"We can only take things one step at a time," Old Madam Li managed to stay on her feet, utterly unprepared for this outcome.
When messengers were dispatched to the mine, they confirmed that the two had indeed died there the year they left. Although they came from humble beginnings, their lives in the Li manor, while not one of pampered indulgence, were far more comfortable than that of ordinary families. They couldn't possibly endure such hardships.
This time, the old madam was determined. She summoned everyone who had ever served the eldest young master and the second young master, one by one, to recall any unusual behavior from them.
The servants chattered amongst themselves, offering fragmented accounts that led nowhere. It was only when a purchasing matron, having heard whispers of the investigation, came forward with a piece of information that the investigation made progress. She recalled seeing the second young master visit Wutong Hutong.
At the time, she hadn't thought much of it. But then she remembered how the second young master had peered around nervously at the alley's entrance, clearly trying to avoid being seen. The memory had stuck with her.
Her reminder prompted four other servants to recall seeing the young masters visit Wutong Hutong, each time with a sense of furtiveness.
This piqued the steward's interest. Old Madam Li, armed with her own influence, approached the prefect, hoping to ascertain who resided in the hutong and their circumstances.
The hutong housed few families, ordinary folk who earned a meager living through labor. Most households were complex, spanning several generations. Only one dwelling belonged to a mother and daughter.
The name of the household head, Yu Qiufen, struck the steward as unfamiliar. However, he couldn't suspect someone simply because they lived alone, and the investigation yielded no immediate results.
The steward felt he had handled the matter too hastily and was eager to redeem himself.
He personally led two men to a concealed spot near the entrance of Wutong Hutong, observing those entering and exiting for any anomalies. Simultaneously, he casually struck up a conversation with a waiter from a nearby shop.
"You've been working in this small shop for seven or eight years, so you must be familiar with the area?" Li Quan asked the waiter with a smile.
"Esteemed sir, you jest. Those of us in this trade have the most up-to-date information. There's not a household around here whose affairs I don't know," the waiter boasted, patting his chest proudly. While he couldn't guarantee anything else, he, who enjoyed gossip, had overheard snippets of information from every household.
"Then let me test you. How many families are there in Wutong Hutong? Have there been any memorable events over the years?" Li Quan asked skeptically, as if the waiter were boasting.
"There are twenty-five households. As for memorable events, there have been a few," the waiter confirmed.
"Oh? Tell me about them. If you get them all right, I'll believe you truly know this area well," Li Quan said, as if putting him to the test.
"Just listen. About ten years ago, Wu Dagui, despite having three children with his wife, insisted on divorcing her. He ended up being swindled out of all his money and died elsewhere," the waiter said, watching Li Quan's reaction. Seeing him nod, he became more animated.
"About five years ago, the widow Yu Qiufang, for reasons unknown, insisted on marrying her daughter to an old man who had a penchant for violence. All because the old man offered fifty taels of silver. Such a pity for such a fine girl."
...
Li Quan got the information he needed, dropped two taels of silver, and quickly rose to leave.
"Hey, hey, esteemed sir, I haven't finished speaking."
Li Quan and his men hurried towards Yu Qiufen's residence, his intuition telling him that this woman was problematic.
While families with a preference for sons might sell their daughters for a good price to secure a bride, Yu Qiufen and her daughter relied on each other. In a way, her daughter was her sole support in her later years. Marrying her off to such a man suggested not a mother-daughter relationship, but one of animosity.
Yu Qiufen was washing clothes at home when she heard a knock. She stood up, wiped her hands, and casually asked, "Who is it?"
"Madam, I'm a firewood seller."
"We just bought some. We don't need any."
"Madam, it's not easy for me to carry this all the way here. I'm in a hurry to get home. Others sell for seven fen, I'll sell for five fen. A cheap deal." The man's voice was somewhat urgent, as if afraid she wouldn't buy.
She hesitated for a moment, then thought, *Well, I'll have to buy it eventually, and it's two fen cheaper.*
Living alone, she was very cautious. She first peered through the gap in the door. She saw a plainly dressed man anxiously waiting outside, carrying a bundle of firewood.
"Bring the firewood in," Yu Qiufen said as she opened the door.
As she opened the door, the steward signaled. The three of them rushed in simultaneously. By the time Yu Qiufen realized what was happening, it was too late.
The steward had heard their conversation and found the voice extremely familiar, though he couldn't recall where he'd heard it. Now, seeing her face, he knew everything.
When Yu Qiufen saw Li Quan, she knew things had taken a turn for the worse. Others might not recognize her, but Li Quan had watched her grow up.
"Long time no see, Cousin. I hope you are well," Li Quan, ever cautious, addressed her respectfully, as the investigation was not yet complete.
"Why would Steward Li visit me? I live alone here, and I shouldn't have caused any trouble for you, should I?" Although Yu Qiufen had a fleeting thought that her secret might have been exposed, so many years had passed, and she had been living quietly for the past few years. She should not have been discovered.
"Whatever matter it is, Cousin, please discuss it with Old Madam. She raised you, and it's only right to visit her," Li Quan, as the steward, couldn't make decisions for his superiors.
"Let's leave it for today. It's getting late. I'll visit another day." Upon hearing about meeting the old madam, her first reaction was resistance. She wanted to stall for time. Since they had discovered her presence, she couldn't stay here any longer and planned to send them away first so she could move.
"Cousin, as someone so adept at hiding, if we all leave together today, you might disappear, and how would we report back? Either we stay here and send someone to inform the old madam, who will come to fetch you personally, or you return to the Li manor with us." Li Quan knew his cousin was cunning and sometimes he truly wasn't her match. He had to keep her under watch, no matter what.
Seeing that her opponent was not budging, and knowing that Old Madam would likely bring a large contingent if she came out, attracting a crowd and spreading gossip, Yu Qiufen reluctantly chose to return to the manor with them.
Old Madam Li stared at the person standing before her, her mouth agape in surprise.
She quickly asked Li Quan, "Am I dreaming? Didn't Meng Yatou leave long ago? How has she reappeared before me?"
"Old Madam, you are not mistaken. Cousin is not dead," Li Quan said. He himself didn't understand what was happening. His intuition told him that she was the one who had been in contact with the second young master all along. What role had she played in the deaths of the eldest and second young masters?