Tan Xiuying's skepticism lingered as she questioned his identity. Her expression was a mix of curiosity and suspicion as she continued, "Master Zhu, your tale is very strange. A swordsman and merchant who is helping a friend look into thefts from the palace? Not many people walk that way. I can't help but wonder if you're hiding something about your background. Are you truly who you claim to be, or do you have other identities hidden beneath the surface?"
Ignoring the question about his own identity, Zhu Longwei steered the conversation toward the theft case and the allegations against Tan Xiuying.
"Let's talk about this with a clear head," he said in a calm tone. "I'm helping a friend look into a big theft that happened not long ago. From what I've learned so far, I still don't know who the thief is. I've looked into different options by talking to a few people."
