Having gained no useful information from Yu-Jin, finding Lingwu Temple and Miss Xiu the tofu beauty became urgent priorities.
For Lingwu Temple, they would have to wait for news from Jiang An-Cheng. As for the tofu beauty, many people had recognized her during that chance encounter at Willow Embankment, so making inquiries should be easier.
With A-Fei not yet returned, Jiang-Si assigned this task to A-Man.
A-Man had good martial skills and looked nearly flawless in male attire, making her the most suitable choice.
Jiang-Si had considered asking Jiang-Zhan for help but dismissed the thought.
Though she was reluctant to admit it, her Second Brother was more likely to cause trouble than help.
Before dinnertime, A-Man returned with news about Miss Xiu the tofu beauty.
“It was easy to find out! I just asked a child, and they told me everything. The tofu beauty lives in Wang Family Village, not far from Willow Embankment, in the last house by the river…” A-Man chattered on, clearly trying to make up for her earlier mistake.
She still felt embarrassed about nearly getting her mistress caught by the Second Young Master.
“But the child told me the tofu beauty has become a madwoman. She doesn’t sell tofu anymore, just stays home crying and wailing all day.” A-Man sighed sympathetically at the end.
“Get ready. We’re going to Wang Family Village tonight.”
“Young Miss?” A-Man was slightly surprised but, meeting Jiang-Si’s calm gaze, nodded without further questions. She felt a small thrill of excitement.
First, her mistress had taken her on a night expedition to Lake Mo-You, and now to Wang Family Village – life as a senior maid was truly exciting!
At dinner time, Jiang An-Cheng also brought good news: “What a coincidence – your Third Uncle has indeed heard of Lingwu Temple.”
While Jiang-Si had expected to find information about Miss Xiu the tofu beauty, news about Lingwu Temple was an unexpected pleasure.
“Where is Lingwu Temple?”
“It’s in Qingniu Town in the suburbs. Though not as famous as the temples in the capital, it has quite a following locally.” At this point, Jiang An-Cheng chuckled, “It’s especially renowned for granting prayers about marriage and children.”
“I see.” Jiang-Si pondered briefly, then took the opportunity to ask Jiang An-Cheng, “Daughter would like to go pray at Lingwu Temple and stay for a few days.”
The suburbs were different from the city – between travel time and investigation, even three days would be considered quick. Without her elder’s support, she certainly couldn’t make the trip.
Jiang An-Cheng agreed to his daughter’s small request without hesitation: “Go ahead. It’s not too hot yet, and the suburbs are more open than the capital, so it will be more comfortable. I’ll tell your Second Brother to accompany you.”
Recreation was fine, but safety couldn’t be ignored. If he wasn’t worried about his daughter finding him bothersome, he would have offered to accompany her himself.
Well, young people going out to have fun would find it annoying to have an old man like him tagging along.
The handsome middle-aged Master Jiang thought silently.
“When do you plan to go, Si-er?”
“In the next few days, after I prepare what to bring.” Jiang-Si didn’t give a specific time.
If things went smoothly with the tofu beauty, they could investigate Lingwu Temple by the day after tomorrow at the latest. If not, they would have to find another time.
Night fell quickly.
On this midsummer night, under a bright moon and scattered stars, with flowers swaying in shadow, A-Qiao saw Jiang-Si and A-Man at the door, whispering, “Be careful, Young Miss.”
“Don’t worry, I’m here!” A-Man patted her chest confidently.
On their second night expedition, the mistress and maid skillfully left Earl Dong-Ping’s mansion and headed toward the Jinshui River.
At this hour, the Jinshui River was at its liveliest.
The broad river was filled with boats.
There were three-story pleasure boats decorated with lanterns and gleaming with gold, and smaller boats with red lanterns nimbly weaving between them.
These boats housed the capital’s courtesans of varying ranks and now was the time they received their honored guests.
This was the “never-sleeping sky” of the Jinshui River banks that people spoke of.
A-Man gazed into the distance, seeing willow trees swaying on both banks, layers of boat shadows on the river, and brilliant lights scattered on the water like countless bits of gold. Faint music drifted on the wind, making it seem like a celestial realm.
“I never imagined the Jinshui River, so calm during the day, could be so lively at night.” A-Man sighed, then noticed Jiang-Si had stopped. “Young Miss, why have we stopped?”
Though Wang Family Village wasn’t far from Willow Embankment, they didn’t need to approach the Jinshui River.
Jiang-Si gazed at Willow Embankment and the golden river, her heart aching quietly.
Her Second Brother had drowned in the Jinshui River.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang-Si smiled at A-Man: “Let’s go.”
Under A-Man’s guidance, they reached Wang Family Village.
“Young Miss, the tofu beauty’s house is just ahead. Should we go through the village or circle?”
Looking at the pitch-black village without a single light, Jiang-Si made her decision: “Let’s circle.”
Common folk, being careful with oil costs, would extinguish their lights and sleep early, but passing through the village would still add many unknown risks.
The night breeze whispered, accompanied by constant frog croaks and insect sounds. Without lanterns, the mistress and maid could only walk the unfamiliar village path by moonlight and starlight.
“Young Miss, that house on the hillside is the tofu beauty’s.”
Unlike most clustered homes, the tofu beauty’s house was built against a hill, with no neighbors nearby.
Jiang-Si paused at the dilapidated courtyard gate.
She couldn’t smell the unique sour scent that typically pervaded the yards of longtime tofu makers.
Hidden in the thick darkness, Jiang-Si’s expression changed slightly.
If she wasn’t mistaken, this couldn’t be the tofu beauty’s house!
“Young Miss, shall we go in?” A-Man, not understanding Jiang-Si’s hesitation, asked in a low voice.
Jiang-Si shook her head, sighing softly: “A-Man, that child fooled you. This isn’t the tofu beauty’s house.”
“What? Why does Young Miss say that?”
Jiang-Si remained silent, considering whether to search for the tofu beauty’s house in the unfamiliar village in darkness or return tomorrow to make further inquiries.
Rationally, returning now was a wise choice, but emotionally, having come all this way, it felt too frustrating to leave empty-handed.
Moreover, each day delayed here meant a delay at Lingwu Temple. And each day’s delay could mean another girl falling victim.
Jiang-Si had an unsettling suspicion about the Heir of Marquis Chang-Xing.
From the conversation between those two servants, she knew that in the past two years, seven or eight girls had been victimized by the Heir, but the disappearance of the tofu beauty’s daughter had happened very close to the most recent victim.
This suggested the Heir was becoming more depraved, and the intervals between victims might become increasingly shorter.
Of course, her appearance at the Marquis’s mansion might have been a factor in provoking the Heir.
This was precisely why Jiang-Si felt such urgency.
As Jiang-Si wrestled with these thoughts, the decrepit courtyard gate suddenly opened.
A-Man startled, quickly pulling Jiang-Si to hide.
Someone walked out of the courtyard, pausing at the gate.
Jiang-Si’s eyes suddenly narrowed.
The person was holding a cleaver!