Chapter 89

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Upon hearing the four characters "Song Xiaoniangzi," the one who reacted first was surprisingly Xin Feng.

He involuntarily swallowed a mouthful of saliva and hurriedly said, "I'll go sign the approval; you go receive Song Xiaoniangzi — is it our Sweet Embryo Drink that's come back?"

Speaking, he moved forward to take that official document.

But Han Li crossed his hand and said, "I already signed it on my way back; you rest a bit, drink some water, there'll be plenty of busy time later."

Speaking, he indeed went out the door and left.

At the Hou Yamen gatehouse, as soon as Song Miao arrived, before she could even speak, the two guards standing outside laughed heartily and greeted her.

After she stated her purpose, one immediately went inside to pass the message, while the other brought out a small table.

This guard invited her to sit, thanked her for the drink she sent last time, and said, "On usual night watches, we're always afraid of dozing off, but strong tea has to be boiled with ginger, garlic, and salt — in the middle of the night, where would we get that stuff?"

"Only that day we got Xiaoniangzi's Sweet Embryo; it tasted good and was convenient — just add water, could even brew a second round, and we actually didn't get sleepy all night — halfway through the night someone came out to summon us, we both responded at once, handled the errand capably, and the next day even got praised by our superiors!"

Seeing him describe it so vividly, Song Miao couldn't help but smile, and placed a small packet of pork jerky she had prepared early on the table to the side, saying, "Yesterday someone entrusted me to make pork jerky for Young Master Han; I bought extra meat myself and got some extra — perfect for you to try the flavor — this meat is a bit hard; when you're drowsy at night, chew a piece, and you'll probably wake right up."

She added in a low voice, "Just share it with that young man from last time; there's only a few slices, just for a snack."

Seeing there was indeed only a small packet, and being familiar with Song Miao, the guard didn't refuse but whispered, "Then I'll take it!"

As he spoke, his hand had already swiftly stuffed the jerky into a cabinet to the side, and asked, "When will Xiaoniangzi come back to the Gong Chu to cook? These past few days we've gone through two rotations of cooks, none compare to your skill from last time."

"It's too far in the end, and I only know those two tricks; I won't come embarrass myself!"

Just as they were speaking, Han Li and the messenger came out from inside.

Song Miao bid farewell to that guard, walked a few steps to meet them, first bowed to Han Li, then smiled and said, "I know Young Master Han is busy, but yesterday I got some good news, and was entrusted by someone, so I had to come disturb you again!"

Her movements were light-footed, her tone brisk — neither lively nor playful, but a kind of ease resembling both yet entirely different, natural and graceful, extremely infectious.

Han Li watched her walk over, heard her speak, and couldn't help but smile too, saying, "Thanks for the trip, Stall Owner Song; what good news?"

"It's Cheng Zijian, Young Master Cheng — yesterday the Taixue announced the promotion list; he ranked seventh on the first list and has already entered the Neishe. Not knowing how to come thank the government office, he specially asked me to help pass a message."

Hearing it was seventh on the first list, Han Li subconsciously frowned.

If the one reporting this news were Cheng Zijian himself, he would inevitably have to scold him thoroughly, teach him a good lesson, then assign homework — make him find a teacher to investigate where he went wrong, then copy out the essay and carefully revise it.

Cheng Zijian's personality is timid and indecisive; pure encouragement does more harm than good, coddling makes him regress — only beating works.

But the beating can't be too heavy; after beating, he still needs appropriate affirmation.

But the person standing before him now is different; Han Li's face couldn't stay stern.

In front of Song Miao, he didn't want to appear overly aggressive, so he smiled and said a few polite words: "I understand; thanks for relaying the message, Stall Owner Song. Congratulate him for me, and tell him to keep at it — next year enter the Shangshe."

Song Miao acknowledged, took off the basket on her back, and handed over a bundle from inside, saying, "Entrusted by Young Master Cheng, I made some pork jerky to send over — he remembers Young Master Han's many pointers and teachings, is very grateful; he said when the government office is done being busy and Young Master has free time, he wants to thank you in person, and also asked me to arrange a banquet to invite you…"

She pointed at the bundle and said, "Made quite a lot; already packed separately. If you can't wait for mealtime, eat a couple slices first — though it's tough on the teeth, it can stave off hunger for an hour or two."

Han Li's smile deepened; he accepted the bundle, bowed with clasped hands in thanks, and said, "Last night I was indeed hungry and searching everywhere for food — thanks for the trouble, Stall Owner Song!"

Song Miao then asked what dishes he liked to eat, so she could prepare in advance when the time came.

Han Li didn't even think, immediately saying, "Stall Owner Song just cook whatever you feel like; this Han doesn't pick food — everything's good."

