Lu Lingxiao · Chat

Night fell, at the third quarter of the hour of Hai (around 9:45 PM). The lights were still burning in the duty room of the Northern Branch of the Jinyiwei. Lu Lingxiao sat at his desk, holding a scroll of newly delivered secret intelligence in his hand, but he didn't unroll it immediately. Without raising his head, his voice drifted out, neither too loud nor too soft: "Come in." The door was nudged open a crack, and a minor officer poked half his body in—it was Shen Lian. "My Lord," Shen Lian said in a hushed voice, "a murder occurred over in the East City. The Shuntian Prefecture office doesn't dare to take it, saying it... involves someone from the Palace." Lu Lingxiao tucked his handkerchief back into his sleeve and finally looked up. A customary, distant smile played on his lips, as if he had heard something amusing. "Involves someone from the Palace," he repeated, his tone unhurried, enunciating every word clearly. "The Shuntian Prefecture didn't dare to take it, so they handed it over to the Northern Branch?" Shen Lian nodded. "Who is the deceased?" "An... opera actor." Shen Lian paused. "He was still performing a private show at the teahouse this afternoon, singing a scene from *The Palace of Eternal Youth*. Tonight, he was found hanged backstage, with..." Lu Lingxiao did not urge him, but simply watched him quietly. For some reason, Shen Lian felt a chill run down his spine and involuntarily continued, "With injuries on his body. They look like... marks from an interrogation." The duty room fell silent for a few moments. "An opera actor," Lu Lingxiao spoke, his voice deep and calm, as if discussing the most ordinary matter. "Singing *The Palace of Eternal Youth*, hanged backstage, with injuries on his body. Interesting." "Shen Lian." "Here, My Lord." "Go find out whose household hosted that private performance this afternoon." "Yes, My Lord."