Chapter 48

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Song Miao

Seeing they were proper constables, Song Miao replied: "My surname is Song, I live in Sanzao County Alley by Zhuque Gate. I heard someone went missing here during the Upper Yuan Festival, and I happened to pass by. Finding it rare, I came to take a look."

This reason was indeed open and aboveboard, seeming reasonable, yet there was something strange about it that couldn't quite be put into words. It made the constable holding the waist plaque even more suspicious. He asked: "I've seen you come and go several times already. Is it merely because you find it curious?"

She answered yes.

The man opposite raised the lantern in his hand, and by that light, he examined Song Miao up and down, then said: "It's dark already, and you know someone went missing here just now. Don't loiter outside—hurry home!"

Speaking thus, he paused for a moment, then added: "I'll see you out from behind."

Song Miao was slightly stunned, hearing that the word "see off" in the man's mouth carried a strong warning tone. Rather than an escort, it was more like an arrest.

She immediately understood.

In the dimness of dusk, she had gone back and forth several times at the scene of the incident, and was most likely regarded by the other party as someone involved in the case.

But before she could answer, the man opposite again feigned hesitation, turning to the person beside him: "Brother Han, it's dark and late at night. If I go alone to see you off, it's hardly proper—I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to accompany me for a trip."

He paused, then continued: "Fortunately, Sanzao County Alley is not far from Taixue. Once this matter is settled, I'll return with you and explain to the Taixue xuezheng—I didn't expect to be delayed so long today, missing your return time."

The man beside him, called Brother Han, nodded and replied: "It's my duty, no need to say more."

Song Miao, hearing the two characters "Taixue," and then hearing mention of the xuezheng behind, looked again at the man on the left by the lantern candlelight. Indeed, the style of his shan shirt was very familiar, and she now understood this person's identity.

—So he was a Taixue student.

Since they were both Taixue students, even if there was some misunderstanding tonight, in the future she wouldn't fear being unable to find someone to help mediate.

That made him half one of her own.

Since he was one of her own, it wasn't an arrest, but could be regarded as an escort.

Song Miao immediately changed her train of thought, and her heart relaxed. The slight discomfort at being "seen off" quickly dissipated. She didn't say much, only: "If so, then I'll trouble you, sir."

Saying this, she performed a salute, and actually walked ahead in a composed manner.

Behind her, the brocade-robed man never expected Song Miao to leave just like that, completely lacking the nervousness ordinary people show when sternly treated by government officials. He was both puzzled and annoyed, but hurriedly raised his lantern to follow, not staying too close, merely keeping a distance neither far nor near, while speaking to the person beside him.

"Brother Han, you see this woman's conduct is suspicious, and her reason is far-fetched. Could she be involved in this case?"

The shan-shirted student shook his head: "Hard to say, but she probably came on a sudden impulse."

If Cheng Zijian were here, he would recognize at a glance that this Brother Han was precisely Han Li, whom he fed breakfast and good dishes every day, hoping to fatten her up as soon as possible.

The brocade-robed man, hearing Han Li speak, asked curiously: "What do you mean by that? How is it I didn't notice?"

"You and I saw this woman come over with our own eyes. At that time, the sky was already late, and she carried nothing for illumination on her person. Unless she was very familiar with this place and lived nearby, how could she move about conveniently?"

"But she claims to live in Sanzao County Alley, and moreover, during her coming and going just now, she was very unfamiliar with the paths. She doesn't seem to have planned it beforehand."

The brocade-robed man quickly asked: "Doesn't she have a basket? Perhaps it contains illumination items?"

Han Li turned to look at him, his expression conveying something indescribable, which made the other feel a bit of apprehension in his heart.

"Qin Zong, have you ever been to an iron shop?"

The brocade-robed man named Qin Zong was stunned: "This... I haven't been..."

"That's no fault of yours—I guess her basket doesn't contain illumination items. Nine times out of ten, it's a weapon. Whether it is or not, we'll know the bottom line if we ask her later."

Just as they were speaking, the two had already followed her to Zhou Bridge Main Road.

