Zhong Li gazed at the male corpse on the ground, its face painted with a mask. She casually took some oil from the box on her back and said to a young constable following her, "Go fetch some hot water."
The young constable scurried out and returned shortly, holding a basin of clear water.
Zhong Li tested the temperature and then felt the male corpse's body. After confirming that Lan Heng had finished surveying the scene, she poured the oil into her palm, rubbed her hands to warm it, and began to remove the makeup from the corpse.
As warm water gradually washed away the colors from the corpse's cheeks, a handsome, somewhat effeminate male face appeared before everyone.
"Shen Hong, it's actually him."
Before Zhong Li could ask anyone from the Huanxi Lou, Wei Fu, who had reported the incident first, exclaimed upon seeing the corpse's face.
Zhong Li met Wei Fu's gaze and asked, "Are you from the same troupe?"
Wei Fu nodded and recounted the previous night's events: "Last night, Yuan Shang, Wu Xiuchu, and I were performing 'Nan Ping Diao.' Shen Hong's part finished first. After the performance, we went backstage and didn't see him. We thought he was tired and had gone back to rest early. Who knew we'd find his body here."
As she spoke, she seemed a bit sad, her voice thick with emotion.
"It's cold lately, Miss Wei. You should dress more warmly," Zhong Li said, raising her eyebrows slightly.
Wei Fu, expecting Zhong Li to ask further questions, was taken aback by her seemingly unrelated remark. She nodded and replied, "Thank you, Miss Zhong, for your concern."
Zhong Li responded with a slight smile and then returned to the matter at hand, asking, "You said Shen Hong's part finished earliest. What do you mean?"
"Perhaps you are not familiar with 'Nan Ping Diao,' Miss Zhong?" Wei Fu inquired.
Zhong Li remained silent. She had no interest in opera, and knew nothing of "Nan Diao" or "Bei Diao."
"Shen Hong played the young master, Wang Kui," Wei Fu said, glancing at the man standing behind her.
The man, dressed in a blue robe with an embroidered sachet at his waist, produced a book from his sleeve after receiving Wei Fu's glance and handed it over.
Zhong Li studied the man for a moment. Based on his attire, she guessed he might be Liu Wu, the troupe leader of the Liu family troupe.
She took the book from him and began to read. From the synopsis, Zhong Li initially assumed it was the script for 'Nan Ping Diao.' However, as she flipped through the pages, her brows furrowed. This was no script; it was an erotic novel with a plot so cliché it made one want to pick at their toenails.
It seemed that people in ancient times, just like those in modern times, enjoyed such dramas.
Lan Heng, standing beside Zhong Li, glanced at the script in her hand and said, "Actually, the original 'Nan Ping Diao' wasn't like this."
Zhong Li looked at Lan Heng, awaiting his explanation.
Lan Heng took the script from her, scanned it, and noted the author's name: 'Bian Yuncheng.' He then continued, "The earliest 'Nan Ping Diao' was written by someone named Bian Yuncheng. Rumor has it he was a talented scholar, and his compositions, whether music or these short prose pieces, were quite popular throughout the Nanyue Kingdom twenty years ago."
"And now?" Zhong Li asked.
"Now... I hear this person disappeared over a decade ago. Many of his writings were later altered into these vulgar books for troupes like the Liu family to perform. As for how popular they are, you only need to look at Huanxi Lou with its full house to know," Lan Heng said, returning 'Nan Ping Diao' to Zhong Li.
During this exchange, no one noticed Lu Wuxie cast a subtle glance at Lan Heng.
Based on the characters and storyline in 'Nan Ping Diao,' Zhong Li determined that Shen Hong played the protagonist's son, Wang Kui. Wang Kui was portrayed as unfortunate; upon returning from his studies, eager to contribute to his family, he frequented places of indulgence and pleasure to appease the royal nobility.
