Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 162 The Death of the "Winged Fire Serpent" (Second Update)

In less than a quarter of an hour, Qin Xin Feng Xiao appeared in the private room.

Upon seeing Yan Shifan, they were overjoyed and sat down close to him on either side.

After all, Yan Shifan is still a handsome young man with a pleasant voice. Being with him is a hundred times better than being redeemed by that rude rich merchant.

Yan Shifan embraced two women, inhaling their fragrance and holding their soft hands. He thought to himself, "I've spent so much money, and I've finally gotten my hands on them. It was all worth it!"

Zhao Wenhua watched coldly, curled his lip, and hurriedly served tea to Haiyue, his face beaming with a smile: "Please enjoy, Chief!"

Haiyue took a sip and said calmly, "Let's get down to business."

Yan Shifan suppressed his smile and immediately ordered the two women to send their personal maids and trusted servants to gather information.

Hearing that they were going to the Golden Valley Pavilion to investigate Qian Jinbao's background, the two women didn't take it seriously. But when they heard that they were going to the Water Cloud Pavilion, their pretty faces changed color immediately: "Young master, ever since that Lady Sun's face was disfigured, she has become eccentric. Anyone who gets close to her, even if they just pass by by chance, will be harmed. One of her maids has disappeared and has not been found..."

Yan Shifan asked curiously, "How was she able to stay in Shuiyun Pavilion?"

Qin Xin said, "She has people protecting her in the Jiaofangsi (a type of entertainment institution), and she never leaves the backyard of Yunshuijian (another entertainment venue). Gradually, everyone has kept to themselves. But if I send someone there, I'm afraid it will be difficult to get close..."

Yan Shifan was not alarmed but delighted: "Mingwei, this woman's suspicion has increased significantly!"

Haiyue didn't rush to conclusions, but instead asked, "Do you know Yan Xiu?"

Qin Xin and Feng Xiao nodded in unison: "Master Yan is a famous chivalrous man. Back in the capital, whenever the people suffered from disasters, he would give away all the money he had to set up charitable shelters, take in refugees, and provide porridge and medicine. Everyone respected him very much."

Haiyue asked, "Does Yan Xiu have any dealings with Lady Sun from Yunshui?"

Qin Xin and Feng Xiao exchanged a glance. They wouldn't have dared to answer before, but this woman had previously had Yun Niang carry a token, which she waved in front of that arrogant guest. The guest didn't dare to utter a sound and immediately slunk away. Only then did she realize who the real power was. She said softly, "I've heard that Master Yan is Madam Sun's former lover and is going to take her away!"

Yan Shifan was surprised: "That man surnamed Yan, is he the one who wanted to elope with Granny Sun? Then why did they fail to leave, and why was Granny Sun disfigured and forced to return to Shuiyun Pavilion?"

Qin Xin said sadly, "It's said that they were Yan's enemies. They seized the opportunity and ambushed the two of them when Brother Yan and Lady Sun were leaving the capital..."

Feng Xiao sighed softly, "After a bloody battle, Madam Sun's stunning beauty was ruined, and Master Yan was also seriously injured. Knowing that continuing to escape with her would only result in their mutual demise, he sent Madam Sun back to Shuiyun Pavilion and then threatened his enemies that if they dared to harm him, he would slaughter their entire clan. Those enemies, intimidated by Master Yan's power, ultimately dared not act rashly..."

"I see!"

Yan Shifan clicked his tongue in amazement, never expecting there to be such a story behind the rumors, and even less that he had already met the other party involved: "So, after Yan Xiu returned to the capital, he rekindled his romance with Lady Sun?"

The two women looked at each other, puzzled. "We haven't heard of that."

Haiyue asked, "Haven't there been any reports of Yan Xiu and Madam Sun meeting recently?"

Qin Xin shook her head: "This love can only be cherished in memory, for at the time it was all in vain, or perhaps Lady Sun did not wish to see me again!"

"That's wrong. It's not that we don't want to see each other, it's that we dare not see each other..."

A deep, resonant voice rang out clearly. As the door to the private room opened, the burly and imposing Yan Xiu strode in, cupping his fists and laughing, "Haha! It really is Brother Hai! Young Master Yan is here too!"

Haiyue rose to return the greeting, Yan Shifan exchanged greetings with her, and finally introduced Zhao Wenhua.

After everyone was seated, Yan Xiu grinned and said, "I apologize for my rudeness earlier. I happened to overhear these two young ladies discussing my past and couldn't help but chime in."

Seeing that Qin Xin Feng Xiao was about to get up to apologize, he pressed his hand down: "No need, no need. I'm not that petty. It's just that rumors are not always true. The truth is not like that!"

Yan Shifan's eyes flashed: "Since Brother Yan has come in person, could you tell us about the romantic escapades you had with Madam Sun back then?"

These words were deliberately provocative. Yan Shifan knew that Haiyue had some connection with this person, so it was not easy for her to speak up. He decided to play the villain himself.

"Romance and romance? Ha!"

Yan Xiu smiled nonchalantly: "If I were to tell you all that I was seriously injured and nearly died back then, it was all thanks to Lady Sun, would you find it hard to accept?"

Qin Xin Feng Xiao was the first to be stunned: "Huh?"

Yan Shifan frowned: "What is this all about?"

Yan Xiu said, "It's just a heartbreaking story of betrayal! I wanted to save her from her misery, but it turned out I was just being delusional. She arranged for her enemies to intercept me and even drugged my wine, almost killing me..."

Qin Xin Feng Xiao was dumbfounded and couldn't help but ask, "Then why is it that the rumors say that Master Yan is extremely loyal to Madam Sun and would risk his life to protect her, and Madam Sun doesn't deny it?"

"She's the one who spread this news..."