Song Miao smiled in acknowledgment.

After several exchanges, this Young Master Han was always easy to talk to; getting along was extremely comfortable.

Already counting as an acquaintance, Song Miao's words and actions were no longer as restrained as at first meeting.

She first mentioned finding half a bolt of cloth on her stall cart, not saying that Qin Zong had already told her to just throw it away, only saying: "I saw many small burn holes on it, and it smelled of incense; I found it very strange. Not knowing the situation, I kept it for now."

Finishing her words, she took out the half-bolt of wrapped cloth from her sleeve.

Han Li listened seriously, took the cloth, looked at the burned holes, and also smelled it, saying, "Should be from incense candles burning."

He compared it a couple times, expression gradually turning serious, saying, "Should be the back hem of a robe, but the burn positions are truly strange."

Song Miao said, "Like someone who wore the same clothes for a whole day without washing or changing — just don't know where it got burned like this."

"Just burning incense at home, normally shouldn't burn this many holes." Han Li said, "Looking at this, it seems like it was burned by large incense and candles at some temple."

Ordinary families burn at most three incense sticks per person; how big is an incense burner?

Right now it's not a festival; who would swarm to burn incense and candles? Even if they did, how could it burn into this thousand-hole hundred-wound state?

He's read all the confessions from the trials; every suspect must first account for their whereabouts within three days — yet no one confessed to having gone to a temple.

Burning incense and worshipping Buddha isn't something shameful; there's no need to hide it — so why hide it?

Thinking to this point, Han Li increasingly felt there must be something wrong.

He didn't delay; immediately turned and went to the gatehouse, asked a guard to go call Xin Feng, bring a Censor, two Chai Guan out, and had Kong Fuyang prepare ten sets of retrial approval documents in advance, names left blank, to be filled in when he returned.

Seeing him so solemn, Song Miao hurriedly told him about meeting Cheng Erniang and her daughter, the two doing starch-washing for someone, and the clothes also having such burn holes; she also said she just went to look and saw the clothes' lower hem embroidered with extremely exquisite bamboo branches.

"Though I'm not skilled at needlework, I have some discernment — the stitching is extremely fine and dense; bamboo leaves and branches embroidered like the real thing — even top embroidery women in the market might not easily achieve such good embroidery skill."

"Which temple? What are the mother and daughter's names?"

"The Guangji Temple between Zhuque Gate and Yu Jie." Song Miao hesitated, "Er Niangzi came from the south; only she and a daughter, days extremely difficult, just arrived, stayed at that temple less than two days — likely doesn't know the ins and outs of this matter, just helping starch-wash clothes. If the yamen questions them…"

Han Li said: "Rest assured, I have my sense of propriety; won't disturb others."

Knowing this person was always extremely reliable, since he said rest assured, Song Miao truly set her mind at ease.

Just as they were speaking, Xin Feng came out with several people.

Seeing Song Miao, he first smiled and greeted her; after learning about the burned-hole clothes and Guangji Temple in succession, the smile on his face immediately vanished. He pointed at a Guan Cha and said: "The owner of those clothes definitely has a problem — find the person first, immediate retrial!"

That Guan Cha received the order but stood in place, hesitating, and didn't leave for a good while.

Seeing this, Han Li said: "No need to make it too complicated — go check which suspect's clothes are missing a piece from the lower hem, bring that person out — the rest of the procedure, have Kong Fuyang help walk through it."

The constable looked as if he had let out a breath of relief, and left at once.

Xin Feng paid no attention to any of this, but said to another Censor, "I don't want to go find Qin Jie. You explain the situation here to him and ask him for two squads of Patrol Soldiers. See if he agrees—if he won't even agree to this, I don't want to wear this skin anymore!"

This sounded like nothing so much as sulking, but the Censor did not dare neglect it and left at once.

Song Miao, listening from the side, could not help but ask, "If the yamen intends to search Guangji Temple, why not let me go along? First, I can show the way; second, I am acquainted with that mother and daughter, so questioning them will be easier. Seeing an acquaintance, they surely won't be so frightened."

Xin Feng had not yet spoken when Han Li shook his head first and said, "There is no need. After all, this case has not been solved, and we do not know if there are still accomplices of the thief at large outside. There are many people and mixed voices in the temple; it is better that you do not show yourself."

He added, "Since the hour is still early, you should go back first, lest you stay here too long and find endless household matters."

Hearing this, Song Miao no longer insisted, took her leave of the two, and left in a hurry.

She had barely walked out one street when two people on fast horses came toward her, one wearing a brocade robe on top and official boots below—it was Qin Zong.

Seeing him riding in such a hurry, not knowing what urgent matter it was, Song Miao did not greet him.

