Chapter 83: Good Luck Is a Skill, Too! (Part One)

She had asked too directly.

A fleeting panic crossed Li Xun’er’s eyes. Yet her courage held firm, and she raised a cold eyebrow, retorting, “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

Wu Tan’s words meant nothing without proof, so Li Xun’er was not afraid in the slightest. But Wu Tan cut her off before she could finish, saying, “You don’t need to know what I’m talking about. It’s enough that I know what you’ve done.”

Li Xun’er eyed her warily, her brows knit in suspicion. Wu Tan met her gaze, clear and sharp, every word uttered with quiet intensity. “I’m not asking you to confirm anything. If I’ve already decided you’re the culprit, do I need witnesses and evidence to convince myself? I’m simply telling you—I know.”

Seeing Li Xun’er’s composed expression, Wu Tan realized there were likely no clues left to trace. From Li Xun’er’s behavior and words today, Wu Tan had deduced she was behind the attack. And Wu Tan was never one to forgive and forget; even if Hu Tianming couldn’t uncover the truth today, she’d remember this grudge clearly, and someday she would make Li Xun’er pay.

Li Xun’er thought Wu Tan must have lost her mind, staring at her for a moment before letting out a cold laugh as if watching a farce. “Are you brainless? Saying such things to me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll silence you for good?”

Wu Tan had no evidence—just suspicions. Normally, one would keep their mouth shut, not openly provoke the culprit, especially when their status is higher. But Wu Tan shrugged indifferently, retorting, “Even if I didn’t know about this, you’ve already tried to kill me, haven’t you? If I’m doomed either way, why bother hiding anymore?”

Both women spoke in deliberately quiet voices. Hu Tianming had glanced over several times already. Seeing things wrapping up on the other side, Wu Tan said no more, pushing Li Xun’er aside and heading downstairs with brisk steps.

Previously, Wu Tan had always minded her manners because of Li Xun’er’s status. But now that the other had resolved to kill her, why should she continue to grovel? She would never do such a thing.

Li Xun’er staggered from the push, increasingly certain Wu Tan had gone mad. Regaining her balance, she stared at Wu Tan’s retreating back, her gaze sharp as a blade.

Wu Tan no longer cared about Li Xun’er’s response. She descended from the third-floor landing, hesitating whether to check on Lin Yan’ao in the second-floor room or avoid Xiao Yue and wait for Hu Tianming in the main hall, when she encountered the magistrate’s secretary coming up from below.

“Second Miss Wu, where is the master?”

Wu Tan turned, pointed upstairs, and stepped aside to clear the way. Upstairs, Hu Tianming and Lei Ming had finished their inspection and were coming down.

At the stairway, Hu Tianming asked, “Did you find everyone I asked for?”

“Yes!” The secretary bowed. “The manager, workers, and all thirty-one staff from the back courtyard and kitchen of Vermilion Bird Teahouse have been gathered in the hall downstairs. I wanted to ask whether to take them back to the yamen or question them here in the hall.”

Hu Tianming considered briefly, then quickly descended the stairs and entered the elegant second-floor room.

Xiao Yue was still sitting leisurely, sipping tea.

Zhou Changyin sat nearby, but there was no conversation between them. She had tried to chat three times, but Xiao Yue never responded. With Jiang Yuzhi and Lin Yan’ao watching, the awkward silence between them became increasingly strange.

Feeling embarrassed, Zhou Changyin finally fell silent, hiding her discomfort behind her tea.

Hu Tianming sensed the awkward atmosphere upon entering, but it was not his concern. He bowed and announced, “Your Highness, the teahouse manager and staff are waiting downstairs. Normally, questioning should be at the yamen, but if you could spare a moment to hear their statements, I’ll arrange it here in the hall…”

He hadn’t dared report to the emperor yet. The victims’ aftermath remained unsettled, and there were no clues—entering the palace to report prematurely could get him scolded or even dismissed as incompetent. So he clung tightly to Xiao Yue, the only lifeline, hoping that the prince’s involvement would later help him with the emperor.

Today, Hu Tianming used all his flattery on Xiao Yue.

Before he finished, Xiao Yue glanced over indifferently. “No need for such trouble. Just bring the manager and the three workers assigned to these private rooms; ask them a few questions.”

“Yes!” Grateful he hadn’t been dismissed, Hu Tianming immediately gave the order.

