Chapter 16 Questioning and Accusation "This play isn't over yet, my lady..."

She casually pulled her hand to cover herself, her tone becoming indifferent, "Our shop has new clothes available, sir, you may change into them first. Please give me your dirty clothes, sir, so I can have them washed and returned to you. It was this servant's poor service, this meal is on me. Please continue enjoying your meal."

Hua Xin glanced at Wang Yan, then at his young master. Although the two masters were all smiles, they seemed more distant than strangers. Their affectionate display in the capital was clearly an act for the sake of the Prince of Wei. No, ever since Lady Wang's coming-of-age ceremony, or more precisely, since Yin Shicheng brought that letter, he had no idea about their relationship.

Then his master said, "I'll trouble you to lead the way, madam."

Wang Yan then led him to a secluded private room, where she waited alone outside. A moment later, Shen Minghuai opened the door, staring intently at her, his gaze filled with wariness, doubt, disappointment, and many other emotions she couldn't decipher. Just as she was about to take the dirty clothes, she heard Shen Minghuai speak again.

"The second landlord has quite a grand style."

Wang Yan's hand froze in mid-air again, waiting for what he would say next.

"If word of this behavior gets back to the capital, what will the Wang family do?"

Wang Yan was puzzled, then turned around and asked, "What kind of behavior has displeased you, young master?"

"Is it inappropriate to summon and inspect handsome men in public?"

This time, he got straight to the point, no more beating around the bush. Wang Yan immediately put on a smile and met his direct gaze, "I'm happy to. Besides, what does my business have to do with you, young master? Once we leave the capital, we should each be well."

"The play isn't even over yet, and you're already saying you're not going to perform anymore, madam?"

Wang Yan stiffened. "Young Master Shen, have you come here to interrogate me?"

Shen Minghuai approached her step by step and whispered in her ear, "I can help you."

The hot breath brushed against her neck, and Wang Yan dared not move, her two hands twisting together under her sleeves.

"But we need to find peace together."

It really was for calming the mind. Wang Yan's eyes darkened, and he took two steps away. "Let's go together."

Shen Minghuai tossed the dirty clothes to Ying Ming and strode after him to the private room on the second floor. The handsome man was indeed inside, with Li Changling sitting to the side.

Li Changling said with great interest, "I was wondering who was looking for trouble with Aying. It turns out it's Minghuai." He then poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of Shen Minghuai.

It turned out that this top courtesan was related to Jingxin, and Li Changling had already planned to cooperate with him. Shen Minghuai bowed to Li Changling, "Brother Lanzhi."

Meng Shu was very wary of this uninvited guest. "Who is this?"

Li Changling reassured him, "Don't be nervous, he's here to help you too."

Meng Shu frowned slightly. "You also want to know the whereabouts of that monk?"

Shen Minghuai sat down next to Wang Yan. "I am on good terms with the two of them. If you trust them, you can trust me. Please tell me your terms."

Meng Shu kept scrutinizing the person before her. His aura was quite different from the other two; he seemed to be... from an official family. An invisible force of intimidation gathered from all directions with his words, even though he was clearly only a young man in his early twenties.

He had no intention of getting involved in anything related to monks, stating bluntly, "If you want to cooperate, you must be 100% certain."

Wang Yan immediately raised his finger to assure her, "We will definitely help you find Lady He."

Shen Minghuai seemed to be deliberately going against her, saying, "I dare not say I am 100% sure, but I am 90% sure."

Meng Shu once again showed a wary expression. When they met at Shizigang yesterday, they called her "Madam He".

"Any news, as long as you want it, Linjiangxian can find out."

Although Wang Yan's words contained an element of boasting, she was confident that there must be some clues to follow. Even if a person doesn't seek to be remembered in history, their existence is like a fleeting shadow, leaving no trace. Moreover, after death, everything is predetermined.

Last year, she and Li Changling went to Changzhou. Inspired by the buying and selling of information in teahouses and restaurants, she discussed it with Wang Zhen and also started trading intelligence in Linjiangxian. However, it was not yet ready.

After thinking it over for a moment, Meng Shu finally agreed.

Li Changling asked again, "When did you learn that she had passed away?"

"One month ago."

He Li was a regular at the Elephant Maiden's Pavilion, always seeking only Meng Shu. However, four months ago, he suddenly stopped seeing her. After that, whenever Meng Shu went to the He residence to look for He Li, he was always turned away by the maids. He Li claimed to be ill and refused to see any outsiders.

Meng Shu was still unwilling to give up and went again a few days later. Three months passed in the blink of an eye. One day, on her way to the He residence, Meng Shu was stopped by a boy. The boy sternly warned Meng Shu that the person who killed her sister was not worthy to go to the He residence again.

Wang Yan frowned frequently, feeling that the whole thing was very strange and puzzling.

Shen Minghuai asked, "Why did you break off contact?"

Meng Shu's expression changed slightly. She thought that the day at the Elephant Maiden's Inn was fine, but she never expected that it would be the last time she saw her.

Li Changling muttered under his breath, "Could it be a real illness? You guys are so careless about your health..."

"Nonsense!" Meng Shu blushed instantly and retorted loudly, "She...she's much healthier than me...I'm fine! How could she..."

Wang Yan assumed he was just shy about speaking, and said, "Young master, please speak freely, say it—"

Before the word "rain" could be uttered, Li Changling quickly covered her mouth and chuckled awkwardly at the astonished Meng Shu, "My sister is outspoken, please don't be offended."

At this moment, Shen Minghuai subtly withdrew his hand and gave Wang Yan a meaningful glance.

Wang Yan then suggested, "If it's inconvenient for you to talk while I'm here, then I'll go out."

Meng Shu still refused to elaborate, saying, "I...I'm sorry."

