The matter was clear, and Ye Qingcheng saw no need to stay longer, so she returned.
A few days later, Ye Qingcheng heard people talking about the Li Manor at a tea house.
"Alas! Have you heard? The Li Manor is marrying off their youngest legitimate daughter to a minor constable from the yamen."
"Is that true? Is the Li Manor willing?"
"I heard that the Li Manor's youngest legitimate daughter is Li Mo'er, isn't she?"
Ye Qingcheng's hand paused upon hearing the name, and she tilted her ear to listen to their conversation.
"Indeed! If you ask me, that constable has struck gold, marrying a daughter of Minister Li."
"Alas, I too think the Li Manor is willing to let their daughter suffer by marrying a constable."
"You think too much. Given the Li Manor's wealth, marrying a constable – do you think she will suffer? It is the constable who will enjoy the benefits."
"That is also true!"
"Hahahahaha."
Ye Qingcheng found nothing more of interest and paid the bill before getting up to leave.
Recently, Pei Changqiu had been busy with engagement matters and had taken leave for a few days. Madam Pei was overjoyed. Her son had such a good match with a Minister's family, so naturally, the engagement banquet had to be meticulously planned!
Therefore, she had not sought Pei Changqiu for sparring practice these past few days. Elder Jun had been assigned a task by Xiao Wangye these few days, and there was no one to teach her martial arts, so she had been lazy for a few days.
Xiao Wangye, being perpetually busy, had not been seen for days. He didn't even have time to come for treatment for his injuries.
She had not taken a carriage today; she wanted to walk along the bustling streets, finding it to have a unique charm!
The market today was so lively!
Ye Qingcheng looked up and saw a large crowd gathered ahead.
Ye Qingcheng parted the crowd, squeezing in bit by bit.
She saw a woman performing martial arts. Her skills were exceptional, and she handled fire staffs with ease. People were applauding, but no one was giving her money. Ye Qingcheng looked around and truly saw no one.
Feeling bored, she then left.
After strolling around and buying some things, seeing that it was almost noon, she found a restaurant and sat down to eat.
The waiter was sharp. Seeing Ye Qingcheng's luxurious attire, he put on a show of talent, "Guest, what would you like to eat!"
Ye Qingcheng slightly curved her lips into a smile, "What do you have here!"
The waiter flicked his rag and got to work, "Ah! Guest, you ask a good question! Our establishment has steamed lamb, steamed bear paw, steamed deer tail, roasted mandarin duck, roasted young chicken, roasted gosling, braised pork, braised duck, smoked chicken, cured meat, small potted meat slices, cured meat, sausage, assorted cold dishes, smoked chicken with white cut belly, steamed eight-treasure pork, glutinous rice stuffed duck, stewed pheasant, stewed quail, stewed mixed meats, braised goose, pheasant, rabbit loin, snake rolls, silver fish, steamed toad, shredded duck in sauce, duck waist in sauce, duck strips in sauce, cold shredded duck, yellow heart pipes, stewed conger eel, stewed yellow eel, anchovy with fermented black beans, boiled carp, soft-boiled soft-shelled turtle, stir-fried carp, stir-fried paired shrimp, crispy fried pork strips, crispy fried chicken, assorted tripe rolls, stewed winter crow, sesame fried dough twists, mushroom stir-fry, fried fish flakes, fried fish belly, fried fish slices, sour stir-fried meat slices, three delicacies in sauce, white mushroom in sauce, pigeon eggs in sauce, stir-fried silver threads, eel in sauce, fried white shrimp, quick-fried clams, fried dough fish, fried bamboo shoots, fried swallows' nest with shredded chicken, fried shrimp, shrimp in sauce, waist in sauce, sea cucumber in sauce, stir-fried tendons, braised sea cucumber, braised cabbage, fried fungus, stir-fried liver tips, osmanthus-style wings, steamed wings, fried fowl, fried broth, fried pork ribs."
After this long recitation, he received a round of applause from everyone.
"Good, good."
The waiter flicked his rag and bowed to all the guests, "Thank you, thank you, everyone."
Ye Qingcheng also smiled, pursing her lips, "Then I'll have the first two."
"Alright! Guest, please wait a moment!"
Then the waiter left.
Ye Qingcheng poured herself a cup of water to drink.
Her ears twitched, and she heard a group not far away discussing a girl.
"I heard that none of her family survived, and only she is still alive."
"Alas... it is fate! Such a sin!"
The more Ye Qingcheng heard their description, the more familiar it felt, but she couldn't recall anything. She then interjected, "Alas, esteemed sirs, who are you speaking of!"
The two men glanced at her, looking somewhat confused, "We are speaking of Zhang Zhimei."
"Zhang Zhimei? Who is she?"
The two men's food and drinks had also arrived. They ate their snacks, drank their wine, and chatted with her, "She is the daughter of the Zhang family from Jinling. Their family was in the escort business."
Ye Qingcheng listened intently, but speaking across the distance was too tiring. She simply joined their table directly.
"Speaking of the Zhang family, they were a renowned family of that generation."
"Their entire family was in the escort business. Then, a few months ago, a group of masked men killed their entire family."
Ye Qingcheng was startled, "Killed?"
The burly man nodded, "Indeed! I was also surprised. I heard the deaths were extremely brutal. Arms, legs, everything was gone."
Ye Qingcheng took a sip of wine to calm her nerves, "So vicious."
"More than that!" Estimating that the burly man found it difficult to speak, he lowered his voice and said, "Zhang Zhimei's mother was a famous beauty, known as the most beautiful woman in the martial world. Her body was discovered inside the house, and it was heard that her clothes were disheveled, and there was… ugh, I can't even say it."
Ye Qingcheng understood and swallowed to steady her emotions.
At this moment, the waiter brought the dishes, "Oh, guest, how did you get here? I've been looking for you! Here are your dishes."
Ye Qingcheng nodded her thanks.
This nod and thank you filled the waiter's heart with warmth, "Alas, you don't need to thank me."
Then he left to attend to other matters.
Ye Qingcheng arranged the dishes and invited them to eat together.
"Then why is Zhang Zhimei unharmed?"
The two burly men each took a bite of food, drank some wine, and continued, "Alas! She was out on an escort mission. It's heard they were attacked on the road, the escort items remained, but all the people died. As for Zhang Zhimei, she's actually quite lucky. At the time, she wasn't with the escort party; she claimed to be ill and went to see a doctor, letting the main group go ahead. She followed behind. When she found the main group, she discovered everyone was dead. Returning home, she found her family also dead. Alas, what a sin!"
Ye Qingcheng was silent for a long time, "Do you know where she is now?"
The burly man pondered, "Hmm, I remember she came to the capital a while ago, but I don't know her exact whereabouts."
The other burly man, chewing his food, heard this and patted his shoulder, "You forgot, I saw her not long ago!"
The burly man suddenly realized, "Oh! I remember. I saw her performing not long ago."
Ye Qingcheng understood. So the performing girl she saw earlier was her! Zhang Zhimei.
After Ye Qingcheng finished her meal and went to find her, she was still there.
However, she was now sitting on the stone steps, resting and counting copper coins.