Since Xiao Yue would question them here, Wu Tan wanted to hear the results. She shamelessly slid up behind Hu Tianming and asked, “Master, I know that non-officials are usually excluded from court proceedings, but today isn’t at the yamen, and the matter concerns me. Could you allow me to listen in?”

Hu Tianming didn’t think much of it and nodded. “You’re the victim, so you have the right to know the case’s progress. If questioning requires force…”

“That’s fine!” Wu Tan hurriedly thanked him. “If it becomes inconvenient, I’ll withdraw. Thank you for your consideration.”

She spoke to Hu Tianming with respectful, almost childlike courtesy.

Xiao Yue, however, felt irritated just seeing her, turning his gaze away coldly.

Sitting opposite, Zhou Changyin noticed his mood shift, puzzled—she thought Hu Tianming had annoyed him, but it was only two sentences with the magistrate. If Xiao Yue didn’t want to meddle, he could leave; why stay and be so reluctant?

Li Xun’er had hesitated to leave—her nerves frayed, even if she believed she could cover her tracks, she wanted to stay and see the outcome for peace of mind. Seeing Wu Tan remain, she felt she must stay too, following the group into the room as if nothing were amiss.

Hu Tianming noticed but, respecting her royal status, and since Xiao Yue said nothing, he simply turned a blind eye and joined them at the table.

With everyone settling for official business, Zhou Changyin felt it improper to sit at the table, so she moved aside to stand with Wu Tan and the others.

The secretary soon brought the four named by Xiao Yue upstairs.

The manager was a plump middle-aged man. Upon entering, the four didn’t dare look at Xiao Yue or Hu Tianming, instead falling to their knees, wailing, “Innocent! Please, noble master, I am wronged! Please grant me justice!”

“Silence!” Lacking a judge’s block, Hu Tianming improvised by banging Zhou Changyin’s teacup on the table, his tone stern. “Because of your teahouse’s negligence, several lives were lost, yet you cry injustice before I even question you? Is there such upside-down logic in this world?”

Accustomed to dealing with commoners, Hu Tianming knew exactly how to command respect. At his words, the group fell silent.

He turned to Xiao Yue, politely asking, “Your Highness, will you question them yourself, or shall I begin?”

Xiao Yue remained relaxed, raising his chin slightly. “Magistrate Hu, you’re the expert in criminal cases. Proceed as you see fit; I’ll just observe.”

Hu Tianming felt it wasn’t fair to leave all responsibility to him, so he focused and began.

He had the four state their names, then questioned Manager Zhu. “Two incidents occurred today. Even if you didn’t witness them, you must have heard the details. First, the second-floor rail was tampered with, causing two young ladies to fall and nearly die. Then the third-floor rail was sabotaged, and when the top scholar’s horse passed below, the rail fell, killing and injuring several new officials and spectators. The scene has been inspected: the second-floor rail was removed from its slot, dropped with a touch, and oil was poured on the floor—signs of murder…”

Before he finished, Manager Zhu cried, “Master, I am innocent…”

“Don’t rush to plead innocence!” Hu Tianming cut him off, giving no chance for rebuttal. “The third-floor rail was similarly sabotaged: both ends’ nails and slots were removed, but unlike the second floor, the ends were temporarily tied with rope. Later, when the scholar’s horse passed, someone among the crowd cut the rope, causing the rail to fall.”

He produced the two cut ropes from his sleeve and placed them on the table.

His rapid-fire questioning aimed to break Manager Zhu’s defenses, and indeed, the man shuddered at the table slam, unable to respond.

Hu Tianming continued, “This means that at least two killers or accomplices were on your teahouse’s third floor when the scholar died. The place is now empty, but I have reason to suspect you or your staff. Even if nothing else, the tampered rails—how could you fail to notice or report them? What do you say?”

Sweating profusely, Manager Zhu could only clarify, “Master, I did not conceal anything. I truly did not notice any rail problems beforehand. Please investigate thoroughly.”

“Didn’t notice?” Hu Tianming snorted. “Should I believe that? Vermilion Bird Teahouse is one of the city’s finest, always full of distinguished guests. Especially on a day like today, wouldn’t you have your staff clean every room? Who was responsible for the leftmost private room?”

“It was me!” The small worker at the back hurriedly kowtowed.

