Xiyuan Pavilion (2)
The three of them set foot in Qingyin Tower again, the very opera house where the clues had ended.
At this point, the clues had been connected.
The note sent by Xiyuan Pavilion stated that the actors in Qingyin Tower had a significant connection to this case.
The purpose of their visit today was to investigate which actors had problems. Since it was not convenient to make this public, the three of them disguised themselves as ordinary onlookers.
On stage, a love story is being performed, about a poor scholar who becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination and returns to his hometown to marry the girl who has never left him, only to be forcefully intercepted by a princess.
When the play reached its most exciting part, the audience applauded repeatedly and threw tips onto the stage.
After the performance, the stage was filled with a dazzling array of items.
There were plenty of gold and silver treasures, but also some simpler items like rice, flour, and cooking oil, so much so that the performers on stage could hardly find a place to step.
What's even more astonishing is that while the other performers had left the stage, the main actors were still receiving rewards on stage. Silver notes were everywhere on their bodies, and generous spectators were still finding time to give even more rewards.
These are all familiar faces; they are the most sought-after performers in Qingyin Tower, and they receive the most rewards in the entire theater.
These performers were colorful and varied, but not the best in the building. Fortunately, they performed love stories and had a group of loyal fans.
The same was true for the following performances, where most of the performers wore very impressive headbands.
"If corrupt officials are involved with actors, it's most likely through tipping them," Yan Yang said softly, watching the enthusiastic applause on stage.
Yan Qing remained silent, listening to their conversation.
"The silver coins given to the actors in a single day could buy several houses in the most prosperous areas of Yunzhou. Even the theaters in the capital rarely see such a sight," Rong Xiao replied in a deep voice.
Yan Yang nodded in agreement and continued, "When we came a while ago, it wasn't this grand. The spectators who are spending lavishly today are suspicious, and we need to have people keep a close eye on the performers."
Yan Qing was very pleased that the direction was right.
Although she hadn't yet found out who the performers were in contact with, there was something very strange about these performers.
After thinking for a moment, she suggested, "It seems that only a few people are giving tips. They might be the key. Why don't we investigate them more thoroughly?"
These words were met with agreement from the two men, who then got up to take action.
Yan Qing was also anxious to find out who was behind the actors, so he left on his own instead of staying with them.
Early in the morning, after Rong Xiao and Yan Yang informed Yan Qing about this matter, she began to pay attention to the movements of Qingyin Tower.
The tips the performers received during the day were unusual, which meant they were up to something again. There might be something big going on tonight, and this was the closest chance to getting the answer. Yan Qing couldn't miss it.
Hopefully, a loving little cat will be out exploring in the dead of night tonight. All that's needed is a night owl to help!
This is because Yan Qing's cheat system has been upgraded again.
This inevitably brings up Rong Xuan.
After the war in the North came to an end, he volunteered to participate in the reconstruction of the battlefield. Over the past few months, most of the people who had been displaced by the war have found a place to live, and the number of refugees in various cities has gradually decreased.
The happiness index even broke through 45%.
Yan Qing's cheat has been upgraded to Cat Map.
The Cat Map, as the name suggests, is a map that allows Yan Qing to track all the cats in the world. She can access the map through Cat Number One, which is covered with cat paw prints, each paw print representing a cat.
Now she no longer needs to communicate with the cats to get information; she can connect to cats anywhere and gain the visual and auditory perception of the selected cat. This time, the kittens truly are Yan Qing's other pair of eyes.
Unfortunately, the surveillance footage was not saved. If Yan Qing didn't want to miss any news, she could only constantly connect to the cats in Qingyin Pavilion to monitor the actors' movements.
Back in the courtyard, Yan Qing wasn't in a hurry to check the live surveillance footage. She first went around to each of the little guests in the courtyard, added some food, and then went back inside to prepare for bed.
The sun had just set, and the crimson glow of the sky had not yet been completely obscured by darkness. Yan Qing rested fully clothed, not because she was sleepy, but because she was going to stay up all night.
