Zhu Yan had already explained her intentions to the guard and put on gloves. She lifted Kuang Zhanxin’s head, examining it while speaking without emotion: “Alright, alright, I’ll go to Babao Tower later—come and give me a hand, I can’t reach into her ribcage, help me hold her up.”
Lu Chuichui cried loudly: “I won’t! I’m a scribe, not a coroner. If you keep this up, I’ll tell your eldest brother that the jar of dried moths under his bed last year was put there by you!”
Zhu Yan laughed: What happened to her mind not being quick? Wasn’t this method of blackmail quite skillfully applied?
Having agreed to investigate the case, Zhu Yan went to Pingkang Ward the next day.
Pingkang Ward was located in the East Market. Passing through Qinren Ward and entering the ward gate, the market inside was bustling.
The long street was colorful and lively. Ambiguous laughter and voices often came from the small courtyards and tall buildings hidden behind the vendors’ stalls. Even in taverns and restaurants, one could often see young masters accompanied by four or five female companions, scholars flattering cold but beautifully made-up ladies, and fat-rich merchants earnestly instructing singing girls carrying horizontal pipa.
Although many young ladies came out of curiosity, Zhu Yan had still arranged to come with Lu Chuichui early in the morning.
Sitting inside Tongming Hall, Zhu Yan examined the room’s furnishings.
Kuang Zhanxin’s room was quite spacious, with a bedroom connected to two side rooms on the left and right, one for receiving guests and one probably for bathing. The bedroom was separated by a curtain, so Zhu Yan couldn’t see clearly, but the guest room where she sat was very elegant. A pine and crane painting hung on the wall, a screen painted with plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum separated the tea table, and a red seal with the character “Zhanxin” was in the corner.
Before they sat down, the maid removed a stack of history books from the table in front of them. On the open page, Zhu Yan could see Kuang Zhanxin’s footnotes.
Most courtesans in the world thought that beauty was their only asset, so they didn’t put much effort into studying and writing. In a place like Pingkang Ward, which was full of brothels, there were even fewer courtesans who truly possessed scholarly abilities.
Courtesans like the famous Liu Chenchen, known as a talented woman, often had madams investing large sums of money to educate them from a young age and cultivate their temperament.
Just as she was thinking this, Rong Zhui, the madam of Tongming Hall, entered the room, wiping away tears.
Rong Zhui was only in her early thirties, plump and beautiful, with a voice as soft as water. It was said that before taking over from the previous madam to manage Tongming Hall, she was also a top courtesan in Pingkang Ward.
“There are still a few guests to attend to up front, I apologize for neglecting you two official ladies,” Rong Zhui said, unable to hold back her tears. She wiped them away with a handkerchief and sobbed softly, “How could my Zhanxin be so unfortunate? I thought my sister’s good days had finally come, and you had met the Liang family’s eldest young master and could finally leave this place to become a concubine of good status. What kind of heartless villain would kill you…”
Rong Zhui’s words were full of hatred, her tears washing away her makeup. Zhu Yan, hearing her words amidst her breakdown, comforted her: “Madam, please restrain your grief. I’ve come here to clarify the details of this case. From what you just said, your relationship with Kuang Zhanxin…”
Zhu Yan studied Rong Zhui’s face. Although plump, her features were delicate. Yesterday, when she examined Kuang Zhanxin’s body, even though her face was cut to the bone, she could still roughly make out her appearance…
Rong Zhui nodded: “Zhanxin is my younger sister. When I was sold to Tongming Hall at twelve, Zhanxin was only three. Two years later, when I started receiving clients, I heard that my good-for-nothing father had incurred gambling debts and wanted to sell Zhanxin too. I had lost my mother, and every penny I earned from receiving clients was sent back home. When I learned of this, I begged the madam, and that’s how she bought Zhanxin into Tongming Hall.”
Rong Zhui sobbed: “I always thought our sisters’ good days had finally come, but…”