Reenacting the Events

Lin Ke considered his wording, then addressed Jingang:

"Your Golden Crow Highness, I have a new lead now, but I'll need your cooperation tomorrow. It may be quite taxing, but there's a good chance we'll uncover the killer outright. Would Your Highness be willing to help?"

Jingang had been looking down at the tree diagram with rapt attention. When Lin Ke suddenly called to him, he froze for a moment upon hearing his words.

Then he gave a warm, gentle smile. "Just say the word, Brother Lin. I'll do everything I can to cooperate."

Lin Ke smiled as well. "For now, you can return to your lodgings and keep yourself in good spirits. Tomorrow morning, at the hour of the Snake, we'll meet at the Song-Listening Entertainment House at the end of the street."

"Hmm?" Confusion crossed Jingang's face. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Could you clear up my confusion, Brother Lin?"

Lin Ke looked around and found everyone watching him, so he said loudly, "Tomorrow, I intend to have you go through everything your younger brother experienced on Chaoyang Street that day. We'll retrace his steps and see where things went wrong."

After saying that, he hesitated, then turned to the others and continued, "I'll also need everyone's cooperation tomorrow to help me find the true cause of His Golden Crow Highness's younger brother's death!"

Everyone fell silent. After a quiet moment, Li Hanlin was the first to ask, "Do you suspect the Little Golden Crow Prince died after accidentally eating something?"

Lin Ke nodded.

Jingang was about to speak, but Lin Ke spoke first. "There are many things I can only confirm after he finishes retracing those experiences tomorrow. So, everyone, let's wait until His Golden Crow Highness has gone through everything. It won't be too late to ask questions then."

The others remained silent.

After some thought, Wang Lin spoke first. "All right. Tomorrow morning, at the hour of the Snake, I'll meet you outside the Song-Listening Entertainment House."

The old man from the Tea Shop then slowly stepped forward. "I, too, will keep our appointment tomorrow morning."

Seeing this, the others voiced their agreement one after another.

Once everything was agreed upon, most of them left to make the necessary arrangements for tomorrow.

Only Wang Lin, Butcher Zhang, and Lin Ke remained in the painting studio.

Butcher Zhang had intended to leave with everyone else, but Lin Ke had called him back.

Once the others were gone, Lin Ke looked at Butcher Zhang. "Brother Zhang, you're the strongest here. Tomorrow, please keep a close eye on Jingang's condition. If anything goes wrong, I'll need you to act immediately."

Butcher Zhang nodded firmly. "No problem!"

Lin Ke bowed to Butcher Zhang with his hands clasped. "I'm counting on you, Brother Zhang!"

Then Butcher Zhang left as well.

Wang Lin spoke up. "How did I never notice how meticulous you were before?"

Lin Ke shook his head with a rueful smile. "Master, please don't tease me. If Butcher Zhang can't act in time tomorrow, I'll still need you to watch over him from the shadows. I know you're the strongest, Master!"

Wang Lin nodded. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on things."

Then Lin Ke left.

The night passed without incident.

This was the third day since the Little Golden Crow Prince's case began!

He didn't have much time left!

Still, Lin Ke felt a little puzzled. Why had he slept so comfortably last night?

Could that bear demon meat help with sleep as well as strengthening the body?

But he soon put those scattered thoughts aside.

By now, he had reached the end of Chaoyang Street and sat down on the steps outside the Song-Listening Entertainment House.

He glanced back down the street.

Today, everyone at the Song-Listening Entertainment House, the Immortal Realm Painting Studio, the Hanging Mountain Tea Shop, and the Tongfu Grand Restaurant on Chaoyang Street would play a leading role!

He was going to reenact the events of the case to test his conjecture.

Creak-

Just then, the sound of a door opening came from behind him, while a figure appeared at the far end of his field of vision.

Jingang!

"Young Master Lin, why don't you come inside and wait?"

A familiar voice came from behind him.

