Chapter 4, The Initial Investigation

He still ignored her, crouching down at the bottom of the bookshelf. After a moment, he suddenly pulled out a thick ledger from a small drawer with a "whoosh"...

Please wait a moment, both of you

Zhan Zhao slightly bowed and said: "I, Zhan, am being presumptuous, but I have official business to attend to, so I hope the young lady will forgive me."

"In that case, my master... died unjustly!" another concubine lamented.

I do not wish to conceal from you all that there are still some doubts regarding the cause of Lord Bai's death; therefore, Lord Bao has dispatched Officer Zhan to investigate.

Zhan Zhao hurriedly said: "No need to trouble yourselves, we have already settled in an inn in the city"

Where is the lady? Is she not going to support the coffin either

"Are you looking for a hidden compartment?" she leaned in and murmured to herself, "This bookshelf clearly doesn't have one; bookshelves with hidden compartments usually have a greater depth, and this one doesn't seem to be like that"

Although this Zhang Zhao was dressed in plain clothes and not wearing an official robe, the maid recognized his extraordinary status as he was personally introduced by three concubines. She also noticed his elegant demeanor, refined and cultured appearance, and the gentle tone of his speech, which was quite different from the usual guests she encountered, prompting her to engage in conversation with him.

Hearing his praise, the maid shyly smiled and said: "Sir, you flatter me. I do not dare to take such compliments, as I am merely well-read and experienced. However, the master has mentioned that most guests like you who come from the capital love to drink this tea, saying that only the spring water from Suzhou is worthy of this tea, and that one cannot taste this flavor in the capital"

"Come and take a look at these two letters." Zhang Zhao called to her

"If you were Bai Baozhen, where would you put the account books?" she asked with a smile, lightly tapping the green bricks on the ground with her toes

Which concubine does he favor the most

Zhan Zhao ignored her and continued to search through the bookshelf, even opening the boxed books to take a look.

The study of the Bai residence is built adjacent to the lotus pond, which is quite large. At this moment, looking out, the lotus flowers have withered, and only the slightly damaged lotus leaves remain. Occasionally, a gentle breeze passes by, bringing with it a refreshing fragrance that invigorates the spirit.

Mo Yan leaned against the window, watching Bai Yingyu's delicate figure turn around the corridor and enter the elegant small building not far away, before finally turning back. The maid who remained, seeing her like this, became even more convinced that she had inappropriate thoughts about the young lady, and her gaze towards Mo Yan was filled with dissatisfaction.

Esteemed Sir, your journey has been arduous!

The man nodded repeatedly and said with a smile, "What the young man said is absolutely right! It seems that there is indeed nothing to be surprised about."

Indeed, things are as the person is! she said with a smile

"Boss, may I ask, with such a grand display at the weaving house ahead, has someone passed away?" Zhang Zhao inquired nonchalantly.

She did not even glance at the concubines, merely offering a sorrowful smile: "Yingyu is unfilial, which has indeed become a source of amusement for Lord Zhan."

Two bowls of wonton noodles

That is not the case! It is precisely because there are too many people wanting to take charge that everything has become a mess. Just think about it, among those three concubines, which one is not a schemer? Who does not covet the wealth of the Bai family? If it were not for the sake of appearances, it would not be surprising if one of them were killed. The man shook his head in disapproval, saying, "That is why no one is willing to go to the capital to support the coffin. At this time, if they leave, they fear they might return with nothing to show for it."

Master Bai's first wife passed away three years ago, leaving behind only one daughter, who is now twenty-eight years old. Additionally, there are three concubines, none of whom have borne any children.

As everyone grasped the underlying meaning of the conversation, they burst into laughter.

What official business is this? Could it be related to my father's murder

Mo Yan smiled mischievously: "A chamber pot is still a chamber pot, even if it is adorned with luminous pearls, it remains a chamber pot. Can it possibly transform into a flower vase?"

Please enjoy your meal, esteemed guests. The maidservant presented the tea and snacks, then quietly retreated to the side

Comforting others is not Zhang Zhao's forte, especially when he has to console four women at the same time. He could only say: "Given the circumstances, I ask you all to bear your grief and accept the changes. Lord Bai's remains are still in the Kaifeng Prefecture, and Lord Bao hopes that someone from the prefecture will be dispatched to bring him back as soon as possible, so that Lord Bai may rest in peace."

