Suicide

Grabbing Gu Chengyin's wrist, her eyes astonishingly bright, her voice trembling with excitement:

"Brother Chengyin! This... this is just too thrilling! It's exactly like what they say in the plays—no, it's even more thrilling than the plays!"

"You just took your people into such a high-ranking official's home to investigate, interrogate, and inspect the scene..."

Cui Zilu paused, skipping over the mention of the corpse, "And then everyone had to follow your orders. Is every day this much fun for you, Brother Chengyin?"

Gu Chengyin thought for a moment and, playing along with her words, smiled faintly, "Just about."

The answer was vague yet genuine, enough to satisfy the young girl's imagination.

"Wow!"

Cui Zilu gasped in awe as expected, "Every single day of yours is so wonderful, Brother Chengyin!"

"Unlike me. At the estate, I'm either learning etiquette or reading ledgers. The most I get to do is catch butterflies in the garden. It's completely boring!"

Her words were filled with envy and longing. Subconsciously, she blurted out, "If only I could be with you every day, Brother Chengyin! It would definitely be so much fun!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she herself froze.

Her cheeks instantly burned a deep red, like a ripe cherry, the flush spreading all the way to the roots of her ears and her neck.

Being together every day... this... wasn't saying this too... too shameless?!

Wasn't that the same as saying she wanted to marry Gu Chengyin?

Cui Zilu released her grip in a panic, wishing she could swallow her previous words.

She lowered her head, her fingers helplessly twisting the corner of her clothes. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of her throat, and she didn't dare to look at Gu Chengyin again.

However, Gu Chengyin's mind was entirely on the case at this moment. He didn't take this obviously ambiguous statement to heart at all.

He casually comforted her, "Since you like it, then follow me closely these next few days. I promise every day will be just as fun as today."

These words were like a pardon, instantly dispelling Cui Zilu's embarrassment.

She abruptly raised her head. The blush on her face hadn't faded, but the light of excitement had already reignited in her eyes. She nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice:

"Mhm, okay! You have to keep your word, Brother Chengyin!"

To her, experiencing these things alongside Gu Chengyin was far more interesting than the luxurious but strictly regulated life at the Cui Estate.

The carriage moved forward smoothly, heading in the direction of the Crown Prince's Palace.

Gu Chengyin looked at the street scenery passing by the window, but his gaze was somewhat vacant, his fingers unconsciously tapping on his knee.

Whether Xiao Bichang had actually committed suicide or not, the answer was already on the verge of being revealed.

But the problem now was what kind of answer he needed to present in order to drag Xiao Song, who had sacrificed a pawn to save the king, back into the muddy waters.

The situation was already obvious. As long as it was established that Xiao Bichang had committed suicide out of fear of punishment.

Then Xiao Song would be able to land safely ashore; at the very worst, he could retire and return to his hometown.

And the price was merely a Left Vice Minister.

Compared to the consequences of falling from power, it was simply too good of a deal.

Gu Chengyin turned his head and saw Cui Zilu trying to sit upright in a manly posture.

He suddenly asked, "Sister Zilu, what are your thoughts on this matter regarding Xiao Bichang?"

"Huh?"

Cui Zilu, who had been immersed in her anticipation for what was to come, froze for a moment upon hearing this.

Then she realized that Gu Chengyin was seriously asking for her opinion.

He wasn't treating her like an ignorant child or a mere follower, but was genuinely seeking her thoughts!

This realization made her heart skip a beat. She immediately straightened her already slender back, put on an incredibly serious and inquiring expression, and tried hard to imitate the way her father looked when thinking about important issues.

Despite wearing men's clothing, those overly clear eyes and tightly pursed lips made this seriousness appear not at all mature, but rather exude a unique kind of cuteness.

After thinking carefully and seriously for a good while, Cui Zilu finally raised her head to meet Gu Chengyin's waiting gaze.

Using an incredibly serious tone, even carrying a hint of throwing caution to the wind, she said, "Brother Chengyin, I believe that Vice Minister Xiao did commit suicide."

Gu Chengyin revealed a slightly surprised expression and pressed further, "Oh? How did you come to that conclusion, Sister Zilu?"

Cui Zilu felt a warmth in her heart from Gu Chengyin's serious attitude, but then she felt a little embarrassed again and whispered:

"Brother Chengyin, you're definitely laughing at me in your heart, aren't you?"

"I know that although the Left Vice Minister cannot compare to my father, he is still a very, very high-ranking official."

"Usually surrounded by attendants, living a life of luxury, why would he commit suicide for no reason? There must be something fishy going on here, I understand all that logic."

"But..."

Cui Zilu paused, her voice even softer, "What I saw, heard, and felt today all makes me feel that he did commit suicide. But it's different from an ordinary suicide, and I don't know how to describe it."

Hearing this, Gu Chengyin actually laughed, "When did I ever laugh at you? Am I really that superficial in your heart?"

"No, no! I didn't mean that!"

Upon hearing this, Cui Zilu immediately panicked. She hurriedly waved her hands, shaking her head like a rattle drum, "Brother Chengyin is the most special person in my heart! Not superficial at all! I... I didn't mean it like that!"

She defended herself eagerly, terrified that Gu Chengyin would misunderstand.

Seeing fine sweat break out on the tip of Cui Zilu's nose from her anxiety, Gu Chengyin finally put away his teasing expression and said seriously:

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Then tell me, why do you think Xiao Bichang committed suicide?"

Cui Zilu took a deep breath, steadied her nerves, and tried hard to organize her words:

"First of all, it's that study. It looked entirely too much like a study. Brother Chengyin, if one day you were in a terrible mood, even right before deciding to do something incredibly terrifying."

"Would your study still look like Xiao Bichang's study, with the books stacked neatly, the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone in perfect order, and even the position of the fallen chair looking exactly as if it had been measured?"

Gu Chengyin's eyes flickered slightly, signaling for her to continue.

"Although I don't know how to investigate a case, I do know that if a person has experienced immense internal struggle and pain, deciding to end their own life, even if they force themselves to stay calm..."

"...in their final moments, their surrounding environment would always leave behind some untidy traces. For example, a knocked-over brush stand, a torn and then smoothed-out corner of paper, or messy footprints left from pacing back and forth?"

"But Xiao Bichang's study gave me the feeling of... like a meticulously arranged stage before a play begins. All the props were placed in their most correct positions, just waiting for the main character to enter and finish acting out the scene."

Cui Zilu tried her best to express her feelings.

"Secondly, it's that suicide note. Lord Zhu said the handwriting was genuine, and the content looked like a confession."

"But Brother Chengyin, if a person really embezzled a lot of money and was so tormented inside that they couldn't go on living, when they wrote their suicide note, would it be in that kind of... um... tone of handing over official business?"

"I think I heard Lord Zhu read a few lines. It sounded like writing a memorial to the throne or an official report, rather than a confession letter written by a person in the final moments of their life to their family, to His Majesty, or to themselves."