1. The azure moon is cold, and the thousand peaks are frigid

Gu Qiuhan's mood, which had just improved, darkened again, regretting that he should not have panicked and fled home. However, now that Hu Weiyong has formed factions for personal gain, selling positions and titles, and with the few upright officials who can discern right from wrong, it is uncertain whether staying at the inn would allow him to clear his name. The only course of action now is to uncover the true culprit in order to save himself. Resolute in his decision, he washed away the bloodstains on his body, changed his clothes, opened the drawer, casually grabbed a handful of silver, and took a knife and a dagger before heading out.

The owner of the Yun Jin Inn reported the incident to the authorities, and the Deputy Minister of Justice, Zhang Minzhong, personally led a team to the scene. The identity of the deceased was quickly confirmed to be the renowned courtesan Shen Bitiao, who had previously resided in the most famous brothel in Yingtian Prefecture, "Drunken Flower Shade." Later, the noble Liu Ji, appreciating her talent and beauty, redeemed her and gifted her a residence near the Xiao Fen Bridge for her to live in. Unfortunately, the good times were short-lived; after Liu Ji's death, his family reclaimed the property, and Shen Bitiao temporarily returned to reside in "Drunken Flower Shade" until today. The identity of the deceased was quickly confirmed to be the renowned courtesan Shen Bitiao, who had previously resided in the most famous brothel in Yingtian Prefecture, "Drunken Flower Shade." Later, the noble Liu Ji, appreciating her talent and beauty, redeemed her and gifted her a residence near the Xiao Fen Bridge for her to live in. Unfortunately, the good times were short-lived; after Liu Ji's death, his family reclaimed the property, and Shen Bitiao temporarily returned to reside in "Drunken Flower Shade" until today

Mei Juansheng laughed heartily and said: "If it is not an illusion, then you must have encountered a ghost. In this vast world, there is nothing strange that does not exist, but I have never heard of someone dying and coming back to life"

Gu Qiuhan retorted: "You still claim to be a friend, yet you do not help me devise a strategy, instead only using me for your amusement?"

Gu Qiuhan said, "A murder occurred here in the morning, correct?" The shopkeeper nodded again. Gu Qiuhan continued, "Where has the body gone?" This question was not originally part of his plan, but having just seen Shen Bitiao, he inquired about the whereabouts of the body.

Yes, yes, it was said that last night around the hour of the pig, the little person was dozing off in the cabinet... At that moment, trembling with fear, he brought Gu Qiuhan and Shen Bitiao to the inn to check in. Until the next morning, when he went upstairs to clean the corridor, he discovered that the door of Room 3, where Gu Qiuhan and Shen Bitiao were staying, was wide open. Gu Qiuhan was standing at the foot of the bed, holding a sharp blade, covered in blood. After that, he heard his shout and fled through the window, recounting all the details of the incident.

At this moment, Gu Qiuhan was still in high spirits, walking while reciting: "The plum blossoms compete with the snow for spring, unwilling to yield; the poet puts down his brush, wasting his critique. The plum must yield three parts of white to the snow, yet the snow loses a segment of fragrance to the plum..." His voice was slurred, clearly quite drunk, perhaps still reminiscing about the plum blossoms at Yumei Mountain Villa. Just as he was humming and mumbling, a figure suddenly approached from the opposite direction, a woman. On such a winter night, her clothing appeared somewhat thin, and what surprised Gu Qiuhan even more was that this woman seemed even more intoxicated than he was, staggering with every step. After a few steps, she had to lean against the wall of a nearby building for support, and finally, she stumbled and fell into the snow.

The Grand Inner Guard? Gu Qiuhan's heart tightened as he pondered, "Why is the Governor's Office intervening in this matter?" He was well aware that the Grand Inner Guard's Governor's Office wielded immense power; once they set their sights on something, they could act unilaterally regardless of evidence. If this fell into their hands, it would likely lead to dire consequences. However, the Governor's Office traditionally only oversaw the officials of various departments in the capital. Although his own position fell within this scope, this was ultimately a civil case that should be handled by the Ministry of Justice. When did it become the responsibility of the Governor's Office to take charge?

The two exchanged a smile. Thus, Gu Qiuhan wrapped half of her face with a scarf, trembling all the way as she accompanied Mei Juansheng to the Yun Jin Inn. Mei Juansheng rented Room No. 2 next to the crime scene for the price of fifteen taels of silver, sent Gu Qiuhan upstairs, and then returned to Yumei Mountain Villa.

