"Tsk." Jiang Cheng first glanced at Xiaowan, then turned his head to stare at Fatty for a while, his eyes sizing him up and down, as if he had discovered a new way to use Fatty.

"Gongzi," Xiaowan suddenly asked, "where did you get the brocade pouch in your hand?"

Through the curtain, she hadn't noticed it before, but now that she came out of the curtain, her gaze was immediately attracted to the brocade pouch, even ignoring the Fatty who was eyeing her from the side.

"You recognize this brocade pouch?" Jiang Cheng asked back.

"Of course," Xiaowan said excitedly, "This is the wedding gift I gave to Sister Xuanji. She promised me she would wear it all the time, how... how is it in your hands?"

Xuanji...

Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes, it seemed this was the female ghost's name.

Or, her stage name in this Meixian Courtyard.

"But isn't Sister Xuanji already dead?" Xiaowan asked with a frown, "How could her things be on you? You... who exactly are you?"

Now Xiaowan was really scared, and the look in her eyes towards Jiang Cheng changed. "You were sent by Master Huang!" she said angrily, "Aren't you?!"

"No," Jiang Cheng unhurriedly handed over the peeled pear in his hand, raised his eyes, and said very calmly, "Don't be nervous, let's talk slowly."

Looking into Jiang Cheng's eyes, Xiaowan actually calmed down slowly, and then, as if possessed, took the pear from his hand and sat down opposite him.

"I came for this matter, hoping to bring justice to Xuanji," Jiang Cheng said with a serious face, "You don't want her to die an inexplicable death, do you?"

Xiaowan nodded, and after a long while, she said, "I also think Sister Xuanji's death was suspicious. She had only just married into the Huang family for a few days, and she was in good health when she left. How could she suddenly die of illness?"

"Don't go so fast, slowly," Jiang Cheng stretched out his hand and placed it on Xiaowan's leg, stroking it as if to comfort her, while saying solemnly, "Start from how Young Master Huang and Xuanji met."

Gradually, as Xiaowan recounted the story, the tale of Young Master Huang and this courtesan named Xuanji slowly unfolded.

Just as they had thought, Young Master Huang loved watching plays, and Xuanji, the top performer in Meixian Courtyard, was known as the best in both singing and acting.

The young woman Xiaowan in front of them was the best in acting, on par with Xuanji.

And so, Xuanji entered Young Master Huang's field of vision.

Young Master Huang was a talented and romantic man, his paintings were amazing, and he took good care of Xuanji.

Soon, the two of them, like in the novels of talented scholars and beautiful women, came together.

But the Huang family was a prominent family in the area, how could they accept a courtesan? Master Huang was furious about this, and even threatened to sever ties with Young Master Huang.

"But in the end, Young Master Huang still married Sister Xuanji into the family," Xiaowan said with a hint of envy.

When she got to this point, her tone suddenly paused, and an unnatural look appeared on her face. "Gongzi also knows about us," she twisted her fingers and said softly, "When women like us marry, it can only be at night, without drums or farewells, only a few people from the husband's family come to quietly carry us in through the side door in a small sedan, and no one dares to make a sound."

"This brocade pouch was what I gave to Sister Xuanji the night before," Xiaowan recalled, "At that time, Sister Xuanji also took away a maid who had always been with her."

"That maid was also quite pitiful, she was an orphan, and Sister Xuanji was worried that if she left, she would be bullied if she stayed alone..."

"Doctor Niu Bi!" Fatty shouted loudly in his heart.

"So... you suspect that Master Huang was behind it?" Now that he understood the situation, Jiang Cheng cut to the chase.

"Yes," Xiaowan nodded fiercely, "Who else could it be but him? He must have done it. It's a pity for Young Master Huang." Xiaowan then sighed, "I heard that after Sister Xuanji died, he went crazy too."

"Young Master Huang was truly devoted to Miss Xuanji," Jiang Cheng said with a tone of emotion.

"Indeed," Xiaowan nodded repeatedly, "Young Master Huang once painted a picture for Sister Xuanji, and she looked especially beautiful in the painting. Before she got married, she gave the painting to me, and later, after the incident, Sister's Xuanji’s family came to me, and I saw that they were so pitiful, so I gave them the painting."

Xuanji's family...

Jiang Cheng instantly became interested. "They took that painting away?"

"Yes, he is Sister Xuanji's father. He often secretly came to see her before, but Sister seemed to be resistant to this father, so she didn't meet him often."

"What does that person do?"

"I heard he's also a performer." Xiaowan revealed a rather strange expression, "But he's different from us, they... they perform baihuo, the kind of funeral plays, using paper figures and paper horses."

Seeming to be worried that Jiang Cheng wouldn't understand, Xiaowan explained in detail.

"Sister's father is the leader of a troupe. I once heard Sister say after drinking that she was sold here because her father didn't do his job properly, so she never forgave him."

"Ghost plays?" Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes.

Hearing the word "ghost," Xiaowan subconsciously felt a bit repulsed, swallowed, and said, "It should be... should be similar, that person also looks strange, thin and short, and his appearance is also strange, his face is very long, and his eyes seem to be able to see through people's hearts, standing next to him is like being in an icehouse, it's so cold," she added.

Seeming to have thought of something, Jiang Cheng asked for paper and pen and began to draw on it, and after a moment—

"Is it him?" Jiang Cheng picked up the drawing and asked Xiaowan.

The moment she saw the drawing, Xiaowan was stunned for a moment, then nodded repeatedly, "Yes, it's him." She looked at Jiang Cheng and asked with a puzzled look, "Have you met Gongzi met him before?"

"Met, not familiar."

Xiaowan nodded slightly, "No wonder."

Fatty stretched his neck and wanted to come over to see the painting, but before he could get close, Jiang Cheng put the painting away.

"Do you know where Xuanji's father is now?" Jiang Cheng asked.

Xiaowan thought for a while, then shook her head, "The troupes that perform this kind of play usually live outside the city, but... but you can go to Luogu Lane to take a look. The last time he came, he mentioned it there."

"Thank you," Jiang Cheng got up to leave.

"Gongzi, please wait a moment." Xiaowan got up and called out to Jiang Cheng, and then, under Fatty's envious and jealous eyes, Xiaowan took out a plaque tied with a red string from an exquisite wooden box.

The plaque was made of some unknown material, and it felt very good to the touch.

The front was engraved with the word "Wan."

"Please accept this, Gongzi," Xiaowan said, "This is my plaque. Next time, you can use the plaque to find me, which will avoid a lot of trouble."

"Sister Xuanji treated me very well, please be sure to tell me if there is any progress," she said sincerely.

Jiang Cheng accepted the plaque and replied, "Definitely."

After leaving the Meixian Courtyard, Fatty couldn't wait to come up. Before he could open his mouth, he saw Jiang Cheng with a cold face, saying in an unusually calm tone, "It's Steward Zhou."