After his feast, Daoist Zhang wiped his mouth, went to the side room, found a communal bed, and fell asleep. Before sleeping, he only instructed Zhan Yang not to wake him until dark. Zhan Yang found this Daoist peculiar but had no choice. He reported to Magistrate Zheng, who silently cursed but had no option but to wait until nightfall.
The more unrestrained Daoist Zhang’s behavior became, the more Princess Qin wanted to know what he would do. Crown Prince Yan Chi shared similar thoughts, so they both remained at the office without leaving. By evening, after dining at the office and seeing darkness fall, Magistrate Zheng finally had Zhan Yang wake Daoist Zhang. They expected him to be lazy and difficult, but surprisingly, when Daoist Zhang woke and saw it was completely dark, he sprang up from bed at once—
Having eaten and drunk his fill and enjoyed a long sleep, Daoist Zhang went outside refreshed and splashed cold water on his face. Seeing his demeanor, Zhan Yang asked quietly, “Would Daoist Zhang like another meal?”
Hearing this, Daoist Zhang smiled and waved his hand. “That midday feast will last me two days. No need for food. You… you’re called…”
Zhan Yang cupped his hands. “I am Zhan Yang, Chief Constable of the prefectural office.”
Daoist Zhang chuckled. “Chief Zhan, bring four or five men, no more is necessary.”
Zhan Yang said, “The Crown Prince and Princess are still waiting outside.”
Hearing this, Daoist Zhang’s eyes brightened slightly. He strode outside to the front hall, where indeed Yan Chi and Princess Qin waited. Daoist Zhang cupped his hands to them all. “Since everyone is here, we won’t need many runners. Please take this poor Daoist to examine the crime scenes.”
Magistrate Zheng looked at Yan Chi, who nodded.
Magistrate Zheng frowned slightly and had Zhan Yang prepare horses and carriages. Soon after, the group left the prefectural office under cover of night.
Wu Qian’s death occurred in a dark alley in the southern city. The carriage stopped at the alley entrance.
By now it was completely dark, with few people about in the streets. This alley in the southern city was particularly remote, and as they reached its entrance, they felt an eerie wind blowing through it.
Magistrate Zheng followed Zhan Yang, who carried a torch, at the front. Daoist Zhang walked behind them, with Yan Chi and Princess Qin following, and Bai Feng and others guarding the rear.
Daoist Zhang examined the alley’s surroundings as he walked, though what he was looking for wasn’t clear. Soon they reached where Wu Qian’s body was found. Zhan Yang pointed to a spot near an abandoned low wall. “This is where we discovered the first victim’s body.”
Daoist Zhang nodded, crouched down to feel the earth, then looked up at the sky.
The alley was very narrow – looking up, one could only see a limited patch of sky. Daoist Zhang frowned slightly, took out a roll of paper and a brush from his sleeve, and began writing and drawing something.
The paper and brush were office supplies from the side room, though no one knew when he had taken them. Zhan Yang frowned and shook his head speechlessly.
After finishing his writing and drawing, Daoist Zhang rolled up both paper and brush and tucked them back into his sleeve.
“Done here, let’s go to the next location—”
No one could understand what Daoist Zhang was looking for, but hearing him say to move on, naturally, everyone left the dark alley together, boarded the carriages, and headed to the western city where Zhao Jia Xu’s body was found.
Zhao Jia Xu’s body was discovered by the city moat, on a particularly remote section. When everyone arrived, the night was pitch black, with cold winds whistling by the moat-like ghostly wails. Zhan Yang walked down toward the moat with his torch, and after just two steps, saw flickering sparks where the body had been found.
Zhan Yang’s brow immediately furrowed.
Daoist Zhang slapped Zhan Yang’s shoulder. “Is Chief Zhan scared?! Think it’s ghost fire?!” With that, he laughed heartily and walked past Zhan Yang toward the moat.
Zhan Yang frowned and followed with a cold expression.
Reaching where the body was found, they saw the sparks came from spirit money – someone had come to make offerings. Zhan Yang frowned and looked around. Who would come to make offerings to Zhao Jia Xu so late?
