“If Scholar Lu wishes to know, why not come outside and let me tell you?”
After two exhausting days on the road, everyone was worn out. Once they had gained a general understanding of the situation, they did not discuss it much further and went their separate ways to rest.
Early the next morning, Feng Zong came to see them. He said they should first visit a teahouse to meet the person he had recruited to help with the investigation.
Qi Xuan and the others had originally planned to visit the Xu residence first. However, for some inexplicable reason, Zhao Ke suddenly proposed accompanying Feng Zong to the teahouse.
Seeing this, Prince Ling changed his mind halfway through and graciously agreed to sit in the teahouse and wait.
Cui Hui, on the other hand, had no desire to accompany Zhao Ke. He stayed at the county office to examine the case files, sending only his personal guard along with the others.
Although it was still early, the teahouse was already bustling with activity.
Waiters hurried back and forth carrying tea, while craftsmen waiting for work chatted about all sorts of trivial matters. Several children ran around noisily, and occasional cries from street vendors drifted in from outside.
On that cold winter morning, Danyu County had already awakened.
Whenever Feng Zong mentioned the extraordinary person he had invited, his praise poured out like a waterfall. He exhausted every flattering word he could think of, making it sound as though he had invited an immortal descended from the heavens rather than an ordinary human being.
However, based on his experience, Lu Zhuoguang knew that descriptions such as all-knowing and capable of doing anything were usually exaggerated by the people introducing someone. Such claims were rarely worth taking seriously.
Therefore, he showed no interest whatsoever. Instead, he lowered his head and continued reading his book, looking every bit like a serious scholar devoted to his studies.
Feng Zong continued enthusiastically recounting the extraordinary achievements of the person he had invited.
“No one knows where his ancestors came from. All we know is that he fled south during the famine in the north a few years ago. After settling in our county, he quickly made a name for himself.
“He knows people from all walks of life and can establish connections with practically anyone. As long as he’s in Danyu County, there’s nowhere he can’t go and nothing he can’t get done.
“Some of the less respectable establishments are full of hooligans and troublemakers who don’t necessarily respect the government authorities. But with this person around, dealing with them becomes much easier.”
Zhao Ke raised an eyebrow.
“What kind of person is he? Is he really that capable?”
“His surname is Zhou, and his given name is Xing.”
As Feng Zong spoke, he glanced toward the entrance. His eyes immediately lit up, and he stood.
“He’s here.”
Everyone had already been made curious by Feng Zong’s enthusiastic praise. They all looked up at the same time.
A figure seemed to have been blown into the teahouse by the fierce winter wind, stepping lightly over the threshold.
The newcomer was neither a burly martial artist nor an experienced, elderly man. To everyone’s surprise, she was a young woman.
She wore a plain, blue-green padded robe. Her face was so pale that it was difficult to tell whether that was her natural complexion or the result of the freezing weather.
Her long hair was casually tied with a ribbon. Her facial features were more defined than those of the locals, whose features tended to be flatter. It was immediately obvious that she came from somewhere else.
She hunched her shoulders and rubbed her hands together as she entered, muttering complaints about the bitter cold.
As soon as she stepped inside, she spotted an acquaintance and greeted them with a cheerful smile. While moving forward, her restless hands were already at work.
First, she casually ruffled a child’s hair until it stood in every direction. Then she reached into the plate in front of the teahouse owner and grabbed a handful of peanuts.
Her movements were smooth and practiced, as though she had done this countless times before.
Whether it was the craftsmen waiting for work or the child now sporting a head full of messy hair, there was hardly anyone she could not strike up a conversation with.
She had already demonstrated exactly what Feng Zong meant when he said she had connections everywhere.
She had barely been inside for a short while, yet she was already rushing around like a spinning top, talking nonstop.
After making her way through the liveliest part of the teahouse, she finally looked up and noticed the group of officials waiting at a table in the corner.
She immediately quickened her pace and headed toward them.
Only when she approached did everyone realize that she was actually taller than most women. Her height had simply been less noticeable because of her overly relaxed posture.
A few stray strands of hair hung around her ears and neck. Although her face was clean and her clothes were intact, her overall appearance still seemed rather disheveled and untidy.
To Feng Zong, seeing her was like seeing a savior.
