If he had investigated the case seriously two years ago, he would have immediately caught the culprit. But due to his arrogance and prejudice, a woman had been wrongly accused for two long years.
No, possibly even longer.
If Bai Lixin hadn’t discovered the discrepancies while reviewing the case file, he believed no one would have bothered with this case anymore.
The life of a courtesan was thinner than a paper.
Zhang Biao’s face burned, feeling as if he had been slapped multiple times. His chest tightened with discomfort and regret.
Bai Lixin asked, “Is that Master Cao still in Qingcheng Town?”
The young man’s voice pulled Zhang Biao out of his deep self-reproach. He hurriedly replied, “Yes, he’s still here! Master Cao runs a jade business in Qingcheng Town, he has been all this time.”
Bai Lixin continued, “I don’t know much about this Master Cao. Tell me, if we were to inquire about the events from two years ago now, would he cooperate? For example, who he invited, and what happened during the banquet?”
He added, “Also, It’s been two years. Though it seems unlikely, I still want to ask, is the body… still there?”
Zhang Biao choked up, “The body… was taken away by the brothel a long time ago. They usually burn the bodies and scatter the ashes into the sea.”
“Why do they do that?” Bai Lixin asked, puzzled. Though he knew the body wouldn’t have been preserved over such a long time, he didn’t expect even the ashes to be gone.
“I know the reason!” Chang Song, who had been silent, puffed up his cheeks and spoke, “Because they want freedom and believe in fate. They all have a contract for selling their bodies held by the momo. They can’t leave or escape, just like birds trapped in a cage. So, many courtesans hope that after death, their ashes can be scattered in the sea. This way, they can leave freely with the wind and water, instead of becoming a corpse in a coffin, still trapped in that place.”
Bai Lixin stayed silent for a moment and then spoke calmly, “Some people live in a place that they call home. But for some, the place they live is a cage that imprisons them, sigh.”
Zhang Biao felt another stab of guilt.
‘QvQ, I’m sorry, Sir, I was wrong, I’ll never look down on others again, I’ll investigate properly, wuuu.’
Bai Lixin frowned and glanced at Zhang Biao, who looked thoroughly distressed. “…”
‘What’s wrong with this kid? Did he eat something bad?’
After hastily finishing their breakfast, Zhang Biao was about to drag Bai Lixin to find Master Cao.
Just as they were about to leave, they ran into Magistrate Lin.
Magistrate Lin had dark circles under his eyes, and his face looked weary, as if he hadn’t rested well.
Seeing his condition, Bai Lixin asked with concern, “Master, did you not rest well last night?”
Magistrate Lin’s eyes seemed a little dull. He scanned Bai Lixin and the rest and mumbled, “Where are you all going?”
Zhang Biao: “Reporting to Sir, we have a case and need to go out for investigation.”
“Oh,” Magistrate Lin said absentmindedly. Then, he seemed dazed for a few seconds and looked directly at Bai Lixin. “Brother in law, come to my study, I need to talk to you about something.”
After saying this, he walked straight toward the backyard.
Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Seeing this, Bai Lixin said, “Wait for me to come back,” and followed Magistrate Lin’s steps.
Magistrate Lin seemed unsteady. After reaching the study, he sat down heavily on the chair behind the desk, breathing heavily.
Bai Lixin poured him a cup of tea and slowly asked, “Brother-in-law, what did you want to say to me?”
Magistrate Lin raised his head, his eyes still looking dull. Just when Bai Lixin was getting confused, Magistrate Lin’s expression changed. He looked at Bai Lixin with a face full of grievance and said, “Brother in law, quickly persuade your sister. She left with her maid without a word and won’t let me come find her. Please help me bring her back. She’s my wife!”
Bai Lixin: “… My sister is not dead yet.”
The cries stopped abruptly. Magistrate Lin still stared at the young man across from him with a pitiful expression.
Bai Lixin cleared his throat and asked, “Uh, what did my sister say to you? Did she scold you?”
