The next day, Lu Zheng saw the news from the Lighthouse Country’s Department of Defense announcing that one of their reconnaissance planes had crashed due to a malfunction.
They didn’t dare pin the blame on the mysterious eastern power. After all, they lacked the guts. Making insinuations was one thing, but directly accusing or framing would mean immediate hot conflict.
Especially in international waters.
So, the public happily ate up the gossip, while online, people compiled and summarised the various accidents involving the Lighthouse Country’s military over the past two years.
Meanwhile, the Lighthouse Country urgently began inspecting their aircraft’s engine systems.
Because, whether based on the final message from the reconnaissance crew or the plane’s own electronic records, it was clear that all four engines had suddenly exploded.
And it was a chain explosion!
As a result, reconnaissance planes over the Western Pacific vanished for a while.
As for the instigator of this incident, he had already visited the Palace Museum and was having breakfast with Lin Wan.
…
At the same time, at the Palace Museum’s artefact donation office.
The museum director, an agent from the Beidu Police Bureau, the first employee to arrive at the museum that morning, and several veteran artefact appraisers were gathered together.
“What’s the verdict?” the director asked.
“It’s likely genuine,” an elderly man with white hair said, looking up.
“Likely? Can’t you confirm?” the director asked, frowning.
The old man shook his head. “It’s difficult. We have limited experience with foreign artefacts in China, and there’s little documentation, so it’s hard to make a definitive judgement.”
The director nodded understandingly.
This was no small matter. The head of the Beidu City Bureau had come in person, wearing gloves and holding an ordinary A4 sheet of paper.
Another deputy director shook his head. “So, the black-on-black case with the Allen Company last time was actually orchestrated by a domestic organisation?”
“Or possibly international allies,” the city bureau chief said. “Alternatively, it could be fake artefacts used to draw attention to us.”
“Why send them to us to draw attention? There are plenty of international institutions for that.”
“Just a thought and a possibility. After all, one can never be too cautious,” the city bureau chief said calmly.
The A4 paper in his hand detailed the origins of these artefacts.
“The problem is, these items were illegally smuggled in. We don’t have a dedicated gallery for foreign artefacts. What do we do with them? We can’t return them, can we?” the deputy director asked.
“Nonsense. These things were dirty from the start. They’ve changed hands countless times over the years, and their origins are untraceable. Return them to whom? The robbers?”
The city bureau chief scoffed. “Since they’ve been donated to us, they’re ours now.”
The chief looked at the museum director. “We should report this and see whether to store them or open a dedicated gallery.”
The museum director nodded, adding, “But we still need to verify the authenticity of these artefacts first.”
“Naturally!”
…
“Have the items been delivered?”
“Yep.”
“That was quick!”
“Hm?”
“I mean your speed.”
“Hm!?”
“Your flying speed!”
“Mm.”
Lin Wan ate a bun, rolling her eyes at Lu Zheng irritably.
Lu Zheng grinned, munching on a bun. He didn’t look like someone who had just destroyed a reconnaissance plane and travelled thousands of miles back and forth. Instead, he seemed like an ordinary office worker, eating buns and sipping porridge at a breakfast shop.
Yesterday was Saturday. In the morning, they toured the Zhoushan Islands and took down a plane. In the afternoon, they flew to Zhejiang’s inland to admire the country’s beautiful landscapes.
At night, Lu Zheng “paid his dues,” then took a night trip to Beidu. By the time Lin Wan woke up, they weren’t delayed in going downstairs for breakfast together.
But yesterday was too thrilling, so today they only drove the car parked under Wangjiang Pavilion back home, then spent the day cuddling at home, binge-watching TV dramas.
This quiet warmth…
It reminded Lu Zheng of discussing medicine with Liu Qingyan in the study and strolling hand-in-hand with Shen Ying in the peach grove…
“What are you thinking about?”
“Thinking how this fairy sister has been in the industry for twenty years and still stars in idol dramas.”
“She debuted at fifteen.”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
“But seriously, she’s gorgeous.”
“Pfft, not as gorgeous as you. If you entered the entertainment industry, you’d outshine everyone!”
“Get lost, stop talking nonsense!”
“I’m serious. Don’t we have some ancient-style gauze dresses in the wardrobe? Try one on and look in the mirror. See if I’m talking nonsense.”
“You!?”
…
On the TV, a hit ancient-style idol drama was playing.
Outside the TV, a beautifully choreographed ancient-style action scene was unfolding.
Inside and outside the screen, it felt both real and dreamlike.
…
Nearly a month had passed since the Pindan Conference, and it was now midsummer.
Lu Zheng continued shuttling between places, cultivating diligently, his progress soaring.
Since Shen Ying could leave the peach grove, she’d grown fond of travelling. Yesterday, she and Liu Qingyan went to a play, then stayed overnight in Tonglin County, sharing a bed.
This morning, Liu Qingyan went to Renxin Hall to see patients, while Shen Ying stayed, lounging with Lu Zheng in the courtyard to escape the heat.
Smacking his lips, Lu Zheng lay under a persimmon tree in the backyard, rocking gently in a chair. Specks of sunlight filtered through the leaves, warming his body comfortably.
“Lu Lang, it’s getting hot. Have some iced plum juice,” Shen Ying said, handing him a glass of chilled plum juice and taking a sip herself. She smiled lightly. “No wonder they run a candy shop. They’re generous with the sugar in this plum juice.”
“Studies show sweet foods boost happiness,” Lu Zheng replied.
“Does that need a study?” Shen Ying said, as if it were obvious. If sweets didn’t make people happy, would they cost so much?
Lu Zheng asked, “But why do sweets boost happiness?”
“Because they’re sweet?” Shen Ying found his question odd.
Lu Zheng nodded, agreeing she made sense.
Taking a sip of plum juice, he heard someone call at the gate.
“Brother Lu, you there?”
“Brother Duan?” Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, recognising Duan Changzai’s voice from Yizhou Town’s Anomaly Bureau.
“I’m here! Uncle Li, open the gate quick!” Lu Zheng stood, holding his glass in one hand and a copper pot in the other, heading to the front hall.
In the front hall, Uncle Li was just leading Duan Changzai in.
“Fairy Shen is here too!” Duan Changzai quickly bowed to Shen Ying.
“Greetings, Official Duan,” Shen Ying said, returning a slight bow.
“Brother Duan, sit,” Lu Zheng said, inviting Duan Changzai to sit. He grabbed another glass, poured some plum juice, and said, “It’s hot out. Have some sweet juice to cool off.”
“Thanks.”
Duan Changzai didn’t stand on ceremony, took a sip, then said, “I’ve got business, so I’ll make this quick.”
“Go ahead.”
“The sorcerers of the Yuansheng Sect have appeared again in Lingbei Road’s territory. The Anomaly Bureau is investigating. Miss Liu has accumulated much merit, so she should stay vigilant.”