Mo Yan paused with her chopsticks while eating noodles and quickly glanced at that person

"I heard it was the Sima family from Luoyang," Mo Yan asked curiously, "Weren't they called off the engagement?"

Upon hearing this, the aunts' faces immediately turned sour.

I will go then said Bai Yingyu softly

It seems that these concubines, aside from their concerns about food, clothing, and vying for favor, pay no attention to other matters at all. Mo Yan secretly rolled her eyes.

As she compared the two letters, Zhang Zhao looked up at the maid and casually remarked, "I wonder if there is any tea available; the early autumn weather makes one feel a bit parched."

Oh... so it can be said that guests often come to your residence from the capital?" He asked casually while drinking tea, "Perhaps I might know them as well.

"No rush, are you hungry? Let's have a bowl of wonton noodles here first." With that, he took the lead and walked towards the small noodle stall by the roadside

At this moment, she was dressed like a man, yet her gaze was quite direct. Although she was completely unaware of it, Bai Yingyu felt uncomfortable under her scrutiny, and even the two maidservants accompanying her were annoyed by her rudeness, glaring at her several times.

Upon hearing this, Mo Yan, who had been looking down at the letter, secretly furrowed her brows: Lord Yan from the capital? Could it be someone sent by Zhang Yaozu to contact Bai Baozhen?

Please take your time, I will have someone clean the guest room and prepare some fragrant soup. Bai Yingyu stood up and politely addressed Zhan Zhao, saying, My humble abode is simple and cannot compare to the capital, so I hope you will not find it lacking.

Allowing such a delicate and frail young lady to travel alone to the capital to handle the coffin, although somewhat unreasonable, is ultimately a matter of the Bai family, and it is not appropriate for me to say much. Therefore, Zhan Zhao said: "I must take a look at Lord Bai's past correspondence; if there are any instances of disrespect, I hope you will forgive me"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an immediate silence; the concubines looked at each other, and for a moment, no one responded.

It is indeed impolite to receive guests without offering tea, so the maid hurriedly exited the study to prepare tea and snacks

Zhan Zhao smiled and said: "So, it seems that only those invited into this study can be considered esteemed guests. Your master holds an official position of the third rank, and these esteemed guests are likely all high-ranking individuals, coming and going in this study. No wonder you are well-informed and knowledgeable, unlike the usual maids in other households"

Enemies? My family master did not mention having any enemies while he was alive

Yahuan was taken aback, thinking that they should not have heard about this matter upon their arrival in Gusu, but unexpectedly, they already knew. Seeing that Moyan was still pressing for answers, she could only stubbornly say: "How can one believe the idle gossip from outside? The Sima family has not yet returned the engagement letter and the betrothal gifts, so how can it be said that the engagement has been called off?"

Zhan Zhao flipped through the account book briefly, remaining silent for a moment—although this account book was not a private ledger, he could not ascertain whether it was indeed the one they were looking for

This question seems somewhat strange; Bai Yingyu had not heard their conversation in the main hall, so how could she directly think of this? Mo Yan glanced at her and asked, "Miss Bai, do you believe there is something suspicious about your father's death?"

Zhan Zhao nodded

Zhan Zhao, upon hearing this, looked at her with a slight smile and said nothing

"... ... gave up their life in vain ... ..." This sentence turned over a few times in Mo Yan's mind, and when she raised her eyes, she met the gaze of Zhan Zhao, and both remained silent.

"Miss Yingyu, although the master cared for you greatly during his lifetime, we are still your elders. You should not enter or exit the master's study without our permission. Moreover, this is Lord Zhan, a fourth-rank imperial guard from the capital. You must not act presumptuously in his presence." The third concubine clearly did not regard Miss Bai in high esteem, and her tone was rather severe.

Mo Yan was so anxious that she was jumping up and down beside him, whispering, "You... you are not taking it away?"

Then you won't be able to guess it.

Mo Yan observed the reactions of the crowd and realized that her words had been reckless. She hurriedly smiled and cautiously added, "Therefore, Lord Bai passed away instantly, and it seems he did not suffer any pain. Everyone, please accept my condolences."