Magistrate Lin replied, “Nonsense, how could your sister bear to scold me? She didn’t scold me at all. That’s what makes me even more upset. She left me a letter, praising me, saying how much she loved me, how lucky she was to be married to me. The letter was filled with self-blame and compromises. Not a single word scolded me.”
“If she had scolded me just once, I wouldn’t feel this miserable now.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Of course, that’s what I want – for you to feel miserable.’
Being able to trouble Magistrate Lin made Bai Lixin quite happy.
“What should I do? Maybe I should just go to the Song family now. I don’t care anymore, I’ll go and beg for forgiveness!”
Bai Lixin quickly stopped him, “No, absolutely not.”
‘If you go there now, wouldn’t that expose everything?’
Magistrate Lin,: “Why not?”
Bai Lixin explained, “My sister may seem gentle, but beneath her soft exterior, she has a stubborn heart. If you go now to beg for forgiveness, she will only blame herself. She will think it’s because of her that you’ve become so humble. If she starts blaming herself, who knows what she might do.”
Magistrate Lin: “Ah, then what should I do? I can’t do this, and I can’t do that.”
Bai Lixin advised, “Just wait, keep things unchanged. My sister is stubborn. When she figures it out, she will naturally come back. The more you pressure her, the farther away she’ll go.”
“But what if she never figures it out? What if she runs away?” Magistrate Lin asked.
“Aren’t I still here? I’m in your yamen. Are you afraid I’ll run away too? If my sister doesn’t care for her own well-being, she would at least think about her little brother, right?” Bai Lixin pointed to himself. “If I’m here, she’ll stay. Are you worried she’ll escape? Besides, my sister keeps her promises. If she said she’d come back after some time in the letter, she will definitely return. So, you can rest assured.”
Magistrate Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, you’re right. I still have you! I’ll keep you here, where could she run? Haha, what were you discussing just now? You’re going out to handle a case?”
Bai Lixin: “Yes, there’s a case with some suspicious aspects. We want to take a look.”
Magistrate Lin didn’t ask about the details of the case. He just waved his hand. “Fine, go ahead, but be careful.”
He paused. “You should call Zhang Biao over. I want to talk to him.”
Bai Lixin: “Alright.”
Not long after he left, Zhang Biao entered Magistrate Lin’s study. “Sir, you called for me?”
Magistrate Lin: “Zhang Biao, when you’re out handling the case, make sure to protect Bai Lixin well. Even if something happens to you, don’t let Bai Lixin get into trouble.”
If something happened to Bai Lixin, his wife might really fly away.
Zhang Biao: “Sir, don’t worry! Even if I lose my life, I will ensure Master Bai Lixin’s safety!”
Magistrate Lin was slightly surprised. He didn’t know Bai Lixin was popular. He managed to discipline stubborn Zhang Biao into obedience, it is quite an achievement.
It seemed he didn’t need to worry too much. As expected of his wife’s cousin!
————————–
After a stick of incense’s time, Zhang Biao and his men finally left the yamen.
Bai Lixin followed them, chatting idly along the way.
After walking for a while, they gradually passed through the bustling market area and entered a street specialized in selling antique calligraphy and paintings.
After walking for a while on this quaint street, they arrived at a storefront with a black signboard. Several characters were elegantly written in golden letters: “Cao’s Antique Calligraphy and Paintings.”
There were two shop attendants in the shop, and it seemed the owner was not present.
As soon as they entered, the two shop attendants approached them respectfully. “Master, may we ask if you’ve come to buy something or are you looking for someone?”
Zhang Biao’s expression turned cold. “Where’s your boss?”
One of the shop attendants replied, “He’s in the back courtyard. There’s a customer picking jade ornaments, so our boss went inside. Please wait, I’ll go inform him.”
One of the shop attendants hurriedly left, leaving the other one to lead them inside and serve them tea and water.
After about five or six minutes, footsteps could be heard from the courtyard.
A portly man that was dressed extravagantly walked out first. He lifted the curtain, and soon another person appeared in Bai Lixin’s sight.
It was a middle-aged man he hadn’t seen before. He was dressed in deep purple clothes, with high-quality fabric, but from a distance, it looked simple. Judging by his attire, he was probably a steward or a servant from some wealthy family.
