Clues

Shen Shixu did not hold back simply because it was only his conjecture. "Your Highness, I do have a few suspicions. There should be many other young women like Qiao Ying.

"The clothes she wore were made of heavenly fragrance silk. Pretty as this fabric is, its satin flowers fray easily, and it does not wash well. Most ordinary households would not wear it, while wealthy households look down on it, so its price falls somewhere in the middle.

"Most often, wealthy families buy it for their young ladies' personal maids. It is more like a uniform, which is why I suspect Qiao Ying had companions."

One word in his explanation puzzled Xiao Jinyi. "What is this 'uniform'? From what you said, it seems to mean clothing prescribed by a particular place or family, much as the Black Armor Army under my command always wears black. Minister Shen, have I understood correctly?"

Shen Shixu nodded. "Exactly, Your Highness. In my estimation, this is no ordinary case of a missing girl. There must be much more hidden behind it.

"Also, could someone take me to the rice shop where the body was found?"

Xiao Jinyi felt his conjecture made some sense and supported his wish to inspect the scene, so he personally took him to the Qian Family Rice Shop.

Shen Shixu chose to walk rather than take a carriage. He wanted to use this opportunity to examine the buildings around the rice shop.

As he silently memorized the buildings along the way, 011 suddenly piped up, guilt and self-reproach filling his clear, youthful voice. [Big Brother, I'm sorry. I'm so useless. I can't help you with anything.]

Shen Shixu, who had been reconstructing Qiao Ying's escape route in his mind, paused at those words, then felt a wave of warmth.

[Xiao Yi, don't feel guilty or blame yourself because you think you can't help me. There are plenty of things I need to do myself. If I relied on you for everything, wouldn't that make me an overgrown baby?]

[And don't underestimate me. Your big brother beat all those other scholars and became the Top Scholar at a young age. Investigating a case won't stump me.]

[Just wait and watch me catch the mastermind!]

Comforted by his words, 011 perked right up. [Okay! You can do it, Big Brother!]

Xiao Jinyi heard their entire conversation and gained a new impression of Shen Shixu. Besides being exceptionally talented, handsome, and observant, he was also independent and self-reliant.

Shen Shixu did not go straight to the Qian Duoduo Rice Shop. Instead, he made a circuit of the surrounding area and singled out a house he found suspicious.

The house was one street away from the rice shop, close enough for a severely wounded woman to run there. A large padlock hung on its door, coated in dust, yet there were no weeds by the entrance. Someone had clearly tried to create the illusion that the house had long been unoccupied.

"Your Highness, there is something wrong with this house. Could you have someone look into it?"

Xiao Jinyi followed his gaze and saw the spotless entrance and the dust-covered lock. He understood what Shen Shixu meant.

"I'll have someone find out who owns this house at once!"

Xiao Jinyi instructed Mo Yu, who had been following them at a distance, to go to the Household Registry Office and investigate the owner.

While waiting for Mo Yu's findings, Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi did not sit idle. They knocked on nearby doors and asked whether anyone knew the people in that house.

After asking around, they found that no one knew them.

Just as they gave up asking the neighbors and decided to wait for Mo Yu's findings, a small, skinny beggar ran over with a chipped bowl.

The little beggar was filthy, dressed in ragged clothes, with wounds on his exposed skin. His eyes were large and bright, but wary.

"Big brothers, I heard you asking about the owner of that house. I know. I can tell you."

Shen Shixu had not expected a breakthrough just as they were giving up. Delighted, he said, "If you tell me, I promise you'll never go hungry again. Come on, I'll take you to get something to eat right now."

Holding the little beggar's hand, Shen Shixu led him to a noodle stall. It was the only place nearby selling ready-to-eat food; the other stalls sold either tofu or vegetables.

The little beggar ate two large bowls of noodles in succession. Just as he was about to start a third, Xiao Jinyi stopped him. The boy looked at his stern face in fear.

Seeing that the little beggar was on the verge of frightened tears, Shen Shixu hurried to explain on Xiao Jinyi's behalf. "Don't be scared. He isn't trying to keep you from eating. It's just that if you suddenly eat so much, your stomach might hurt later."

Realizing he had misunderstood, the little beggar nervously apologized to Xiao Jinyi. "Big Brother, I'm sorry. I misunderstood you."

Xiao Jinyi nodded without saying anything, but Shen Shixu noticed the faint redness at the tips of his ears and laughed inwardly. He had never expected the cold-faced prince to blush so easily.

"Ahem. Tell me, do you know the owner of that house? Who is he?"

While Shen Shixu was secretly laughing, Xiao Jinyi suddenly shot him a cold look. Realizing that his inward amusement had been discovered, he hastily changed the subject and questioned the little beggar.

The little beggar did not even have to think before describing the owner. The man's appearance was far too distinctive.

"The man who lives in that house is Big Gold Tooth, Granny Lin's son. She lives at the end of that street. He has five gold teeth, so we all call him Big Gold Tooth.

"But it's strange. Big Gold Tooth is just a layabout. He relies on Granny Lin for all his food and drink. There's no way he could afford such a big house.

"Still, he said it himself when he was drunk before, so it should be true.

"But I've never seen him stay there. Three nights ago, though, a carriage stopped outside the door, and a man with a big belly got out. He stayed inside for about two hours. Then he seemed to be injured, and his attendant helped him out and took him away."

At this, Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi realized that the man was a key figure. If they could find the injured man, they might uncover part of the truth behind the missing girls.

"Then do you know where that injured man went?" Shen Shixu pressed.

The little beggar shook his head. "No, but I saw the carriage carrying him head west down the street."

Shen Shixu said to Xiao Jinyi, "Sorry for the trouble, Your Highness, but please send people to investigate the medical clinics west along the street and see whether anyone sought treatment three nights ago. Focus on an injured man with a big belly and a servant accompanying him!"

Xiao Jinyi felt more certain than ever that Shen Shixu was perfectly suited to being Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He knew how to pinpoint the important details, his reasoning was clear, and his conjectures were bold. He was a gifted investigator.