Shengzi and eagerly asked, "What about Xu Liang's motive for killing Liu Huai? Such an important matter—how could he not state it?"
"He didn't say anything at all; no matter how Brother Chang questioned him, he remained silent. However, there were witnesses and physical evidence at the scene; even if he didn't confess, it solidified his guilt for murder. He probably knows this himself, which is why he's reluctant to speak."
Xing Ruyi shook her head. "I fear things are not as simple as you think. If you ask me, Xu Liang's silence is precisely because he is not the murderer; rather, he witnessed Liu Huai's death and felt hopeless himself—wanting to follow her in death."
"I don't believe it; Xu Liang doesn't seem like someone deeply in love."
"Whether it's true or not is something your Government Office needs to investigate." Xing Ruyi stood up and began fiddling with her Clay Pot again.
Shengzi leaned closer and peered into the Clay Pot with wide eyes, speaking mysteriously: "Actually, besides the chicken legs at the scene, there was one more thing. Ruyi, can you guess what it is?"
"It wouldn't be something from my Rouge shop, would it? I must clarify that I have no acquaintance with that Liu Huai and no reason to harm her. You mustn't spread rumors that could cause trouble for my shop."
"Don't worry; I've quietly taken that item away. Besides, Brother Chang isn't foolish; he knows this murder case has nothing to do with you. No one else would be foolish enough to suspect you just because something from your shop was found at the scene. If that were the case, who in Luoyang would dare buy or sell anything?" Shengzi said as he pulled out a round box from his waist. It had 'Sun Xian Girl Ointment' written on top of it along with an indistinct image of a Fox Demon beneath the text.
"It was something from my shop, sold just yesterday morning." Xing Ruyi took the round box, opened it, and found that a piece had been dug out near one corner with someone's thumb. She leaned down to smell it; amidst the girl's fragrance, there was also a faint hint of blood.
"So that girl is Liu Rui!" Xing Ruyi closed the round box and casually placed it on the counter. "Xu Liang lied; at least this girl came to my shop to buy the Sun Fairy Girl Ointment while still a virgin. So you should hurry back to the yamen and have Brother Chang find an old woman to help Liu Rui with her examination. There must be something hidden in this."
Hearing this from Xing Ruyi, Shengzi didn't think much and quickly left.
The fox sauntered out leisurely, followed by a chubby man gnawing on a chicken leg.
"Are you going to meddle again?"
"I'm just unable to bear seeing lovers separated by life and death while the wrongdoer remains carefree." Xing Ruyi said, glancing at Yin Yuan and pointing at the Sun Fairy Girl Ointment on the counter. "This thing, you intentionally left it at the crime scene, didn't you? What's wrong? Feeling mischievous and wanting to get punished?"
"No, no, no! Mother, please don't wrongfully accuse me. I was just soft-hearted and couldn't resist her request. Besides, didn't you notice that there's something else on this Sun Fairy Girl Ointment?"
"Something else?" Xing Ruyi picked up the round box and examined it closely. Finding nothing unusual, she sniffed it again. Indeed, amidst the girl's fragrance and blood scent, there was an additional hint of ambergris.
"It's ambergris!"
Ambergris, also known as gray amber, is a solid waxy substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. Due to its unique sweet earthy fragrance, it is often used by men as perfume to scent their homes or clothing; however, its high price makes it unaffordable for common people.
"I've smelled it before; although Xu Liang also had a trace of ambergris on him, it wasn't strong. The Liu family are just ordinary butchers who deal with slaughtering pigs and ducks; they wouldn't care about whether they smell good or not. Therefore, you won't find any ambergris in the Liu household."
"You are quite clever!"
"Of course! Just look at who my father is." Yin Yuan took a hearty bite of his chicken leg. "By the way, let me tell you one more thing: that chicken leg was what Liu Rui asked Xu Liang to bite before she died. Liu Laoshi wasn't aware; when he rushed over upon hearing the noise, Liu Rui still had a breath left and pointed at Xu Liang. She actually wanted Xu Liang to take a bite of the chicken leg since all of that was prepared for him. If she didn't see him eat even a bite, she wouldn't have felt at ease leaving. But Liu Laoshi was overwhelmed with grief at that moment and completely missed this detail. So that piece of evidence at the scene is actually not valid."
"How did you know all this?"
"Of course, Liu Hui told me herself. But don't worry, Mother. If Liu Hui wants to save her beloved, she will come to you." Yin Yuan blinked at Xing Ruyi, trying to please her: "What do you think? Have I inherited your kindness and virtue?"
"Hmph, you're not my biological child!"
"But my body has a part of your contribution, Mother. Besides, a foster child is still a child; it's inevitable that they resemble their foster parent. As the saying goes, a child raised by someone will resemble them!"
"Go eat your chicken leg. Why are you talking so much nonsense at your age?" Xing Ruyi affectionately pinched Yin Yuan's chubby cheeks. "Did you sneak off to the crime scene because you wanted to catch Liu Hui's soul before the underworld officials arrived?"
"I didn't!" Yin Yuan turned her face away awkwardly.
"Don't lie to me. Just now you said that a foster child is still a child. A mother can’t fail to notice when her child is unwell. Considering the time, you've almost digested all the demonic energy you absorbed from the armory. You can't withstand hunger while growing."
"You know?" Yin Yuan blinked again. "It's a pity there aren't many monsters here for me to snack on."
"There aren't any in Luoyang City, but there are some in the mountains outside the city. I've already contacted a fox and arranged for it to take you hunting tonight. But remember, you can only hunt those vicious monsters; don't harm the innocent."
"Mother is so nice!" Yin Yuan exclaimed, opening her greasy hands and leaning in with her greasy lips to kiss Xing Ruyi, but the fox's expression darkened as he raised his hand to block her.
"Dad is really angry!" Yin Yuan huffed. "If Mother gives birth to Dad's child in the future, I wonder who Dad will be jealous of then."
The fox glanced at Xing Ruyi and replied, "You don't need to worry about that!"
Yin Yuan initially wanted to argue a bit more, but thinking about how she would rely on this cheap Father Fox to hunt demons later that night, she swallowed her retorts and obediently said, "No need for me to worry; everything is taken care of by Mother."
Finished, she walked to the backyard while munching on a chicken leg.
As dusk fell and night deepened, the vast city of Luoyang was illuminated, showcasing the bustling night market of the Golden Tang Dynasty.
Xing Ruyi sat in the hall, waiting for the person who was sure to arrive tonight.
As the clock struck three, there came three knocks at the door, just as expected. Xing Ruyi opened the door to find a young woman dressed in a light purple gown, embroidered with gardenias, holding a red umbrella and standing under the eaves. The umbrella was held low, obscuring half of her face.
The young woman's face and the exposed skin of her arms were pale, devoid of color. The corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, appearing to smile yet not quite. Even upon hearing the door open, she remained still, not moving an inch.
"Are you Miss Liu Rui?"
Xing Ruyi asked, but heard the woman emit a sharp "giggle."
"What’s this? Have you forgotten me after just a few days?"
Xing Ruyi frowned, sensing an unusual aura of danger. The woman's voice seemed familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
"The promise you made to me has yet to be fulfilled. Is this how you repay trust?" The young woman said, slowly lifting her red umbrella. By the light of the lantern hanging from the eaves, Xing Ruyi caught a glimpse of the woman's face that she had deliberately concealed beneath the umbrella.
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