Chарtеr 25: Li’s Ваnk
Shорkeeреr Li wiреd thе sweat from his brоw аnd invited Shen Du tо take а sеаt. Frеshlу brеwed teа was served, but Shen Du lightly flickеd thе hem оf his robе withоut еvеn glanсing аt it.
“Jing Lin.”
“Yеs,” Jing Lin stерpеd forward, taking оut thе half-fаded banknotе and sprеading it befоrе Shорkеерer Li. “Is this a сеrtificаtе frоm Li’s Bаnk?”
Shoрkеepеr Li lеanеd in with trembling fingers for а closer lооk аnd noddеd. “That’s cоrrесt.” Hе thеn wеnt tо thе сountеr аnd retriеved оther cеrtificаtеs, hаnding them tо Jing Lin, whо hеld thеm on a handkеrchief for Shen Du to insрect.
“Goоd. Shopkеeреr Li, takе a look at this certificate. Who does it belong to, and where is it now?”
With permission granted, Shopkeeper Li picked up the certificate, moved to the light, and squinted to examine it carefully. He then returned behind the counter, rummaged around, and quietly instructed a clerk to go to the backyard. Before long, the clerk returned carrying several wooden boxes, their surfaces gleaming with tung oil, indicating they had been well-preserved.
“It’s been quite some time, so please bear with me for a moment, Great Pavilion Commander.”
“No matter.”
Jing Lin stood guard at the entrance, and no one dared to enter to conduct business. Shopkeeper Li called all his clerks to help with the search.
Shen Du’s fingers tapped lightly on the table as he glanced toward the inner chamber, a flicker of impatience crossing his face.
By the time Zhu Yan had changed her clothes, dried her ink-black hair, sipped some tea, and politely declined Madam Li’s overly enthusiastic hospitality before stepping out of the inner chamber, she heard Shopkeeper Li exclaim excitedly:
“Found it, found it!”
Zhu Yan’s heart leaped with joy, and she rushed over before Shen Du could. Shen Du stood behind her, his gaze dropping to the new clothes she had changed into.
A goose-yellow wrap-around dress accentuated her snow-white skin and graceful figure. Madam Li, skilled with her hands, had also styled her hair into a double swallow bun, revealing her fair, delicate neck. A faint, elusive fragrance drifted into the air.
A sixteen-year-old girl should be just as lovely as this.
Shen Du lowered his gaze, then looked at the thin ledger in Zhu Yan’s hands and frowned.
“This customer’s name is Liu Fu. He lived at Luokou Lane in Fengle Ward. Five years ago, he deposited a sum of silver here and commissioned me to order a batch of gold jewelry from Bijiang Gold Workshop. But he never showed up again. The jewelry had a deposit paid, and I don’t know if he ever collected it.”
Shen Du and Zhu Yan had already seen the information recorded in the ledger: on the seventh day of the eighth month in the ninth year of Feisheng, Liu Fu deposited six thousand taels of silver.
It was now the second year of Shengli. Liu Fu had disappeared after depositing the money, and five years had passed since then.
According to the coroner’s estimation, the time of death matched.
“Did this Liu Fu often deposit money here before?”
Shopkeeper Li shook his head, not daring to look directly at Shen Du.
“Liu Fu’s ancestors left him some wealth, but he was always someone who spent money without working. That inheritance was long squandered. He would come here every now and then to borrow money, and when he couldn’t repay, he’d use jade pieces, tables, chairs, or the like as collateral. That’s why I remember him. I have no idea how he suddenly came into such a large sum of money.”
Zhu Yan took out a palm-sized notebook from her bosom, borrowed a sparrow-head brush, and copied down all the information about Liu Fu.
Shen Du couldn’t help but glance over. He saw that the notebook had a leather cover and was filled with densely packed, tiny characters, already more than half used.
