Moonlit Reunion [子夜归]

Chapter 15

Zhao Songyan was a young master with a bad temper; he had fought in plenty of brawls and naturally had seen blood before. But this... this was no simple fight; it was killing. Fights were always chaotic and intense, never as silent and murderous as this. The man holding someone down, looking over without a word, made Zhao Songyan's heart clench.

Zhao Songyan had never killed anyone, nor seen anyone killed. After all, he was still just a young man, so his legs felt a little weak at the sight. Although his mind immediately suggested he should help cover up the bodies, his body stayed rooted to the spot, unable to move, and he could only stare as Mei Zhuyu released his grip and walked toward him.

Zhao Songyan's gaze drifted from the robust servant who had slumped weakly against the wall to Mei Zhuyu, who was getting closer and closer. A shiver ran through him, and he couldn't help thinking, "Is this Mei family eldest son planning to kill me too?" After all, they'd had a falling out before, and he had insulted him, so was this payback?

It was unlikely, but Zhao Songyan couldn't stop himself from thinking it because the look on Mei Zhuyu's face was terrifying—serious, cold, as if in the next moment he might grab his head and slam it into the stone wall.

"Sorry."

The frightening eldest son of the Mei family said this as he stood in front of Zhao Songyan. No grabbing, no slamming.

"...Huh?" Zhao Songyan was bewildered.

Mei Zhuyu had no idea what was going through his mind; he had merely happened to meet this familiar young master and, recalling the awkwardness of the previous day, came over to say hello, as Zhao Songyan was a friend of Wu Zhen.

"Yesterday, I didn't mean to embarrass you. I'm just not good at holding my liquor; I apologize," Mei Zhuyu said.

Zhao Songyan finally snapped out of his imaginings, sheepishly realizing he might have overthought things. Seeing this man ruthlessly kill two people and then calmly strike up a conversation had completely dispelled the disdain he'd once felt for him. Now, he was a bit scared, and his voice even trembled.

"N-no problem. I should be the one to apologize. Sister Zhen scolded me and told me to say sorry..."

As Zhao Songyan finished speaking, the oppressive, bloody tension in the air seemed to dissipate instantly. He almost stupidly noticed that Mei Zhuyu looked at him with a mix of surprise and joy and asked, "She really told you to apologize to me?"

Zhao Songyan felt oddly relieved and spoke more smoothly, "Yes, Sister Zhen said I shouldn't lose my temper with you so easily. It was my fault." Now that he'd apologized, Zhao Songyan realized it wasn't so hard to do. Remembering the two bodies behind Mei Zhuyu, he spoke in a low, resolute voice, "Don't worry. You're Sister Zhen's friend, so even if you killed someone, I wouldn't spread it around. Let's not worry about anything else right now; let's just get rid of these two bodies before anyone finds out."

Thinking he was being loyal, Zhao Songyan was surprised to see Mei Zhuyu frown and say, "They're not dead, only slightly injured. According to our laws, killing someone in a brawl incurs punishment. These two attacked me unprovoked, and I retaliated in self-defense without killing anyone. We'll report this to the local guards to record the case, and they can issue a verdict tomorrow."

Seeing the upright and proper Mei Zhuyu, Zhao Songyan suddenly remembered that he actually worked in the Ministry of Justice—as a middle-ranking official.

"Haha, is that so." All Zhao Songyan could do was laugh awkwardly.

Just as Mei Zhuyu said, the matter was resolved. The guards arrived and examined the two unconscious men in the alley. During the wait, Mei Zhuyu efficiently completed the case report, carefully detailing the incident, signing, and sealing it before handing it over to the guards. The clerk who had come along watched him with admiration and left holding the report with a look of deep respect.