Chapter 50: This Little One Sure Knows How To Babble.

Mu Zhiming and Gu Heyan, confused between Wen Heyin babbling ‘it’s not me’ along with Pei Hantang insisting ‘of course it’s you’, they came to understand what was going on.

Five years ago, Wen Heyin was chased by the Guards patrolling the Capital during curfew. When Wen Heyin and Pei Hantang collided with each other, Wen Heyin kicked Pei Hantang in the crotch without fear.

Mu Zhiming: “Oh…..”

‘I remember that too….’

“Lord Mu, is he your Bodyguard?” Pei Hantang asked with a smile, as if he had found out something interesting.

“That’s right.” Mu Zhiming nodded.

“Alright, then I won’t be polite with Lord Mu. Although he’s your Bodyguard, there are laws. If he’s caught wandering during curfew, he should be imprisoned for one day. Lord Mu, as a Minister in the Ministry of Rites, you should be familiar with the law, so you shouldn’t have objections to this, right?” Pei Hantang spoke reasonably.

Wen Heyin was about to open his mouth to argue, but Mu Zhiming patted Wen Heyin twice on the back of his hand. Understanding, Wen Heyin immediately shut up.

“Lord Pei.” Mu Zhiming saluted him with a smile. “You are right, the laws of Great Jin are clear. No matter how honorable or humble the status is, everyone is treated equally. Of course, if someone makes a mistake, they should be punished for it!”

Pei Hantang didn’t expect that Mu Zhiming would be so easygoing. As he smiled, Pei Hantang looked at Wen Heyin and said: “Little one, didn’t you hear? Be good and follow me.”

As he spoke, Pei Hantang approached Wen Heyin. But before Pei Hantang could grab Wen Heyin, Mu Zhiming blocked his path, and laughed: “Lord Pei, what’s the hurry? I haven’t finished talking yet.”

Pei Hantang’s heart thumped.

“If someone makes a mistake, of course they have to be punished.” Although Mu Zhiming was smiling kindly, in reality, he was a ruthless person hidden beneath a gentle appearance. “However, if someone hasn’t made any mistakes, and they’re still punished for it, wouldn’t it be the same as misusing our laws? Although Lord Pei is the Shaoyin of the Capital Prefecture, you can’t wrongly accuse people, am I right?”

After being accused of wronging Wen Heyin, Pei Hantang was slightly confused: “Wrongly accused? I didn’t do such a thing.”

Mu Zhiming laughed: “Then, does Lord Pei have any evidence that could prove that my Bodyguard broke the curfew five years ago?”

Pei Hantang was anxious: “It’s been five years! How could I have any evidence?”

Mu Zhiming let out an ‘ooh’, and slowly said: “So you don’t have any evidence.”

Pei Hantang: “Although I don’t have evidence, I remember it was him!”

“It’s been five years.” Mu Zhiming smiled and rhetorically asked: “Is Lord Pei so sure that the man he met that day was my Bodyguard? Are you sure you have the right person?”

Pei Hantang’s temperament weakened greatly: “I…. Well, if he didn’t do anything, then why did he run just now? Could it be that he knows he’s guilty?”

Mu Zhiming: “Lord Pei, my Bodyguard has been timid since childhood. He must have been afraid of you when you aggressively rushed over to him. How can you say that he’s feeling guilty for something he didn’t do?”

Pei Hantang: “…..”

Pei Hantang looked at Gu Heyan for help.

Gu Heyan: “…..”

Feeling miserably sorrowful, Pei Hantang thought: ‘Forget it. Expecting for Yuyi to speak up is the same as expecting a stone to speak. Sigh.’

As he clenched his teeth, Pei Hantang said: “What if I said that I’m completely sure that the person whom I saw breaking curfew that day, was your Bodyguard? What if I say that I’m sure I’m not mistaken?”

Mu Zhiming was slightly stunned.

‘Five years have passed since that incident, and breaking the curfew isn’t that big of a mistake. Why is Pei Hantang insisting so much on the matter? Why does he want to confront me in the General’s Residence? Could it be that he has a hidden agenda against me?’

After noticing that Mu Zhiming wasn’t replying, Gu Heyan looked at Pei Hantang and said: “Wenqiong….”

“Yuyi, don’t side with outsiders instead of your own friend! Now, be a reasonable guest.” Pei Hantang interrupted Gu Heyan’s words, and said: “This matter will be clarified today!”

Mu Zhiming: “…..”

‘Gu Heyan calls Pei Hantang by his given name?!’

Mu Zhiming sneered: “Well, Lord Pei, how do you want to clear up the matter? Do you plan to arrest my Bodyguard in front of me, even without any evidence? You are in the General’s Residence. If you make such a fuss here, do you really regard General Gu as a friend?”

The tone of Mu Zhiming’s voice showed how angry he was.

The atmosphere got a bit tense, so Pei Hantang had to change his strategy. After thinking about it for a bit, Pei Hantang clenched his fist and said: “Lord Mu, forgive me. It wasn’t my intention to pick a fight with you, I simply wanted to take this opportunity to ask for your Bodyguard’s help. But I didn’t expect you to be so sharp-tongued, so I’m at a loss for words.”

