Tortoiseshell cats are also known as "Rolling Brocade."
These cats usually have three fur colors: black, white, and yellow.
However, the one before them only had two colors, black and yellow, haphazardly distributed over its body, making it look rather messy.
Such a coat pattern is considered excellent among tortoiseshell cats.
This cat looked adorably ugly, and as soon as it saw Dr. Fang, it meowed incessantly.
Its voice sounded a bit hoarse, not as high-pitched as Li Xuan's when he was being affectionate.
Dr. Fang quickly squatted down, scooped the tortoiseshell cat into his arms, and said with great affection:
"Gray Gray, I'm home."
"Did you take good care of the house?"
When speaking to Gray Gray, Dr. Fang's tone couldn't help but rise slightly.
Gray Gray meowed in his hoarse voice, responding to Dr. Fang's words.
However, seeing so many strangers suddenly appear in the house today, it couldn't help but curl up in Dr. Fang's arms, a little scared.
But its curious large eyes still couldn't resist secretly observing Ankang and Li Xuan in her arms.
"Dr. Fang, I didn't expect you to keep a cat too."
Ankang said with some surprise.
Dr. Fang smiled slightly, then explained, "It's not really me raising Gray Gray."
"Gray Gray usually catches mice to eat by himself, and he doesn't need me to prepare food for him."
"If we're being precise, Gray Gray and I should be considered roommates."
Li Xuan also looked at Gray Gray in Dr. Fang's arms with curiosity, meowed once, and greeted him.
However, Gray Gray just looked at Li Xuan curiously and didn't respond.
"This guy seems to have some social anxiety."
Li Xuan thought to himself.
Ankang's eyes immediately lit up, and she placed Li Xuan on the ground, allowing him to move freely.
Dr. Fang saw this and couldn't help but remind her:
"Miss, your cat also looks very precious. It's best to hold him here."
"If he gets lost around here, it will be very difficult to find him again."
Ankang smiled slightly:
"Dr. Fang, don't worry, Li Xuan is very well-behaved and won't run far."
Seeing the other party say this, Dr. Fang didn't try to persuade her further.
After Dr. Fang spoke a few words to Gray Gray while holding him, he let him go.
After all, he was in front of guests, and holding a cat the whole time wouldn't look very good.
As the host, he still needed to observe some rules of hospitality.
After Gray Gray was put down, he didn't leave immediately but hid at Dr. Fang's feet.
Li Xuan seized the opportunity, pressed forward step by step, and quickly got close to Gray Gray.
Gray Gray timidly buried his head, not daring to meet Li Xuan's aggressive gaze.
Seeing how easily intimidated he was, Li Xuan's courage couldn't help but grow a little.
Meanwhile, Dr. Fang and Ankang also began to converse.
Dr. Fang found it a bit strange that he had merely returned Li Xuan yesterday.
Was it necessary for the other party to personally visit for such a small matter?
Judging by Ankang's attire and the guards beside her, it was clear she was not from an ordinary family.
If such a person had no important business, why would she condescend to come to such a place?
"Miss, your visit today is probably not just to thank me for saving your cat, is it?"
"If there is anything else, please speak freely."
Dr. Fang was quite straightforward.
Ankang didn't dally either and asked directly:
"Dr. Fang, what do you know about last night's fire?"
"So it's about that."
Dr. Fang couldn't help but give a wry smile and shook his head.
"I've already told the constables and the Hou family several times today."
"But if Miss is interested, I don't mind repeating it."
"Last night, I received a message from Hu Yu House and went out for an emergency consultation."
"When I arrived, I found out that the patient was actually Lord Hou, Hou Chi Si, the third young master of the Hou family."
"He was affected by the explosion, with numerous burns on his body and varying degrees of internal shock, making his condition critical."
"After I provided as much emergency treatment as possible, I prepared to take my leave."
"However, Steward Fan of the Hou family forcibly kept me, making me stay in the room next to Lord Hou's, to be at his beck and call."
"Then, in the middle of the night, I heard some commotion from next door."
"By the time I left my room to check, I saw that Lord Hou's room was already on fire."
"Steward Fan had just rushed out from inside and immediately organized the Hou family's servants and the Hu Yu House's staff to help put out the fire."
"But the fire couldn't be extinguished, and there was a strange smell."
