Capture the Jade (Attacking the Jade/Inverted Fate/Inverted Jade) - Chapter 36
Chapter 36
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall erupted like a tossed hornet’s nest. Overwhelmed with anxiety and confusion, everyone looked around and began chattering among themselves.
“Someone else?”
“Who is Shizi talking about?”
“Every word just now was about Qingzhi. Could it be Qingzhi?”
“But Qingzhi jumped down the well and died!”
Lin Chengyou swept his gaze across the room, and the hall instantly fell silent. Judicial Officer Yan dipped his brush in ink, quietly waiting for Gejin to speak.
Gejin’s mind was still stuck on Lin Chengyou’s declaration. Clutching the front of her robe in terror, she asked, “It wasn’t Weizi’s doing? Then why was her Mohe treasure dropped beneath my daybed?”
Lin Chengyou said, “On the day of the incident, you caught a chill and felt unwell, so you went to rest earlier than usual. Since Qingzhi was your personal maid, where was she when you were disfigured by the ‘evil ghost’?”
Gejin’s expression shifted unpredictably.
“That afternoon she asked me for leave, saying an old acquaintance had come looking for her and they had agreed to go out for a stroll that evening. Seeing as she had been quite diligent lately, I granted it. She handed my medicinal soup over to Lvhua and left around the beginning of the hour of the Dog (7:00 PM). Later, I went out for an appointment, but because I felt unwell, I returned early. It was around the end of the hour of the Pig (11:00 PM) by then. Qingzhi was indeed not in the room; it was Luhua who served me before I went to bed.”
“So that night, she wasn’t by your side?”
Gejin nodded mutely.
Lin Chengyou gestured to the crowd, and a certain helper instantly darted forward.
Teng Yuyi looked over—it was the talkative helper she had met that evening at the small Buddha hall. She remembered his name was Ah Yan.
Lin Chengyou asked Ah Yan, “You usually welcome and see off guests in front of the building. If someone from outside wants to see one of the ladies in the pavilion, are you the one responsible for passing the message?”
Ah Yan gave a flattering smile while pulling in his shoulders.
“That’s right. The master doesn’t allow the ladies and maidservants in the building to meet guests privately. If someone comes to make an appointment, they must first report to the master or the madam.”
“Did anyone come looking for Qingzhi on the eighteenth of last month?”
“Let alone the eighteenth of last month—ever since Caifeng Tower opened, this humble one has never seen anyone come looking for Qingzhi. However, Qingzhi did leave the building on the night of the eighteenth. But there were truly too many guests that night, so this humble one isn’t sure when she returned.”
“You don’t remember, but someone else does. That night, Qingzhi left the building entirely alone—not only was there no man accompanying her, but there wasn’t even a female companion. Since it was getting late, someone found it rather odd and glanced at her a few extra times. As it turned out, Qingzhi returned in less than an hour. Upon returning, she bought a packet of preserved cherries from the nearby Hu shop. It was around the end of the hour of the Dog (9:00 PM) then. This can be testified to by the shophand at the fruit store opposite Caifeng Tower and the old man behind the counter at the tavern.”
Gejin pricked up her ears to listen intently, her eyes widening larger and larger.
Lin Chengyou looked at Gejin, “Qingzhi clearly returned at the end of the hour of the Dog, yet when you returned to your room at the end of the hour of the Pig, you didn’t see her. For a whole hour, have you thought about where she was hiding?”
Gejin’s lips began to tremble.
“Could she have been hiding under my daybed? No, no, no… that maid is exceptionally lazy and has lied more than once. Sometimes she sneaks off to the front hall to watch music and dance performances, and other times she runs to other senior ladies’ quarters to leech food and drink, slipping away for an hour or two at a time. When asked afterward, she plays deaf and mute to everything. I hardened my heart to send her away, but every time, that maid would kowtow and beg for mercy. Though I detested it to the extreme, I also knew she was fairly nimble at her work, and pitying her young age, I thought she would improve with a bit more guidance. That night… that night… perhaps it was like that too. No—even if she had ten thousand faults, this servant treated her well after all. I cannot understand why she would harm me.”
Eji and the others couldn’t help interrupting,”That’s right, Shizi. Qingzhi was Gejin’s senior maidservant; if Gejin met with misfortune, Qingzhi would be the first to suffer. Master and servant share glory and shame alike; no servant wouldn’t hope for her mistress’s well-being.”
“Exactly. Even if Lady Gejin was disfigured, it wouldn’t be Qingzhi’s turn to become the courtesan leader. That maid was greedy and vain, having received countless good things from Lady Gejin in the past. Even if just for those benefits, she would have protected her mistress with her life. Besides, if she was the one who harmed Lady Gejin, how could she act as if nothing had happened afterward?”
“But Qingzhi had nightmares constantly a few days ago,” a soft voice sounded.
It was Luhua, who shared a room with Qingzhi.
Teng Yuyi was startled—Baozhu and Juan Erli had also said the same thing that day.
Woji bowed to Lin Chengyou and said, “This servant once reported to Shizi that Qingzhi began having nightmares about seven or eight days ago, repeatedly saying a ghost was coming to grab her. She was restless all night, but when asked about the reason after waking up, she wouldn’t say a single word.”
He Mingsheng clicked his tongue.
“Gejin’s disfigurement happened on the eighteenth of last month. By logic, Qingzhi should have started having nightmares last month. Why would they only start seven or eight days ago? Shizi, Qingzhi served Gejin every day. If she dared to disguise herself as an evil ghost, Gejin would have recognized her voice the moment she opened her mouth.”
