Chaрtеr 11: Тhе Lоrd Is Acting Strangеlу
When Wei Хun first arrived аt thе gоvеrnmеnt оfficе, thе Саpital Рrefecture Маgistratе, Lоrd Хu, саme оut frоm insidе carrуing а birdcаge.
Afraid оf the сold and with thinning hair in his middlе agе, he wоrе a blaсk felt hat on his hеаd. Тhе thrush in the cаgе сhirрed noisilу, and hе rubbed his hands tоgether, аmusing himself with it for а while with great intеrеst.
“Мy lоrd.”
Wеi Xun bowed аnd greеtеd him. Lord Xu wаved his hand, аbout tо shоw him his nеwly аcquired bird, whеn he notiсеd thаt Wei Xun was wearing only a thin rоbе on such a cоld dаy.
“Young pеоple really are different—full of vitality. Not like me, who wants to wrap myself up in three layers inside and out.”
As he spoke, he tucked his hands into his sleeves, as if feeling the cold on Wei Xun’s behalf.
Wei Xun smiled faintly without changing his expression. “It so happens that I recently acquired two jars of fine tea. I’ll send them to you later, my lord, to warm you up.”
“If even you, Wei Hengzhi, say it’s good tea, it must be extraordinary. I’m in for a treat.”
Lord Xu patted Wei Xun on the shoulder and laughed heartily.
Although he outranked Wei Xun by one level, Wei Xun’s family background was evident, and his abilities were outstanding. Lord Xu usually didn’t put on airs as a superior.
In fact, he even took the initiative to befriend him.
“I heard your mother is arranging a marriage for you. Have you taken a liking to any young lady?”
Once the news that Wei Xun was to marry spread, families with daughters grew restless.
When it came to the most eligible young men in the capital, Wei Xun was undoubtedly the best. If Lord Xu didn’t already have three sons, he would have shamelessly sought this advantageous match for his own daughter.
Lord Xu felt a pang of regret and briefly considered whether his wife had any suitable young ladies among her relatives. But after thinking it over, none seemed worthy of Wei Xun.
Marriages should be between families of equal status, with compatible character and appearance. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a union but a feud.
Wei Xun lowered his head and clasped his hands. “Marriage is determined by parental orders and matchmakers. My marriage is entirely up to my mother.”
“Your mother has keen judgment and loves you dearly. Naturally, she will find you a suitable wife.”
Lord Xu stroked his sparse beard and nodded.
“Once you marry, there will be someone to care for your daily needs and well-being.”
Lord Xu was still troubled by Wei Xun wearing thin clothes in such cold weather. If it were anyone else, he would have suspected they had lost their mind.
“Yes,” Wei Xun replied.
“Alright, hurry inside. It’s cold out here.”
Afraid that his capable subordinate might freeze into foolishness, Lord Xu didn’t keep him for small talk any longer.
Wei Xun entered the government office, where several colleagues stared at him for a long while.
However, he always maintained a stern expression, and none of these colleagues had Lord Xu’s boldness to tease him.
“Lord Wei, another woman has gone missing,” Qi Shaoyin approached with a case file, his expression grave.
“Have the victim’s identity and the location of the disappearance been verified?”
Including the previous cases, this was already the fourth disappearance this month.
Qi Shaoyin nodded. “We’ve verified it. This Lady Liu’s husband’s family runs a tofu business. Her husband is a gambler, and the money she earns from selling tofu is often lost to his gambling. None of the neighbors have a good word for him. However, Lady Liu herself is gentle and generous, and her tofu is delicious. She has an excellent reputation among the neighbors.”
Speaking of Lady Liu, Qi Shaoyin felt a sense of pity.
“The day she disappeared, she went to the countryside to exchange for soybeans. Normally, she would return in an hour or two, but that day, she was nowhere to be seen even after dark.”
“Did her family not go looking for her?” Wei Xun asked, flipping through the case file.Qi Shaoyin’s face flushed with anger. “How could they possibly go look for her! Her mother-in-law would be thrilled if she died out there, and her husband is even worse—insisting on reporting to the authorities that she ran off with a lover and stole money. He doesn’t even consider whose earnings they’ve been spending all along!”
Even after investigating hundreds of cases, Qi Shaoyin had never encountered such a shameless family.
If it weren’t for the prohibition against private punishment, he would have arrested the mother and son on the spot.
Wei Xun finished reviewing the case files and unconsciously tapped his knuckles on the table, quickly organizing the known clues in his mind.
So far, there were four victims, each with different backgrounds.
The first was a widow who worked in the flesh trade. Her disappearance was reported by a long-time patron. The second and third were twin sisters married into different villages. They had gone missing on the day they planned to meet in town to buy embroidery thread. The fourth, Lady Liu, was a pitiful woman mistreated by her husband’s family.
At first glance, these four seemed unrelated, but a closer look at their circumstances revealed that none of them had anyone to rely on. Even if they disappeared, no one would care.
The murderer must have carefully selected his targets, though it remained unclear what method he used.
Wei Xun frowned, a growing sense of urgency gnawing at him.
With the enemy hidden and them exposed, every day the murderer remained at large meant more potential victims.
“Take your men and compile a list of all women of humble backgrounds in the capital and the surrounding villages and towns. Warn them not to travel alone these days,” Wei Xun instructed.
“Yes, sir.”
Qi Shaoyin accepted the order but suddenly remembered something. He pulled a pouch from his sleeve. “Sir, this was produced by Wang Cheng. He claims it’s evidence of Lady Liu’s illicit affair with another man.”
Wang Cheng was Lady Liu’s husband. Qi Shaoyin’s face twisted with disgust as he spoke of him.
Though the pouch was finely made, it was nothing extraordinary. Wang Cheng would say anything to slander Lady Liu.
Wei Xun glanced up and took the pouch. Unfamiliar with embroidery and seeing nothing unusual, he continued giving orders to Qi Shaoyin.
“Arrest Wang Cheng and his mother. Question them thoroughly about who Lady Liu usually interacted with and the places she frequented. If they refuse to talk, administer the rod.”
“Yes, sir!”
This time, Qi Shaoyin responded even more eagerly, his palms itching for action.
After finishing the case files, Wei Xun didn’t linger at the office. Chang Yuan was waiting outside and hurried over, walking gingerly.
“Master, are we returning to the residence now?”
Chang Yuan had received three military canings the previous night, and his backside still burned with pain.
Wei Xun glanced at his awkward gait, his lips tightening slightly. He pulled a bottle of golden wound ointment from his sleeve and tossed it over. “Stay out until your injuries heal.”
“Hehe, I knew you’d look out for me, Master. But don’t worry—these minor injuries don’t require rest,” Chang Yuan replied, scratching his head and taking the bottle with a foolish grin.
Wei Xun averted his gaze, unwilling to look longer. Among the dozen or so candidates for his personal attendant, Chang Yuan had stood out in the end.
He had assumed Chang Yuan was skilled, efficient, and reliable—only to discover his mind wasn’t the sharpest.
Wei Xun shook his head and boarded the carriage. “To Golden Osmanthus Lane.”
Yesterday, he had scolded his young concubine, making her cry so pitifully. He needed to make it up to her.
Wei Xun was naturally brilliant and deeply studious, but this was the first time he had ever tried to please a woman.Jin Gui Fang was the largest jewelry shop in the capital, spanning two floors with an extensive collection of gold, silver, jade, pearls, and agate. It was also the favorite destination for noblewomen in the capital.
As soon as Wei Xun entered, he drew the attention of every woman in the shop.
At the railing on the second floor, a woman adorned with hairpins tugged at her friend beside her. “A Jin, is that your brother?”