Chapter 35: Gossip

Chapter 35: Gossip

"What's the matter?" Xue Dongyang asked. "What made you sigh all of a sudden?"

Aside from a few maids and cooks, the Criminal Bureau was predominantly staffed by men. Naturally, they were more than willing to lend a hand to the unexpected female visitor.

After all, as they say, working with both genders makes the task less tedious.

Jiang Yunxin spoke up, "I've never been to Misty Rain Pavilion before."

Xue Dongyang found this quite reasonable.

To put it bluntly, Misty Rain Pavilion was a gathering place for scholars and poets. While Jiang Yunxin was a student at Wenyuan Academy, her daily conduct didn't quite resemble that of a talented woman.

However, Xue Dongyang dared not voice his reasoning behind this conclusion. Instead, he said, "In fact, I haven't been there either."

Curiosity sparked in Jiang Yunxin. "Has Sir ever been there?"

Xue Dongyang pondered. "We didn't go there when we were under surveillance, but I can't say for sure about when I was alone."

Although Fang Mingyan was not purely a man of culture, he was no brute either. Occasionally, in his leisure time, he would spread out a sheet of paper and practice calligraphy with a brush. There was even a musical instrument in his courtyard that he would play from time to time.

Fine arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were essential for the sons of noble families.

It never crossed anyone's mind that Fang Mingyan, the head of the Criminal Court, could actually play the zither. Was it his way of creating a charming contrast? Jiang Yunxin couldn't help but tease him inwardly.

Despite it being evening, the weather was pleasantly warm. The Yanyu Pavilion was illuminated, with figures moving about, indicating a lively atmosphere.

The two strolled across the arched bridge.

Ah, now Jiang Yunxin understood.

No wonder it was so bustling.

This wasn't merely a pavilion; it was practically an island. Not only did it offer places to enjoy wine and tea, but there were also two small shops selling elegant items such as brushes, ink, paper, seals, folding fans, and books.

Jiang Yunxin grasped the essence of this place.

This was the cultural hub of the capital city.

Here, some gathered for the love of literature, while others used it as a means to woo women. Ma Xiuneng fell into the latter category.

Both Jiang Yunxin and Xue Dongyang were unfamiliar faces; nobody recognized them, nor did they attract any attention.

Spotting a vendor selling snacks on Yanyu Tower, Xue Dongyang bought two packets of candied roasted chestnuts. They casually strolled about, each enjoying a packet as they walked.

Jiang Yunxin found the situation odd and whispered, "Are we just going to wander like this? Shouldn't we grab a couple of people to question?"

Xue Dongyang also whispered back, "What authority do you plan to use to make the arrests?"

Jiang Yunxin paused, unsure, "Anything would do, I suppose."

As she peeled the chestnut, which ideally had a crack that would allow it to be easily opened after roasting. However, the crack on Jiang Yunxin's chestnut wasn't quite right, and she couldn't open it despite two attempts.

Xue Dongyang took it from her, gently pinched it, and voila – it opened.

Yunxin was both impressed and envious, believing that it was truly wonderful to possess martial arts skills.

After helping Jiang Yunxin resolve her immediate dilemma, Xue Dongyang said, "Those who can come here are all influential and wealthy families from the capital. You have no grounds to simply accost them; it wouldn't be appropriate."

"What should we do then?"

Xue Dongyang replied, "Wait a moment. Soon, you won't need to ask; they'll speak up on their own."

Ma Xiuneng's death was major news among his circle of friends. It would be impossible to keep it hidden, and everyone would inevitably discuss the matter.

First cast a wide net and listen attentively. Wait until we catch wind of something significant before making any arrests.

Jiang Yunxin nodded.

Opting for a more proactive approach, they sought out a strategic spot in a teahouse, one that allowed them to both overhear conversations and observe their surroundings. They ordered some snacks and tea to settle in.

The refreshments and tea here are indeed not inexpensive.

Once again, Jiang Yunxin was convinced that the Prisons Bureau must have exceptional benefits, and Fang Mingyan must be exceedingly generous. Otherwise, how could Xue Dongyang be so lavish with his money outside?

As twilight fell, several tables in the tavern were already occupied.