Gu Qiuhan, inebriated and hazy, had no time to attend to him. He placed the woman onto the bed, supporting himself with both hands on the bed's edge, gasping for breath. The woman was not heavy; under normal circumstances, Gu Qiuhan could carry her for two miles without issue. However, after drinking, his steps were unsteady, and his mind was clouded, making it feel laborious.

Mei Juansheng observed that he had been silent for a long time and urged, "You came to see me; it cannot be just to tell me these things, can it?"

Gu Qiuhan was frozen as if he had encountered a ghost. The person took the opportunity to glide away, slipping out of the window. By the time Gu Qiuhan came to his senses and rushed to the window to look outside, he could only see a rapidly moving black dot several dozen feet away. Gu Qiuhan pinched his leg hard to confirm that he was not dreaming. Could it be that he was experiencing hallucinations due to excessive tension? However, the several clear footprints on the ground soon led him to dismiss this idea.

A sudden scream came from behind, and Gu Qiuhan turned around sharply, only to see the inn's attendant standing at the door, frozen in shock, with a look of terror on his face that was beyond description. Gu Qiuhan had never experienced anything like this before; his scalp tingled, his mind was in a state of chaos, and without a moment to think, he dropped the dagger on the ground and fled through the broken window

The man shook his head and said: "I don't know about that. That kid has only just arrived and rarely speaks, so no one is familiar with him." Gu Qiuhan had sensed this last night; at that time, there was only Defu downstairs. When business came in, he was surprisingly unenthusiastic, and every time he spoke, he was very terse.

Two screams pierced the stillness of the winter night almost simultaneously. Gu Qiuhan knew that this person had originally intended to kill him, and the innkeeper had become a wronged ghost. However, he had no time to feel guilty now. Looking at the shadowy corpse, he saw that its head was nearly split in half, a mass of blood and flesh, making it impossible to identify who it was. Gu Qiuhan sighed in regret and swiftly darted back to his room at the fastest speed. Hearing the thudding footsteps outside the door, followed by shouts, the inn was immediately thrown into chaos.

Gu Qiuhan stared at the tightly closed door, his eyes wide open, cold sweat instantly covering his entire body. "Could it be that another guest has moved into this ominous room? Even if the guest is unaware, the attendant should not have been so quick to rent out this room. Moreover, when I arrived, I clearly saw that the window I had kicked in was still not repaired. On such a cold day, which fool would want to stay inside?" His curiosity surged, and he suppressed his racing heart, pressing his ear against the door. Before long, he heard faint footsteps from within. Although they were very light, in the profound silence of the deep night, pressed against the door, they were still distinctly audible.

With a loud bang, the door latch was pulled open, and Gu Qiuhan eagerly pushed the door. The shopkeeper discovered that the person standing at the door was not Defu, but a stranger, and was immediately filled with great fear. Just as he was about to shout, Gu Qiuhan covered his mouth with one hand, and then pressed a cold blade against his neck. Gu Qiuhan forced him step by step inside, and said in a deep voice: "If you dare to shout, I will cut you down with one knife!" This afternoon, the Imperial Guard had already sent Gu Qiuhan's portrait, and upon recognizing him, the shopkeeper was so frightened that his soul seemed to leave his body, repeatedly nodding in agreement.

Gu Qiuhan took a deep breath and said, "I saw Shen Bitiao today"

As he passed by Room 3, he instinctively halted his steps, and for a moment, a myriad of emotions surged within him. It was in this very room that he had transformed from a respectable official of the Ministry of Justice into a despised "murderer"!

Gu Qiuhan casually asked, "What kind of person is the shopkeeper here?"

Mei Juansheng was disturbed from a pleasant dream and cursed with a smile, "It must be that I committed sins in my past life, which is why I am punished to be friends with you in this life." Gu Qiuhan teased, "In my past life, you killed someone, and I became the wronged ghost for you, so in this life, you must help me clear my name." Mei Juansheng was taken aback and chuckled dryly, "If the authorities hear this, I will be in big trouble. Please sit down; what brings you to find me at this hour?" Gu Qiuhan then recounted how he had just been attacked, resulting in the accidental killing of the shopkeeper, and how he had also slain the assassin himself.

