The young man before her had a stern expression that made him seem difficult to approach.

Second Miss Wang looked at him, and tears suddenly streamed down her face.

Lin Teng froze, instinctively glancing at Luo Sheng.

Minister Zhao, playing the invisible man, also froze.

A young lady was crying in front of Lin Teng, so why was Lin Teng looking at Miss Luo?

Lin Teng also realized this wasn’t appropriate. He withdrew his gaze and looked at Second Miss Wang: “Miss, what’s wrong? Have you encountered some difficulty?”

Hearing this, Second Miss Wang became even more distressed and covered her face, sobbing silently.

Minister Zhao looked deeply at Lin Teng.

Could he have been mistaken? Perhaps this young lady seeking out Lin Teng had nothing to do with official business, but rather—

Tsk tsk, that couldn’t be. He understood this boy Lin Teng—he was a blockhead, impossible to get involved in romantic entanglements.

Suddenly remembering that glance Lin Teng had just given Miss Luo, Minister Zhao became somewhat uncertain again.

Hearing a commotion at the wine shop entrance, Luo Sheng spoke up: “The private room upstairs is still empty. If Second Miss Wang has something to say to Magistrate Lin, why not go upstairs?”

She had quite a favorable impression of the two Wang sisters. If they had encountered difficulties, she would help as much as she could.

Second Miss Wang wiped away her tears and said to Luo Sheng with a choked voice: “Thank you, Miss Luo.”

At Luo Sheng’s signal, Kou’er led Second Miss Wang up the stairs.

Lin Teng hesitated slightly, then silently followed.

Minister Zhao remained unmoved like a mountain. Feeling Luo Sheng’s gaze, he asked with a cheerful smile: “Aren’t you going to follow and see, Miss Luo?”

“Second Miss Wang is speaking with Young Master Lin. Perhaps it’s not convenient for me to listen.”

“True, it might be official business.”

The corner of Luo Sheng’s mouth twitched: “Then why aren’t you going?”

Minister Zhao drained his wine cup and stroked his beard: “I’m not the one investigating cases. What use would I be? Better to enjoy my wine and meat properly.”

This self-righteousness nearly made Luo Sheng unable to resist rolling her eyes.

After that, customers gradually entered, and no one mentioned Second Miss Wang’s matter again.

Kou’er led Lin Teng and Second Miss Wang into the private room and curtsied slightly: “If you two need anything, just call for me. I’ll be waiting right outside.”

Second Miss Wang hesitated, then spoke to stop Kou’er: “Please stay here.”

Since she had chosen to find Magistrate Lin here, she wasn’t afraid of Miss Luo knowing.

She trusted that Miss Luo wouldn’t spread gossip.

Kou’er readily agreed upon hearing this.

Who didn’t have curiosity, after all?

“Please go ahead, Second Miss Wang.” Lin Teng tried to soften his tone to avoid pressuring her.

Based on experience and intuition, he suspected that Second Miss Wang’s reason for seeking him out might be related to the case he’d been busy with recently.

But he hoped he was wrong.

Thinking about the case that had kept him running around recently, Lin Teng sighed inwardly.

Second Miss Wang looked at Lin Teng, tears flowing down again as she said tremulously: “Magistrate Lin, my elder sister has disappeared!”

Lin Teng felt a sense of “just as I thought” and looked at Second Miss Wang with sympathy: “Could Second Miss Wang explain in detail? When did your elder sister disappear, and where did she disappear?”

Second Miss Wang nodded and began speaking while supporting herself on the table: “Elder sister disappeared two days ago. Two days ago, Grandmother took us sisters to burn incense at Dafu Temple. On the way back, we passed an embroidery shop, and elder sister said she wanted to buy some embroidery thread. Who would have thought that after elder sister had been gone for quite a while, only the maid who accompanied her came running back, saying she couldn’t find elder sister…”

Lin Teng listened carefully and asked: “Why didn’t Second Miss Wang accompany First Miss Wang at that time?”