“When did you last touch the rail in that room? Did you notice anything unusual?”

Before he could answer, Manager Zhu explained, “Because today is special, we opened early as usual. After closing last night, I had the staff clean all the rooms and hall for today.”

The small worker calmed down, echoing, “Yes, master. I cleaned the room last night as ordered, carefully wiping even the terrace rail. At the time…” He recalled, sweating, “I truly didn’t notice anything wrong with the rail.”

Hu Tianming thought for a moment, then instructed the secretary, “Go ask who cleaned the third-floor rail last night and bring them up.”

“Yes!” Soon, the secretary returned with a woman in her thirties, trembling as she walked, and she fell to the floor immediately.

Hu Tianming asked, “When you cleaned the third-floor terrace last night, did you notice anything different about the rail ends?”

Terrified, she immediately replied, “No!”

Hu Tianming, experienced with such people, pressed more sternly, “Think carefully. Since you last touched the rail, if you can’t provide evidence to clear yourself, you remain a suspect.”

She shuddered, looking up instinctively.

Hu Tianming’s face remained stern. “Recall especially the rail ends—was there anything unusual? For instance, anything wrapped around them?”

The woman hesitated, thinking hard, then wailed loudly, knocking her head on the floor. “Master, noble master, there was nothing, truly nothing…”

Her cries were ear-splitting, and as a rough worker, her voice was particularly loud. The sound was indeed comparable to slaughtering a pig.

Hu Tianming couldn’t bear it, afraid she’d disturb Xiao Yue, and since nothing more could be gleaned, he had her removed.

The secretary pondered, finally suggesting, “Master, the second and third-floor terraces are open-air. Could someone have climbed up overnight after closing to tamper with them?”

Hu Tianming considered this, taking a deep breath.

Manager Zhu and the workers exchanged glances, seizing the suggestion as a lifeline, loudly agreeing, “Yes, master, it must be so. We truly didn’t know; someone must have sneaked in…”

It was possible, after all.

Hu Tianming thought for a moment, about to inspect the terrace, when Xiao Yue suddenly asked, “When was the small table on the terrace added?”

The question seemed unrelated, and everyone turned to him in surprise.

Manager Zhu did not understand, pondering before answering, “Just this morning…”

Xiao Yue did not press further, simply staring at him.

Manager Zhu automatically explained, “Master, you know my teahouse does well, and our tea snacks are pricier. Guests who book private rooms are either dignitaries or wealthy ladies; people of status. Even if they want a good view from the terrace, they rarely sit outside. But this morning, two carpenters…”

His voice cut off abruptly.

Li Xun’er, standing unnoticed in a corner, felt her taut nerves snap.

Her fingers clenched tightly under her sleeve, nails digging into her palm to maintain composure.

Manager Zhu’s expression changed several times before realization dawned. He stammered, “Master, I remember now! Last night, a worker told me a table on the third floor had a broken leg, probably damaged by a guest during the day. I cursed a bit and had them move it aside, planning to fix it later. But this morning, before opening, two carpenters arrived, saying De Fu…”

De Fu was the worker kneeling beside him. At being named, De Fu screamed, “Innocent! I didn’t! I swear!”

Manager Zhu, sharp from years of business, grasped most of the situation, gasping, “I was puzzled why it took two carpenters to fix a table leg. I was about to scold De Fu, but the carpenters were polite, saying today was the scholar’s parade—a joyous day—and they wouldn’t charge, only asked for tea. After tea, they said they’d check for other furniture needing repair. I took them to the second floor, and in the room where the incident happened, one suggested placing a small table by the terrace so guests could enjoy the view without moving. I didn’t think much and agreed…”

Connecting the dots, Manager Zhu realized he’d been used, and in a rage, he sat on the floor, slapping his legs and cursing.

Lei Ming had re-examined the terrace and reported to Xiao Yue, “The oil spilled near the flowerpot was a distraction, meant to mislead the authorities into thinking the sabotage happened earlier, not this morning. The table’s placement was definitely premeditated—right against the rail. If anyone leaned on it, even before the parade, the rail would fall and someone would drop.”

Lei Ming shuddered, glancing at Wu Tan—he knew Second Miss Wu’s usual habits were lazy, and if she’d leaned on that rail today, the prince would have been mourning her.