“What’s the rush? I haven’t finished my questioning yet.”
Lin Chengyou returned to behind the desk and ordered someone to bring up a bundle of items.
“Qingzhi seemed to be very fond of preserved cherries. On the day she died,Judicial Officer Yan searched her room and found an unfinished packet of preserved cherries.”
Upon opening the bundle, a sour, foul stench instantly filled the air.
Lin Chengyou tapped the desk.
“Where is Baozhu?”
Baozhu timidly stepped out from the crowd, drew her skirts together, and curtsied.
“Greetings, Shizi.”
“Which day did you happen to see Qingzhi eating this?”
“I don’t remember the exact date, but it should be shortly after Lady Gejin was injured. When this servant pushed the door open to enter, Qingzhi was about to stuff that packet of preserved cherries back under her pillow, but accidentally dropped it to the floor. Some of the preserved cherries spilled out, and this servant caught a glimpse of quite a few pearl and jade items hidden underneath.”
Eji was flabbergasted.
“Baozhu, could you have seen it wrong? Where would a rough-work maid like Qingzhi get pearl and jade items?”
Baozhu bit her lip and shook her head, indicating she hadn’t seen it wrong.
Lin Chengyou picked up a pair of bamboo chopsticks from the tooth-cylinder and stirred the preserved cherries in front of everyone. The chopsticks plunged straight to the bottom; clearly, there were no items hidden beneath.
“As you can see, other than foul-smelling preserved cherries, there is nothing else inside. For someone as greedy as Qingzhi, who went through the trouble of buying preserved cherries and bringing them back, why would she let them turn sour without eating them? Therefore, Baozhu wasn’t mistaken—this item was used as a cover to deceive people’s eyes and ears. However, a few days ago when Judicial Officer Yan led men to search the room, not a single valuable piece of jewelry was found in Qingzhi’s room. This is strange: where on earth did those items go?”
Hearing up to this point, the Taoist master from Dongming temple finally couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“Could it be that someone took the things from Qingzhi’s room after she died? This old Taoist knew it! Qingzhi definitely didn’t commit suicide. The killer murdered Qingzhi and was afraid of giving themselves away, which is why they were in such a hurry to cover up the traces!”
Lin Chengyou said unhurriedly, “Putting aside how Qingzhi actually died for a moment, judging solely from Lady Gejin finding Weizi’s Mohe treasure under her bed, someone not only disfigured Lady Gejin, but also wanted to frame Lady Weizi for it. As several madams have said, if Gejin was disfigured, Qingzhi would only suffer along with her. For Qingzhi to be willing to betray her own mistress, it must be because someone promised her a greater benefit. That is why Qingzhi, despite her usual laziness, actively offered to clean the room that day. She pretended to inadvertently discover the Mohe treasure under the daybed, causing Lady Gejin to mistakenly believe Lady Weizi was the killer.”
The hall stirred with uproar. Everyone understood the meaning behind these words: the one who conspired to harm Gejin might not be just Qingzhi alone. Qingzhi was in the open, while that person was in the dark.
Teng Yuyi poured herself a cup of sugarcane juice. What a brilliant scheme to kill two birds with one stone—eliminating both Gejin and Weizi at the same time. The only person who could profit was that single individual.
She sized up that person over the rim of her cup. However, that person looked completely unbothered, whether out of a clear conscience or because she was confident Lin Chengyou wouldn’t be able to trace it to her.
Lin Chengyou sneered mockery: “Unfortunately, Qingzhi died very quickly, leaving no living witness for this matter. To figure out the truth, we still have to investigate step by step from the very beginning. Just now Ah Yan said Qingzhi left the building three times a month. But for a maid like Qingzhi, she usually only had the chance to leave in the evening. By that time, the gates of Pingkang Ward were already closed, so at most she could only wander around within the ward. I didn’t know where Qingzhi went to amuse herself, so I had no choice but to make a round of all the shops and taverns in Pingkang Ward. Fortunately, through this search, I actually found some good things.”
He picked up a stack of receipts from the side table.
“Every time Qingzhi left the building, it was generally for three things: 1. Buying food and wine; 2. Entrusting people to inquire about news; 3. Occasionally going to a pawnshop to pawn items. That pawnshop happens to be in Pingkang Ward. Qingzhi pawned four items there on separate occasions.
“The first time was a silver-wire armlet; the second time was a single coral earring; the third time she pawned a single silver-hooked pin. Because every time she was missing the matching piece, the owner of the pawnshop guessed that the items came from an improper source. Though he was willing to accept them, he would only give Qingzhi one or two hundred cash. Qingzhi didn’t bargain either, taking the money with a giggle before leaving.”
The courtesans listened in a mix of shock and anger.
“So those few pieces of jewelry we lost were stolen by Qingzhi! That maid looked foolish, but in reality, she was full of calculations. Those pieces of jewelry weren’t very eye-catching, and by the time we noticed, many days had already passed, so suspicion would never fall on her.”
Lin Chengyou drew out a single sheet from the stack of papers by his hand.
“The fourth time, Qingzhi showed some progress—she pawned a hairpin decorated with four butterflies and clustered pearls. This counts as the most expensive piece of jewelry she ever stole. For the first time ever, the pawnshop owner gave Qingzhi two strings of cash. But strangely enough, Qingzhi redeemed it just a few days later, and after that, she never went to pawn anything again.”
Teng Yuyi’s gaze fixed: this was truly interesting. Since she stole it to sell, why redeem it back?
