“Are you talking about Liu San?”

Liu San?

Ji Yinshu nodded slightly. “Yes, I want to know some things about him.”

The old merchant pondered for a moment. “Why are you asking about this, sir?”

Ji Yinshu replied, “Naturally, I ask because I need to know. I would appreciate it if you could tell me about Liu San in detail—for instance, where is he from? When did he start doing business with you? What is his family background? Who does he frequently interact with? I want to understand all of these things.”

The old merchant was puzzled.

Why was he suddenly asking about Liu San? He spoke directly, “Liu San only started working with me last year. This person doesn’t talk much normally, and he’s rather solitary! He doesn’t interact with people much, but he’s a good person and quite capable. He’s never complained! He does his work properly and diligently, and has helped me greatly. But… as for where he’s from? Well… he seems to be from Nanshen, I think! I’m not entirely certain. I’m also not very clear about his family background. I only heard him mention once in passing that both his parents were dead and he was alone in the family. At the time, I felt quite sympathetic toward him.”

“Nanshen?”

“Yes… it should be.”

Nanshen was the hometown of Du Mubai and Su Qiao.

Could this be too much of a coincidence?

Ji Yinshu continued asking, “Then before he came to work for you, what did he do?”

“He didn’t say! As long as people who come to me are willing to work hard, I don’t ask these questions.” The old merchant answered honestly, then asked with concern, “Sir, did… did Liu San commit some offense?”

Right now, Liu San’s condition had only just stabilized, and there was no way to question him.

So there was no way to confirm the suspicion in Ji Yinshu’s heart.

And this case would have to be set aside for now while they investigated Du Mubai’s affairs first.

She said to the old merchant, “I’m just asking casually, nothing more.”

“Then…”

“Don’t worry, old sir. As long as the case is investigated and proven that you’re innocent, I believe you’ll be able to leave very soon.”

“Ah! I hope so.” The old merchant asked again, “How is Liu San now? I just heard him shouting loudly again. He never had this illness before—what’s been happening to him recently?”

He was very concerned.

Ji Yinshu said, “Don’t worry, he’s already stabilized. A physician will be sent to examine him shortly.”

“That’s good, that’s good…”

Thus, Ji Yinshu and Jingrong didn’t continue to stay there any longer.

But before leaving, she instructed the jailer guarding Liu San, “When he regains consciousness, come notify me.”

“Alright!”

Although he didn’t know what Ji Yinshu intended to do.

As they were leaving the cell, Ji Yinshu said to Jingrong with a grave expression, “I now suspect that the person who killed Su Qiao and the person who met with Du Mubai that day are actually two different people.”

Jingrong replied, “That means there are two culprits.”

“Yes! But everything depends on waiting for Liu San to regain consciousness before we’ll know.”

As they were about to exit the prison, Jingrong suddenly asked her, “By the way, you said Liu San has manic disorder—how is it that you can also treat illnesses? Where did you learn that?”

Ji Yinshu said, “Muruo taught me!”

Back then, when she had left Wei Yi at Muruo’s Yuhua Pavilion for treatment, she would occasionally go to the Yuhua Pavilion to check on things. Having seen much there, she naturally picked up some knowledge! Plus, having been in contact with Muruo for so long, she had heard Muruo mention things, so knowing about it wasn’t strange.

However, at the mention of Muruo, Jingrong’s brow furrowed inadvertently.

The feeling in his heart was naturally one of sorrow!

The two of them left the prison to find Li Cheng waiting outside.

This fellow had rushed straight over after meeting with Gong Shilin.

He had run into Bai Yin and Lang Bo outside, so he hadn’t gone in and waited outside together with them.

Seeing them come out—

Li Cheng asked, “How did it go? Did you find out anything? What did Fang Tong and Jiang Wen say?”

Ji Yinshu shook her head.

“No leads?”

She shook her head again.

“What’s going on? Really couldn’t get anything out of them?”

Ji Yinshu replied, “Actually, it’s not that we came away with nothing.”

“Then what happened?”

Ji Yinshu told Li Cheng about the information she had obtained.

Li Cheng asked, “You’re saying Du Mubai frequently went to the Drunken Moon Pavilion?”

“If that handkerchief embroidered with the words ‘Drunken Moon Pavilion’ is correct, then yes.”

“That’s impossible!”

“Why?”

“…I’ve been to the Drunken Moon Pavilion a few times myself. There’s no reason I wouldn’t know if Du Mubai was there! Besides, that kind of place is where wealthy young masters go. How could Du Mubai, a poor scholar from a humble family, frequently go there?” Li Cheng said.

As it turned out, this fellow would drill his way into wherever there were women!

Ji Yinshu asked, “Then do you know if there’s a young lady at the Drunken Moon Pavilion whose single name is Lan?”

“I don’t know.” Li Cheng shook his head and asked, “So, are you going to the Drunken Moon Pavilion now?”

“Yes.”

“…Well!” Li Cheng’s expression wasn’t good.

Jingrong asked, “What’s wrong? Does Young Master Cheng not want to go?”

“It’s not that, I…” He looked embarrassed and said quietly, “You know that when people are young, they always make mistakes. It’s hard to avoid offending quite a few people. You’ve also witnessed how formidable that Lady Lian is. Now if I were to walk into the Drunken Moon Pavilion, at that time… who knows if I’d be able to get out.”

So this fellow’s romantic debts were spread throughout all of Gaoding!

Even the Drunken Moon Pavilion had quite a few!

The women inside must be numerous, and many were even more formidable than Lady Lian. If he went, he would surely be skinned alive by the women inside. Who knows, they might even tie him up and dismember him.

The risk was too great—he didn’t dare take the chance.

So he gave up on that idea.

In the end, Li Cheng, Bai Yin, and Lang Bo—the three of them—sat in the teahouse across from the Drunken Moon Pavilion drinking tea.

Ji Yinshu and Jingrong went to the Drunken Moon Pavilion together.

Unlike a brothel, the Drunken Moon Pavilion was an elegant residence!

Outside, there were no gaudily dressed young ladies soliciting customers, and inside there were no scenes of debauchery.

Upon entering, one could hear the sound of young ladies playing music.

There was also singing.

Pleasant and melodious!

The interior was also very spacious. In the center was a square platform, with several young ladies sitting dispersed on each side—some playing the guzheng, some playing the pipa…

A young lady in the center was singing.

Jingrong looked around and said, “It truly is an elegant residence, very refined!”

The two of them found an empty table and sat down.

No one came over to disturb them with flirtation.

Instead, a young male servant from inside came over carrying a pot of tea and asked, “You two gentlemen, will you have tea? Or would you like some pastries?”

Jingrong took out an ingot of silver and placed it on the table, saying, “Whatever you recommend.”

Seeing the silver, the servant smiled and accepted it. He first served them a pot of premium Pu’er tea, then brought several plates of specialty pastries.

The servant asked, “Is this your first time here, gentlemen?”

“Yes.”

“Then what kind of music would you like to hear? Each of our young ladies here has a golden voice, and they all play instruments beautifully. If you’re interested, you can move to a private room on the third floor to listen to music privately.”

“Oh? Then who sings the best?”

“That would naturally be our Liu Erniang here.”