Uncertain how much time had passed, Gu Qiuhan gradually regained his senses. The first sensation he felt was that he was submerged in water, a pungent, fishy smell piercing his nostrils. He struggled to open his eyes, and the first thing that came into view was a vast expanse of red, not the red plum blossoms of Yumei Villa, but... human blood! Gu Qiuhan let out a startled cry and jumped back, only to see the young woman lying amidst the pool of blood, with five or six wounds from her chest to her abdomen. The blood had drained away and had congealed, and he suddenly realized that he was gripping a sharp knife in his hand

Just then, a servant was sweeping in front of his door. Gu Qiuhan noticed that it was not the same servant from the morning. A thought crossed her mind, and she loosened her hair to cover her cheeks, asking, "Young man, I heard that a murder occurred here last night?" The servant straightened up from his bow like a spring, his face filled with terror, and replied, "Indeed... it was in the room next door to the master."

Gu Qiuhan did not want to argue with him any longer, as she herself was also confused and unable to explain clearly, only saying: "That is why I asked you to go and see for yourself." Mei Juansheng sighed: "Alright, it is said that Shen Bitiao possesses extraordinary beauty, yet I never had the chance to see her while she was alive, and now I must look at her corpse after her death. Tsk tsk, what a loss, what a loss." As he spoke, he shook his head repeatedly.

The attendant called out, "Wait a moment." He rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a set of keys, then went over to securely close the building's door, leading Gu Qiuhan upstairs, thinking to himself, "He is indeed quite anxious, but this girl is really good-looking!" After going upstairs and turning left, the attendant opened the door to the third room, not uttering a single polite remark, and then went downstairs.

Stepping onto the stone steps, Gu Qiuhan knocked on the door of Yumei Mountain Villa. An elderly resident opened the door and, upon seeing Gu Qiuhan visiting late at night, was quite surprised but still warmly invited him inside. Gu Qiuhan clasped his fists in a gesture of apology and then proceeded directly to Mei Juansheng's bedroom

Mu Tianxiong waved his hand, and several lieutenants lifted the coffin containing Shen Bitiao's body, as the group descended the stairs. Zhang Minzhong shook his head repeatedly; he had been busy for half a day, but he felt that this case was not as simple as it seemed. Mu Tianxiong was merely a brash man who had gained favor with the Emperor through flattery and had risen to the position of Inspector General of the Governor's Office thanks to Hu Weiyong's support. His capture of Gu Qiuhan was nothing more than a brutal beating and sending him to the execution ground; how could he conduct a thorough investigation? However, this was the will of Prime Minister Hu, and he had no power to oppose it, so he could only lead the others away in frustration.

Mei Juansheng exclaimed: "You have truly become a harbinger of disaster lately; everyone you come into contact with seems to meet their demise. I can only hope that my fate is resilient enough to escape this calamity"

A series of questions, each more perplexing than the last, led Gu Qiuhan to faintly sense that behind this bloody incident, there likely lay numerous little-known secrets, but she simply could not find any clues or make sense of the situation

At this moment, Gu Qiuhan was sitting in the study of Master Mei at Yumei Mountain Villa. He did not fantasize about evading capture here; he merely asked Mei Juansheng to help him book a room at the Yunjin Inn so that he could secretly search for clues to clear his name. Now, Mei Juansheng was the only friend he could trust.

Yunjin Inn? Mei Juansheng felt that he could not absolve himself of blame for Gu Qiuhan's current predicament. If he had not enthusiastically invited him to enjoy the snow and admire the plum blossoms, how could such unfortunate events have occurred? However, he was puzzled; the murder case had taken place at Yunjin Inn, so how could Gu Qiuhan still have the courage to return? But then he understood and smiled, saying, "Indeed, no one would expect you to dare stay there."

Could it be the murderer? That would be you walking into a trap! Gu Qiuhan had no time to feel joy, and with a gentle push, the door surprisingly opened. The room had been meticulously cleaned, showing no signs of the previous crime; all the bedding on the bed had been replaced with new ones. To eliminate the smell of blood, a thin layer of lime had been spread on the floor, yet the window, which Gu Qiuhan had kicked in, still swayed uncertainly in the wind. The room had been meticulously cleaned, showing no signs of the previous crime; all the bedding on the bed had been replaced with new ones. To eliminate the smell of blood, a thin layer of lime had been spread on the floor, yet the window, which Gu Qiuhan had kicked in, still swayed uncertainly in the wind

On a winter night, the cold air is biting. Just past the first watch, the entire street is already illuminated with scattered lights, and the pedestrians are few, which is quite rare in the imperial capital of Jing Tian. Gu Qiu Han walks with a staggered gait, stepping on the first snow of the winter, listening to the crunching sound beneath his feet, feeling very cheerful. This winter is colder than previous years, and with the snowfall, the plum blossoms at Yu Mei Mountain Villa have bloomed early. His friend, Master Mei, invited him to drink and admire the plums. As they became merry, Master Mei took out the Tusu wine he had planned to drink during the New Year to treat Gu Qiu Han, and before they knew it, they had both drunk a few more cups.

