Chapter Fourteen: Unexpected Surprises

After Jiang Lichen left, Li Yi instructed everyone to search the house. He then went out to question several servants who had been present the previous night about the case. Half an hour later, Li Yi returned to the study and found that the search had yielded nothing. He decided to join the search himself, circling the room, knocking and tapping around; he found no signs of a hidden chamber. If the evidence still existed, it had to be somewhere within this room.

"Zihan!" Li Yi called, thinking for a moment.

"Wenyong, what is it?"

"Zihan, what did your elder brother love most during his lifetime?"

"My brother cherished the books on his bookshelf and that pot of noble orchids above all else."

"Oh!" Li Yi stepped forward, examined the noble orchid, then lifted it in both hands, pulled out the plant, and smashed the pot forcefully.

"Wenyong!" "Brother Li!" Li Zihan and Li Zixuan were aghast at Li Yi breaking the noble orchid, for it had been their late brother’s most beloved possession.

"Calm yourselves," Li Yi soothed Li Zihan and Li Zimo, then crouched and separated the soil in the pot—revealing a small box hidden within.

Li Yi picked up the box and wiped the mud from its surface.

"How did you find it, nephew? Are you truly versed in Daoist arts?" Dai Shunde, seeing how swiftly Li Yi discovered the evidence, was once again unsettled—for it was clear the murderer had searched for some time before hiding it.

Li Yi smiled, "Daoist arts? Hiding things generally follows three methods. The first is a secret chamber—if built well, it is the safest, but I just examined the room and found none. This study stands alone, with no adjoining rooms. If there were a hidden chamber, it would have to be underground. Tapping the floor would reveal a crisp sound if so, but nothing of the sort exists here. The second method is to hide things in inconspicuous places or places no one would touch, even at the risk of death. But inconspicuous spots can be accidentally destroyed, and aside from the chamber pot, there’s nothing here one wouldn’t touch. Yet the chamber pot emits a distinct odor—clearly it has been used, so that method is ruled out. That leaves only one option!"

"Could it be in the owner’s most beloved possession?" Li Zihan suddenly understood.

"Bingo! The owner’s most cherished item is the best hidden spot—protected carefully and unlikely to attract attention, like this noble orchid."

"Remarkable! Such meticulous reasoning, rigorous logic, clear deductions, and a keen intellect—combined with profound learning. Nephew, are you really only fifteen?" Dai Shunde was nearly numb with astonishment.

Li Yi coughed lightly. "The case matters most! Let’s see what’s inside the box." He opened it, revealing a letter and a handkerchief. Li Yi examined the letter first; its cover bore no writing. Opening it, he found rows of numbers, three per line, spanning over a dozen lines. He then looked at the handkerchief—clearly a woman’s, still fragrant with rouge.

"What is all this? An incomprehensible letter and a handkerchief of unknown origin—were these enough to kill a man?" Dai Shunde felt his intelligence falter.

Li Yi pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked Li Zihan, "Zihan, which book did your brother like best?"

"Hmm? Wenyong, do you think these aren’t the evidence? But could a book hide something?"

"Never mind that—just fetch your brother’s favorite books for me."

"That’s easy." Li Zihan pulled a thick volume from the bookshelf. "He loved the classics, especially the Book of Rites."

Li Yi took the book and felt its weight, his expression brightening at the anomaly. He opened it but, after only a glance, snapped it shut, surprise flickering across his face as he muttered, “How could it be this? Is it really…? Impossible… how unexpected this all is.”

"Wenyong, what’s impossible? What’s inside?" Li Yi had opened the book quickly and with some secrecy, so no one else saw its contents.

Just as Li Yi was about to explain, a commotion erupted outside. He recognized the sound at once, gathered up the book, letter, and handkerchief, and said to the others, "There’s nothing more to find here. The snake is out—we must cast the net!" With that, he strode toward the source of the noise.

Though full of questions, everyone followed him quickly, knowing now was not the time to ask.

Li Yi and his companions went straight to the commotion, which turned out to be the passage between Li Zimo’s study and the main gate. There stood Li Junqian, Jiang Lichen, Li Zihao, and others, along with a squad of soldiers, all surrounding a kneeling figure in the center.

Seeing Li Yi arrive, Li Junqian greeted him at once. "Nephew, your method worked! Just now, Lichen told me you were drawing the snake out of its hole—I doubted it, but you truly caught the murderer. Nephew, you are a miraculous man!" Li Junqian felt a weight lift; though he still grieved for his son, the swift capture of the culprit brought comfort to Li Zimo’s spirit, easing his sorrow.

