In a private room of the Myriad Flowers Pavilion, Yan Mo, who had thought Shi Muyuan would leave due to discomfort, was stunned.
Relying on her handsome young - master appearance, Shi Muyuan had attracted several young girls to gather around her. Yan Mo looked at the empty space beside him and suddenly felt something was off.
Looking at Huo Qizhou, who also had no one beside him, Yan Mo quietly shuffled over and leaned towards him. "Has Her Majesty the Empress Dowager come out more than once?"
Huo Qizhou glanced at him askance. "Be cautious with your words, Lord Yan."
"Look at her. Can't I just make a guess?" Yan Mo waved his hand listlessly and poured himself a cup of wine.
"You stay here and keep an eye on her. I'll go outside and take a look."
"Okay. Be careful."
Yan Mo was glad for the easy task. The Empress Dowager had just vowed that she was here to investigate a case and these small difficulties wouldn't stop her. Indeed, what difficulties were these?
Meanwhile, Shi Muyuan, who was seriously investigating the case, had just received a compliment from a young lady and was overjoyed. Why hadn't she transmigrated as a young master back then? Well, maybe she wasn't as good - looking as she was now.
"Is this your first time here, young master?"
"Yes. I came secretly with my elder brother." Shi Muyuan pointed at Yan Mo, only to find that Huo Qizhou had already disappeared from the room.
Being pointed out by Shi Muyuan, Yan Mo gave an awkward but polite smile, which made the young ladies burst into laughter.
After building a good rapport, Shi Muyuan decided to ask something serious.
"Pretty sister, do you know a lame old man?"
A purple - dressed girl understood. Another person came to inquire for information. She picked up a piece of fruit and offered it to Shi Muyuan's mouth. "In our place, we've seen all kinds of people. Lame people? There are several among the servants in the Myriad Flowers Pavilion. When did the lame leg of the old man you're looking for happen?"
Seeing Shi Muyuan's confusion, the purple - dressed woman covered her lips and smiled. "Recently, several disobedient servants offended Mama Hong and were punished. They got lame legs. I don't know if they are the ones you're looking for."
Shi Muyuan withdrew the confusion on her face and swallowed a mouthful of saliva. "It should not be. The one I'm looking for is an old man with cloudy eyes. He's lame in his right leg."
A girl let out an "eh". "Isn't this..." The purple - dressed girl quickly interrupted her. Frightened, the young girl shrank back immediately.
It seemed that the purple - dressed girl had a high status in the Myriad Flowers Pavilion. Yan Mo narrowed his eyes. Was the Empress Dowager getting serious?
"What's going on, miss?"
"Young master, although our place of pleasure is a good place for people to obtain information, we also have our own rules. We can't just answer your hasty questions. How can we do business then, right?"
"Miss Ziying is right. It was my rudeness."
"However, since I think you're cute, I'll be generous and tell you. There's no such person here." Ziying softened her body and looked at Shi Muyuan eye - to - eye.
At this time, Yan Mo walked over and unceremoniously threw a bag of silver. "You all take the silver and go out. Remember what to say and what not to say." Then he looked at Ziying. "You stay."
Ziying didn't even look up at him. She gave a faint smile with an ambiguous tone.
"What are you doing, young master?"
"I'm just following the rules of your Myriad Flowers Pavilion as you said!"
"Hehe, you're really an expert, young master. Have you been here before? Why don't I recognize you?" Ziying picked up the remaining silver on the table and stuffed it into her clothes. She gave Yan Mo a seductive look.
A smile also appeared on Yan Mo's face as he parried with her. "What's so difficult about this? In the underground deals of the Great Liang Dynasty, is there any other way of doing business?"
"Hahaha, you're a straightforward person, young master."
"Then can you tell us who this person is?" Shi Muyuan took out her light - pink silk purse in a timely manner.
Ziying picked it up with a smile, weighed it in her hand, then raised her eyebrows and said with a smile, "Lusu, who works across the way, often receives a lame old man. The sisters all laugh at her for not letting go of such a man for the sake of gold. That lame man comes to find her every time and leaves a large amount of silver notes after leaving. We sisters are so jealous. That lame man came here just a few days ago."
Speaking of this, she suddenly lowered her voice. "Although everyone saw that lame man walk out of the Myriad Flowers Pavilion, this morning when I got up early, I heard some noises. I thought it was strange and opened the door to take a look. It was actually that lame man sneaking into Lusu's room."
Ziying spoke so sincerely. If what she said was true, then Yin Muran was now in the Myriad Flowers Pavilion.
"How did they get to know each other?"
"How can I know that? After all, he's Lusu's patron. I only know that he often comes. It's been about one or two years."
This was about the same time as the duration of the missing - girls case that Huo Qizhou had told her about. It had started about two years ago.
Oh no! Huo Qizhou had gone out to investigate clues. What if Yin Muran saw him and then ran away? Shi Muyuan slapped her head and thought.
"You're quite straightforward after taking the silver." Yan Mo brushed away Ziying's little hand that was reaching for him.
"Hehe, why are you treating me like this after getting the information, young master? Lusu and I are rivals. Naturally, I'm happy to find something unpleasant for her." Ziying's eyes were full of tenderness, but unfortunately, Yan Mo, this hard - hearted man, didn't appreciate it. Shi Muyuan seemed to be watching an annual tragic love drama.
"Just now you stopped that young girl from speaking. Aren't you afraid that they'll gossip about you after you've taken all the benefits? Aren't you afraid that they'll hold a grudge against you and tell your rival?" Shi Muyuan's eyes fell on her.
"What's there to be afraid of? Can they ride on my head? I'm not boasting. They're still too young to reach my position."
"It seems that you're not simple either." Yan Mo narrowed his eyes.
This woman seemed to have been sent to them on purpose.
"Sir, the Myriad Flowers Pavilion has its own informants. We're using this favor just hoping that you can turn a blind eye. Just catch the person you want to catch."
"Interesting."
"I'm just a messenger. I hope you can understand." Yin Muran's value had been used up. Keeping him was a disaster. He was always causing trouble and wanted to get more benefits and rely on the organization to cover for him. Now it was all his own doing.
It seemed that the person behind the scenes was going to abandon Yin Muran, sacrificing the small to protect the big.
Thinking that Huo Qizhou was still wandering outside, Shi Muyuan felt it was inappropriate and decided to call him back.
Yin Muran had also seen Yan Mo's face. Only she was now dressed as a man, which was completely different from that day. With Yin Muran's dim - sighted eyes, he should not recognize her.
So she discussed with Yan Mo and decided to go out alone to find Huo Qizhou and tell him this clue.