The case file borrowed from the county government was not detailed enough, and with so many years having passed, it was extremely difficult to investigate. The officials and clerks involved in the case were all deceased.

Lin Fei searched and found that only Madam Lu, the crucial witness from that time, was still alive.

He wanted to find out the truth, but he wasn’t unreasonable.

Madam Lu’s status was special, and she had saved Hou Furen’s life. Moreover, the case was truly too cruel; every time Madam Lu recalled it, it would likely cause her immense pain. Therefore, as in ordinary cases, having a witness repeatedly recall the events of that year was inappropriate in this case.

Lin Fei wouldn’t casually seek out Madam Lu and force her to relive that nightmare unless he had gathered sufficient evidence.

“Master Xing comes from Sichuan,” Lin Fei said. “He used to run a well-regarded restaurant there. Although not as famous as some established brands, it was still quite good, enough to buy a house in a year. But at the beginning of this year, he suddenly closed his restaurant, which he had run for many years, and went to the capital. I heard that he came to Chang’an to make a living through an introduction.”

Because of her friendship with Liang Hongjin, Wen Mingtang learned the inside story of this so-called “making a living”: it involved becoming a cook in the Imperial Kitchen.

It wasn’t that she thought there was anything wrong with the profession; Wen Mingtang herself was also eating government food in the Dali Temple’s Imperial Kitchen and was quite satisfied with her current life.

However, Wen Mingtang was an orphan, recently released from the inner palace, with nowhere to go and nothing but the little money she had saved in the palace over the years. Compared to that, for Wen Mingtang, who only wanted a stable, peaceful life without worrying about making a living, becoming a cook in the Imperial Kitchen was a good option.

For someone like Master Xing, who had built a decent business in his hometown over many years, abandoning everything to go to the capital might have been understandable if he wanted to make a name for himself through his skills. However, the reality was that Master Xing only ended up working as a cook in the public kitchen after arriving in the capital. Compared to his previously sizable business, this was clearly a case of losing the big picture for small gains.

“What about Master Xing’s family?” Wen Mingtang asked after thinking for a moment.

Lin Fei shook his head and said, “Master Xing did marry and have children a few years ago, but I heard that his son died young from illness, and his wife passed away early because of this. After that, Master Xing remained single and never remarried.”

That was all Lin Fei knew about Master Xing. He had only briefly inquired with the fellow Sichuan native who had introduced Master Xing to the position. The fellow native had come to Chang’an to make a living long ago and didn’t know much about Master Xing either. For more details, he would have to send someone to Sichuan to find out more.

What drew Lin Fei’s attention to Master Xing, and the reason he sent someone to investigate, was something else entirely.

“Since Master Xing came to my residence, he’s been quite particular about the ingredients, often personally purchasing them,” Lin Fei said.

Wen Mingtang knew that as well. “Jì Cǎimǎi and I once ran into Master Xing at the estate.”

Lin Fei nodded in agreement, then continued, “Master Xing frequently goes to the market to shop, and I’ve heard from the servants that he’s subtly inquired about ‘Hu Siming’s’ name and background several times. Every time he passes the market’s butcher stalls, he subconsciously glances at Hu Siming.”

Hu Siming was now imprisoned in the Dali Temple jail as a suspect.

“The day he injured his hand happened to be the same day Steward Mao had his accident.” Lin Fei paused, glancing meaningfully at the thoughtful Wen Mingtang beside him. “Master Xing isn’t particularly adept at disguise.”

Wen Mingtang wholeheartedly agreed: Master Xing’s earlier attempt at concealment wasn’t particularly skillful.

“The death of Steward Mao may not be related to him, but his hand injury is not as simple as he claims,” ​​Lin Fei said. “By a series of coincidences, I investigated Master Xing. He came to the capital for no reason and inexplicably abandoned his post as a palace guard and cook to come to my residence. I need to find out what happened.”

If he can’t even understand the affairs of his own residence, how can he handle the case? Moreover, Master Xing deliberately approached her, clearly trying to curry favor with Hou Furen.

“Later I discovered that his target wasn’t my mother but rather someone he wanted to use to get close to her.” Lin Fei paused, looking at Wen Mingtang, and said, “After that, Madam Lu came over.”

Coupled with the deliberate presentation of the braised pork today, there was no doubt that Chef Xing’s target was Madam Lu and that he wanted to remind her of what happened back then.

Thinking of Madam Lu’s reaction when she saw the braised pork, now a grandmother, Wen Mingtang couldn’t help but take a deep breath: “It seems this matter has troubled Madam Lu to this day, making it impossible for her to forget.”

Lin Fei nodded, saying, “Judging from Chef Xing’s reaction, perhaps he wants to find people and events related to this case through Madam Lu.”

Therefore, he would stay at the manor for a few more days to accompany his mother and take care of Madam Lu and the others. Many aspects of this case needed to be investigated within their own manor.

Having said this, Lin Fei looked at the snacks Wen Mingtang had prepared on the table; although he wasn’t one to let himself suffer and hadn’t been polite while eating at the meal, he certainly hadn’t eaten his fill.

After watching Wen Mingtang hand over the Zhútǒng Fàn, Xiǎolóng Guàntāng Bāo, and Ǒufěn Gēng to the maid who came to serve snacks, Lin Fei accepted the bowl of Guìhuā Jiǔniàng Xiǎo Yuánzi that Wen Mingtang offered. There was no elaborate round bowl or plating, just a simple little bowl, yet the bowl of Guìhuā Jiǔniàng Xiǎo Yuánzi still looked incredibly tempting. He scooped a spoonful of the Guìhuā Jiǔniàng Xiǎo Yuánzi and put it in his mouth. The sweet taste was mixed with the fragrance of osmanthus and the slightly intoxicating aroma of the wine. The smooth, tender rice balls melted in the sweet osmanthus wine. After finishing the bowl, he felt warm and comforted; it was quite pleasant.

After placing his bowl and chopsticks on the table, Lin Fei looked at the girl sipping her soup and thought for a moment before saying, “Thank you very much, Master Wen. The banquet is over, Master Wen, please go home early!”

Wen Mingtang nodded, waving the half-eaten bowl of soup in her hand, indicating that she would finish it and then leave.

Because Madam Lu was unwell, she could leave early today, finish work early, and even stop by the market on her way home.

Just as she was thinking this, Lin Fei’s voice rang out again: “I might be taking leave frequently these days. It’s very chaotic outside. Don’t wander around at night.”

This statement clearly had a hidden meaning. Wen Mingtang thought carefully for a moment and asked Lin Fei, “Lin Shaoqing, could it be that the murderer in this case might kill randomly outside?”

Like the previous case with the “beauty lantern,” the murderer might be hiding in the shadows and attack people, so it’s not advisable to go out casually.

Lin Fei lowered his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.

His advice against wandering around was actually unrelated to the case. This case wasn’t like the previous one where the murderer would randomly go out to find targets; this one involved targeted attacks.

But… seeing Wen Mingtang’s understanding expression, Lin Fei didn’t explain further: Girls aren’t the type to like running around. They usually cook in the public kitchen and read storybooks; they might not leave the Dali Temple for ten days or half a month at a time.

As long as she was in the Dali Temple, she was safe.

However, some things… it was better to explain to her after this case was solved!

(End of Chapter)

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