Mu Zhiming preferred to be persuaded by reason, but not to be cowed by force. After seeing Pei Hantang take a step back, Mu Zhiming’s attitude also eased down a lot: “Lord Pei didn’t have to do it this way. If there’s anything I can be of help with, Lord Pei just needs to ask.”

Pei Hantang looked sideways at Wen Heyin, and said: “Little one, I remember you having good Qinggong skills. Did you not?”

Wen Heyin twisted his mouth, and replied: “It certainly must be better than yours.”

Pei Hantang wasn’t upset, as he replied with a smile: “Alright, you’re better than me. Lord Mu, here’s the thing, a thief has recently appeared. He’s very cunning, and my Xiongdi’s Qinggong skills, as well as mine, are not as good as the thief’s. So it has become impossible for us to catch him. That’s why I wanted to ask for the help of your little Bodyguard.”

Mu Zhiming, suddenly enlightened, looked at Wen Heyin for his opinion.

Wen Heyin said: “Young Master, you don’t need to look at me, ah. If you let me go, then I will definitely listen to you.”

Pei Hantang: “Hm?”

Mu Zhiming pondered for a bit, and then replied: “Lord Pei, may I have a word?”

“Hmm? Alright.” Although Pei Hantang was confused by Mu Zhiming’s sudden approach, they walked a few steps outside the main hall. All of a sudden, Pei Hantang felt a burning gaze at the back of his head. When he turned around, he actually met Gu Heyan’s gaze, staring closely at them.

Pei Hantang: “…..”

Mu Zhiming: “Lord Pei.”

“Eh? Oh, I’m listening. Speak.” Pei Hantang turned back his head to look at Mu Zhiming.

“May I ask, if there have been any cases of a corpse being dumped near the Capital recently?” Mu Zhiming asked.

Pei Hantang was puzzled: “A corpse dumped near the Capital?”

Mu Zhiming nodded: “Yes. The victim’s clothes would be untidy, their whole body would be covered with whip marks and other bruises.”

Pei Hantang looked at Mu Zhiming in surprise: “Why is Lord Mu asking about something like this?”

Mu Zhiming: “Forgive me, but I’m not capable of explaining why.”

Pei Hantang thought about it, and then said: “Come to think about it, the Capital has been quite peaceful in recent years. I have never encountered such a dreadful case.”

“Then…..” Mu Zhiming thought for a moment, and said: “Has there been a case of a young maid, or a woman from a brothel, dying in the Residence of a High-Ranking Official?”

Surprised again, Pei Hantang stared at Mu Zhiming silently for a long time before saying: “I have never heard of anything like that.”

Mu Zhiming added: “If there’s such a case in the future, could Lord Pei please let me know? If Lord Pei agrees, I will let A-Yin help you catch that thief.”

Pei Hantang rubbed his chin and pondered: “Hmm…. Well, it’s not impossible.”

“Then we have a deal.” Mu Zhiming saluted.

Once Mu Zhiming and Pei Hantang went back to the main hall, Mu Zhiming approached Wen Heyin: “A-Yin….”

“I know.” As soon as Wen Heyin saw Mu Zhiming’s face, he understood what Mu Zhiming was going to say. “You want me to help him catch the thief, right? No problem.”

“You have agreed quite fast.” Pei Hantang laughed.

Wen Heyin raised his head high, and said: “That’s only natural! After all, it was my Young Master who asked me. I would go through fire and water for him, never afraid of losing my own life!”

Pei Hantang thought: ‘This little one sure knows how to babble, huh?’ But he said: “Since you have already agreed, then come find me in the Capital Prefecture at Yin1 hour.”

Wen Heyin: “Oh, alright.”

Pei Hantang then cupped his fist and saluted everyone in the main hall: “I’ve disturbed you all. I’m sorry. Please go back to what you were doing, I’ll be taking my leave.”

“I’ll see you off.” Gu Heyan stood up.

“It’s alright, no need to send me off. Look at your injured arm, sit down! You have already done it once, so there’s no need to do it again.” Pei Hantang reached out and pressed Gu Heyan’s shoulder.

“I’ll see you off.” Gu Heyan insisted.

Given that Pei Hantang couldn’t resist Gu Heyan, he had to give up.

Mu Zhiming looked at Gu Heyan’s injured arm and wanted to say something, but hesitated. In the end, Mu Zhiming could only sit down on a chair, watching how both Gu Heyan and Pei Hantang left the main hall. Waiting for Gu Heyan to come back.

Meanwhile, as soon as Gu Heyan and Pei Hantang were alone, Gu Heyan immediately asked: “What did you speak with Mu Zhiming just now?”

Pei Hantang was surprised: “Is this why you wanted to see me off? To ask me about this?”

Gu Heyan: “…..”

“Oh, my good brother.” Pei Hantang suddenly patted Gu Heyan on the shoulder, with both hands. Then, he came closer to Gu Heyan and whispered: “Tell me with all honesty, do you have feelings for the son of the Duke of Yan? Hmm?”

Gu Heyan: “…..”