After gathering the necessary information, Su Yihan turned and left.
Shen Xinyao, who had been holding back her frustration, let out a long sigh and said smugly:
“Hmph, you’re done for, aren’t you? Useless… all you can do is put on a show.”
Su Yihan’s tone was light, almost as if coaxing a three-year-old, perfunctory:
“Yes, yes, Miss Shen, your courage is unmatched.”
“…!” Shen Xinyao’s victorious glee immediately evaporated under Su Yihan’s indifferent tone.
Why did Su Yihan’s words always manage to drain all enthusiasm from others?
Qi Xueyou, after observing for a while, turned and followed Su Yihan, her tone gentle:
“I’ve heard about you from my brother.”
“Qi Gongzi?” Facing such a soft and beautiful approach, Su Yihan’s attitude softened slightly.
“Yes!” Qi Xueyou replied shyly. “Miss Yihan, you’re different from the rumors. I originally wanted to invite you, but considering your delicate health, I didn’t want to burden you.”
Qi Xueyou and Qi Jue were twins; Qi Xueyou was slightly older, and this year she was in the prime of youth.
She was renowned both for her beauty and her talent.
She had once been engaged to a young master, but when it was discovered he was a homosexual, the engagement was annulled, and Qi Xueyou had no intention of marriage afterward.
At her age, an unmarried woman might face public disapproval, but perhaps because of her talent, people forgave her; only a few begrudged her.
Su Yihan’s lips curved slightly:
“Qi Jiejie, that’s very thoughtful of you.”
Shen Xinyao watched in disbelief as the previously indifferent Su Yihan chatted and laughed with Qi Xueyou, fuming with anger.
She rushed forward:
“Su Yihan, do you look down on my status?!”
Though she appeared glamorous, many secretly mocked her as the daughter of a courtesan dancer.
Her birth was beyond her control, so Shen Xinyao relied on her social standing to intimidate others:
“Go ahead, insult me! Even as a mere illegitimate daughter, I live better than you, glamorous and free, able to command you around!”
Tao Chun asked puzzled:
“Miss Shen, why do you think this way?”
Wasn’t it because she had been arrogant and provoked Miss Su first, and Miss Su treated her differently as a result?
“Hypocrisy! Excuses!” Shen Xinyao’s eyes reddened as she spun around in anger, leaving with one last sharp remark:
“What’s it matter if you look down on me? I live well, and I don’t care about anyone’s opinion!”
A faint smile appeared on Su Yihan’s lips.
Qi Xueyou, standing beside her, watched Shen Xinyao storm off in her crimson dress and smiled gently:
“Xinyao is truly spirited. Her refusal to submit… I suppose that’s a strength.”
“Yes,” Su Yihan agreed.
Children may be willful, but such defiance is enviable—children with that fearless spirit, who bow to no one.
The two women continued their walk together.
It was Su Yihan’s first time strolling the streets with another girl. Qi Xueyou, the elder, was attentive—caring for both body and mind, her words always soothing like spring wind.
They sat in a teahouse to watch a play, a tragic love story unfolding on stage.
Su Yihan didn’t dare eat anything outside, fearing it would upset her stomach, so she idly watched the performance.
“Miss Yihan, do you enjoy this kind of play?”
“Enjoy?” Su Yihan asked, puzzled.
Qi Xueyou smiled:
“Qi Jue enjoys watching too.”
Su Yihan shook her head:
“Not interested.”
She was just imagining how, if she encountered such a man, she might punish a scumbag.
Wasting a girl’s youth in misery? She would enjoy watching him flounder helplessly in the water.
“Then we won’t watch,” Qi Xueyou said, rising. “Are you hungry? Maybe—”
Su Yihan shook her head:
“Thanks, Qi Jiejie, no.”
Qi Xueyou was kind, so Su Yihan couldn’t get too close.
A faint disappointment passed over Qi Xueyou’s eyes:
“Alright then.”
Her gaze was gentle:
“Can I invite you next time?”
Su Yihan intended to shake her head but her body betrayed her, nodding honestly.
Qi Xueyou visibly brightened.
True to her nature, Su Yihan stayed for the entire performance.
Once alone, Tao Chun started chattering again:
“Infuriating! Their words sound sweeter than anyone else’s, fickle… is that what men are naturally like?”
“Miss, you must never blindly trust a man’s sweet words in the future. That mouth is meant to deceive!”
“Mm.” Su Yihan had never considered marriage or children. Having handled countless cases, she had seen countless vile men—those who, out of love, would drag a beloved to their death, who sold wives and daughters to lavish brothel women with wealth…
“Taozi, don’t paint all men with the same brush,” Di Yuanxin appeared from somewhere, objecting.
Tao Chun snorted:
“You mean you’re the exception, right?”
“Rarely clever, huh?” Di Yuanxin handed her a skewer of candied hawthorns. “Reward for you.”
Tao Chun happily accepted, savoring the sweet-and-sour treat:
“Flatter me all you want, I won’t change what I said.”
Di Yuanxin panicked:
“Hey, spit it out, don’t eat it!”
Tao Chun dodged behind Su Yihan, making a face and sticking out her tongue:
“Nope! It’s already touched my lips. If you’re not disgusted, come and take it!”
Su Yihan chuckled. That mischievous Taozi—always warning her not to trust men, yet she herself flirted with Di Yuanxin. One day, she’d have to replace her maid.
After their playful antics, they boarded a carriage and got to business:
“The Xiaoluo case was handed to the Six Doors. Now the teahouses and taverns are spreading rumors—that Lord Kong couldn’t bear the shame of being cuckolded, so he ordered prison guards to kill Xiaoluo in retaliation. What does Miss think?”
Su Yihan shook her head lightly:
“It wouldn’t be him. If it were Kong Hongcai, he would have hidden the body, not deliberately exposed it.”
It was clearly a setup.
The person behind it seemed inexperienced, relying on the assumption that killing Xiaoluo wouldn’t cause much stir, that her death wouldn’t attract attention.
“Miss, do you have any suspects?”
Su Yihan leaned lazily on a pillow, speaking casually:
“I’m powerless. This case has nothing to do with me; I don’t understand it.”
Di Yuanxin: “…!”
Understood—this case posed no challenge, and thus failed to spark the lady’s interest.
Kong Hongcai was captured for questioning. Kong Wenlang knelt urgently in front of the General’s residence, seeking an audience.
The last case had been thanks to the General and Lord Su. Now that the case was under the Six Doors, the person he could appeal to was the widely respected General Shen.