Before she knew it, the light in the room had grown dim. Only then did Yu Tang realize the sun had already moved west.

She stood up, rubbed her somewhat sore and swollen eyes, went out, and called a servant boy to ask: “Have Scholar Yu and Young Master Yu not returned yet?”

“No!” the servant boy answered. Yu Tang then saw Second Manager Tong walking in.

He greatly resembled First Manager Tong—not in facial features, but in temperament. Both gave people a very amiable, easy-to-talk-to feeling.

The innkeeper was managing accounts at the counter.

He asked the innkeeper: “Is the innkeeper’s wife around? How is Miss Yu doing? I’ve been wanting to come ask, but business was too busy today—I couldn’t get away.”

Men and women should maintain proper distance.

The innkeeper also felt awkward about visiting Yu Tang and said: “She should be fine, right? Earlier I heard the inn’s waiter say Miss Yu went out to buy some things—if she can still go shopping, she’s mostly recovered.” But he didn’t know the specifics. After saying this, he had someone call for the innkeeper’s wife.

The innkeeper’s wife smiled: “She’s fine, she’s fine! Just not in great spirits. But anyone who goes a whole day without eating would lack energy!”

“That’s good then.” Second Manager Tong looked relieved. “Our Third Master already knows I used his calling card to get a physician for Miss Yu. When Third Master asks about the Yu family’s situation, I’ll know how to answer!” Then he asked about Yu Wen and Yu Yuan. Learning that the two had left early in the morning and hadn’t returned yet, he said: “Then I won’t visit Miss Yu. When Scholar Yu and Young Master Yu return, please tell them I’ll visit them again tomorrow.”

The innkeeper and his wife repeatedly agreed and saw Second Manager Tong out.

Yu Tang felt too awkward to go out and greet him, so she returned to her room.

At lamplight time, Yu Wen returned first.

His expression was weary. When the innkeeper greeted him, his smile seemed forced. He exchanged a few perfunctory pleasantries with the innkeeper before returning to his room.

Hearing the commotion, Yu Tang went to her father’s room.

“Sit down!” The fatigue in Yu Wen’s eyes seemed to come from deep within his heart. He rubbed his forehead and said, “If you hadn’t come to find me, I was planning to go see you. How are you today? Does your stomach still hurt? While we were out, what did you do alone at the inn?”

Yu Tang answered each question, then poured her father a cup of hot tea before sitting beside him: “Did you encounter some trouble?”

Yu Wen nodded, holding the teacup but not drinking. Instead, he stared blankly at Yu Tang, his gaze deep and grave.

Yu Tang’s heart sank.

According to their earlier plan, to avoid drawing attention, her father would investigate Lu Xin’s matter to see if there was anything suspicious about Lu Xin’s death, while Yu Yuan would find that Master Qian to see if he could help unveil another layer of that “Pines and Streams, Secluded Fishing” painting. Now Yu Yuan hadn’t returned yet—who knew how Master Qian would respond to Yu Yuan. As for Yu Wen, this definitely wasn’t good news.

She calmed herself and held her breath, waiting for her father to figure out how to tell her about this.

Yu Wen indeed remained silent for a long while before saying: “A’Tang, you were right! Your Uncle Lu’s death, I’m afraid, really matches your speculation!”

Receiving this information, Yu Tang’s heart actually became more settled. She said: “So Uncle Lu was murdered?”

“I don’t know if he was murdered, but he shouldn’t have died like that by all rights.” Yu Wen carefully told Yu Tang what he had discovered. “Before your Uncle Lu died, he still owed the inn room fees and the tavern at the alley entrance for drinks. Moreover, he had just established a connection with the newly appointed Educational Inspector. According to the innkeeper, he had already received that Educational Inspector’s recommendation and was supposed to go to the Imperial Academy in the capital in a few days…”

Yu Tang frowned: “Could Scholar Lu have been boasting?”

“Whether he was boasting or not, his plan to go to the capital was real.” Yu Wen said, “He even asked several acquaintances to pool together silver to settle his lodging and drinking debts. The inn was one thing, but the tavern owner, hearing he was leaving, was afraid he’d run off without paying for the wine. He had his son follow your Uncle Lu the whole time. The tavern owner said that evening his son personally saw your Uncle Lu return to the inn to rest. Afraid your Uncle Lu might be called out to socialize in the middle of the night, the tavern owner’s son waited until the second night watch drum was struck, and only went back when he really couldn’t stay awake any longer.

“Who would have known that early the next morning, your Uncle Lu was found drowned in Peach Blossom River not far from the inn.

“I also asked the innkeeper, and he swore he never saw your Uncle Lu go out.”

Yu Tang shivered.

Yu Wen’s expression also darkened.

Both felt the situation was ominous. They didn’t dare continue investigating and alert their enemies, but they also didn’t dare pretend ignorance and wait for disaster to strike.

For a moment, father and daughter were both at a loss.

Yu Wen could only comfort himself: “Maybe we’re overthinking this. Let’s wait until A’Yuan returns.”

People in Master Qian’s line of work were usually very wary of strangers. Today when Yu Yuan went, he didn’t bring the painting but asked a friend who was very close to Master Qian to act as an intermediary, tentatively requesting Master Qian’s help.

As for whether he would agree or not, that was still uncertain.

Seeing her father somewhat dejected, Yu Tang could only say: “Father, you haven’t had dinner yet, have you? Let me have the innkeeper’s wife bring up some food. The inn fried fish today—I could smell the aroma even sitting in my room.”

This inn offered both meal packages and à la carte ordering.

Not knowing how things would turn out, Yu Wen and the others hadn’t purchased a meal package, so they could only order individually.

“Let’s wait for A’Yuan to return!” Yu Wen said listlessly, and Yu Yuan returned.

He was in high spirits, saying happily: “Uncle, Master Qian wants us to come over first thing tomorrow morning. After he looks at the painting, he can give us a definite answer.”

This could be considered good news.

Yu Wen perked up, but Yu Yuan still noticed something was amiss.

Yu Wen didn’t hide anything from him and told Yu Yuan everything that had happened.

Yu Yuan’s expression became serious: “Then we need to be even more careful tomorrow.”

Yu Wen sighed: “Let’s eat! Do what we can and leave the rest to fate. We’ll deal with tomorrow when it comes.”

Yu Tang quickly went to order food.

After eating, the planned trip to the Xiaohe Imperial Street night market lost its appeal, and everyone returned to their rooms early.

Yu Tang continued making hair ornaments until she heard the third night watch drum before going to sleep.

When she got up the next day, she heard Yu Wen talking with the shopkeeper. Yu Yuan had already left with the painting.

However, this time he returned quite early.

He came back before lunch and had left the painting with Master Qian.

His eyes bright, he lowered his voice and said to Yu Wen and Yu Tang: “Master Qian has looked at the painting and says it can be unveiled at least three more layers. He asked how many layers we want unveiled. Thinking that we were already troubling him once, I didn’t hold back and asked him to unveil as many layers as possible. However, it will cost five more taels of silver than initially discussed, and we can only pick up the painting tomorrow afternoon.”

Ever since learning about Lu Xin’s matter yesterday, Yu Wen had been in low spirits. Hearing this, he simply responded with “Alright” and directly gave Yu Yuan the silver.

Yu Yuan took the silver and went out again.