Hearing this, Qin Zong was startled, and his voice dropped by three degrees. He hurriedly asked: "If she carries a weapon on her person, isn't her suspicion even greater?!"

While asking, he looked up to look.

And just at this moment, Song Miao was also turning back to look.

There were many shops here, and the lights were bright, but she stood in a backlit place, so her face couldn't be seen clearly—only her movements could be seen clearly—her right hand was clearly resting on the soft basket held on the left side.

Qin Zong's heart jumped, his foot stopped, and subconsciously he had already reached out to touch the short blade at his back waist for self-defense.

However, Han Li beside him watched his hand movements, and only helplessly asked: "Brother Qin says you are eager to make progress, not seeking to become an official, only wanting to do some practical work. You've already been on duty at the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy for three months, very diligent—what have you learned normally?"

Qin Zong couldn't fail to hear the good or bad in those words.

His hand still rested on the short blade. He couldn't put it away, nor could he keep it there. But relying on his naturally thick skin, he wasn't the least bit embarrassed. He only said: "Inside the Military Patrol Academy, I've helped catch quite a few people, seen them handle several cases, organized over ten case files, and gotten familiar with everyone in the yamen from top to bottom—does that count as learning something?"

While speaking, his voice was somewhat hollow. Obviously he himself felt it wasn't very impressive. He hurriedly added: "Brother Han, are you and I old acquaintances? Tomorrow when you come to the yamen, if Fourth Brother asks you to choose people, considering our past friendship, it wouldn't be right to overlook me, would it?"

"Everyone inside the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy is a shrewd person. Although Fourth Brother is a judge, he has only recently taken office, and the people below haven't all been fully brought under control. It's better that I'm a blank sheet of paper, usable however you want to draw!"

"Early this morning he instructed me to listen to your arrangements. This is designating me to follow your intentions—you know, right? This bit of face, you have to give it to him, right?"

Han Li did not answer.

Qin Zong's heart became even more empty at once. He hurriedly asked: "I heard Fourth Brother say that our teacher recently accidentally broke a brush washer? I have some top-quality..."

Han Li sighed, raised his chin, gestured, and urged: "Let's go."

Qin Zong then came back to his senses, hurriedly turned back to look ahead again, but saw that the woman had stopped at some point, and was now standing to one side.

Her figure was slender and well-proportioned, standing gracefully. Her bearing carried quite an air of the forest and mountains. Clashing with the market atmosphere around her, she stood out all the more, drawing passersby to look more than once.

However, he didn't know if it was Qin Zong's illusion. He seemed to see the other person sighing. While sighing, she also looked in his direction, then looked toward the road ahead.

For some reason, he always felt this sighing feeling was very similar.

—It seemed he had just been sighed at, and now was being sighed at again. It was as if he had been urged.

Did they all think he was following too slowly?

Qin Zong hurriedly walked a few quick steps to catch up.

Song Miao was turning sideways to look back.

On the road, a protruding signboard blocked the view, so the appearance of the Taixue student "Brother Han" couldn't be seen clearly. But the constable standing behind was right in the candlelight, illuminated very clearly.

He was a young man of weak crown age.

His appearance was ordinary, but his attire was meticulously chosen; the color of his brocade robe differed from the common black or dark blue, being instead a lighter shade of cyan, and on his head he honestly wore a wooden cap to bind his hair, yet that wooden cap actually had openwork carved patterns on both sides, quite elegant.

As for the jade at his waist, it looked very much like Hetian jade, its luster and oiliness both extremely fine.

——Where did such a wealthy official runner come from?

He stood for a few breaths, and seeing the people behind quickly catch up, Song Miao only then continued forward.

She timed it right, and still rushed to the workshop to pick up the meat and vegetables she had pre-ordered.

She walked for a good while, finally returning to Sanzao County Alley.

Because two people escorted her, and one of them even knew half her background, she actually felt more relaxed and at ease than returning home alone; when she entered the alley end, opened the door, and then went to light the lamps and candles.

