Сhарter 11: Bright Наll (2)
Lu Сhuiсhui рatted Rong Zhui аnd sаid, "We should hаve cоmе уеstеrdаy, but Bright Нall only recognizеs rеgular рatrоns, sо wе hаd to wаit until tоdау. I just wоnder if уou still remembеr whаt haрpened bеfore Кuang Zhanхin disарреаrеd—anything unusuаl, оr if she hаd аnу cоnflicts with аnуone?"
Rоng Zhui shоok hеr head. "Zhan Хin has alwaуs bееn gentlе by nature. Еvеrу daу, араrt frоm рoеtrу and bоoks, shе paintеd or mеt with Liаng Сhenzhоng. In аll thеsе years living in Рingkang Ward, excеpt for a fеw yeаrs agо whеn she gоt into a heated argument with Kong Sui'er from Lanran Smoke after Kong Sui'er's carriage hit me, she always got along well with all the sisters and neighbors..."
"Lanran Smoke is that small building at the entrance to the ward, right? When I came earlier, I saw them holding a bidding contest, seemingly for the right to Kong Sui'er's next outing," Zhu Yan said. "I noticed she's strikingly beautiful and quite popular—probably on par with Kuang Zhanxin?"
"Zhan Xin isn't as popular as her," Rong Zhui wiped her tears. "Ever since she debuted five years ago, she's been hailed as the second Liu Chenchen. She's talented, skilled in horseback riding, archery, Ball Hammering, and dice, and with her fiery, unapologetic personality of openly competing for clients, many wealthy merchants from the Western Regions come specifically to see her."
Years of reading people as a brothel matron paid off. Rong Zhui sensed Zhu Yan's intention and asked, "Are you asking this, Madam Official, because you suspect Kong Sui'er might hold a grudge against Zhan Xin?"
Zhu Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Kuang Zhanxin's face was completely disfigured. I was just wondering if someone might have sought revenge on her to vent their anger?"
Lu Chuichui closed the teacup in her hand, producing a faint clinking sound in the room.
"About that incident, Kong Sui'er didn't seem to care. She seemed to be in a hurry to meet someone. The carriage that came to pick her up was luxurious, lined with white mink fur inside. Perhaps because it was an urgent pickup, she wasn't dressed up—she wore very plain, conservative clothes," Rong Zhui recalled sorrowfully. "In the end, Kong Sui'er had her maid throw me a large bag of money. I wasn't seriously injured, so I let it go."
Zhu Yan nodded and asked, "Before we informed you last night, you didn't seem to know Kuang Zhanxin was missing?"
Rong Zhui lowered her head in tears. "She went out on the 17th. Before leaving, she came to my room and said she was going to the outskirts with Liang Chenzhong. Liang Chenzhong often took her out for four or five days at a time, so I thought this trip was just longer than usual. Who would have thought..."
Rong Zhui broke down sobbing.
Her emotions were unstable, her whole body felt as if she were treading on cotton, her eyes were vacant, and she had lost all color. Afraid that further questioning would harm Rong Zhui's health and heart, Zhu Yan took her leave.
After walking out of Bright Hall, Zhu Yan led her horse out of the alley. Lu Chuichui quickly caught up and said, "Rong Zhui is a good sister."
Zhu Yan nodded, already able to hear the clamor of carriages and horses on the main street.
As she prepared to mount her horse and head to the next place, Zhu Yan had just stepped onto the stirrup when a familiar voice called out, "Sixth Miss!"
Zhu Yan turned around. At the mouth of the alley stood an Unrighteous Agent with hastily tied hair, wearing a round-collared russet robe.
Zhu Yan dismounted and cupped her hands in greeting. "Second Brother Xu, long time no see. What, have you been transferred to Pingkang Ward?"
As Chen Wen's apprentice, Zhu Yan had often followed her master on cases. From initially learning to recognize people to later being recognized and asked for help, she had gotten to know quite a few people.Second Brother Xu, whose full name is Xu Xiangren, smiled as he saw Zhu Yan dismount and walk over. "I was called over by the Chief Constable just last night," he said. "It's actually because of that case of yours."
