More Than One Truth

Yan Tieshan was the premier jewel merchant in Guanzhong. Originally named Yan Liben, he was one of the three ministers of the Golden Roc Dynasty entrusted with safeguarding its treasures. His sprawling estate was opulent in the extreme—a top aristocratic mansion in Guanzhong routinely used to banquet jianghu luminaries and entertain guests, known to all as the Pavilion of Pearls and Jewels. A few days later, Qin Zheng arrived in Guanzhong with Shangguan Xue'er and took up lodging near the Pavilion of Pearls and Jewels. After finishing her meal, Shangguan Xue'er hurried to Qin Zheng's room and asked impatiently, "How are we going to catch that phantom thief, Que De?" Qin Zheng mused, "We have no idea when this phantom thief will strike. Waiting around like sitting ducks is pointless—we might as well take the initiative." Shangguan Xue'er blinked her large eyes curiously. "How do we take the initiative?" Qin Zheng said with absolute confidence, "As long as we move the treasure out ahead of time, the phantom thief won't find a single copper to steal and will definitely seek us out on his own!" Shangguan Xue'er's eyes lit up. "Brilliant idea!" With her consent secured, Qin Zheng promptly rallied his men and slipped into the Pavilion of Pearls and Jewels three times in a row, stripping Yan Tieshan's hoard clean down to the last scrap. Gazing at the mountain of gold, silver, and jewels, Shangguan Xue'er was so thrilled that she did not sleep a wink all night. Yet as time went on and the novelty wore off, she quickly grew bored. Sharing roast chicken with Qin Zheng, her expression was thoroughly numb as she mumbled listlessly, "Qin Zheng, when do you think this phantom thief Que De is actually going to come find us? Just waiting around like this is terribly dull..." Qin Zheng gnawed on a piece of roast chicken and replied, "The phantom thief Que De is already here." Shangguan Xue'er snapped on guard at once, glancing left and right. "Where is he hiding? Why can't I see him?" Qin Zheng prompted, "Think back. What traits did I tell you the phantom thief Que De has?" Shangguan Xue'er blurted out, "The phantom thief Que De is a master cat burglar whose appearance resembles a child, yet whose intellect surpasses that of ordinary people!" Qin Zheng pulled out a mirror and turned it toward her. "Look in the mirror." Shangguan Xue'er stared at her reflection, her face instantly twisting into utter horror. "Appearance resembling a child, intellect surpassing ordinary people... Oh no! Have I become the phantom thief Que De?!" Qin Zheng chuckled. "You tell me: did you take part when the treasures were stolen, and where are they sitting right now?" Shangguan Xue'er looked at the mountain of treasure piled beside her and burst into tears with a loud wail. "Waaaah! Now I can never clear my name..." "All right, drop the act. It's no big deal." "What do you mean?" Shangguan Xue'er cut off her crying instantly and pulled her hands away from her face; not a single tear could be seen. Qin Zheng explained, "Back then, four ministers of the Golden Roc Dynasty escorted the young prince to the Central Plains, hoping to borrow troops to restore their kingdom, but the imperial court refused. The young prince and your grandfather Shangguan Jin immediately abandoned all thoughts of restoration. Taking their share of the wealth, they went into hiding and lived as rich gentlemen. The other three ministers have been searching for them ever since, trying to convince them to return to the Western Regions and reclaim the realm. You are a descendant of the Golden Roc royal family. If you wish to restore the kingdom, all these treasures become your military funds. If you don't, simply return them to Yan Tieshan; he won't blame you." A sudden light dawned on Shangguan Xue'er. With hands on her hips, she declared in a ringing voice, "I, Shangguan Xue'er, was born with royal blood coursing through my veins, bearing the great responsibility of reviving the Golden Roc Dynasty! Qin Zheng, are you willing to follow me to the Western Regions to restore the kingdom? I can name you Prince of Equal Standing!" Qin Zheng clicked his tongue twice. "I didn't even want to be an emperor, and you think I'd care about some Prince of Equal Standing? Hurry up and eat. Lu Xiaofeng and the others arrive today—we still have a case to solve!" Shangguan Xue'er gave him a bizarre look. "Solve what case? Are you going to arrest yourself?" Qin Zheng rose to his feet. "There is more than one truth. As long as there is enough evidence, whoever I say is the culprit is the culprit! Let's get over there quickly and see who fits the bill best this time!" Shangguan Xue'er's jaw dropped, stunned into silence. "Calling a deer a horse... Are you certain your name is Qin Zheng and not Zhao