As he wondered this, Daoist Zhang stomped out the spirit money and took out his paper roll to write and draw again.
Zhan Yang watched their surroundings vigilantly. The night was ink-black. It was one thing that someone had come to make offerings to Zhao Jia Xu, but for some reason, the surrounding darkness made him uneasy, as if someone lurked in the shadows watching them.
Yan Chi and Princess Qin hadn’t walked down to the riverbank. Princess Qin said, “I feel this Daoist Zhang is quite formidable.”
Yan Chi watched Daoist Zhang’s crouching silhouette writing and drawing and tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Indeed, it doesn’t seem he deceived us just to leave prison.”
Magistrate Zheng sighed. “I hope he can truly help. With three deaths now, His Majesty will likely be furious tomorrow.”
At the mention of His Majesty’s anger, Yan Chi’s eyes deepened. “His Majesty is currently worried about the Northwest situation. He may be more lenient about the cases in the capital.”
Speaking of this matter, Magistrate Zheng hurriedly asked, “Your Highness, is there any progress with the Northwest situation?”
Yan Chi replied, “Father has also sent people from the military. Several Transport Commissioners have been arrested. The specifics depend on what they can extract during questioning. The Justice Ministry’s investigating censor only left the capital this morning – even traveling day and night, it will take half a month to reach there.”
Magistrate Zheng sighed. “Who knows what this will uncover? To dare be negligent and corrupt with military provisions – these people truly have a death wish.”
Yan Chi didn’t respond. Below, Daoist Zhang had already walked up. “Let’s go! To the third death site!”
Zhan Yang came up from below. “Sir, it seems someone came to make offerings to Zhao Jia Xu earlier.”
Magistrate Zheng raised an eyebrow. “His wife? Or Miss Zhong?”
Zhan Yang shook his head. “I’ll send people to inquire tomorrow.”
Magistrate Zheng nodded, and the group headed to the Drunken Immortal Restaurant’s ice cellar in the western city.
Since Zhao Jia Xu’s death site was also in the western city, the ice cellar wasn’t far – they arrived after just two incense sticks’ worth of time. The residence with the ice cellar was also very remote, but as soon as the group reached the courtyard gate, they saw flickering firelight inside. Seeing this, Zhan Yang shouted, “Who’s in there?!”
As soon as he spoke, a figure flashed past the window. Zhan Yang frowned and rushed forward with a swift movement. He burst through the door and quickly dragged out a person with long hair and a face covered by a cloak.
It was a woman! Princess Qin and the others hurried forward!
“Chief Zhan! It’s me, it’s me—”
Seemingly hurt by Zhan Yang’s grip, the woman couldn’t help crying out. Hearing her voice, Zhan Yang released his hold. The woman removed her cloak, looking both annoyed and embarrassed at the sudden appearance of so many people.
Magistrate Zheng raised an eyebrow. “Zhan Yang, who is this…”
Zhan Yang responded somewhat helplessly, “She’s Hu De Quan’s daughter.”
The woman, knowing she faced important officials but surprised to see a woman among them, glanced at Princess Qin with evident admiration before curtsying. “This humble one is Hong Xiu, greeting the noble lords.”
Magistrate Zheng understood. “You came to make offerings to your father?”
Hearing this, Hong Xiu snorted lightly. “I feared his ghost would haunt me, so I came to burn some spirit money.”
Hong Xiu was Hu De Quan’s only daughter. Earlier that day, Zhan Yang had already sought her out, but Hong Xiu showed complete indifference to Hu De Quan’s death, displaying no grief at the news. Since she had witnesses to verify her whereabouts, she had no connection to Hu De Quan’s death. She had been very impatient with Zhan Yang and quickly left, claiming she had to attend to customers. Unable to do more and constrained by the fact that Feng Qi Tower was populated by women, Zhan Yang soon left. Magistrate Zheng, Princess Qin, and the others all knew this.
Hong Xiu wore a crow-black cloak over a pink wide-sleeved dress, with makeup on her face. She certainly didn’t look like someone sincerely mourning her father. Her expression was stubborn, showing no trace of grief, and she seemed quietly angry at the mention of Hu De Quan.
