Lu Chuichui gently stroked Rong Zhui and said, “We should have come yesterday, but Tongming Hall only accepts familiar guests, so we had to come today. I wonder if you remember anything unusual that happened before Kuang Zhanxin disappeared, or if she had any conflicts with anyone?”
Rong Zhui shook her head, “Zhanxin has always been gentle by nature. She spent her days either studying or painting and meeting with Liang Chenzhong. In all these years living in Pingkang Ward, except for that one time a few years ago when she had a heated argument with Kong Suier of Lanlan Yan after her carriage hit me, she has always gotten along well with all the sisters and neighbors…”
“Lanlan Yan is that small building at the entrance of the ward, right? When I came just now, I saw them competing for colors, seemingly for Kong Suier’s next outing rights,” Zhu Yan said. “I noticed her beauty is stunning. Is she as popular as Kuang Zhanxin?”
“Zhanxin is not as popular as her,” Rong Zhui wiped her tears. “When she debuted five years ago, she was already known as the second Liu Chenchen. She’s talented, and skilled in horseback riding, polo, and dice games. With her fiery personality and unique habit of unabashedly snatching clients, many wealthy merchants from the Western Regions came specifically to see her.”
Years of observing people’s expressions came into play as Rong Zhui sensed Zhu Yan’s intention and asked, “Is the Lady Official asking this because you think Kong Suier might have a grudge against Zhanxin?”
Zhu Yan’s eyebrows raised slightly: “Kuang Zhanxin’s face was completely disfigured. I’m just wondering if it could be someone seeking revenge against her?”
Lu Chuichui closed the teacup in his hand, creating a faint sound in the room.
“Kong Suier didn’t seem to mind that incident,” Rong Zhui recalled sadly. “She seemed to be in a hurry to meet someone. The carriage that came to pick her up was luxurious, even lined with white ermine fur. She was in such a rush that she didn’t even dress up, wearing very plain and conservative clothes when she left. In the end, Kong Suier had her maid throw me a large bag of money. I wasn’t seriously injured, so that was the end of it.”
Zhu Yan nodded and asked, “Before you were informed of this matter last night, you didn’t seem to know that Kuang Zhanxin was missing?”
Rong Zhui wept, “She left on the 17th. Before leaving, she came to my room to tell me she was going on an outing with Liang Chenzhong. Usually, Liang Chenzhong would take her out for four or five days. I thought this time it was just a bit longer, who knew…”
Rong Zhui broke down in tears.
Her emotions were unstable, her whole being seemed to be treading on cotton, her eyes were vacant, and she had lost all color. Fearing that further questioning would hurt Rong Zhui both emotionally and physically, Zhu Yan bid farewell.
Walking out of Tongming Hall, Zhu Yan led the horse out of the alley. Lu Chuichui quickly caught up and said, “Rong Zhui is a good sister.”
Zhu Yan nodded, already able to hear the hustle and bustle of carriages on the main street.
Just as she was about to mount her horse to go to the next location, a familiar voice called out, “Sixth Miss!”
Zhu Yan turned around to see a Local Constablen standing at the entrance of the alley, wearing a round-collared reddish-brown robe with his hair hastily tied up.
Zhu Yan dismounted and cupped her hands in greeting, “Second Brother Xu, long time no see. Have you been transferred to Pingkang Ward?”
As Chen Wen’s disciple, Zhu Yan had often accompanied her master on cases, from initially just recognizing people to later being recognized and asked for help. She had come to know quite a few people.
Second Brother Xu’s full name was Xu Xiangren. Seeing Zhu Yan dismount and walk over, he smiled and said, “I was called over by the Chief Constable just last night. It’s actually because of your case.”
Zhu Yan looked puzzled, “My case?”
“The case that was snatched by your husband,” Xu Xiangren teased. Seeing Zhu Yan’s expression sour, he became even more amused. Pointing at Tongming Hall behind Zhu Yan, he continued, “After the news about Kuang Zhanxin spread, the madams of Pingkang Ward seemed to have been possessed. They all think that any of their girls who have been out for a while must be missing. We’ve received over a dozen such reports already.”
Zhu Yan was startled, “Are there more people missing?”
Xu Xiangren shook his head, “No, out of the seventeen reported missing girls, fifteen returned as soon as they heard about Kuang Zhanxin’s case. The remaining two are probably fine as well.”
He then looked behind him and pulled out a young man of about fifteen or sixteen who looked like a helper. He said to Zhu Yan, “However, there’s something strange about Kuang Zhanxin’s case that I wanted to tell you. I was planning to go to the Ministry of Justice to find you, but since you’re here, I’ll tell you now.”
The young man bowed upon hearing this and said, “Greetings to the Lady Official. My name is Du Wei, and I’m an apprentice at the Gubao Shop just ahead. I… saw Miss Kuang from Tongming Hall on the 20th of last month.”
The 20th of last month.
According to Rong Zhui, Kuang Zhanxin had told her she was going out on April 17th, and after that, she never returned to Tongming Hall.
Zhu Yan looked at Du Wei, “Where did you see her?”
Du Wei replied, “Right here in Pingkang Ward.”
Lu Chuichui’s eyes widened instantly, “What did you say?”
Zhu Yan intervened, “What happened? Tell us in detail.”
“That day, the shop owner’s wife was in labor, so the owner told me to close the shop early. I had been watching for a while, and seeing no customers, I was about to close when a lady came in with a songstress who had a face full of makeup. She said she wanted to send a gift to a noble person but was worried that the songstress alone wouldn’t be enough to please them. So she asked me to pick out a calligraphy or painting to complement the gift. But no matter what I chose, she wasn’t satisfied, so I had to go upstairs to look for more.”
Du Wei recalled as if he could still hear the lady’s picky and disdainful voice. “It was very late that day, the sky was pitch black without even a moon. As I was looking for a painting, I suddenly heard the sound of bells.”
“I looked outside and saw an unfamiliar carriage driving down the street, stopping in front of the alley leading to Tongming Hall,” Du Wei continued. “Miss Kuang got out of the carriage and turned back to say something to someone inside. I thought at the time that it might be Young Master Liang’s carriage, so I didn’t look any further and went downstairs with the painting.”
If what the young man said was true, then on the 18th, Kuang Zhanxin was still alive.
Looking at the young man’s innocent face, Zhu Yan frowned, “Most people wouldn’t think this incident was worth remembering. Why did you recall it and tell Second Brother Xu about it?”
The young man was taken aback and quickly waved his hands, “No, no, no, Lady Official, you misunderstand. I…”
He stammered for a while before lowering his head, “Miss Kuang is extremely kind. When I was scolded by the shop owner, she would see it and say a few words to comfort me… Our shop owner has some connections with people in the Ministry of Justice. He said that the Ministry said Young Master Liang hadn’t been seen in his usual places since the 19th, so they deduced that Miss Kuang had also been missing since the 19th. But I saw Miss Kuang on the 20th… So I thought I should speak up. I can’t let Miss Kuang die without anyone knowing the truth…”
There was fear in Du Wei’s eyes, but no sign of regret for speaking up. Seeing him like this, Zhu Yan remembered what Shen Du had told her yesterday and said, “This is useful information. Thank you, young Du.”
Du Wei repeatedly said it was nothing and returned to the Gubao Shop.
As the young man was dragged into the shop by his ear by the owner, Zhu Yan smiled slightly. Xu Xiangren then said, “There’s one more thing I want to tell you.”