"Although I warned Steward Fan at the time, they were too anxious to save their master then to listen to me."
"Seeing that the situation was not right, I was about to leave when I happened to meet this Little Black Cat. The rest of the story, Miss, you should already know."
"I heard that the fire was extinguished by your guard."
Dr. Fang stopped speaking at this point and silently looked at the Flower-Clad Eunuchs' leader standing at the doorway.
Although this person looked to be about his age, Dr. Fang knew that the expert who extinguished the fire was very likely this person.
When Dr. Fang returned Li Xuan last night, it was the Flower-Clad Eunuchs' leader who received him.
Although the lighting was poor at the time, Dr. Fang still found this person familiar.
Because the aura emanating from the other party was simply too distinctive.
Ankang listened to Dr. Fang's words, pondered for a moment, and then continued to ask:
"Then where did Dr. Fang go after leaving the fire scene?"
"I remember not seeing you on the first floor last night."
Although the fire in Third Young Master Hou's room was extinguished by the Flower-Clad Eunuchs' leader, they had to go downstairs to take shelter because of the toxic gases produced by the fire.
But after arriving on the first floor, just as Ankang said, they did not see any trace of Dr. Fang.
This remained true for a long time afterward.
By the time they saw Dr. Fang again, it was already the next morning.
At that time, the constables were questioning the guests inside Hu Yu House.
And Dr. Fang happened to be among them.
Upon hearing Ankang's question, Dr. Fang couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and reveal a smile:
"Is Miss perhaps suspecting me?"
Ankang smiled slightly, shook her head, and said:
"Just a little curious, Dr. Fang, please don't misunderstand."
"Actually, it's fine to suspect me. I, Fang, act uprightly and sit properly, with a clear conscience."
"Last night, after I went downstairs, I found a room in the backyard of Hu Yu House to rest."
"Because I have patients to see today, I needed to get good rest."
"The backyard?"
Ankang's expression showed some confusion.
Although Hu Yu House was just a brothel, could outsiders freely enter and exit a place like the backyard?
Dr. Fang seemed to have noticed Ankang's confusion and explained:
"Miss may not know, but I often make house calls on this Flower Street, so I'm quite familiar with everyone."
"Last night, I borrowed a place where the pimp rested and slept. I wasn't woken up until this morning. I suppose too much happened last night, leaving them no time to come back and rest."
Ankang thought about it and felt that Dr. Fang's explanation made sense.
However, if it was truly as he said, that no one came to wake him until he woke up in the morning.
In that case, it's likely that no one could prove he indeed slept there last night and didn't go anywhere else until this morning.
And while Dr. Fang and Ankang were conversing, Li Xuan had already become familiar with Gray Gray.
Gray Gray still preferred to stay in the corner, but he no longer resisted Li Xuan approaching him.
Li Xuan immediately struck while the iron was hot, inquiring for information from Gray Gray.
Gray Gray was initially quite socially anxious; he only answered what Li Xuan asked him.
And because Gray Gray's intelligence was limited, the answers he sometimes gave were ambiguous.
But that was actually enough, and as Li Xuan communicated more and more with Gray Gray, Gray Gray became more and more willing to proactively share information.
Even if Li Xuan didn't ask, Gray Gray would ramble on about what he wanted to say.
"This guy, once he gets familiar, he's a chatterbox too."
Through his communication with Gray Gray, Li Xuan learned a lot about Dr. Fang.
Dr. Fang is a good person; he is very kind to Gray Gray and always takes good care of him.
About a few years ago, Gray Gray couldn't remember the exact time.
At that time, he was a stray cat in an alley.
At that time, a few people tried to catch him to eat his meat. Although Gray Gray successfully escaped in the end, he suffered serious injuries.
For a stray cat, injury actually means a slow death.
Not every cat is as lucky as Cat Overlord, who can endure such severe injuries.
The severely injured Gray Gray, disheartened, found a corner and prepared to die.
But he was discovered by a girl and then brought to Dr. Fang.
At that time, Gray Gray no longer had the strength to resist and could only let the other party do as they pleased with him.
At that time, Gray Gray still didn't trust humans, after all, his injuries were caused by humans.
But later, Gray Gray discovered that humans could be both good and bad.
Just like the stray cats in their alley.
