Mysteries of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 30 Oiran
Apart from this shoe print, there doesn't seem to be any valuable information.

Clean, too clean... The murderer was a meticulous person. If the shoe print had not been covered by the bamboo basket, it would probably not have been left.

"Sir!" Mo Yun squeezed through the crowd outside and leaned over to Yan Mingzhang's ear, his face agonizing as he stammered, "Sir, the new county magistrate's motorcade has arrived, but... the person hasn't arrived..." The previous magistrate of Fengxian County had been implicated for shielding Wen Yi and the Xu family's murders. With the new magistrate now in place, it seemed the job could be handed over.

Yan Mingzhang, who was squatting in front of the tofu dregs, looked up at Mo Yun, then continued to look through the evidence and asked nonchalantly, "What do you mean the convoy is here, but the people aren't?"

Mo Yun looked embarrassed: "The new county magistrate is your childhood sweetheart, Su Zhan—Young Master Su."

Yan Mingzhang rolled his eyes and stood up with the help of the large water tank. His legs were numb from squatting for too long. "Don't use words randomly if you don't know how to use them! He's an official? Has he changed his ways?"

It is naturally impossible to turn over a new leaf.

When Yan Mingzhang saw five horse-drawn carriages and more than a dozen cargo carts parked outside the county government office, the convoy stretched as far as the eye could see. More than a dozen beautiful maids got out of the carriages one after another, and each cart was filled with several sandalwood boxes.

Yan Mingzhang smelled the sour smell of tofu on his body and was furious. He helped him investigate the case, which should have been his responsibility, but he didn't know where he had gone.

A gray-haired old man who looked like a butler gave instructions in an orderly manner: "Be careful, carry this box over there... Be careful not to break it, it's full of the young master's treasures!"

Yan Mingzhang rubbed his temples, feeling a headache. He reluctantly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Grandpa Su, thank you for your hard work along the way..."

The old man turned around and saw Yan Mingzhang. He smiled instantly and said politely, "Oh, I don't deserve it! Master Yan, you are embarrassing me..."

Yan Mingzhang looked around and asked, "Grandpa Su, where is Jing Jun? Why can't I see him..."

Grandpa Su's eyes wandered. "Master Yan...my master...he...he...Yesterday, Master Yan said that since we were almost there, we should take our time and he would go ahead so that he could take a look...take a look..."

Yan Mingzhang closed his eyes, sighed deeply, and understood: "But he went to the red-willow alley?"

Grandpa Su looked ashamed and nodded reluctantly: "...Yeah."

"Changfeng, come with me. Moyun, you stay and help." After Yan Mingzhang made the arrangements, he hurriedly took Changfeng away.

Grandpa Su finally breathed a sigh of relief. Somehow, he was an old man who had seen a lot of storms, but every time he saw Young Master Yan, he was always nervous, especially when his young master got into trouble. He secretly worried for the young master in his heart, "Young Master, please take care of yourself!"
"Changfeng, go and find out, among so many shops... which one has the most popular top star?" Yan Mingzhang said with a stern face and without looking away.

Changfeng responded while glancing at his master's slightly red ears, thinking, is the master shy?
"Sir, it's the Hongxiuxiang shop in front." Changfeng came back soon, "But, sir, how do you know that Mr. Su must be there?"

"Let's go...why do you say that?" Yan Mingzhang asked back.

"Our Master Su is known as the most extravagant playboy in the capital. He demands the best of everything, from food and drink to entertainment. Oh... so... he'll definitely choose the most popular prostitute in this brothel!" Changfeng clapped his hands. Hongxiuxiang's madam stopped the master and gestured to the servant nearby to call for help: "Master Yan, this isn't appropriate... Master Jing probably hasn't woken up yet... Master, Master..."

Yan Mingzhang thought to himself: Great, he even knows to use a pseudonym.

The door of the top performer's room was opened, and a fragrant warm breeze blew towards him. Yan Mingzhang fanned it with his hands, then covered his mouth and nose with his sleeves.

"The government is investigating a case, all outsiders please leave!" Changfeng half-drew his sword and said sternly.

Liu Meiqing, the top performer at Hongxiuxiang, emerged from the room, her waist twisted, her face utterly fearless. She wore only a silk, diamond-patterned apron on her upper body, a long robe draped loosely over it, and a bright red, loose skirt on her lower body, looking disheveled. She was barefoot, wearing a pair of red-soled, peony-embroidered shoes. Before she could come out, Yan Mingzhang caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye. Without waiting for her to come out, he turned sideways, lowered his eyes, and stared at the floor, completely ignoring her. Liu Meiqing covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled softly, throwing Yan Mingzhang a wink, bowed coquettishly, and then left.

Suddenly, the other members of Hongxiuxiang also scattered.

Su Zhan stretched lazily on the soft bed in the room. Su Zhan had a pair of peach blossom eyes, red lips and fair skin. At first glance, he looked like a dandy young man who was a veteran of the entertainment industry.

Su Zhan raised his eyes to glance at Yan Mingzhang, who had a grim expression on his face. He half-opened his eyes and said lazily, "Chengxuan, good morning! What case are you investigating so early?"

Chengxuan was Yan Mingzhang's pen name. Although Su Zhan called him affectionately, Yan Mingzhang didn't give him any respect at all and said angrily, "Murder case!"

Su Zhan stood up helplessly, took a look at the unsheathed sword in Chang Feng's hand, and was shocked: "Why, you still want to kill me now?"

Yan Mingzhang remained calm and said in a bad tone, "It's not impossible."

Su Zhan immediately gave in. He knew Yan Mingzhang was the most difficult to deal with. He might not kill someone, but he was sure about other things. He had a thousand ways to make him unhappy. Although he was known as the "Little Whirlwind of the Capital," he had never gotten the upper hand against Cheng Xuan since he was a child. This guy was too cunning! Su Zhan had no choice but to compromise: "Okay, okay, I'll go back with you... Cheng Xuan, you really don't understand romance..."

Yan Mingzhang opened his mouth, hesitated a little, and finally said: "Um, can you straighten your collar first..."

Su Zhan rolled his eyes inwardly, straightened his collar, and sneered, "You haven't changed this habit yet..."

Yan Mingzhang gave Su Zhan a sharp look and he shut up instantly.

The carriage stopped steadily, and Su Zhan slowly got off. While rubbing his own back, he said in disdain: "Your carriage is too bumpy!" Looking at this "simple" county government office, he was even more confused and gave a thumbs up: "This is in line with your aesthetic taste!"

At that moment, a charming young woman bounded out of the gate. She was wearing a goose-yellow silk skirt, twin buns, and a matching goose-yellow velvet tassel hairpin. In her hand, she held a small bunny-shaped red bean paste bun, the tassels swaying as she walked, a truly adorable sight. As Su Zhan watched her stand at the door, he felt as if the entire government office had lit up. He suddenly had a profound understanding of the phrase "a humble home is illuminated by light."

(End of this chapter)