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The next day, the weather was gloomy and rainy. Several Jinyiwei rode into Yanzhou South Gate, heading straight for the Marquis Residence. The leader was Lin Quan, the adopted son of Qin Ping.
After inquiring with the guards at the gate, Lin Quan dismounted and collapsed outside the mourning hall, kneeling and crying out, "Father! I have come too late!"
His voice was heart-wrenching, moving everyone present; some showed expressions of sympathy while others lowered their heads with sighs.
Lin Quan had been sent on an official errand by Your Majesty and, despite braving the rain to return, he was still late.
He cried for a long time before suddenly rising to his feet, drawing his sword with a whoosh and shouting, "Who killed my adoptive father!"
Seeing this, Yu Yan hurriedly stepped forward, arms outstretched to intervene. " general Lin, do not act impulsively; please listen to what I have to say!"
After some back-and-forth discussion, Lin Quan finally calmed down.
Yu Yan arranged for Lin Quan to stay at the Marquis Residence to observe mourning for Qin Ping.
At that moment, the coroner reported that aside from sword wounds and bruises from falling, Qin Ping had no other external injuries. All footprints on the ground had been clearly outlined, and upon detailed comparison, they all belonged to Duke. No outsiders had entered the room that night.
Yu Yan took Luo Zuo to the west courtyard. He stepped on the footprints on the ground and walked around slowly with his hands clasped behind his back, deep in thought. Turning to Luo Zuo, he said, " Head Constable Luo, your martial arts are exceptional. If you were an assassin, could you enter a room and kill without alarming the guards or leaving any trace?"
"Well... I could avoid the guards, but leaving no trace would be difficult. That night it rained; entering would surely leave footprints. The Duke is not an ordinary person; a struggle is inevitable, especially when trying to seize his sword... Therefore, using a hidden weapon would be the best option." Upon hearing this, Yu Yan nodded thoughtfully and stroked his chin.
Later that night, Yu Yan summoned Lin Quan. As Lin Quan entered the room, his expression was dark. Yu Yan quietly asked if he knew of any enemies the Duke might have had during his lifetime.
Lin Quan sighed and said, "My adoptive father has fought bravely all his life, killing countless enemies. Those barbaric thieves are his foes. Both of his biological sons died on the battlefield, sacrificing themselves for the country. Who would have thought that now he..." As he spoke, his eyes reddened, and he began to sob uncontrollably.
Just as Yu Yan was about to ask something further, Luo Zuo rushed in. Upon seeing Yu Yan, he immediately spoke, "I have returned after much contemplation, and there is something I must mention. The Yuchang Sword is a divine weapon, said to have spilled countless blood throughout its history. It is rumored that such a treasured sword can give rise to a sword spirit that chooses its master. If someone offends the sword spirit, the Yuchang Sword will turn against its owner."
Before Luo Zuo could finish his words, Lin Quan slammed his hand on the table, causing a loud bang that shook the teacups. He shouted angrily, "Are you implying that my adoptive father is unworthy of wielding the Yuchang Sword?"
"That is not what I meant..." Luo Zuo began.
"Hmph!" Lin Quan scoffed and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Only Yu Yan and Luo Zuo remained in the room. Yu Yan took out the Yuchang Sword, holding it with both hands as he examined it closely.
Under the light, the sword glimmered coldly, with what seemed like blue frost flowing along its blade.
Yu Yan murmured, "No matter how precious a sword may be, it is still just an inanimate object. How could it kill on its own? Such superstitions should not be trusted. Back in the day, Zhuan Zhu attempted to assassinate King Liao of Wu and hid this sword within a fish's belly. Even King Liao of Wu's three layers of armor could not withstand its edge; hence the Yuchang Sword got its name. A thousand years have passed, yet the Yuchang Sword remains untarnished and unblemished after taking lives—truly remarkable!"
As he spoke, Yu Yan swung the sword down onto the incense burner on the table with a loud "crack!" The solid bronze incense burner shattered into two pieces while the Yuchang Sword remained unscathed. Luo Zuo couldn't help but cheer from the side, "Indeed, it cuts through iron like mud! It seems this sword is not a counterfeit. But how could such a rare treasure end up in Qin Ping's possession?"
Yu Yan sheathed the sword and said with a smile, " Head Constable Luo was too reckless with his words earlier; he should go apologize to general Lin and ask him if he knows where Duke's sword came from."
Luo Zuo accepted the order and left, while Yu Yan remained in the room pondering. The sandalwood box containing the Yuchang Sword was exquisitely carved but much larger than the sword itself. The seam at the opening of the box was stained with a viscous substance that clung thinly to it.
He crouched down and extended his finger to touch a spot carefully; it turned out to be wax. He then knocked on the box's wall; it produced a resonant sound. The box had layers all around it, but those layers were sealed shut... Just then, there was commotion outside as a Jinyiwei rushed in to report that general Lin had gotten into a fight with Head Constable Luo. Yu Yan was taken aback; his expression changed drastically as he hurriedly ran out of the door.
In the main courtyard of the Marquis Residence, Lin Quan and Luo Zuo were fiercely engaged in combat, their blades flashing as they exchanged blows. A crowd of civil and military officials had gathered to watch, some shouting encouragement while others shook their heads in disapproval. Yu Yan stepped forward and shouted, "Stop!" His voice echoed throughout the courtyard.
Luo Zuo heard the command and jumped back, but Lin Quan was relentless, pursuing him with fierce strikes. The two clashed again, trading blows for several rounds until Luo Zuo leaped behind the crowd. Lin Quan roared, "You scoundrel, you think you can escape?" Just as he was about to chase after him, a Jinyiwei blocked his path.
Yu Yan approached Luo Zuo to inquire about the situation. Luo Zuo, his face flushed with anger, replied, "I came to apologize sincerely, yet general Lin met me with a sword! What kind of reasoning is that?"
"You dare to accuse Yu Chang of betraying his lord and insult my adoptive father, then come seeking trouble? This is simply too much!" Lin Quan's eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Luo Zuo.
Yu Yan stepped between them, his expression serious. He raised his hands slightly and said, "We are all serving our country; why engage in such fierce conflict? I will handle this matter myself..."
As the crowd dispersed, Yu Yan led Luo Zuo back into the house. Upon entering, he suddenly noticed a trail of muddy footprints winding across the floor and leading under the table, while the Yuchang Sword was nowhere to be found!
Yu Yan's expression changed drastically; alarmed, he shouted that something was wrong. Sweat beads formed on his forehead as he hurriedly ordered a search of the entire residence.
Before long, someone reported that the Yuchang Sword had been found in Liu Du's room—Minister of Works Xue Cen had also been stabbed to death from behind with the Yuchang Sword, just like Duke!
A tightness gripped Yu Yan's heart as he rushed to the scene. There lay Xue Cen in his chamber, sprawled on the floor, his death mirroring that of Qin Ping!
Footprints were compared; both Xue Cen's room and Yu Yan's room bore prints made by Xue Cen's boots.
Yu Yan furrowed his brow in deep thought: "Could it be that Xue Cen took advantage of the chaos to steal the Yuchang Sword and return to his room, only to be killed by someone with it? What could he want with the Yuchang Sword? Was he the one who murdered Duke? Trying to destroy evidence? No... Xue Cen is merely a scholar; how could he possibly have such capability? He is also an antique expert; could it be that upon seeing the Yuchang Sword's immense value, he wished to claim it for himself?"
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