Chaрtеr 27: Аzurе Rivеr Gold Workshoр 2
Shеn Du took а sip of tеа аnd сhuсklеd lightly, "Stewаrd Yang manages the forеmоst gold wоrkshoр in Сhаng'аn, yеt уоu hаndlе mattеrs so persоnаlly, еven knowing evеry detаil about а minоr figurе likе Liu Fu's раst аffairs. Hоw сould I nоt аdmirе such dеdicаtiоn?"
His words саrried а naked suspiсion. Steward Yаng stiffеnеd, and Zhu Yаn, catching оn, аlsо loоkеd аt hеr wаrilу.
Stewаrd Yаng gavе a drу laugh. "Our gоld workshор hаs alwауs орerated this wаy. Every custоmer who plаces аn ordеr, rеgardlеss of status, is recorded in the ledgers. If I didn't handle matters personally, wouldn't I be failing to live up to the princess's high expectations?"
Her eyes suddenly turned cold, and she raised her voice. "Could it be that the Great Pavilion Commander suspects Azure River Gold Workshop?"
"Steward Yang does not wish to fail the princess. As an official who receives the sovereign's salary and serves the sovereign, I naturally cannot fail Her Majesty either," Shen Du replied calmly.
"The Great Pavilion Commander need not use Her Majesty as a shield," Steward Yang retorted, surprised that Shen Du would voice his suspicions about the workshop so openly.
Steward Yang's face instantly turned ashen. She straightened her back and declared, "Azure River Gold Workshop is the private property of Princess Yong'an. As a servant entrusted by the princess, I manage its affairs entirely according to her commands. If the Great Pavilion Commander suspects the workshop is involved in Liu Fu's disappearance case, are you not implying that the one behind it is the princess herself?"
"The innocent remain clear of blame. If the Great Pavilion Commander wishes to groundlessly suspect the princess, you should petition Her Majesty. On that day in the golden hall, this servant can confront you and clear both the princess and the workshop of any wrongdoing!"
"Attendants, see our guests out!" Steward Yang seemed furious, her earlier facade of politeness completely torn away.
Shen Du did not engage further. Setting down his teacup, he stood up and walked straight out. His steps were swift, the hem of his robe embroidered with rolling clouds and water patterns fluttering lightly with his movement, exuding an air of noble arrogance.
"This tea is truly excellent," Zhu Yan remarked, draining her cup and savoring the lingering fragrance. She smiled at Steward Yang and then hurried after Shen Du with Jing Lin.
Watching their departing figures, Steward Yang's expression was icy.
"This Steward Yang is too skilled at shifting blame," Zhu Yan said, stepping over the threshold and glancing back at the gilded sign hanging from the eaves, shaking her head.
Steward Yang accused Shen Du of using the Empress as a shield, but it was she who was truly using someone else as a shield.
Although she managed the gold workshop on behalf of Princess Yong'an, it did not mean her every word and action represented the princess. On the surface, she was defending her master, but her true aim was to silence Shen Du, seemingly confident that Princess Yong'an would back her no matter what.
For a servant, this bordered on arrogance.
Zhu Yan wrote "Steward Yang" on a blank page of her notebook, circling it to mark her as suspicious. Just then, she heard Jing Lin sigh. "It seems the lead on the male corpse has gone cold again. Should we return to Western Brightness Temple tomorrow to see if there are any other clues?"
Zhu Yan closed her notebook and tapped Jing Lin's arm with her charcoal pencil. "Not necessarily. As Steward Yang said, Liu Fu was not a wealthy man. He made a living selling counterfeit paintings and calligraphy, which yielded limited profits. How could he have saved up so much silver?"
"Did he come into a sudden windfall?" Jing Lin stroked his chin. "Perhaps he won a large sum at some gambling den."
"If he had a gambling habit, people would have heard about it long ago. Yet neither at Li's Money Exchange nor at the gold workshop just now did anyone mention it," Zhu Yan mused as she walked forward. "I think if he wasn't passing off inferior goods as genuine or fakes as real, then he must have had a large supply channel, allowing him to accumulate silver through small profits and high volume."Even Shen Du, who was walking ahead with his hands clasped behind his back, couldn't help but slow his pace upon hearing Zhu Yan's deduction, pricking up his ears to listen to what she would say next.