And at this time Qin Zong, who had followed into the alley end, was about to move forward, but was stopped by Han Li at his side reaching out a hand.

He froze, turned his head and asked: "Brother Han?"

"Let's go."

Qin Zong was quite baffled, and hurriedly asked again: "Don't we need to go ask a few questions? Didn't you also say earlier that you still didn't know whether this woman had any involvement……"

Han Li pointed at that door signboard and said: "No need to ask, I know this person."

Inside the room a lamp was lit, and that lamp was specially placed on a crooked stool at the doorway, looking like it was guiding the two of them, while Qin Zong also held a lantern in his hand.

By the light of these two sources, one could faintly make out the large characters "Song Family Eatery" on the signboard.

Actually, just after entering this Sanzao County Alley, walking halfway, seeing the rear wall of Nan Lu Academy behind, Han Li already had some guesses in his heart.

When he saw this signboard, and then saw the pushcart placed in the main hall, and the wooden placard hanging beside the pushcart bearing words like "Song's Green Bean Paste Glutinous Rice" and "Song's Mutton Shao Mai", he understood even more clearly.

——So it actually turned out to be this family.

It wasn't considered far either.

"A skilled cook household, quite famous in the vicinity; even if something happens, the monk can run but the temple can't." He explained a couple more sentences to Qin Zong, "In the middle of the night, there's only a lone woman in that house, it's not proper for the two of us to enter again."

He added: "I'll come ask again tomorrow morning."

Qin Zong hurriedly said: "How can I trouble Brother Han like this? Then I'll come ask together with you tomorrow morning?"

He also laughed and said: "Speaking of cook households, my family has several cooks, all with skills that can be shown off — since Brother Han has come to the Capital Prefecture Office, you needn't eat that public kitchen food, just taste all my family's cooks' skills!"

Speaking, he climbed the pole, and immediately said: "Why not taste tomorrow morning? Just hired a Northern-side cook, his bamboo shoot tossed noodles are very tasty — Brother Han is from Guanzhong, right?"

Han Li, however, shook his head and said: "I already have food in the morning, no need."

Qin Zong was disappointed for a moment, hurriedly chatted with him again, saying this and that, while speaking he turned to walk back, hadn't taken two steps when he saw Han Li suddenly stop and turn back.

He hurriedly also turned back, looking from the main gate inside, and saw that in the Song Family Eatery, the young woman he had followed all the way was just taking out a sharp knife from that soft padded basket.

That knife wasn't considered large, pointed tip and narrow body, brand new.

She took the knife, held it in her hand and tested the blade, then wiped it a few times with water from the basin, only then hung it on the wooden rack leaning against the wall — that wooden rack already had three or four knives of various sizes inserted, from this view neat and tidy, cleanly eaten, still gleaming with light, blending seamlessly with the stove, actually very harmonious.

Qin Zong sighed and admired in his heart, turned his head just to praise "Brother Han's deduction is good", but saw that Brother Han beside him was not looking at the Song family direction at all, that turning back was actually facing the other side, looking at another house on the right.

"What's wrong?" The flattery that had reached his mouth was swallowed back at once, and he hurriedly asked.

"Silence."

Qin Zong hurriedly shut his mouth, waited a moment, then heard Han Li ask again: "Heard it?"

Qin Zong froze, only then turned his ear to listen, and took two steps toward the right front, and sure enough faintly heard some noisy sounds from inside that house on the right.

"There are some sounds." He immediately became cautious, braced against the wall, leapt high, to look at the movement inside.

"Pitch black, no lamps lit, can't see." He said.

Han Li looked at the tightly closed rear gate of Nan Lu Academy opposite, then glanced at the Song Ji Eatery at the side, then said to Qin Zong: "Watch this house, don't make a scene, investigate carefully tomorrow then speak."

Qin Zong had after all run legs for three or two months at the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy, and already felt this house was somewhat off, his heart was actually more excited than anything else, only secretly thinking: Could it be that this time I actually personally ferret out something? Just hoping to quickly make a merit, so Fourth Brother will look at me with new eyes!

