Fufang Street Number Sixty-Three

In the eastern part of Qingzhou Prefecture City, at Li Yan's residence.

This residence wasn't a top-tier mansion, but it had blue bricks and red tiles, with a vermilion lacquered main gate bearing a plaque that read "Li Residence."

As expected of an official, it was much grander than an ordinary citizen's home.

Upon entering the main gate, the sound of heart-wrenching crying could be heard from the main hall. A woman in a plain colored dress was sobbing, hunched over a desk.

Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were swollen, and she was Madam Zhang, Li Yan's second wife.

Li Yan's first wife had died of illness years ago; this was the remarried wife he had taken later.

She was around thirty years old.

Beside her stood two maids, dressed in white, clearly having already learned of Li Yan's death.

"Please accept my condolences, Madam."

Captain Li stepped forward.

"We are from the Imperial Guard, ordered to investigate the case of Clerk Li. We have a few things we'd like to ask you, Madam."

Madam Zhang looked up, her eyes teary as she surveyed the group. Upon seeing the conspicuous Flying Fish Robes, she suddenly sobered up.

Her crying subsided slightly, and she choked out, "My lord, how could he just leave like this? What could have made you so desperate? Without you, how can I go on living?"

Facing this situation, Su Fei's tone was gentle.

"Madam, Lord Li Yan might not have died by suicide. This case is of great importance, please calm yourself and think if Clerk Li showed any unusual behavior recently?"

Hearing this, Madam Zhang froze.

She tried to compose herself for a moment.

Su Fei took the opportunity to observe her.

Hmm, she seems genuinely sad. It's unlikely she has a lover. Li Yan's death probably has nothing to do with her.

"Unusual behavior... let me think."

"About half a year ago, my lord started saying things like 'misfortune is unavoidable, but one can choose to avoid it.' When I asked him what happened, he wouldn't say, just kept sighing."

"He also often woke up in the middle of the night and drank alone in his study. Sometimes he would just stare blankly. A few times, I heard him smashing things in his study. When I asked him what was wrong, he just said it was nothing and told me not to worry about it."

Su Fei's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Did he mention anyone he had a grudge against, or did he have any particularly close friends?"

Madam Zhang shook her head.

"My lord has a good temper. Besides going to the Armory for work, he usually stayed home reading. I never heard of him offending anyone. He was even reluctant to scold subordinates who made mistakes."

"As for friends, my lord often went drinking with Deputy Commander Zhao. Sometimes they wouldn't return until midnight, and each time he came back, his expression was off, as if he had something on his mind."

Captain Li's brow furrowed.

"Zhao Feiying?"

"Were they very close?"

Madam Zhang nodded.

"I suppose so."

"I don't know the specifics. They never discussed work matters in front of me. Deputy Commander Zhao often visited our home and sometimes brought supplements, saying my lord worked hard managing the Armory. Just a few days ago, they went drinking together at the Drunken Immortal Tower, and my lord was very drunk when he returned."

Su Fei's gaze swept across the furnishings in the main hall, landing on a landscape painting hanging on the wall—the edges of the scroll were slightly worn.

It was clear it had been touched often. He walked over and looked closely. The inscription at the bottom of the painting read "Gift from Feiying."

"This painting was a gift from Deputy Commander Zhao?"

Madam Zhang followed his gaze and nodded.

"Yes, Deputy Commander Zhao gave it to us last month. He said my lord liked landscapes and bought it specifically for him."

Su Fei said, "Thank you for the information, Madam. We won't disturb you further. If you remember anything else, feel free to visit us at the Thousand Households Office anytime."

As they left the Li residence, Captain Li couldn't help but say, "This Zhao Feiying really is suspicious. Li Yan was drinking with him just days before he died. Perhaps he's the one who drove Li Yan to his death."

Su Fei looked towards the direction of the Qingzhou Army's camp, his eyes deep.

"I think so too. This case is definitely related to Zhao Feiying."

Next, Su Fei requested to freely look around Ling Yan's home for evidence.

Madam Zhang dared not refuse the Imperial Guard's request.

The God-tier Insight Technique activated automatically. Su Fei walked, stopping and starting.

He walked to the small garden of the Ling residence.

The garden wasn't large, and it was planted with ordinary trees and flowers.

Only an old servant was there, trimming branches with scissors.

Su Fei's gaze fell upon a rose bush. Although it was blooming vigorously, the soil around its roots was unusually loose and a few shades lighter than the surrounding earth.

It was clear it had been disturbed recently.

"Excuse me, old timer, are you responsible for the flowers and plants here? How often do you turn the soil?"

Seeing Su Fei in his Flying Fish Robe, the old servant dared not be negligent.

"Replying to your honor, I merely tend to the flowers and plants. I have never been involved in digging."

Su Fei stepped forward, grabbed the rose bush by its stem with both hands, and with a slight tug, pulled the entire plant out by the roots.

Beneath it was a small oilcloth pouch, the size of a palm. Its opening was tied shut with a rope and firmly pressed under the flower's roots.

"Commander Su, did you find something?"

Commander Ling, sensing something unusual and seeing the small bag in Su Fei's hand, immediately perked up.

Su Fei untied the rope and poured out the contents: a folded sheet of rough paper.

Unfolding it, he saw only a single line written in charcoal, the handwriting somewhat messy.

One could tell the writer's emotional state from the script.

Fufang Street, Number 63.

"Fufang Street?"

Commander Ling frowned.

"That's an old street in the southern part of Qingzhou Prefecture City. It's mostly small shops and residences, with many outsiders. How could it be connected to Ling Yan?"

Su Fei took the note and found Madam Zhang. She glanced at the paper.

"The handwriting is indeed my husband's, but he never mentioned the address to me."

Su Fei turned to Commander Ling.

"This address is definitely not an ordinary residence; it likely holds something. Ling Yan hid this address under the flower before he died, clearly afraid of it being discovered."

Commander Ling nodded in agreement.

"Exactly. Perhaps there are clues or something important hidden there."

Su Fei replanted the rose bush, then decisively said, "No time to waste. Let's go and check out Number 63 Fufang Street."

Fufang Street was at the southern end of Qingzhou Prefecture City. Upon arrival, the sides of the road were lined mostly with low adobe houses.

Su Fei and Commander Ling followed the house numbers. Number 63 Fufang Street was a mourning hall.

The plaque read 'Bai Family Mourning Hall', and white lanterns hung there. There was no one at the entrance.

Su Fei raised his hand and knocked on the wooden door of the mourning hall. The door panel emitted a muffled "creak," which was particularly jarring on the quiet old street.

A moment later, shuffling footsteps could be heard from inside, followed by the faint sound of a bolt being drawn back.

"Who is it?"

An aged voice rang out. The wooden door slowly opened, revealing a face covered in wrinkles.

The old man wore a black robe, his hair as white as frost, his eyes cloudy. But when his gaze swept over the Flying Fish Robes of Su Fei and Commander Ling, his pupils suddenly constricted.

Su Fei calmly observed him. The old man's frame appeared hunched, but his shoulders were steady, and his steps were light.

"Ah, it's officers of the Imperial Guard. May I know why you've come? This mourning hall only handles the storage of bodies and the sale of coffins. I am merely a caretaker of the deceased and fear I cannot assist the Imperial Guard."

Su Fei noticed.

The old man's voice carried a hint of tension.