Zhan Yang said, “Weren’t you afraid to come here alone as a woman?”
Hong Xiu laughed coldly. “What’s there to fear? When he was alive he could beat and curse me. Now that he’s dead, why should I be afraid? This spirit money is the last trace of our father-daughter relationship. Once I burn it, I can be at peace.”
Magistrate Zheng raised an eyebrow. “Your father’s body is still at the public mortuary. Don’t you plan to arrange his burial?”
Hong Xiu curtsied to Magistrate Zheng. “My Lord, he sold me, so I’m not his daughter anymore. Once you finish investigating the case, dispose of his body however you want. I don’t want to see him, not even his corpse.”
Selling one’s daughter was indeed lamentable. Given Hong Xiu’s attitude, Magistrate Zheng couldn’t say much. After thinking, he said, “Perhaps your father had already regretted it…”
Hearing these words, Hong Xiu’s cold laugh intensified. “My Lord need not say such things. I know him too well! When my mother was gravely ill and he wouldn’t spare his wine money to buy her medicine, I knew what kind of person he was. He caused my mother’s death and then sold me to a brothel. We severed all ties long ago. This spirit money is merely to give me peace of mind. My Lord may think me cold-blooded and heartless, but when there’s such a father in this world, there will be such a daughter.”
She glanced around at everyone. “My Lord is here on official business, yes? Hong Xiu dares not disturb your duties and will take her leave now.”
Hong Xiu curtsied again and turned to leave. After a few steps, Princess Qin spoke, “Do many people know about your father selling you to the brothel?”
Hong Xiu turned back to look at Princess Qin. “In the entire Feng Qi Tower, except for the newcomers, everyone knows.”
Princess Qin nodded, and with that, Hong Xiu headed for the courtyard gate.
They had thought Hu De Quan had few acquaintances and investigating the Drunken Immortal Restaurant might yield clues, but with Hong Xiu’s appearance, they realized the scope of those who knew had expanded. The Feng Qi Tower had countless patrons daily – the courtesans knew, the patrons might know, not to mention the servants and maids. Who had told the killer about this? Or was the killer one of them?
After Hong Xiu left, everyone felt somewhat melancholic.
Daoist Zhang sighed. “Good and evil have their rewards. This Hu De Quan was inhuman; no wonder no one mourns him. Chief Zhan, where exactly did Hu De Quan die?”
Zhan Yang immediately led the way to the ice cellar, entering the side room and pointing to the stairs leading down.
The night was deep and dewy. Standing at the top of the stairs, one could feel the cold from below. Yan Chi held Princess Qin back. “Wait up here.” He glanced at Bai Ying, who accompanied Princess Qin.
Bai Ying nodded, and only then did Yan Chi follow Daoist Zhang down.
Princess Qin had wanted to go down but stopped at Yan Chi’s words. Bai Ying stepped forward. “Miss, it’s too cold down there. You’d better wait up here. They’ll be back soon anyway.”
Princess Qin hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Daoist Zhang and the others descended the stairs, with Zhan Yang carrying the torch and following Daoist Zhang at the front. Seeing the door closed, Zhan Yang stepped forward to open it, but just as he reached it, Daoist Zhang suddenly shouted, “Stop! Wait!”
Zhan Yang froze. Daoist Zhang came forward, took the torch, and carefully examined the closed door. After a moment, he stepped back two paces and looked around the doorway…
Soon, Daoist Zhang laughed heartily. “Excellent, excellent! This place is perfect – what a fine Ice Hell!”
Though Daoist Zhang spoke with laughter, his words sent chills down even Zhan Yang’s spine. The ice cellar was already underground, and Daoist Zhang’s words made it seem truly like some Ice Hell.
Daoist Zhang said no more, raising his hand to push open the door.
The ice cellar was pitch black inside, with biting cold. Yet Daoist Zhang showed no fear, striding in with Zhan Yang following behind with the torch, walking all the way to the very back.
“Daoist Zhang, this is where we found Hu De Quan…”
Zhan Yang pointed to a corner at the end of the passage. Daoist Zhang crouched down to look, and after a moment, came back to the doorway. At the door, he looked up at the pitch-black sky, then took out his paper and brush to write and draw again.