Sure enough, Master Cao’s words soon confirmed his speculation. He saw Master Cao bowing respectfully to the man, saying, “I’ll rely on Steward Zhao. I hope The prince will be pleased.”
The middle-aged steward held a box in his hands. The box was adorned with many seashells and pearls. Just the box alone was quite valuable; Bai Lixin wondered what precious item it contained.
But what did he just say?
Prince?
There was actually a prince in Qingcheng Town?
The steward smiled. “You’ve done well, I can rest assured. I’ve examined it; it’s high-quality merchandise. I’ll report to The prince.”
Master Cao: “I appreciate your assurance, Steward Zhao.”
He then took out a silver ingot and handed it to the man. The man hesitated for a moment before accepting it and discreetly stashed it away in his sleeve.
As they passed the hall, Master Cao and the steward finally noticed Zhang Biao and his group. Master Cao put away his smile; he clearly wasn’t welcoming them. However, the steward glanced at Bai Lixin several times before leaving.
As they walked out of the shop, they exchanged some hushed words. Then the steward then left in a carriage.
It was only after the carriage had gone far away that Master Cao returned to the shop.
Putting on a forced smile, Master Cao greeted Zhang Biao and his group half heartedly. “Captain Zhang, my apologies for the late welcome.”
Zhang Biao didn’t show any courtesy in return. “Seeing how cheerful Master Cao was just now, it seems he has struck another big deal. Why are you smiling so happily with others but so reluctant with me? Why the lack of hospitality? How about we find another place to catch up on old times?”
Master Cao’s expression changed immediately, and he suddenly became much warmer. “Captain Zhang enjoys joking. If I’m not pleased to see you, then who would make me pleased? I assume you’re not here to make fun of an ordinary citizen like me. What brings you here?”
A customer happened to enter the shop but quickly retreated upon seeing the constable standing in the hall. He immediately retracted his head and walked away in a hurry.
Upon seeing this, Master Cao quickly suggested, “Let’s continue our conversation in the inner room. I won’t be conducting any business today if you continue standing here.”
When they entered the inner room, the tea set was still on the table.
While Master Cao brewed tea for them, he asked, “Captain Zhang, how come I have never seen the handsome young man by your side before. Is he new to the yamen, or is he a young master from a noble family?”
“This is our newly appointed scribe in the yamen, Bai Lixin.”
Master Cao stopped pouring the water, looked at Bai Lixin for a moment, then lowered his head again to brew the tea. “So, he’s a scribe.”
After he finished pouring this cup, he put down the teacup, nodded towards Bai Lixin, and greeted him with his fist in his hand. “I apologize for my rudeness.”
Zhang Biao spoke up, “We’re here today to ask about the case of Xiao Cui, the courtesan who died two years ago. Do you remember anything?”
Master Cao was pouring water again, and upon hearing this, the teacup in his hand trembled slightly. The lid of the teacup fell off onto the table, producing a crisp sound.
He put down the teacup, frowned, and looked across the table. “Her again? Of course, I remember. Wasn’t this case resolved a long time ago? Are you not done with it yet? Didn’t she commit suicide? What bad luck. If I had known she’d commit suicide, I wouldn’t have invited her that night. It almost ruined a big deal for me.”
Bai Lixin: “I heard that the girl named Xiao Cui didn’t entertain many clients. She mainly displayed her artistic talents. However, she did have a few privileged patrons, and you were one of them, correct?”
Master Cao pursed his lips. “So what if I was? And so what if I wasn’t?”
His expression was arrogant and completely uncooperative.
Frustrated, Zhang Biao immediately stood up from his chair and drew a sharp dagger from his waist. “Master Cao, don’t avoid the issue. Answer Master Bai Lixin’s question honestly!”
Master Bai Lixin’s earlier worries had indeed come true. Two years had passed and there was no physical evidence, even the verbal evidence couldn’t be trusted. Master Cao was trying to dodge the old case.
The difficulty of the investigation had increased.
He felt irritated.
If he had been more assertive back then, he wouldn’t be in this passive situation today.
