“Jingzhao Prefecture is handling a case, open the door!”

In the study, everyone was startled. Edward Brooks immediately panicked and asked, “What should we do?”

“Bring the candle closer,” urged Charles Reed. “Look for traces.”

“Wha... what traces?”

“Where did Brian Clark go? Is there any correspondence with the Ji family or anyone else? Any evidence left in the study? Search.”

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Olivia Brooks couldn’t care about anything else, set the candlestick on the desk, and took out a box from the drawer to rummage through.

These were clearly Brian Clark’s correspondences with others—there were indeed many.

Seeing this, and thinking of the crime of “colluding with the Eastern Palace,” everyone became even more uneasy.

“Open the door! Open the door!”

River Song was so frightened she was about to cry and asked, “What should we do? Should I go say the lady isn’t here...”

“Keep searching.”

Charles Reed flipped through the papers on the desk, some stained with ink, but found nothing. He took the candlestick from River Song and shone it around.

He even saw Du Fu’s calligraphy on the wall.

If not for the urgent situation, he would have been truly amazed.

Suddenly, there was a loud “bang” from the front yard, and an officer shouted, “Break in!”

“Bang.”

“Bang.”

The candlelight flickered, and suddenly two paper balls appeared on the floor. Charles Reed quickly set down the candlestick, picked up the first paper ball, and opened it, seeing only the three characters “divorce letter.”

Opening the other paper ball, his eyes flickered and he muttered, “So that’s it.”

“Did you find something?”

“Let’s go.” Charles Reed put away the two sheets of paper, pushed Edward Brooks, and said, “Climb over the wall and leave.”

“But... there’s a curfew.”

“Go.”

Charles Reed pushed the others away, hurried a few steps, then stopped and looked back at the box Olivia Brooks had taken out.

Many letters were already scattered all over the table—there was no time to tidy up.

Thinking of Brian Clark’s ambitious but inept nature, and looking at the room full of famous calligraphy and paintings, hesitation flickered in Charles Reed’s eyes.

But the hesitation lasted only a moment, as another line of calligraphy flashed through his mind.

—Be cautious in speech and action, as if treading on thin ice.

He then tugged Olivia Brooks, took the candlestick from her hand, and exchanged a glance with her.

Olivia Brooks understood the meaning in Charles Reed’s eyes, covered her face with her hand, and turned away.

Charles Reed decisively reached out.

The candlestick ignited the silk scrolls, and the flames quickly leapt up, devouring the calligraphy and paintings of Li Yong, Du Fu, and many other famous scholars.

Burning zithers and boiling cranes, the fire raged fiercely...

Chapter 4: Liangdi

The government office was brightly lit. The judicial officer of Jingzhao Prefecture, Matthew Grant, picked up the complaint on the table, glanced at it, and casually held it over the candle flame.

The fire quickly flared up, consuming it to ashes, leaving only a wisp of smoke.

A look of contempt flashed in Matthew Grant’s eyes as he asked, “The new complaint, has Brian Clark written it?”

In the candlelight, it could be seen that he wore a blue official robe, as did the The County Sheriff in front of him. But he was seated, while The County Sheriff stood, bowing.

“Not only has he written it, but it’s eloquent and righteously worded.”

Matthew Grant asked again, “Have you taught him all the necessary lessons?”

“Yes, he is now willing to sever all ties with the Eastern Palace.”

“Spineless.” Matthew Grant chuckled lightly and asked, “What about the evidence?”

“There is plenty. The number of people Brian Clark listed as having received heavy bribes is countless. His study is full of return gifts—there’s no shortage of evidence! It’s just that his residence is in Chang’an County, and it’s inconvenient for me to send people there.”

Matthew Grant remained calm, took a sip of tea, and called out toward the door, “John King.”

A burly man with thick eyebrows and a bristling beard, dressed as a house servant, immediately entered.

Matthew Grant asked, “Has the county magistrate of Chang’an not arrived yet?”

John King replied, “Sir, he sent word that he was delayed.”

“Why?”

Matthew Grant immediately became displeased, his face turning cold.

John King said, “Because the previous documents hadn’t arrived, County Constable Yan Zhenqing refused to make any exceptions. It was more than half an hour before he could send people to Brian Clark’s residence.”

“Useless...”

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

“Sir, the fire watchtower reports that Brian Clark’s residence is on fire!”

“What?!”

Matthew Grant was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stood up, his eyes full of suspicion and surprise. He muttered to himself, “Such a quick reaction? Impossible, impossible.”

He pondered for a while, then beckoned John King forward again and gave instructions.

“The Eastern Palace has already intervened to destroy the evidence, but this itself is evidence directly pointing to the Eastern Palace. Take my token and investigate thoroughly.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And you.” Matthew Grant turned to The County Sheriff and said, “Return quickly to the Du residence in Shengping Ward and investigate. For the Eastern Palace to get the news so quickly, someone at the Du residence must have tipped them off...”

“Yes, sir.”

...

In the southeast corner of Duyi Ward, there used to be a Fajue Nunnery, which was merged into Zishan Nunnery in the second year of the Kaiyuan era. The temple was quite large.

In the night, the knocking at the door had been going on for a while.

A young nun hurried over, wrapped in her robe, and asked through the door, “Who is visiting at this hour?”

“Is Master Clara Bell inside? It’s me.”

Clara Bell recognized Olivia Brooks’s voice, opened the back door, and asked, “Madam, why have you come at this hour?”

“There’s a fire in the ward,” said Olivia Brooks. “My husband is not home, and I’m afraid the fire will spread to my house. I’d like to take shelter at your temple for the night and leave after the curfew is lifted. May I?”