Chapter Seventeen: Three Suitors

Yun Shuang watched them, her eyes flickering slightly. From the looks of it, they must be servants from Lady Luo’s household, and this woman was likely Lianxin, Lady Luo’s personal maid, as Yan Fang had mentioned earlier.

Lady Luo, being the only daughter of Luo Dafu, had been pampered and cherished since childhood. Naturally, she had more than one attendant, but Lianxin was chosen by Lady Luo’s mother herself while she was still alive, placing her at her daughter's side. Lady Luo had grown up with her; though officially mistress and servant, they were more like sisters without blood ties.

The servant following closely behind Lianxin paled noticeably upon seeing Jiang Xiao. While the master had been alive, this Commander Jiang would visit the Luo household every year; he was no stranger to him. Hastily, he knelt down with a thud and stammered nervously, “I… I greet the Commander! Please, Commander, see clearly: our master never prepared a coffin in advance. It’s just… just yesterday, while passing the coffin shop, he asked a question out of curiosity. Who would have thought that wicked shopkeeper would come knocking, pressing our master about ordering a coffin!”

“By Heaven above, our master never planned to order a coffin ahead of time. That question was merely… merely a whim…”

His explanation nearly made Yun Shuang laugh, and Lianxin’s face turned livid with anger. She was about to retort when Yun Shuang’s cool voice rang out, “Yes, you passed by a bakery and asked the owner how much a bun cost, just out of curiosity—not because you were hungry and wanted to buy one.”

The sarcasm in her words was obvious to anyone whose ears worked. The servant’s face grew even paler, his lips quivering, unsure what to say.

Lianxin glanced at Yun Shuang in surprise, not understanding why such a woman would be beside Commander Jiang. Yet, clearly Yun Shuang was speaking in her defense, so gratitude appeared on her face. She bit her lip and said, “Exactly! That man surnamed Fan—does he think no one knows what he’s planning? He’s a sly one, and because he grew up alongside Lady Luo, he fooled both our master and Lady Luo.”

“But who would have expected that less than a year after our master’s passing, his true nature would show! Commander, I must report that that man has been involved with other women all these years! Now he’s plotting against our lady, surely to seize the Luo family fortune and live in sin with his mistress…”

Before she finished, the servant beside her nearly jumped up in shock. “Don’t say such things! When has our master ever been involved with other women? And the matter of Lady Luo’s disappearance has nothing to do with our master…”

“Then why, after Lady Luo vanished, did that man refuse to let anyone enter their room? He claimed not to want Lady Luo’s presence disturbed, but who believes such nonsense? That display of devotion—he might end up fooling himself!”

Lianxin glared at him with hatred, and after her tirade, she turned toward Jiang Xiao, bowing deeply and knocking her forehead hard against the ground, her voice trembling with tears, “Commander, I beg you to stand up for Lady Luo! The county yamen has searched for days, yet not a trace of her clothing has been found! I… I truly fear Lady Luo was harmed, and who knows what suffering she might still be enduring…”

At that moment, two figures rushed out from the county office. Leading them was a man in his forties or fifties, wearing a black official hat and a blue robe. He was short and thin, with a long, narrow face and a pair of goatee whiskers, his expression filled with panic.

He emerged just in time to hear Lianxin’s accusation of the county yamen’s incompetence and quickly turned to Jiang Xiao, saying, “Commander, I have… I have sent every hand in the county yamen to search for Lady Luo! Even Constable Yang, who retired months ago to enjoy his grandchildren, was called back in haste. I swear, I have not neglected this case!”

Beside him was a young man with a baby face, dressed in constable attire. He nodded vigorously, “That’s right! Magistrate Ding has worked very hard. If we haven’t found Lady Luo, it’s our own incompetence—not because of Magistrate Ding’s attitude!”

Everyone: “…”

Magistrate Ding’s mouth twitched sharply, and he turned skillfully to kick at the young man, “Yang Yuan Yi, you brat—would it kill you to say one less word?”

Yang Yuan Yi deftly dodged Ding’s foot, looking innocent. “Magistrate Ding, why are you so angry? Did I say anything wrong? We’ve sent out so many people, and after five days, we still haven’t found Lady Luo—not even a clue whether she’s alive or dead. If you say it’s not incompetence, the Commander won’t believe it either.”

Magistrate Ding: “…”

Not sending this brat packing from the yamen sooner was his greatest mistake!

Yun Shuang, standing nearby: “…”

Is this Shanyang County yamen really up to the task?

At that moment, Jiang Xiao, who had remained silent, cast a deep look at Magistrate Ding and Yang Yuan Yi. Magistrate Ding, about to lose his temper, instantly deflated, glaring at Yang Yuan Yi with all his strength before obediently shutting his mouth.

Only then did Jiang Xiao speak, “I have time this afternoon. I’ll go with you to the Luo household.”

He addressed Lianxin and the servant beside her.

Lianxin’s face brightened instantly.

Magistrate Ding hurried to join in, “Since… since it’s about the case, I’ll go as well!”

Jiang Xiao ignored him and strode ahead.

Yun Shuang hadn’t expected things to progress so quickly and hurriedly pulled Gou Dan along to follow. The shopping could wait; the reward of a thousand taels was far more important!

Magistrate Ding looked in bewilderment at Yun Shuang and her son, who followed closely behind Jiang Xiao, unable to understand why a woman had suddenly appeared at the Commander’s side.

Yun Shuang walked straight to Lianxin’s side, pulling Gou Dan with her, and with an air of casualness asked, “You’re Lady Luo’s personal maid, so you must know her well. I wonder, how was Lady Luo’s relationship with Master Fan before?”

Lianxin stared at her in astonishment.

Who on earth was this woman? Following them was one thing, but why was she probing into Lady Luo’s affairs?

Yun Shuang smiled faintly, casting a subtle glance at Jiang Xiao walking diagonally behind them. “I saw the missing-person notice Master Fan posted. Commander Jiang is kind-hearted and took pity on us widows and orphans, so he allowed me to join in the investigation. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Deputy Yan.”

Her voice was pitched just right for Jiang Xiao behind them to hear. He merely glanced at her indifferently and said nothing.

Lianxin looked at Jiang Xiao, half-convinced, then at Yun Shuang, about to answer when a figure cheekily squeezed in. “Oh, I was wondering why the Commander suddenly had a beautiful woman at his side—it’s for the thousand taels reward! Lady, you’ve got quite the nerve, getting the Commander to personally agree to let you join the investigation!”

It was Yang Yuan Yi.

He held his sword in his arms, speaking to Yun Shuang with friendly familiarity, then turned to Lianxin, grinning, “Lianxin, we meet again. You’re as beautiful as ever! Actually, even if you hadn’t come today, Magistrate Ding and I were planning to visit the Luo household.”

Lianxin gave him no good face, replying coldly, “If Lady Luo isn’t found, what use is coming to our house over and over? This lady…”

She ignored Yang Yuan Yi and addressed Yun Shuang, “Since the Commander has allowed you to be involved in this case, I’ll tell you everything I know.

Our lady and that man surnamed Fan… they were very close before. He’s always been smooth-talking, skilled at making her happy. Otherwise, Lady Luo would never have chosen him from the three candidates her father prepared for her husband!”