Chapter 77

The old man who walked in had a short, stiff mustache, deep-set brown eyes, and disheveled gray hair that wouldn’t stay neat no matter how he tried, making the hairpin on his head look comically askew.

The fair-skinned man bowed deeply, addressing the old man as Uncle, and stepped back behind him, still harboring resentment.

The old man clasped his hands and said, "I am Zhang Lingshan, greeting Wu Baihu!"

Wu Fan smiled and similarly clasped his hands, saying, "I dare not accept such courtesy! I dare not accept such courtesy!"

Zhang Lingshan pursed his lips slightly and said thoughtfully, "Wu Baihu, you came in and started killing people, and even drove away the guests. That’s really not right, is it? Of course, I’m not blaming you, nor do I dare to blame you. I’m just complaining! After all, many people rely on the Fragrant Pavilion for their livelihood!"

Wu Fan nodded as if he had learned something, looking quite ashamed, and said, "I was just momentarily angry, just momentarily angry!" Then he changed the subject, "But... can it all be blamed on me? They say customers are like parents, but your Fragrant Pavilion bullies customers! I just walked in, and before I could say anything, some unknown bird started barking at me. I said the Eagle Yang Guard was investigating, and they all treated it like I was farting! Tell me, if it happened to you, wouldn’t you be angry? Huh?"

Zhang Lingshan turned his head slightly and glanced at the servant still sitting on the ground in front of the Fragrant Pavilion’s door, saying, "Boyan, throw him into the river, and make sure this doesn’t happen again!"

The fair-skinned man wanted to say something more, but under the old man’s stern gaze, he had to walk away dejectedly.

Wu Fan’s face was still smiling as he squinted and sized up Zhang Lingshan, saying, "You really know how to handle things, Old Sir! You’re both inside and outside, worth learning from!"

Zhang Lingshan, with his hands behind his back, said expressionlessly, "Wu Baihu, I’ve given you face, but what about mine? What about it?"

Wu Fan sucked in a breath, blinking his eyes in surprise, and said, "They say the older one gets in the world, the smaller one’s courage becomes. Old Sir, your courage... is a bit big!"

Zhang Lingshan looked at Wu Fan and said slowly, "Young man, you need to learn to control your temper. Being too aggressive can easily get you into trouble!" He paused and sighed, "Let’s put today’s matter behind us. I just hope that when Wu Baihu comes next time, it won’t be like today! Also... were your earlier words true?"

What did Wu Fan say earlier? He said... he suspected Duan Xiuxiu was involved in the disappearance of the Ji Prefecture grain tax ship.

True?

It’s just nonsense!

Without a word, Wu Fan entered the room, quickly cut the white silk, and lowered the female corpse, examining her neck. Even without being a professional examiner, Wu Fan knew that there were differences between someone being strangled and someone hanging themselves...

Zhang Lingshan didn’t go in, standing outside and sighing, "What a sin! Another one dead!" Seeing Wu Fan look up with a puzzled expression, he continued, "Those in this trade are either sold from a young age or are the wives and daughters of criminals, all bound by indenture, destined to sell themselves. Some see it clearly and enjoy it, while others can’t bear it and suffer. Just like Duan Xiuxiu, after Zhou Baihu’s death, she lost her appetite and became increasingly frail. I didn’t expect... that she would take her own life!"

Wu Fan lowered his head, expressionless.

After a long while.

Wu Fan stood up, shouldered Duan Xiuxiu’s corpse, and said, "I was rash this time. Once the matter is resolved, I will definitely set up a banquet to apologize. I hope Old Sir won’t hold it against me! Farewell!"

With that, Wu Fan quickly left.

The fair-skinned man watched Wu Fan’s back as he boarded a boat and said, "Just let him go like that?"

Zhang Lingshan glanced at the fair-skinned man and said, "What do you want? Huh? Be more disciplined!"

The fair-skinned man, scolded, shrank back and remained silent.

Downstream, all the way to the Yingyang Guard’s Hundred House, Wu Fan’s face was still gloomy.

[The cervical vertebrae are dislocated, there are skin flakes under the nails, and there are bruises on the body. There was a struggle, Duan Xiuxiu was not a suicide, but a murder!]

[When Zhou Ling was killed by Zhai Lingling, if he indeed said ‘repaying kindness with enmity,’ what did he do? Who did he show kindness to?]

[Just after Zhou Ling’s death, Duan Xiuxiu was silenced. Why?]

[Most importantly—Zhou Ling was rough and rude, why would a top courtesan like Duan Xiuxiu be infatuated with him? And his second wife... why do all the good cabbages get eaten by pigs? Is there any justice in the world?]

All these doubts flashed through Wu Fan’s mind, leaving him utterly puzzled. Anyway... he wouldn’t admit that he was very jealous of Zhou Ling.

Wu Fan had no evidence to link Zhou Ling’s death to the disappearance of the Ji Prefecture grain tax ship, even though he kept saying it. He just had a subtle intuition, a very subtle intuition, that made him unconsciously connect the two.

Upon reaching the Hundred House, Wu Fan put down Duan Xiuxiu’s corpse and decided to go to Zhou Ling’s house.

Just as he reached the door of the Hundred House, the little eunuch Man Ning returned, looking dejected.

"Lord Man... what’s the matter?"

Wu Fan asked in surprise.

The little eunuch Man Ning lowered his head, pouting, and after a long while, said, "Today, I saw a girl wearing such beautiful clothes!"

Wu Fan: "...", damn! Are you kidding me? Just for this?

Feeling speechless, Wu Fan said, "So... you didn’t find out anything today?"

The little eunuch Man Ning counted on his fingers, looked up, and after a while, said confidently, "No."

Wu Fan: "...", this shameless guy actually admitted it! Indeed, my decision was right; this guy is too unreliable!

Holding his forehead, Wu Fan squatted on the threshold, sighing repeatedly.

The little eunuch Man Ning suddenly saw Duan Xiuxiu’s corpse and covered his nose and mouth. After a careful look, he took out a silk handkerchief from his pocket, wrapped it around his fingers, and gently touched Duan Xiuxiu’s neck. Then, he disdainfully threw the handkerchief away and said, "You’re a brute! After enjoying her, you still killed her? What kind of beast are you?"

Wu Fan bared his teeth and wanted to bang his head against the wall.

The little eunuch Man Ning giggled and said, "I was just teasing you. This woman has been dead for more than two hours! It looks like she was killed by someone who wasn’t very skilled, and it wasn’t clean. Later, they even tried to make it look like a hanging. I should be right, shouldn’t I?"

Wow!

It has to be said, the little eunuch Man Ning’s skills really surprised Wu Fan!

Thinking about it, Wu Fan said, "Since it’s confirmed that she was murdered, I need to go to Zhou Ling’s house!"

The little eunuch Man Ning leaned against the door frame of the hall and said lazily, "If you want to go, go by yourself. I won’t go. I need to rest! I’ve been walking all day, and I’m exhausted!" His tone changed, filled with disdain, and he added slowly, "Climbing the widow’s wall, I won’t do that kind of thing~~~"

Upon hearing this.

Wu Fan, who had already walked quite far, stumbled and almost fell.

...

PS1: Requesting recommendations, collections, and likes, anything helps.

PS2: Thank you to the mighty mouse and the Moon Night^Tianlang for the small red envelopes of 100 points each. Thanks.