Lu Linyuan called out to two colleagues: “You just said that the murder weapon was a butterfly hairpin?”

The two men stopped by Lu Linyuan were the same young men who had dined at Jiang’s restaurant with him the previous day.

One of them replied, “We were right there when the coroner performed the autopsy. The victim had a large bruise on their abdomen, likely from being kicked, but the fatal wound was still the stab on the neck. The butterfly hairpin found in the snow matched the wound on the victim’s neck. Most likely, the killer is a woman, which means the young master from Tianji Noodle Shop is probably innocent.”

The other added, “But the coroner also mentioned that the bruise on the abdomen showed the force of a strong kick, similar to what a man would inflict. An ordinary woman wouldn’t have that kind of strength. It’s possible the young master from Tianji used the hairpin deliberately to mislead us.”

Hearing that the victim had signs of being heavily struck, Lu Linyuan felt somewhat relieved.

Jiang Yanxi was frail and didn’t have that much strength.

To confirm the identity of the hairpin, Lu Linyuan said, “Tang, didn’t you say yesterday that you were going to Master Cheng’s plum blossom banquet this afternoon? Let me cover your shift.”

His colleague was overjoyed. “That’s a tough job, always running around with the coroner. I’ve been looking for someone to take my place. Thanks, Lu, you’re a lifesaver!”

Someone nearby remarked with a sly smile, “Brother Linyuan, after your recent success in catching the Turkic spies, Lord Song has been giving you more responsibility. You’d better stay diligent.”

Although this appeared to be a compliment, it was actually a veiled criticism for currying favor.

Lu Linyuan, distracted by his thoughts, had no time to bother with such comments and pretended not to hear.

However, when he went to the coroner’s office in the afternoon, he found out the butterfly hairpin had already been sent to Lord Song.

Lu Linyuan feared showing too much interest in the hairpin would raise suspicion, so he didn’t immediately visit Song’s office.

The hairpin Jiang Yanxi owned was brought from the capital, and there was nothing like it sold in Xizhou.

Originally, he hadn’t worried about Jiang Yanxi’s registration papers, but now his anxiety grew.

If the authorities investigated and found the hairpin’s style came from the capital, they would inevitably track down recent arrivals from the capital, and Jiang Yanxi would surely be discovered.

Lu Linyuan had never felt so agitated.

He wasn’t sure if he was angry at himself for his attitude towards Jiang Yanxi last night or at her for never understanding the gravity of the situation, impulsively acting without thinking.

He had spent his life studying the classics and could never bring himself to take advantage of a girl without formal status.

Even when they were childhood sweethearts, they had always been respectful, with feelings never crossing the boundaries of propriety.

He couldn’t possibly neglect her just because she had fallen on hard times.

Last night, he had been truly upset—angry that she would degrade herself like that, and perhaps even angrier that she might have been trying to sever her feelings for Feng Shiyan in such a way.

In their previous lives, Jiang Yanxi had ultimately chosen Feng Shiyan over him.

At the time, she had coldly declared that since the moment she left the palace, she had been thinking about Feng Shiyan.

Traveling north to find him, she said she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, not because of youthful promises but out of guilt toward Lu Linyuan…

Last night, Lu Linyuan had wanted to wait for Jiang Yanxi to calm down before talking to her.

He wanted to tell her to truly think it through—about who she really loved.

But after she returned to her room, he knocked several times, and each time she only said she was tired and wanted to rest. By the time he woke up the next morning, she had already left quietly.

Perhaps his emotions were too intense, and Lu Linyuan felt a sharp headache coming on.

He pressed his hand to his temple.

In youth, people often crave grand, passionate love.

But after living through many years, he realized that the rarest and most valuable thing in this world was growing old together with someone.

To hold someone’s hand and grow old together.

How could one settle for a lifetime of regret out of a sense of guilt or an old promise?

He didn’t know if he would repeat the mistakes of his previous life, but he was determined to fight against fate, to prevent the fall of the Great Xuan Dynasty, the destruction of its land and people, and the collapse of the Lu family’s hundred-year legacy.

Lu Linyuan closed his eyes and massaged his temple for a while.

Before long, a messenger came from Song’s office, summoning him.

He had no choice but to calm his thoughts and go.

“Sir, you called for me,” Lu Linyuan said as he entered the room and bowed to the man sitting behind the desk.

Song was seated on a high-backed chair, with the words “Honesty and Integrity” in bold strokes hanging on the wall behind him.

Seeing Lu Linyuan, the stern expression on Song’s face softened a little. “During the recent capture of the Turkic spy, your advice to Prince Liaonan was wise and resourceful. I called you here today to ask for your opinion on the current murder case.”

Lu Linyuan felt an inexplicable tightness in his heart, realizing that this was an opportunity.