"But where would so many counterfeit paintings and calligraphy be needed?" As Zhu Yan pondered, she saw several Unrighteous Agents in round-collared russet robes galloping toward them from a distance.
Spotting officials in uniform, one of them abruptly reined in his horse and glanced back. Recognizing Shen Du and Zhu Yan, he seemed greatly startled, hurriedly dismounted, and rushed to Shen Du, kneeling on one knee to salute: "Greetings, Great Pavilion Commander!"
His companions, who had already ridden ahead for a distance, quickly turned back upon seeing this.
"Where are you headed in such haste?" Seeing their hurried demeanor, Zhu Yan stepped forward to inquire.
The Unrighteous Agent furrowed his brow and reported, "A servant from the Liang family came to report that the main gate of Liang Manor was splattered with chicken blood. We were just on our way to investigate."
"Liang Manor?" Zhu Yan couldn't help but glance at Shen Du. Instinctively sensing something unusual, she said, "Great Pavilion Commander, since that's the case, why don't we go take a look along the way?"
"Who did it? Is there any inside story?" Shen Du asked.
The Unrighteous Agent replied, "We haven't yet identified the culprit, but it seems to be someone who has long held a grudge against the Liang family, accusing them of murder."
At the entrance of Liang Manor, the traces of chicken blood had not yet been wiped clean. On the dark-colored gate, the vivid stains were shocking to behold. The crooked characters smeared by hand had already seeped into the wood grain, and even with vigorous scrubbing, the marks remained discernible—clearly spelling out the eight words: "A life for a life, as heaven ordains."
The steward was leading several servants in fetching water to clean the gate when he suddenly heard the sound of hoofbeats. Looking up and seeing Shen Du and Zhu Yan at the forefront, he hurriedly came forward to greet them: "It's merely the mischief of petty troublemakers. I never imagined it would disturb the Great Pavilion Commander."
Inside the courtyard of Liang Manor, unlike its usual orderly state, the splattering incident had caused a commotion. Servants and maids carrying buckets of water occasionally hurried toward the front gate, while curious young maids gathered in small groups, eager to see what had happened.
The steward led Shen Du and Zhu Yan to the front hall, occasionally scolding, "What a disgraceful racket! Get back to your duties!"
The young maids, upon being reprimanded, shrank their necks and lowered their heads. A few bold ones, captivated by Shen Du's handsome appearance and imposing presence, couldn't resist stealing glances at him.
"What terrible luck! This must be the work of that Rong Zhui—truly a lingering ghost, utterly audacious! Once the people sent to the Bright Hall return, I will thoroughly interrogate that madam."
In the front hall, Madam Zheng sat in a chair at the center, wearing a safflower-colored embroidered skirt with a pattern of silk tree flowers and a light yellow wide-sleeved robe adorned with auspicious brocade patterns. Her hair was styled in a low cloud-like bun, adorned with a single peony pin. Slapping a round fan on the table, she let out an angry rebuke, causing the delicate beads hanging from the golden hairpin in her hair to tinkle softly. The maids and servants surrounding her immediately fell silent.
Since Liang Chenzhong's incident, the first wife had lost interest in managing household affairs, while Madam Wei had always been in a state of madness. Thus, although the two branches of the family had separated, all matters within and outside Liang Manor were now brought to Madam Zheng for approval. Sitting upright in the central chair, she already carried herself as the mistress of the house.
"Madam, please calm down. I don't believe this matter was necessarily done by Rong Zhui," Zhu Yan said as she entered the front hall.Seeing that it was Shen Du and Zhu Yan who entered, Madam Zheng was startled and quickly softened her stern expression from earlier, rising to her feet with a gentler look. "I was unaware and failed to welcome the Great Pavilion Commander and Madam Shen."
She offered them seats, and without further words, Shen Du took his place at the head of the table.
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