Mojing, the city that never sleeps
Why didn’t I notice just now that this person’s words were so flawless?
Ding Can looked at the indifferent look he gave him and refused to reveal everything. He simply said, "I have some clues, but we have to see if we can get through tonight peacefully before we can investigate further."
Xu Linfeng's expression relaxed slightly. "It's all up to you guys to arrange. The Lord has already prepared the wine and food. You must be tired from investigating the case today. Let's go have dinner first."
"Okay." Gao Wenwen was the first to respond.
They had just spent a lot of money at Qixingtang today, and during the day they just bought some snacks on the street to fill their stomachs. They had to have a good meal all day.
Besides, I'm working for the Zhang family, so it's okay to ask him to treat us.
The dinner was held in the front hall. After they took their seats, the dishes that had been prepared long ago were served on the table one by one.
Butler Zhang Li stood beside the table. Every time a dish came into the hall, he would explain the name and cooking method of the dish.
The dishes are placed on trays and covered with larger porcelain basins to keep them warm and prevent dust from accumulating during transportation.
Just listening to Zhang Li talk about this, the poetic name, the expensive ingredients, and the complicated method had already piqued everyone's curiosity.
And when the porcelain basin was opened, revealing the exquisitely cooked dishes inside, one could not help but swallow.
The last dish of dessert was also served. The guests followed the host's wishes. After Zhang Gusheng spoke, everyone started to eat. It was indeed delicious and tasty. I don't know where he invited this chef from.
Zhang Gusheng put down his chopsticks while speaking: "I think you must have had a hard time today. I heard from Lin Feng that you have been running around and going to many places for my daughter."
He was very graceful in every move he made, and when he spoke he looked directly into the other person's eyes, showing that he respected others very much.
Is he still sending people to follow them secretly so that he can know their whereabouts today? No wonder Xu Linfeng is so confident in handing the seal directly to them.
Ding Can looked at Xu Linfeng who was standing in the yard with his arms folded. Perhaps it was him who followed him personally, but he returned to the official's residence earlier, which created the illusion that he had been waiting for a long time.
It seems that this man is not just a wealthy man.
Her eyes shifted away from Xu Linfeng and she noticed the other servants waiting in the yard.
At this time, the sky was gradually getting dark. The mansion was illuminated by standing lanterns every few steps. The servants stood by waiting for orders. They did not have to clean the courtyard like they did when they came in the morning.
At that time, I could see maids sweeping the floor, but now, I can’t see any women at all.
Now that I think about it, the people who were responsible for serving the dishes at the beginning of the banquet were just servants.
This kind of thing should be left to the maids who are more nimble. If a servant who usually only does rough work is asked to do it, he might make mistakes if he is not careful.
Ding Can retracted his gaze and pretended to be curious: "Mr. Zhang, why don't you see any of the women in the mansion?"
"This matter..." Zhang Gusheng just raised his eyelids slightly, and Zhang Li, who was serving beside him, understood and stood out with his back hunched.
"Master Detective, you may not know this. This is because tonight is a special night, so the head of the family has placed the female family members in a safe place first."
Zhang Gusheng made the decision in advance. Since it had nothing to do with the location and he couldn't hide anywhere, he might as well stay in the mansion.
The disappearance of several people before, including the second young lady, was caused by being alone in a room without anyone around.
Today, we will let everyone stay in the flower hall of Fangfei Garden, and arrange hired guards around it so that no matter who comes, they can be discovered at the first time.
All the female members of the family have been registered. At this moment, everyone on the list has been ticked off one by one. A temporary resting place has been prepared on the floor in the hall, where they will spend the upcoming dangerous night.
Ding Can agreed, "That's a good idea indeed. However, we came here today to solve this case. Simply hiding isn't the solution. We must create opportunities to allow the lone person to be abducted."
Zhang Gusheng asked in surprise, "Miss Ding, do you mean to let them return to their rooms and settle down normally?"
"There's no need to mobilize any more troops. We certainly won't joke about the lives of the women in this mansion."
Ding Can patted Shi Yan's forearm and said, "We two will stay in a separate room. This way, anyone who comes here, whether it's a human or a ghost, will make us their first target."
Shi Yan was stuffing a piece of fish fillet with sauce into her mouth when she nodded: "Yes, don't worry, there will definitely be no shortage of people in your family."
Zhang Gusheng probably didn't expect that the people who came today would be so selfless. He even stood up from his seat and bowed to them.
"My dear friends, if you can find my daughter's whereabouts, I, Zhang, promise to reward you handsomely."
Xia Jialian reached out to help him: "No need to be so formal. We are also moved by Mr. Zhang's love for his son. We went to Zhaoxia Tower today and heard some of your deeds."
"Even though his daughter is not around, he still keeps the places she often goes to. Few people can do this."
Zhang Gusheng frowned and sighed almost inaudibly, "I just feel like I owe Shu Tang."
"Oh?" Xia Jialian looked puzzled. "Why do you say that, Mr.
"To be honest, Zhang is usually very busy with the pottery factory business. He usually handles the affairs of the factory and has very little time to take care of Shu Tang. She is in poor health and I think she needs someone to accompany her. However, I have failed to fulfill my fatherly duties."
“It is always futile to try to make up for what you have lost.”
This is true. People always realize what is truly precious around them after they lose it, but they always realize it too late.
