Chapter 501 A Clever Man Investigates a Case

The morning sun shone on the walls of the west city gate.

Lin Cheng led the horse through the Xingzifang market, wandering through the streets and alleys.

With a sesame seed cake dangling from his mouth, he effortlessly made his way to a dilapidated alley.

At the end of the alley, there is a small courtyard ruin, which is the old courtyard where Huang Xuan's family used to live.

Lin Cheng walked in and looked around.

This wasn't his first time visiting the site; including this time, it had been seven or eight times already—probably more times than he had visited the Xunyang Grottoes at Shuangfengjian.

Inside the ruins, Lin Cheng would occasionally crouch down.

He picked up a shard of broken porcelain with his fingers.

There were still traces of dried white porridge on the porcelain shards.

Lin Cheng ate a pancake while examining the porridge stains on the porcelain shard.

The ins and outs of what happened in this small courtyard that day were later documented in a complete file by Rong Zhen during her recovery from serious injuries.

Lin Cheng had already memorized it perfectly.

According to the case file, the bright-eyed little girl named Huang Xuan took the opportunity of serving porridge to Ouyang Lianghan to pull out a crudely made short dagger and stab him.

Because Huang Xuan was willing to use her Innocent Spirit Eyes to cooperate with Rong Zhen in setting up an array to search for the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower, Rong Zhen, Yan Zhang, and others did not punish Huang Xuan at the time, setting aside the controversy, which can be considered as protecting her to some extent, and instead letting Ouyang Lianghan leave to heal his injuries.

According to Huang Xuan's words as Rongzhen recalled afterward, the reason why the little girl hated Ouyang Lianghan so much seemed to be because Ouyang Lianghan valued the reputation of a gentleman and the so-called collective interests of the working class in Xingzifang too much, which prevented her and her father from getting the "small gifts" from the wealthy Yangzhou merchants.

From this perspective, Huang Xuan is not grateful to Ouyang Lianghan, her benefactor. Perhaps her father is more mature and knows how to be content and grateful, but as a child, she may have harbored resentment because she missed out on that mansion and a wealthy life. A small favor has turned into a bitter enemy.

As for why they hated Ouyang Lianghan, Lin Cheng and Rong Zhen, before that, both asked Huang Feihong about it in person afterward.

According to the bearded man's confident assertion, he had insisted on refusing Pei Shisan Niang's offer at Xunyang Tower for the sake of his benefactor's reputation, but he never expected that Xiao Xuan, who had remained silent at the time, would harbor such resentment.

"Turning kindness into enmity? So young, yet so cunning..."

Lin Cheng muttered to himself.

In fact, following this logic, there are two slightly difficult-to-explain weak points.

First of all, when Huang Xuan first met Rong Zhen, why did he help Rong Zhen under the guise of trusting his benefactor and his friend?

Were they already pretending back then? Were they afraid that Rong Zhen and Ouyang Lianghan had a good relationship, so they went along with it?

Secondly, how dare Huang Xuan assassinate Ouyang Lianghan? She was just a girl from a poor neighborhood. Did she not know the power of a prefectural governor?

Or is it that she is so arrogant and unafraid of the consequences because Rongzhen and Yanzhang need her to set up the formation?

Under the morning sun, Lin Cheng finished his pancake, put down the porcelain shards, and calmly clapped his hands.

"It's not that it can't be explained."

As he muttered to himself, he stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced around the courtyard, his eyes filled with contemplation.

Based on Huang Xuan's subsequent actions of leaving with the Shangqing Sect Taoist, it can be seen that this little girl was aware of the value of her eyes and also had considerable ambitions regarding Qi cultivation.

She should know that having the Innocent Spirit Eyes made her a hot commodity, and the little ink spirit probably told her about her talent.

When the formation was initially set up, Yan Zhang and Lian Qing were tolerant and tried to win her over, and Rong Zhen also promised to recommend her to join the Imperial Observatory.

These things should have gradually given the little girl a lot of confidence.

When Ouyang Lianghan arrived, according to Rongzhen, he had some conflict with Yan Zhang, the male clerk, and Ouyang Lianghan, as the chief clerk, was unable to do anything about Yan Zhang.

Looking back now, the conflict between Ouyang Lianghan and Yan Zhang, and the weak position of local officials in front of the Qi practitioners of the Imperial Observatory, may have emboldened Huang Xuan, causing her to lose her initial positive view of Ouyang Lianghan and become arrogant and contemptuous.

Therefore, she no longer concealed her previous resentment and took advantage of the moment when Rongzhen, Yanzhang, and Lianqing all needed her to carry out her revenge.

This reverse reasoning makes logical sense, but...

"This girl's personality seems to be somewhat different from what the neighbors in this courtyard have described."

Lin Cheng frowned slightly.

"Isn't it said that people should be kind-hearted and grateful..."