After finishing, he carefully examined the pattern on the door, then closed it and turned to head back up.
“Good, we’re done here. Let’s head back.”
He turned to look at Yan Chi. “May I ask Your Highness where I shall stay tonight?”
Yan Chi turned to look at Magistrate Zheng, who quickly said, “Your Highness, don’t worry, I’ll arrange it.”
Daoist Zhang snorted lightly, seemingly unsatisfied but unable to say more, and just shrugged in agreement. Seeing Daoist Zhang’s manner, Magistrate Zheng’s brow rose as he too snorted.
Yan Chi said, “In that case, I’ll escort the Princess home. Daoist Zhang will trouble Magistrate Zheng.”
Magistrate Zheng repeatedly agreed. As they walked out, Yan Chi looked at Daoist Zhang. “What was the purpose of today’s visit?”
Daoist Zhang pointed toward the sky. “This formation follows the arrangement of the celestial palace’s eight trigrams. After seeing the locations, I now know what that person intends to do and where they will strike next.”
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. “When can you calculate it?”
Daoist Zhang hurriedly said, “I dare not guarantee – at least one night, at most three days. I will certainly figure it out. However, with only three deaths so far, the calculations won’t be entirely accurate. We’ll have to see… if more die…”
Daoist Zhang caught himself midsentence, feeling it inappropriate, and swallowed the rest of his words. Looking at everyone, he said seriously, “Please rest assured, I will do my utmost.”
Yan Chi nodded, and everyone then parted ways.
Yan Chi rode outside while Princess Qin took the carriage, heading toward Xingle District in the east.
After they had gone some distance, Princess Qin lifted the curtain to look at Yan Chi. “Have you been busy these past two days with the Northwest military provisions matter?”
Yan Chi nodded. “The Shuoxi Army’s provisions are crucial to the Ministry of War, yet such a mistake occurred. This suggests other areas must have problems too. Unfortunately, the capital is thousands of li from the Northwest, and I cannot go there.”
Yan Chi’s voice carried deep anger as he spoke. As the young commander of the Shuoxi Army, he was naturally furious about such an incident. The frontline soldiers were fighting and bleeding, yet someone in the rear dared to tamper with military provisions – how brazen!
“This matter is serious, and surely involves many people up and down the chain. However, as long as we investigate, we will certainly uncover the truth. Don’t worry – just ensure supplies reach the front quickly without affecting the Shuoxi Army’s operations.”
Yan Chi sighed. “Don’t worry, I understand. You went to the Court of Judicial Review yesterday?”
Though Yan Chi hadn’t seen Princess Qin, he knew everything about her activities. She said, “Still about those case files. But I went and still couldn’t find them, so I left.”
“I won’t be able to follow this case constantly these days. You must be careful when going out. Magistrate Zheng is thorough in his work; don’t be anxious…”
Princess Qin smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m only doing what I can. Qin Shuang is getting married soon, and I must accompany her. I haven’t seen the Grand Princess and Empress Dowager for several days. I had planned to go today, but then this happened. I’ll go pay my respects tomorrow when nothing else comes up.”
“I’d rather you spend more time with the two elderly ladies.”
They talked as they traveled, taking three incense sticks’ worth of time to reach the Marquis’s mansion gate.
By now it was very late. As soon as they arrived, they saw Qin Yi waiting at the gate. Seeing Princess Qin return, Qin Yi hurried forward. “Greetings, Crown Prince!”
Yan Chi waved his hand, and only then did Qin Yi anxiously look at Princess Qin as she descended from the carriage. “Ninth Sister, you’re finally back!”
Princess Qin explained briefly, and Yan Chi said, “Quickly enter the mansion. I’ll take my leave.”
He nodded to Qin Yi and rode away.
Qin Yi bowed with cupped hands and then entered the mansion with Princess Qin. “Father and Mother were worried about you. Why were you gone all day?”
Princess Qin had been concerned that Qin Yi might read too much into Yan Chi escorting her home, but surprisingly, he showed no sign of surprise. So she began to tell him about the day’s investigation of the corpse…