Lin Chengyou said, “This matter is worth pondering. I asked the owner of the pawnshop to draw that hairpin according to its appearance. Take a look and see whose jewelry this is.”
He Mingsheng and several madams approached to look. The pattern on the hairpin resembled a peony with an ink-red center, adorned with four butterflies beside the blossom and decorated with silver powder.
“Eek, isn’t this Yaohuang’s hairpin?” Woji beckoned to Yaohuang, “Come take a look yourself.”
Teng Yuyi scrutinized Yaohuang. Even though she had been called up unexpectedly in the middle of the night, her hair was styled like dense clouds, her complexion was like spring peaches, and her skirt ribbons and clothing were without a single crease out of place.
Yaohuang walked gracefully to the side table and leaned down to look at the drawing, but hesitated to answer for a long time.
Lin Chengyou gazed intently at Yaohuang, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
“Is it yours?”
Yaohuang’s eyelashes trembled.
“That’s right, it belongs to this servant.”
Her voice was soft, melodious, and sweet, like a yellow oriole emerging from a valley.
Eji and Woji nodded to testify.
“It can’t be wrong. Last year, Young Master Wei—the eldest son of the Marquise of Ning’an—gave it to Lady Yaohuang. Young Master Wei is skilled in painting; that day when he was drunk, he personally painted the pattern and had it sent to the jewelry shop to be made. A second piece cannot be found anywhere in Chang’an City.”
Just as Lin Chengyou was about to speak, several clerks and madams returned from the backyard.
“Finished searching?” Lin Chengyou asked.
“Finished searching,” a clerk hurriedly approached holding a fine silk handkerchief.
“The hairpin was retrieved directly from Lady Yaohuang’s dressing table.”
“Thank you,” Lin Chengyou said to the clerks. Taking the hairpin, he compared it with the drawing, confirming it was the same one.
“Guess how much Qingzhi spent to redeem this hairpin back,” Lin Chengyou spun the hairpin lazily.
“A full ingot of gold.”
Everyone’s expressions changed in shock—that was no small sum.
“Qingzhi returned it intact to its owner, placing it back on Lady Yaohuang’s dressing table. Leaving aside where she got an ingot of gold for a moment, why would she be willing to return something she went through such trouble to steal?”
Yaohuang’s expression remained serene.
“Shizi ordered a search of this servant’s room, so it was to look for this? This servant didn’t even know this hairpin had been lost; how am I to answer your question?”
Lin Chengyou rose from behind the desk and said casually, “A thief stealing something only to return it has only two possibilities: one, voluntarily; two, under coercion. Regardless of whether Qingzhi was voluntary or coerced, in the short few days between when she pawned this item and when she redeemed it, something unusual must have happened. Qingzhi reached a tacit understanding with you—she returned the item to you, and you helped her keep it quiet.”
Yaohuang pressed her silk fan against her lips and let out a soft chuckle.
“Shizi truly knows how to joke. This servant has never had any friendship with Qingzhi. Were it not for her falling into the well and dying, this servant wouldn’t even remember her name to this day. That maidservant was erratic and nonsensical. After stealing this servant’s item, she redeemed it back—likely upon learning that this hairpin was no ordinary piece of jewelry, she feared being beaten to death if it came to light. It wouldn’t be strange if she redeemed it in a panic out of fright. As for that ingot of gold, who knows where she stole it from.”
Lin Chengyou rested his hands behind his back, tilted his head back, and thought for a moment.
“That makes a bit of sense. Relying solely on the fact that she stole something and returned it indeed cannot prove anything. Therefore, Jucidial Officer Charge Yan and I went to the fruit store opposite to inquire who had bought preserved cherries over the past two months. The shopkeeper said that the prominent ladies of Caifeng Tower never come out to make purchases themselves; whatever they want to eat, they simply have a slip sent out, and the store will package it up and deliver it into the building. Jucidial Officer Yan and I had the shopkeeper bring out the past purchasing slips, and discovered that you bought a large packet of preserved cherries early last month.”
Yaohuang giggled softly.
“What is wrong with this servant eating preserved cherries? This food is everywhere in the streets and alleys—it isn’t as though only Qingzhi is allowed to eat it.”
“However, it is clearly listed on the record: in the past half-year, you only bought preserved cherries that single time.”
Yaohuang remained composed and unruffled.
“In reply to Shizi, although this servant does not particularly care for sweet food, guests often visit this servant’s quarters. Thinking back, perhaps some young gentleman wanted to eat preserved cherries, so this servant temporarily sent someone to buy them. It happened last month; how could this servant still remember?”
“It matters not,” Lin Chengyou patiently picked up an account ledger from the desk.
“If you cannot remember, we shall help you remember. The day you bought the preserved cherries was the second day of last month. Coincidentally, Qingzhi redeemed your hairpin on that exact same day. Looking at the account ledger of your proprietor, Manager He, you claimed to be ill in your room that day and did not entertain any guests. I would like to ask: who was that large packet of preserved cherries bought for?”
Yaohuang pressed her hand against her forehead and pondered for a moment, then suddenly nodded.
“This servant remembers now. That day I was ill and unexpectedly developed a sudden craving for preserved cherries. A sick person’s palate is fickle—things despised in the past might suddenly become irresistibly craved. This servant remembers buying them back that day and eating more than half, not even eating dinner.”
Teng Yuyi, who had been observing as a bystander up to now, was already filled with doubts. Yaohuang was completely impervious to coaxing or pressure, likely confident that Lin Chengyou could not produce concrete evidence. Based solely on the points Lin Chengyou had uncovered, it was indeed impossible to prove that Yaohuang had bribed Qingzhi.