"Oh no, oh no," he thought to himself, "I only remember putting her to bed, how could she have died?" The memories after drinking were not very clear; he tried hard to recall, suddenly pulling his head out of the water, and when he touched the back of his head, he indeed found a bump the size of an egg, which still ached faintly. "That's right, I heard a 'thud' and then lost consciousness; I must have been knocked out by someone!"

"Sir, what should we do next?" a cautious official inquired

Mei Juansheng shrugged, indicating that he was at a loss for what to do. Gu Qiuhan spoke with conviction: "That assassin today must be the true culprit behind Shen Bitiao's murder. Unfortunately, in my haste, I struck too hard, leaving no one alive, and I even mangled his face beyond recognition. I couldn't afford to stay long to carefully identify who he was." His face was weary, yet his eyes sparkled with a glimmer of confidence, clearly showing his strong belief in his deduction.

The sky had brightened, and a few people were walking on the street. Upon seeing Gu Qiuhan covered in blood, they all gasped in shock and hurriedly moved aside. Gu Qiuhan fled back home, not daring to knock on the door, but instead climbed over the wall and entered his own bedroom. He first took off his blood-stained clothes, then filled a basin with cold water and submerged his head in it. Despite this, he still could not calm his emotions; whether his eyes were open or closed, all he could see was that bloody scene.

Zhang Minzhong is forty-three years old this year. He has served in the Ministry of Justice for many years, repeatedly solving major and unusual cases, earning an excellent reputation. However, due to his strong character and unwavering integrity, he has not been promoted since he took the position of Deputy Minister of Justice, having been sidelined by the powerful minister Hu Weiyong. After listening to the coroner's report, he slightly nodded, stroked his beard, and pondered: "Almost every stab is as long as a dagger. It seems that the murderer is neither after her beauty nor her wealth; the intention is clearly to take her life, and it is extremely cruel to stab her five times. If the murderer did not have a deep-seated grudge against her, it would not be so."

Gu Qiuhan?" Zhang Minzhong gasped in shock. The officials from the Ministry of Justice, along with the constables and forensic officers who followed, immediately erupted in an uproar, all exclaiming: "Young Master Gu! How is that possible?" One of the officials shouted: "Life and death are at stake, do not speak recklessly. Did you see Gu Qiuhan commit murder with your own eyes?"

After the snow cleared, Gu Qiuhan declined the invitation of Master Mei and hurried home. His family background was respectable, with considerable wealth, and he enjoyed practicing martial arts, which led him to make many friends in the martial world. However, the one he was most compatible with was Mei Juansheng, the master of Yumei Mountain Villa. His father was greatly displeased with his inclination towards the martial world and, to prevent him from going astray, had spent several hundred taels of gold during his lifetime to bribe the powerful minister Hu Weiyong, securing him a position as a clerk in the Ministry of Justice. Although the official position was not significant, it was sufficient to restrain him. Indeed, Gu Qiuhan lost the time to indulge with his unruly friends, yet he never ceased his interactions with Mei Juansheng.

Where is he from? Gu Qiuhan, in order to avoid arousing the suspicion of his companion, picked up the teacup and took a light sip, casually asking.

At that moment, Gu Qiuhan indeed reached out his hand, wanting to touch Shen Bitiao's pulse or breath, but due to overwhelming fear, his hand stopped midway and he never dared to proceed. After hearing the scream from that attendant, he fled the inn. However, he clearly saw that Shen Bitiao had been stabbed multiple times, all in vital areas, and the blood that flowed out had almost soaked the entire mattress. If she could survive such a situation and recover quickly, then was she not originally something other than a human? Moreover, Shen Bitiao did not possess any martial arts skills, yet the person just now was able to float past the window and land on the street. She was neither a ghost nor Shen Bitiao, so who exactly was she? He clearly saw that Shen Bitiao had been stabbed multiple times, all in vital areas, and the blood that flowed out had almost soaked the entire mattress. If she could survive such a situation and recover quickly, then was she not originally something other than a human? Furthermore, Shen Bitiao did not know any martial arts, yet the person just now was able to float past the window and land on the street. She was neither a ghost nor Shen Bitiao, so who exactly was she? What was it that attracted her to this ominous room in the dead of night? Why did her appearance bear such a striking resemblance to Shen Bitiao?