Even if he had casually asked a question at the time, it would have sufficed. But now, the body had been cremated, and there were no physical or testimonial evidence left.
In his view, this case had almost become a cold case.
A cold case meant there was a victim without a proper resolution.
Thinking of this, Zhang Biao wanted to slap himself hard.
If this case couldn’t be solved, he would blame himself for a lifetime.
Master Cao’s expression calmed down a bit when he saw the gleaming dagger. Bai Lixin remained unperturbed and just smiled gently. “You don’t need to hide these things. When you visited the brothel back then, it wasn’t a secret. People must have seen you. Besides, you might not know, every businessperson keeps records. You do, and brothels are no exception.”
“These records clearly state who visited, which girl they chose, and how much money was spent. If we want to investigate, it’s only a matter of time. Do you really want to confront us over such a small matter?”
Master Cao hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, I frequently visited Xiao Cui in the brothel. But what does that prove? Her death has nothing to do with me; she committed suicide, didn’t she?”
Bai Lixin: “I’ve been to the brothel. It is said that her body was fine when she left. But when she returned, she had whip marks all over her, her clothes were torn, and there were signs of recent sexual intercourse. Can you tell us what happened that night when she visited your place?”
“We suspect there’s something fishy about this case. Xiao Cui might not have died by suicide back then.”
Master Cao’s expression changed slightly. “Why are you suddenly bringing up a case from two years ago? It’s been nearly two years, her ashes have already scattered in the sea. The case was closed, isn’t that a happy ending? Your yamen isn’t burdened with an unsolved old case, and the brothel is only short of one person. We all continue with our lives, and no one cares about what happened to a courtesan.”
“Didn’t she deserve to die?”
Zhang Biao’s throat suddenly felt dry.
When Master Cao mentioned the incident in such a detached manner, his words were filled with indifference.
Hadn’t he looked at the courtesan the same way when he judged her back then? That helpless woman had been beaten down by life, and they had trampled on her vulnerability over and over again.
No wonder there was a tale of Du Shiniang sinking with her treasure chest in anger.
He had always believed that Du Shiniang had committed suicide because of her lover’s betrayal. But now, he thought maybe what she wanted to bury was the world’s unfairness and contempt for her.
*In the novel (Stories to Caution the World: Du Shiniang Sinks the Treasure Box), the character Du Shiniang comes from humble beginnings and ends up working as a courtesan. She yearns for freedom and love, and when she meets Li Jia, a seemingly gentle and wealthy young man, she agrees to be with him. She uses the money she had saved to redeem herself from the brothel. However, Li Jia values money over love and sells her to someone else on their way back home. Upon discovering the truth, Du Shiniang becomes furious, sinking the treasure box filled with money into the river, and ultimately, she tragically takes her own life by jumping into the river.“You might forget, the brothel might forget, bones might vanish, but case files never disappear,” Bai Lixin calmly spoke. “Even if I’m not here today, someone else will notice something wrong in the future.”
“People come into this world naked, and they leave the same way. Since they’ve come, they’ll undoubtedly leave some traces behind—whether in memories, words, or images. Even the most insignificant person isn’t ‘meaningless,’ as you put it. Every person’s presence has significance.”
Zhang Biao’s eyes were burning. He stared at Bai Lixin intensely, there were countless words he wanted to say but didn’t know how to express.
“I’ve already said it, Xiao Cui probably didn’t die by suicide back then. If you continue to obstruct us, we have sufficient reason to suspect you as the murder suspect. In that case, the place where we talk won’t be this fragrant pavilion but a stinking prison cell.”
“My patience is limited. I’ll give you one more chance. What exactly happened that night? You invited Xiao Cui to perform at your place, supposedly for esteemed guests. So, who were these guests?”
Master Cao glanced at Bai Lixin, then looked at Zhang Biao and the constables standing ready beside him. He realized they had come prepared.
A cold sweat slowly formed on his forehead. He looked at Bai Lixin cautiously and said word by word, “I didn’t kill her. I just paid her to perform at my house.”
Bai Lixin replied, “If you didn’t kill her, then explain clearly what happened that night.”
