Yan Nantian’s gaze fell upon Yu Fengyun.
As someone of high status, his scrutinizing look carried a heavy sense of pressure.
Yu Fengyun met his gaze, and the eyes of the two men collided in the wind.
“Brother Yan,” Yun Zhao introduced with a mischievous tone, “this is Wen Nuannuan’s childhood friend and brother. Did you meet him the last time you were here?”
“No.”
Yan Nantian tilted his head slightly, and a perceptive subordinate immediately hurried forward to whisper something to Yu Fengyun.
After a moment, Yu Fengyun lowered his eyes, strode forward, clasped his hands, and gave a simple bow. “Greetings, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
To avoid the taboo of “Supreme Emperor,” the crown princes of the Great Ji Dynasty were not referred to as “Crown Prince.”
Yan Nantian looked at him calmly, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
Yun Zhao took the opportunity to observe the man.
Up close, his features were even more refined and handsome, with a hint of indescribable pride in his expression—neither the arrogance of the nobility nor the forced self-esteem of someone of lower status.
Yun Zhao could clearly sense an innate rebelliousness in him.
After a moment of scrutiny, Yan Nantian smiled faintly and spoke softly, “My fiancée has excellent taste.” He paused, then added, “She recommended you to me.”
He gently placed his left hand on Yun Zhao’s shoulder.
His pale and haggard appearance made the bones and veins on the back of his hand strikingly visible, half-hidden beneath the intricate embroidery of his black sleeve, adding an air of fragile nobility.
Yu Fengyun’s eyes flickered as he looked at Yun Zhao.
His eyes were unusually clear, shimmering with a faint golden hue in the sunset, like polished glass.
When their eyes met, Yun Zhao said matter-of-factly, “Don’t let me down!”
She left no room for refusal.
Wen Nuannuan hurried over, lifting her skirt, her face filled with anxiety. “No, no, Brother Yu is just my neighbor. We’re just ordinary childhood friends. He doesn’t know anything about investigations… He won’t be of any help to us!”
Seeing her so eager to distance herself, Yun Zhao couldn’t help but feel sorry for her childhood friend.
Yu Fengyun pressed his lips together.
Wen Nuannuan stamped her foot and whispered reproachfully, “What does this have to do with you? My affairs are none of your concern!”
Yu Fengyun let out a soft, bitter laugh.
Ignoring her, he lowered his eyes and clasped his hands toward Yan Nantian. “I only hope to catch the culprit as soon as possible—Your Highness, please give your orders. I am at your service.”
His voice was clearly restrained, as if it carried cold iron and ice, sharp and metallic.
Wen Nuannuan’s face turned pale, her eyes darting nervously toward Yan Nantian, her hands twisting anxiously in front of her, as if she feared his anger.
Yan Nantian, however, showed no anger. He smiled gently and said, “Good. Follow me.”
Yu Fengyun brushed past Wen Nuannuan, accidentally bumping her shoulder.
She stumbled slightly, biting her lip, her fingers clenched until they turned white.
Yun Zhao watched the scene like a spectator.
*
There were two cases in Linbo Prefecture.
The mysterious incident on the whaling ship, where one person died and another went missing, and the strange attack on Wen Nuannuan while she was under the protection of the authorities.
Both crime scenes could be considered closed spaces.
The room where Wen Nuannuan was attacked had intact doors and windows, with no signs of anything unusual before or after the incident.
Like the tragedy at sea, she had not seen the culprit.
“I’m fine!” Wen Nuannuan exclaimed urgently to Yan Nantian. “Please investigate my stepfather’s case first and save my mother! I’ll be okay!”
Yun Zhao laughed. “Why are you shouting? If it’s the same culprit, does it matter which case we investigate first?”
Wen Nuannuan looked sheepish. “Yes, I’m too foolish.”
She glanced at Yan Nantian, who sat at the head of the room.
He rested his chin on his hand, looking somewhat weary, his eyes half-closed, listening to them with a calm expression.
Yun Zhao asked, “Is there really no clue at all?”
