Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Trail of Plum Blossom Footprints

The more Yang Yuanyi listened, the more excited he became. Unable to contain himself, he jumped out and exclaimed passionately, “I think Lady Yun’s analysis makes perfect sense! Why couldn’t the vase have been smashed by the murderer themselves? There are plenty of reasons for the killer to break the vase! For example, perhaps they felt pity for the deceased and hoped she’d be discovered quickly after death, rather than leaving her to soak in the cold water for too long.”

Everyone: “…”

You kill her, then pity her?

“Or perhaps, the killer hated the victim so much that even after strangling her, it wasn’t enough—they wanted to further desecrate her body. But with nothing sharp at hand, in a moment of heated impulse, they smashed the vase. Only after it shattered did they suddenly realize that the noise might attract others!”

Everyone: “…”

The more he spoke, the more absurd it sounded.

They’d sooner believe the killer had a penchant for breaking vases than buy into his theories.

Yang Yuanyi, seeing that he had spoken at length with such fervor only to be met with unspeakable looks from everyone, couldn’t help but pout in dissatisfaction. “What’s with those faces? I’ve read storybooks for over a decade, and that’s how all the detectives in those stories reason things out…”

“Are you writing stories, or are you solving a case?”

Magistrate Ding, already fuming, couldn’t hold back and jumped up, giving Yang Yuanyi a fierce kick. “This is exactly why you’re always so lackadaisical and never measure up to your father!”

While they were making a spectacle of themselves, Yun Shuang quietly walked over to the dressing table not far away.

This was the last place in the inner room to have been disturbed.

She had only glanced over it earlier and hadn’t looked closely. Now, as she approached, she saw that the mess on the dressing table was caused by a box of tangerine-red rouge that had been knocked over, scattering its powder all across the table.

And on that powder, a row of delicate plum-blossom-shaped footprints was left behind.

They were unmistakably the prints of a cat or dog!

Yun Shuang immediately turned and asked, “Did the deceased keep any pets?”

Yang Yuanyi, remembering at last that this was a crime scene, rubbed his sore backside from Magistrate Ding’s kick and looked at Yun Shuang as he replied, “I heard from the deceased’s maid that she kept an orange tabby. She was extremely fond of it, taking it everywhere with her. I checked the dressing table earlier, too—certainly, it must have been the deceased’s mischievous cat that knocked over her rouge, leaving such a mess.”

A tabby, that is, a cat.

Yun Shuang turned back, following the trail of tiny footprints across the table, leaping gracefully to the floor, then onto the windowsill.

She walked over and looked out the window. Beyond was the rear courtyard of the Yiyuan Inn, directly across from the window stood an osmanthus tree, now in full bloom, its pale yellow flowers sending waves of fragrance drifting in on the breeze.

The osmanthus tree was a fair distance from the window—a person would struggle to leap across, but for a cat, it was effortless.

The cat had probably used the tree to jump into the courtyard and was now nowhere to be seen.

The others, seeing Yun Shuang fixated on the view outside, grew puzzled.

What could be so interesting out there? Was there a clue she’d spotted?

Yang Yuanyi, unable to restrain himself, sidled up beside her and peered out as well. “Lady Yun, what are you looking at?”

“Nothing.” Yun Shuang drew back her gaze. “Earlier you mentioned the deceased’s maid. Where is she?”

Yang Yuanyi cast a few more unbelieving glances outside before answering, “She’s just outside. When we arrived, we found her right away, but decided to examine the body and crime scene first before questioning her.”

Yun Shuang nodded. “Let’s go out now, then.”

“Alright!” Yang Yuanyi answered at once, trotting after Yun Shuang.

Magistrate Ding: “…”

He was now so angry that not even fury remained.

This ungrateful brat—once this case is wrapped up, he’d make sure to give him the dressing-down his father never did!

Yun Shuang walked toward the door, pondering the case as she went. She hadn’t yet stepped out when she suddenly found herself face-to-face with a pair of deep, dark eyes.

Only then did she remember that Jiang Xiao and Yan Fang were still outside.

She’d been so absorbed in investigating that she’d entirely forgotten their presence.

Jiang Xiao stood ramrod straight outside the door, his imposing aura instantly overshadowing the sinister chill of the crime scene. Clad in a close-fitting dark robe with narrow sleeves and matching high leather boots, he wore no adornments but the sword at his waist. Ever since their eyes met, his gaze hadn’t left her, as if he wished to look straight into her soul; in those eyes lingered a faint, innate coldness.

Yun Shuang raised her brow slightly.

Because she’d used his name as her shield from the outset, the others, however strange they found her, dared not voice their doubts.

But this man was different.

To him, she must already seem utterly bizarre—a simple village woman, not only unafraid of the dead, but calmly and methodically analyzing the crime.

But being suspected would hardly do her harm. All of this was for the sake of giving herself and her two children a better life!

Moreover, deep down, she was grateful that the one doubting her was him.

However difficult he might be, there was a softness beneath his stern exterior.

If, afterward, he insisted on getting to the bottom of things, she would simply meet him with all sincerity and craft a convincing explanation… cough, that is, explain herself to him.

At this thought, Yun Shuang averted her gaze.

By now, they had stepped outside. Yan Fang, who had been restraining himself for some time, immediately hurried over, incredulous. “Well, I’ll be! Lady Yun, you really can investigate a case!”

Though he and Jiang Xiao hadn’t entered, they had heard everything clearly from outside, and with the beaded curtain across the way, they could mostly see what was happening inside.

Truly, Lady Yun had taken charge of the entire investigation!

The young soldier who had brought Yun Shuang over looked at her, abashed and deeply relieved he hadn’t voiced his earlier doubts about her.

Lady Yun was someone even the General acknowledged!

He’d have to be mad to suspect her!

Yun Shuang gave Yan Fang a faint smile, then saw Yang Yuanyi approach a frail, pale young woman in pink standing outside, so unremarkable she was almost invisible. He turned to Yun Shuang and said, “Lady Yun, this is the deceased’s maid, Xiaodie. When we arrived, she, Young Master Chen, and Zhang Da were all waiting outside the room.”

Zhang Da nodded. “Yes, yes, after Young Master Chen and I found Lady He murdered, we were about to report to the authorities when this young lady came running over in a panic. Since then, the three of us have been standing outside the room.”

Yun Shuang nodded, then turned to Xiaodie. “Xiaodie, is it? You’re Lady He’s maid. Why weren’t you with her at the time of her death?”

Just then, Magistrate Ding caught up at the door: “…”

Perhaps he should just hand his official hat over to this lady and be done with it?