The next day.
Zhong Li sat at the desk after breakfast, looking at Zhu Yin's portrait in her hand.
She never expected Dong Qing to give her such an answer.
"Zhong Sishi, you are also a woman. If a woman falls in love, no one can stop her. The madam of the brothel said that Zhu Yin fell in love with a handsome young master. Last year, after mortgaging most of her savings to redeem herself, she eloped with that young master," Dong Qing said, his face full of confidence, looking at Zhong Li.
"Eloped? Last year Zhu Yin was only nineteen, at the peak of her beauty. What kind of noble young master had such charm?" Zhong Li inquired.
"I don't know about that. I only heard that the young master's surname is Xiao."
Xiao!
Zhong Li picked up a brush and ink to write on the Xuan paper. Although she desperately didn't want someone's name to pop into her mind and interfere with the case, the name Xiao Chu was still written down by her.
"Does Li'er think this Young Master Xiao is Xiao Chu?" Lu Wu Xie asked as he walked to her side.
Zhong Li sighed and replied, "I know this guess is a bit one-sided, perhaps it's due to the preconceived notion from Qi Shui Shui's matter. I think we should apprehend this Xiao Chu for questioning, but unfortunately, he disappeared after Qi Shui Shui. It will be difficult to find him."
"How do you know it's difficult?" Lu Wu Xie took Zhu Yin's portrait and casually tucked it into a dossier.
"Does the Young Master know where he is?"
Lu Wu Xie smiled mysteriously and said, "I do. We just need to wait for the fish to take the bait..."
Knock, knock, knock.
"Young Master!"
As the two were chatting, Lin Jin's voice was heard from outside.
"What is it?" Lu Wu Xie asked, his smile gone.
"Young Master, someone is looking for you and Miss Zhong outside." Lin Jin said.
Zhong Li was startled when she heard Lin Jin's words. It was normal for someone to look for Lu Wu Xie, but why was she included today? She didn't remember knowing anyone in Yongcheng.
As she was wondering, Lu Wu Xie opened the door, and Meng Yuan stood at the entrance with a smile in his eyes.
"Young Master, Zhong Sishi!" Meng Yuan cupped his hands in greeting to those inside.
"Brother Meng, how did you know I live here?" Lu Wu Xie's face also held a smile, but his tone was not so polite.
Meng Yuan gave two awkward laughs, "Young Master, this humble one asked Minister Dong to find out where you and Sishi reside."
As he spoke, his gaze went past Lu Wu Xie, and he smiled faintly at Zhong Li.
Lu Wu Xie looked down at Meng Yuan, then slightly shifted his body to block his view, "So, Brother Meng, what brings you here?" Kuai Shu Ge
Meng Yuan was a man who had been in business for many years and was well-acquainted with people. He didn't need to think to know Lu Wu Xie's intention.
He quickly withdrew his gaze and said, "It's like this, this humble one has come today to invite the Young Master and Zhong Sishi to a gathering at my residence."
Lu Wu Xie did not agree, just looked at him. Although he himself was infamous, he was not someone who would be invited by any local merchant. Moreover, officials and merchants being too close could easily attract gossip.
Seeing the expression on the other man's face, Meng Yuan narrowed his eyes and took a few steps forward, leaning closer to Lu Wu Xie and whispering a few words.
Zhong Li watched the two men getting closer and closer, craning her neck to hear clearly, but the distance was too far, and she couldn't hear a single word. The only information she could get was that Lu Wu Xie's usually nonchalant expression became sharp after hearing Meng Yuan's words.
When Meng Yuan slowly retreated to his original position, Lu Wu Xie had already taken his outer cloak from Lin Jin and put it on.
"Zhong Sishi." Meng Yuan's gaze shifted back to Zhong Li, "I hear Zhong Sishi is a rising star in Dali Temple, with outstanding case-solving and judgment abilities. My wife enjoys hearing such matters. I would like to invite Sishi to my residence for a drink and to entertain my wife. I wonder if Sishi would be willing?"