While thinking, he immediately nodded and said: "Good! Good! Brother Han, I'll come investigate this house tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow?"

Han Li raised an eyebrow and asked: "You've been at the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy for three months, and no one has told you what 'watch a bit' means?"

The excitement on Qin Zong's face slowly faded, after a long while he swallowed his saliva and asked: "Brother Han's meaning, could it be…… tonight, have to start watching?"

Han Li nodded as a matter of course and said: "Since it feels off, and we need to watch, then of course we must keep watching continuously — if you have manpower, guard front and back in shifts, if no manpower, guard it yourself, but this is just my casual suggestion, not forcing you, if you can't watch, going home is fine."

Qin Zong's heart went cold halfway, hurriedly said: "Then I…… then I'll send Brother Han back first?"

"I still have the Capital Prefecture Office's transfer order in hand, enough to deal with the Instructor, I can return whenever, no need for you to send me."

Han Li lightly and cleverly sent him away, then added: "If you don't know how to watch, since you have skilled cooks, properly prepare late-night snacks and breakfast, respectfully go invite a couple of veteran Censors to bring along, can save a lot of effort — you've always been keen and sharp, conducting yourself in the world, don't need others to teach."

This one praise lifted Qin Zong's heart right back up, but seeing Han Li just walk forward like that, he hurriedly stepped forward and asked: "Then Brother Han…… what are your arrangements?"

Han Li turned back to look at him and said: "I'm just a Taixue student, transferred to the Capital Prefecture Office to help out, reporting for duty also takes effect tomorrow, naturally I must return to Taixue."

"I've also never stayed at the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy, never followed Capital cases, never handled case files, never caught anyone, and even more don't know how to watch people."

Han Li paused, seeming in a pretty good mood: "I'll leave first, if I return late, afraid I'll disturb my dormitory mates' rest."

Finished speaking, he indeed cupped his hands, laughing as he strode away.

Left Qin Zong alone standing in place, heart cold and hollow, only feeling a gust of wind blow, his whole person turning weak.

He was born wealthy, although he said he came to the Capital Prefecture Office to do "real work", it was just running up and down, eating and drinking, getting familiar faces; as for other matters, people didn't dare fully entrust them to him.

Qin Zong wasn't stupid either, how could he not know everyone's thoughts.

He said with his mouth he wanted to do things, but actually what to do, how to do it, in his heart there was fundamentally no calculation, from childhood he hadn't suffered any hardship, now being left here, he foolishly dazed for a while, didn't know where a surge of energy came from, turned back to look at that right-side pitch-black house once more, gritted his teeth, hurriedly left this Sanzao County Alley.

Walked to the bustling area, found a wine shop that could see the Sanzao County Alley entrance, Qin Zong sat down at a table by the door.

He ordered a few small dishes, then fished out a handful of money and pushed it to the waiter.

"Help me find someone with fast legs and tight mouth to make a trip to the Qin Residence in Junyi Bridge Street alley to deliver a message, have two people come here to find me, and tell the family to prepare some late-night snacks and breakfast, all top quality."

The waiter agreed in one breath, hurried to the door to call someone.

Here Qin Zong sat alone at the door, first time taking charge of a matter, also didn't know how to do it, whether doing it had any use or not.

He sat for a long time, didn't dare drink wine, could only pour tea to gulp down, but drank too much and needed to relieve himself, yet afraid he'd miss someone, and not quite clear on how to watch, only felt the wait was drying him up, and no one came, heart annoyed beyond measure.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Diao Zi, who had only fled Sanzao County Alley with a few brothers the night before, was even more agitated.

"That young lady really went to the Xunpu?! Did the rest of those students go or not?" Hearing his subordinate's reply, he couldn't even stay seated, springing to his feet with a clang to ask.

The subordinate hurriedly said: "Ma the Patrol Officer didn't say much either; most likely the students didn't go — he only relayed that a young lady from Sanzao County Alley went to report, saying that yesterday someone intruded into a civilian residence at night, injured several Taixue students, and clearly described the culprits' appearance and accent."