Bingbing!

Only then did he turn around and smile at the woman inside the doorway. "Let's wait a little longer. The others should be here soon."

With that, he turned back toward Jingang and found that he was already close by.

He stood to greet him. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two waited together for the others.

Within a few minutes, the others arrived outside the Song-Listening Entertainment House one after another.

Only Li Hanlin was missing!

Just as Lin Ke raised his head to look into the distance, he spotted Li Hanlin approaching at an unhurried pace.

Two constables followed behind him. One was Constable Xing, and the other was the constable who had reported the three people's identities yesterday.

After exchanging greetings, everyone entered the Song-Listening Entertainment House together.

As soon as they sat down, Bingbing brought Jingang a bowl of porridge.

Next came all sorts of fruits and tea, along with various pastries.

Lin Ke explained, "These are all the things your younger brother ate back then. Your Highness will need to try them all!"

"Of course." Jingang nodded.

Then he lifted the bowl and began drinking the porridge while watching the girls of the Song-Listening Entertainment House dance.

It was nearly noon when everyone left the Song-Listening Entertainment House together.

Jingang showed no abnormalities. Lin Ke, meanwhile, could only marvel. He really could eat!

With so much food, he hadn't left a single bite. Curious, Lin Ke asked him, "Aren't you stuffed?"

Jingang shook his head. "I feel fine!"

At a loss for words, Lin Ke simply said, "Then let's continue. On we go."

Everyone headed toward the Immortal Realm Painting Studio together.

Jingang still showed no abnormalities!

But when they stepped into the Exclusive Black Room together, all the men bent at the waist in unison!

Then Lin Ke looked at Jingang. "Your Highness, you'll need to get close and examine every painting!"

Jingang hesitated. If he had been alone, he could have simply enjoyed them.

But there were so many people here!

After looking around, he wore a distinctly embarrassed expression.

Seeing him like that, Lin Ke smiled. "You may begin, Your Highness!"

After thinking it over, Jingang nodded in agreement.

Then, under the eyes of Lin Ke, Shopkeeper Tong, Butcher Zhang, the Tea Shop Father and Son, Li Hanlin, and the others, Jingang began examining each painting.

At first, Jingang's face was only a little redder than an ordinary person's, but as time passed, it grew redder and redder.

Just as expected!

In the end, he became exactly as Wang Lin had described the Little Golden Crow Prince: his face alone illuminated the entire room!

Seeing that the scene was much as Wang Lin had described, Lin Ke said to Jingang, "That's enough, Your Highness. If you keep looking, I'm afraid something will catch fire!"

"Mm." His voice was muffled, and Jingang struggled to tear his gaze away.

Then everyone left the painting studio and headed toward the Hanging Mountain Tea Shop.

Once Jingang stepped outside the painting studio, his complexion returned to normal, and he walked toward the Tea Shop with the others.

As soon as everyone entered, the young man from the Tea Shop sprang into action!

He brewed and poured tea for everyone, then served Jingang fruit and food!

After settling everyone in, the old man slowly walked onto the platform in the center of the Tea Shop.

Clack!

"Now, the story goes..."

Lin Ke watched the old man pick up his storyteller's block and strike it against the table. His kindly expression transformed into one brimming with vigor, and his face grew animated as he told the story.

After bringing them tea, the young man from the Tea Shop did not come over again. They sat there cracking melon seeds, drinking tea, and listening to the story.

"In the flash of lightning and the strike of flint, the two had exchanged positions..."

Clack!

"To learn what happened next, listen to the next installment!"

There were no customers in the Tea Shop, only the people accompanying Lin Ke as he reconstructed the events of the case!

Still, everyone knew how to give a performer a warm reception. As soon as the old man finished his final line, applause rang out...

By the time everyone left the Tea Shop, the sky had already grown dim.

The whole group marched toward the final crime scene, the Tongfu Grand Restaurant!