Jiang Ning looked at the two drunk men in the room, sighed, and prepared to clean up the mess.0
She first poured a cup of spirit spring water into Liu Ming'an's mouth to wake him up. Then, pointing at Zhou Yi, Jiang Ning said, "Put Brother Zhou on that couch to sleep. Let the inn's servant know, and we'll head back for tonight."0
Hearing "head back," Liu Ming'an thought Jiang Ning hadn't gotten any information either. He nodded and did as she said.0
Moments later, the two of them left the inn with a lantern, slowly walking towards the courtyard on Late Winter Road.0
"Ning'er, today is the ninth. I'll be taking the imperial examination in two days, and then we'll be apart for nine days..."0
Jiang Ning heard the reluctance in Liu Ming'an's voice. She had originally planned to go ask Nangong Muyan about Zhou Yi's situation tomorrow, but now she thought it wouldn't matter if she delayed it by a day. She decided to accompany Liu Ming'an tomorrow instead.0
Back in the small courtyard, after washing up and lying down on the bed, Liu Ming'an reached out and held Jiang Ning tightly in his arms.0
After so long with just a thin quilt and lonely pillow, he could finally sleep while holding the person he loved. Liu Ming'an was overjoyed and said with a smile, "Ning'er, tell me about what happened when you went to Qushui City."0
"Alright," Jiang Ning replied with a smile, and then recounted in detail everything that had happened during their time apart.0
Of course, she saw no need to mention casually killing a lecher in Jinzhi City.0
After listening, Liu Ming'an sighed softly. He lowered his head to kiss the center of her brow, his voice in the darkness more gentle than a spring breeze: "If it weren't improper for a man to enter Fuling Temple, I'd really like to thank each of those nuns one by one for bringing 'Little Ling'er' into this world."0
The words "Little Ling'er" were whispered right next to Jiang Ning's ear, the warm breath tickling her skin, making her ear feel hot.0
"Don't call me that!" Jiang Ning punched Liu Ming'an's shoulder lightly. "They're my elders, so they can call me Little Ling'er, but you can't."0
It was too mushy; Jiang Ning felt uncomfortable at the thought of Liu Ming'an calling her that.0
"Alright," Liu Ming'an was very obedient and immediately changed his form of address: "Mrs. Liu."0
"You—mmph!"0
A passionate kiss fell upon her lips, silencing any words she hadn't yet spoken.0
The coquettish act was very effective; at least Liu Ming'an had no resistance to it.0
"Prince of Rui's eyes were gouged out, his ears, nose, and tongue were cut off, his ten fingers were chopped off one by one, and over five hundred pieces of flesh were cut from his body. The killer even stuffed some of the flesh pieces into his mouth, perhaps forcing him to eat himself... It was horrifyingly cruel. Even the coroner didn't know where to start with the autopsy."0
"Where did Prince of Rui die?" Jiang Ning asked again.0
"He died in his own bedchamber. One of his concubines died with him, but she was killed with a single slash to the throat and wasn't tortured."0
This was the correct way to kill, Jiang Ning thought.0
Nangong Muyan, like Jiang Ning, was a person who disliked troublesome things. If something could be resolved with one cut, she would never make two.0
From what she knew so far, the time of Prince of Rui's death was very close to when Zhou Yi first came to drink with Liu Ming'an, and both of these events were connected to Nangong Muyan.0
Jiang Ning knew there was a secret hidden behind all this, but frustratingly, she knew too little. No matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn't figure out what was really going on.0
She had to ask Nangong Muyan in person!0
Jiang Ning didn't care whether Prince of Rui was dead or alive, but she cared very much about Zhou Yi.0
"Ning'er, it's late. Let's sleep," Liu Ming'an said softly, stroking Jiang Ning's hair.0
Jiang Ning murmured in agreement, pushing aside her chaotic thoughts and falling asleep peacefully in Liu Ming'an's arms.0
On the tenth day of the third month, the last day before the imperial examination.0
Liu Ming'an and Jiang Ning didn't go anywhere that day, just staying in the small courtyard to enjoy their quiet time together.0
The peaceful and warm day passed quickly. Early on the morning of the eleventh day of the third month, Liu Ming'an left with the official document proving his status as an examination candidate.0
"Ning'er, wait for me to come back," Liu Ming'an said as he was leaving.0
Jiang Ning nodded, grabbed Liu Ming'an's collar, and kissed him on the cheek. Then she smiled and said, "Go on, I'll be waiting for you."0
After Liu Ming'an's figure disappeared from sight, Jiang Ning locked the door and also left the courtyard, heading towards the Prime Minister's Mansion.0