He clasped his hands and said, “I just examined the corpse of the deceased, and there are only two wounds on his body: a kick wound on the abdomen, which the coroner believes was inflicted by a man.

As for the fatal wound from the hairpin on the neck, I suspect the murderer intentionally used the hairpin to kill, likely to conceal their identity. However, all of this is just my speculation; we need to examine the hairpin to uncover new clues.”

Song Lushi’s expression was profoundly serious: “What you think is exactly what this office considers. The murderer is most likely a man. However, the butterfly hairpin’s presence is indeed strange. Perhaps finding the owner of this hairpin will lead us to the murderer.”

A thin layer of sweat formed in Lu Linyuan’s palms as he said, “I dare to suggest that I would like to see that hairpin.”

Song Lushi glanced at Lu Linyuan but said nothing, handing over the butterfly hairpin contained in a wooden box.

When Lu Linyuan took it with both hands and clearly saw the style of the hairpin, his pupils constricted.

This was indeed Jiang Yanxi’s hairpin!

Lu Linyuan struggled to maintain his composure and pretended to examine it for a moment before saying, “I’m ashamed; I don’t know much about women’s accessories and can’t discern any secrets.”

Song Lushi replied, “You should investigate the women related to the deceased. Later, I will have Tang Wenxian take this hairpin to jewelry shops in Xizhou City to inquire if anyone has recently purchased a hairpin of this style.”

Lu Linyuan’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, “Brother Tang is close to achieving something. He took leave this afternoon. I will take the hairpin to investigate women associated with Zhao Yao; I might discover something useful, and I can also stop by the jewelry shops.”

Song Lushi’s expression darkened: “The case hasn’t been resolved, and he still thinks about taking leave!”

He looked at Lu Linyuan and softened his tone: “You are bold and meticulous; I trust you with this matter. Please deliver results quickly.”

Lu Linyuan clasped his hands in gratitude: “I will not fail my mission.”

---

After Jiang Yanyi returned to the shop, she thought of the scene where Manager Xu of the Laifu Restaurant left together with the gambling house owner, feeling uneasy.

If Xu’s restaurant wanted to use the gambling house’s influence to swallow up the Tianji Noodle Shop, and she happened to take over Tianji, she would have unintentionally blocked Xu’s path.

Her antique soup shop had previously had many disputes with the antique soup shop under Laifu.

As the saying goes, “One should have no malicious intentions but always guard against others.” Jiang Yanyi had Yang Xiu secretly investigate the conflicts between the Xu and Tian families.

Yang Xiu was efficient; in less than an afternoon, he returned with news.

“Boss, your guess was correct. Xu’s Noodle Shop is indeed an enterprise under Manager Xu of Laifu. Xu has long plotted to swallow Tian’s Noodle Shop. Manager Xu has been running in Xizhou for many years; when the Hu family had not yet been seized, all merchants in Xizhou formed a business alliance led by the Hu family.”

“Xu’s family was the second-in-command in the alliance. Now that the Hu family has fallen, Xu’s family has become the top dog, and all merchants and pawnshops in Xizhou must pay Xu’s family their due respect.”

After hearing this, Jiang Yanyi pondered, “No wonder the pawnshop’s people offered such a low price when buying the Tian family’s property and servants.”

The young master of the Tian family owed money to the gambling house, and the property and servants couldn’t be sold, forcing them to be mortgaged to the gambling house at a low price.

He would likely end up owing the gambling house a large sum of money.

It was common for debts to go unpaid, leading to broken legs or worse.

Wouldn’t that eliminate any future threats to Xu’s family?

Afterwards, the gambling house would transfer the Tian Noodle Shop to Xu, definitely reaping considerable benefits from Xu.

The gambling house was colluding with Xu to make black-hearted money.

However, Jiang Yanyi couldn’t comprehend the reason behind the death of the gambling house owner’s son.

To be cautious, she instructed Yang Xiu to find someone to keep an eye on Manager Xu’s recent activities at Laifu Restaurant.

Every time Jiang Yanyi introduced a new dish in her shop, she would give away candied hawthorns for free to promote it.

Some children from ordinary families would come to ask for candied hawthorns, and occasionally, beggars would come asking for some.

Jiang Yanyi treated everyone equally and gave them some.

As this became a routine, some beggars felt embarrassed, and even made a special trip early in the morning to sweep the snow in front of her shop before she opened.

With this rapport established, Yang Xiu enlisted a few beggars who frequently came to her shop for candied hawthorns to help keep watch on Manager Xu.

The beggars became very vigilant, reporting to Yang Xiu on Manager Xu’s whereabouts each day.

**

Chu Yanguo had officially begun studying the Four Books and Five Classics with Chi Qing.

Although he had spent a few years in the academy, his writing skills were only slightly better than Jiang Yanyi’s.