Wenxiang’s Real Identity

The teahouse wasn’t very big, but it was in a good location and served decent tea, so it naturally enjoyed good business.

The private rooms were full, so anyone who came in a little too late had no choice but to get the next best tables at the window. The wait staff helped to set up screens around the tables, so that provided each table with some privacy and reduced the noise levels.

Song Caitang’s table was one of these.

So was the table right behind her.

The difference was, the table behind the screen did not have female customers, but three rich young men.

Their voices were too familiar and Song Caitang recognized them immediately. The three men at the next table were Zheng Kanghui, Liu Zhenghao and Fan Zishi.

The three men chatted as they sipped tea, covering a number of topics as they complimented and teased one another superficially. The atmosphere was a fairly friendly one.

After a long period of small talk, they finally got down to business.

Fan Zishi started with big compliments for Liu Zhenghao’s previous work. He had unending praises for the man’s art and used many different adjectives, yet he did not repeat a single one. He was a really smooth talker.

“You’re so good at painting, Mr. Liu, and it’s so sad that I haven’t been able to see it more often. I was so surprised by these two times I’ve seen your paintings! It’s unbelievable! Not only are your portraits of beauties so lovely, but this painting of nature is also equally wonderful! Look at the detail! The high mountains in layers, the pine trees like the sea waves. There’s obviously no wind in a painting, but I can totally feel the cool breeze in my face! And to be honest, I think I can even smell the fragrance of pine in the air! I’m really both amazed and impressed!”

Liu Zhenghao was quite modest in his response, “Oh no, no, you’re too kind, Zishi. Others just say really nice things about my art, but it’s not really that great. I just put in a little more effort than some, that’s all…”

Fan Zishi responded, “Mr. Liu, you don’t have to be so modest. This is real effort, not something that others can make up for with their bootlicking!”

Zheng Kanghui agreed, “Your painting skills are really good, so you don’t have to be so modest about it.”

Fan Zishi sighed, “I heard that several people in the capital have taken a fancy to your artwork, but it’s so hard to get your hands on a piece. Look at the rolling mountains, and the pine trees that symbolize longevity. If this painting weren’t way too valuable, I would ask if you were willing to part with it for a price. I’m happy to pay any price you ask for.”

Liu Zhenghao chuckled, “This painting is too large and it’s more suitable for an old person. You’re still young, so it’s not quite appropriate for you. If you don’t mind, I have some practice paintings at home that feature conifers as well. Those would be more suitable for you.”

Fan Zishi thanked Liu Zhenghao profusely, as though he was greatly honored.

Zheng Kanghui seemed to have remembered something. “My grandfather’s birthday is coming, though… would you be willing to part with this painting, Mr. Liu?”

Liu Zhenghao immediately smiled and said, “Of course I would. If the elder Mr. Zheng likes my painting, I’ll visit your home personally and give this to him as a present!”

Zheng Kanghui paused, then said, “That sounds good too.”

Fan Zishi rubbed his palms and said with a smile, “I’ll be heading for the capital soon too, so… we’d be able to gather again in the capital? Here’s a toast to our next gathering!”

Song Caitang listened intently to their conversation. They didn’t seem to have said much, but the implications were great.

Fan Zishi was the sharpest. Not only was he very good at making the atmosphere jovial, but he was also good at moving the topic along depending on each person’s response. He was well informed too, so he knew how to nudge each person into saying what he wanted them to.

If he hadn’t mentioned that conifers symbolized longevity, Zheng Kanghui might not have remembered that he hadn’t bought a present for his grandfather’s birthday.

Liu Zhenghao too. He treated different people differently. He was only willing to give Fan Zishi a practice painting, and that was only because Fan Zishi had done him a favor, and Fan Zishi had to continue pretending he was really excited to receive a practice painting. Zheng Kanghui, on the other hand, received a painting of conifers that he had spent a lot of effort painting.

Zheng Kanghui was hoping to buy the painting, but Liu Zhenghao didn’t let him say it and said that he was going to visit the grandfather and give it directly to the old man, so Zheng Kanghui didn’t know what to say after that…

Could it be that Liu Zhenghao really did not know if Zheng Kanghui wanted to buy the painting or get Liu Zhenghao to gift it?

Not necessarily so.

Perhaps that was Liu Zhenghao’s aim in the first place.

