Chapter 86

In mid-October, as autumn approached, Zhao Yougong, who had been recuperating for more than two months, finally recovered to a decent extent. Changing into a new set of clothes and stepping out, he realized that the streets had taken on a desolate appearance.

The autumn wind blew, bringing a chill. It felt like half a year had passed in just two months. A major injury had changed his mindset. A-jiu still followed behind him, her thin frame seeming as if it would be blown over by the wind. Zhao Yougong felt very fortunate; in his life, he had done only one good deed, and it had brought him A-jiu. The heavens truly favored him.

Arriving at Kaifeng Prefecture, Gong Sun Kang led a group of officials to welcome him, "Congratulations, Your Highness, on your recovery!"

"Enough, all of you go about your business. I don't want to stand here listening to your chatter!" After a jest, the group dispersed.

Entering the rear office, he saw Zhu Lian, dressed as a woman, quietly reading some case files. She was so engrossed that she didn't even notice the two additional people in the room.

"Cough, cough, my lady is truly diligent. It seems I might have to give up my position as Prefect!"

Hearing the cough, Zhu Lian looked up and smiled calmly, "Why are you out, Your Highness? Weren't you supposed to stay at home?"

"Still recuperating? I've been at home for so long, I could grow a bird from boredom!" He pulled a chair and sat opposite her, looking at her charming face and blinking, "Tell me, my lady, have there been any interesting cases recently?"

"An interesting case? There is one. A wealthy man in Bianliang City has vanished without a trace. His family comes to make a fuss every day, and I'm about to be driven mad!"

"Hmm? Tell me more!"

Upon hearing about the disappearance of a wealthy man, Zhao Yougong became immediately interested. Of course, it wasn't for solving the case, but for the "wealth" involved.

It turned out that in September, the silk merchant Xue Qingxun from the western part of Bianhe Street had disappeared without any reason. Despite extensive searches, no results were found. This Xue was a well-known wealthy man in Tokyo, with vast assets and over a dozen wives and concubines. It was impossible for him to leave the capital and abandon all of this. If Xue didn't leave on his own, someone must have taken him. A living person, especially a well-known figure, leaving the capital without a trace was impossible. However, neither the Kaifeng Prefecture nor Xue's family could find any clues. If Xue were dead, there would be no body. The case of Xue Qingxun's disappearance quickly became a hot topic in Bianliang.

Indeed, it was an interesting case. Tapping his fingers on the table, he took a sip of tea poured by A-jiu and smiled, "My lady, do you have any leads at all?"

"Not entirely, but in such a situation, there are only two possibilities: either this Xue is hiding somewhere, or he is already dead. I have investigated for a long time, and there is no reason for Xue to hide on his own."

"Then he must have been killed?"

"Yes, that's very likely, but the problem is that we can't find the body!"

Not seeing the person alive or dead, this was the first time Zhu Lian had encountered such a case. Even in the old case files, there was no mention of how to handle such a situation.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed, and Xie Dahuang rushed in, flustered, "Your Highness, Master Zhu, that Xue's wife is causing a commotion again, demanding that we return her husband!"

Hearing Xie Dahuang's words, Zhao Yougong spat out his tea, coughed, and chuckled, "Xue's wife is demanding her husband from us? She's really gone too far. Let's go, I'll take a look!"

Zhu Lian's eyebrows twitched, and she called out urgently, "Your Highness, don't act rashly!"

"Watch me, I have plenty of ways to deal with such women!"

Seeing the expression on Zhao Xiaogong's face, Zhu Lian secretly spat. What kind of talk was this?

Arriving at the front office, they heard a commotion in the courtyard. A woman in her forties was sitting in the courtyard, surrounded by several guards.

"Heaven help us, my husband has been missing for over a month, and we haven't seen him alive or dead. Return my husband!" The woman's voice was shrill and tearful, her hair disheveled, as if the Kaifeng Prefecture had wronged her husband.

Ma Rulong's face turned black, and he pointed at the woman, shouting, "He Shi, stop making a fuss. We are as anxious as you are about Xue's disappearance. What good does your commotion do?"

The woman, used to making a fuss, was undaunted. She lifted her fat face and wailed, "You are in charge of this case. Who else should I complain to? Return my husband..."

The woman's shrill voice made Zhao Yougong frown. He took a few steps forward and shouted, "Shut up, you crazy woman. Do you want your husband?"

He Shi didn't recognize Zhao Yougong at first and nodded with wide eyes.

Zhao Yougong laughed, straightened his body, and patted Xie Wudi on the shoulder, "Big Beard, are you married?"

This question stunned Xie Wudi. He blinked and stammered, "No, not yet!"

