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墨書 Inktalez
After sending off the disgruntled Wen Shaoqing, Shen Mo instructed someone to invite the last person who had interacted with Wen Boyuan the previous night—the young master of Gu Yun Zhai, Gu Mingyuan.
Gu Mingyuan arrived shortly thereafter. He appeared to be around thirty years old, dressed in a well-fitted scholar's robe. His handsome features and courteous demeanor exuded an air of scholarly elegance. When he heard the news of Wen Boyuan's death from Captain Zhang, his face instantly showed extreme shock and disbelief.
"What? Brother Wen... how could this happen..." Gu Mingyuan's eyes widened in disbelief, his voice trembling slightly. "This... this is impossible! Just last night... we were still laughing and chatting together. He was so enamored with that newly acquired 'Ink Dragon Soaring' inkstone, playing with it for quite a while, and he was excitedly saying he wanted to use it to write a piece he had been contemplating for a long time..." His sorrow seemed genuine.
"Mr. Gu, please accept my condolences," Shen Mo said. "We need to understand what happened last night. Could you tell us approximately when you left Ink Garden?"
"About... it should have been around a quarter past the dog hour," Gu Mingyuan recalled earnestly. "We were still enjoying our conversation, but Brother Wen said he felt a bit tired and wanted some time alone to think about that piece of writing. Seeing this, I didn’t want to disturb him further, so I took my leave."
"When you left, did you notice anything unusual? Or see anyone?"
"Everything seemed normal when I left. I remember seeing Uncle Zhong carrying a lantern, patrolling the courtyard; it’s been his habit for many years," Gu Mingyuan replied.
"What topics did you mainly discuss last night?"
"Primarily about that 'Ink Dragon Soaring' inkstone," Gu Mingyuan seemed lost in thought. "It truly is a rare treasure; it’s said to have been used by the imperial court of the previous dynasty. The ink is pitch black, with a fine texture, and when ground, it emits a peculiar fragrance—worth its weight in gold. Brother Wen was naturally thrilled to have such a treasure. Besides discussing the ink, we also chatted about some recent anecdotes from the calligraphy and painting market and shared insights on appreciation; we didn't delve into any more personal topics."
"In your opinion, has Master Wen shown any unusual behavior recently? Or had any worries?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Mingyuan furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "If we're talking about unusual... in our recent meetings, I did feel that Brother Wen seemed burdened with worries, unlike his usual cheerful self. Sometimes during our conversations, he would suddenly sigh or appear lost in thought. I tried to probe him once or twice, but he only mentioned being troubled by family matters without going into specifics. I didn’t want to press him further."
Lady Lian, Wen Shaoqing, Uncle Zhong, Gu Mingyuan... each person had their own account, and everyone seemed to harbor some suspicion yet lacked direct evidence or motive. The mysterious Jue Bi was like the core of a riddle, entangling all clues together and pointing towards an unknown conclusion. The case appeared to be at an impasse.
After sending off Gu Mingyuan, Shen Mo requested to be alone again in Wen Xin Zhai. He needed an absolutely quiet environment to reassess the secret chamber and untangle the chaotic clues.
The rain continued to fall softly, and the sky had grown even darker than before. Several white candles had been lit inside the study; their flickering light cast dancing shadows on the walls, illuminating valuable calligraphy and antiques while adding an eerie atmosphere. The strange sweet fragrance mixed with Mo Xiang still lingered faintly in the air.
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