Zhong Li actually disliked flattery in official or business circles. She intended to refuse, but seeing Lu Wu Xie glance at her faintly, she pondered for a moment, nodded, picked up the women's cloak on the Luohan bed, and followed him.
The carriage rumbled along Fenghe Street.
The sky had already turned dawn, and vendors selling various small items were everywhere along the street.
Zhong Li lifted the curtain and looked at the street scene, when suddenly Meng Yuan's voice came from across.
"Does Zhong Sishi always wear fitted attire?"
Zhong Li looked up at Meng Yuan.
She saw him busily working with his hands in front of the table in front of him. In a moment, three cups of black tea were brewed.
Zhong Li took a cup from his left hand. She had drunk water when she came out and wasn't thirsty now, so she casually placed the tea on the table and said, "It's for work. Skirts are inconvenient."
Hearing this, Meng Yuan sighed, "This humble one knows that women are somewhat vain. For us common folk, Zhong Sishi has sacrificed a lot."
"She looks good in fitted attire too!" Before Zhong Li could answer, Lu Wu Xie had already responded.
Meng Yuan was startled and looked at Lu Wu Xie. Seeing him resting his chin on his hand, looking out the window as if it were none of his business, if it weren't for the fact that there were no other men in the carriage besides him, Meng Yuan would have truly believed that he hadn't said that.
Zhong Li's lips curved into a familiar expression. Her gaze fell on Meng Yuan's clothes, and she was surprised, "Is Young Master Meng in his zodiac year?"
Being asked this, Meng Yuan looked down at his clothes and saw that the lining was cinnabar red. He smiled and waved his hand, "No, it's just that my wife likes these fiery red clothes, and I prefer simple attire. To satisfy both, I decided to wear them this way."
"From what Young Master Meng mentioned at the inn, you often talk about your wife, and you say this now, which shows you and your wife are very much in love," Zhong Li said politely.
Meng Yuan chuckled at this, his face showing a happiness that was obvious to anyone.
"Yes, I love my wife very much. After all, without her, there would be no me or the Meng Manor today."
The inn was not far from Meng Manor, and in the time it took them to talk, they arrived at the mansion gate.
As the host, Meng Yuan naturally had to get out of the carriage first.
He lifted the hem of his robe and gracefully got out of the carriage. Seeing Zhong Li following behind, he reached out to help her down.
But before his hand could touch her arm, Zhong Li had already jumped out of the carriage one step ahead.
Meng Yuan awkwardly retracted his hand in mid-air. During this, he glanced at Lu Wu Xie, who was still sitting in the carriage and had not yet gotten up. He felt a chill down his spine. He could actually read a warning in his eyes.
"Husband, you're back?" As the carriage slowly began to move towards the horse trough in the backyard of Meng Manor, the gate of Meng Manor opened at the same time, and a woman's sweet, coy voice rang out.
Zhong Li and Lu Wu Xie raised their eyes simultaneously.
They saw a woman standing at the gate of Meng Manor.
The woman had fair skin and jade-like bones, with delicate eyebrows and a rounded chin, and was extremely beautiful. Her slender body was so delicate that it seemed like it would break if any force were applied. A red jacket embroidered with silk, paired with a slightly oversized red outer cloak, made her appear even more petite and lovable.
Meng Yuan walked to Feng Nian Nian's side, slipped his large hand into her outer cloak, and embraced her slender waist, "It's so cold, why did you come out?"
Feng Nian Nian's lips curved, and she smiled shyly, "I heard today that my husband brought friends back, so I specifically came to the gate to welcome them."
As she spoke, Feng Nian Nian's gaze fell on Zhong Li. She was startled at first, then smiled enchantingly at her.
Zhong Li nodded in response.
Feng Nian Nian then looked at Lu Wu Xie. As if she had never seen such a handsome man, her cheeks blushed slightly. She secretly glanced at Meng Yuan and saw him watching her like this.
Her face turned pale, and she smiled at Lu Wu Xie, "Young Master, Zhong Sishi, please come inside!"