Hanyue fixed his gaze on the young man.
"Was there anyone else with him in the cave?"
The young man hesitated, stealing a glance at Bairan.
"Daren… I think… she was there too."
Bairan's brow twitched, but the curve of her lips remained unchanged.
"You think she was there," Hanyue asked evenly, "or you are certain?"
The young man swallowed hard.
"I didn't go further inside. I only saw part of her face… I thought the herbs were for her… because she was unconscious."
Hanyue fell silent for a moment.
Then, the cold man's voice cut through the air. He looked at the older man and asked,
"Is he the herb seller?"
Bairan absently touched her ear. Why does it always feel like my ear tingles whenever he speaks?
One of the subordinates stepped forward respectfully.
"Yes, he is."
Hanyue understood—His Highness was signalling for him to shift focus.
He turned to the trembling older man, his tone less frigid.
"Do you know this man?" points towards young man who ties on the chair.
The elder's face was pale. This morning, strangers had come to his door, claiming they were from the capital. They told him that if he lied, his entire family would be guilty of treason.
"Yes, Daren… I know him. He has bought herbs from my shop many times."
Hanyue asked,
"When was the first time he came to you? And what did he buy?"
The old man stammered,
"Daren… I can't recall the exact day, but spring had not yet arrived. It was late at night when he came—he wanted herbs to ease pain and treat external injuries."
Hanyue and the cold man exchanged a glance.
The young man shouted,
"Old man, stop talking nonsense! It wasn't me!"
Hanyue turned his head slightly.
"Dongpo."
Dongpo stepped forward, raising his hand and striking the young man hard across the face.
The prisoner cried out in pain, but Dongpo stuffed a strip of cloth into his mouth.
"Shut up," he growled.
The older man flinched, he pressing his forehead to the ground hard.
"Daren… Daren, I'm not lying. I remember clearly because it was so late of night, and he kept knocking no matter how many times I told him the shop was closed. Then he offered more silver. Please, Daren, believe me!"
Bairan didn't like seeing the old man keep pressing his forehead to the ground.
But she knew this wasn't the right time to speak freely.
Still, she said gently,
"Old man, we can't hear you clearly. If you keep pressing your forehead to the ground, why not raise your head instead? Speak slowly and tell useful things —since you say you're not lying, there's nothing to fear."
Her voice was so soft it felt out, unlike the heavy atmosphere of the room.
At the same moment, both the cold man and Hanyue looked at her.
Bairan gave an awkward smile.
"I have bad hearing. Maybe…because of the fall."
Hanyue nodded slightly, but the old man's gaze lingered on her.
She met his eyes in silence… Then, almost boldly, she offered him a small smile.
"Raise your head," Hanyue said to the herb seller.
The cold man looked away from Bairan, and she quietly let out a breath of relief.
Why does it always feel like I owe him an explanation for everything I do…?
Hanyue continued,
"And when was the last time he came to you? What did he buy?"
The old man slowly lifted his head, his eyes flicking toward Bairan first.
Somehow, her presence seemed to calm him a little.
"It was… about a month ago—maybe even less," he said.
"This time, he gave me a bamboo slip and told me to prepare the herbs written there. I looked at it…The recipe was written carefully. Whoever wrote it clearly knew herbs well—every item was listed with the exact amount needed."
He paused, struggling to remember every detail that might be useful.
"The herbs were expensive. I told him so, but he only said to prepare them. He had enough money."
"Do you still have the bamboo slip?" Hanyue asked.
"Yes, Daren. It's in my store," the old man replied quickly.
Hanyue's gaze sharpened.
"Do you remember what the herbs were used for?"
The man nodded slowly.
"They were for… repairing damaged bones, replenishing qi… and the last one, I remember well—it's something martial artists often use. It gives great energy but damages the body as well."
Hanyue looked at Dongpo and said, "Send some men with him and bring me that bamboo slip, along with details about how much money this man gave him."
The old man, his hands trembling slightly, asked in a low voice, "Daren, were my words useful?"
Hanyue fixed his eyes on him. "Old man, we are not here to hurt or involve anyone unjustly. We are only looking for the traitor who committed so many unforgettable crimes. If you help us, there will be a reward."
Then, turning to the others, he said, "Dongyan, see how much energy this man has to not dare hide anything about that traitor, Shen Yueran again."
The cold man turned and strode out.
Hanyue was about to leave as well, but he noticed Bairan still standing in her place. He looked at her in confusion.
Bairan said calmly, "Master Pei invited me here. Wasn't it to see if I'm involved in this case, too? …And it seems I am."
Hanyue studied her for a moment, then let a faint smile curve his lips. "It seems, however, your involvement Miss Bairan… is rather complicated."
Bairan nodded, smile as well. "I think so.... But if Master Pei is willing to grant me a little of his trusting grace, perhaps we may both find the answers we seek."
After they came back, Master Pei had said that, for now, it would be best for her to wait in her room.
Bairan returned, closed the door, and sat down on the bed.
She thought to herself: It's more and more likely that the person who brought my soul back was that monk. And his dead "old friend" he mentioned… most likely, was that traitor Shen Yueran, whom Hanyue and the cold, mysterious man are searching for him.
She lay down, raising her hand, her fingers tracing the lines of the mattress.
That man… the one who owns my brother's life… was my enemy, and maybe he was the one who killed me in my previous life. Not only that, he committed big crimes too—treason, harming the royal family.
Bairan shook her head. This man… he dragged me into dirty waters with himself. I can say to Hanyue and the cold man that he's dead. can they believe that I'm a returned soul?
She wrinkled her nose. Why couldn't a good man have saved me? That would have been much better.
Her fingers moved along another line on the mattress. And that monk… why would he be involved with the traitor? Even calling him an "old friend"…
And the Lin family… if this body doesn't belong to them, it will be hard for Master Pei to believe me. I could have my portrait posted throughout the town to find this body really family … but that would ruin their reputation .
I need an identity to protect myself. If I'm lucky, the lin family's is very good. Actually, the identity of any girl in this town is good—it would keep me from being involved with Shen Yueran. He doesn't know who this body truly belongs to; he only found it by chance.
She was lying down on her back, and she thought jokingly. People got under house arrest, and here I'm under the inn arrest.