"Madam Yang."
As they approached the Yang family courtyard, they saw Lady Yang standing on a stool near the small garden, arranging the blossoms on a flower rack. Her hands were covered in soil. She glanced at them and said gently, "Come in, the gate isn't locked."
Usually too hurried to take notice, they now observed that the flowers on the trellis were in full bloom, each variety more exquisite than the last. Gu Yun, disinterested in plants, instinctively surveyed the surroundings, while Zhuo Qing stepped closer to the flowers and asked, "Did you grow all these yourself?"
Lady Yang adjusted a flowerpot and smiled. "Yes. I enjoy tending to plants in my spare time."
"They're very well-kept."
Noticing a cluster of delicate, pale purple blossoms that looked particularly enchanting, Zhuo Qing asked curiously, "What kind of flower is this?"
As she spoke, she gently brushed her hand across a petal.
"Be careful!"
Before Lady Yang could finish her warning, Zhuo Qing gasped and withdrew her hand sharply. She stumbled backward, bumping into the rack. Fortunately, Lady Yang caught her by the shoulder just in time to steady her.
Startled by the sound, Gu Yun rushed over. "Are you all right?"
Zhuo Qing shook her head. "I'm fine."
Her fingertip only throbbed slightly—it had merely startled her. She gazed again at the vibrant, dewy petals. "What kind of flower has thorns on its petals?"
Lady Yang stepped off the stool and explained, "It's a plant from my hometown called 'Fragrant Grass.' At night, it gives off a strong fragrance that repels insects and mosquitoes. That's why I keep some at home."
"Where are you from, Madam Yang?"
Gu Yun asked out of habit. A shadow of sorrow flitted across Lady Yang's face as she replied, "I'm from Huaizhou."
Why would she look so melancholic when speaking of her hometown?
Brushing the soil from her hands, Lady Yang said softly, "Let's go inside. It's too chaotic out here."
"Alright."
Zhuo Qing followed her indoors. Glancing one last time at the trellis, Gu Yun's eyes briefly gleamed with intrigue. But she said nothing and stepped inside after them.
"Please, have some tea."
Lady Yang placed the cups before them. But before she could finish, Gu Yun spoke in a low, solemn voice, "Li Zhi is dead."
"What?!"
Lady Yang's hand trembled, nearly spilling the tea. She gasped, "Who killed him?"
Gu Yun raised an eyebrow. She asked, 'Who killed him?'—so she knows it was murder.
Suppressing the sharp glint in her eyes, Gu Yun replied, "The officials found the murder weapon that pierced Yang Lu's chest in Li Zhi's home. Li Zhi owed him a large sum of money and had borrowed from him repeatedly. We suspect he killed Yang Lu to avoid repaying the debt. However, Li Zhi insisted on his innocence and claimed he had proof that the money was given voluntarily. We were planning to escort him home today to retrieve the so-called evidence, but he was poisoned in prison."
Lady Yang lowered her head again, making it impossible for Gu Yun to read her expression. She pressed on, "We came to ask whether Yang Lu ever mentioned anything about Li Zhi holding something over him, or if you overheard them discussing anything unusual."
Lady Yang shook her head lightly, still not looking up.
Gu Yun gave Zhuo Qing a look. Catching the signal, Zhuo Qing gently took Lady Yang's hand and said, "Madam Yang, look at me."
At last, Lady Yang lifted her gaze. Zhuo Qing continued, "The killer took your husband's life, framed Qian Jing, and now Li Zhi has been poisoned. You might be next. We hope you'll help us bring the murderer to justice. It's not only to bring peace to your late husband's soul, but also to ensure your own safety."
Lady Yang looked dazed, and after a long silence, murmured, "I want to help, I really do. But he never told me anything. Every time they talked, they sent me away. I truly don't know."
She's lying again.
Gu Yun narrowed her eyes, then abruptly stood up. "Very well. In that case, we won't disturb you further."
