Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Mysterious Trick

"Have you found yourself with more free time lately?" Han Qing suddenly asked Wen Qi, who was standing beside him.

He was often in charge of investigations, which could be overwhelming and keep him constantly busy, so it was unexpected to see him with leisure time.

"Indeed, those tangled cases have finally been resolved. Otherwise, how would I have this opportunity?" Wen Qi replied with a laugh.

In the eyes of others, he was always busy, barely finding a moment of respite.

"Since that's the case, why don't we go together to tonight's Lantern Festival?"

The Lantern Festival?

As Master Zhu finished speaking, the two exchanged glances, both puzzled.

How did Master Zhu know so much? It seemed there wasn’t a single entertainment in the city he was unaware of.

"Don’t look at me like that, as if I’m some idle hedonist who shirks responsibility," Master Zhu hurriedly explained.

He simply had more leisure time, which allowed him to learn about all the interesting happenings.

"It's just that you know too much. Here we are, busy to death, yet you’re the one with all the free time in the world. Life is truly unfair!" Han Qing remarked with a touch of irony.

Wen Qi nodded in agreement, making Master Zhu the scapegoat. Yet he had no words to defend himself.

"Alright, enough teasing. But what exactly is so entertaining about this Lantern Festival?"

"Oh, there are performers, song riddles to guess..."

Why did it sound like just another marketplace?

Listening to these amusements, Han Qing found himself not particularly interested. Still, he thought of his wife at home—she would surely be delighted, especially since she rarely ventured out and loved such novelties.

Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to go tonight and bring back a few trinkets for her.

"I think it's worth going to see what this Lantern Festival is all about. What do you two say?"

Han Qing actually agreed, which surprised Master Zhu greatly.

He had always thought Han Qing was a rather rigid man, unlikely to care for such trivial amusements. He'd only mentioned it in passing, yet now the Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was on board.

It seemed the three of them were truly kindred spirits.

The Lantern Festival was held in the western part of the city, far from the official residences and a gathering place for common folk. The patrols here were more relaxed, but the smiles on the faces of the people were all the more genuine and exuberant.

Perhaps only in a place like this could such heartfelt emotions be freely expressed, without care for social class or status.

"This place is truly bustling, just as you said."

Everywhere, there was the lively atmosphere of ordinary life.

Multicolored lanterns cast their glow on the bustling crowds.

"Candied hawthorns! Sesame cakes!"

"Guess the lantern riddles and win a lantern! Do you like the little rabbit or the little tiger?"

"Watch the great magic show! The great magic show!"

Seeing these sweets and festive lanterns, Han Qing was reminded of his wife. He bought a few on a whim.

Master Zhu couldn’t resist teasing, "I always wondered why someone as steady as you agreed to come. So it was to give your lady at home a surprise?"

Han Qing chose to ignore him. Who knew what mischief he was planning? If he replied, he would only be inviting more teasing.

"Is it really possible to perform that magic trick here?" Wen Qi asked, his curiosity piqued, likely due to his profession which made him all the more interested in such oddities.

"It's just a common street trick. Perhaps there’s someone hidden behind the box," Master Zhu replied nonchalantly.

He had attended many of these Lantern Festivals, and aside from his initial curiosity, the novelty wore off quickly. Anyone with some knowledge could see through the trick at once.

"But the box is completely empty, with no secret compartments. How could someone appear from inside?"

"It's all an illusion," Han Qing explained calmly.

He had witnessed the secrets behind such magic before; much of it depended on misdirection, drawing the audience’s attention elsewhere. There was nothing truly unsolvable about it.

Besides, these performers only did it to make a living. Why expose their secrets? Preserving an element of mystery was more delightful.

"Look, it’s an ordinary, empty box. There’s nothing inside. The audience may come up to check for hidden compartments," the masked magician announced confidently.

Wen Qi, unexpectedly enthusiastic, volunteered to inspect the box himself. He knocked and prodded, but found no secret compartments.

"Incredible! I found nothing," he exclaimed in amazement.

"Since it’s been checked," the magician continued, "let’s close the box and count down from five!"

"Five!"

"Four!"

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

The crowd swelled, all eyes fixed intently as the box was opened. In an instant, a woman stepped out.

"My goodness, how extraordinary! This trick is truly astonishing!"

"I’ve never seen anything like it!"

"How do they do it?"

The crowd was delighted, their voices rising in animated discussion.

Han Qing, however, remained impassive. He had seen far more sophisticated illusions before, and in comparison, this left him unmoved.

"Perhaps everyone has grown tired of this old trick," the masked performer announced. "Tonight, we’ll do something different!"

He gestured for his assistants to bring out a new prop. Though it was still a black box, it exuded an indescribable air of eeriness.

"We’ll lock my partner inside this black box, bind it with iron chains, and set it ablaze. Will she manage to escape? Can you believe it?"

His tone was chilling as he described the act, sending a shiver through the audience.

"Seeing your astonished faces, it seems none of you believe us. Then let us prove it."

He spoke as if to himself, but his hands worked steadily. His partner entered the box, which was wound tight with iron chains.

Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, he brandished a torch and swiftly ignited the wooden box.

"Has he lost his mind?" Wen Qi murmured in disbelief.

Flames roared around the black box, making any escape seem impossible.

But after just three seconds—

"Perhaps you should look at the person standing beside you," the magician suggested, pointing into the crowd.

"It’s his partner—she made it out!"

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted all around.

But Han Qing noticed something amiss.

"That woman is not the same person who was inside the box!"