Mu Tianxiong sneered and said, "Does Lord Zhang not believe it, or does he have ulterior motives?" Zhang Minzhong's forehead was covered in cold sweat as he replied, "I dare not."

He crouched down and carefully examined the footprints, which were about half a foot long and less than two inches wide. Indeed, they were the footprints of a woman. Gu Qiuhan could thus conclude that what he had just seen was not a ghost, for ghosts do not leave footprints. This was strange; not to mention that he had previously seen Shen Bitiao, even just a glance at her face after the bloodshed was enough to deeply imprint her features in his mind. Despite the fear and tension he had just experienced, he could not possibly be mistaken. Could it be that Shen Bitiao was not dead?

"That woman is actually Shen Bitiao!" Gu Qiuhan lay in bed, feeling a level of fear he had never experienced before in his life. He had drunk too much the previous day, which caused him not to recognize her at the time. It was only upon waking in the morning that he realized she was indeed Shen Bitiao. As a woman of the world, what kind of enemies could she have made? Shen Bitiao had once been favored by Liu Ji, but Liu Ji had passed away four years ago. Even if the murderer had developed a murderous intent out of jealousy due to rivalry, it should not have come to this point. He had filtered this experience through his mind countless times, and every detail was now very clear. He recalled that when Shen Bitiao fell to the ground, a man had walked quickly towards her, but upon seeing him present, he suddenly stopped and turned away. Could it be that he had followed her to the room, knocked him unconscious, and killed Shen Bitiao? It was winter, and every room's window was sealed shut. The only way for that person to enter was through the front door. At that time, the inn's attendant was downstairs and could not possibly have missed him. If he just asked that attendant, the answer would be revealed. Unfortunately, he now bore the name of the murderer. Upon seeing him, the attendant would not only refuse to say a word but would instead shout and cause trouble. How could he find a way to question him? He would need to devise a good plan.

As soon as the voice fell, the sound of horse hooves clattered outside, stopping in front of the inn. Following that, a rumbling of footsteps echoed up the stairs, as a group of officials wearing black felt hats and cloaked in green capes surged up the stairs. Zhang Minzhong frowned slightly and cupped his hands in salute to the elder at the forefront, saying: "Mu Jianxiao." This person was none other than Mu Tianxiong, the inspector of the Imperial Guard Command.

Once again, two lives have been lost. After dawn, the authorities will undoubtedly send people to investigate, and the Yun Jin Inn is no longer a safe place. Gu Qiuhan takes advantage of the chaos to leave, yet he does not know where to go, so he can only wander aimlessly. The latest murder at the Yun Jin Inn did not awaken the sleeping townsfolk; the streets are eerily quiet, with only Gu Qiuhan's solitary figure wandering through the alleys. He tightens his outer garment against the cold wind, trudging through the snow, his heart filled with confusion. Since becoming embroiled in this bloody incident, Gu Qiuhan has felt as if an invisible hand has tightly grasped his neck, and he cannot discern whether he is struggling desperately or following that hand, sliding step by step into the abyss

Zhu Yuanzhang was greatly pleased and ordered the Earl of Sincerity, Liu Ji, to host a banquet for all officials of the Ministry of Justice as a form of commendation. At this banquet, Liu Ji brought along his beautiful confidante, Shen Bitiao, and Gu Qiuhan was seated right next to her. At that time, Shen Bitiao was in her prime, not only young and beautiful but also exceptionally knowledgeable, which immediately captivated Gu Qiuhan. However, out of respect for Liu Ji, the two engaged in lively conversation during the banquet, yet afterwards, they had no further interactions, and it could even be said that they were merely strangers who had met once. However, the occurrence of this bloody incident left Zhang Minzhi with many doubts. Gu Qiuhan came from a wealthy family and was inherently kind-hearted, certainly not a ruthless villain. Therefore, if he killed Shen Bitiao, it could only be attributed to a matter of "emotion." Could it be that all these years, despite their apparent lack of connection, there was a hidden, little-known affair between the two? Otherwise, how could they have drunk together and become so intoxicated that they sought pleasure in a hotel? Gu Qiuhan was already twenty-four years old this year and still unmarried; could it also be because of Shen Bitiao?

Upon realizing this, Zhang Minzhong decisively ordered, "Seal off all city gates, distribute the portrait of Gu Qiuhan, and conduct a citywide manhunt!" He then commanded the retrieval of the coffin to temporarily place the body.