They left the Yang residence once more, but this time, their eyes held a trace of understanding. Sharing a knowing glance, they chuckled.
"Now it's up to Dan Yulan."
In the prison, Qian Jing reclined leisurely on the stone bed, one leg crossed over the other—not chewing straw this time, but gnawing on a greasy chicken leg.
After a day of running around without a bite, Zhuo Qing glared at him in frustration.
"We've been working ourselves to the bone, and you're over here living the good life!"
Sitting up, Qian Jing grinned lazily. "Can't help it—I am the prisoner, after all."
Leaning against the cool stone wall, Gu Yun glanced at the darkening sky outside. "They're still not here?"
Any later, and they'd miss the real show.
Despite Zhuo Qing's fierce glare, Qian Jing continued eating with relish, shrugging nonchalantly.
"They'll come when the time is right. No need to rush."
If they weren't masters of vanishing acts, they wouldn't be themselves. No one else could pull off such dramatic entrances.
Rolling her eyes, Zhuo Qing cursed inwardly. Should've eaten first before coming!
Gu Yun suddenly asked, "So, did you find anything?"
Zhuo Qing turned just in time to see Dan Yulan enter, looking utterly worn out. He shook his head and sighed,
"All meals in the prison are distributed uniformly. None of the others' food was tainted—only Li Zhi's contained poison."
Zhuo Qing arched a brow. Uniform meals?
Then what was Qian Jing eating—has prison cuisine upgraded to include chicken legs?
Qian Jing tossed the cleaned bones into a paper bag and complained, "Don't look at me. I bribed one of the guards to buy it. Honestly, prison food isn't fit for dogs!"
And it cost him three copper coins. Highway robbery.
Dan Yulan ignored Qian Jing's complaints and said coolly,
"The guard responsible for food distribution has been detained and questioned all day. He swears he's innocent and denies any poisoning. The prison is patrolled by four guards on a regular schedule. No suspicious individuals were seen."
So the whole day had been for nothing.
Never fond of the Ministry's people to begin with, Qian Jing mocked,
"So Li Zhi died without a sound, without a trace, right under their noses? Seems like the prison is the most dangerous place of all."
Dan Yulan's face darkened. After an entire day with zero progress, Qian Jing's sarcasm was salt on a fresh wound.
Zhuo Qing coughed softly, about to say something to ease the tension, when suddenly, two figures—one in black, one in red—stood silently at the entrance to the cell, as if they'd been there all along.
Qian Jing and Gu Yun remained expressionless, as though expecting them. Even Dan Yulan didn't seem surprised.
Zhuo Qing, however, recoiled in alarm.
"Seriously, could you not appear out of nowhere like that next time? You scared me half to death!"
She had no martial arts skills—how was she supposed to stay calm?!
Unfortunately, Ye Mei and Ao Tian paid her no mind and entered the cell, exchanging a brief glance with Dan Yulan. They said nothing.
Though Dan Yulan rarely crossed paths with them, their names were legendary. Criminals that neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Ministry of War could apprehend—Ye Mei and Ao Tian brought them to justice.
Gu Yun didn't bother explaining Dan Yulan's presence. They likely already understood.
The Gold Case was far-reaching. Without someone from an official post leading the investigation, progress was impossible.
As night fell, Gu Yun didn't waste words.
"Everyone's here. Let's share what we've uncovered. As for Yang Lu's case—the murder weapon's been found, and Qian Jing has essentially been cleared of the crime. However, since Li Zhi died without confessing, Qian Jing is still considered a suspect and must remain detained for now. I believe the person behind both Yang Lu's and Li Zhi's deaths is deeply tied to the Gold Case of years past. But with both of them now dead, my lead ends here. What have you found?"
They've cleared Qian Jing's name?
Not bad. Perhaps working with them hadn't been a mistake after all.
Ye Mei remained silent as ever. Ao Tian...