If he had investigated the case seriously two years ago, he would have immediately caught the culprit. But due to his arrogance and prejudice, a woman had been wrongly accused for two long years.
No, possibly even longer.
If Bai Lixin hadn’t discovered the discrepancies while reviewing the case file, he believed no one would have bothered with this case anymore.
The life of a courtesan was thinner than a paper.
Zhang Biao’s face burned, feeling as if he had been slapped multiple times. His chest tightened with discomfort and regret.
Bai Lixin asked, “Is that Master Cao still in Qingcheng Town?”
The young man’s voice pulled Zhang Biao out of his deep self-reproach. He hurriedly replied, “Yes, he’s still here! Master Cao runs a jade business in Qingcheng Town, he has been all this time.”
Bai Lixin continued, “I don’t know much about this Master Cao. Tell me, if we were to inquire about the events from two years ago now, would he cooperate? For example, who he invited, and what happened during the banquet?”
He added, “Also, It’s been two years. Though it seems unlikely, I still want to ask, is the body… still there?”
Zhang Biao choked up, “The body… was taken away by the brothel a long time ago. They usually burn the bodies and scatter the ashes into the sea.”
“Why do they do that?” Bai Lixin asked, puzzled. Though he knew the body wouldn’t have been preserved over such a long time, he didn’t expect even the ashes to be gone.
“I know the reason!” Chang Song, who had been silent, puffed up his cheeks and spoke, “Because they want freedom and believe in fate. They all have a contract for selling their bodies held by the momo. They can’t leave or escape, just like birds trapped in a cage. So, many courtesans hope that after death, their ashes can be scattered in the sea. This way, they can leave freely with the wind and water, instead of becoming a corpse in a coffin, still trapped in that place.”
Bai Lixin stayed silent for a moment and then spoke calmly, “Some people live in a place that they call home. But for some, the place they live is a cage that imprisons them, sigh.”
Zhang Biao felt another stab of guilt.
‘QvQ, I’m sorry, Sir, I was wrong, I’ll never look down on others again, I’ll investigate properly, wuuu.’
Bai Lixin frowned and glanced at Zhang Biao, who looked thoroughly distressed. “…”
‘What’s wrong with this kid? Did he eat something bad?’
After hastily finishing their breakfast, Zhang Biao was about to drag Bai Lixin to find Master Cao.
Just as they were about to leave, they ran into Magistrate Lin.
Magistrate Lin had dark circles under his eyes, and his face looked weary, as if he hadn’t rested well.
Seeing his condition, Bai Lixin asked with concern, “Master, did you not rest well last night?”
Magistrate Lin’s eyes seemed a little dull. He scanned Bai Lixin and the rest and mumbled, “Where are you all going?”
Zhang Biao: “Reporting to Sir, we have a case and need to go out for investigation.”
“Oh,” Magistrate Lin said absentmindedly. Then, he seemed dazed for a few seconds and looked directly at Bai Lixin. “Brother in law, come to my study, I need to talk to you about something.”
After saying this, he walked straight toward the backyard.
Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Seeing this, Bai Lixin said, “Wait for me to come back,” and followed Magistrate Lin’s steps.
Magistrate Lin seemed unsteady. After reaching the study, he sat down heavily on the chair behind the desk, breathing heavily.
Bai Lixin poured him a cup of tea and slowly asked, “Brother-in-law, what did you want to say to me?”
Magistrate Lin raised his head, his eyes still looking dull. Just when Bai Lixin was getting confused, Magistrate Lin’s expression changed. He looked at Bai Lixin with a face full of grievance and said, “Brother in law, quickly persuade your sister. She left with her maid without a word and won’t let me come find her. Please help me bring her back. She’s my wife!”
Bai Lixin: “… My sister is not dead yet.”
The cries stopped abruptly. Magistrate Lin still stared at the young man across from him with a pitiful expression.
Bai Lixin cleared his throat and asked, “Uh, what did my sister say to you? Did she scold you?”