He paused, then slowly nodded:

"However, the managers and staff at Hanlei Mozhai all say that she is reserved and taciturn, deep-thinking, cunning, and good at ingratiating herself with important people..."

"Furthermore, Huang Feihong didn't seem surprised at all about Huang Xuan stabbing Ouyang Lianghan. Instead, he apologized on her behalf. Is it because no one knows a daughter better than her father, or... is it all an act?"

Lin Cheng strolled around the yard.

His lips were turned down, and he squinted without saying a word.

The entire logical chain makes sense.

But... he didn't really like this kind of ambiguous reasoning.

Because many of these seemingly minor details required him to later fill in the behavioral logic for the parties involved.

Lin Cheng remembered his teacher saying that sometimes, people who are too smart are not suitable for investigating cases.

Because it's easy to be too clever for your own good.

Intelligent people naturally assume that others are as intelligent as themselves and try to find logical explanations to fill in the gaps in their understanding.

While reasoning in investigations may require logic, reality sometimes doesn't.

The situation is similar now. Huang Xuan, the person in question, cannot be found, and the details of her situation are unclear. Lin Cheng has no way to verify many details and can only make a rough deduction.

A true detective needs a keen sense of smell and a mysterious intuition.

Lin Cheng's intuition was that Huang Xuan's assassination of Ouyang Lianghan seemed somewhat abrupt in the whole incident at the old courtyard.

However, it was only abrupt. Huang Xuan's assassination of Ouyang Lianghan was not the most important event in the whole incident. In Lin Cheng's mind, it was not particularly important because there were many other important aspects.

For example, the little ink spirit seems to have had some connection with the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower; the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower is surprisingly talented in poetry, with such a vast literary talent; and the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower has also mastered some inexplicable supernatural power, which allows him to drive the cauldron sword to kill people within the Moonlit Pool Formation... and so on.

Based on Lin Cheng's past experience, clues are often hidden in the details. Perhaps Huang Xuan's assassination of Ouyang Lianghan is the clue to solving the case?

After thinking for a long time, Lin Cheng shook his head and temporarily put aside the abruptness of the situation.

However, compared to this seemingly trivial matter of personal grudge, there is something else that deserves more scrutiny.

Lin Cheng stood up, walked out of the courtyard gate, and looked around.

"How exactly did the owner of this Butterfly Love Flower find this place?"

His gaze slowly settled on the eaves of Chengtian Temple not far away.

"Yuan Huaimin, a native of Chang'an, from the Yuan family of Jingzhao... was demoted to the position of Sima in Jiangzhou..."

Half an hour later, inside Chengtian Temple.

In a guest courtyard with its gate half-open, Lin Cheng met Yuan Huaimin, who had just taken a nap.

"Minister Yuan, I am Lin Cheng, a Xia Guan Lingtai Lang from the Imperial Observatory. I have been ordered to investigate the murder case in Jiangzhou... I apologize for any inconvenience caused."

"Hmm, good afternoon, Mr. Lin Lingtai. Please sit down, make yourself at home, don't be shy."

Yuan Huaimin got up in a daze and casually pointed to the courtyard, which actually had no benches for resting.

Lin Cheng asked calmly:

"Lord Yuan is from a prominent family and is also a prefectural magistrate. Why is he living in Xingzifang, and in such a cheap inn in a temple?"

Yuan Huaimin thought for a moment and then asked in return:

"Lin Lingtai Lang, do you people in the Imperial Observatory not need to take roll call every morning?"

"No need," Lin Cheng shook his head.

Yuan Huaimin looked on with envy:

"How about we switch official positions? You become the Sima of Jiangzhou, and I'll be a Lingtai Lang."

"No change." Lin Cheng shook his head: "Isn't the Jiangzhou Sima an official? Is he really that incompetent? Does he... have to manage the stables?"

Yuan Huaimin looked regretful:

"The position of Sima is quite leisurely, but the premise is that you have to be stuck with a good superior... cough cough, it's not that Brother Lianghan is bad, it's just that... Brother Lianghan is too strict. In his words, he's just a little strict, and who knows when this little strictness will end."

"The salary of the Jiangzhou Sima is actually not low. Occasionally, he can go to Xunyang Tower to listen to Qin Dajia play a pipa, provided that his salary is not deducted every day."

His face showed a hint of sadness as he reminisced about the past:

"Thinking back to before Brother Lianghan came to be the Chief Clerk, I was living a much more comfortable life than I am now. I remember the first time I came to Jiangzhou, I went to my shift in the morning and deliberately arrived an hour late. I found that I was the first one there. At that time, I felt that I had come to the right place. Who else but me could be the Chief Clerk of Jiangzhou? But now... ah, let's not talk about it."

After saying that, Yuan Huai looked up at the sky, his face immediately lit up with joy, and he turned and ran back into the house to pack his things before heading out.