"Good!" Zhao Xiaogong folded his arms and raised his eyebrows, grinning, "He Shi, you want a husband, right? How about Xie the constable? He is tall, strong, and in his prime, and he is unmarried. Wouldn't he make a good husband for you?"

"..."

Everyone was stunned. The young prince was truly unique. When he spoke, it was always unexpected. He Shi's mind buzzed, and Xie Wudi shivered.

"Your Highness... No, this fat woman, I... can't... handle..."

Xie Dahuang clearly didn't fancy He Shi. To him, she was a wild sow. Living with such a person would shorten his life.

Being rejected by a rough man, He Shi's face turned red and then white. The others all grinned maliciously. Zhu Lian pursed her lips, her beautiful eyes narrowing, and a smile appeared. This prince was always so amusing when he used his cunning.

"No... You brute, who are you calling fat..."

He Shi glared, and Xie Dahuang, undeterred, bent over and spat on the ground, "I'm talking about you. You should take a look at yourself. You have no virtue. I think Xue left because of you. Coming to the Kaifeng Prefecture to make a fuss, don't you have any shame?"

He Shi gasped, almost fainting. She stopped crying and quickly stood up, "I'll fight you!"

He Shi lunged at him, and Zhao Yougong laughed heartily. Clapping his hands, he shouted at the five strong men, "This woman is attacking an official. Lock her up!"

Hearing Zhao Yougong's order, even Xie Dahuang was shocked. He quickly whispered, "Your Highness, is this right?"

"You fool, lock her up first, then make the Xue family pay to get her out!"

Xie Dahuang understood. It was a ruse to get money. Ingenious, truly ingenious. Why hadn't he thought of this before?

Zhu Lian, standing nearby, heard everything clearly. After He Shi was taken away by the strong men, she sighed, "Ah, He Shi, you've really met your match!"

"Hehe, my lady, are you convinced now? I told you, there are always ways to deal with such women!"

Zhu Lian ignored Zhao Yougong and focused on how to find Xue.

In the rear office, Zhu Lian was fully engrossed in the case. Without her beauty to accompany him, Zhao Yougong led A-jiu and left the Kaifeng Prefecture. After leaving, they soon arrived at Bianhe Street. Looking at the familiar street, the Bianliang River flowed slowly. The riverbank was bustling with people and vendors, a scene of prosperity that could not be described in words. Only by being there could one truly appreciate the world of the "Qingming Shanghe Tu."

The Xiefang Tower was just a few steps away. Seeing the small window, he thought of Nian Nu. Two months without any news, had this woman forgotten him?

In fact, Zhao Yougong was mistaken. Xiao Tan had secretly sent a few letters, but they had all gone unanswered. After several attempts, Xiao Tan stopped sending them.

Arriving at the tower, he was about to enter when A-jiu pulled his sleeve.

"A-jiu, what are you doing?"

A-jiu, unable to speak, pointed to the left. Following her finger, Zhao Yougong smiled bitterly.

Two women were happily selling chestnuts. Perhaps because they were beautiful, many passersby stopped at their stall.

Two months had changed a lot. The once famous courtesan, now sold chestnuts like an ordinary woman. She wore a flowered headscarf and a gray coarse robe, hiding her beauty, but not her grace.

Walking over, he tapped the scale with his fan, "I'll take a hundred pounds of chestnuts and two beauties!"

Nian Nu, sorting chestnuts, trembled at the sound of his voice. Looking up, her eyes shone with joy, "My lord!"

She had always been composed, always saying she didn't care about the frivolous prince, but when he came, she realized how happy she was.

Xiao Tan initially smiled, took a few steps, then stopped, her mouth pouting, her eyes red, "Your Highness..." Two words, and tears streamed down her face.

Zhao Yougong was taken aback, tapping Xiao Tan's forehead with his fan, "Little girl, what are you doing? Aren't you happy to see me?"

"No... I'm happy... but..."

Xiao Tan was about to speak when Nian Nu pulled her sleeve, frowning, "Stop talking nonsense and go prepare some tea!"

Xiao Tan, afraid to disobey Nian Nu, looked at Zhao Yougong pitifully and left the stall.

Watching Xiao Tan's back, Zhao Yougong's smile faded, and he frowned, "Stop! Xiao Tan, finish what you were saying!"

Zhao Yougong's insistence made Xiao Tan smile. She quickly recounted the recent events at the Xiefang Tower.

"With the deepening of autumn, we need thicker clothes. The tower clearly bought a batch of silk, but when I asked for some, they said there was none. Isn't this bullying?"

Zhao Yougong's eyebrows twitched, and after a moment, he cursed.

"This old hag, she's asking for it!"

Zhao Xiaogong was angry, and nothing good would come of it.

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