Chapter 10: Chang'an Tong Que Ming (Melody of Golden Age)

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Chang'an Tong Que Ming (Melody of Golden Age)

 Chapter 10: 

Tongming Pavilion (1)

Zhu Yan had already explained her purpose to the guards and put on gloves as she lifted Kuang Zhanxin’s head, inspecting it while coaxing in a detached tone, "Alright, alright, I’ll order from the Eight Treasures Restaurant later—come over and lend me a hand. I can't reach inside her ribcage; help me hold it."

Lu Chuichui wailed, "No, I’m a clerk, not a coroner! If you keep this up, I’ll report you to your eldest brother and tell him that it was you who put that jar of dried moths under his bed last year!"

Zhu Yan laughed. For someone who supposedly wasn't sharp-witted, she seemed to have picked up the art of blackmail quite well!

Since she had decided to investigate the case, Zhu Yan headed to Pingkang Fang the next day.

Pingkang Fang was located in the East Market. Passing through Qinren Fang and entering the ward gate, the marketplace inside was bustling with activity.

The long streets were adorned with vibrant flowers and willows. Behind the vendor stalls, small courtyards and tall buildings often echoed with suggestive laughter and playful chatter. In the taverns and eateries, one could often see young gentlemen accompanied by four or five female companions, scholars fawning over aloof yet beautifully made-up ladies, or wealthy, plump merchants with dancing girls carrying lutes, repeatedly reminding them of something.

Although many curious young ladies from respectable households also came here, Zhu Yan had arranged to come early with Lu Chuichui.

Sitting inside the Hall of Clarity, Zhu Yan carefully examined the room's furnishings.

Kuang Zhanxin's room was quite spacious, with a bedroom connecting to two side rooms—one for receiving guests and the other likely for bathing. The bedroom was separated by a curtain, making it difficult for Zhu Yan to see clearly. However, the small reception room where she was seated was elegantly arranged. A painting of pines and cranes hung on the wall, and the screen separating the tea table was adorned with images of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums, with a red seal in the corner bearing the characters "Zhanxin."

Before sitting down, a maid had removed a stack of history books from the table in front of them. On the open page, one could see footnotes left by Kuang Zhanxin.

Most courtesans in the world believe that their beauty is their greatest asset, and so they often lack diligence in studying and learning to write. In a place like Pingkang Fang, where brothels were everywhere, there were even fewer courtesans who were truly well-educated.

Courtesans known for their talents, like Liu Chencheng, often achieved their reputations because madams would spend a large amount of silver to cultivate them from a young age.

While thinking this, the madam of Tongming Pavilion, Rongzhui, entered the room, wiping her tears.

Rongzhui appeared to be in her early thirties, with a plump and beautiful face and a voice as soft as water. It was said that before she took over the management of Tongming Pavilion from the former madam, she was one of the most famous courtesans in Pingkang Fang.

“There are still a few guests to attend to in the front; I apologize for neglecting you two, my dear officials' daughters,” Rongzhui said, but she couldn’t help her tears from falling again. She wiped them away with a handkerchief, softly sobbing, “Oh, my poor Zhanxin, how could your fate be so bitter? I had thought my sister's good days were finally coming. You had met the eldest son of the Liang family and could have left this place to become a legitimate concubine. Who could be such a heartless villain to murder you so cruelly...”

Rongzhui's words were filled with hatred, and her tears had washed away her makeup. Hearing her in this state of distress, Zhu Yan tried to console her, “Madam, please accept my condolences. I've come here to understand the situation of this case. Just now, I heard you mention that your relationship with Kuang Zhanxin was...”

Zhu Yan studied Rongzhui's face. Though she was full-figured, her features were delicate. Yesterday, when Zhu Yan had examined Kuang Zhanxin's corpse, she could tell—despite the deep knife wounds on her face—that her appearance...

Rongzhui nodded, "Zhanxin was my younger sister. When I was twelve, I was sold to Tongming Pavilion, and Zhanxin was only three. Two years later, I started receiving guests, and I heard that our worthless father, who was deep in gambling debt, planned to sell Zhanxin too. I had no mother, and every penny I earned from receiving guests was sent back home. When I learned of this, I begged the madam, and she finally agreed to buy Zhanxin into Tongming Pavilion."

Rongzhui sobbed, "I always thought our days were finally going to get better, but now..."

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