She left cleanly enough, naturally not knowing that Qin Zong had brought his companions into the Houshu, gleefully intending to find Xin Feng to claim credit, preparing to report how he had not disgraced his mission and had already brought back that Sweet Embryo.

However, as soon as Qin Zong entered the courtyard, he saw Xin Feng and two Censors coming out together with Han Li.

He hurriedly said, "Where are you all going? I brought that Sweet……"

He had quarreled with Qin Jie that morning; at this moment, when Xin Feng looked at Qin Zong, naturally his eyes were not eyes, his nose was not a nose, and he only said stiffly, "Official business!"

While saying this, he turned his head and said, "Zheng Yan, hurry! Do not delay your afternoon affairs."

Han Li nodded, rewrapped the half piece of cloth in his hand in a cloth bundle, then handed it to Qin Zong, instructing him, "Take it to the Interrogation Room and say this is the physical evidence urged by Censor Wang, very urgent. Have it sent in quickly—someone inside is waiting for this to interrogate the suspect."

Hearing the two words "very urgent," Qin Zong agreed in a flurry, grabbed the cloth bundle, and ran inside. Indeed, when he reached the outside of the Interrogation Room, he had not yet had time to repeat Han Li's words when a person came out in a hurry—it was Censor Wang himself.

Seeing the cloth bundle in Qin Zong's hand, Censor Wang was overjoyed and said, "Little Qin, you are here to deliver the physical evidence, right!"

Qin Zong hurriedly handed over the item.

Censor Wang took it, opened it, carefully examined it, then looked as if he had let out a breath of relief and sneered, "Settled! The thief actually dared to conceal it. With this fine thing, even if I don't scare him to death, I'll trick him into pretending to be dead!"

While saying this, he hurried back into the Interrogation Room.

Only Qin Zong was left standing outside, looking rather dazed.

——How was it that this piece of tattered cloth looked somewhat familiar?

He scratched his head, walked a few more steps outside, suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and came to a sudden realization.

——Wasn't this the piece that Song Xiaoniangzi brought him this morning, with many holes in it?

He had said at the time that some thief must have accidentally snagged it, a piece of tattered cloth, just throw it away.

How could it be that in less than half a day, this tattered cloth suddenly underwent a turnaround and became some "urgent physical evidence," even requiring him to escort it carefully?

Wasn't that too strange!

While Qin Zong was wondering here, Song Miao, who had just returned to Suanzao Alley, also felt something was strange.

Outside the door of the Song Family Eatery, a carriage was stopped, with a coachman sitting in front, and another person standing to the side, staring at the gate, looking anxious.

A wooden plaque with the character "Deng" hung on the front of the carriage, and both the coachman and the anxious-looking person were very strange faces.

Song Miao went up to them, could not help but look left and right once more, then asked, "May I ask what business you two have?"

The person waiting outside the door asked, "Young Lady, who are you?"

"My surname is Song, I am the owner of this house," Song Miao replied.

The man was immediately overjoyed and said, "I am surnamed Yu, originally a Xue Zheng at Taixue."

While saying this, he took out an invitation card and handed it to Song Miao.

Song Miao was stunned, reached out to take it, lowered her head to look, and indeed it detailed this person's origin and identity.

The man surnamed Yu said, "My teacher is surnamed Chen and also serves at Taixue. He came to this eatery the day before yesterday, and Young Lady treated him to a breakfast, among which there was something called Snow Steamed Cake. I wonder if you still remember?"

Hearing the other's description, how could Song Miao not know this referred to that Chen Fuzi of Taixue, so she replied, "Indeed there is such a matter."

The man let out a breath of relief and said, "It is actually an improper request—I do not know if Young Lady has any arrangements this afternoon? Could you go to Jinming Pool once to help prepare a table of dishes? The price can be discussed."

This invitation came suddenly, and Song Miao could not make a decision at once, so she asked, "I do not know what the situation is, and how many people need dishes? Are there any requirements?"

The man surnamed Yu said, "There are only four guests in total. It would be best if you could also prepare an extra portion for me, making five."

"Among the guests, the younger one is over fifty years old, and the older one is over seventy. It would be best to make some soft and rotten food easy to chew. These few people attended a feast yesterday but did not eat their fill. Today they went to a monastery garden to view flowers, compose poems, and paint. The outside banquet they called for at noon was not eaten well."

"My master says that Young Lady Song's Taro Braised Pork and Pig Trotter Rice are extremely delicious, with superb skill. The others have also become curious and want to taste them……"

Hearing this, Song Miao shook her head and said, "Taro Braised Pork and Pig Trotter Rice are dishes requiring much effort. It is already noon now, and there is no time to purchase ingredients. If they want to eat in the evening, it will probably be too late."