His eyes brightened, and he leaned toward her, whispering so softly that only she could hear.
“Zhou Xing, remember what we agreed on. You have to save me! My life is practically in your hands now…”
The teahouse was filled with overlapping conversations and laughter, growing noisier by the moment.
Yet Lu Zhuoguang, who had been embodying the saying ‘Ignore worldly affairs and devote yourself entirely to the sages’ teachings,’ suddenly raised his head.
His calm gaze briefly swept over Feng Zong before settling on Zhou Xing.
“You’re exaggerating, sir.”
Zhou Xing smiled as she spoke, her words slightly muffled while she whispered to Feng Zong.
Perhaps because years of observing everything around her had trained her to notice even the slightest movement, she immediately sensed someone looking at her from the corner of his eye.
She instinctively turned her head and met the gaze of the scholar dressed in white.
The glance was as fleeting as a dragonfly touching the surface of the water, seemingly casual and unintentional.
Lu Zhuoguang quickly lowered his head and returned to his book.
Zhou Xing stopped beside the table and clasped her hands in greeting, bending at the waist with practiced ease.
“This humble commoner, Zhou Xing, pays her respects to Your Highness and Lord Zhao—”
She then turned toward Lu Zhuoguang, who was still engrossed in his book, and hesitated.
“And this gentleman is… Lord Cui?”
Lu Zhuoguang closed his book and looked up at her.
Before he could speak, Feng Zong hurriedly introduced him.
“He’s Scholar Lu. He came here with Lord Zhao.”
Zhou Xing immediately looked enlightened.
“No wonder! Just looking at you, I can tell that you’re learned and exceptionally talented. So you’re a scholar! I’ve long admired you!”
She did not even know his name until a moment ago, so it was hard to say whom she had supposedly admired for so long.
Nevertheless, the compliment clearly pleased Lu Zhuoguang.
The corners of his eyes curved slightly as a smile appeared on his face. He replied gently, “You’re too kind.”
Zhao Ke had already examined Zhou Xing from head to toe several times. His expression was full of disappointment.
He sneered coldly.
“Deputy County Magistrate Feng, you’ve certainly made me look forward to nothing. Is this the extraordinary person you described as all-powerful and capable of anything?
“Do you think investigating a murder is child’s play? Do you really believe that just any stray cat or dog can come along and interfere?”
Feng Zong understood his doubts. With Zhou Xing looking so disheveled, anyone who saw her would struggle to believe that she possessed any extraordinary abilities.
Afraid that the two officials would drive her away, he hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over.
“This subordinate would never act recklessly. However, Zhou Xing will be of great help in solving this case. I sincerely ask Lord Zhao to give her a chance.”
As he spoke, he shot Zhou Xing a meaningful glance, silently urging her to say something in her own defense.
Zhou Xing sighed softly and lowered her eyes, adopting a respectful demeanor.
“This humble commoner is merely an idle person in the county who makes a living by wandering the streets and doing odd jobs. As a result, I have a better knack for gathering information than most people.
“The important task Lord Feng entrusted to me yesterday has already been completed. The information should prove useful in today’s investigation. If Your Lordship finds me of no use, you can simply send me away afterward.”
Although her manner was somewhat ingratiating, she was not excessively humble or flattering. Instead, there was a relaxed confidence in the way she spoke.
Combined with her constant smile, her natural ease made people less inclined to pay attention to her messy appearance and casual posture.
Considering their situation, Qi Xuan began to see the value in giving her a chance.
They had deliberately kept their party small when traveling to Danyu County. Regardless of whether their manpower was sufficient, he was the Minister of Justice and understood that investigating a case often required help from ordinary people.
There were many things that could not be learned through official channels alone.
He put aside his scrutiny and finally relented.
“Feng Zong speaks very highly of you. He claims that with your help, investigating Magistrate Xu’s murder will be twice as effective with half the effort.
“Don’t disappoint me.”
“Since His Highness has agreed, I have no reason to object,” Zhao Ke said, rising from his seat.
He smiled at Zhou Xing, but his tone carried a warning.
“Then you’d better be careful. If you mess things up, you can expect to suffer the consequences.”
Zhou Xing hurriedly agreed. She stepped aside to clear the way and bowed respectfully.