Gu Qiuhan's thoughts stirred: "That young man is suspicious and likely has ill intentions. Oh, it is indeed very unsafe for a young lady to be passed out here, especially in the cold after the snow; she could freeze to death." With this in mind, he felt a surge of compassion, stepped forward to lift the woman, and dragged her a few steps forward. When he looked up, he saw a two-story building with a sign that read 'Yunjin Inn,' and he pushed the door open and walked in.

To Gu Qiuhan's astonishment, there stood a person by the bedside, clad in a green floral short coat, draped in a fox fur cloak, and wearing a pleated skirt. The pale moonlight spilled over her, making her appear so enchanting and eerie. At that moment, she was bent down, seemingly searching for something. Upon hearing a noise, she suddenly turned her head, their eyes meeting. Gu Qiuhan felt the hair on his body stand on end, and stars danced before his eyes. In the instant he pushed the door open, he had considered that the person inside could be the murderer, perhaps a constable, or merely an ordinary guest, but he never expected that this person would be Shen Bitiao.

Zhang Minzhong glared at the official and said gently, "Little brother, do not be afraid. Describe the situation at that time in detail, and do not let there be a single falsehood."

Gu Qiuhan thought to himself, indeed, if that is the case, the true target of the assassin is not me, but the innkeeper? No, that knife was clearly aimed at me; it was only because I dodged that he accidentally killed the innkeeper. After pondering this back and forth, suddenly, a light bulb went off in his mind, and he thought: "Only Defu has seen the true face of the real culprit. He must be looking for the innkeeper with the same intention as mine, which is to find Defu and silence him. If that happens, I will never be able to turn my life around."

The attendant said: "I am from Wucheng, Nanyang." Gu Qiuhan responded with a soft "Hmm" and laughed, saying: "I was just a bit curious and asked so many questions, I hope I did not disturb you too much, young man." The attendant hurriedly replied: "I am unworthy of such praise, please feel free, sir. If you have any requests, just call for me." Gu Qiuhan said: "Then I would trouble you to bring a pot of wine and two dishes of snacks." He greatly enjoyed drinking, whether in moments of joy or melancholy.

Mu Tianxiong completed the formalities and snatched the corpse frame from the coroner. After examining it once, he tucked it into his sleeve and said: "The Prime Minister has issued an order. The criminal Gu Qiuhan is a subordinate of Lord Zhang, therefore I request Lord Zhang to withdraw from this case, which will be fully handled by the Imperial Guard Command." The "Prime Minister" he referred to is none other than the current powerful Left Chancellor, Hu Weiyong.

Zhang Minzhong contemplated that Gu Qiuhan was not an ordinary person. He had served in the Ministry of Justice for six years, during which he had solved numerous major cases. Not only was he exceptionally skilled in martial arts, but he also possessed quick thinking, making him a paragon of both wisdom and courage. If he were an ordinary criminal, he would surely flee desperately after committing a crime, but Gu Qiuhan would most likely act contrary to that. Consider that Yingtian is the capital of the emperor, with many people hidden away, a mix of fish and dragons, making it easy to conceal oneself. Most importantly, he has many friends here. If he can calmly assess the situation, he would choose to remain hidden for the time being, waiting for the situation to ease before seeking an opportunity to escape.

Mei Juansheng raised a question, "If he is the murderer, then since he has successfully framed you, why would he come to kill you a day later? In other words, if he truly intended to take your life, could you still be alive until now?"

He reached out his hand, wanting to touch the corpse on the bed, but his arm had already lost its strength, stopping midway, only able to call out hoarsely: "Shen... Shen Miss!"

In the hall, some tables and chairs were haphazardly arranged. A young attendant, around eighteen or nineteen years old, was dozing off at the counter. As the door swung open, a cold wind rushed in without restraint, causing the attendant to startle and look around. Gu Qiuhan said, "Young man, please prepare a room." The attendant noticed that the two were reeking of alcohol, and the woman appeared even more dazed, secretly cursing, "These young masters only know how to drink and chase after women!" Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he picked up a pen and asked, "Name?"

Gu Qiuhan deliberately exclaimed "Oh dear," and, feeling unlucky, asked, "Did the young man witness it with his own eyes?" The attendant shook his head vigorously, like a drum, and replied, "It was indeed De Fu who stumbled upon it; how could I dare to look at such a bloody scene?" When Gu Qiuhan arrived, he did not see the attendant De Fu, so he said, "De Fu must have been scared half to death, right?" The attendant replied, "Indeed, the authorities came to ask him questions in the morning, and afterward, he resigned from this job and returned to his hometown." Gu Qiuhan furrowed his brow, realizing that whether he could clear his name largely depended on that attendant named De Fu. Unexpectedly, this fellow was so frightened that he had fled back to his hometown.