Yan Xiu laughed and said, "If we don't say that, how can we live peacefully? You know, I had a group of friends back then who, unaware of the strange things, actually protected her secretly for a long time, and even went so far as to threaten the officials of the Jiaofangsi to keep her in Shuiyunjian!"

Qin Xin wore a disillusioned expression, while Feng Xiao couldn't help but say, "Master Yan, Madam Sun has learned her lesson after all. Her face is ruined; for a woman, this is the cruelest punishment!"

"That's right!"

Yan Xiu nodded: "In my whole life, I've eaten anything, but I've never suffered a loss. I'm the one who slashed her face!"

Feng Xiao was completely dumbfounded.

Yan Shifan's expression was priceless; the gap between the rumors and reality was simply too vast, the twists and turns almost unbelievable. Hai Yue, on the other hand, suddenly stood up and walked outside.

Yan Xiu asked in surprise, "Brother Hai?"

"Brother Yan, it has been half a year since you returned to the capital. You have not entered Shuiyun Pavilion before. Is this on purpose?"

Haiyue talked as she walked.

Yan Xiu followed and nodded: "She'll be most afraid of me returning to the capital, living in constant fear. I'll deliberately avoid seeing her; that's the punishment!"

Haiyue asked, "What will happen after we meet at Shuiyun Pavilion today?"

Yan Xiu sighed, "I thought I would be very resentful when we met again, but in fact, when I faced that woman who had aged so much in just a few years that I could no longer recognize her, all my hatred vanished."

"Don't you recognize her?"

Haiyue quickened her pace: "Brother Yan, please lead the way. I need to go to Shuiyun Pavilion."

Yan Xiu's expression turned serious: "What exactly happened?"

"It's hard to explain right now, let's talk about it once we get there!"

Haiyue and Yanxiu moved very quickly, and arrived at Shuiyunjian at the end of the alley in no time.

Compared to the lavish gold decorations and red sleeves of the Jade Hall, this place is much quieter.

The music could only be heard on the second floor. Occasionally, servants and maids would pass by, but they wouldn't dare to ask the two of them and would obediently step aside.

Without waiting for Yan Shifan and Zhao Wenhua, Haiyue went straight to the backyard, where she saw a thin, hunched old woman mending clothes in front of the door. She seemed oblivious to the approaching footsteps of the two women and quietly continued with her work.

"This is Lady Sun's old servant. Lady Sun was also a daughter of an official family, and this old servant has been with her since he was a child."

Yan Xiu gave a brief introduction, then asked, "Where is your young lady?"

The withered old woman then raised her hand and pointed towards the inner room.

Haiyue narrowed her eyes, suddenly reached out, pressed down on the old woman's neck, knocked her unconscious, and then walked inside.

Yan Xiu's voice came from behind: "Brother Hai, what are you doing?"

Hai Yue's expression remained calm, but she was actually preparing herself. She slowly said, "Brother Yan, please don't be offended. I need to see the living person first before I can explain."

"A living person?"

Yan Xiu's tone became urgent: "Do you think she would commit suicide?"

Having said that, a gentle breeze swept by, and a figure burst forth, leaping over the sea and rushing inside.

However, Haiyue's lightness technique was not slow either. The two entered the inner room almost simultaneously. Their eyes swept across the room and saw that the windows were tightly closed, the light was dim, and behind the screen was a woman's boudoir bed, on which a person was vaguely lying.

Approaching the bedside, a woman with a veiled face came into view. Reaching out to touch her nose, she found she was no longer breathing.

Yan Xiu looked at the corpse, a complex expression flashing in his eyes, and slowly said, "Just as Brother Hai predicted, she really did take her own life. I never imagined that what I saw earlier was the last time I would see her..."

Haiyue remained silent: "Since we're already late, I can explain why. Brother Yan, have you heard of the Liyuan Society?"

Yan Xiu looked completely bewildered: "Never heard of it."

Haiyue said, "Liyuan Society is a secret society, which is divided into 'Sanyuan Hall' and 'Twenty-Eight Mansions'. It calls itself 'Suppressing monarchical power, rectifying the laws and regulations, and seeking the well-being of all people.'"

"What a loud tone!"

Yan Xiu's eyes widened: "Suppress the emperor's power and rectify the laws? Why does that sound like a rebellion, seizing the emperor's throne and taking his place?"

"Throughout history, the succession of imperial power has always been a righteous and just procession that pacifies the world. For example, Emperor Taizu overthrew the Mongol Yuan dynasty and restored the orthodox Chinese civilization. I have never heard of anything being accomplished through secret societies! Yet, those with ambition often indulge in such delusions, stirring up countless chaos and ultimately bringing only turmoil and suffering to the people..."

Haiyue said, "And I previously suspected that Madam Sun was the 'Winged Fire Serpent' among the Twenty-Eight Constellations of the Liyuan Society!"

Yan Xiu frowned: "Just because she's a weak woman?"

Haiyue said, "A woman capable of scheming against Brother Yan is no weak woman. Moreover, Madam Sun is the leader of the Lotus Platform Immortal Gathering, and her associates are all high-ranking officials and nobles. If she were one of the Twenty-Eight Constellations, she could also provide crucial intelligence to the Liyuan Society!"

Yan Xiu sighed, "If that's really the case, I finally understand why she didn't want to elope with me and instead tried to kill me. This Li Yuan Society is truly a menace; I wish I could destroy it!"

"Now Brother Yan has a chance!"

Haiyue asked, "Did Madam Sun leave any belongings after her suicide?"

Yan Xiu frowned in thought, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "Hey! I just remembered, she has a habit of hiding here!"

As he spoke, he reached under the bed and rummaged around, quickly pulling out a thin scroll: "Brother Hai, please take a look. Is this her diary?"

(End of this chapter)