After jotting down the last detail, Zhu Yan looked up and asked Shopkeeper Li, “Do you happen to know who Liu Fu usually associated with, especially women?”Shopkeeper Li was taken aback, frowning as he pondered carefully. After a long while, he shook his head helplessly. "Madam Shen, your question has truly stumped me. Our money house has always dealt only with gold and silver; we know nothing of our clients' social interactions. Moreover, our establishment is located in the capital, where wealthy gentry and official families are countless. Naturally, we wouldn’t pay much attention to a mere Liu Fu."
"However, since he commissioned gold jewelry at the Bijing Gold Workshop, it might have been intended as a gift. Why don’t you and the Grand Commander go there to investigate further?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yan exchanged a glance with Shen Du. She tucked the leather-bound ledger back into her bosom. "Husband, it’s still early. Why don’t we go there now?"
She uttered the word "husband" with remarkable ease, a faint smile playing on her lips, her deer-like eyes sparkling with lively light, as if she truly were nothing more than a gentle and harmless young wife.
Shen Du seemed to have grown accustomed to it as well, giving a soft acknowledgment before rising to leave.
"I bid farewell to Grand Commander Shen and Madam Shen!"
Finally seeing off these two formidable figures, Shopkeeper Li wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced at their retreating figures walking side by side, murmuring in wonder, "How strange. I always thought someone as cold-blooded and ruthless as Lord Shen would end up alone in old age. Who would have guessed he and this Zhu Liuniang would be such a harmonious couple?"
Seeing that the two had not yet gone far, Madam Li, terrified, covered her husband’s mouth and shot him a warning look. "Are you trying to get yourself killed, daring to gossip about the Grand Commander? If he hears, we’ll be in deep trouble."
Shopkeeper Li had merely spoken without thinking and now felt a pang of fear. Seeing that Shen Du and Zhu Yan had already reached the doorway, he muttered, "Surely they didn’t hear..."
Once outside the money house, Zhu Yan couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Those who spent years investigating cases had long honed keen senses. Even she had overheard the Li couple’s whispers, let alone Shen Du, who was known for "seeing the smallest detail."
Seeing Shen Du’s face dark as a pot’s bottom, clearly displeased, Zhu Yan teased, "Ah, Shopkeeper Li is certainly outspoken, but he only knows half the story. This Grand Commander Shen will likely remain alone for most of his life!"
What woman in the world could endure someone so cold and unpredictable? Not to mention, one misstep could cost her head. Even becoming a nun in a convent would be better than marrying the White King of Hell!
Fortunately, once the case of the Western Brightness Temple was resolved, regardless of the outcome, she could draw a clear line with Shen Du.
Jing Lin had been waiting at the entrance. Seeing them emerge, he stepped forward to ask, "Grand Commander, how did it go? Any leads?"
Zhu Yan shook her head. "There are some leads, but nothing significant."
"Nothing significant?" Jing Lin glanced at Zhu Yan in surprise, noticing the smile lingering at the corners of her eyes and brows. He scoffed, "Seeing how happy you look, I thought there was good news."
"There are plenty of things worth being happy about in life."
When Zhu Yan smiled, it was like sunlight breaking through snow, or peach blossoms blooming across a mountain. Realizing her good mood stemmed from the shopkeeper’s careless remarks, Shen Du found it particularly grating.
He mounted his horse, pulling the reins sharply. The steed neighed and turned in place.
"How much longer will you delay? If you continue idly chatting like this, I’ll dock half a month’s salary!" Shen Du’s brows were tightly knit as he spoke coldly, his voice laced with a chilling anger.
With those words, he turned his horse and galloped straight toward the Bijing Gold Workshop.
"Grand Commander!"Jing Lin shouted from behind, but Shen Du paid no heed. Anxious, he hurried to mount his horse and give chase, only then remembering that Zhu Yan was still by his side.
"It's all your fault! If not for you, how could the Great Pavilion Commander have gotten so angry? Hurry up and get on the horse!" Jing Lin grumpily led the horse over to Zhu Yan.
Zhu Yan had just mounted the horse and hadn't yet steadied herself when Jing Lin took off at a gallop, leading the horse. She swayed and wobbled on the horse's back, nearly tumbling off.
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