Huang Zixia recalled what had just been said about the younger sister and softly exclaimed, “So, the youngest of the Six Ladies of Yunshao has passed away?”

“The sixth sister, named Fu Xinruan, was only twelve years old seventeen years ago, a young girl with plaited hair, innocent and romantic. She would be nearly thirty now.”

“Famous at a young age, then dying in her prime.” Huang Zixia sighed, “Judging by Madame Gongsun’s expression, there must be more to her death.”

Li Shubai said indifferently, “You should focus on your affairs first, rather than concerning yourself with others.”

Huang Zixia nodded, but couldn’t help looking towards Gongsun Yuan again.

She had already packed her things and walked to the door. However, two young dandies blocked her path, grinning as they said, “Isn’t this Madame Gongsun? How did you come from Yangzhou to Hanzhou? We just happened to stay here last night too, what a coincidence!”

Gongsun Yuan looked at the two men before her with a cold expression, ignoring them as she tried to step around them.

But these two were ruffians who pressed their shoulders together, blocking the doorway. The door, barely three feet wide, had no space left for passage with the two of them blocking it.

Huang Zixia frowned slightly and was about to stand up to speak for her, but Li Shubai placed his chopsticks upside down on the back of her hand, signaling her not to move.

Gongsun Yuan continued walking toward the door without stopping, appearing as if she would collide with the two men. Just as they raised their hands to grab her, laughing even more shamelessly, she suddenly shifted her steps, changing position like a shadow. Somehow she threaded between the two men like a dragonfly, landing lightly in the courtyard without her feet seeming to touch the ground.

Seeing how she had passed through without any hindrance as if they didn’t exist at all, the two ruffians became angry with embarrassment. Amid the snickers of the guests inside, they chased after her to block her path again.

Gongsun Yuan, unwilling to cause trouble, spoke kindly to the two ruffians: “Gentlemen, without musical instruments today, what’s there to see in just dancing? Moreover, my younger sister has recently passed away, I truly have no heart for dancing. Please forgive me.”

But these young dandies truly were ruffians – given a way out, they wouldn’t take it. Instead, they pointed at her angrily: “Aren’t you just a dancer from Yangzhou? Back then, we brothers spent plenty of money at your place, how dare you suddenly act like a saint now?”

“Exactly! With that dignified look on your face, anyone who didn’t know better would think you were some respectable lady!”

“Now you’re in our territory, dance for us first!”

The people inside the inn, seeing two ruffians blocking a beautiful woman, were already paying attention. Upon hearing she was a Yangzhou dancer, they became even more interested, all pouring out to watch the commotion.

Seeing herself surrounded by people, Gongsun Yuan realized she couldn’t peacefully resolve this today. She could only take down the bundle from her shoulder, throw it on the ground, and say, “Dancing one piece is no trouble, but how?”

Before they could answer, she reached out and plucked a willow branch from a nearby tree, spinning into an opening stance. Although she wore the simplest cloth garments and her hair was casually tied in a bun, as she stood holding the willow branch in the wind, her figure was as ethereal as an immortal. Everyone couldn’t help but cry out “Excellent!”

Using the willow as a sword, she leaped into dance, her graceful posture rolling like clouds. Everyone watching her dance felt that the dusty ground before the building had transformed into an ornate pavilion, her narrow cloth sleeves instantly metamorphosing into seven-layered brocade. The beauty on stage carried a misty, ethereal air, with waves of light from rivers and seas rippling and spinning, impossible to see clearly—

Suddenly her dance changed, that rippling light and misty clouds instantly transformed into thunderous anger. In a flash of lightning, the willow branch in her hand swept past like a fierce wind, whipping toward those two ruffians.

With two sharp cracks, red marks appeared on their faces one after another, causing them to clutch their faces and howl in pain.

“Sorry, the willow branch was too long, couldn’t control it,” she said with a cold smile.

The surrounding crowd burst into laughter, and even Huang Zixia couldn’t help but smile.

Being whipped was just physical pain, but being laughed at by everyone in public – how could they let it go? They immediately howled and rushed at her.

Gongsun Yuan’s movements were like lightning – with two quick strikes, both men clutched their noses and crouched down in pain. They had been struck on the nose, leaving them both with tears and snot running down their faces.

“My apologies, gentlemen. I was in Yangzhou, you in Hanzhou, originally we had no quarrel. Today I accidentally injured you both; if you come to Yangzhou in the future, I will certainly fulfill my duties as a host and make amends.” Speaking thus, she left the two snot-and-tear-faced ruffians behind and turned toward the door.

But how could they let it go? Furious with shame, they rushed forward to block her again.

Suddenly with two loud bangs, the two men were kicked flying into the corner, immediately howling in pain, unable to get up again.

“In broad daylight, under the bright sun, you dare cause trouble in Shu Prefecture, bringing shame to the people of Shu – do you think I, the constable, don’t exist?” A righteous shout rang out, and the crowd immediately erupted in cheers, applauding the person who had taught the ruffians a lesson. Some shouted: “Well done, Constable Zhou!”

“Imperial Inspector Zhou truly lives up to his reputation!”

“Constable Zhou, Shu Prefecture relies entirely on you and Governor Zhou!”

Amidst the cheers, the acclaimed Imperial Inspector Zhou, surrounded by admiring crowds and countless auspicious signs, made his grand entrance – it was none other than Zhou Ziqin.