Magistrate Lin replied, “Nonsense, how could your sister bear to scold me? She didn’t scold me at all. That’s what makes me even more upset. She left me a letter, praising me, saying how much she loved me, how lucky she was to be married to me. The letter was filled with self-blame and compromises. Not a single word scolded me.”
“If she had scolded me just once, I wouldn’t feel this miserable now.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Of course, that’s what I want – for you to feel miserable.’
Being able to trouble Magistrate Lin made Bai Lixin quite happy.
“What should I do? Maybe I should just go to the Song family now. I don’t care anymore, I’ll go and beg for forgiveness!”
Bai Lixin quickly stopped him, “No, absolutely not.”
‘If you go there now, wouldn’t that expose everything?’
Magistrate Lin,: “Why not?”
Bai Lixin explained, “My sister may seem gentle, but beneath her soft exterior, she has a stubborn heart. If you go now to beg for forgiveness, she will only blame herself. She will think it’s because of her that you’ve become so humble. If she starts blaming herself, who knows what she might do.”
Magistrate Lin: “Ah, then what should I do? I can’t do this, and I can’t do that.”
Bai Lixin advised, “Just wait, keep things unchanged. My sister is stubborn. When she figures it out, she will naturally come back. The more you pressure her, the farther away she’ll go.”
“But what if she never figures it out? What if she runs away?” Magistrate Lin asked.
“Aren’t I still here? I’m in your yamen. Are you afraid I’ll run away too? If my sister doesn’t care for her own well-being, she would at least think about her little brother, right?” Bai Lixin pointed to himself. “If I’m here, she’ll stay. Are you worried she’ll escape? Besides, my sister keeps her promises. If she said she’d come back after some time in the letter, she will definitely return. So, you can rest assured.”
Magistrate Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, you’re right. I still have you! I’ll keep you here, where could she run? Haha, what were you discussing just now? You’re going out to handle a case?”
Bai Lixin: “Yes, there’s a case with some suspicious aspects. We want to take a look.”
Magistrate Lin didn’t ask about the details of the case. He just waved his hand. “Fine, go ahead, but be careful.”
He paused. “You should call Zhang Biao over. I want to talk to him.”
Bai Lixin: “Alright.”
Not long after he left, Zhang Biao entered Magistrate Lin’s study. “Sir, you called for me?”
Magistrate Lin: “Zhang Biao, when you’re out handling the case, make sure to protect Bai Lixin well. Even if something happens to you, don’t let Bai Lixin get into trouble.”
If something happened to Bai Lixin, his wife might really fly away.
Zhang Biao: “Sir, don’t worry! Even if I lose my life, I will ensure Master Bai Lixin’s safety!”
Magistrate Lin was slightly surprised. He didn’t know Bai Lixin was popular. He managed to discipline stubborn Zhang Biao into obedience, it is quite an achievement.
It seemed he didn’t need to worry too much. As expected of his wife’s cousin!
————————–
After a stick of incense’s time, Zhang Biao and his men finally left the yamen.
Bai Lixin followed them, chatting idly along the way.
After walking for a while, they gradually passed through the bustling market area and entered a street specialized in selling antique calligraphy and paintings.
After walking for a while on this quaint street, they arrived at a storefront with a black signboard. Several characters were elegantly written in golden letters: “Cao’s Antique Calligraphy and Paintings.”
There were two shop attendants in the shop, and it seemed the owner was not present.
As soon as they entered, the two shop attendants approached them respectfully. “Master, may we ask if you’ve come to buy something or are you looking for someone?”
Zhang Biao’s expression turned cold. “Where’s your boss?”
One of the shop attendants replied, “He’s in the back courtyard. There’s a customer picking jade ornaments, so our boss went inside. Please wait, I’ll go inform him.”
One of the shop attendants hurriedly left, leaving the other one to lead them inside and serve them tea and water.
After about five or six minutes, footsteps could be heard from the courtyard.
A portly man that was dressed extravagantly walked out first. He lifted the curtain, and soon another person appeared in Bai Lixin’s sight.
It was a middle-aged man he hadn’t seen before. He was dressed in deep purple clothes, with high-quality fabric, but from a distance, it looked simple. Judging by his attire, he was probably a steward or a servant from some wealthy family.
