Chapter 25: Chang'an Tong Que Ming (Melody of Golden Age)

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

 Chapter 25: 

Li’s Family Bank

Manager Li wiped the sweat from his brow and invited Shen Du to sit down. Freshly brewed tea was served, but Shen Du simply brushed the hem of his garment and did not even glance at it.

“Jing Lin.”

“Yes,” Jing Lin stepped forward, spreading out the partially faded ticket in front of Li’s manager. “Is this a ticket from Li’s Family Bank?”

Manager Li, trembling, took a closer look and nodded. He then retrieved other tickets from the counter and handed them to Jing Lin. Jing Lin held them up with a handkerchief and presented them to Shen Du.

“Indeed, Manager Li, can you tell me who this ticket belongs to and where it is now?”

Manager Li, upon receiving confirmation, took the ticket and moved into the light to examine it closely. He then returned to the counter, searched through the items, and quietly instructed an assistant to go to the back yard. After a short while, the assistant came out carrying several wooden boxes, their surfaces glistening with tung oil and appearing to be in good condition.

“It's been quite a while; please wait a moment, Lord Shen.”

“No rush!”

Jing Lin stood guard at the door, ensuring no one else entered to handle business. Manager Li called in all the attendants to help with the search.

Shen Du drummed his fingers absentmindedly on the table, casting a brief, impatient glance toward the direction of the inner room.

After Zhu Yan changed into new clothes, dried her ink-black hair, and had some tea, she declined Madam Li’s overly enthusiastic hospitality and stepped out of the inner room. She heard Manager Li’s excited shout:

“I found it, I found it!”

Zhu Yan felt a surge of joy and quickly moved forward, with Shen Du following closely behind, his gaze shifting down to observe her newly changed outfit.

In a pale yellow strapless dress, Zhu Yan’s fair skin looked even more radiant, and her graceful figure was accentuated. Madam Li, skilled with her hands, had styled her hair into a delicate swan-like bun, exposing her white, slender neck. A faint, subtle fragrance lingered in the air.

At sixteen, she seemed to embody the essence of youthful beauty.

Shen Du’s gaze dropped to the thin booklet in Zhu Yan’s hand, and he frowned.

“This customer is named Liu Fu, residing in the Fengle Alley of the Luokou district. Five years ago, he deposited a sum of money here and also ordered a batch of gold jewelry from the Bi Jiang Gold Shop. However, he hasn’t shown up since then. The batch of jewelry was paid for with a deposit; it’s unclear whether he has retrieved it.”

Shen Du and Zhu Yan had already seen the information recorded in the booklet: on the seventh day of the eighth month of the ninth year of the Feisheng era, Liu Fu deposited six thousand taels of silver.

Now, in the second year of the Shengli era, Liu Fu has been missing for five years since that deposit.

According to forensic estimates, the time of death could match up.

“Did Liu Fu frequently deposit money here?” 

Li Zhanggui shook his head, not daring to look directly at Shen Du:

“No, Liu Fu’s family had some assets, but he’s always been someone who relied on money without putting in any effort. Those assets were long gone, and he used to borrow money from here frequently. When he couldn’t repay, he would use jade items, furniture, and other valuables as collateral. That’s why I remember him. I don’t know how he suddenly came into so much money.”

Zhu Yan took out a small booklet from her bosom, using a fine pen to transcribe all the information about Liu Fu.

Shen Du glanced over and noticed that the booklet, bound in cowhide, was already half-filled with densely packed notes in tiny characters.

After noting down the last piece of information, Zhu Yan looked up and asked Li Zhanggui, “Do you know if Liu Fu had any regular acquaintances, especially among women?”

Li Zhanggui was taken aback, furrowing his brows in deep thought. After a while, he shook his head helplessly. “Madam, that question has stumped me. Our money house deals only with financial transactions, and we don’t know about our clients’ personal connections. Besides, our money house is located in the capital, where there are countless wealthy gentry and officials. We didn’t pay much attention to someone as insignificant as Liu Fu. However, since he ordered gold ornaments from Bi Jiang Jin Fang, it’s likely they were intended as gifts. Perhaps the Grand Chief Guard and Madam could go there and inquire about it?”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yan exchanged a glance with Shen Du. She tucked the cowhide booklet back into her bosom and said, “Husband, it’s still early. How about we visit there now?”

She said the word “husband” with great ease, her smile gentle and her eyes sparkling with a lively light, as if she were just a sweet, innocent young woman.

Shen Du seemed accustomed to her use of “husband” and responded lightly, rising to leave.

“Farewell, Grand Chief Guard Shen! Farewell, Madam Shen!”

Once the two were finally sent off, Li Zhanggui wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced at their receding figures. He remarked with curiosity, “It’s quite a marvel. I always thought someone as cold and heartless as Grand Minister Shen would end up alone, but he and that Miss Zhu seem to be a very harmonious couple.”

Madam Li, noticing that the couple hadn’t gone far, quickly covered Li Zhanggui’s mouth and gave him a warning look. “You’re risking your life! Don’t dare speak ill of the Grand Chief. If he hears you, we’ll be in serious trouble.”

Realizing his mistake, Li Zhanggui grew apprehensive and mumbled, “They probably didn’t hear.”

As they exited the money house, Zhu Yan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Those who have spent years on investigations and cases develop keen senses. Zhu Yan had overheard the whispers of the Li couple, and it was even more likely that the observant Shen Du had heard them too.

Noticing Shen Du's dark expression, Zhu Yan playfully said, "Oh dear, Li Zhanggui really speaks without thinking. He only knows part of the story. Most likely, Grand Chief Guard Shen will remain single for life!"

How could any woman endure such a cold and unpredictable man? Even if one had to become a nun in a convent, it would still be better than marrying the White King of Hell!

Fortunately, once the Ximing Temple case is resolved, regardless of the outcome, she can distance herself from Shen Du.

Jing Lin, who had been waiting at the door, stepped forward when they emerged and asked, "Grand Chief Guard Shen, have you found any clues?"

Zhu Yan shook her head, "There are some leads, but nothing significant."

"Nothing significant?" Jing Lin looked at her with surprise, noting the smile at the corners of her eyes and said, "Seeing you so cheerful, I thought you might have some good news."

"There are many things in life worth being happy about," Zhu Yan replied with a smile.

Zhu Yan's smile, like sunlight breaking through snow or peach blossoms in full bloom, seemed to brighten the surroundings. However, knowing that her good mood was a result of the shopkeeper's nonsensical remarks, Shen Du found it rather irritating.

He mounted his horse with a swift movement, tightened the reins, and the steed neighed, spinning in place.

"How long will you dawdle? If you continue to be so idle and chatty, I'll dock half a month's salary!" Shen Du's eyebrows were tightly knit as he spoke coldly, his anger palpable.

With that, he spurred his horse, heading directly toward the Bi Jiang Gold Workshop.

"Grand Chief Guard Shen!"

Jing Lin shouted after him, but Shen Du ignored him completely. In a hurry, Jing Lin prepared to mount his own horse to chase after Shen Du, only to remember that Zhu Yan was still beside him.

"It's all your fault. If it weren't for you, how could we have provoked the Grand Chief Guard's anger? Hurry up and mount!" Jing Lin snapped as he brought the horse over to Zhu Yan.

As Zhu Yan barely managed to mount and steady herself, Jing Lin immediately spurred the horse into a wild gallop. She swayed dangerously on the horse's back, almost falling off.

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