Hearing her question, Yan Nantian lowered his hand and turned to her, explaining in detail. “I personally inspected the whaling ship. The culprit left no traces. The area where the incident occurred also showed no signs of anything unusual. I’ve reviewed the testimonies of the crew, and they corroborate each other.”
After a long silence, Yu Fengyun spoke up. “They’re all neighbors.”
Yun Zhao raised an eyebrow. “I’ll go and investigate.”
Yan Nantian glanced at her.
He was so weak and tired that the look was almost coquettish—didn’t you promise not to cause trouble?
He reassured her, “It’s getting late. I’ll take you there tomorrow.”
Yun Zhao shrugged. “You should rest. I’m too restless right now—I need to take a walk to digest my food!”
Yu Fengyun stood up and clasped his hands. “Your Highness, if you trust me, I can accompany her to investigate.”
Yan Nantian’s eyes turned cold.
Yun Zhao was eager. “Great! Let’s go!”
Yan Nantian called out, “...A’Zhao.”
But Yun Zhao had already hopped to the threshold of the hall, waving without looking back. “Just send a few capable people to follow us from a distance!”
Yu Fengyun clasped his hands and hurried after her.
*
Once they left the government office, Yun Zhao immediately leaned in close to Yu Fengyun with a mysterious air.
“Are you very hurt and disappointed?” she asked. “I was the same way. Someone I’d known for so many years suddenly seemed like a stranger.”
His eyes turned cold, and he pressed his lips together without speaking.
Yun Zhao acted like a seasoned veteran, familiar with his pain. “You don’t have to feel embarrassed. I even shouted about breaking off my engagement back then, and the whole Ninefold Mountain knew about it.”
Yu Fengyun asked, “Do you talk like this to every stranger?”
Yun Zhao fiddled with her fingers. “Not really…”
He said, “I saw you talking to Sister-in-law Qiu. She’s a gossip, but Wen Nuannuan isn’t the way she described her.”
Yun Zhao suddenly stopped walking and stared at him in disbelief. “Are you blind?”
Wen Nuannuan had gone out of her way to distance herself from him, and her eyes were practically glued to Yan Nantian.
How could he not see that something was wrong?
He pressed his lips together. “There’s no need to say more. I know her better than you do.”
Yun Zhao laughed in exasperation. “I feel like a fool for sympathizing with you.”
She ignored him and walked ahead.
After a few steps, she turned around, hands on her hips, and said angrily, “Lead the way!”
Yu Fengyun seemed unused to someone like her. His eyelids twitched slightly, and after a moment of hesitation, he said softly, “She’s not like you. She’s actually very pitiful.”
“Pitiful?” Yun Zhao laughed. “Others only have one life, but she seems to have countless!”
“What do you mean?” he frowned.
Yun Zhao shrugged. “Exactly what I said.”
She had no interest in continuing the conversation.
People like him were common in stories—stubborn, devoted, and unyielding, even when it was hopeless.
What a waste of such a handsome face.
*
They visited three homes of the crew members but found no one there.
All three were simple fishing families, with elderly and children in the house. The loss of their breadwinner had cast a pall of sorrow over the households.
“After the incident, he’s been too frightened and went to the Supreme Temple to pray for protection,” the old woman forced a smile. “I’ll have my husband call him back to meet you.”
Yun Zhao quickly waved her hand. “No need, no need. We’re just here to ask a few questions.”
The families were already suffering enough; she didn’t want to trouble them further.
After walking a few steps, she turned back and pointed sternly. “I said don’t call him. Don’t take matters into your own hands, okay?”
She looked quite fierce.
Yu Fengyun’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than usual.
As they walked further, his expression changed, and he reluctantly pointed ahead. “That’s the Wen residence.”
Yun Zhao followed his direction and was momentarily stunned.
“What?”
She hadn’t expected the Wen family to live in such a grand mansion.
While it couldn’t compare to the high gates of the capital, it was undoubtedly one of the most prominent estates in the area.
“Uncle Wen was a hero in whaling,” Yu Fengyun explained. “While others might go months without catching a whale, Uncle Wen never returned empty-handed. Naturally, he amassed a great fortune.”