Zhang Minzhong had no personal relationship with Gu Qiuhan, but they both served in the Ministry of Justice, one as a superior and the other as a subordinate, making frequent contact inevitable. Gu Qiuhan left a strong impression on him as a free-spirited and exceptionally generous individual, quite different from the typical wealthy young masters. It is said that although Gu Qiuhan was a young man of charm, he held a deep disdain for the brothels and rarely ventured into such places. Zhang Minzhong vaguely remembered that Gu Qiuhan first met Shen Bitiao six years ago. At that time, Gu Qiuhan had just taken up his post in the Ministry of Justice and had captured the notorious bandit He Sandao from the Jingji area, subsequently solving several related cold cases, earning the applause of the people of Yingtian.

Gu Qiuhan felt a secret joy in his heart, "That girl was not killed by me! It must have been during my dazed state that someone entered the room, knocked me unconscious, and then killed that girl, leaving the murder weapon in my hand. Clearly, this is a frame-up!" Confirming that he had not committed murder, Gu Qiuhan let out a sigh of relief, feeling invigorated. However, upon further reflection, he realized that he had been standing there with a knife in front of the girl's corpse, clearly seen by the inn's staff, and then he had panicked and fled. He feared that even jumping into the Yellow River would not cleanse him of this guilt.

The shopkeeper said nervously: "He was taken away by the imperial guard, should he be placed in the governor's office?"

Zhang Minzhong expressed his astonishment: "Such a heinous crime among the common people has actually alarmed Lord Hu?" Given the hierarchical relationship between superiors and subordinates, it was not surprising for him to avoid this case. However, the Governor's Office, as a trusted entity of the Emperor, was responsible for patrol and capture, but that was directed at officials in the capital. A case like this, involving a heinous crime among the common people, was unrelated to the Governor's Office, especially considering that it was personally inquired into by Hu Weiyong

Mei Juansheng's expression changed, and then he scoffed, "Nonsense, I think you must be confused! The body of Shen Bitiao has already been verified by the authorities, and then it was taken away by the internal guard. If she were not dead, why would the authorities be pursuing you?" Gu Qiuhan replied, "I also find it strange, but I indeed saw her today, right in the room where the murder occurred! At the very least, it was a woman who looked very much like her." He recounted the situation at that time to Mei Juansheng.

A female corpse was found, with one knife wound on the left side of the lower abdomen, one on the right side, and one on the upper side, each measuring eight-tenths of an inch in width and three inches two-tenths, three inches five-tenths, and three inches six-tenths in depth respectively. There were two knife wounds on the left chest, each measuring eight-tenths of an inch in width and three inches three-tenths and three inches six-tenths in depth respectively, resulting in death. A sharp knife was found, measuring three inches six-tenths in length and eight-tenths of an inch in width. Additionally, the clothing of the corpse was disheveled, but there were no signs of sexual assault.

Gu Qiuhan secretly rejoiced at his decision to escape; otherwise, if he had entered the governor's mansion, he would have faced a great injustice with no place to appeal. He steadied his mind and continued to ask, "Where did Defu go?" The shopkeeper replied, "He went back to his hometown." Gu Qiuhan inquired, "Where is his hometown?" The shopkeeper said, "It is in..." Suddenly, Gu Qiuhan sidestepped, and at the same time, the blade withdrew from the shopkeeper's neck and curled backward. At that moment, Gu Qiuhan was naturally on high alert; although he was asking questions, he still sensed someone attacking from behind. He steadied his mind and continued to ask, "Where did Defu go?" The shopkeeper replied, "He went back to his hometown." Gu Qiuhan asked, "Where is his hometown?" The shopkeeper said, "It is in..." Suddenly, Gu Qiuhan sidestepped, and at the same time, the blade withdrew from the shopkeeper's neck and curled backward. At that moment, Gu Qiuhan was naturally on high alert; although he was asking questions, he still sensed someone attacking from behind. In the darkness, a steel knife swept past his waist and pierced the shopkeeper's chest, and then Gu Qiuhan's knife also struck the assailant's face.

At this moment, the innkeeper brought a servant in and said, "My lord, this is Defu." Zhang Minzhong nodded and looked at the servant, asking, "Have you seen the criminal?" Although he was no longer in his prime, his gaze remained exceptionally sharp. Defu couldn't help but shrink back, holding up a ledger and pointing to a name on it, saying, "His name is Gu Qiuhan."