Qingzhi was already dead. Continuing to question in such a mild, painless manner would only prompt Yaohuang to patch her story until it was seamless.
Teng Yuyi glanced out of the corner of her eye: Lin Chengyou was accustomed to playing the cat, so why was he being bluffed by the mouse today?
Lin Chengyou tutted, “And here I thought you bought her favorite preserved cherries out of gratitude for Qingzhi returning your hairpin. According to your words, not only did Qingzhi gain no benefits whatsoever, but she also lost an ingot of gold in the process. If she were a fool, it wouldn’t be strange for her to act this way. However, from our investigations over these past few days, Qingzhi was not only far from foolish, but she was a person of calculating mind.”
He paused, opening a dossier on the side table.
“On the day Qingzhi met with her accident, we called the people in the pavilion one by one for questioning. When Qingzhi was mentioned, everyone’s accounts differed, but certain statements were roughly consistent.
“First: although Qingzhi was lazy and greedy, her hands and feet were nimble. Any chore she could not shirk, she could finish very quickly. From this point of view, Qingzhi was not foolish or dim-witted.
“Second: she seemed to have grown quite wealthy recently, and she became wealthy even before Lady Gejin met with her accident. Not only did she stop stealing items to pawn starting last month, but she also frequently bought food and wine to eat—yet Qingzhi had made no new friends, so the source of this money was unknown.
“Third: Qingzhi often claimed she had an elder sister who was separated from her back then because they were sold to different human-traffickers. Qingzhi cared deeply about the whereabouts of this elder sister and constantly babbled about it on normal days.”
Woji rubbed her disheveled hair at the temples.
“Shizi, this servant often said Qingzhi was muddle-headed, and those words did not wrong her. Where would Qingzhi get an elder sister? If she had one, it was only a dead younger sister. When this servant bought Qingzhi from the human-trafficker back then, she was only seven years old. It was written clearly on her deed of indenture that she was a native of Xingyang. Because her father committed a crime, she was penalized into the criminal registry, and beneath her was only a younger sister. When the disaster struck, her younger sister had already fallen ill and died alongside her mother.”
Lin Chengyou, “Not only did she claim to have a full-blooded elder sister, but she also claimed to be fellow townspeople with the former owner’s concubine. That concubine was surname Rong, a native of Yue Prefecture. Xingyang and Yue Prefecture are separated by far more than a thousand li.”
“This crazy maid,” everyone whispered among themselves.
“She was always a bit erratic on normal days, but these words are completely out of her mind. Shizi, this maid had an eccentric temperament; her words cannot be taken as true.”
“Yet I actually took her crazy words as truth,” Lin Chengyou chuckled mockingly.
“Qingzhi is fifteen this year, and was eight when she was sold. To figure out whether she was lying, one must start with the human-trafficker from seven years ago.”
Hearing these words, a slight ripple appeared on Yaohuang’s expression. Teng Yuyi quietly scrutinized Yaohuang—so Lin Chengyou had been waiting right here! A sentence Qingzhi had uttered unintentionally had actually been followed up and investigated by Lin Chengyou down to its roots.
Unexpectedly, Lin Chengyou pivoted his words, “Leaving aside the matter of the human-trafficker for now, let us return to the night Lady Gejin was disfigured. There are two greatest enigmas: How did that person sneak into the room? And why couldn’t Lady Gejin tell who that person was?”
“The former is easy to explain—they could simply hide beneath the daybed in advance. But the latter makes no sense. That person shouted and cursed loudly, so Lady Gejin should logically have recognized the voice, yet she happened not to recognize it. That is the most incredible aspect of this entire affair.”
Gejin chimed in miserably, “Although this servant didn’t hear who it was,the helper guard the entrance to the inner courtyard every night, so strangers cannot break in. The one who harmed me that night could only be someone from within the building!”
Master Jian Mei said, “Shizi, this old Taoist has heard that among the marketplaces, there are eccentric masters skilled in vocal mimicry—women who can pretend to speak like men, and men who can pretend to speak like women. If that person were skilled in vocal mimicry, it wouldn’t be surprising if Lady Gejin couldn’t tell who it was.”
Lin Chengyou stroked his chin.
“So who in Caifeng Tower is most skilled in vocal mimicry?”
Everyone’s expressions changed drastically as they all turned their gazes onto Yaohuang. Not only was Lady Yaohuang skilled in singing, but she could also imitate the cries of apes and birds. Remarkably tactful and never putting on airs, her imitations of birds and beasts were lifelike and vivid, often delighting the entire room of guests.
Before Lady Gejin arrived, Yaohuang was originally the one expected to become the courtesan leader. Once the title of courtesan leader spread throughout Chang’an, she could save up enough wealth to redeem her own freedom within three years.
Yaohuang looked at Lin Chengyou with a slight smile.
“Shizi’s words are incomprehensible. This servant does know some crude and superficial vocal mimicry, but on that night, this servant went to the Qujiang Lantern Festival with Young Master Wei—the eldest son of the Marquise of Ning’an—and only returned to the city the next day. There were quite a few people accompanying us, and every single one can testify. Shizi may seek out those people from that night for questioning; this servant is not afraid of another investigation.”
