Dongyan spoke again.
"Master, in the old man's records, we found out that the man who called himself Gangwe gave him three hundred thousand taels of silver and visited him four times," he continued. "And Master, there are some suspicious movements in town. Several men tried to leave right after your announcement yesterday."
Han Yue narrowed his eyes.
"So we do have some of Shen Yueran's men here," he said coldly. "Keep your eyes on them. Let's see where they plan to gather… Is there any new news about that merchant case?"
Dongyan nodded.
"Yes. It wasn't his first time. He captured free women and children and sold them in other places as slaves. What's more, the teahouse owner confirmed that he was the one who sold that young boy to him. And when we searched his house, this is what we found."
He placed a torn black square on the table. A large, rough "死" character was drawn in white.
"We asked him about where he gets this," Dongyan went on. "He said that six years ago, he bought some slaves from a merchant in the capital, and he gave them this. And he wasn't the only one the innkeeper and Lin Bowen were involved, buying slaves from them as well."
Zhouyan's gaze fell upon the black piece.
A flash of old hatred passed through his eyes.
Han Yue touched the cloth, his voice low.
"It's from the 夜煞 (Yè Shà)." He looked at Dongyan, "You can withdraw now."
After a while,
Dongpo returned, bringing Bairan with him. After making his salute, he withdrew as well, leaving only the three of them in the room.
Bairan's gaze swept across Hanyue and Zhouyan. Before them on the table lay a bamboo slip and three unfolded portraits. Zhouyan did not even lift his eyes to acknowledge her; his brows were furrowed, as though he were lost in deep thought.
Hanyue rose politely and gestured. "Miss Bairan, please sit." When she had settled, he continued in his gentle voice, "You mentioned before that the one who saved you left behind a letter. May I ask you to show it to us?"
Bairan smiled calmly. "Of course." She reached into her left sleeve and gave him the bamboo slip.
Hanyue's brows lifted slightly in surprise—the slip was incomplete, and only three strips bound together. On them was written:
"Young girl, drink your medicine first. It will give you enough energy to return to your town. When you get out of the cave, go straight west, and when you see the road, go north. It's not far. I left you a walking stick at the cave entrance. Your wounds have almost healed, and you will be fine.
As for what happened to you and who you are, I don't know."
Hanyue studied the strokes. The handwriting was unmistakably Gu Yuxian's. Then, the one who had rescued her was more likely Gu Yuxian, not Shen Yueran. It fit better for that monk who had often lent aid to strangers along the road.
But it looks like she has hidden other parts of the bamboo slip, but why?
Placing the slip back upon the table, Hanyue gave a small smile."Miss Bai Ran, from the information we have gathered, the one who saved you strongly may be this monk," he pointed to Gu Yuxian's portrait.
Bairan looked at the portrait and let out a small "em."
Hanyue looked at her carefully. There wasn't any emotion on her face.
He continued, "And your identity is most likely that of the Lin family's elder daughter—Lin Ruolan."
He showed the girl's portrait to her. Bairan leaned closer, her eyes fixed upon the painted features. After a long pause, she murmured, almost to herself, "Yes… This looks like me."
Hanyue paused. Even though she's really cunning, she stared at her own portrait as it belonged to a stranger.
He thought she was really pitiful even if she returned to her family. The path awaiting her would hardly be an easy one.
From his sleeve, Hanyue drew out her hairpin and handed it to her. His voice was gentle. "This belongs to you... Now what do you intend to do?"
Bairan took the hairpin and held it against her palm, inhaling softly. "Yes... This is what I give to the innkeeper." She thought for a moment, then lifted her eyes. "Master Pei, may I ask one more favour of you?"
Hanyue inclined his head. "What is it?"
"I do not know what happened, nor why my family has not tried to find me," Bai Ran said slowly. "But I must return and make everything clear. When the time comes, you could speak as my saviour, and I would be deeply grateful."
"How do you plan to go back?" Hanyue asked.
Bairan gave a small smile. "If a member of my family or my personal maid were to come here by chance, wouldn't they recognise me immediately?"
Hanyue nodded with a smile, thinking about Master Lin's connection to Yè Shà. "That is a clever way. But Miss Bairan, or should I call you Miss Lin, can you lend us your help as well?"
Bairan looked at him calmly, yet a little surprised. "My help... how can I help Master Pei?"
Hanyue replied with a small smile, "As your saviour, shouldn't you invite us to your home and introduce us to your family?"
Bairan's brow twitched, thinking what is in the Lin family's courtyard that Master Pei himself needs to see and wishes to be invited to. But she should be careful not to do something that hurts the original body's family.
She smiled softly and traced her finger across her portrait. "Of course, it's what I must do for repair Master Pei, but Master Pei, I'm worried my family will unknowingly offend you."
Hanyue smiled even more. "Don't worry, if any misunderstanding happens, I will be the one who clears it."
Bairan nodded and clasped her hands. "I will thank Master Pei then."
Her gaze drifted across the last portrait on the table; it was a man with long black hair, phoenix eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. Something about his gaze tugged faintly at her.
Why do his eyes feel so familiar?
Her glance flicked to Zhouyan, and her brows arched ever so slightly.
Catching the shift, Hanyue tapped his finger lightly against the portrait. "Do you know him? Do you remember anything about this man?"
Bairan shook her head, she thought for a second. "No… only that he feels familiar."
"Familiar?" Hanyue pressed.
Bairan glanced at Zhouyan again.
This time, Zhouyan looked at her directly. His expression was calm, yet in his eyes, Bairan caught the faintest trace of hate.
Hanyue understood at once. Of course, the familiarity was no coincidence. The man in the portrait bore a resemblance to Zhouyan himself, because he was none other than His Highness's third uncle, Shen Yueran.