Magistrate Hu was a little worried, so he specially asked the old man for permission and instructed Deputy Sun to accompany them. He stayed in the guest hall to drink tea and reminisce with the old man.
The Zhao Mansion was huge. According to the maids, the main hall was very far from Young Master Zhao's rooms in the back.
As they walked, Chu Nanzhi asked the two maids about the details of how the mansion was laid out.
Apart from the main hall and a few side halls, the largest building in the outer courtyard was the family ancestral hall in the southwest corner. The rest were mostly storerooms for miscellaneous items or rooms for the servants and guards to rest, as well as some simple guest rooms.
The inner courtyard was divided into six courtyards. The northern courtyard was where Elder Zhao and Madam Zhao lived.
Although the west was not the main courtyard, it was close to the ancestral hall, and Old Madam Zhao had once lived there.
Between the two courtyards was a side courtyard. As it was close to the main courtyard, it was convenient to take care of the Young Master there. That was Young Master Zhao's bedroom.
After she found out where Young Master Zhao lived, Chu Nanzhi brought Little Ruijia directly to the side courtyard.
Just as she arrived at the entrance, she was stopped by a young man in white.
Chu Nanzhi casually sized up the man in white.
This person was dressed in very grandly. It was obvious that he was not a servant.
According to what she knew, a wealthy family like this was very strict. A male servant probably would not be allowed to enter the inner courtyard.
Just as she was hesitating and wondering who he was, she saw that the man in white was gazing fiercely at her. He glanced at Chu Nanzhi, her daughter and Deputy Sun in an extremely hostile manner and scolded the two maids sternly,
"Who are these people? Why did you bring them to Brother Yan's courtyard?"
"Brother Yan?"
Chu Nanzhi was confused.
Neither the dossier, Magistrate Hu, or Deputy Sun had mentioned that Young Master Zhao had an older brother.
However, after thinking about it carefully, she felt that it was understandable. After all, this had been treated as a missing person case right from the start. There was no reason to investigate their family affairs.
Perhaps he was an illegitimate child or something. If she asked too much, it would be an invasion of privacy and might offend them.
Without waiting for the maids to answer, Deputy Sun immediately explained to the man respectfully,
"I'm the deputy county magistrate. This lady and I have been instructed by the County Magistrate to investigate the case."
The two maids quickly explained, "This is our Second Young Master, Young Master's cousin."
So he was a cousin. He was neither a biological brother or an illegitimate child.
Chu Nanzhi was about to ask something else when she heard Second Master Zhao shout fiercely,
"Why aren't you tracing the bandits who captured my brother? What are you doing in our inner courtyard?"
The maids wwere so frightened that they turned pale. They replied anxiously, "The Master's specially instructed us to bring the Deputy Magistrate and Madam Chu here."
"Madam Chu?"
Second Master Zhao rolled his eyes disdainfully at Chu Nanzhi and Lin Ruijia.
"It's fine if the county deputy is investigating the case, but who is this Madam Chu? Is she here to join in the fun? She even brought her child. Does she really think just anyone can come and go in the Zhao Mansion?"
Deputy Sun immediately introduced them, "This Madam Chu is the woman who helped the county solve the tax case a few days ago. The county magistrate specially invited her and her daughter to help find the Young Master."
Little Ruijia heard him being addressed as 'Second Young Master' and found it annoying. She deliberately made a face at him.
"You…"
Second Master Zhao grew angry. He glared at the mother and daughter and scolded them.
"All kinds of strange things happen in this day and age. A woman doesn't stay at home to take care of her husband and children, but shows her face in public. How shameless."
With that, he waved them aside angrily and left.
After Second Master Zhao left, the older of the two maids hurriedly apologized to Chu Nanzhi.
"Our Second Master has been quite grieved by the disappearance of our Young Master. He was in a bad mood and was rude to my Lord and you. Please forgive him."
Chu Nanzhi shook her head magnanimously to show that she did not mind.
Lin Jinhong was a selfish and heartless person, but if something happened to him, Lin Jinxiao would be heartbroken. It was understandable that Second Master Zhao was concerned about his brother's safety.
However, she was a little puzzled and asked the two maids, "Since your Second Master is Young Master's cousin, why are they staying in this courtyard together?"
"Madam, you might not know this, but Second Master is the only son of my master's younger brother. Back then, his father followed my master everywhere and died at sea. At that time, Second Master was only six months old. His mother could not withstand the pain of losing her husband and died not long after. My master and Old Madam Zhao have raised Second Master since he was young. Master has always treated him as a biological son, so he naturally lives in the inner courtyard."
After the older maid said that, she pointed to a single courtyard in the east. "That's Second Master's courtyard."
"I see."
Chu Nanzhi nodded and smiled. "It seems like Elder Zhao really loves his family."
Deputy Sun frowned and stroked his mustache. "I've heard that Elder Zhao has a younger brother, but I didn't know that he had a nephew."
The maid explained patiently, "Second Master has lived in seclusion since he moved to Luyan Harbor with our master. He seldom interacts with outsiders. It's not surprising that you haven't heard of him."
The younger maid pouted and added resentfully, "It's better that no one knows. Someone as rich and famous as my master is often a target for the envious. Our Young Master is a living example. There's still no news of him."
"That's true."
Deputy Sun agreed. He glanced at Chu Nanzhi meaningfully and smiled wrly.
"Madam Chu, this cousin is well known among the rich young men of Luyan Harbor. Even the county magistrate shows him some respect."
Chu Nanzhi only replied with a wry smile. She deliberately avoided his question.
Luyan Harbor was the richest region in Pingning Prefecture. There were countless gentry and wealthy families, so it was not strange for there to be a few playboys.
As for Hu Maoxi, he was not corrupt, but he was greedy.
But at least he did not exploit the people.
All day long, he bowed and scraped to the gentry and wealthy people. Since he accepted their money, he naturally had to extend his courtesy to them.
After some thought, she said to Deputy Sun, "Deputy Sun, let's go inside and take a look."
"Yes."
They entered Young Master Zhao's courtyard.
Although Young Master Zhao had been missing for many days, the courtyard was still spotlessly clean. It looked extremely comfortable.
Chu Nanzhi, the county deputy and the rest first sized up the courtyard.
The main building faced the courtyard door and was flanked by wings on either side.
The maids lived in the wings. On the night of the incident, the maids had not heard any movement in the main room, which meant that the person who had killed the Young Master was no an ordinary servant. At the very least, he must be very close to the Young Master so that the latter was not on his guard.
As she thought about it, she went straight to the main room to take a look.
The room had been carefully furnished. Antique calligraphy, paintings, and authentic works from well known artists filled the room. It could apparent how much his family loved him.
What puzzled Chu Nanzhi was that this was just a ten-year-old child. Why would he need all these?
She did not ask further. The older maid hurriedly and sincerely started praising the Young Master.
"My Young Master is very smart and loves to read. He started copying Elder Chang's calligraphy at the age of four. Even Elder Nie once praised my Young Master for his talent. Both he and Elder Chang promised to take on my Young Master as their disciple when he's older. That's why the Master has been collecting these famous treasures for my Young Master over the years."
"Um!"
If Elder Nie and Elder Chang appreciated him, then at the very least, he must be a filial and kind boy.
That's what Chu Nanzhi thought.