Sure enough, Master Cao’s words soon confirmed his speculation. He saw Master Cao bowing respectfully to the man, saying, “I’ll rely on Steward Zhao. I hope The prince will be pleased.”
The middle-aged steward held a box in his hands. The box was adorned with many seashells and pearls. Just the box alone was quite valuable; Bai Lixin wondered what precious item it contained.
But what did he just say?
Prince?
There was actually a prince in Qingcheng Town?
The steward smiled. “You’ve done well, I can rest assured. I’ve examined it; it’s high-quality merchandise. I’ll report to The prince.”
Master Cao: “I appreciate your assurance, Steward Zhao.”
He then took out a silver ingot and handed it to the man. The man hesitated for a moment before accepting it and discreetly stashed it away in his sleeve.
As they passed the hall, Master Cao and the steward finally noticed Zhang Biao and his group. Master Cao put away his smile; he clearly wasn’t welcoming them. However, the steward glanced at Bai Lixin several times before leaving.
As they walked out of the shop, they exchanged some hushed words. Then the steward then left in a carriage.
It was only after the carriage had gone far away that Master Cao returned to the shop.
Putting on a forced smile, Master Cao greeted Zhang Biao and his group half heartedly. “Captain Zhang, my apologies for the late welcome.”
Zhang Biao didn’t show any courtesy in return. “Seeing how cheerful Master Cao was just now, it seems he has struck another big deal. Why are you smiling so happily with others but so reluctant with me? Why the lack of hospitality? How about we find another place to catch up on old times?”
Master Cao’s expression changed immediately, and he suddenly became much warmer. “Captain Zhang enjoys joking. If I’m not pleased to see you, then who would make me pleased? I assume you’re not here to make fun of an ordinary citizen like me. What brings you here?”
A customer happened to enter the shop but quickly retreated upon seeing the constable standing in the hall. He immediately retracted his head and walked away in a hurry.
Upon seeing this, Master Cao quickly suggested, “Let’s continue our conversation in the inner room. I won’t be conducting any business today if you continue standing here.”
When they entered the inner room, the tea set was still on the table.
While Master Cao brewed tea for them, he asked, “Captain Zhang, how come I have never seen the handsome young man by your side before. Is he new to the yamen, or is he a young master from a noble family?”
“This is our newly appointed scribe in the yamen, Bai Lixin.”
Master Cao stopped pouring the water, looked at Bai Lixin for a moment, then lowered his head again to brew the tea. “So, he’s a scribe.”
After he finished pouring this cup, he put down the teacup, nodded towards Bai Lixin, and greeted him with his fist in his hand. “I apologize for my rudeness.”
Zhang Biao spoke up, “We’re here today to ask about the case of Xiao Cui, the courtesan who died two years ago. Do you remember anything?”
Master Cao was pouring water again, and upon hearing this, the teacup in his hand trembled slightly. The lid of the teacup fell off onto the table, producing a crisp sound.
He put down the teacup, frowned, and looked across the table. “Her again? Of course, I remember. Wasn’t this case resolved a long time ago? Are you not done with it yet? Didn’t she commit suicide? What bad luck. If I had known she’d commit suicide, I wouldn’t have invited her that night. It almost ruined a big deal for me.”
Bai Lixin: “I heard that the girl named Xiao Cui didn’t entertain many clients. She mainly displayed her artistic talents. However, she did have a few privileged patrons, and you were one of them, correct?”
Master Cao pursed his lips. “So what if I was? And so what if I wasn’t?”
His expression was arrogant and completely uncooperative.
Frustrated, Zhang Biao immediately stood up from his chair and drew a sharp dagger from his waist. “Master Cao, don’t avoid the issue. Answer Master Bai Lixin’s question honestly!”
Master Bai Lixin’s earlier worries had indeed come true. Two years had passed and there was no physical evidence, even the verbal evidence couldn’t be trusted. Master Cao was trying to dodge the old case.
The difficulty of the investigation had increased.
He felt irritated.
If he had been more assertive back then, he wouldn’t be in this passive situation today.