"It is true!" A man eating noodles next to me leaned over and said, "Yesterday, I delivered salt to the weaving office, and the people inside said that the master weaver was harmed by a burglar who broke in."

After finishing their meal, they paid with small silver coins and then proceeded to the weaving mansion.

She was about to step forward, but was stopped by Zhan Zhao

"Is this the ledger?" Mo Yan asked, then furrowed her brow again, "Can you be sure this is the one we are looking for? It is too easy to find; could it be their private account?"

This old fox..." Mo Yan muttered discontentedly in a low voice. Although her soft words did not reach Bai Yingyu's ears, they caught the attention of Zhan Zhao, who glanced at her. Both of them understood that Bai Baozhen must have had dealings with the officials in the capital; they just did not know where he had hidden these letters, or perhaps he had burned them all, which was also possible.

Not far away, the sound of footsteps approached from a distance, and Zhang Zhao quickly returned the ledger to its original place

Mo Yan shrugged her shoulders, about to speak, when she suddenly saw Zhan Zhao turn his head to look at her. It was a warning gaze she was all too familiar with, clearly indicating that she should not speak carelessly

Mo Yan thought that Zhan Zhao would surely take this opportunity to scold her a few times, but instead, she saw him quickly turn around to check something on the bookshelf

You ... ...

Upon hearing this, the aunts hesitated significantly, exchanging glances with one another, as if there were some inconvenience

Exhibit something unknown

Indeed, many people come to seek the master, but only those whom the master invites to the study can enjoy this Biluochun tea. Although the master is no longer present, I still serve tea to the two of you according to the old custom

"Miss ... ... your body ... ..." A maid behind her exclaimed anxiously upon hearing this, but she waved her hand to silence her.

Zhan Zhao smiled faintly and said, "It's nothing serious, not a big deal at all."

It seems a bit thick

"What is there to cry about?" Mo Yan tapped her chopsticks and wondered, "If you ask me, she should be happy instead. The way they act shows that the Sima family in Luoyang are snobbish people; marrying into such a family would hardly bring happiness. It is better not to marry into such a family at all."

"Sir, you are from out of town, aren't you?" the old man asked

"Are there still doubts?" Auntie Su Pa covered her mouth and exclaimed

Zhan Zhao indeed sat down gracefully, picked up the tea, blew on it gently a few times, and was immediately enveloped by its fragrant aroma. He then smiled and said: "What a fragrant tea, may I ask what it is called?"

Mo Yan was indifferent to the scenery, her gaze falling upon a few figures by the lotus pond. A young girl dressed in plain linen stood by the railing, her expression emotionless as she looked at them, with two maidservants standing behind her.

Oh

On the way to the weaving mansion, Mo Yan looked up and asked Zhang Zhao. At this moment, she had changed into male attire for convenience, making her appear younger, almost like a companion accompanying Zhang Zhao.

Seeing Zhang Zhao fall silent for a moment, a group of people remained frozen in place. After a while, the second wife, who had regained her composure, hurriedly invited everyone into the study

"Please proceed, Lord Zhang." Bai Yingyu stood up, walked to the side of the desk, and pointed to a row of drawers, saying, "My father's correspondence is usually kept here..." She smiled with a hint of sarcasm, "Fortunately, it is just correspondence; if it were property deeds, I would have to consult my several aunts."

Upon hearing this, Mo Yan and Zhan Zhao exchanged a glance, both secretly pondering: to whom would Bai Baozhen ultimately reveal the location of the account books? It seemed that none of the Bai family members were suitable for such an important responsibility

Cough! Once Lord Bai is dead, who will still recognize him as the Master Weaver?" The man scoffed, "The Sima family of Luoyang is not foolish; as soon as they heard the news of Lord Bai's death, they immediately sent someone to annul the engagement. It is pitiful for the young lady of the Bai family, who has prepared her dowry for more than half a year, and now she must be crying in secret, though we do not know how she is truly faring.

... ... Who do you think he will tell about the location of this account book?