Wu Tan hadn’t considered all this; now she stood frozen, dazed for a long time.

Lin Yan’ao, always proper, realized that the table and rail together formed a trap. Her survival was pure luck.

Lin Yan’ao’s scalp tingled as she stood abruptly. “What did you say?”

Luckily, Wu Tan had been preoccupied, seeking Lin Yan’ao’s help with Li clan matters, and then had been emotionally withdrawn, staying slumped at the table. Otherwise…

Lin Yan’ao’s breath was gone for a moment. When she finally recovered, she rushed over, hugging Wu Tan tightly, unsure how to comfort her, only holding her close.

Wu Tan didn’t cry, just hid her face in Lin Yan’ao’s shoulder, silent and still.

Xiao Yue glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, feeling inexplicably irritated.

He thought: Last lifetime, that woman survived in my harem despite Xiao Yun’s suppression—it was no easy feat. Now, just a trip out nearly landed her in the underworld. If she always escapes with such luck, she must be blessed beyond measure.

Suppressing his annoyance, Xiao Yue quickly regained composure, unwilling to waste more time. He ordered Hu Tianming, “Take everyone back to the yamen. Find a reliable artist to draw portraits of the two carpenters, issue a wanted notice with a reward. You write the memorial to His Majesty—their target was the new top scholar and the newly appointed officials, correct?”

He deliberately avoided mentioning Wu Tan and Lin Yan’ao. Hu Tianming understood—if the memorial described two ladies being targeted for assassination, it would incite panic among the aristocracy and damage their reputations. Since all were from official families, it was right to protect them.

Hu Tianming nodded solemnly. “Yes. The third-floor rail was deliberately pushed down, targeting someone. We can’t tell who exactly yet.”

If the target was unknown, he would question each victim for background.

Hu Tianming had experience in such matters; Xiao Yue needn’t elaborate. Now, Hu Tianming’s urgent task was drafting a memorial for the emperor; other details could be handled later.

Seeing Xiao Yue had already spent too much time, Hu Tianming bowed deeply. “I must return to write the memorial. Thank you for your guidance and assistance, Your Highness. Will you…”

Xiao Yue interrupted, “No, I won’t go to the palace today. If my brother summons me, I’ll go.”

“Yes!” Hu Tianming dared not insist.

He was eager to leave, but seeing Jiang Yuzhi collapsed on the couch and Wu Tan and Lin Yan’ao embracing, he couldn’t ignore them. He suggested, “Ladies, the teahouse will soon be sealed. Please allow the officers to escort you home?”

Li Xun’er, though not exposed, was still in shock, unable to respond.

Zhou Changyin glanced at her; seeing Li Xun’er didn’t move, she spoke first, “No need. We have our own guards and maids, we’ll return ourselves.”

She, Li Xun’er, and Jiang Yuzhi were together. Hu Tianming turned to Wu Tan and Lin Yan’ao. “And you two…”

Lin Yan’ao worried about Wu Tan, but Wu Tan had recovered, slipping from her embrace with a smile. “No need, Master. We’re going to Lin residence, it’s just a short walk.”

“Very well.” Hu Tianming marveled at her resilience—how could the Wu family girl bounce back so quickly?

Wu Tan seemed to understand his confusion, grinning brightly. “Luck is a skill not everyone has!”

Though perhaps not logical, it was amusing, and Hu Tianming was entertained.

A young lady so open-minded was rare. He smiled approvingly, about to speak, but Wu Tan’s smile vanished as she glanced at Li Xun’er by the door, calling out loudly, “Don’t you agree, Princess?”

Each word rang out forcefully.

Li Xun’er, caught off guard, looked up sharply.

But Wu Tan ignored her, turning to Xiao Yue and Hu Tianming, bowing politely. “Thank you both for today. I’ll take my leave.”

With that, she strode out without a backward glance.

“Tan’er!” Lin Yan’ao hurriedly gathered her skirts and chased after.

Huangfu Qi downstairs had drunk so much tea he was nearly sprouting mushrooms. Seeing them come down, he sighed in relief, “Finally!”

He patted his robe, just about to rise, when Wu Tan rushed to the door, nearly colliding with a man who was just entering.

—Extra—

I wanted to write the evil princess’s crime in detail, so the first chapter is a bit long. The second update should be about 4,000 words…

This book is first published, please do not repost!