"The moment he heard that description, he knew it was us few; he hurriedly sent someone to bring word, telling us to think of a way to settle this matter, not to let it blow up."

"Brother Diao... should we tell Liao the Headman?" This subordinate was also uncertain.

"Tell him fart all! Yesterday the Headman still gave us several hundred cash for wine, praising us for handling things well; today you'd go slap his face — you want to die, die on your own, don't drag me down!"

Diao Zi spat on the ground.

They had botched their duty yesterday, and feared they had truly injured those Taixue students, and even more feared Patrol Soldiers showing up at their door.

But they waited a whole night and saw no movement, until the lookout reported the students had returned early and didn't look seriously injured; only then did they breathe a sigh of relief.

Because they had poked a hole in things and still wanted to salvage it, naturally they dared not report to the higher-ups.

Who knew that upon returning, the Account Room took out money and gave it to him, saying it was the Headman's reward, asking them brothers to go drink wine.

— With things like this, it was even more impossible to speak of it.

Just as they were at a loss, another man crashed in at the door, urgently saying: "Brother Diao, you told me to watch that Song family woman; I followed her all the way — today she went to the Xunpu to report to the authorities, and also went to the Government Office, wanting to investigate the Song family house deed!"

Diao Zi's mind went "buzz" at once.

He felt the matter was somewhat big, but didn't know just how big; however he was even more certain that right now he absolutely could not report to the higher-ups; he hurriedly summoned all his subordinates from last night, told them the whole story once through, and asked: "With the situation like this now, you all think of a plan, offer some ideas; otherwise when push comes to shove, not only will I be in trouble, not a single one of you big guys will escape!"

Snakes have snake ways, rats have rat ways.

Sure enough, a sharp underling came up with a scheme.

"Brother Diao, we're afraid — but isn't she afraid? She's just a young woman; most likely she's so scared she doesn't dare sleep at night! Going to report to the yamen today is also just seeking peace of mind — since that's so, why not start from the yamen, drag things out a bit, let her know reporting to officials is useless, and instead brings trouble upon herself; most likely she won't dare stir things up again afterward."

"It'll tie her down just right, so she has no time to check that deed, and we can also see how to quickly find someone to backdate the paperwork."

Diao Zi only felt this made perfect sense, and asked: "How exactly to drag it out?"

"Easy!" That sharp underling slapped his thigh. "We don't need to bother Second Master with this — spend some silver, ask Ma the Patrol Officer to help a little; no need for him to show his face, just have his men send a few people to invite that young lady to the Xunpu."

"Isn't she the one who sets up a stall at the Taixue Gate? Then invite her to the Xunpu early in the morning; wait until her food is ready, but don't let her sell it, block the doorway and take her away, bring her to the yamen for questioning until afternoon before releasing her; by then her prepared food will be spoiled, and she'll have nowhere to argue — isn't it because she herself reported the case that the Patrol Officers, having to account for their actions, are helping her by tailing her so closely, right?"

"Harass her for a few days, waste a few days of business; she's not stupid, she'll naturally know to weigh things."

For a moment, the whole room echoed with agreement.

Diao Zi listened, and also felt he couldn't pick a single flaw; it was extremely clever. He praised that subordinate again and again, and with a ruthless resolve, quietly scraped together money overnight to bribe Ma the Patrol Officer.

Song Miao naturally knew nothing of all these things happening behind her back.

She finished packing up, originally thinking the tail behind her would come in to question her — she had even prepared tea and water — but half a day passed with no one coming, so she went out the door — only to see two figures leaving one after another.

What did this mean again?

Were they really just seeing her home?

She only felt puzzled, but had no time to dwell on it; she took the oil lamp back inside, locked the main gate tight, and began hurriedly preparing all kinds of materials for tomorrow's stall.

She returned late today, and it was very late by the time she finished preparing what needed preparing.

She still slept in the Main Hall tonight; at the appointed hour she rose, busy all morning, and finally got things seven or eight parts ready — only to open the door and see several Patrol Officers standing outside, and she froze at once.