“You were not in the building, but Qingzhi was. She was responsible for hiding under the daybed to harm people, while you were responsible for staying completely clear of it. Around that time, sinister ghosts were causing trouble in the building, striking fear into everyone at the mere mention of it. For Qingzhi to disguise herself as a ghost and scratch Gejin was truly seamless. You and she even designed the line of dialogue: ‘You cheap maid, how dare you seduce my husband!’ With this line, even Qingzhi could be cleared of suspicion.”
“Wait,” Eji couldn’t help interrupting.
“Shizi, the one who understands vocal mimicry is Yaohuang, not Qingzhi. If Qingzhi was the one who did it, how could Gejin be duped?”
Lin Chengyou said: “Because Qingzhi knew vocal mimicry as well.”
Everyone was shaken. He Mingsheng stared gobsmacked: “Shizi, how could that be possible? If Qingzhi knew vocal mimicry, someone would have known long ago. Don’t tell me you mean to say Yaohuang taught Qingzhi vocal mimicry on the spot?”
Yaohuang merely smiled.
“Shizi, vocal mimicry relies most on natural talent; it cannot be acquired merely through painstaking study. Even with talent, studying it takes at least three years before making any progress. This servant normally hasn’t even spoken a word to Qingzhi, so where does this come from?”
Lin Chengyou sneered.
“I also very much wanted to know the truth behind this, so I gathered and examined the ancestral registries of everyone in Caifeng Tower. Qingzhi’s registry lists her from Xingyang, yet she claimed to be fellow townspeople with someone from Yue Prefecture. I found no one from Xingyang in Caifeng Tower, but I did find someone from Yue Prefecture. This person was sold seven years ago, and her deed of indenture stated she had a younger sister. Regrettably, before they were sold, this person’s younger sister died prematurely of illness.
Silence fell so heavily over the hall that one could hear a pin drop. Several courtesans who were acquainted with Yaohuang gradually revealed expressions of horror and alarm.
“This person’s parents were originally musician-servants in the Yue Prefecture administration, skilled in singing, expert at playing the pipa, and adept at vocal mimicry—capable of producing strange sounds. The pair of daughters under their care also inherited their parents’ skills, able to skillfully transform their voice tones at a very young age. This musician couple surnamed Nie was implicated in the Li Changmao rebellion case in Jiangnan seven years ago and died in prison shortly after. The younger daughter died of illness, and the elder daughter was sold off—which is today’s Lady Yaohuang.
“Does hearing this sound a bit familiar? Qingzhi was also sold off seven years ago. The only difference is that one was registered in Xingyang, while the other was registered in Yue Prefecture. Yet Qingzhi refused to admit she had a younger sister, insisting instead that she had an elder sister. Hearing that the former owner’s concubine was from Yue Prefecture, she hurriedly claimed she was fellow townspeople with the Rong woman. From this, it is evident that Qingzhi never gave up on searching for her elder sister’s whereabouts, and the money she saved up on normal days was often used to entrust people to inquire for news. Heaven does not fail those who try: on the second day of last month, Qingzhi recognized her biological elder sister—and that person is precisely Yaohuang.”
Master Wudao looked at Lin Chengyou and then at Yaohuang, his eyes widening larger than copper bells. Even if Qingzhi were to suddenly rise from the dead, it wouldn’t shock them more than this matter.
Teng Yuyi nearly knocked over the cup of sugarcane juice in her hand. She had initially thought Yaohuang had bribed Qingzhi, but it turned out the two were actually sisters! Yaohuang was beautiful and bright, whereas Qingzhi had dark, rough skin. Placing the two side by side, no one would ever imagine Yaohuang was Qingzhi’s elder sister.
Yet upon closer inspection, one would find the features around their eyes and brows indeed bore some resemblance. It was just that Yaohuang possessed an elegant composure while the other behaved coarsely. Without deliberate comparison, it was truly difficult to notice the shared family traits between them.
He Mingsheng and Eji opened their mouths wide, not knowing how to respond. Woji swallowed her saliva, being the first to break the silence.
“Shizi, is Yaohuang really Qingzhi’s biological elder sister?”
Lin Chengyou hummed an affirmation.
“Yaohuang’s deed of indenture states it clearly—her original surname was Nie, her childhood name was Ah Fu, and her younger sister was called Ah Qu. When she was sold, Yaohuang was already ten years old, and Qingzhi had turned eight. For the two of them, childhood memories were already engraved into their minds and bones; they couldn’t forget their native registry, and they certainly couldn’t forget the vocal mimicry they had learned. Thus, even though Lady Yaohuang is now a famous courtesan leader in Chang’an, whenever she had the chance, she still couldn’t resist displaying her vocal mimicry—partly to remember her deceased parents, and partly for fear of forgetting this unique skill. Although Qingzhi never revealed this point, she was able to make strange sounds together with her sister in her youth. Even if her skills grew rusty over these years, imitating a middle-aged woman’s voice was no trouble at all.”
Gejin shrieked sharply like an awl.
“It really was you? I have no past grudges or recent enmity with you, why would you harm me like this!”
Weizi was so furious her eyebrows bristled. Staggering up, she rushed toward Yaohuang.
“I have always been on good terms with you! Was it not enough for you and Qingzhi to work together inside and outside to harm Gejin, that you couldn’t even spare me? You clearly knew I lost my Mohe treasure and didn’t dare report it to the authorities, making it impossible for me to defend myself when the time came—yet you intentionally had Qingzhi steal that item to frame me!”
Although Yaohuang maintained composure on her face, her steps instinctively retreated. Weizi was set on grabbing her to demand answers, causing the hall to descend into total chaos.
He Mingsheng stamped his foot.
“Hurry up and stop them!”
