Chai Xiaomi found Jiang Zhiyu in the downstairs storeroom.
He was just speaking with Yan Xingxiao about the matter of bones mixed into the rice wine.
The goods being transported by the Yanyun Escort Agency on this trip were neatly stacked in the storeroom—three wooden crates sealed with paper strips.
Several escorts were carefully inspecting the exterior of the crates. It was inappropriate to break the seals on a client's goods without permission, so they could only check from the outside for any abnormalities.
With such a horrifying incident occurring in this eerie inn, Yan Xingxiao naturally couldn't put his mind at ease regarding this batch of escorted goods.
The remuneration for this escort mission was extremely high. Once completed, they would earn a hundred taels of gold, enough for the brothers to rest and recuperate for a good while.
After listening to Jiang Zhiyu's account, Yan Xingxiao knitted his brows tightly, falling into deep thought.
A moment later, he looked up and asked, Young Master Jiang, Lady Yue and I also drank the rice wine brought by the waiter last night. It was clear with no impurities, let alone any strange odor. How did you discern that it was mixed with bones?
The rat I just mentioned, which died from sneaking a drink of the rice wine, had eyes that were grey tinged with red, and its limbs were curled and stiff. Such a state of death only manifests after drinking corpse water that has been cursed for years. The curse in the corpse water is meant for humans, so animals that drink it will perish. Jiang Zhiyu had already buried the rat's corpse, so he could only verbally describe the state of death he had seen.
And what can remain of a corpse over the years, if not refined corpse oil, is white bone. Corpse oil is yellow, yet the rice wine was milky white, so I deduced that it was caused by boiling bones.
Outrageous! Yan Xingxiao was furious, smashing a fist against the wall. To dare give us such a thing to drink, I'll definitely peel a layer of skin off that fatty!
The innkeeper was built big and burly, and in his anger, Yan Xingxiao directly called him a fatty.
Jiang Zhiyu took out his folding fan, fanning himself with two wisps of cool breeze, incidentally bringing some wind to cool down the person beside him.
Before the truth came to light, he never made judgments lightly. He only advised in a gentle voice, Escort Leader Yan, calm your anger. This matter still needs to be verified. Whether there really are bones in the rice wine can only be concluded after careful examination.
Hearing this, Chai Xiaomi quickly stepped forward and hurriedly reminded, Brother Yu, the earthen jar the waiter was holding just now, the wine inside it probably has a problem. Why not start investigating from there?
Seeing that Xiaomi was no longer nauseous and her expression had returned to normal, Jiang Zhiyu breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking at her worried appearance, he couldn't help but smile. You and Yaoyao had the exact same thought. She already went to find the waiter to ask for that jar of wine just now.
Not long ago, shortly after the two found the dead rat in the room, Song Yueyao also immediately thought of the earthen jar in the waiter's hands, and turned around right then to find him and get the wine.
It was just, why had she been gone for so long without returning?
Jiang Zhiyu couldn't help but look outward, a trace of unease faintly surfacing in his heart. With Yaoyao's fiery temper, if she couldn't get the item after a few words, she would most likely resort to force.
I'll go find Sister Yao. You guys keep talking. Chai Xiaomi saw his worry and cleverly turned around to run outside.
Hey, Xiaomi, run slower, watch your step!
Behind her closely followed Jiang Zhiyu's elder-like exhortations.
Yan Xingxiao looked puzzled. Young Master Jiang, is this Miss Xiaomi your younger sister?
He had traveled the martial world for many years and seen all kinds of people. He believed his judgment was not bad. Upon closer inspection, he felt that these two did share some resemblance in their features, and when he asked this, he was already somewhat certain in his heart.
Although she was just a sister he acknowledged on the journey, Jiang Zhiyu didn't explain much, only replying, Yes.
Rather than saying they were friends who met by chance, it was better to let people think they were brother and sister; this might also add a bit more safety for her.
His guess confirmed, Yan Xingxiao shook his head and laughed, Being an older brother really makes one fretful. She's so grown up, could she really fall while walking?
It wasn't just worrying about her alone, but also taking into consideration her current physical condition.
Her swift and flying steps truly made one fearful to watch, afraid that some mishap might occur.
