Chapter Forty-Four: The Truth

“You suspect they’re lying?”
Wen Qi instantly understood.
“Send someone to investigate that madwoman living in their courtyard. Someone like her couldn’t possibly have stayed long in a theater troupe.”
Han Qing spoke thoughtfully.
This theater was far too strange. Though the disciples seemed deeply grieved, a few more questions revealed their impatience, which did not match the rumors of close bonds among the troupe.
After two days of investigation, an old case surfaced.
“That madwoman was once the famed actress Lin Xiaomei. It’s said she became the concubine of a wealthy man, and when age took her beauty, she vanished without a trace.”
Even so, why would she show up in this theater?
What’s more, the master of the troupe and Lin Xiaomei had once been fellow disciples.
Was it really just out of old affection that he took her in?
“But there’s something odd: back then, it was rumored that Lin Xiaomei was pregnant, and she was thrown out for it.”
So there were complications yet untold.
The information Lord Zhu had gathered was incomplete; there was no concrete evidence to prove what happened.
But these scattered clues were enough to show that the master of Spring Delight Theater was anything but simple.
After extensive investigation by the Court of Justice, they found conclusive evidence.
The chronic poisoning of the two renowned performers was entirely orchestrated by the theater master.
“Take a look at this! I can hardly believe someone could commit such a beastly act!”
Lord Zhu was indignant.
The old case revealed that Lin Xiaomei was originally meant to succeed as the next master. Rumors tied her to a wealthy patron, and after she became his concubine, she soon fell pregnant.
But the patron’s wife suspected the child’s parentage and drove her out.
With nowhere to go, the current theater master, Brother Liu, put on a show of kindness and took her in, claiming to honor their shared master’s wishes.
But it was Liu who had spread the rumors and orchestrated her downfall, all to seize control of the troupe for himself.
The two women who died recently had uncovered these secrets, and Liu, fearing exposure, poisoned them over time.
Who could have foreseen he’d let something slip?

The truth soon spread among the troupe, and, desperate to avoid exposure, Liu was forced to silence them.
Any one of these crimes was enough to sentence him to death.
“Have the Court of Justice arrest him immediately. Such a villain must not escape punishment,” Wen Qi said coldly.
To think that all this was the doing of a fellow disciple—it was truly terrifying.
People’s hearts are hidden; sometimes those who treat you best are the most dangerous.
In the end, it was thanks to Han Qing’s assistance that the case was resolved so smoothly.
He had played a vital role.
What was once considered the most baffling case in Beijun City was solved in less than a week.
When the townsfolk heard, they were astonished.
As for Master Zhao, who had been mocking Han Qing daily, he soon arrived with lavish gifts to thank him.
“Sir Han, I spoke out of turn before and spread false rumors. I hope you can forgive me.”
What a sudden change of face!
“These are silk goods from Longnan. I hear your wife is beautiful—these golden silks should suit her perfectly.”
Clearly, the Zhao family, merchants for generations, knew well how to please others.
Han Qing nodded, unconcerned with the matter.
After all, who could truly distinguish truth from rumor?
“You’re too kind, Master Zhao. It was nothing—nothing so remarkable as the tales say,” he replied modestly.
Was this a gesture to let bygones be bygones? Certainly not.
But Han Qing knew he had no need for more enemies. The Zhao family of Longnan, like his own Bai family, were long-established merchants, but relations had been strained since their grandfathers’ time.
Their businesses never intersected; they maintained only a surface harmony.
Once home, Han Qing presented all the golden silks to his wife.
“Xiuxiu, see which you like. Tomorrow we’ll have them made into new clothes.”
She was astonished by the silks.
“We already have so many clothes—there’s no need for more.”
“Xiuxiu, one can never have too many clothes. I neglected you before; let these be my apology. Please don’t refuse.”
He deliberately put on a pitiful face.

She couldn’t see through his act, and had no choice but to accept.
Their relationship grew ever warmer.
Meanwhile, the Bai family, anticipating a scandal at the Drunken Flower Pavilion, were left disappointed when nothing at all happened—there wasn’t even the faintest ripple.
“What sort of information is this you’ve brought me?”
Second Master Bai, furious, flung a handful of letters aside.
“Master, the Drunken Flower Pavilion has little to do with the Han family. What we should target is their saltworks.”
That’s right—he’d nearly forgotten.
That was the business in direct competition with the Bai family.
Lately, the salt agency had seen no customers for a month or two, and sales were so poor they hesitated to bring in shipments from Luojing.
The regional salt commissioner was growing dissatisfied with their small city.
“But none of the servants know the formula for refining salt. Are you sure they really have it?” Second Master Bai asked, dubious.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to believe, but no one had spoken the truth after all his inquiries.
“Didn’t we locate their salt workshop last time? We can send more men—surely their night watch isn’t so tight…”
The suggestion swayed him.
He was tired of being overshadowed by the Han family.
He sent several strong servants, and it proved easy enough.
They slipped into the Han family’s back courtyard and found a few manuscripts in a treasure chest.
These were quickly delivered to Second Master Bai.
“Congratulations, sir! We’ve succeeded in one try!”
The pages were densely covered with instructions for making edible salt.
He couldn’t stop smiling.
Sooner or later, the salt trade of Beijun City would belong to the Bai family.