Who put the yellow robe on me?

Zhou Liangwei frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "No. But we found three plum blossom darts in the capital."

Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes flashing like cold stars, but his tone was calm: "Oh? Three plum blossom darts, where did you find these three plum blossom darts?"

Zhou Liangwei nodded and added, "Yes, the distribution is quite strange, and it seems to hide some deep meaning."

Jiang Chen pondered for a moment, then said, "Take me there quickly." Although his voice was calm, it carried an unquestionable majesty.

Zhou Liangwei responded and led the way. When the team was about to set off, Jiang Chen suddenly stopped.

He turned around and looked at Xuanyuan Feiyan beside him, his eyes steady and sharp: "General Xuanyuan, you should go to the Mu Mansion in the southwest of the capital now.

You've seen Liu San before, and only you can recognize him. When you get near the Mu Mansion, don't act rashly. Just keep an eye on the area. If you see anything unusual, report it to me immediately."

Xuanyuan Feiyan nodded and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness. Feiyan will live up to your trust." After bowing, he left quickly and his figure disappeared at the end of the alley.

After watching Xuanyuan Feiyan go away, Jiang Chen looked back at Zhou Liangwei and said calmly, "Let's go. Take me to see these three places."

Zhou Liangwei responded, "Yes." Then he led Jiang Chen and his group towards the south of the city.

Soon, they arrived at the blacksmith shop near the south gate of the palace.

The street outside the blacksmith shop looked a bit shabby, and the air was filled with a mixed smell of coke and rust. The sound of hammers hitting the iron from inside the shop seemed to rhythmically strike the hearts of everyone.

Someone had been waiting outside the shop for a long time. Deng Yunde, dressed in plain clothes and with a solemn expression, immediately stepped forward to greet Jiang Chen upon seeing him arrive, bowing and saying, "Your Highness!"

Jiang Chen nodded slightly and asked directly, "Where did you find the plum blossom dart?"

Deng Yunde did not rush to answer. Instead, he walked to the corner of the blacksmith shop, pointed to a small gap in the wall, and said, "Your Highness, please look here."

Jiang Chen looked intently and saw an irregular mark on the corner of the wall. The shape was clearly the mark left by the plum blossom dart. He reached out and touched the edge of the gap, feeling the sharp edge of the depression.

Deng Yunde explained: "This is where the first plum blossom dart was discovered. The blade was deeply embedded in the cracks in the bricks, and it took a lot of effort to remove it."

Jiang Chen murmured, "Outside the south gate of the palace?"

Deng Yunde replied, "Yes, Your Highness! If the Thirteenth Princess and Dianzhang return to the palace, they will definitely pass through the South Gate."

At this time, Feng Liyan, who was standing aside, couldn't help but interrupt: "Brother Deng, why is this happening?" There was confusion in his eyes.

Zhou Liangwei spoke slowly and patiently explained, "Because it was already midnight that night, the palace was under curfew. The North, East, and West Gates were all closed, and only the South Gate allowed passholders to pass through."

Feng Liyan suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly: "So that's how it is!"

Jiang Chen stood in the corner, his eyes swept over the crowd, and then asked, "Where are the remaining two plum blossom darts?"

Deng Yunde replied calmly, "Your Highness, the closest plum blossom dart was found at the entrance to the Shangde Bank in the southwest. It was struck by a palm strike at the foot of the stone lions in front of the bank. It's in a very hidden location, and would be difficult to detect unless you happened to pass by."

Jiang Chen's expression shifted slightly, his gaze penetrating. He asked, "The stone lions are made of bluestone. The fact that this dart was able to embed itself so deeply in them suggests the person who exerted the force possessed extraordinary internal strength. How far is this place from the South Gate?"

Deng Yunde replied, "About two miles."

Jiang Chen pondered for a moment and whispered, "Two miles apart is plenty of space for deployment. But why choose such scattered locations? What message does Dianzhang want to convey to us?"

Feng Liyan, who was standing by, couldn't help but interject after hearing this: "Could it not be Brother Dian? Did the murderer deliberately create confusion to distract us?"

Jiang Chen shook his head, his tone calm but meaningful: "One of the possibilities, but it's not clear enough. Next, where is the last plum blossom dart?"

Deng Yunde paused briefly before continuing, "The last plum blossom dart was found in an abandoned teahouse in the southeast of the capital, stuck in the doorpost. The teahouse is located in a secluded alley, making it even more hidden. If the door hadn't been ajar, it would have been difficult to find."

Jiang Chen put his hands behind his back and whispered, "Blacksmith shop, bank, teahouse...why were these three places distributed like this?"

He glanced at Zhou Liangwei and Deng Yunde and said, "Let's go and take a look near the bank first!"

Everyone set off quickly and walked along the deep alley towards Shangde Money House.

On the way, the night wind was cool, blowing through the streets and alleys mixed with the hustle and bustle of taverns and the market. However, Jiang Chen remained silent, his heart surging with emotions.

At this moment, he was quickly sorting out the clues of the case in his mind.

Why were the plum blossom darts found in these locations? If they were indeed traces left behind by the ordinances, what was their purpose? Was it really to reveal their specific locations? All sorts of thoughts swirled around him, yet he couldn't quite make sense of them.

It was past midnight when we arrived at Shangde Bank. The stone lions in front of the bank looked stern and majestic in the moonlight, and the edges of the lion's claws where the dart marks had been found shone faintly with a cold gleam.

"Your Highness, this is it." Deng Yunde pointed to the dart marks. "We've examined them carefully. The marks left by these plum blossom darts are exactly the same as those found at the palace's south gate. They must have been made by the imperial guards."

Jiang Chen squatted down to examine the mark, his brow furrowing even deeper. He gently touched the stone surface with his fingers, and felt a cold, hard texture, with a hint of icy air lingering.

"The internal force of this dart is powerful, but also extremely exquisite. It is obviously the work of a master. Such a technique..." He murmured in a low voice, with a hint of deep thought in his words.

"Your Highness, have you thought of anything?" Zhou Liangwei asked tentatively.

He paused slightly and continued, "Next, we must go to the teahouse in the southwest to check. I'm afraid there are more important clues hidden there."

The teahouse is located in a remote alley in the southwest of the capital.

The alley was so narrow that even the moonlight could barely penetrate. Only dim lights flickered in the distance. Jiang Chen and his companions reached the teahouse door, only to find it ajar. A plum blossom dart was stuck in the doorpost, half-hidden between the cracks in the wooden pillars. Its cold light was particularly glaring in the moonlight.

Jiang Chen's eyes fixed, and he slowly stepped forward. He reached out and grasped the tail of the dart, twisting it gently and pulling it out.

"Your Highness, compared to the previous two, the plum blossom darts here are more hidden and difficult to find." Zhou Liangwei whispered, a hint of doubt in his tone. "If you don't look carefully, I'm afraid it's difficult to notice."

Jiang Chen held the plum blossom dart, a deep look in his eyes. He looked around: "The teahouse has been abandoned for many years. Why did the murderer choose to leave a dart here? Is there any other clue here?"