Zheng Kanghui’s grandfather was the vice commissioner overseeing salt shipments, and the shipping licences were up for renewal soon, so Liu Zhenghao might have been gunning for this. Or perhaps… he had already talked to Fan Zishi about his intentions, and the two men had purposely engaged in this particular conversation.

Could it be that Zheng Kanghui didn’t smell a rat at all?

Not necessarily so.

He might even be very used to people like that already.

None of these three men were stupid.

Song Caitang cupped her chin and sipped her tea distractedly. Was the killer among these three?

They had arranged to meet again in the capital pretty soon, and they were all confident that they would be able to make that trip. Either none of them was the killer, so they felt at ease planning for a trip, or…

The killer was very certain that he would definitely be able to get away with this.

Her gaze was slightly lowered as she ran a finger along the rim of her cup, with countless thoughts running through her mind.

If only she had the chance to sound them out.

There wasn’t much time left. Song Caitang couldn’t just stay out late like young men could, so after she picked some tea, she got ready to leave with Qingqiao.

They happened to run into Fan Zishi, who was footing the bill downstairs.

They ran into each other at the turn of the staircase, which was a very small space, so they couldn’t just avoid the other party without greeting each other.

Fan Zishi knew who Song Caitang was and smiled as he placed a palm over his other fist. “Miss Song.”

Song Caitang lowered her gaze slightly and chuckled, “I thought you would ask what I am doing here.”

She was a registered coroner with the courthouse, while Fan Zishi was a suspect in a major criminal case. Their positions were somewhat in conflict, so it was natural for Fan Zishi to be wary of her.

“You’re a very sharp person, Miss Song, so I’m sure you’re not like other people.”

Song Caitang raised an eyebrow slightly with a mysterious look in her eyes.

That was an interesting thing to say.

He didn’t say that he wasn’t wary, but said that she wasn’t like other people? So she wouldn’t stalk or spy on others in an ungentlemanly or unladylike fashion?

“What about you, Mr. Fan?” Song Caitang stared quietly at him. “Are you like the others, or not like the others?”

If he was like the others, he wasn’t the killer and he didn’t have to be wary of anybody. If he wasn’t, then he would be wary.

There was a flicker in his eyes. “I don’t understand what you mean by that, Miss Song.”

Song Caitang laughed. “Sometimes, if you hide something in your heart for too long, you’d feel a little uncomfortable. Knowing too much isn’t always a good thing.”

Fan Zishi shuddered a little.

“If you’re feeling bored, you’re welcome to come and speak to me, Mr. Fan.”

Song Caitang did not hold him back any longer and continued walking down the stairs after leaving him these last words.

Fan Zishi stood there in stunned silence for a long time before he put on a smile again and headed downstairs to foot the bill.

On the way home, Qingqiao tugged at Song Caitang with a terrified look on her face, “Young Mistress, don’t do that again! I was so scared! What if that Mr. Fan turns out to be the killer?! And you said he’s welcome to talk to you…”

Song Caitang pinched her cheeks playfully and said, “I’m always surrounded by so many people. Why would I be in danger?”

Besides, the killer had a very specific target. Courtesans.

Fan Zishi was an interesting character. Either he was the killer, or he knew something.

With more clues and new areas to investigate, the investigation could continue and things went more smoothly.

In just two days, Zhao Zhi invited Song Caitang to the courthouse so that they could discuss the latest information and clues he had gathered.

“You were right. It can be confirmed that Wenxiang and Yuetao were friends and not enemies.”

Their actions and the way they spoke to one another might not have been friendly, but everything they did, regardless of whether it was going against the other person or sabotaging the other person, would result in something beneficial to the other party.

Zhao Zhi frowned, “But when did they become friends and why they became friends, no one knows. It seems like they hit it off the minute they saw each other at Miaoyin Court.”

Song Caitang asked, “You didn’t check what happened before they came to Miaoyin Court? Or who their families are?”

“It’s been too long, so I haven’t been able to reach any real conclusions…” Zhao Zhi tapped the table with a finger. “But I’ve found out how Qinglian and Wenxiang know each other.”

“How?”

Zhao Zhi raised his gaze and pointed in the direction of where Miaoyin Court was. “Do you remember what Fuliu told us? The boss bought Wenxiang from elsewhere, and for some reason, did not bring her back to Miaoyin Court immediately, but left her at a local brothel to be trained.”