During this time, he encountered a woman named Liu Fu. She was slender-waisted with a shapely figure and a delicate appearance. With just one look, Wang Kui fell deeply in love with her and pursued her relentlessly. Within a few days, they were deeply infatuated. Wang Kui, intending to marry her, brought Liu Fu home.
From here, the cliché plot unfolded. He discovered Liu Fu frequently visiting his father, Wang Ding's, room. He overheard that Liu Fu was Wang Ding's mistress kept outside the family. Because Wang Ding feared his wife, he couldn't take a concubine and therefore devised a plan to seduce Wang Kui into the family.
Wang Kui returned to his room, unable to comprehend the situation, and hanged himself. Upon learning of this, his mother, Madam Duan, in a fit of rage, murdered Liu Fu. Wang Ding, feeling he had no reason to live, also hanged himself, leaving only Madam Duan to be taken away by the Dali Temple and spend her life as a prisoner.
According to the arrangements in 'Nan Ping Diao' and Wei Fu's testimony, Shen Hong was indeed the first to leave the stage. The question then arose: why did Shen Hong, after leaving the stage, not depart but seek out Lu Wuxie?
The victim showed no signs of restraint, indicating he wasn't being coerced. As for whether he was drugged, further examination would be required. However, based on Zhong Li's understanding of Lu Wuxie, if he intended to threaten a performer at Huanxi Lou, he would do so openly; such underhanded methods as drugging were unlikely.
"Young Master," Zhong Li thought, finally focusing her gaze back on Lu Wuxie. "I wish to ask the Young Master a question."
Lu Wuxie nodded.
Zhong Li asked, "Does the Young Master know Shen Hong?"
"I know of him, but I don't know him personally," Lu Wuxie replied truthfully. He then turned his gaze to Wei Fu and said, "Among the entire troupe, perhaps I only know Miss Wei."
Wei Fu, suddenly singled out, stiffened and awkwardly bowed to Zhong Li.
Zhong Li glanced at her indifferently and then returned her gaze to Lu Wuxie, asking, "Then does the Young Master know why Shen Hong was in your room?"
"I drank too much last night and fell asleep. As for why he was here, I only remember he wasn't in the room before I slept," Lu Wuxie shrugged.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li's gaze fell upon a table not far away, where several overturned cups were placed. "Since the Young Master mentioned drinking last night, why are there no wine pots or cups?"
At this moment, Liu Gouzi, a waiter from the establishment standing at the periphery, stepped forward. "It's like this."
He pushed through the crowd and stood before Zhong Li, cupped his hands, and continued his explanation: "The Young Master was accompanied by a young lady last night. As for why the wine cups are gone, that lady asked me to clear them."
"Who?"
Hearing the question, Gouzi stealthily glanced at Lu Wuxie. Seeing him appear indifferent, he said, "Tian Lianxue from Hua Man Lou. Miss Tian came in with the Young Master at the time. Many people saw it, and it caused quite a stir!"
Upon hearing the name, Zhong Li paused and glanced at Lu Wuxie.
Lu Wuxie simply nodded in acknowledgment, his expression unchanged.
Zhong Li lowered her head, pondering silently.
Seeing this, Lan Heng stepped forward and said to Xu Qing beside him, "Go, fetch Tian Lianxue."
Xu Qing immediately led two constables and hurried out.
"When you were clearing the wine cups, was anyone else in the room?" Zhong Li continued to ask Liu Gouzi while waiting for Tian Lianxue.
Gouzi scratched his head, thinking for a moment. "No."
Then, he seemed to reconsider. "I don't know. I was just clearing the table at the time. As for whether anyone was behind the screen, I can't say."
"And what part of the opera was being performed then?" Zhong Li asked again.
Gouzi thought for a moment and replied, "Coincidentally, I happened to glance at the stage at that moment. It should have been the scene where Wang Kui hanged himself."
Hearing this, Zhong Li looked at the corpse on the ground. It seemed that Shen Hong was still alive at that time.