Even if he had casually asked a question at the time, it would have sufficed. But now, the body had been cremated, and there were no physical or testimonial evidence left.
In his view, this case had almost become a cold case.
A cold case meant there was a victim without a proper resolution.
Thinking of this, Zhang Biao wanted to slap himself hard.
If this case couldn’t be solved, he would blame himself for a lifetime.
Master Cao’s expression calmed down a bit when he saw the gleaming dagger. Bai Lixin remained unperturbed and just smiled gently. “You don’t need to hide these things. When you visited the brothel back then, it wasn’t a secret. People must have seen you. Besides, you might not know, every businessperson keeps records. You do, and brothels are no exception.”
“These records clearly state who visited, which girl they chose, and how much money was spent. If we want to investigate, it’s only a matter of time. Do you really want to confront us over such a small matter?”
Master Cao hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, I frequently visited Xiao Cui in the brothel. But what does that prove? Her death has nothing to do with me; she committed suicide, didn’t she?”
Bai Lixin: “I’ve been to the brothel. It is said that her body was fine when she left. But when she returned, she had whip marks all over her, her clothes were torn, and there were signs of recent sexual intercourse. Can you tell us what happened that night when she visited your place?”
“We suspect there’s something fishy about this case. Xiao Cui might not have died by suicide back then.”
Master Cao’s expression changed slightly. “Why are you suddenly bringing up a case from two years ago? It’s been nearly two years, her ashes have already scattered in the sea. The case was closed, isn’t that a happy ending? Your yamen isn’t burdened with an unsolved old case, and the brothel is only short of one person. We all continue with our lives, and no one cares about what happened to a courtesan.”
“Didn’t she deserve to die?”
Zhang Biao’s throat suddenly felt dry.
When Master Cao mentioned the incident in such a detached manner, his words were filled with indifference.
Hadn’t he looked at the courtesan the same way when he judged her back then? That helpless woman had been beaten down by life, and they had trampled on her vulnerability over and over again.
No wonder there was a tale of Du Shiniang sinking with her treasure chest in anger.
He had always believed that Du Shiniang had committed suicide because of her lover’s betrayal. But now, he thought maybe what she wanted to bury was the world’s unfairness and contempt for her.
*In the novel (Stories to Caution the World: Du Shiniang Sinks the Treasure Box), the character Du Shiniang comes from humble beginnings and ends up working as a courtesan. She yearns for freedom and love, and when she meets Li Jia, a seemingly gentle and wealthy young man, she agrees to be with him. She uses the money she had saved to redeem herself from the brothel. However, Li Jia values money over love and sells her to someone else on their way back home. Upon discovering the truth, Du Shiniang becomes furious, sinking the treasure box filled with money into the river, and ultimately, she tragically takes her own life by jumping into the river.“You might forget, the brothel might forget, bones might vanish, but case files never disappear,” Bai Lixin calmly spoke. “Even if I’m not here today, someone else will notice something wrong in the future.”
“People come into this world naked, and they leave the same way. Since they’ve come, they’ll undoubtedly leave some traces behind—whether in memories, words, or images. Even the most insignificant person isn’t ‘meaningless,’ as you put it. Every person’s presence has significance.”
Zhang Biao’s eyes were burning. He stared at Bai Lixin intensely, there were countless words he wanted to say but didn’t know how to express.
“I’ve already said it, Xiao Cui probably didn’t die by suicide back then. If you continue to obstruct us, we have sufficient reason to suspect you as the murder suspect. In that case, the place where we talk won’t be this fragrant pavilion but a stinking prison cell.”
“My patience is limited. I’ll give you one more chance. What exactly happened that night? You invited Xiao Cui to perform at your place, supposedly for esteemed guests. So, who were these guests?”
Master Cao glanced at Bai Lixin, then looked at Zhang Biao and the constables standing ready beside him. He realized they had come prepared.
A cold sweat slowly formed on his forehead. He looked at Bai Lixin cautiously and said word by word, “I didn’t kill her. I just paid her to perform at my house.”
Bai Lixin replied, “If you didn’t kill her, then explain clearly what happened that night.”