Unfortunately, her words seemed to have no effect, as the sound of sobbing continued in the study. Mo Yan awkwardly glanced at Zhan Zhao, completely at a loss on how to handle the situation

"You young lady..." Mo Yan smiled gently at the maid, who shot her an annoyed glare, leaving her utterly confused, with the latter part of her sentence stuck in her throat and unable to be spoken

The maid, upon seeing Zhan Zhao, couldn't help but smile slightly and said: "This is Biluochun, also known as 'Frighteningly Fragrant'"

Upon hearing this, Bai Yingyu's hand holding the plain handkerchief trembled slightly, and tears immediately rolled down. Several concubines also joined in unison, expressing their sorrow, clearly unwilling to be outdone by others.

Lazily stretching her body and pretending to look bored, Mo Yan wandered back and forth in the study, her gaze gliding over the bookshelf and the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, before lingering for a moment on the figure of Bai Yingyu by the window

It was heard that they came from the Kaifeng Prefecture. The family servants hurriedly went in to report, and after a while, they were welcomed into the main hall. Several concubines also came out to greet them. Mo Yan glanced over with her eyes and couldn't help but sigh in her heart; these women, each with their own charm, varied in figure from slender to plump, truly made Bai Baozhen quite fortunate in terms of beauty. Moreover, although they were dressed in plain clothes, they were all made of high-quality white silk. The hairpins on their heads, though simple, had pearls that were uniform and round, clearly of considerable value.

Biluochun, a famous tea from Gusu. "Zhan Zhao nodded with a smile, 'The hospitality at your residence is so thoughtful, it must be that esteemed guests frequently visit.'"

Mo Yan inexplicably followed him over. Although she had not eaten since morning, this suggestion truly did not seem to come from the mouth of Zhan Zhao

This young man speaks so casually; if you knew how much wealth the Sima family in Luoyang possesses, you would not say that. The man smacked his lips, took a large sip of noodle soup, and said in a mysterious tone, "I heard that their night pots are even inlaid with luminous pearls on top."

Bai Yingyu bit her lip and quickly shook her head: "No! He never said anything; it was just that my father has always been generous to others, how could he have... have lost his life for nothing!"

Several concubines were on the verge of erupting in anger, but seeing that there were outsiders present, they restrained themselves. Each claimed to have other matters to attend to and left the study.

Mo Yan began to regret why she had entered empty-handed. Had she known, she would have brought a small bag to conveniently take things away. However, she had not anticipated that the ledger would be so thick, almost comparable to a blue brick; she had thought it would just be a thin volume.

The noodle stall is a small roadside business, exceptionally simple, yet surprisingly prosperous, with all three available tables occupied by customers enjoying their noodles. While Mo Yan was still intently observing to compare which table had slightly fewer oil stains, Zhang Zhao had already casually taken a seat next to someone else.

How to say it

"Can I put it on you? Can it fit in your sleeve?" Zhang Zhao retorted to her

Who can expect anything from her! She is a frail beauty, easily toppled by the wind. It is said that after the Sima family called off the engagement, this young lady has not stepped out of the small building again

Zhan Zhao ignored her, merely stopping in his tracks and staring into the distance ahead.

"Esteemed Sir, we certainly ... ... "

Is this true? This is indeed something unexpected. "Zhan Zhao sighed in agreement.

"My father... he was killed by someone, wasn't he?" Her voice trembled slightly, and her body seemed to sway unsteadily.

Zhan Zhao was warmly invited to take the seat of honor, while Mo Yan sat down at his lower position. After exchanging a few pleasantries, tea and pastries were served, and the second wife cautiously opened her mouth to inquire about their intentions.

Bai Yingyu had also heard that although Zhan Zhao served in the Kaifeng Prefecture, he had always been reluctant to associate with officials. Moreover, due to the mourning period in the prefecture, there were many inconveniences, so she no longer insisted. She left a maid in the study to await instructions and then excused herself, citing poor health, to take her leave of the two and returned to her small building to rest

"Before your esteemed father left, did he say anything to you?" It was evident that Zhang Zhao had also taken note of this.

Mo Yan was leisurely by the side, pulling open the drawer and slowly sifting through several stacks of letters. She was well aware that the purpose of this visit was the account books; although reviewing the letters was merely a pretext, if she could find any clues regarding the correspondence between Bai Baozhen and Zhang Yaozuo within the letters, it would also serve as one piece of evidence.

Zhan Zhao felt a sense of helplessness in his heart and said: "Even so, we should consider visiting Lord Bai's study."

"I am not sure." The three hairpins, each with a distinct shape, shook their heads in confusion.