Woji and Eji hurriedly crowded forward. Jucidial Officer Yan slapped the desk with a dark face.
“Enough!”
The yamen bailiffs answered in unison, drawing their blades and charging into the hall. Catching sight of the snow-like gleam of the blades, everyone instantly quieted down.
When the commotion had settled down, Lin Chengyou held up the receipts in his hand and said unhurriedly.
“Qingzhi probably never dreamed that the sister she had sought for years was right inside Caifeng Tower. She stole items to pawn and used the exchanged money to ask people to inquire about news. At first, she specifically chose inconspicuous items to target; after several times went unnoticed, her courage grew larger and larger, until the final time she stole from her own sister’s head. The receipt states she pawned the hairpin on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month and redeemed it back on the second day of last month. It was likely during those few days that Qingzhi inadvertently discovered you were her sister.
“The coroner’s autopsy revealed several birthmarks on Qingzhi’s body—confirming their identities between sisters was no difficult matter. After recognizing each other, Qingzhi brought the hairpin back, and you uncharacteristically bought the preserved cherries you dislike for Qingzhi. I guess that ingot of gold Qingzhi used to redeem the hairpin was given by you. Because that hairpin was crafted individually for you by Young Master Wei—the eldest son of the Marquise of Ning’an—and was the only one in Chang’an. Once it drifted into the marketplace, the original owner would soon be known. Young Master Wei was passionately attached to you; even if you didn’t pursue it, Young Master Wei would certainly investigate strictly. By the time it was traced to Qingzhi, she would inevitably be unable to escape a severe punishment.
“In order to protect Qingzhi, you voluntarily provided the gold for her to redeem the item back. And she was also willing to listen to you, her elder sister, never stealing anything again after that.”
Yaohuang let out a soft, gentle sigh, “This servant truly didn’t know Shizi was so skilled at fabricating stories. One moment saying this servant and Qingzhi are sisters, another moment saying this servant personally funded the redemption of the hairpin. But in truth, this servant and Qingzhi have never had any dealings; everyone in Caifeng Pavilion can testify to this.”
Lin Chengyou smiled upon hearing this.
“Yes, no one knew about you and Qingzhi recognizing each other because you two were meeting secretly in private. Caifeng Tower’s business grew more prosperous by the day, showing signs of becoming the premier courtesan house in Chang’an. To attract more guests, your master decided to select a courtesan leader from among all the senior courtesans. As the day drew closer, Gejin overshadowed you. Day and night you thought about how to win, but had no good plan. After recognizing Qingzhi as your younger sister, you suddenly had an idea—having her disguise herself as a ghost to harm people, while you ostentatiously went to the south of the city with Young Master Wei for an outing. To prevent people from suspecting Qingzhi, you even had her alter her voice to act like a middle-aged woman.
“Therefore, although I saw early on that Gejin’s face had been slashed by a person, I never suspected Qingzhi from start to finish—because Gejin could not possibly fail to distinguish her own personal maid. And it was precisely Gejin’s testimony that made the people of Caifeng Tower firmly believe it was the work of an evil ghost.”
The Taoist priests nodded.
“That makes sense then! Why Qingzhi was willing to join hands with someone else to harm her own mistress—turns out that wasn’t an outsider, but her biological elder sister! As long as Lady Gejin’s face was ruined and Lady Weizi was framed, the elder sister would logically become the courtesan leader. Within a few years, she could redeem the freedom of both sisters. Qingzhi was naturally willing to take this risk.”
“This matter was executed seamlessly, with no one suspecting you sisters.”
Lin Chengyou turned his body, “After recognizing each other, you frequently gave Qingzhi money, which made Qingzhi’s hands gradually grow well-off. Soon after, the two monsters caused havoc, resulting in Caifeng Tower being sealed off. Fearing that long delays would breed trouble, you still had Qingzhi throw the stolen Mohe treasure under the daybed. Once Gejin discovered this item, she would naturally suspect Weizi.”
Yaohuang let out a helpless, bitter laugh.
“Shizi has spoken up to now, yet hasn’t presented a single piece of evidence. Saying this and that, it is nothing more than claiming Qingzhi was this servant’s younger sister. But the deed of indenture clearly states that although this servant is indeed a native of Yue Prefecture, my younger sister died seven years ago. As for arbitrarily bestowing a younger sister upon this servant out of thin air, please forgive this servant for not daring to accept it.”
Lin Chengyou shot her a side-glance.
“You are not wrong. Now that Qingzhi is dead, there are no living witnesses to cross-examine. Moreover, locating a human-trafficker from seven years ago is no easy feat, so you naturally feel fearless and secure. That day, after questioning everyone in the building, Jucidial Officer Yan and I learned that Qingzhi had secretly hidden jewelry beneath the preserved cherries, so we went to the nearby jewelry shop to inquire. Qingzhi had never purchased anything there before, but on the seventh day of last month—shortly after recognizing you—she suddenly went to the marketplace jewelry shop to order a pair of gold armlets. Ten days later, she retrieved the gold armlets and hid them alongside several pieces of jewelry you had given her beneath the preserved cherries. Afterward, she frequently brought them out to play with, which happened to be witnessed by Baozhu. Unfortunately, after Qingzhi met her demise, this pair of gold armlets also vanished without a trace.”
At first, Yaohuang had looked tense, but upon hearing the final sentence, the space between her brows abruptly smoothed out.