When young ladies visit cosmetics shops, clothing stores, and such places, they usually seem to prefer going together.

Fearing Second Miss Wang might take it the wrong way, Lin Teng explained: “I ask detailed questions when investigating cases. I don’t mean to suspect Second Miss Wang.”

“I understand.” Second Miss Wang nodded. “At the time, elder sister said she had already decided what embroidery thread to buy and would be back right away, so she asked me to stay with Grandmother.”

With Grandmother there, they naturally couldn’t browse freely, which was why she had listened to her sister and hadn’t gone along.

Second Miss Wang had regretted this countless times since then.

“When the maid came back saying elder sister had disappeared, we searched the vicinity many times but never found her—” Second Miss Wang choked up and raised her sleeve to wipe her tears.

“If that’s the case, why did Second Miss Wang only come to report this today?”

Second Miss Wang looked at Lin Teng with a bitter smile: “My family wouldn’t let me. After Grandfather was dismissed from office, life at home has been difficult. The family elders felt that if elder sister’s matter reached the authorities, the Wang family—which had finally quieted down—might be pushed into the spotlight again, giving people with ulterior motives a chance to cause trouble for the Wang family…”

When the wall falls, everyone pushes. The Wang family had deeply experienced this these past days. Having become commoners, the Wang family didn’t want to deal with the authorities anymore.

These were Grandmother’s words. She could understand them but couldn’t accept them.

That was her elder sister!

Originally, Grandfather had planned that once the weather warmed up, the whole family would move away from the capital and return to their hometown to live.

She and her sister had both been looking forward to it.

Thinking of these things, Second Miss Wang’s tears fell like rain.

Lin Teng was long accustomed to similar scenes and silently waited for Second Miss Wang to cry enough.

Kou’er couldn’t help but advise: “Second Miss Wang, crying alone won’t help. You should discuss the actual matter.”

Second Miss Wang’s crying faltered. She bowed to Lin Teng: “My family won’t allow reporting to the authorities. I came to find Magistrate Lin secretly. I beg Magistrate Lin to help me find my sister…”

Lin Teng was silent for a moment before saying: “I will do my best.”

“Thank you, Magistrate Lin.”

“Did Second Miss Wang come alone?”

“There’s a maid waiting outside.”

“Then Second Miss Wang should return early. Try not to go out when it’s late in the future.” Lin Teng advised.

Second Miss Wang nodded hastily and pleaded: “Then I’ll trouble Magistrate Lin. If Magistrate Lin has any news of my sister, please inform me.”

Lin Teng nodded, glancing at Kou’er: “Since your household doesn’t wish to deal with the authorities, if I have news, I’ll send it to the wine shop.”

Second Miss Wang thanked him again and left with Kou’er.

Lin Teng sat for a while longer before walking out.

Several tables were already occupied in the main hall, with no sign of Second Miss Wang.

Minister Zhao called out: “Lin Teng, come eat.”

Lin Teng walked over and sat down, silently eating his meal.

Minister Zhao was already eighty percent full and sighed inwardly while holding his hot tea.

“Sir, I’ve finished eating.” Lin Teng ate almost like a whirlwind, wiping the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief. “I’d like to return to the office to review the case files again.”

“Didn’t I say there’s no rush? People still need to eat and sleep.”

Lin Teng lowered his eyes and said flatly: “I’m not in a hurry, but many others are.”

Hearing this, Minister Zhao fell silent for a moment, then waved his hand: “Go on, go on then.”

Lin Teng cupped his hands and stood up, walking toward the counter.

Minister Zhao: ?

Lin Teng walked up to Luo Sheng and asked softly: “Miss Luo, would it be convenient to speak a few words?”

Luo Sheng had already gotten a basic understanding of Second Miss Wang’s situation from Kou’er. Hearing this, she nodded: “I’ll see Young Master Lin out.”

Seeing the two leave together, Minister Zhao: ??