“It is this humble commoner’s honor to earn His Highness’s trust. I will do everything in my power to assist Your Highness in solving the case.”
After leaving the teahouse, the group headed to the Xu residence.
White mourning banners hung at the entrance. The household servants had already been dismissed, leaving only a few people to attend to Madam Xu and the concubine in the rear courtyard.
The entire residence felt deserted and desolate.
The study, the front hall, and several other areas had been sealed by the authorities. Guards had been stationed there over the past few days to ensure that everything remained exactly as it had been when Xu Feng was murdered.
The household servants had also been questioned several times.
According to their accounts, Xu Feng had returned home in a furious mood. His robe was stained with dirt, and he had gone straight into his study.
He had even instructed the servants not to receive any visitors on his behalf.
It was not until dinner that they discovered he had died inside the room.
Once the seal was removed, the group entered the study.
Rice, flour, broken pieces of gold and silver, and copper coins were scattered across the floor.
The study was simply furnished, with everything neatly arranged in its proper place. This only made the blood splattered across the room when Xu Feng died all the more horrifying.
Although the blood had long since dried and turned black, the strong smell of blood still lingered in the air.
Qi Xuan took one look at the scene, and his eyes immediately reddened. He stood before the desk in silence for a long time.
Zhao Ke went with Feng Zong to investigate other parts of the residence.
Lu Zhuoguang was more interested in the study itself, so he stayed behind.
Zhou Xing wandered around both inside and outside the room.
She seemed to be visiting an official’s residence for the first time. Like a villager seeing a city for the first time, she could not resist looking around curiously.
Her restless hands soon began itching to touch things.
First, she ran her fingers over the carvings on a pillar. Then she examined a white jade lamp. She even picked up the headless chicken lying in the corner.
Because of the cold weather, the chicken’s body had frozen stiff and showed no signs of decay.
Zhou Xing immediately suggested taking it home to stew.
Even if it was no longer suitable for people to eat, she reasoned, she could at least feed it to a dog. That would be better than wasting it.
However, when the guard at the entrance glared at her and sternly ordered her not to touch anything, she reluctantly put the chicken down.
The strong smell of blood made Zhou Xing sneeze.
She moved toward the doorway, only to be met by a gust of freezing wind. She immediately hunched her shoulders and tucked both hands into her padded sleeves.
Leaning against the doorframe like a lump of soft mud, she let out a bored yawn and drooped her eyelids, revealing an unmistakably sleepy expression.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhuoguang carefully examined the room before stopping beside the desk.
Apart from the door latch, which had been broken when the constables forced their way inside, there was no sign of damage to any of the windows.
Books and the four treasures of the study—writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones—were neatly arranged on the desk. A plate of pastries sat beside them.
The plate was divided into four square compartments. Three were still full, but the compartment containing snowflake cakes was missing two pieces.
Lu Zhuoguang picked up the remaining snowflake cake, brought it to his nose, and smelled it before putting it back.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he raised his head and looked toward Zhou Xing, who was still leaning against the doorframe.
“Miss Zhou, are there any opera stages in this town?”
Zhou Xing lifted her lazy eyelids.
A subtle change flickered across her expression for an instant.
She turned to face Lu Zhuoguang, wearing a smile that seemed to carry a hidden meaning.
“Opera performances are forbidden in Danyu County. After the century-old opera house was demolished, no new one was ever built.”
“Why?” Lu Zhuoguang asked, puzzled.
He had never heard of a place where opera performances were prohibited.
He walked a few steps forward and stopped beside the window. The morning sunlight streamed through it, falling directly on him.
It was the twelfth lunar month, and the winter winds in Danyu were even harsher than those in the capital. Everyone wore thick padded clothing to keep warm.
Lu Zhuoguang, however, was dressed lightly.
His tall, slender figure stood out in the old white robe he wore. The shadows of the carved window fell across his clothes, while the sunlight illuminated his clean, refined face and accentuated his dark, ink-like eyebrows and eyes.
It was only at that moment that Zhou Xing seemed to notice how extraordinarily handsome he was.
She stared at him without the slightest attempt to hide her interest.
“If Scholar Lu wishes to know, why not come outside and let me tell you?”