Zhong Li looked at Lu Wuxie. His reminder was a stroke of luck.
Although Ding Xialan was likely not involved in the same case as Qi Shuishui, it didn't matter. If they could solve a few minor cases while investigating the main one, it would serve as encouragement to their flagging morale.
"In that case," Zhong Li said, pulling open the carriage curtain, "we're going back. Tan Ling probably hasn't gone far."
The coachman, hearing this, whipped the horses and turned the carriage around, galloping back towards the yamen.
At that moment, Tan Ling was at the yamen gate, seeing off Mr. and Mrs. Ding into their carriage.
"Tan Ling," Zhong Li alighted from her carriage and walked quickly to her side.
Tan Ling turned, and upon seeing Zhong Li, bowed respectfully. "Sìzhèng Zhong."
Zhong Li glanced around to ensure no one else was present and asked softly, "I have something to ask you. If you know the answer, please tell me truthfully."
Tan Ling nodded.
"Since you don't know who your young lady's lover is, you must not know when she usually goes to see him, correct?" Zhong Li inquired.
Tan Ling nodded, slightly puzzled by the question.
"Then can you tell me where she most often goes?" Zhong Li asked again.
With the change in phrasing, Tan Ling quickly provided an answer. "To the Meng family in the south."
"Sìzhèng Zhong, unfortunately, my wife is not home today, so you've come for nothing," Meng Yuan said from within the courtyard pavilion, pouring a cup of clear tea and placing it before Zhong Li.
Zhong Li watched the tea leaves unfurl in the water, inhaling the fragrant aroma. "It's quite alright. Whether it's Young Master Meng or Madam Feng, as long as it resolves my doubts, it doesn't matter who it is."
"Oh?" Meng Yuan raised an eyebrow, a gentle smile gracing his face. "You've come to me for answers, Miss Zhong? Why didn't you have the Crown Prince ask me?"
"The Crown Prince is busy with the Beichuan Gang matters, which is why I came," Zhong Li replied truthfully, taking a sip of the tea.
"Is that so? It seems the Meng family also has a role to play for the court." Meng Yuan's smile deepened.
Zhong Li didn't follow up on his comment and instead asked, "Does Young Master Meng know of the Ding family on this street?"
"The Ding family? You mean Ding Xu—Old Master Ding?" Meng Yuan asked.
Zhong Li nodded.
"Yes, I do. Why?" Meng Yuan inquired.
Zhong Li began, "Old Master Ding has a daughter named..."
"Master," the Meng family's steward entered just as Zhong Li was halfway through her sentence.
"What is it?" Meng Yuan turned to the steward.
The steward glanced at Zhong Li. Seeing that Meng Yuan had no intention of excluding her, he said, "Some time ago, the Meng family acquired a good deal of tea and tea workers from the Yue family. Today, for some reason, the tea workers are on strike. The supervisors can't control them, so they've requested the Master's presence."
"Very well, I'll be there immediately." Meng Yuan stood up. After taking two steps, he saw Zhong Li still seated, looking at him. Realizing he had been remiss, he quickly turned back, cupped his hands, and said, "Sìzhèng Zhong, my apologies. I have a sudden urgent matter. If it's possible, please wait a moment."
Zhong Li looked at him. "It's quite alright, I can wait."
Meng Yuan nodded at the steward. "Go and call Madam back to accompany Sìzhèng Zhong."
"Yes." The steward hurried out.
Meng Yuan bowed to Zhong Li and then left quickly.
Zhong Li was left alone in the courtyard with the servants. She rose and walked to the waterside pavilion, watching the fish swim back and forth in the lake. Perhaps the Meng family didn't know how to raise fish, as several were floating belly-up on the water's surface.
About the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Feng Niannian returned to the residence. Upon seeing Zhong Li, she immediately went to greet her.
Zhong Li looked at the woman still dressed in a fiery red gown and smiled faintly in response.
"Miss Zhong, I truly apologize. I was just at my shop taking care of some matters. If I had known you were coming today, I wouldn't have gone," Feng Niannian said, her lips curling slightly as she looked at the green tea on the table.
"It's no trouble. I haven't been waiting long," Zhong Li said, waving her hand to signal Feng Niannian not to worry.
Feng Niannian poured tea with both hands and said, "Let this tea serve as my apology."
Zhong Li raised her cup in return.
"May I ask why you've sought me out, Sìzhèng Zhong?" Feng Niannian asked, placing her cup down.
Zhong Li got straight to the point. "Does Madam Feng know of Ding Xianglan?"
"Ding family's daughter? Of course, I know her," Feng Niannian nodded.
Zhong Li asked, "Do you know that Madam Ding went missing half a year ago?"
Upon hearing this, Feng Niannian's eyes showed a touch of sorrow. "To be honest, Sìzhèng Zhong, Ah Lan and I are close sisters. We've known each other since before I was married."
"So, Madam Ding often came to the Meng residence to see you?" Zhong Li inquired.
Feng Niannian looked at Zhong Li and paused for a moment before answering, "That is so. Bi'er knows about this, doesn't she, Bi'er?"
She spoke as she looked at Bi'er.
Bi'er, initially slow to react, quickly responded when her mistress looked at her, "Yes, yes."
Zhong Li frowned, feeling that something was amiss, though she couldn't pinpoint what it was.
"Actually, I've known about Ah Lan's situation for a while," Feng Niannian said after a moment of thought, seeing Zhong Li's silence. "More than half a year ago, she visited me and we were chatting. She happened to mention her personal affairs. She had found someone she loved, but her parents disapproved. In her helplessness, she confided in me."
"So, does Madam Feng know who this person she cares for is?" Zhong Li asked.
Feng Niannian thought for a moment. "I only know that he is not from Yongcheng. It seems he's a traveling merchant who goes between Jinzhou and Yongcheng. As for anything else, she didn't wish to say, and I never pressed her."
"I see," Zhong Li murmured, her gaze lowered as if lost in thought.
"Sìzhèng Zhong, I apologize. I heard that a corpse was dug up by the yamen outside the southern suburbs. Previously, the officials suspected Tan Ling, who was by Madam Ah Lan's side. Now that Tan Ling has been found, and Ah Lan's disappearance has surfaced again, I truly wish to help. However, I am merely a sheltered young woman who rarely leaves the house and am truly powerless," Feng Niannian sighed. As if recalling her memories with Ding Xialan, she took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes.
"Madam."
Just as Zhong Li was about to offer some comfort, a voice sounded from not far away. She followed the sound and saw Meng Yuan approaching, looking travel-worn.
"Meng Lang!" Feng Niannian rose and went to meet him.
Meng Yuan, with an arm around her, walked directly to Zhong Li. "Sìzhèng Zhong, thank you for waiting."
Zhong Li rose and nodded at Meng Yuan. "Not at all. Madam Feng arrived shortly after you left. I've asked what I needed to, so I shall take my leave."
With that, she turned to leave.
"Wait!" Feng Niannian suddenly called out to Zhong Li.
Zhong Li looked at Feng Niannian, puzzled.
Feng Niannian glanced at Meng Yuan, who looked at her with a questioning expression. She stepped forward, took Zhong Li's hand, and pulled her towards her courtyard. "My dear, Miss Zhong and I hit it off immediately. May I give Miss Zhong something?"
Meng Yuan looked at the submissive woman opposite him, his gaze falling upon her exposed red embroidered shoes. He nodded. "Go ahead."