"These are the banknotes exchanged at Jile Tower last night. Take a look—they're all brand-new."
Inside Six Doors.
Lu Xiaofeng handed the stack of banknotes in his hand to Jiang Long and Luo Ma.
Jiang Long picked up several notes and examined them. "They really are brand-new. And I've seen all these serial numbers before. They're clearly all counterfeit notes."
Luo Ma said, "Then Jile Tower is the source of the counterfeit notes! Lu Xiaofeng, where is this place? We'll send men to raid it at once!"
Lu Xiaofeng curled his lip and led the two men outside the city, to the place where he had entered the coffin last night.
Yet no matter how thoroughly they searched the area, they could not find a single clue or trace.
Luo Ma's expression darkened. "Call over two squads of constables and search it properly!"
Lu Xiaofeng did not think they would find anything by searching so blindly.
After thinking over the events of last night, he turned and left for Yunjian Temple.
Yunjian Temple was not some famous grand temple, but the fact that it had survived near the capital clearly meant it had its own ways.
At the entrance to Yunjian Temple, an old woman had set up a stall selling all kinds of Buddhist prayer beads and bracelets.
Seeing this, Lu Xiaofeng took out the bracelet he had acquired last night and stepped forward to ask, "Grandma, have you ever seen a bracelet like this one?"
The old woman took one look at it and said, "That bracelet of yours is far too common. You can find identical ones everywhere."
"Oh?"
Lu Xiaofeng put away the bracelet and looked into the temple. It was tranquil and quiet, with scarcely a sound to be heard. He could not help frowning. "Yunjian Temple may not be a famous grand temple, but I've heard a little about it. Why are there so few monks here?"
The old woman said, "Yesterday was the Lantern Festival. There were too many people coming to burn incense and pray, and the monks were all exhausted, so the abbot gave them a few days off."
"Huh?" Lu Xiaofeng was surprised. "Monks get days off too?"
The old woman immediately fell silent.
In truth, though Yunjian Temple was called a temple, it was much like a shop, and the monks inside were really just shop clerks.
The Lantern Festival was an excellent time for business. To keep business going, many shops would not allow their assistants to go home and rest that day.
To make up for it, they would usually give them time off over the next few days.
Yunjian Temple had followed the same custom.
Still, it was one thing to understand this in one's heart, and another to say it aloud.
Besides, the old woman had her stall right outside the temple gate, so she was even less likely to speak of it.
With a turn of his mind, Lu Xiaofeng understood the reason and could not help shaking his head.
"Hey, Lu Xiaofeng!"
Someone greeted him from behind. Lu Xiaofeng turned around and saw Hua Manlou approaching together with Zhou Ming.
"What are you two doing here? Are you investigating the case too?"
"No," Zhou Ming said. "Old Hua came to see a friend of his, and I came along to meet that friend. But investigating a case? Could this place be connected to it? Oh, right—Yue Qing's ashes are enshrined here!"
Damn!
Lu Xiaofeng lightly slapped himself. Why couldn't you keep your mouth shut?
"Hehe, tell us. What clue is here?"
"I'm not telling you. Go investigate it yourselves! Why don't you tell me about the clues you have?"
Lu Xiaofeng rejected him outright, then changed the subject. "Old Hua, I want to meet this friend of yours too. Let's go!"
Hua Manlou said, "The two of you should behave yourselves. Don't frighten Miss Xia'er."
"Xia'er?"
"A young lady?"
The two immediately grew deeply interested.
The two men who had just been bickering reached out in perfect sync, placing their hands on Hua Manlou's left and right shoulders.
"You, Hua Manlou—how could you have a friend like this without telling us?"
"Exactly! You don't treat us as friends at all!"
Hua Manlou hurriedly said, "Don't talk nonsense and tarnish her reputation. Xia'er is a good girl, pure and filial."
It turned out that Miss Xia'er was Boss Qian's daughter.
Boss Qian was the chief manager of Datong Money House and had lived in the capital for many years. A few years ago, he had brought his wife and daughter to the capital as well.
Unexpectedly, Madam Qian contracted leprosy, so Boss Qian arranged for her to stay in a secluded room at Yunjian Temple.
It was partly to prevent contagion, and partly to pray for Buddha's protection.
To care for her mother, Xia'er had moved into Yunjian Temple with her. She had lived there for years.
Given Boss Qian's status, Xia'er could have enjoyed all the privileges of a wealthy young lady. Yet for her mother's sake, she willingly endured such hardship.
She was truly filial.
When Hua Manlou's father, Hua Rulin, had previously come to the capital, he had made a special trip to Yunjian Temple to visit Madam Qian.
At the time, Hua Manlou had accompanied his father and thus come to know Xia'er.
A man of Hua Manlou's standing was always surrounded by people seeking to curry favor with him, endlessly inventing ways to flatter him. But though Hua Manlou was blind, his heart was not, and he could see their true intentions.
Xia'er was different. She was gentle without fawning, and though she came close to him, she had no ulterior motives.
After all, to care for her mother, she rarely left Yunjian Temple. She had little desire for wealth or glory in the first place.
She had never even spoken a single good word about her father, Boss Qian, in front of Hua Manlou.
That was why Hua Manlou had accepted her as a friend.
The Hua family of Jiangnan naturally had its roots in Jiangnan.
After Hua Rulin returned to Jiangnan, Hua Manlou had remained in the capital in his father's place and often came to Yunjian Temple to visit.
"Sigh!"
Zhou Ming let out a sigh. "Old Hua, I understand! For people like us, it's far too hard to make a truly sincere friend! Unlike certain people, who have friends all over the world. How enviable!"
Lu Xiaofeng snapped, "What's wrong with having lots of friends? How does me having lots of friends bother you?!"
Zhou Ming said, "Don't misunderstand. What I mean is, you've made so many friends, yet not one of them covets your wealth or wants to rely on your influence... After all, if you don't have those things, how could anyone covet or rely on them?"
Seeing the two start bickering again at the slightest disagreement, Hua Manlou shook his head helplessly.
Fortunately, the three soon reached a corner of the temple.
Three rooms stood there: a kitchen on the left, a sitting room in the middle, and a bedroom on the right.
Xia'er was airing scriptures in front of the rooms. Her features were not breathtakingly beautiful, but she was delicate and pleasing. Though she was Boss Qian's daughter, she wore simple, elegant clothes.
"Miss Xia'er."
Hua Manlou called out.
The woman's body trembled. Realizing something, she turned around, her face already blooming with a smile. "Young Master Hua, you've come again..."
She stepped toward them, but when she saw the two men beside Hua Manlou, her steps drew back. Her smile, too, faded considerably.
Zhou Ming and Lu Xiaofeng exchanged a glance.
They had their answer.
It was hard to say what Hua Manlou felt for this young lady, but this young lady clearly held Hua Manlou in her heart.
Honestly, given Hua Manlou's circumstances, looks were secondary, and even family background was unimportant.
After all, he was the seventh son of the Hua family, with six older brothers above him. Whether it came to inheriting the family estate or making a marriage alliance, he was not essential.
Gentleness, attentiveness, and patience were far more important.
Miss Xia'er had cared for her mother in the temple for years without craving vanity or wealth. Her patience needed no further proof.
As for gentleness and attentiveness, she surely did not lack those either.
When they thought of it that way, Miss Xia'er was indeed an excellent match for Hua Manlou.
Before you continue