"You flatter me, Uncle." Li Yi replied humbly, then shouted at the kneeling figure, "Raise your head!"

He saw a pair of eyes filled with hatred and a face that shocked him.

"Wretched son! How could it be you? How could you commit such a heinous crime—I…" Dai Shunde, seeing that the kneeling man was Dai Chunlin, was so enraged he fainted on the spot.

Li Yi rushed forward to revive him. Soon Dai Shunde came to, tears streaming down his face. "Brother Li, I’ve wronged you! My son committed this deed—I will end my life to appease your spirit!" With that, he raised his knife to kill himself, but Li Yi, close by, stopped him.

Li Junqian had been furious with Dai Shunde and his son, but seeing Dai Shunde attempt suicide brought clarity. They’d been friends for over twenty years; Dai Shunde’s character was well-known—kind yet upright and resolute. This, he was certain, Dai Shunde knew nothing of. "Shuzhi, what are you doing? Even if a life must be paid, it’s not yours! We've been friends for over twenty years—I know you well."

"But my son killed someone—I can’t escape blame!" Dai Shunde sobbed.

"Uncles, please calm yourselves. I haven’t said Dai Chunlin is the murderer; we need a proper trial to uncover the truth."

Li Yi seemed utterly confident, his eyes shining with intelligence. The aura he radiated was so compelling that even Li Xueyan was drawn to him.

"What do you mean?" Dai Shunde, Li Junqian, and Dai Chunlin—all asked at once.

Li Yi smiled, "Uncle, the case is nearly solved, but it needs further examination. Please, convene the court."

"No need for such formality, surely?"

"Uncle, this case is far more complex than you think, with wide-reaching implications. Better to convene the court—but keep the constables and soldiers outside. For now, secrecy is best."

Seeing Li Yi’s seriousness, Li Junqian agreed, sensing the gravity of the matter. "Lichen, please escort Dai Chunlin to the main hall of the prefecture. Everyone else, guard the hall—let no one enter. Shuzhi, help me record the proceedings. Let’s convene at once!"

"Zihan and Zihao should come too—they’ll be useful," Li Yi added with a meaningful smile.

Li Junqian glanced at Li Yi, then nodded. Li Yi saw a sinister glint—and even a hint of threat—in Li Zihao’s gaze, which only increased his confidence. He smiled.

Everyone responded and dispersed. Dai Shunde, sensing a possible turn in events, gathered his strength.

"Uncle, you go ahead—I’ll take Zixuan and Xueyan for a brief errand, and join you shortly," Li Yi said to Li Junqian.

"Very well—be careful," Li Junqian replied, turning to leave without further questions.

"Wenyong, where are we going?" As soon as the others left, Li Xueyan asked eagerly.

"Impatient, aren’t you? We’re going to your chamber."

"My chamber? Why, Wenyong?" Li Xueyan blushed.

"What else? To fetch the Ancient Ink Sword! Unless you want to bring it out yourself."

Li Xueyan looked at her bandaged hand. "Better you go. Just thinking of that sword annoys me—how could such a weapon exist? I’m so adorable, yet it still struck me. Really, no taste at all! Hmph, the sword suits its master."

Li Yi smiled awkwardly and tapped her lightly. "Don’t talk nonsense—lead the way."

The three made their way to the rear courtyard of the Li residence. On the way, Li Yi asked Li Zixuan, "Zixuan, the layout of the Li residence is rather simple, isn’t it?"

"How did you know? Father always valued thrift—even the mansion was designed simply and elegantly. He said simplicity brings grandeur."

"Uncle has good taste. Tell me about the layout."

"Oh, it’s straightforward. Entering the gate leads to the main hall; to the left are father’s and the brothers’ quarters, to the right, the servants’ quarters. At the back are the women’s quarters and the garden."

"Indeed, very simple! If I’m not mistaken, anyone walking inward from where we caught the thief would be heading to your brother’s and father’s quarters, right?"

Li Zixuan considered. "That’s right."

Hearing this, Li Yi smiled even more. Before long, he retrieved the Ancient Ink Sword from Li Xueyan’s chamber. Li Yi had no interest in her chamber—it was only temporary. The sword, however, remained unchanged—black, ancient, dignified, yet inconspicuous.

With the sword in hand, Li Yi headed straight for the courthouse. "The sky is clearing—the end is near."