That door remained closed for a long time.

Shi Ziran sat up there for nearly two incense sticks’ worth of time. Bored and idle, he could only take out some melon seeds and start cracking them.

After waiting a bit longer, finally, Chen Youfu’s door opened.

That fellow came out from inside, walking with soft and powerless steps to the eaves where he stretched lazily and yawned, looking bleary-eyed. Then he rubbed his full beard, licked his dry lips, and shouted loudly into the courtyard: “Someone come.”

A servant ran over: “Master.”

“Is breakfast ready yet?”

“It’s already prepared.”

“Bring it to my room.”

“Alright.”

The servant hurried off to fetch breakfast while Chen Youfu went back inside his room to wait for the servant to bring breakfast in.

Shi Ziran remained sitting on the rooftop watching, feeling somewhat unbalanced in his heart. That fellow in the room had food and drink, while he himself was cracking melon seeds and enduring the cold wind, unable to rest his eyes. How unfair!

But the task Ji Yunshu had entrusted to him—even if it meant plunging into boiling water or walking through fire, he would complete it.

Before long, Chen Youfu came out after eating and drinking his fill, flicked his sleeves, and left.

Shi Ziran came down from the rooftop and quickly followed. He followed Chen Youfu all the way to a teahouse. He watched as that fellow found a private seat and sat down, ordered several plates of pastries, and also ordered a song to listen to. Leisurely, he listened and watched. The young lady singing had a fresh, lovely appearance. Chen Youfu squinted as he stared at that young lady—his lecherous expression was extremely disgusting. During this time, he even tipped a few coins.

Yes!

Just a few coins!

They say wealthy people are the most stingy—truly not wrong at all.

Shi Ziran also found a somewhat secluded corner to sit in, ordered several good dishes, and kept watch while eating.

On the other side.

Yu Wei invited Wang Zhe to another teahouse.

Yu Wei arrived first. After waiting a short while, Wang Zhe arrived.

“Brother Yu, why did you urgently ask me to come here?” Wang Zhe asked as soon as he sat down.

“It’s nothing. Just that recently you’ve been busy and I’ve been busy too—we’ve rarely gathered. Today I happened to have free time, so I asked you to come.”

But Wang Zhe was quite clever. Seeming to know he had something on his mind, he lowered his voice and asked: “Brother Yu, between you and me there’s no need to be so formal. If you have something to say, just say it directly. There’s no one else here.”

“Alas…”

“Is it about your father’s matter?” Wang Zhe saw through him.

Yu Wei remained silent.

At this moment, a waiter with a towel draped over his shoulder walked over, pulled off the towel and wiped the table, asking as he did: “What would you two gentlemen like to order? This establishment has everything—whatever you order, we have it!”

Wang Zhe said: “A pot of Daughter’s Red wine.”

Yu Wei immediately said: “Unfortunately, I’m afraid I can’t drink alcohol during this period.” As he spoke, he pulled up his sleeve, revealing the red rash on his wrist.

Wang Zhe understood and immediately told the waiter: “A pot of good tea, and a few light dishes will be fine.”

“Right away.” The waiter responded, then recommended: “Our establishment is also most famous for pastries. Would you two gentlemen like…”

“No need.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” The waiter left.

Wang Zhe looked at the rash on Yu Wei’s hand and said: “How is it that just as my illness was cured, Brother Yu has contracted this ailment?”

“Bad timing.”

“But it’s not a serious illness. Just remember—you must not drink alcohol within these three months.”

“That’s certain.” Yu Wei sighed again.

Wang Zhe: “What is it? Is your father feeling uncomfortable in his heart?” “This time my father was stripped of his position by His Majesty. His heart was deeply affected. Plus, having stayed in the Ministry of Justice prison for so long, his body has fallen ill. Now your uncle has replaced my father as Court of Judicial Review Minister. My father and your uncle had some conflicts in earlier years. If it were someone else taking his position, it would be one thing, but it just had to be your uncle. How could my father bear it!” Yu Wei lamented.

“Minister Yu is a good official. I believe His Majesty will certainly value him again. Just during this period, treat it as recuperating well at home. You should also try to persuade him more.” Wang Zhe counseled.

“His temperament is stubborn—how could I persuade him? Last night he even dragged me along to Prince Rong’s manor.”

Wang Zhe’s expression changed: “What for at Prince Rong’s manor?”

Yu Wei was direct with him: “What else could it be for? Of course for an official position.”

“What did Prince Rong say?” “His Majesty personally appointed your uncle as Court of Judicial Review Minister. Even Prince Rong can’t say anything. Right now we can only wait until this murder case at our home passes, and see whether His Majesty will allow my father to return to court.” Yu Wei spoke, then asked: “Brother Wang, Minister Ji said the murderer who killed our maid Hua Ling was from your Ministry of Works, and even detained those dozen or so craftsmen in the Ministry of Justice prison for interrogation. Is this true?”

“That’s what Minister Ji said. The people have all been taken to prison.”

“In your view, is the murderer among them?”

Wang Zhe frowned: “Hard to say! Although back when your family residence was being renovated I was the foreman, I didn’t watch them every single moment. So who exactly the murderer is, I don’t know either. I can only wait.”

“That’s true enough.” Yu Wei let out a breath, then suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke mysteriously to Wang Zhe across from him: “By the way, when I went to Prince Rong’s manor with my father yesterday, I inadvertently overheard something.”

He slowly steered the conversation toward the main topic.

Wang Zhe was curious: “What?”

Yu Wei cautiously glanced around, leaned his body forward, and lowered his voice: “I heard Minister Ji having someone at her side follow a person.”

“A person? Who?”

“The proprietor of Linglong Embroidery Shop, Chen Youfu!”

Uh!

Wang Zhe’s expression changed dramatically. He said nothing.

Yu Wei said confusedly: “Why do you think she would dispatch someone to follow an embroidery shop proprietor for no reason? Could it be related to this case?”

“This… how would I know?” The depths of Wang Zhe’s eyes darkened with shadows, and his hands inside his lapels tightened slightly.

Just then, the waiter brought up the tea. Wang Zhe immediately poured a cup of tea and started drinking.

Yu Wei also muttered to himself a few sentences while quietly observing the changes in Wang Zhe’s expression.

There seemed to be no abnormality!

Wang Zhe set down his teacup, somewhat embarrassed: “This is really unfortunate, Brother Yu. I just rushed over from the Ministry of Works. There are still some matters at the bureau that haven’t been handled. I can’t chat with you much longer.”

Feigning difficulty!

Yu Wei was a reasonable person and didn’t detain him: “Then Brother Wang should go first.”

“Good. Next time we’ll gather again. When the rash on your body is healed, I’ll bring a pot of good wine.”

“Excellent!”

Wang Zhe then hurriedly took his leave.

A short while later, Yu Wei’s gaze looked upward and watched as Wang Zhe swept his sleeves and left the teahouse.

Departing at length.

Yu Wei had also completed the task Ji Yunshu had given him!

Only he didn’t understand why Ji Yunshu wanted him to reveal this information to Wang Zhe.

Could it truly be related to the murder case?

But if it was related to the murder case, why tell Wang Zhe? Was Wang Zhe connected to the case? His mind began thinking in a jumbled mess…