At the same time, he politely ushered them away, saying:

"If Lin Lingtai Lang has nothing else to say, please go back. I'm about to head out as well. Are you going to Xunyangfang? We can travel together."

Lin Cheng looked at Yuan Huaimin, who was excitedly preparing to leave, with some curiosity:

"Where is Yuan Sima going?"

"It's time to go to Brother Lianghan's house for dinner. I go every three days. Hey, if I weren't so embarrassed, I would go every day."

Lin Cheng hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Huaimin immediately became wary and said:

"Lin Lingtai, I cannot bring anyone with me."

"...?" Lin Cheng.

"Lin Lingtai, you may not know this, but Brother Lianghan is alright. However, his shrewish aunt is extremely strict. I go there for a meal every three days, and I am subjected to her verbal abuse at the dinner table. She is full of veiled sarcasm and barbs. I have no choice but to swallow my anger. It is truly an insult to my scholarly life."

He sighed and slammed his fist down:

"Hey, if it weren't for that delicious meal, how could a real man tolerate such an insult! Forget it, I'd better not stoop to her level. After all, she's a good cook."

"Lin Lingtai looks like a hero. Let's not put up with this nonsense. Hey, let's go back. Let me go into this fire pit."

Lin Cheng frowned as he looked at the righteous and indignant Yuan Huaimin, and suddenly asked:

"I've heard that Yuan Sima was an exceptional poet, a renowned talent in Chang'an."

Yuan Huaimin nodded vigorously, "Absolutely not, absolutely not, but eating is the priority now, so I'll take my leave..." He then tried to slip away.

Lin Cheng interrupted with a stern face, "Why aren't you writing now?"

"Uh, it's not like a sow giving birth, how can it be so productive?" Yuan Huaimin stopped and turned around seriously.

Lin Cheng shook his head and said softly, "The reason."

"Your Imperial Observatory is in charge of this?"

Lin Cheng said calmly, "Then I would appreciate it if you could hand over a piece of calligraphy. The Imperial Observatory needs it for their investigation."

Yuan Huaimin hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Would a painting do? I have a painting of plum blossoms in winter, shyly blooming."

"Can."

Yuan Huaimin turned and went back into the house, hurriedly rolled up a painting scroll, and stuffed it into Lin Cheng's hands.

Lin Cheng put away the scroll and suddenly asked:

"Does Prefect Ouyang often come to you to appreciate your zither playing?"

Yuan Huaimin was taken aback, then nodded: "Yes. What's wrong?"

"As the Sima, you should know about Huang Xuan's case, right? On the day the incident happened, didn't Ouyang Lianghan arrange to come to see you?"

“We don’t usually schedule a specific time. He’s a very busy person and only comes when he has free time. That day, I was at home.”

"Okay, I understand."

Lin Cheng walked out of the courtyard, but he didn't leave immediately.

Standing in the shadows, I watched Yuan Huaimin's hurried figure disappear into the distance as he rushed off to lunch.

Turning around, he easily found his way to a lake in the temple.

He comes here often these days.

Lin Cheng stood on the shore, silently observing the pavilion in the center of the lake.

This temple and lake are located in the very center of Xingzifang.

Legend has it that a star fell from the sky and landed in the lake.

Later, it was regarded as an auspicious omen, and the people of Xunyang gathered around the water, and the surrounding area gradually became prosperous.

Later, this ward was named Xingzi Ward by the governor of Xunyang Commandery in the early Han Dynasty...

"Xingzi Lake... Xingzi... what a wonderful name... Avoiding the moon and plucking stars... Avoiding the moon and plucking stars..."

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Cheng's figure disappeared from the lakeside.

On his way back, Lin Cheng visited the ruins of the old courtyard again, took a stroll around, and left the courtyard bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun.

He calmly walked out of the alley where the old courtyard was located, and when he passed a large house at the entrance of the alley, he suddenly stopped.

"Pack up and move everything out. The buyer will be back to check later, so don't neglect the customer..."

A woman's cold, condescending voice faintly echoed from within the courtyard.

"Yes, Thirteenth Sister," the servants replied.

Lin Cheng paused for a moment, glanced at the high walls of the mansion, then turned and circled around to the main gate of the mansion.

At the main entrance, many servants were seen carrying furniture.

Lin Cheng, dressed in a low-key gray suit, concealed the gold-lacquered token of the Imperial Observatory at his waist and walked into the crowd with an air of nonchalance.

He strolled into the house against the flow of people, and the servants and men around him didn't notice him for a moment.

Lin Cheng stopped not far from the main hall of the mansion and raised his eyelids slightly.

Inside the hall stood a noblewoman draped in a purple and gold lotus-patterned robe.

She glared at them coldly, and her tone when ordering the servants around was quite harsh, as if she was in a bad mood.

(End of this chapter)