Seeing this, Gejin and Weizi felt a fire of rage ignite within their chests, saying resentfully, “Shizi, everyone has been trapped in the building these past few days, and Yaohuang is no exception. If she truly took them, the armlets must still be inside the building! As long as we find them, she won’t be able to deny her guilt.”
Lin Chengyou shook his head melancholy.
“You call it a lockdown, but in truth, the kitchen workers go out daily to purchase supplies. One would only need to quietly drop the item into a wicker basket to take it out of the building without difficulty. I estimate this pair of armlets has already fallen into the hands of some rogue in the marketplace. Furthermore, according to the records left by the jewelry shop, that pair of armlets was not carved with any special pattern. Chang’an has a vast population; finding a pair of utterly ordinary gold armlets will be far from easy.”
The Taoist master shouted out, “I’ve heard armlets aren’t like other jewelry—if they are too narrow, they won’t fit, and if they are too thick, they will slide off the arm. Thus, jewelry shops have an unwritten rule: when custom-ordering armlets, one must provide measurements at the same time. Since Qingzhi custom-ordered the armlets, she would naturally be no exception. I see that the senior courtesans in this building vary in stature—some plump, some delicate—so the thickness of their arms must surely differ as well. Exactly who Qingzhi custom-made them for can be known with a quick check!”
Eji and Woji didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Taoist Master, you jest. Although there is talk of measurements for armlets, they can be adjusted higher or lower. Besides, the fullness or thinness of a lady is not a constant value. Even if the measurements happen to match someone’s arm, one cannot firmly state it was custom-made for that person.”
Yaohuang used her handkerchief to lightly dab the corner of her mouth, her expression becoming increasingly serene.
Teng Yuyi observed Yaohuang’s demeanor. Sitting upright all this time made her limbs begin to heat up again; fortunately, having practiced a round of sword technique, the monstrous strength wouldn’t run amok everywhere.
Strange—since the incident occurred, Juesheng and Qizhi had never shown their faces. Could they still be cleaning beneath the small Buddha hall? Lin Chengyou truly showed no mercy when punishing his junior martial brothers.
With a surge of pent-up anger and nowhere to vent it, running outside on the spur of the moment to practice swordwork was inappropriate. Since this Yaohuang possessed such a sharp tongue, why not use her to blow off some steam?
Teng Yuyi spoke up with a beaming smile.
“What the two elder ladies said is correct. Almost every woman possesses gold armlets; if the design is ordinary, it is very difficult to recognize them by appearance alone after being lost. However, Qingzhi used to steal other people’s jewelry frequently. Now that it was her turn to make jewelry, I think she would certainly guard against this exact point.”
Yaohuang froze, abruptly shifting her gaze onto Teng Yuyi. Unsure of what she had realized, her face suddenly changed drastically.
Teng Yuyi stared at Yaohuang, her lips curving into a delightful arc.
“If I were her, I would definitely leave a unique mark on the inner side of the armlets. That way, even if the item were stolen by someone or accidentally lost, it could be recovered immediately. Shizi, you managed to investigate all the way to that jewelry shop, so surely you knew long ago what mark Qingzhi left behind?”
When these words were spoken, Lin Chengyou gave a light chuckle. Teng Yuyi hummed internally—as expected, he had known all along. Delaying from speaking out was nothing more than not having played enough of his cat-and-mouse game.
Lin Chengyou wasn’t surprised in the slightest that Teng Yuyi could guess it.
“On the inner side of one armlet was carved ‘Nie AFu’, and inside the other armlet was carved ‘Nie AQu’. Lady Yaohuang, what did you say just now? ‘The deed of indenture states it clearly.’ Who is called Nie AFu? Surely you wouldn’t refuse to recognize even your own original name?”
It was as if a giant boulder had been tossed into the hall, instantly setting off surging, stormy waves. Everyone gasped in shock as countless disorganized gazes shot toward Yaohuang. Eji and Woji said in horror.
“Yaohuang? It really was you?”
Yaohuang bit her lower lip tightly, her expression turning as hideous as grey cloth.
Lin Chengyou paced with his hands behind his back.
“You anticipated everything, yet failed to anticipate that Qingzhi would custom-order this pair of gold armlets behind your back. Afterward, although you searched her room and found this item, because you were in a hurry to clean up evidence of the crime, you didn’t carefully inspect the carved characters inside the armlets.
“I think the reason Qingzhi made such a pair of armlets was to commemorate the reunion of you two sisters. She was a person unwilling to forget her origins, which can be seen from her persistent insistence that she was from Yue Prefecture. She hoped you could redeem the freedom of both of you, so she followed every instruction you gave. When you asked her to ruin Gejin’s appearance, she ruined Gejin’s appearance; when you asked her to frame Weizi, she framed Weizi. When you felt she was no longer useful, you appointed her to talk by the well in the backyard, and she harbored no suspicions. Even when pushed into the well by you, she didn’t dare cry loudly for help. Precisely because of this, even though we were at the small Buddha hall not far away when the incident occurred, we didn’t hear the slightest sound.”
“No!” Yaohuang raised her head abruptly.
“Ah Qu wasn’t harmed by me! I was separated from her for seven years and finally managed to recognize her after much difficulty—how could I bear to harm her!”
Master Jian Tian and the others shouted.
“Aha! You are finally willing to admit she was your younger sister!”
“A person looking like a flower, yet her methods are this venomous! Harming two ladies wasn’t enough—she could even lay hands on her own biological sister!”
Yaohuang fell dispiritedly to the ground, tears surging out in an instant.
“No, no, no! No… Ah Qu wasn’t harmed by me.”
