Chapter Thirteen: The Ingenious Solution

“My heavens, it’s just as you said, sir—it was my own rashness just now.”
The coroner quickly realized things were taking a wrong turn and tried to offer an explanation.
But some of the young scions watching from the sidelines suddenly looked at Han Qing with newfound respect.
“Wasn’t it rumored that he was just a penniless scholar? How could he possibly know so much?”
“Who knows?”
Exclamations and whispers of disbelief rippled through the entire Drunken Flower Pavilion.
Yet, although it was now clear the young woman had died from poisoning, the means and motive behind the poisoning remained unresolved.
Young Master Zhu understood that if he did not detain these sons of officials and nobles, and word reached the court the next day, his own family would inevitably suffer criticism.
But to close the case so hastily? That would be most unreasonable.
He could only buy some time, or perhaps report directly to the Court of Judicial Review.
He decided to disperse the crowd for now.
However, Han Qing remained at the Drunken Flower Pavilion.
It was clear Young Master Zhu now had a request of him—or at the very least, felt his assistance had been invaluable.
“Master Han, do you have another view?”
He himself was at a complete loss, but the man before him remained utterly composed.
“No, but to brazenly commit murder in the Drunken Flower Pavilion—surely it cannot be just a crime of passion?”
Han Qing spoke softly, reminding him to look deeper.
The next day, someone went to the Court of Judicial Review to confess, claiming he had deliberately killed the courtesan out of anger at being deceived in love and swindled out of money.
The motive sounded plausible enough.
The Court of Judicial Review prepared to close the case.
When Han Qing heard this, he immediately sent a message, alerting Young Master Zhu and urging him to reconsider the entire affair and its hidden connections.
He picked up his book, sighing quietly to himself.
Was this truly such a dark and sordid place?
Was a songstress’s life so unimportant?
Just then, Jiang Xiuxiu came rushing in, tears in her eyes.
“My dear, tell me slowly. What has happened?”
“Mother… she fainted.”
Han Qing hurried to the sleeping chamber, where he found the scene just as described.
He immediately summoned physicians.
Yet after examining her, each doctor shook his head.

“This phthisis is nearly impossible to cure…”
Upon hearing those words, Han Qing immediately understood—wasn’t this what people now call tuberculosis?
But in these times, there was no effective cure.
Once the illness struck a household, death was all but inevitable.
“I understand,” he said, instructing the doctor to prepare some herbal remedies, though they could not address the root of the disease.
It was all up to fate now.
Xiuxiu wept bitterly by her mother’s side.
“How could she have caught such a terrible illness? Everything was finally starting to look up…”
A terrible illness?
But Han Qing thought there might yet be hope.
“Cough, cough. Xiuxiu, this old woman is fine,” her mother reassured her.
Han Qing offered a few words of comfort, his mind already churning with thoughts of how he might find a true cure.
Given the rudimentary state of medicine here, only traditional remedies could offer some relief.
To actually kill the bacteria within would take time—and there was one more crucial point:
This illness was most likely contagious.
And Xiuxiu certainly could not always be at her mother’s side.
He must counsel her.
“Xiuxiu, you know well the risks of this disease. I grieve for your mother’s misfortune, but you must refrain from visiting her so often.”
“What?”
Xiuxiu felt as if the sky were falling.
How could she avoid her mother at a time like this? Was this really the Han Qing who had turned over a new leaf?
“But people will talk… And you promised my mother you would devote yourself to your studies…”
Who knew what else this young woman was imagining?
Han Qing sighed.
“Xiuxiu, this illness is contagious. You could catch it too. Our home cannot go without its mistress.”
He explained calmly.
Xiuxiu understood at last—this was no trivial matter.
She nodded, reluctantly conceding.
But troubles outside were far from resolved.
Unable to solve the case himself, Young Master Zhu sought help from others.
Yet at the Court of Judicial Review, not a single lead could be found.
He and Han Qing met at the little storybook shop.
“Master Han, after reflecting on everything, I realize something was very strange that night. Could it be that someone was targeting us?”
Was he developing a persecution complex?
That was pure nonsense.
“We have yet to find any real clues about the murderer. Speculating wildly does no good.”

Han Qing shook his head, instructing him to hand over all materials from the Court of Judicial Review for his own examination.
“Let me see if there have been any suspicious visitors at the Drunken Flower Pavilion recently?”
He interrupted the other’s speculation with a sudden question.
Nothing suspicious was found.
“We should wait a little longer.”
But some of the other young noblemen grew impatient.
“This scholar may have had a sudden flash of insight, but it’s not as if he can solve every case.”
Their mockery was veiled but sharp, and they looked down on him.
Han Qing paid them no mind.
He already suspected something was amiss.
“Enough, say no more,” Young Master Zhu cut in, timely and stern.
He needed Han Qing’s help—how could he be dissuaded by idle gossip?
“Meet me here tomorrow afternoon,” Han Qing said, offering no further explanation before leaving in haste.
But then Zhi Lan sent him a letter.
The other girls at the Drunken Flower Pavilion came as well, recounting everything that had happened lately.
No one suspicious had appeared.
“Could it have been someone from among you?”
He suddenly turned the question on Zhi Lan.
She shook her head.
That made no sense.
The deceased girl had no enemies. If it had been a squabble over clients, that would be one thing—but such a scenario was impossible.
“There’s been nothing of the sort.”
Yet Han Qing now found Madam Li somewhat odd.
Perhaps it was time to speak to the old procuress—her indifference to the dead girl seemed unnatural.
Was there a hidden story?
“Ah, have you brought me more good news, benefactor?”
The old woman greeted him with delight, her manner full of calculation.
But it was clear she had not changed her ways in the least.
“You’ve trained so many girls. Don’t you think selling the tavern outright is a bit of a loss?”
Han Qing probed her gently.
The old fox was clever enough—could she not sense the test in his words?
“They’re all just unfortunate souls. I only seek a living. If someone is willing to pay a high price, I may as well enjoy an easy life.”
Oh?
Had the trail gone cold again?
But Han Qing noticed a peculiar fragrance on Madam Li—something out of the ordinary.