Du Heng refilled Lu Zhishan's hot tea, and while bringing it to him, he said: "For the record, General, the fire at Viscount Ren's Mansion in Dali Temple was an accident."
Lu Zhishan frowned: "Although Viscount Buren's Mansion is not as large as the Marquis Mansion, with only three entrances to the courtyard, it is not easy to burn the entire courtyard from the kitchen. What's more, how could no one notice during this period?"
Du Heng said: "The fire broke out in the middle of the night. Everyone in the Viscount's house must have been asleep at that time, so it's possible that no one noticed it."
"I always feel that things are not that simple," Lu Zhishan shook his head, paused, and then asked Du Heng, "Has the Taoist priest been found?"
Du Heng shook his head: "My subordinate is incompetent. I searched the capital but couldn't find the Taoist priest. Please punish me, General."
"I'm afraid someone will move faster than us." Lu Zhishan said calmly, stroking the tea bowl.
Du Heng said: "By the way, General, Xie Lun has returned from sending a message. General Cullen's mansion has been settled. He will go back to Beidi next month to meet Princess Duanhui Heshuo. Then he will bring the princess's words to the princess."
Lu Zhishan nodded noncommittally, took a sip of tea, and suddenly asked: "Have there been any other fires in the capital recently?"
Du Heng was startled: "I don't know this subordinate. I will go see Commander Ma immediately. It is most appropriate to ask the patrol camp about this matter."
Lu Zhishan nodded and added: "Not just in the capital, but also in the suburbs of the capital."
"Yes, I obey." Du Heng bowed and stepped back after receiving the order.
Lu Zhishan rubbed his tea cup and fell into deep thought again.
Deng had just been executed, Viscount Buren's mansion was destroyed in a fire, and the whereabouts of the crazy Taoist priest were now unknown. He always felt that there must be some connection between them.
Lu Zhishan was lost in thought when Song Fu suddenly opened the curtain and came in, saying with a smile: "Prince, County Lord Mu is here."
Lu Zhishan frowned: "What is she doing here at this late hour?"
Mu Nanzhi stood behind Song Fu and called out awkwardly: "Cousin."
Lu Zhishan looked at Mu Nanzhi's timid face, and felt a little complicated in his heart. He said to Song Fu, "Go and give the county master a cup of milk tea."
"Yes, I'll go right away." Song Fu bowed and stepped back.
Mu Nanzhi stood there, staring at the hem of his underskirt and embroidered shoes. After a long time, he moved step by step in front of Lu Zhishan, pulled up a drum stool and sat down honestly: "Cousin, are you angry?"
Lu Zhishan stared at the girl's hair, feeling a little irritated: "Why should I be angry with you?"
Mu Nanzhi became even more discouraged, bent down a little more, and said in a lower voice: "There are no wild boars in the hunting ground. I... didn't know that before."
Lu Zhishan suddenly wanted to laugh again. He picked up the tea cup and took a sip, then asked slowly: "What next?"
"On the day of spring hunting, I went far in the woods to catch wild boar, and then I met His Highness the Fourth Prince." Mu Nanzhi raised his eyelids slightly, and just when his eyes came into contact with Lu Zhishan's eyes, he was so busy that he lowered his head again. He nodded and continued, "Then as soon as he returned to the capital, His Highness the Fourth Prince sent me two wild boar legs and five kilograms of wild boar chops. He also took away a yellow lamb leg and several fat pigs from me. Chicken Fat Rabbit, I didn’t dare to come to see my cousin later because I was always worried that my cousin would be angry.”
Lu Zhishan said calmly: "The Fourth Highness gave you a pig leg, and you returned the lamb leg. This is what you should do. Why are you still involved with me?"