He wore a vermillion constable’s uniform with a pine-green waist sash, a blue sharkskin sword at his waist, and purple swallow-tailed boots. Though he wore a modest black gauze cap, it was adorned with a bright peacock feather.

Zhou Ziqin, dressed in five or six bright colors from head to toe, happily walked in through the door, cupping his hands to the crowd, modestly saying, “It was my duty, my duty!”

Li Shubai and Huang Zixia exchanged glances, both deeply understanding the meaning of “unbearable to look at” – Zhou Ziqin had so many colors on him, that it was almost blinding their eyes.

“Being away from the capital for so long, Ziqin is still the same, hasn’t changed at all…” Huang Zixia couldn’t help but sigh.

Li Shubai then said: “Strange, with his skills, how could he send those two flying in one move?”

Before he finished speaking, they saw the person following behind him and immediately understood—

Zhang Xingying had followed him in.

Huang Zixia and Li Shubai, relying on the fact that they wouldn’t be recognized, sat there continuing to eat. However, among the crowd of fawning people in the shop, only these two remained seated without moving, which actually caught Zhou Ziqin’s attention immediately.

With no more excitement to watch outside, the crowd had dispersed. Gongsun Yuan bowed to Zhou Ziqin and Zhang Xingying, saying, “Thank you both.”

“Ah, it’s nothing, I hate bullies who pick on women and children the most. If they’ve got guts, come at us men!” Zhou Ziqin shouted contemptuously at the two ruffians who were slinking away, “Hey, if you’ve got the nerve, come to the prefecture office to complain! Next time I catch you, I won’t let you off!”

Watching them run away with their tails between their legs, Gongsun Yuan couldn’t help but smile at him, saying, “I don’t think they’ll dare bully me again.”

Zhou Ziqin patted his chest, saying heroically, “If you have any trouble, find me! Zhou Ziqin, constable of Shu Prefecture, I’ll deal with all the scoundrels in Sichuan and Shu!”

The inn’s servant immediately said, “That’s right, that’s right! The people of Shu Prefecture are blessed. Although Miss Huang has left, young Master Zhou has come. Peace in Shu Prefecture will soon be at hand…”

The innkeeper kicked him, whispering harshly, “Why bring up Miss Huang!”

Only then did the servant remember that the once legendary case-solving Miss Huang was now a wanted criminal by imperial decree, fleeing everywhere. He became extremely embarrassed: “This… please forgive me, Young Constable…”

“What’s to forgive? I love hearing that! I never thought I’d have a day to be mentioned alongside Huang Zixia!” Zhou Ziqin delightedly patted his head, looked around seeing no empty tables in the shop, and then pulled Zhang Xingying over to sit right next to Li Shubai and Huang Zixia, saying, “Come, come, let’s have breakfast first – you two don’t mind sharing the table, right?”

Huang Zixia and Li Shubai naturally shook their heads but didn’t speak with the two, avoiding exposing themselves, and just focused on eating their food.

They heard Zhou Ziqin ask Zhang Xingying: “Second Brother Zhang, in your journey to Shu, have you found any trace of Adi?”

Zhang Xingying, lost in thought, shook his head.

Seeing his thin appearance, obviously having endured much hardship searching for Dicui during this time, Huang Zixia felt an indescribable emotion well up in her heart.

“I think if Adi knew of your dedication, she would certainly be very moved,” Zhou Ziqin said while peeling an egg, then asked, “Next, do you plan to search around here?”

“Yes, I plan to look in the surrounding villages. I think she might have gone to more remote places.”

Zhou Ziqin was the most enthusiastic person and immediately said: “Whatever you need, just tell me. At the very least, now that I’m in Shu Prefecture, I can find some people to help you.”

“Not necessary for now, but thank you, Brother Ziqin.” Zhang Xingying said, falling into a daze for a moment before continuing, “I wonder if Lord Yang… Eunuch Yang is here? I think she might be able to help us find some clues. Otherwise, with my abilities alone, trying to find Adi would be like catching the moon’s reflection in water, impossible to trace…”

“Chonggu…” Zhou Ziqin murmured his name, lying on the table as his eyes slowly reddened, “Second Brother Zhang, Chonggu… he’s missing!”

“Missing?” Zhang Xingying was shocked and quickly asked, “What happened?”

“He and the Prince of Kui were attacked on their way to the capital. Now both their whereabouts are unknown. The Military Commissioner of Western Sichuan and my father have sent out large search parties into the mountains. It’s been three or four days since they disappeared, but still no sign of them.”

Zhang Xingying immediately said: “The Prince of Kui is extraordinarily talented, how could he be harmed by mere assassins? He must be fine!”

“Yes, the Prince might be fine, but… but Chonggu is in trouble!” Zhou Ziqin looked at him with reddened eyes, his lips quivering as tears were about to fall, “Do you know? Last night at midnight, we found Fusha, that’s Chonggu’s horse – it was trapped in thorny bushes and injured. When we brought it back, it was barely breathing. If even Fusha was injured, then Chonggu…”

“Lord Yang is incredibly clever, he will surely turn misfortune into fortune and won’t come to any harm!” Zhang Xingying immediately cut off his words, stating with absolute certainty.

Zhou Ziqin looked up at him, seeing his expression so firm, that his heart seemed to find some reassurance. He nodded and said: “Yes, I think so too. Someone as amazing as Chonggu should be fine!”