In ancient societies lacking high-tech aids, the most basic and effective way to solve a case, besides investigating the scene, was to conduct interviews.
After all, the eyes of the public are the best surveillance.
Jiang Shouzhong first had the Capital government officials round up everyone who had been at the Yunchu Gambling House during the timeframe from the end of the zi hour last night to the beginning of the yin hour, to have their statements recorded and interrogate them.
He then dispatched some people to inquire among the residents of Laoyanzi Street near the Daoist temple and the night watchmen, to see if they had heard anything suspicious last night.
He, along with Lu Renjia and Zhang Yunwu, went to investigate at Ge Dasheng's residence.
Ge Dasheng lived in Antai Alley.
This alley was located in a more secluded area of the outer city, adjacent to the Beggar Gang's stronghold, Haijia Bay.
Compared to other bustling areas, the living conditions here were quite poor, with an aggregation of idle people from the lower strata of society, and security was relatively worse.
Especially after the snow melted, the pitted streets were filled with mud pits and filth.
The houses were mostly made of bricks, timber, and thatch. Several dilapidated shops lined the street, their thresholds mottled, emitting a faint air of gloom.
Occasionally, a few barks from dogs echoed down the alley, making the entire street seem more desolate.
"Achoo!"
Walking on the muddy road, Lu Renjia sneezed and vigorously rubbed his nose, muttering under his breath, "Damn, I really hate coming to places like this."
The alley official leading the way forced a smile:
"After all, the people living here are filthy, so some odor is inevitable. Sometimes, the smelly rats from the Beggar Gang come here to burrow and fence stolen goods, making the smell even worse."
While they were talking, about a dozen children gathered around them.
"Sir, can we have some food?"
"Sir, I'm hungry."
"Even a little money would do."
"..."
Dressed in tattered clothes, each child held a broken bowl, most of them under ten years old. Their hands were chilblained in this harsh cold weather.
"Go away, get lost!"
The official waved his hands impatiently to disperse the children.
Zhang Yunwu felt compassion but just as he was about to take a few copper coins from his pocket, Lu Renjia grabbed his arm.
Lu Renjia glanced at the tightly closed houses beside the street and whispered, "If we give them anything, we won't be able to leave. Handling the matter at hand is more important, let's be charitable some other day when we're free."
Zhang Yunwu was confused and turned towards Jiang Shouzhong.
Often, he followed Jiang Shouzhong's advice.
Because his mother had once said that he was not the brightest bulb and easily overlooked the obvious, but following Jiang would prevent him from losing his way.
Jiang Shouzhong did not respond but observed the surroundings with his sharp eyes, as if searching for something.
Seeing this, Zhang Yunwu gave up the idea.
Just then, a luxurious carriage slowly drove down from the other end of the street, catching their attention.
The carriage was made of high-quality cherry wood, with spokes cleverly inlaid with gold wire, exuding wealth. It shone brilliantly under the bright sunlight.
Four female bodyguards followed the carriage.
The appearance of such a luxurious carriage in such a dirty and dilapidated alley was particularly incongruous.
The children, seeing the carriage, swarmed around it like wolf cubs sniffing the scent of blood.
"Come back!"
Suddenly, a low voice commanded from a half-open broken house on the right.
The children stopped, taken aback, and obediently returned.
"It's from Silver Moon Tower."
The alley official's face tensed, and he hastily pulled the three to the side.
Lu Renjia's face changed.
In the Capital, who hadn't heard of "Silver Moon Tower?"
In heaven and on earth, only the Silver Moon prevails.
As the largest underground power in the Capital, its master in the background could even be called an "emperor" underneath the Emperor's feet, indicating its profound background and formidable influence.
Silver Moon Tower was involved in both legitimate and illicit businesses, its presence spread throughout the entire Dazhou Dynasty.
Both underworld and lawful circles had to give it some respect.
The carriage wheels rolled over the slush, slowly passing in front of the four individuals with Jiang Shouzhong.