The opera at Qingyin Tower was still going strong, and it wouldn't close for another two hours. The problematic performers at Qingyin Tower weren't just one person, but a group. Since they were going to take action, they would naturally wait until everyone had received their items, gathered together, and then deliver them under the cover of darkness.
She needed to catch up on her sleep before they started, lest drowsiness ruin the important business.
As night fell, all the streetlights went out, and Yunzhou was shrouded in darkness.
Yan Qing lit the candles and sat down at the table, with Da Huang by her side.
It's a true night owl, sleeping on time during the day and causing trouble on time at night.
Yan Qing placed it on her lap, gently stroking it, which elicited a loud and long snoring sound.
With her hands still busy, Yan Qing's mind also started working.
[Cat No. 1, open the Cat Map.]
[Cat No. 1 received! Map opened, please select your favorite cat.]
Yan Qing chose a chubby white kitten that was nestled on the roof of the restaurant opposite Qingyin Pavilion. It was sitting still with its paws tucked in, its tail swaying slightly as if it was getting sleepy, but its eyes were very clear.
Everything it saw and heard was displayed before Yan Qing's eyes, and the scene was more like a movie being shown to Yan Qing.
The image floated in the air, clearly showing the empty streets, and the faint sounds were made clearer to Yan Qing's ears through the cat.
It came from Qingyin Pavilion.
Yan Qing listened intently to their conversation, her vision beginning to blur.
The kitten moved, seemingly attracted by the noise. It leaped up to the top of Qingyin Pavilion in a few quick leaps, and the conversation became clearer.
"It must be delivered to your residence tonight."
"Didn't the master say that we don't need to take any action these days? Won't it cause trouble if we act on our own?"
Under the roof, the actor who had been dressed as a top scholar during the day glanced coldly at the person who had spoken, his handsome face appearing mean. "Two months have passed and nothing has happened. If this continues, we'll all starve. Besides, it was Master Wang who came to me. If anything goes wrong, he'll be the one to take responsibility."
Xiaoyue was still somewhat hesitant, stammering and unwilling to take action.
Enraged, the courtesan grabbed a jade bracelet from the table and threw it at her, leaving a red mark on her fair face before shattering on the ground. He said viciously, "If you drag this out until dawn, you'll face the adults' punishment. Get out!"
The conversation ended abruptly there, and the little white cat yawned several times before drifting off into a sweet dream.
Yan Qing quickly brought up the cat map again, but the cat paws around Qingyin Pavilion all had "zzz" icons next to them, meaning they were all asleep.
Just as she reached a crucial point, the investigation stalled, and she began to feel anxious.
Clearly, Xiaoyue's whereabouts are the key, and the "master" they are talking about must be the ghost that Rong Xiao wants to catch.
Tonight is the best opportunity. After thinking for a moment, Yan Qing carefully put the tired and asleep Da Huang back into its cat bed, being very careful not to wake it.
She walked into the yard, where many kittens were playing. It was autumn, the sky was high and the air was crisp. There was a gentle breeze at night, but it wasn't cold. These temporary kittens were happy to sleep with their bellies exposed in the yard and rarely went inside.
Yan Qing guessed that they didn't want to pay attention to the bluffing rhubarb.
She summoned the cats who were still awake and issued them a bounty!
We found Xiaoyue.
The cats, losing interest, went back to playing, while the more adventurous ones were very excited. Before Yan Qing could tell them who they were looking for, they jumped onto the courtyard wall, seemingly ready to set off.
Yan Qing was both amused and exasperated. She quickly stopped them and told them to wander more in the direction of Qingyin Pavilion before letting them go out.
Although instructions had been given, the cats' movements were still difficult to predict. Some cats got distracted by other things along the way, straying further and further off course, completely ignoring the so-called generous reward Yan Qing offered.
It's obvious that they know they'll still get a share of the rewards even if they do nothing.
Yan Qing sighed and shook her head. What else could she do but spoil her?
