Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 63: Romance

Yan Ci Wan and Xiao Wang followed Gao Dahai into the government office. Li Chengge guessed that they would be back soon, so he was too lazy to move and continued to stay in the carriage to rest.

Gao Dahai reminded as he led the way in front.

"Early this morning, the envoy called Wei Fazuo over and scolded him. Wei Fazuo should be in a bad mood now. When you see him later, you must be careful with your words."

Yan Ciwan guessed that it was because Wei Lansheng withdrew the wanted order that caused Governor Qi to lose face at the banquet last night. Governor Qi was so angry that he came to Wei Lansheng to vent his anger.

They came to the Ming Court and met Wei Lansheng.

Wei Lansheng looked pretty good, his demeanor was no different from usual, and he was not at all flustered by being scolded by his superior.

From this, it can be seen that this person's psychological quality is really strong.

Gao Dahai brought the person behind and then retreated.

Yan Ciwan didn't have time for small talk and stated his purpose as soon as they met.

"I'm here to report to the authorities. Chaolu is missing. I suspect she may have been abducted. I hope the authorities can help find her."

Wei Lansheng was shocked: "Wasn't Chao Erniang fine last night? How could she suddenly disappear? Could it be that the serial rapist and murderer took her away?"

Yan Ciwan's expression was solemn: "It's possible."

Chaolu is the only survivor of the serial rape and murder case. She is the key witness to solving the case. Wei Lansheng originally thought that if he sent her home, she would be safe, but she disappeared in the blink of an eye. Wei Lansheng was very worried and afraid that something might happen to Chaolu.

Yan Ciwan suddenly asked, "Do you know where Chao Yue usually goes?"

"I'm not familiar with him, and I don't know much about his affairs, but I heard that he has a good relationship with the son of the envoy's family." Wei Lansheng looked puzzled. "Why are you asking this?"

"Zhaolu is his sister. Now that his sister is missing, he, as her brother, has to help her, right?"

Wei Lansheng called Gao Dahai in and ordered, "Send out all the detectives and runners to search for the whereabouts of the second wife of the Chao family. She is a very important witness and must be found as soon as possible."

Gao Dahai didn't expect to have a new task so soon.

He sighed in his heart. Just after taking a short break, he was busy again.

When he turned around to leave, Wei Lansheng suddenly called him again.

"While you are looking for someone, why don't you check where the eldest son of the Chao family is?"

Gao Dahai laughed and said, "No need to look for this. The eldest son of the Chao family must be drinking in Xueyue Tower right now."

Yan Ciwan was curious: "Xueyue Tower?"

"That's the most famous tavern in our Xiangzhou city. Few people here don't know where it is." Gao Dahai said this with an ambiguous smile on his face.

As soon as Yan Ciwan saw him like that, he knew that Xueyue Tower was probably not a serious place.

She asked, "How do you know Chao Yue would be in Xueyue Tower? Does he go there often?"

Gao Dahai nodded and said with a beaming face, "Yes, he is a frequent visitor to Xueyue Tower. I heard that he often invites some young masters to have a drink and have fun there. The most exaggerated time was when they called all the ladies near Xueyue Tower, chartered a big boat, and took a boat ride on the river together. The ladies sang and danced on the boat, and the fragrance of their cosmetics filled the Xiangshui River. It was a beautiful sight!"

Yan Ciwan raised his eyebrows slightly: "Are there many ladies living near Xueyue Tower?"

Gao Dahai’s expression froze.

"Yeah." He scratched his head awkwardly, secretly regretting that he shouldn't have said so much. The other party was a young girl, how could he tell her such romantic things?
Fortunately, Yan Ciwan did not continue to ask questions on this topic.

She and Xiao Wang left the government office together. It was already noon, Li Chengge yawned and lazily reminded: "It's time to have lunch."

Yan Ciwan suggested, "Let's go to Xueyue Tower. I heard that it's the most famous wine shop in Xiangzhou City. The wine and food there should taste good."

Xiao Wang glanced at her.

Li Chengge didn't think much about it and immediately decided: "Then let's go to Xueyue Tower to eat."

Soon after, the carriage arrived near Xueyue Tower.

Yan Ciwan lifted the car curtain and saw the gates scattered on both sides of the street. Next to each gate was a plaque with words like "Yun Niangjia", "Yanxia's Home", "Gu Da Niangjia" and so on.

When she was in Xizhou before, she also wore Hu clothing, dressed up as a young man, and went to brothels and taverns with her friends. Those brothels liked to name themselves after their own madams or top prostitutes, and it seemed that the custom in Xiangzhou was the same.

Soon the carriage stopped and a group of people entered Xueyue Tower.

This Xueyue Tower is indeed a wine shop, but the people living nearby are all performing girls. They often come to Xueyue Tower to buy wine and entertain customers, and sometimes they bring customers here to consume. In addition, Xueyue Tower itself has its own unique fine wine. Over time, more and more customers come here, and this place has become the most famous wine shop in Xiangzhou City.

The waiter said that the private rooms here were full, so Yan Ciwan and his friends could only dine in the lobby on the first floor.

Although it is a lobby, each table is separated by a screen so that diners do not disturb each other.

While ordering food, Yan Ciwan asked the waiter where Chao Yue was.

The waiter was very cautious: "We can't disclose the guests' affairs here casually."

Cha Bingliang smiled and said, "Our Xiao Liulang is the fiancé of the second lady of the Chao family, and the future brother-in-law of the eldest son of the Chao family. We heard that he often comes here to drink, so we wanted to say hello to him. If you are afraid of causing trouble, you can go and tell the eldest son of the Chao family first to see if he is willing to see us?"

After saying that, he stuffed some copper coins into the waiter's hand.

The clerk held the heavy copper coins in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded in agreement.

"I can ask, but I'm not sure he'll agree to see you."

Cha Bingliang smiled and said, "Go ahead, it doesn't matter even if he doesn't want to see us."

The waiter put the money into his sleeve and turned away.

As soon as he left, Uncle Jiu followed him quietly.

Everyone else at the table turned a blind eye to this.

Yan Ciwan picked up the towel brought by the store, wiped his hands, then picked up the fried beans on the plate and put them into his mouth one by one.

Xiao Wang held a cup of hot tea in his hand and asked slowly, "Madam Ning, why would the Grand Chamberlain give you the token of the Inner Guard House?"

Yan Ciwan swallowed the beans and replied casually: "I happened to meet him last night, and we chatted for a while. When he heard that I wanted to investigate a case, he lent me the token."

Li Chengge smiled and said, "Si Buping is not a simple person. You must be very careful when dealing with him."

"I know. Thank you for your concern, Li Sanlang."

The food and drinks were served on the table one by one. Li Chengge picked up the wine jug and asked them if they wanted a drink.
Xiao Wang never drinks, but Yan Ciwan loves to drink. However, she is injured and cannot drink now. In the end, only Cha Bingliang can have a drink with Li Chengge.

The guy came back and said apologetically.

"Mr. Chao told him that he has to entertain friends right now and is not available to see you for the time being. Please forgive me."

(End of this chapter)