Chapter 648 Tianxianglou
Zhou Wanting arrived before Aji.
Wan Qiqi was busy in the kitchen when she suddenly heard Zhou Wanting arrive, seemingly discussing business with Zhu Chengye.
Wan Qiqi originally wanted Zhu Chengye to talk to her, but the latter called her over, seemingly wanting to hear her opinion.
After some time away, Zhou Wanting is still as gentle and charming as ever, but her eyes are slightly dark, as if she hasn't had enough rest, and her eyes are not as lively as they used to be.
Zhou Wanting looked up and met Wan Qiqi's eyes, smiling gently, "Sister Qi, I might have to trouble you!"
Zhu Chengye and Zhou Wanting recounted their recent discussion, and Wan Qiqi then learned that Zhou Wanting was going to host a flower-viewing banquet.
June and July are the peak blooming season for lotus flowers.
There is a lotus pond in Yunhe County, and in a few days it will be in full bloom.
Every year at this time, there are always people making plans to admire the lotus flowers, but this is the first time Wan Qiqi has encountered someone organizing a flower-viewing banquet.
In ancient times, this kind of banquet was actually quite common.
Young ladies and married women would hold such events when they had nothing to do, partly to cultivate their minds and partly to meet more people.
Besides the men they socialize with, many powerful and wealthy families also need their wives to use these banquets to network with a wider range of people and enhance their husbands' family's connections.
Women in ancient times did not do nothing; they managed the household, took care of their children, and also helped their husbands' families build a wider network of connections.
Many people of high status disdain associating with those of low status, but if their wives have connections, they can use these connections to make acquaintances.
Wan Qiqi glanced at Zhou Wanting again and felt that the other party knew a wide range of people and should not need her to take care of things. Could it be that someone wanted to use her opportunity to get to know someone?
“Sister Qi, this time is a bit special. We’ve invited not only women but also young men. You might need to put in some extra effort when it comes to the food,” Zhou Wanting explained to Wan Qiqi.
In ancient times, men and women were separated, so how could men and women gather together at a banquet?
Wan Qiqi vaguely felt that this was not a flower appreciation event, but rather a matchmaking event, as if it was meant to facilitate a marriage.
Having a general idea in mind, Wan Qiqi raised her eyes and asked, "Are there any special requirements?"
Zhou Wanting lowered her head and thought for a while before shaking her head. "No special requirements. Just follow the arrangements for flower viewing." After saying that, she added, "The visitors are all people of some status in Yunhe County, and some may even hold official positions. I hope the snacks will be exquisite and delicate."
Officials?
Wan Qiqi was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, "Okay!"
The two sides discussed the details of the flower viewing banquet, and Wan Qiqi saw Zhou Wanting off.
She watched Zhou Wanting's carriage drive away, lost in thought.
There are only a handful of people holding official positions in Yunhe County. Fang Ziming and Pang Zhao are unlikely to appear, so Xie Xing seems to be the most probable candidate.
Why would he attend the flower viewing banquet?
Perhaps Wan Qiqi had been standing there for a long time, because Zhu Chengye came out and asked in a low voice, "Do you find it strange?"
Wan Qiqi nodded, not hiding her thoughts.
"You can ask Yongnian; perhaps he knows the answer you're looking for," Zhu Chengye suggested.
In fact, Chen Yongnian was unaware that he had been extremely busy lately.
A murder occurred at Tianxianglou. He led his men to seal off Tianxianglou. Liang Pengfei suppressed everyone at Tianxianglou, while Pang Zhaoze tried the case inside.
Chen Yongnian swore that he had never been to a brothel in his life, nor had he ever had any contact with the women there.
This investigation was a last resort.
He couldn't bear to look directly at the women in the brothel, always keeping his eyes down, appearing very nervous.
Liang Pengfei patted him on the back, startling him so much that he jumped up.
Liang Pengfei smiled helplessly and comforted her, "Don't be nervous. We're here to investigate a case, and we can't overlook any details. Your wife will understand."
Chen Yongnian didn't want to be nervous, but he saw that the women were dressed too scantily, which was really too much... He didn't know how to say it, but he just felt uncomfortable.
The whole building reeks of this smell; anyone who enters carries it with them, and he's too afraid to go home!
Even so, Chen Yongnian still noticed some problems. "Brother Liang, I feel that there is something strange about this murder case."
Chen Yongnian turned the body over, then immediately turned his face away. "Look, there are two ligature marks on her neck, one deep and one shallow. If, as the maid Xiaoqin said, it was Feng Gan who did it, then the ligature marks shouldn't be so shallow."
"So you suspect something?" Liang Pengfei gestured for Chen Yongnian to continue.
"I don't think it was Feng Gan. He was a martial artist, so he must have been very strong and killed him instantly. But the ligature marks on the man's neck look like he was strangled several times before succeeding, which shows that the killer wasn't very strong..."
Chen Yongnian felt that it was obviously done by a woman, and probably not very strong.
At that moment, the voices of the yamen runners and Pang Zhao could be heard.
"Sir, Feng Gan was drinking at Kelaiju yesterday. The waiter at Kelaiju, Boss Wan of Xinglong Restaurant, and... Miss Fang can all testify to this."
"How do we determine when he will go and when he will leave?"
"Go at noon, and leave at 3:45 PM."
"Coroner, what was the time of death?"
"Return to your lord, around the time of Shen Shi."
At Shenshi (3-5 PM), Feng Gan was already completely drunk, but he was still taken back to his residence by a carriage from Kelaiju. How could he possibly have committed murder?
Furthermore, the brothel was open as usual last night, and Xiaoqin was her personal attendant, so how could she not know that the person she served was dead?
After several rounds of questioning and threats of torture, Xiaoqin finally admitted that she was the one who did it.
She said that Zuiqin was suicidal because of Feng Gan, and she was just fulfilling Zuiqin's wish and dragging Feng Gan down with her.
Xiaoqin was sold to a brothel. She was quite pretty and wanted to befriend the young master so she could be redeemed. However, Zuiqin ruined her face, forcing her to serve these men and giving her no chance to leave.
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