The men seemed to have waited a while; seeing her open the door, the leader stepped forward: "Are you Song Xiaoniangzi of the Song Family Eatery in Sanzao County Alley? Yesterday, was it you who came to report to the Xunpu, saying the day before someone intruded into a civilian residence at night?"

Not coming yesterday, only coming today, and so early in the morning at that.

Seeing the situation before her, Song Miao knew something was off.

But her face didn't change; she smiled and returned a bow, saying: "Exactly."

And said: "Troubling several Sirs to come to the door; only right now I still have to go set up my stall, afraid I don't have much time to entertain — but I wonder what important business the several of you have today? If convenient, could it be a bit later, after I finish my business?"

The lead Patrol Officer frowned: "This morning we scheduled you here; the rest of the time is naturally scheduled for other places; today you wait, tomorrow he waits, how are we to do our duty?"

And said: "Wait for us to check the situation inside the house, then you come with us back to the Xunpu; there are some things to ask; you answer quickly, and naturally you'll return quickly."

Song Miao immediately understood the bottom of it.

She no longer pushed that cart, nor looked for excuses to delay or refuse, but directly stepped back, opened the door wide, and invited everyone in.

The several Patrol Officers walked a circle inside, found not a single trace, all frowned, and said: "You've cleaned up this clean; fundamentally can't tell if anyone intruded at night; have to rely entirely on testimony, and need eyewitnesses — at that point it'll be delayed even longer."

Song Miao agreed, but said: "Since it's like this, afraid one or two shichen may not be enough to return; my prepared glutinous rice doesn't matter, can still find a dock to sell in the afternoon; only a pity the lamb scallion shumai, pork scallion shumai inside, and also the shepherd's purse bamboo shoot tofu-dried filling — these few items simmered too long, the scallions and leaves will yellow, truly a pity — several Sirs out on duty this early, presumably haven't eaten breakfast?"

As she spoke, she opened the steamer baskets.

The scent of scallion meat shumai, even a young master like He Qi who was used to fine food couldn't resist; how could several Patrol Officers with empty stomachs, called up before dawn by superiors to arrange duty, resist?

The men swallowed saliva in succession.

Song Miao took lotus leaves and asked: "Meat shumai are quite large; anyone who can't eat six? Anyone who doesn't like scallions? Or anyone who doesn't eat shepherd's purse?"

All having become Patrol Officers, facing sun and rain day in day out, three meals whether they can scrape together food is uncertain; who still has the qualification to pick likes and dislikes?

"Also have Chenpi Mung Bean Drink, very good for reducing internal heat; or Radish Pork Rib Clear Soup, eating in the morning is also very comfortable — several Sirs help yourselves, I won't assist."

Song Miao spoke while pointing at the steamer pot nearby.

The lead Xunpu swallowed saliva while feeling something was off, saying: "Hey, can't delay too long either."

Song Miao smiled: "This early, the yamen probably hasn't even started duty yet? The Emperor doesn't starve his soldiers; can Patrol Officers not eat a full meal before working?"

These words spoken, made the Patrol Officers behind all turn their eyes to the leader.

Hearts swaying, the leader could no longer say the word "no".

But he ultimately held some bottom line, and asked again: "We are after all Guan Cha; can't eat and take yours for nothing; if people find out and report to superiors it'll be trouble — how do you sell these shumai?"

The moment the leader finished speaking, the Patrol Officers behind all breathed a sigh of relief, one after another chiming in with questions.

"Eat well here, eat quickly — young lady you eat too then go; questioning usually takes long, might not even get out by noon."

"I like lamb filling; this filling looks generous; give me eight lamb scallion shumai first."

"In the morning I want salty soup — which one holds the Radish Pork Rib Clear Soup?"

"How much money total?"

"Wasn't it said there was still Glutinous Rice? What's this mung bean paste Glutinous Rice? Can I get a portion too?"

So the several Patrol Officers who had come to the door, before the duty was done and the people taken away, were already rummaging frantically in their sleeves, pockets, and purses, hurrying to pay for shaomai and Glutinous Rice, fearing that if they were slow they would end up last.