She kept an eye on the movements of each cat, and connected with Yan Qing who was near Qingyin Pavilion, but unfortunately, Xiao Yue did not appear again.
The red candle slowly slumped, the wax condensing at the bottom. Yan Qing replaced the candle, and the flame lit up again.
Xiaoyue's figure flashed by.
This was discovered from Chongchong's perspective, and Yan Qing quickly began to communicate with Chongchong.
[Hey! Go to the left, see that person down there whose only eyes are showing?]
I saw it!
[Follow her, but be careful to keep a safe distance so you don't get spotted.]
【good! 】
Chongchong is one of the heroes who used Yan Qing's residence as an energy replenishment station, as mentioned before. Its name is also related to its heroic personality. Every time it visits, it brings a worm as a gift of food and water.
The first time it brought a mouse, it rushed towards Yan Qing, jumped onto her shoulder, and with a tug, the mouse fell into her arms.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. By the time Yan Qing realized what had happened, it was too late. She didn't forget to protect Chongchong, supporting it with one hand, and stood up, frantically shaking off her clothes.
With a thud, the fat rat crashed to the ground and was quickly pinned down by Big Yellow's eyes and claws.
Yan Qing's life slowly returned to normal.
As if sensing that Yan Qing disliked rats, Chongchong would bring different insects with her every time she came, some of which she couldn't even name.
Every time Yan Qing encounters Chongchong, she tells it that it doesn't need to bring a gift, just come empty-handed, but Chongchong has its own insistence.
Therefore, if you find a new insect on the threshold, it basically means that an insect has been there.
It was quite lucky for Yan Qing to happen to find it in the courtyard tonight.
The insect followed closely behind Xiaoyue, its black fur hidden in the night, unnoticed.
It wasn't until Xiaoyue slipped through the back door into a courtyard that Yan Qing stopped Chongchong's actions. Letting Chongchong follow her in rashly would be too risky; knowing which house it was would make things much easier.
"Your Highness Prince Qi has graced my humble abode with your presence. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality. Miss Yan Yang, please come inside." Liang Chen, the Prefect of Yunzhou, led the four inside. After exchanging pleasantries with Rong Xiao and Yan Yang, he turned to Yan Qing and Fang Bi, "How should these two be addressed?"
“We all share the surname Fang,” Yan Qing replied.
Although Rong Xiao and Yan Yang did not know Yan Qing's intentions, they tacitly accepted her answer.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both. Please come in, Miss Fangs."
Liang Chen's residence was remote and small, which matched his image of integrity. Inside, it was no different from an ordinary family's house, with chickens, ducks and geese kept there. You could hear their movements even before you entered, but fortunately, it was well-maintained and there was no unpleasant smell.
He led the four people into the inner room, where the Chief Secretary's wife served tea and brought out some pastries to entertain them. The pastries were neatly wrapped in oil paper, as if they were being treasured.
The Chief Secretary's wife was dressed like an ordinary woman, with only a pair of gold earrings as her adornment, which looked rather old.
According to Yan Yangna, the Chief Secretary came from a rural background and had married his wife before becoming an official; the two were deeply in love.
For more than a decade, the chief official served the people, and his wife devoted herself to the family; the two were highly praised in Yunzhou.
At a square table, Yan Qing and Fang Bi sat together, while the other three each occupied one side. Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary's wife tended to the chickens and ducks in the courtyard.
Liang Chen looked somewhat reserved. He rubbed his hands together and said again, "My humble abode is not able to accommodate you all. Please forgive me."
Rong Xiao noticed his unease, took a sip of tea, and comforted him, "Chief Secretary Liang, there's no need to be so reserved. We both work for the people of Yunzhou, so there's no difference between us. Just speak your mind."
Upon hearing this, he relaxed a bit and said, "The reason I called you all here today is that I have something important to report, but I was afraid that the people in the government office would overhear, so I called you to my humble abode. I suspect that corrupt officials in Yunzhou have not been completely eliminated."
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