Gao Wenwen saw that the atmosphere was a bit dull, so he smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang, don't be discouraged. Miss Shu Tang might come back to you."
"I hope that day will come." Zhang Gusheng picked up the wine glass and drank the fine wine in it.
*
After dinner, Xu Linfeng took them to Fangfei Garden.
"There are vacant rooms in Fangfei Garden right now. We can immediately arrange whichever room the two girls would like to choose."
Several people were walking onto a small bridge. Ding Can lifted a corner of her horse-faced skirt in his hand to prevent it from dragging on the ground and getting dirty.
She carefully looked down at her feet and casually asked, "Manager Xu, we heard today that the maid named Xiao Zhi seems to be in charge of Miss Shu Tang's daily life?"
"Since she is Miss Shu Tang's maid, she should be loyal to her master. She didn't leave the mansion because of that dreaded disappearance case, did she?"
Xu Linfeng answered readily, "Indeed, I am. You may have forgotten because you are busy. When we were in the second young lady's room today, it was Xiao Zhi who cleaned the upstairs."
Ding Can acted as if he suddenly understood. "Oh, I see. Why didn't Manager Xu remind us at the time? We could have asked him about it while we were still in the mansion."
Xu Linfeng did not change his pace. "I just think it's unnecessary. After all, she wasn't in the room with us on the day the Second Miss disappeared, so she naturally wouldn't know what happened. It's just a waste of your time."
His speech was flawless. He even introduced every part of Fangfei Garden. How could he have missed Xiaozhi's identity?
"Butler Xu is really thoughtful. We'd like to ask Xiao Zhi out for a few questions. Is that convenient for you?"
"Of course, please follow me to the flower hall first."
The flower hall is located in the middle of Fangfei Garden and is only used in late autumn every year.
Mojing is located in the north, and the climate is extremely cold in winter. Many flowers transplanted from the south cannot withstand the severe cold here and need to be placed in the flower hall to spend the winter.
The structure here is different from other rooms. The walls are designed to keep warm, and the gaps in the doors and windows are sealed with windproof strips.
In order to absorb more warm sunlight, the roof adopts a semicircular dome, which is hung much higher and capped with transparent glazed bricks.
Therefore, as soon as you enter the flower hall in winter, you can feel the warmth of spring.
It's a bit stuffy at this time of year, and the housekeeper has arranged for two days of ventilation, so it should be no problem for one night.
At this moment, the doors and windows of the flower hall were closed, and there were several layers of guards inside and outside, carefully observing every move in the backyard.
If you want to take someone away in front of so many eyes, even if it is a ghost or a god, it will take some effort.
Xu Linfeng walked to the door and spoke a few words to a security guard, who then went into the greenhouse. Soon, Xiao Zhi came out.
She folded her hands in front of her waist, probably not expecting that someone would call her out at this time, and there was a hint of evasion in the eyes of those who looked at her.
"Don't be afraid. Just answer truthfully whatever the distinguished guest asks." Xu Linfeng left this sentence and went to wait a few steps away.
Etiquette should not be forgotten. Xiao Zhi bowed slightly and said, "Normally, the Second Young Lady's daily life is served by me personally. I wonder what the guests want to ask me? That day at Duxi Temple..."
Ding Can interrupted her: "I heard that Miss Shu Tang always accompanies her when she goes to Zhaoxia Tower?"
Xiao Zhi paused, a bit of panic flashing in her eyes: "Yes, but every time the young lady went there to listen to a new song, she would leave and never stayed for long. After all, she is a woman in the inner house, and it is not convenient for her to show her face outside too much."
"Every time she appeared in public, the young lady would cover her face with a veil and always remember to return at the appointed time."
She spoke very quickly, as if she was afraid that others would not fully understand her.
Ding Can spoke with great interest: "I think I was just asking, are you going with Miss Shu Tang?"
Xiao Zhi was very thoughtful and helped her solve the problem in advance, as if she didn't want her to make a fuss about it.
"Ah," Xiao Zhi pursed her lips, "I'm just worried that if I say too little, it will affect your opinions of the young lady."
During the conversation, she also glanced in Xu Linfeng's direction a few times.
Judging from her appearance, she seems to be somewhat dependent on him.
Could there be some kind of relationship between these two people? Ding Can suppressed his doubts and smiled: "I understand. Miss Xiao Zhi must love her dearly. I'm sure you must be very anxious now that Miss Shu Tang is missing."
"I am indeed worried about you, Miss. But no matter where you are now, you must be doing well."
Seeing that the other party stopped asking questions, Xiao Zhi relaxed a little.
However, in Ding Can's opinion, she was inexplicably nervous when she was questioned just now, but now she has let down her guard. It is obvious that what she really cares about is not wanting the truth to be revealed.
On the contrary, he didn't care much about Zhang Shutang's personal safety, as if he knew her current situation.
There is still a lot worth exploring about Xiao Zhi, but tonight, with so many eyes and ears around, it is really not the right time.
For now, all they have to do is keep a clear mind.
Ding Can was ready to let her go first: "Then Miss Xiaozhi, please go back first. If you still have questions about Miss Shu Tang, you may come back to bother me later."
"No problem. I'm in the lady's room every day. I know the layout of the room best. This way, it can always maintain its original appearance."
A smile finally appeared on her face. She turned around, bowed, and was about to leave.
The movement was a little bigger than before. From Shi Yan's perspective, she just noticed a bruise on her forearm above her wrist.
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