Given the limited space, the distance between tables was relatively small, allowing conversations to be easily overheard without much effort. Xue Dongyang was known for his martial arts skills, and Jiang Yunxin suspected that he could even hear every word spoken in this room.

It was advantageous for her eavesdropping.

Jiang Yunxin focused on the table behind her, where six people were seated. Their conversation often revolved around brothels and women, suggesting they shared similar interests with Ma Xiuneng.

Initially, they discussed other matters, but after a few cups of wine, one of them revealed, "Did you know? Something happened to Brother Ma."

This person seemed well-informed.

The others were caught off guard, reacting with surprise. They hastily asked, "What happened? What happened?"

Another added, "No wonder Brother Ma didn't show up today. Did he have an accident after drinking too much?"

"No," the informant corrected. "He's dead."

All present were startled by the news.

It was unclear how that person had obtained such information, but they weren't spreading baseless rumors.

"That man was supposedly victimized by someone, and it was a woman," the person continued. "His throat was slit, and blood flowed all over the ground. It was truly tragic."

With friends like these, one couldn't help but engage in immoral acts together.

The news of Ma Xiuneng's misfortune made everyone feel a sense of shared vulnerability. They began asking in a flurry what had happened and who could have done this to him.

The informant replied, "I'm not sure yet. The Law Enforcement Bureau is investigating. Rumor has it that it was a woman... Hey, do any of you know if he's been involved with any women lately?"

Jiang Yunxin perked up her ears.

This indeed proved to be an excellent place to overhear gossip without even asking.

"Ah, speaking of which, I found it odd too," another young nobleman said. "Brother Ma hasn't joined me at the Brocade Pavilion these past few days. Mother Chun has asked me twice now where he's gone off to. I wonder where he could be."

It was peculiar that none of his usual group of friends knew his whereabouts.

While they were speculating whether he had found a new love interest elsewhere, someone declared, "I know where he is."

All eyes turned to him.

Despite Jiang Yunxin's reluctance to turn around, she pricked up her ears as well.

The man continued, "Do you know that Brother Ma's family has recently been arranging a marriage for him?"

A collective "oh" echoed among the crowd, save for Jiang Yunxin whose face darkened slightly.

How peculiar, she thought, to be eavesdropping on gossip about myself.

Xue Dongyang couldn't resist focusing his attention on the conversation either.

Someone inquired, "Why the sudden rush to arrange a marriage? Which young lady is it from?"

"The eldest daughter of the Jiang family," the informant replied, quite knowledgeable. "I haven't seen her, but I've heard that when the Jiang family's eldest daughter met Brother Ma, they fell in love at first sight, their affinities aligned like kindling to a flame."

Jiang Yunxin drew a deep, deep breath.

Scanning her surroundings, Xue Dongyang promptly placed a hand on the wine jug and plate in front of her.

He sensed that Jiang Yunxin was on the verge of throwing the plate at that person's head in the next instant.

"Stay calm, stay calm," Xue Dongyang whispered. "Listen to him first. It's not appropriate to make a scene with so many people around. If you want to confront him, do it discreetly, like in an alley, and preferably after binding him."

Jiang Yunxin felt somewhat reassured. Her colleagues from the Criminal Bureau truly knew how to read the situation, their warmth akin to springtime.

Another person seated nearby also found the tale unsettling and challenged, "That can't be right, can it? Even if they were betrothed, she's still an unmarried lady. How could she possibly be compared to a courtesan?"

"I'm not making this up," the previous speaker insisted. "I heard it from a reliable source, someone in the know. Think about it, a wealthy family's daughter, innocent and naive. Brother Ma is no stranger to dealing with women – he's skilled in his ways. A little persuasion, and he'd have her in the palm of his hand. Once she got a taste, how could she resist? Perhaps it was someone who couldn't bear to let go."

Their laughter followed, a chorus of amusement.

If Ma Xiuneng were aware that his erstwhile comrades and friends could laugh so heartily over gossip surrounding his death, even in his unrequited passing, he would surely have had a profound realization.

When the laughter subsided, someone asked, "Could it be that the incident arose from a jealousy dispute between Miss Jiang and another woman?"