Song Caitang got it instantly. “The two girls were trained together!”

Zhao Zhi nodded. “That’s right.”

“The girls who work in such places have very strange relationships with one another. They can become bosom friends very easily, but they can also turn on each other immediately and become enemies.”

The deciding factor was always what they stood to gain from the relationship.

Zhao Zhi did not state it very clearly, but Song Caitang knew what he was trying to say. “Fate brought Qinglian and Wenxiang together and they weren’t very close to begin with. If they were sold to the same place, they would have become enemies. But since they were going to end up in two different places and there was no conflict of interest, they became the person each other trusted the most.”

And so, Qinglian gave something very important to Wenxiang.

But what about Yuetao? What about Yuetao was different?

Before they could continue their discussion, a voice interrupted them.

“I’ve heard something REALLY INCREDIBLE!”

The yard of the courthouse was quiet. A gentle breeze made the trees sway a little, but even the bright sunshine was silent.

Qi Yan came climbing in through the window like a monkey.

“It’ll definitely help you guys crack the case!”

His appearance instantly broke the calm atmosphere of the place and made it way more chaotic.

Zhao Zhi’s eye twitched. “What is it?”

Qi Yan smiled apologetically at Song Caitang and said, “I mean, I was pretty embarrassed by what happened recently, right? So I thought I ought to be helpful and I paid the flower boats a visit! I went to talk to the courtesans there all day and I finally managed to weasel something out of them. There’s a rumor, nobody knows when it started, but it’s been going round the courtesans over the past two years. Apparently, every summer and winter, some people would die!”

“The courtesans?” Song Caitang reacted first. “The courtesans themselves know that some among them would die at a certain point in the year?”

Qi Yan blinked. “That’s right! But the pimps refuse to let this rumor make the rounds and those who are too young don’t know anything about it. Only the top courtesans would secretly mention it.”

Song Caitang immediately turned to stare at Zhao Zhi.

Zhao Zhi knew why she was staring at him like that.

They now knew why Wenxiang snatched that event away from Yuetao on the Double Seventh Festival.

She didn’t want Yuetao to die!

Could it be that… she knew who the killer was?

No, if she knew, she wouldn’t have died so tragically.

Qi Yan’s eyes were wide and round. He felt like the atmosphere where he was the only clueless one was back again.

Why were they staring at each other? Why couldn’t they just speak their thoughts?

Why wouldn’t they tell him anything?!?!

Just then, Wen Yuansi arrived.

He walked in without asking if he could join them.

And he had come with big news.

“I found some information that could be helpful to this case. Madam Sun, the second daughter-in-law of the Mis, had a daughter who passed away, remember? The one who was not buried and her gravestone couldn’t be found… But actually, the daughter was only very sick and did not die.”

Song Caitang narrowed her eyes. “So… this little girl was abandoned by her family when she was still alive.”

Zhao Zhi let out a disdainful scoff.

He had read through the Madam Liang case notes. Madam Sun’s daughter had apparently died during the family’s journey home from the capital. The weather was poor and the terrain was rough, so it was difficult to stop and take a rest. The family was not willing to be delayed for the sake of a dead little girl, so they dragged Madam Sun along and left the girl’s body behind.

If the girl had not actually died at that point, then it meant that the family had deliberately abandoned her.

Wen Yuansi sighed. “Madam Sun said that she had secretly gone back to look for the girl but she was nowhere to be found. She couldn’t find the girl’s body either.”

A thought suddenly struck Zhao Zhi. “How old was that girl then?”

Wen Yuansi’s gaze flickered slightly. “Seven.”

Seven years old… so she would have some memory of what happened.

She would have known exactly who she was and why she was being abandoned.

If someone had planned for this to happen, that person would make sure she didn’t live comfortably after that. And even if this wasn’t planned and the little girl was taken away, she might not meet a good end either.

Selling little girls in this world was not something rare at all.

In that split second, a thought hit Song Caitang and she stared at Zhao Zhi with a start.

His gaze was steely. He had thought of the same thing.

If this was how two awkward little girls started, then it would explain everything.

Wenxiang… could very well be Madam Sun’s abandoned daughter!

That made Wenxiang and Yuetao daughters abandoned by the Mi family, actual cousins related by blood. There was no better reason to become allies!