After a hearty meal and drink, Gu Qiuhan took a nap to restore his energy for the evening's activities. He planned to meet with the innkeeper at night to inquire about the whereabouts of De Fu. However, upon waking, it was still not dark outside, so Gu Qiuhan ordered more food and drink, eating and waiting. He endured until midnight, and when he saw that the time was nearly right, he quietly pushed open the door and peeked out. The upstairs was pitch black, with not even a ghostly shadow in sight. Only then did he feel reassured enough to close the door behind him and make his way down the corridor.

Having stayed in this room for too long, Gu Qiuhan believed he would surely go mad, so he quickly escaped, not forgetting to smooth out the lime, leaving only the footprints of that person, so that the authorities could trace them. According to the original plan, Gu Qiuhan made his way to the innkeeper's room, gently knocked on the door, and after a long while, he finally heard footsteps echoing, "tap tap." An impatient voice asked, "Who is it?" Gu Qiuhan tightened his throat and replied, "It’s me, Defu." The person inside exclaimed, "Oh, you little rascal, haven’t you left yet?" According to the original plan, Gu Qiuhan made his way to the innkeeper's room, gently knocked on the door, and after a long while, he finally heard footsteps echoing, "tap tap." An impatient voice asked, "Who is it?" Gu Qiuhan tightened his throat and replied, "It’s me, Defu." The person inside exclaimed, "Oh, you little rascal, haven’t you left yet?"

As soon as he stepped out, he happened to run into the old butler and said: "I have urgent matters to attend to and will be away for a few days. Please take good care of the house." He did not dare to delay, hurriedly gave a few instructions, and before the butler could ask further questions, he had already dashed away.

Gu Qiuhan said: "There are two matters. First, I thought of coming here to escape the cold wind and take a nap; second, I would like you to make a trip to the Governor's Office to see Shen Bitiao's corpse with your own eyes. Additionally, it would be best if you could find out who the assassin is"

Uncertain of how long he had walked, he could only see the undulating shadows of the mountains ahead. As the snow had yet to melt, under the cold moonlight, everything was adorned in a silver-white attire. Gu Qiuhan recognized that this was Shenlie Mountain, and within the mountain hollow lay the Yumei Villa, where countless plum blossoms competed for beauty. In such frigid weather, he could not linger outside for half the night. Without a second thought, Gu Qiuhan stepped towards the mountain hollow. After trekking for nearly half an hour, he entered the Plum Blossom Valley, where the plum blossoms around him were either as red as fire or as pure as ice. However, these sights no longer piqued his interest, despite the fact that he had been here the previous day, admiring the blossoms with great enthusiasm.

He was merely an arm's length away from the young lady, gazing at her with a smile. She was a remarkably beautiful girl, especially after having had some wine; her face was flushed, resembling a quietly blooming crabapple flower. Gu Qiuhan let out a contented sigh, thinking to himself: "No matter how tiring it is, it is worth it." Suddenly, he felt that the girl looked somewhat familiar, so he leaned in a bit closer and exclaimed in surprise: "How could it be her?" Just then, he heard a dull thud, followed by darkness enveloping him as he collapsed onto the young lady, completely losing consciousness.

Mei Juansheng pondered and said: "Everyone in the world knows that we are good friends, but I fear it is not safe here." Gu Qiuhan replied: "I have thought about this; I must leave before dawn. It would be best if you could help me rent a room to settle down temporarily." Mei Juansheng said: "No problem. By the way, why did you want me to see Shen Bitiao's corpse?"

De Fu was inherently timid, and after being shouted at, he immediately turned pale, his speech becoming rather unclear, "I... I... I didn't see anything..."

Gu Qiuhan stopped, laughing heartily as he looked at her, "Hehe," he chuckled, "We are all lost souls in this world, my dear. Next time, drink a little less; there is no need to risk your life just to entertain guests." From her thin and bold attire, Gu Qiuhan guessed that she was likely a courtesan from a brothel. Looking around, he noticed a man in black hurriedly approaching, who stopped upon seeing Gu Qiuhan and turned to leave.

"Pat." Gu Qiuhan suddenly heard a sound that should not have appeared at this time and place, and the sound was coming from Room 3!

"I don't know." Since Gu Qiuhan was the one who booked the room for this young lady, he casually replied. However, he soon felt it was inappropriate, scratched his head, and said: "Gu Qiuhan, 'Qiu' for autumn, 'Han' for cold." After the attendant recorded the account, Gu Qiuhan placed a silver ingot on the counter, picked up the young lady, and left, only to realize he had forgotten his keys.