Unlike Xiao Jinling’s delicate beauty, the courtesan madam was an enchantingly graceful beauty who cast flirtatious glances at Cheng Maoming the moment she saw him.

Cheng Maoming’s face hardened: “There’s a client surnamed Dou who frequently comes to see you. What’s his name and what’s his identity?”

The courtesan madam let out a soft laugh: “There are many patrons surnamed Dou. This humble servant doesn’t know which one the lord is asking about.”

Cheng Maoming slammed his waist sword on the table and said coldly: “Don’t play games with me.”

“My lord—”

Cheng Maoming raised an eyebrow: “Or would you prefer to be taken back to the Jinlin Guard for questioning?”

The courtesan madam silently cursed him as a blockhead but didn’t dare refuse further: “There is one patron surnamed Dou. This humble servant doesn’t know his full name—every time we meet, I call him Master Dou.”

“You don’t know his identity or background either?”

“I do know his identity…” The courtesan madam bit her lip. Though unwilling, she still revealed the man’s identity. “He said he’s Third Master of the Dou family, and that the Crown Prince is his nephew.”

Cheng Maoming’s expression changed slightly. He thought to himself that whenever something felt off, it usually was.

“Take her away.”

At his command, two Jinlin Guards immediately stepped forward.

The courtesan madam’s face paled: “My lord, this humble servant has told you everything. Why must I still go to the Jinlin Guard?”

Cheng Maoming walked out while tossing back a sentence: “Anyone connected to the case must first come sit at the Jinlin Guard.”

Thus the courtesan madam, Xiao Jinling, and even the brothel madam were all invited to be guests at the Jinlin Guard.

Cheng Maoming led his men straight to Ruyi Ward where the Dou Mansion was located.

The Dou Mansion was the natal family of the Late Empress. The entire Dou clan resided around the Dou Mansion, occupying nearly half of Ruyi Ward.

Dou San claimed publicly that the Crown Prince was his nephew, but in reality he was only from a collateral branch of the Dou family—more precisely, a cousin of the Late Empress.

After finding out where Dou San lived, Cheng Maoming knocked on the door.

“Is Third Master Dou at home?”

The person who came to receive them was a woman in her thirties with ordinary features but respectable dress—Dou San’s wife.

After learning Cheng Maoming’s identity, the woman answered hesitantly: “He’s not here.”

“Does Madam know where he is?”

The woman’s expression grew tense: “I don’t know. He went out early this morning.”

“If that’s the case, then we’ll just have to wait here.” Cheng Maoming sat down unhurriedly. “When does your son return from school? We can ask him then—it’s all the same.”

Hearing that these Jinlin Guards wanted to question her precious son, the woman’s face changed drastically. Steeling herself, she revealed where Dou San might be: “During the day he’s usually at that place. My lord might be able to find him there.”

After watching Cheng Maoming leave, the woman’s expression kept changing.

Truthfully speaking, she resented that man in her heart. He was never home, treating their house like an inn to crash at, his only use being to bring money home.

Thinking of this one usefulness, the woman hastily sent a maid to report to the Dou Mansion.

Their luck was fairly good—Cheng Maoming found Dou San at the residence the woman had provided.

Because the doorman stubbornly blocked their way even after Cheng Maoming identified himself, he simply led his men in forcefully. At a glance he saw several men sitting in slovenly positions, surrounded by scantily-clad beautiful women.

The room was littered with cups and dishes, the air murky and foul.

“Who are you?” a thin middle-aged man demanded angrily, not forgetting to curse the servants who had chased after them inside. “Useless things! How do you keep watch?”

Cheng Maoming’s gaze fell on the round dish beside the man, and his heart settled after forcing his way in.

Gathering a crowd to consume Five-Color Powder—this charge alone meant that even if he had barged into the Late Empress’s own brother’s residence rather than her cousin’s, the Emperor wouldn’t blame him.