*
Song Yueyao had a quick temper, and the situation Jiang Zhiyu worried about, Chai Xiaomi naturally thought of as well.
So when she saw the waiter crawling at Song Yueyao's feet with a miserable face, she wasn't surprised in the slightest.
This place was a cold, damp underground wine cellar.
Chai Xiaomi being able to find this place was entirely thanks to Song Yueyao's highly penetrating loud voice, which transmitted from the ground entrance, comparable to an underground megaphone.
She climbed down the wooden ladder.
Where exactly did you hide that jar of rice wine? Song Yueyao cracked her knuckles loudly and threatened, Still refuse to speak? Then let's test whether your mouth is harder, or my fist is harder!
Spare my life, great aunt! This lowly one truly doesn't know... The waiter begged for mercy repeatedly. The innkeeper told me to put it back in the cellar. I clearly placed it right here, but it... it just disappeared!
Who are you trying to fool! When I questioned you earlier, you had a guilty look on your face. Was that faked? Can an earthen jar grow legs and run away on its own?
Song Yueyao's anger flared up.
This waiter's mouth was truly tight, refusing to reveal the slightest bit.
Won't do things the hard way?
Fine, then let's get even harder.
Song Yueyao casually picked up a wine jug from the ground, making a gesture as if to smash it onto the waiter's head.
Chai Xiaomi was briefly startled by her strength, but seeing that she had no real intention to smash it, she called out at a leisurely pace, Sister Yao.
She then stepped off the creaking wooden ladder onto the ground.
Putting herself in the shoes of an exploited worker, this was perhaps an important task assigned by the boss, involving business secrets, with strict instructions to hide it well.
If someone came asking around, he couldn't easily loosen his tongue, otherwise his livelihood would be at risk.
Therefore, Chai Xiaomi guessed that he probably didn't know the trickery within the rice wine. If he truly knew about the inn's shady dealings, why would he have proactively brought up the ghost rumors yesterday?
If he scared off the guests by chance, wouldn't he be dropping a rock on his own foot?
Chai Xiaomi immediately cleared her throat.
Then she pouted, hugged Song Yueyao's arm, and her voice suddenly softened, carrying a choke. Sister Yao... let it go, don't make things difficult for him... It's all my fault. If I hadn't been a glutton and insisted on drinking that wine, it wouldn't have provoked all these troubles...
As she spoke, a few crystal-clear teardrops slipped from her eye sockets and smashed onto her lapels.
Song Yueyao was greatly shocked. Xiaomi, you...
How did she do that?
Pea-sized teardrops came just like that.
She saw Chai Xiaomi swiftly wink at her, yet the teardrops fell one after another, quickly covering her entire face.
Her eyelashes trembled violently, the corners of her eyes were red, taking the phrase pitiful and touching to its absolute limit.
Song Yueyao fell silent for a moment and silently placed the wine jug back on the ground.
What, what kind of act was this?
Chai Xiaomi slowly walked up to the waiter, crouched down, and looked at him with those tear-glistening eyes. I'm sorry... My sister just cares about me too much, which is why she acted so impulsively. Please don't blame her.
Her voice was soft, carrying the slight hoarseness that comes after crying. I lost my parents when I was little, and my sister and I have depended on each other to survive. When I almost died of thirst on the streets, it was thanks to a kindhearted person gifting me a bowl of rice wine... Yesterday, when I drank the rice wine at your inn, the taste was exactly the same as back then, and I drank it all in one breath.
Today is my birthday, so my sister just wanted to beg another bowl for me... If it's truly inconvenient, then forget it.
She lowered her head and wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, her shoulders trembling slightly.
The cellar was dim, but a single beam of light slipped through the entrance, perfectly illuminating her tear-dampened eyelashes.
"I... I just won't be so greedy from now on..."
As her words fell, another teardrop slipped down her cheek with impeccable timing.
It was just as the saying goes: a gentle blade strikes the deadliest blows.
"Actually..." The waiter stared blankly at her frail, pitiful appearance, a sudden wave of heartache washing over him. He hesitated for a moment, closed his eyes, and gritted his teeth. "I suppose pouring a little more for you, Miss, wouldn't be completely out of the question."
He was throwing caution to the wind; he just had to make sure to keep it a secret from the boss.
Song Yueyao: "???"
