A Fu knew Qin Heng was unwell and shouldn't stay outside for long, so he hurried forward and reported in a low voice, "Family head, three hours ago the guards reported that Agent Qiu had summoned two men."
"Half an hour later, those two men left carrying a sack."
"An hour ago, a servant reported that Miss Shuman's personal maid, Cui Lan, has gone missing."
"Around nine tonight, she said she was going out for a walk, and she hasn't come back since. I had people search everywhere, but there's no sign of her. We've checked the ponds and wells too, and there's no trace of her there either."
"But one of the servants recalls seeing her, three hours ago, heading to the courtyard where the guard corps is quartered."
A Fu didn't say what came next, but the meaning couldn't have been clearer.
Qin Heng murmured expressionlessly, "Cui Lan…?"
"She doesn't seem to be the maid our Qin family provided to attend Miss Shuman, does she?"
A Fu reminded him quietly, "Family head, have you forgotten? The maid we sent to attend Miss Shuman was sent back the very day she arrived at Director Yan's villa."
"So Cui Lan is Director Yan's own maid."
Qin Heng's face darkened at once. "Did he bring her from the sanctuary?"
This time A Fu visibly paused. He hesitated for a second, recalled Cui Lan's dark, plump appearance, and shook his head. "I don't think so."
Qin Heng's expression eased slightly. He considered for a moment. "Then tell Second Brother. It's an internal matter for their Investigation Bureau—let them handle it themselves."
A Fu acknowledged the order. "Yes, sir."
Qin Heng coughed twice more, then turned and went back into the room.
A moment later, a woman's concerned whisper came from inside. "What is it?"
"Nothing," Qin Heng said quietly. "Just a small matter."
The woman murmured in acknowledgment.
The house gradually fell quiet. The blue moonlight, like water, spilled across the whole Qin family compound.
[7 days]
[64:25:01]
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, Qiu Tu got up and, as was his habit, glanced at the two hourglass countdowns in the upper-left corner.
Of the two, the first was the time Yan Chen had given him to investigate the Qin family's crimes. Six days remained.
The second was the time left to brew the Cataclysm potion—about fifty-seven hours.
'By now the Qin family should already have reported Cui Lan's death to Yan Chen, shouldn't they?'
'Then I should be able to see Yan Chen's reaction before long.'
'And then I'll know whether my guess was right.'
With that thought, Qiu Tu rose, washed up, and left his room for breakfast.
To accommodate the guard corps, the Qin family had set up a small kitchen in the courtyard. Every morning it prepared meals for the guard corps.
At breakfast, Qiu Tu and Fang Ming sat at the same table.
Eating with his head down, Fang Ming said in a muffled voice, "Qiu Tu, honestly, I rather admire you."
"When I first met you, you were just an ordinary agent, and you'd apparently crossed the Director's woman and earned his dislike."
"And then that very night you turned it all around. You were transferred to the Political Department and promoted."
"At the time, I was surprised—and curious."
"Then, in just one short day, the tables turned again. You were appointed commander of the guard corps and ordered to escort Qin Shuman back to the Qin family."
"I don't know what medicine you two are selling in that gourd, but anyone with eyes could see it was a Hongmen Feast—an ambush dressed up as hospitality."
"A Rank 1 agent from the Political Department leading the escort—he might as well have pulled out an investigation warrant on the spot. Anyone who survives in officialdom is a shrewd operator. Who couldn't guess this was a political statement?"
"So countless eyes in Xinjie City are fixed on the Qin family, on the Director, and on you."
He paused there before going on. "And then last night you first met with Fourth Master Qin, and then killed Yan Chen's own maid, Cui Lan…"
"Honestly, I can't quite figure out whose side you're on, or what kind of game you're playing."
"My dad used to say that when you meet someone you can't figure out but think you can more or less trust, the best thing to do is be straightforward with him."
"Otherwise he'll scheme circles around you and have you counting his money for him."
"So I want to be straightforward with you too. My being dragged into this was pure accident, and I hope you'll do your best not to drag me into whatever you're plotting."
"As long as you keep me out of it, I'll owe you a favor."
"As for your brothers—I really do think highly of A Tai. This morning I arranged for him to take part in the Special Service Department's selection. He should do fine."
"If you come through this in the end and he goes back to following you, I'll consider that favor repaid."
"If something happens to you, I'll treat him like my own brother and train him properly. With him around, the brothers at your side won't lose their footing entirely just because they've lost your protection."
"But try not to involve him in what you do next. Otherwise I won't be able to protect him either."
Having said that, Fang Ming went back to shoveling food into his mouth, as though waiting for Qiu Tu's decision.
Qiu Tu looked at Fang Ming. Just looked at him. A moment later, a smile broke across his face, and he held out his hand. "Deal."
Fang Ming let out a breath and extended his hand as well.
The two hands clasped.
As they let go, Fang Ming added in a low voice, "Be careful. The Qin family business isn't so simple—it may involve a struggle at a higher level."
At that, Qiu Tu's heart stirred slightly. He thought of what Crisis Sense had kept warning him about—Yan Chen being caught in the whirlpool of a storm. He nodded and said sincerely, "Thank you."
After breakfast, as commander of the guard corps, Qiu Tu of course had to report to Qin Shuman.
But before he could set off, Qin Shuman came hurrying to find him, lifting her skirt as she went.
At the sight of Qiu Tu, she visibly relaxed.
She took two quick steps, came up to him, bent down, and whispered, "Qiu Tu, something's happened."
Breathing in the cherry-blossom scent that washed over him and taking in the billowing white waves before his eyes, Qiu Tu kept eating without any change of expression and asked quietly, "What happened?"
Qin Shuman glanced left and right. Several tables of agents were still eating nearby, but she was past caring. Sitting down beside Qiu Tu, she lowered her voice. "Cui Lan is missing. I suspect someone has done something to her."
"Last night after I got back to my room, she asked me for leave, saying she wanted to—"
Before she could finish, Qiu Tu cut her off. "I know."
"You know?" Qin Shuman's eyes went blank for a moment, which only made her look more endearingly clueless.
Qiu Tu grunted in assent. Still eating with his head down, he said offhandedly, "I killed her."
Qin Shuman: !!?
Her eyes went wide as saucers as she stared at Qiu Tu in shock.
Fortunately, she still had her wits about her. A moment later she came back to herself, swallowed, and asked softly, "Why?"
Qiu Tu gave her a look, then without hesitation began to employ "108 Ways to Deepen a Relationship," No. 37: For Your Sake.
"For your sake, of course."
"For my sake?" Qin Shuman blinked, a look of pure innocence and perfect foolishness in her eyes.
Chapter 25