The bone-chilling aura emanating from the four female guards gave an oppressive feeling of intangible suffocation.
One of the guards, dressed in black, swept a cold and stern gaze over Jiang Shouzhong and the others, scrutinizing them for a few seconds before withdrawing her intimidating look.
Lu Renjia was especially tense, not daring to breathe heavily.
A cold wind brushed by.
The golden tassels on the edge of the carriage's curtain swayed lightly.
Jiang Shouzhong glanced upward.
He only caught a glimpse of half of a delicate, snowy neck inside the carriage, which appeared and vanished briefly, its skin creamy and flawless.
Watching the luxurious carriage of the Emperor's family depart, the head official of Antai Alley wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and led Jiang Shouzhong and the others to a dilapidated little house.
"Gentlemen, this is Ge Dasheng's house."
The official, still pale from shock, clearly exhibited the extent of his fear towards the Silver Moon Tower.
Jiang Shouzhong observed the house, its walls marked with cracks.
A tattered cloth curtain, whose color was indistinguishable, hung on the door, fluttering in the chilling wind.
Pushing the door open, a foul musty smell hit them.
"Geez, the holes that the rats made in Old Jia's house don't stink as much as this dump," Lu Renjia commented, holding his nose as he tore down the rotting cloth curtain to air out the stale smell.
The official chuckled: "This guy is nothing but a gambler. He spends more time in the gambling house than at home."
Jiang Shouzhong waited for the smell to dissipate a bit before entering the house.
The interior was dimly lit.
Aside from a few scattered personal belongings, there was hardly any decent furniture, just an old bed in the corner.
The bedclothes were dirty and disordered, not attended to for a long time.
Jiang Shouzhong scrutinized the tiny room and casually asked, "Has anyone else been to Ge Dasheng's house these past few days?"
The official shook his head, "I'm not sure about that. Shall I go ask the neighbors?"
Jiang Shouzhong waved his hand, "Zhang, go with him."
"Alright."
Zhang Yunwu responded and left with the official.
Lu Renjia, one foot still on the threshold, gazed in the direction where the carriage had disappeared, frowning and muttering, "That Silver Moon Tower carriage might have had some big shot inside, no clue why they'd come to such a filthy place."
"Let's just focus on our own task. Why bother with so much else?"
Seeing that he was still craning his neck, Jiang Shouzhong kicked him on the backside, "Stop looking. Carefully search the house for any clues."
Lu Renjia glared, "Why don't you search? It's not like you don't have hands."
Jiang Shouzhong pointed at his own forehead, annoyed, "Don't you see I'm busy? How about you handle the case and I run around for you?"
"Just say it if you think it's dirty. Who the hell can't think?"
Though Lu Renjia cursed under his breath, he still dutifully searched the dirty, chaotic room.
No choice, he indeed wasn't as clever as the other.
After turning the house upside down without finding a single useful clue, Jia, covered in a musty stench, started complaining again.
About the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zhang Yunwu and the official returned.
Zhang Yunwu, scraping off the slush from his shoes before entering the house, reported, "These past two days, only He Daya came here, nobody else."
Unable to stand the stench inside any longer, Jiang Shouzhong walked out of the little house and asked Zhang Yunwu, "Who is He Daya?"
"He's another gambler."
The official explained, "His wife hanged herself last year, leaving only a daughter. This guy used to be on good terms with Ge Dasheng; they often gambled together until they fell out."
"Where does he live?"
"Also in Antai Alley, not far from here."
Jiang Shouzhong gently patted off some dust that had clung to Zhang Yunwu's sleeve, looked back at the shabby little house, and after a moment of thought, said to the official, "Take us there."
…
This residential area was crisscrossed with tangled, filthy alleys.
Turning past two dirty, narrow lanes, the group arrived at He Daya's residence only to be shocked to see the luxurious carriage of the Silver Moon Tower, now parked in front of the courtyard gate.
Men's pleading shrieks of agony echoed from within the courtyard.