Zhu Yan was puzzled. "My case?"
"The one your husband intercepted," Xu Xiangren teased. Seeing Zhu Yan's expression darken, he grew even more amused and pointed to the Bright Hall behind her. "After news of Kuang Zhanxin spread, the brothel matrons in Pingkang Ward seemed to have been possessed, convinced that any girl who had been away for too long had gone missing. They've already reported over a dozen cases."
Zhu Yan was stunned. "There are still people missing?"
Xu Xiangren shook his head. "No, seventeen girls were reported missing, but fifteen of them returned after hearing about Kuang Zhanxin's case. The remaining two are probably fine as well."
As he spoke, he turned and pulled out a boy around fifteen or sixteen years old who looked like a helper. "But there's something about Kuang Zhanxin that I find a bit strange," he said to Zhu Yan. "I was planning to go to the Ministry of Justice to tell you about it, but since you're here, I came over."
The boy bowed upon hearing this and said, "Greetings, Madam Official. My name is Du Wei, and I work at the Ancient Treasure Manor up ahead. I... saw Madam Kuang from the Bright Hall on the twentieth of last month."
The twentieth of last month.
Kuang Zhanxin had told Rong Zhui she was going out on the seventeenth of April. After that, according to Rong Zhui, Kuang Zhanxin never returned to the Bright Hall.
Zhu Yan looked at Du Wei. "Where did you see her?"
Du Wei replied, "Right here in Pingkang Ward."
Lu Chuichui's eyes widened instantly. "What did you say?"
Zhu Yan intervened. "What happened? Tell us in detail."
"That day, the shopkeeper's wife was about to give birth, so the shopkeeper told me to close early. I waited for a while, and seeing no customers, I was about to lock up when a lady came in with a young, inexperienced-looking songstress. She said she wanted to give a gift to a nobleman but was worried the songstress alone wouldn't please him, so she asked me to pick out a painting or calligraphy piece as an embellishment. But no matter what I chose, she wasn't satisfied, so I had to go upstairs to look for more."
Du Wei recalled, as if he could still hear the lady's picky complaints. "It was already very late that day, the sky was pitch black without even a moon. While I was searching for a painting, I suddenly heard the sound of bells."
"I looked outside and saw an unfamiliar carriage driving down the long street, stopping at the alley in front of the Bright Hall," Du Wei said. "Madam Kuang got out of the carriage and even turned back to speak to someone inside. At the time, I thought it might be Young Master Liang's carriage, so I didn't look further and took the painting downstairs."
If what the boy said was true, then on the eighteenth, Kuang Zhanxin was still alive.
Looking at the boy's youthful face, Zhu Yan frowned. "Most people wouldn't think this is worth remembering. Why did you recall it and go to Second Brother Xu about it?"
The boy was taken aback and quickly waved his hands. "No, no, Madam Official, you misunderstand, I..."
He stammered for a long time before lowering his head. "Madam Kuang was a very kind person. When I was scolded by the shopkeeper, she would even speak up for me if she saw it... Our shopkeeper also has some connections with the Ministry of Justice. He said the Ministry of Justice reported that Young Master Liang hadn't been seen at his usual places since the nineteenth, and they inferred that Madam Kuang had gone missing from the nineteenth as well. But I clearly saw Madam Kuang on the twentieth... I thought I should speak up, so Madam Kuang wouldn't die without her story being known..."Du Wei's eyes showed a hint of fear, but he showed no regret for having spoken of the matter. Seeing him like this, Zhu Yan recalled what Shen Du had said to her yesterday and remarked, "This is useful information. Thank you, Brother Du."
Du Wei repeatedly insisted it was nothing and returned to Ancient Treasure Manor.
The young man was dragged into the shop by the shopkeeper, who had him by the ear. Zhu Yan smiled faintly, and Xu Xiangren added, "There's one more thing I'd like to tell you."
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