With his mind at ease, he held up his waist token and revealed his identity.

Upon hearing this, the thin man’s first reaction was to lunge at the vessel containing the Five-Color Powder. The other men either bolted for the door, tumbled to the floor, or curled up with their heads in their hands in fright.

Without Cheng Maoming needing to give orders, his subordinates immediately brought the men under control.

The thin man shouted: “Do you know who I am? Let me tell you, I’m the Crown Prince’s uncle!”

“Cousin uncle,” Cheng Maoming calmly corrected.

Dou San’s eyes widened: “Then why don’t you let me go!”

“If Third Master Dou doesn’t intend to destroy evidence, then we can have a proper conversation.” Cheng Maoming pointed at the Five-Color Powder on the small table, signaling his subordinates to release him first.

A flicker passed through Dou San’s eyes: “What evidence destruction? A few friends gathering privately—is that not allowed?”

Cheng Maoming smiled: “Surely Third Master Dou won’t claim he doesn’t know this is a prohibited substance?”

Dou San’s momentum faltered. A fawning smile appeared on his face as he reached to pull off his money pouch and stuff it into Cheng Maoming’s hand: “We just wanted to try something new. We won’t do it again. I hope Commander Cheng can be accommodating.”

Cheng Maoming pushed the pouch away and said flatly: “I’m afraid it’s not just trying something new, is it?”

Dou San couldn’t maintain his smile: “What does my lord mean by this? Are you truly unwilling to show any face?”

“Grand Commander, we found something!” Two Jinlin Guards entered, placing two large jars before Cheng Maoming.

Even though Cheng Maoming had been prepared, he couldn’t help but gasp at the sight.

This much Five-Color Powder—were they planning to sell it to everyone in the entire city?

“Third Master Dou, is this also just trying something new?”

Dou San’s expression changed repeatedly before he had to soften: “Commander Cheng, please understand. Though I’m called the Crown Prince’s uncle, I’m actually just from a collateral branch. I have neither power nor money, and must somehow make a living to support my whole family…”

Cheng Maoming had no patience for this nonsense: “Do you know Hu Qi or not?”

“Hu Qi?” Dou San was slightly taken aback, his eyes somewhat evasive.

Cheng Maoming reminded him coldly: “The reason I came here is because of this person.”

Hearing this, Dou San’s expression changed as he ground his teeth: “So it was this bastard who ruined me!”

Without Cheng Maoming needing to press him, he spilled everything: “He started buying medicine from me two years ago. He didn’t take much at once, but bit by bit it’s continued until now…”

“When did Third Master Dou start selling this?”

“About two years ago as well.” Whether afraid that saying it had been longer would make his crime heavier, or if he was telling the truth, Dou San answered vaguely.

Cheng Maoming didn’t care much about this. Once he brought the man back to the Jinlin Guard, he could get clear answers to everything.

“I’ll have to trouble you gentlemen to take a trip with me.”

“Commander Cheng, since you’re looking for Hu Qi, why make things difficult for a mere businessman like me—”

Cheng Maoming ignored their shouting and struggling, walking out with his hands behind his back. After a few steps he suddenly stopped and looked back at Dou San being controlled by his subordinates.

Something was wrong. Definitely wrong.

The Crown Prince’s Five-Color Powder had been purchased by a trusted inner attendant from a medicine shop assistant named Hu Qi, and Hu Qi had obtained his supply from Dou San, a cousin of the Late Empress. In other words, the Crown Prince’s Five-Color Powder came from someone in his maternal grandmother’s family.

But unless the Dou family were complete fools, they would never encourage the Crown Prince to consume such a thing. And judging from Dou San’s performance, he clearly had no idea that the goods Hu Qi obtained from him had ended up in the Crown Prince’s mouth.

Cheng Maoming stroked his chin as a thought crystallized: This was a trap set up to target both the Crown Prince and his maternal clan, wasn’t it?