Panic-stricken, she raised her head, crawling on her knees toward Lin Chengyou’s feet.
“Shizi, now that things have reached this point, I have nothing left to hide. Everything you said was correct—those deeds were done by me, and the methods were just as you said: first harming Gejin to ruin her face, then seizing the opportunity to frame Weizi. I have long wanted to escape this birdcage; after recognizing Ah Qu, I thought night and day about redeeming the freedom of both of us. A courtesan leader is different from ordinary senior courtesans—the tips saved up in a year are beyond count. To escape this sea of suffering, this was the fastest method. Among the senior courtesans in Pingkang Ward, there isn’t one who doesn’t want to become the courtesan leader. But once I missed this opportunity, the next time would be three years later. Three years later, I would already be in my early twenties; when the orioles grow old and the flowers wither, there would be even less hope of winning.”
Lin Chengyou let out a long oh.
“So a person’s ambitions must be realized by harming others? When you ruined Gejin’s appearance, did you ever consider you would ruin her entire life? When you framed Weizi, did you ever consider her background was as pitiful as yours? Your methods are so ruthless, yet you repeatedly claim you had compelling reasons—don’t you find yourself ridiculous?”
Gejin covered her mouth, sobbing with deep hatred. The scars on her cheeks were soaked with tears, appearing all the more crimson and terrifying.
Her gaze flustered, Yaohuang didn’t dare look directly at Gejin, only prostrating herself fearfully, continuously kowtowing to Gejin and Weizi.
“Yaohuang knows her sins are deep and heavy, and dares not offer self-justification. Since committing this huge blunder, my heart has been suspended day and night without a single night of peaceful sleep. Now, not only have I failed to achieve my wish, but even the biological sister I managed to recognize after so much difficulty is gone—”
She gritted her teeth.
“All of this is my own doing! I am willing to submit to the law to atone for my crimes. What I owe the two ladies can only be repaid by acting as cattle and horses in the next life!”
Immediately, she kowtowed to Lin Chengyou.
“Just now, it wasn’t that I was unwilling to plead guilty, but because I knew once I confessed, no one would avenge Ah Qu. The moment Ah Qu met with trouble that day, I knew she had been harmed by someone. Having endured all these years of hardship, and finally anticipating our sisters’ reunion, how could she suddenly seek her own death? But that day, both Shizi and Jucidial Officer Yan said Ah Qu took her own life. Since I could neither state my relationship with her nor produce the evidence, you must believe me, Shizi—”
She began to wail in agony.
“Ah Qu was definitely not harmed by me…”
Lin Chengyou furrowed his brows in thought. Yaohuang harming people was true, but Qingzhi’s death indeed possessed many suspicious aspects. At first glance, everything appeared to be Yaohuang’s doing, yet upon detailed thought, it felt off. Where exactly was it off?
Assuming Lin Chengyou was relenting, Yaohuang hurriedly prostrated low again, saying wretchedly.
“Ah Qu died without clarification; the person who harmed her must still be inside the building! Shizi, your wisdom holds the pearls—only you can investigate and find out who the killer is!”
Lin Chengyou said,”Raise your head to speak.”
Yaohuang raised her head in pleasant surprise. Suddenly, an orange light flashed before her eyes as Lin Chengyou flicked a sese pearl from between his fingers, aiming straight for her pupils!
The people beside them saw it clearly and couldn’t help letting out low cries. This move came out of nowhere; unless one possessed martial skills, it was impossible to dodge. This was bad—Yaohuang’s eyes were probably lost.
Teng Yuyi was secretly taken aback. Yaohuang had already yielded; full confession was a matter of time. There were colleagues from the Court of Judicial Review present in the hall—why would Lin Chengyou want to shoot and blind a criminal’s eyes?
Yaohuang’s expression contorted in a flash, yet her body seemed frozen, completely unable to move.
That sese pearl shot like a falling star, arriving before Yaohuang’s eyelashes in a split second. Seeing that it was about to hit,the Taoist master suddenly leapt up from his seat! Unexpectedly, the pearl bounced back and retracted into Lin Chengyou’s sleeve.
Yaohuang’s body trembled like chaff, collapsing onto the ground like limp mud.
“Shizi, every word I said is true! Why are you unwilling to believe me?”
“I believe you. Why wouldn’t I believe you?”
Lin Chengyou walked up to Yaohuang and squatted down.
“If the person who harmed Qingzhi is someone else, that person—upon learning you are Qingzhi’s biological sister—will sooner or later deal with you as well. Currently, Jucidial Officer Yan and I are both present, so that person dares not act rashly. If you want to live, speak out everything you know as quickly as possible.”
Tears still hung on the tips of Yaohuang’s eyelashes, yet a look of pleasant surprise quickly surfaced on her face.
“Alright, then I will make a long story short. Although I frequently gave Ah Qu money, because I feared drawing suspicion, I never gave her jewelry. If I hadn’t heard Baozhu mention it today, I wouldn’t have known Ah Qu secretly hid items either. Furthermore, before she died, I had never been to her room—those items were definitely not taken by me—”
Before her words could finish, a strange layer of indigo blue suddenly stained the depths of her eyes.
Lin Chengyou’s expression changed, and he hurriedly raised his hand to seal her major acupoints, while quickly shaking out a pill from his sleeve, clamping her lower jaw to stuff it into her mouth.
Yet that thing was strangely eerie.
Even though Lin Chengyou acted as swift as lightning, he was ultimately one step too late. Yaohuang twitched and collapsed onto the ground, quickly turning still.