Zhan Daren? Bai Yingyu's gaze shifted to him. She had also heard of Zhan Zhao and knew that he served in the Kaifeng Prefecture.

Mo Yan followed his gaze and looked ahead; the weaving mansion had been draped in black cloth. Apart from a few mourners in mourning attire at the entrance, it was desolate and devoid of any visitors paying their respects.

Although Mo Yan has always found Zhan Zhao rather displeasing, it must be said that it is rare to see Zhan Zhao adopt an official demeanor. Even when he is reprimanding her, his tone is not like this. At this moment, seeing him with a cold expression and speaking only a few words, he manages to have these people obediently lead the way, which inexplicably stirs a sense of unusual feeling within her. It is not aversion, yet she cannot quite articulate what this feeling is.

We must take a look at Lord Bai's correspondence, perhaps we can find a clue within. Seeing that they had not responded for a long time, Zhang Zhao淡淡 said, "I believe the ladies also hope to uncover the truth as soon as possible"

As the maid entered with tea, the two had already returned to their original state, each sifting through their letters, their faces uniformly devoid of expression

"How can this matter be left to guesswork?" Zhang Zhao replied淡淡.

Mo Yan looked at the several concubines, who were suddenly on the verge of tears, and hurriedly asked, "I wonder if Lord Bai has any enemies in his daily life?"

This official, our young lady is already promised to someone else

Who else is in Bai Baozhen's home

The young lady was called off the engagement? Mo Yanqi asked, "What kind of family would dare to break the engagement of the esteemed Suzhou weaver?"

Add more chopped green onions. Mo Yan quickly added this sentence, and Fang also sat down

Eat noodles

To be honest, we only arrived in Suzhou today

As she saw the crowd approaching, the young girl scanned them one by one, finally fixing her gaze on the several concubines, and coldly said: "Isn't it enough that you turned everything upside down that day? What are you here for now?"

Yahuan furrowed her brows and thought for a moment, then said: "There is a Sir Yan from the capital who has visited several times, his name is ... ... My master does not allow us servants to be present during discussions, so I am not very clear about it." There was a hint of apology in her expression

"A sword pierces the heart." Mo Yan's eyes wandered around the study as she casually replied. Although she did not dare to look at the corpse, she had carefully examined the forensic examination criteria.

Seeing Bai Yingyu in low spirits, the maid gently assisted her to sit on the soft couch by the window in the study, then brought her a bowl of longan tea before stepping aside.

After a long examination, both Zhang Zhao and Mo Yan felt somewhat disappointed, as the letters were mostly from subordinate officials offering greetings and flattery, while there was not a single letter exchanged between Bai Baozhen and higher-ranking officials, especially those from the capital.

At this moment, not only was Mo Yan laughing heartily, but even Zhan Zhao could not help but chuckle

Zhan Zhao sighed inwardly: This girl, why doesn't she know to be a little more subtle in her speech

No wonder..." The old man lowered his voice and leaned forward, saying, "I heard that the great weaver was killed in the capital, but we do not know if it is true.

"Do you know which ladies are closely associated with Lord Bai?" asked Zhang Zhao

The owner of the noodle stall is an elderly man nearing sixty, yet his hands and feet are remarkably nimble. He skillfully and swiftly prepares dumplings and noodles, and in no time, two bowls of steaming hot dumpling noodles are served on the table, exuding a delightful aroma

Just now, hearing the tone of this elder brother, it seems that there is probably not even a person in charge at the Weaving Bureau right now

After entering the city, they first found an inn to settle their belongings. Mo Yan, needing to visit the weaving mansion of Bai Baozhen with Zhan Zhao, was momentarily unavailable and had to ask Han Zhang to inquire about her senior sister's whereabouts.

How exactly did my father meet his demise?" She set the tea aside and asked the previous question again.

The second aunt was busy explaining, but her words were interrupted by Zhan Zhao's movement as he stood up. He clearly did not wish to hear any more from them and gently made a gesture: "Please lead the way."

Who says otherwise! The man sighed, "Indeed, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Moreover, with Miss Bai being rejected in her engagement, do not be deceived by the facade outside; there is hardly anything left inside. Those concubines are making excuses, and there isn't even anyone to carry the coffin to the capital."