Yun Zhao said, “Oh.”
She pointed to a modest house next door and asked, “Is that your home?”
Yu Fengyun’s face darkened, and he replied stiffly, “No!”
Yun Zhao glanced at him. “Why?”
Just then, the door of the house creaked open, and a thin woman dressed in white, with a white flower in her hair, quickly stepped out, pouring some leftover food into a dog bowl outside.
Yun Zhao blurted out, “Did someone in her family die?”
“No,” Yu Fengyun said, his lips pressed tightly. “She’s an old courtesan. Uncle Wen supported her during his lifetime, and now she’s mourning him.”
Yun Zhao was momentarily speechless.
Wen Changkong? Keeping an old courtesan right next to his family home?
What about Madam Wen and her daughter?
“Hey, hey—” she called out, snapping out of her thoughts and hurrying forward. “Wait! Don’t close the door!”
Yu Fengyun was unable to stop Yun Zhao in time, and could only watch helplessly as she ran over to the old prostitute and, without any hesitation, reached out to hold onto the woman’s sleeve.
His gaze lingered on her hand for a moment. For someone who seemed so spoiled and arrogant, her actions were… hard to judge.
The old prostitute was startled and nervously tried to pull her sleeve back, whispering, “It’s dirty.”
Yun Zhao looked down and saw that the edge of the sleeve was worn and faded from washing. She smiled, “It’s not dirty!”
The old prostitute: “……”
Yu Fengyun and the guards watched in stunned silence as Yun Zhao struck up a conversation with the old prostitute in just a few words.
By the time they entered the house hand in hand, she was already affectionately calling her “Sister-in-law Qiu.”
“Sister-in-law Qiu,” Yun Zhao began, guiding the conversation, “Do the Wen mother and daughter bully you while you live here?”
At this, Sister-in-law Qiu couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. “I’m in this line of work—what do I care about their snide remarks? It doesn’t hurt me. At night, the men still come to my room, don’t they?”
Yun Zhao blinked. “Why doesn’t he sleep in his own room?”
Now that the man was dead, Sister-in-law Qiu had no reason to hold back. “Because Wen Changkong was a fool of the highest order!”
“Huh?”
Sister-in-law Qiu let out a bitter laugh. “That woman was carrying the child of a nobleman from the capital when she ran away! All these years, she’s been keeping herself pure for that nobleman, hoping that one day he’d come and take her back to live in luxury. How could she let Wen Changkong touch her? So, how did Wen Changkong deal with it? He came to me! I’m ugly, so she didn’t care enough to be jealous!”
Yun Zhao was utterly shocked. “What?”
Sister-in-law Qiu continued, “Wen Changkong willingly supported her and her child! Oh, he was so infatuated, even though she wouldn’t let him touch her, he still did everything for her! He treated her like a goddess, spending all his money on her, keeping her delicate and pampered! All the money he earned over the years went straight to her!”
She spat softly, “But when it came to me, he was stingy. At night, he’d tie me up and…”
Yun Zhao quickly interrupted, “Sister-in-law Qiu, we don’t need the details, we don’t need the details!”
She narrowed her eyes. “Sister-in-law Qiu, are you saying that Wen Nuannuan’s mother ran away from the capital on her own? She wasn’t silenced by someone?”
“Of course, she ran away!” Sister-in-law Qiu exclaimed. “Wen Changkong always boasted about how brave and resourceful she was, how strong and pure, but it’s all nonsense!”
“Did no one else know?” Yun Zhao asked.
“Wen Changkong kept his mouth shut, protecting those two like they were his own eyes. It was only when he lost control that he let things slip! Oh—” Sister-in-law Qiu suddenly looked regretful. “It’s all because of your gold ingot. Don’t go spreading this around, or it’ll bring trouble! Now that he’s dead and there’s no proof, once I leave this door, I won’t admit to anything!”
“Oh…”
Yun Zhao nodded solemnly.
It seemed her own mother had been carrying a heavy burden of blame all this time!