Gao?" Meanwhile, Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou had also been coaxed by Shangguan Feiyan into coming to the Pavilion of Pearls and Jewels to seek out Yan Tieshan. According to Shangguan Feiyan, aside from the royal clan member Shangguan Jin, the three ministers of the Golden Roc Dynasty had betrayed the young prince as soon as they arrived in the Central Plains, absconding with their shares of the treasure to live under assumed names. Only this year had she tracked them down: Yan Tieshan, the jewel merchant of Shanxi; Dugu Yihe, sect leader of Mount Emei; and Huo Xiu, the richest man under heaven. Yet because Qin Zheng had previously told that tale of a madman seeking to restore a fallen kingdom, Lu Xiaofeng harbored deep doubts about Shangguan Feiyan's identity and claims, and had specifically come here to Yan Tieshan to verify the truth. Arriving before the gates of the Pavilion of Pearls and Jewels, they encountered a tall, slender man—handsome, cultured, and elegant. His garments were exceptionally luxurious, tailored from top-grade silk satin in a stylish cut of flawless craftsmanship. In his hand, he held a folding fan worth a thousand gold pieces. Such immaculate dressing allowed Lu Xiaofeng to recognize him at a single glance. "Jin Jiuling, what brings you here?" The man was none other than the chief constable of Six Doors, Jin Jiuling. Hearing Lu Xiaofeng's question, he knitted his brows in slight bewilderment. "I am here investigating the burglary at the Pavilion of Pearls and Jewels. Aren't you here on the case as well?" Lu Xiaofeng was taken aback. "The Pavilion of Pearls and Jewels was burgled? What did Yan Tieshan lose?" Jin Jiuling let out a heavy sigh. "You ought to ask what he didn't lose. I heard that even his daily changes of underwear were stolen. He hasn't changed his clothes in ten days now." "What?" Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou exclaimed in unison, looks of utter disbelief washing over their faces. While the two were still reeling in shock, Qin Zheng strode up with Shangguan Xue'er and greeted them, "Yo, Lu Xiaofeng, Hua Manlou! You're here too!" Recovering his composure, Lu Xiaofeng asked, "Did you also hear about the burglary at Yan Tieshan's estate and come over to join the fun?" Qin Zheng put on a grave expression. "I am here to crack the case. After all, I am the foremost divine constable of Six Doors!" Jin Jiuling froze, staring blankly at Qin Zheng. 'You are the foremost divine constable of Six Doors? Then who am I?' Paying no mind to his stare, Qin Zheng continued toward Lu Xiaofeng, "I suspect the thief is an inside man hiding right inside the Pavilion of Pearls and Jewels. In a moment, just follow my lead—watch for my eye signal." Hua Manlou gave a quiet chuckle. "Must I watch for your eye signal too?" Qin Zheng blinked, then quipped, "Old Hua, you've got quite the sense of humor. Once I find some spare time, I'll treat those eyes of yours so you can catch my eye signals in the future!" Hua Manlou smiled. "You truly go to great lengths just to have me see your cues." Seeing how familiar the three seemed with one another, Jin Jiuling scrutinized Qin Zheng and asked, utterly perplexed, "What post do you hold in Six Doors? I don't believe I have ever seen you before." Qin Zheng replied with total solemnity, "It's only natural that you haven't seen me. You are the chief constable of Six Doors on the outside, whereas I am the lining on the inside, carrying out covert tasks for the Emperor. You are welcome to enter the palace at any time to verify it with His Majesty in person." "Uh..." Jin Jiuling was choked into silence. Verify it with the Emperor? If His Majesty never mentioned it, that meant He didn't want me to know! Just then, swaying his corpulent frame, Yan Tieshan came weeping out to meet them, his eyes red and swollen. "Constable Jin, Lu Xiaofeng, you must help me catch that wretched cat burglar! "That thief broke in three times in total, leaving a letter every single time! The first time, he said other families didn't keep courtyard guards while mine did, claiming I was provoking him and that he'd teach me a lesson! "The second time, I dismissed all my guards, but then he wrote that I hadn't left a single guard behind, claiming I looked down on him... "The third time, he wrote that since I couldn't even figure out whether to hire guards or not, I clearly didn't know how to spend my money anyway—and ransacked my entire estate clean! He even made off with the underwear I change into every day! "Waaaah! He isn't human! He's a monster!" Seeing Yan Tieshan's pitiful state, Qin Zheng let out a soft sigh and cast a complicated look at Shangguan Xue'er. Yan Tieshan's underwear had been stolen by her. He had clearly told her back then that they were underpants, yet the stubborn girl had insisted they were curtains...