Li Changling had no choice but to try another approach: "You and she have no other contact? Have you seen her maid?"

Meng Shu shook her head again, "Li Niang always comes here alone. I have never seen her maid, nor have I had any dealings with the He family."

Wang Yan asked, "Where is your best friend?"

Meng Shu did not answer, remaining silent for a long while, then suddenly said, "Just a few days before Li Niang closed her residence, she brought a woman to listen to music. They must be friends. But I don't know her name."

Wang Yan's eyes lit up. "At least there are still some clues. I'll have the shopkeeper help search first, and then you'll need to come and identify them."

After seeing Meng Shu off, Wang Yan briefly recounted their previous speculations.

Li Changling added, "I asked someone to investigate. Although the cause of death of the other two is still unclear, the neighbors all say that funerals were held. Only the He family is keeping quiet."

They knew too little about this Lady He. Shen Minghuai pondered, "We should start with the people around her."

Wang Yan has already instructed Manager Fu to gather information, and "results should be available in as little as two days."

Li Changling didn't know why he trusted Shen Minghuai so much. "We live in the east of the city. If you have any news, come here or to Wanchun Courtyard in the east of the city to find us."

Before leaving, Shen Minghuai paused and suddenly said, "They all know about your trip to Yangzhou."

Wang Yan stood a few steps behind him. Although she knew he couldn't see her, she still nodded. Shang Nianyao knew what she had said herself.

Shen Minghuai seemed dissatisfied at not hearing a reply and said again, "You deliberately told them that."

Wang Yan grunted in response, wondering how this person knew everything. Then he heard the person in front of him sigh softly.

What about me?

"You?" Wang Yan's eyes flickered. "Didn't that letter say so?"

The letter…the letter placed under the food. Shen Minghuai silently repeated the sentence again…Huai Tao, so that’s what it meant.

"But how do you know I did it on purpose?" Wang Yan suddenly realized, "You know I went to see those two that day?"

Before Shen Minghuai could answer, Wang Yan continued, "Shuili Tea House! Is that your family's property?"

"Second Master!" Mai Zi called out to her hurriedly, not knowing what was going on.

Shen Minghuai simply said, "I won't disturb the second master's shop any longer."

As the day drew to a close, the moonlight filled the curtains. Shen Minghuai, having just finished bathing and with the sandalwood scent lingering on him, was about to undress and get into bed when Hua Xin's voice sounded from outside the door.

"Enter."

Shen Minghuai then put his clothes back on.

Hua Xin closed the door and reported, "Young Master, I have inquired and found that He Li was preparing to arrange a marriage between himself and the second young master of the Sun family before he died."

"Arranging a marriage?"

Hua Xin said, "That's right. It happened about four months ago, and the matter was only resolved after the person died."

Could it be that they had a dispute that day? This is not something that is difficult to talk about, unless Meng Shu is hiding something.

"I'll go to the Elephant Maiden's House tomorrow."

Wang Yan summoned Shen Minghuai to Linjiangxian and displayed all the portraits collected by Manager Fu.

"Lady Li had many friends during her lifetime, but because she frequented the Xianggu Pavilion, most of them were just casual acquaintances. Manager Fu has done his best to find portraits of the people she interacted with more frequently."

Just as the last portrait was placed on the table, Li Changling and Meng Shu walked in, and said mysteriously, "Aying, guess who I saw?"

Wang Yan was examining the woman's face in the painting when he asked, "Who is she?"

"Zhu Yao".

"Zhu Yao?"

Wang Yanxuan put down the scroll, looked up, and smiled again. She immediately took Li Changling's hand and walked out, saying, "Let's go say hello."

“Zhu Yao…” Meng Shu looked at the portrait Wang Yan had placed on the table, lost in thought.

Wang Yan hurriedly turned around and said a few words to him, "You look first, we'll be right back."

Li Changling looked somewhat reluctant. "They brought their young lady here for a romantic stroll under the flowers and moon. Why are you going to disturb them? There's a time and place for trying to establish a kinship."

Shen Minghuai's tea-drinking movements became relaxed and composed again. The Zhu family of Mingzhou.

“They’ve practically delivered themselves to our doorstep, if we don’t take advantage of this opportunity, when will we?” As soon as Wang Yan opened the door, Zhu Yao walked right past him.

"Brother Zhu?"

The two people in front stopped, and Zhu Yao turned around upon hearing this, exclaiming with delight, "Brother Li, Lady Wang! You're here too?"

"I've long admired the famous Linjiangxian, so I've come to try it." Li Changling added with a teasing tone, "Brother Zhu, what is this?"

The woman in the violet blushed slightly.

"I also came here for a small gathering with some friends." Zhu Yao immediately sensed something was wrong, "My wife's face..."

"I was cured by a doctor and am now fine."

After a brief explanation, Wang Yan enthusiastically recommended, "I just tasted some of the new dishes from the Linjiangxian restaurant, including the Immortal Soup, braised shark fin with fresh bamboo shoots, and steamed shad with honey wine. They were all very delicious. If you have no dietary restrictions, Brother Zhu, you should definitely try them. Also, the Qionghua Dew here is exceptional."

"I didn't expect my wife to be a lover of wine as well," Zhu Yao agreed. "The Qionghua Dew of Linjiangxian is indeed the best wine I have ever tasted. Today, let's try the three dishes that my wife mentioned."

Wang Yan smiled radiantly, "Don't keep Brother Zhu's friends waiting. Eat and drink well."

After the two left, Wang Yan and Li Changling returned to the private room. Meng Shu's expression was grave, while Shen Minghuai beside her seemed completely at ease, as if he were in his own restaurant. The latter spoke softly, "Found her. That lady from earlier is her."