He was lucky; at least the girl and Dr. Fang he met were good people.
After Gray Gray's injuries were healed, he stayed at Dr. Fang's medical clinic.
That girl would also come to visit him from time to time. Gray Gray later learned the girl's name: Qianqian.
"It's a very nice name, isn't it?"
Gray Gray seemed to be showing off his treasure, boasting about the name to Li Xuan.
However, Gray Gray then regretfully said that Qianqian hadn't come to see him for a long time, and Gray Gray hoped Qianqian would come to see him, as he missed the girl who saved him very much.
Li Xuan asked Gray Gray how long it had been since Qianqian came to see him.
Gray Gray remembered this time very clearly.
He said it had been over a month.
Hearing this, Li Xuan had a bold guess.
He silently turned his gaze towards Dr. Fang, his expression somewhat complex.
At this moment, Ankang had already asked all the questions she could; continuing to ask would seem impolite.
Moreover, they had already taken up a lot of Dr. Fang's time.
Of course, the main reason was that Ankang saw Li Xuan and Gray Gray getting along splendidly, meowing back and forth, chatting happily.
Ankang understood that the answers she couldn't get, Li Xuan had probably already found out.
After Ankang shamelessly lingered for a while longer, seeing Li Xuan signal to her, she apologized to Dr. Fang for their sudden visit and then said she was preparing to leave.
Dr. Fang had long been waiting for them to take their leave. Now that he heard this, why would he try to make them stay?
This time, he learned his lesson and no longer feigned politeness, simply escorting them to the door and telling them to be careful on their way back.
Li Xuan jumped back into Ankang's arms, then, under the protection of the Flower-Clad Eunuchs, silently walked out of the alley and returned to the bustling Flower Street.
It was daytime, and the brothels on Flower Street seemed a bit deserted, but there were vendors doing small businesses on the street, and their businesses were booming, maintaining the vitality of Flower Street.
Whether day or night, this street was the liveliest street in the East Market.
Returning to Flower Street, they felt as if a lifetime had passed.
Who would have thought that with just a few dozen meters separating them, the two worlds could be so vastly different?
Perhaps, apart from those who had lived in the East Market for many years, no one would know that such a dark alley was hidden within.
After arriving on Flower Street, Ankang asked Li Xuan:
"Li Xuan, I saw you talking to that Little Black Cat for a long time just now. Did you find out anything?"
How could Li Xuan disappoint Ankang's expectations?
He immediately flicked his tail, writing and drawing on Ankang's hand, telling her all the information he had gathered from Gray Gray earlier.
"Xixi."
Ankang softly murmured the name, then asked Li Xuan:
"According to Gray Gray, this girl named Xixi hasn't visited her for over a month. Could something have happened to her?"
Li Xuan believed that Ankang had reached a similar conclusion, but they currently had no evidence and could not jump to conclusions.
"I always feel that Dr. Fang is inextricably linked to this case."
Ankang stroked her chin, feigning a seasoned tone.
Li Xuan also sighed, feeling that the story behind this would not be so simple.
"It's just, who exactly is this Xixi?"
"Could she be a girl from Flower Street?"
Ankang, relying on her intuition, believed that this newly emerged girl must hold more clues.
"Li Xuan, let's investigate this girl named Xixi."
However, upon hearing this, Li Xuan shook his head.
"What's wrong, Li Xuan?"
"Do you have another direction for investigation?"
Ankang asked curiously.
Li Xuan then used his tail to write a few words on Ankang's palm, and Ankang immediately frowned:
"Li Xuan, you're going to find Zhao Four yourself?"
Li Xuan nodded silently.
"Why? Will he also be in danger?"
Ankang immediately thought of this.
To be honest, when Li Xuan saw Zhao Four near the stage explosion site last night, he had also suspected him.
Because his expression at the time seemed off.
But now, thinking about it, Li Xuan felt that there might be another possibility.
Zhao Four might know the reason why Third Young Master Hou was blown up.
Currently, apart from Aymu, who is nowhere to be found, the other individuals involved in this case are relatively easy to approach.
However, this Zhao Four, even if Ankang were to visit him personally, might be turned away.
Unless Ankang proactively revealed her identity, it would be difficult to meet Zhao Four.
Therefore, Li Xuan planned to use his advantage to go alone and see what Zhao Four's situation was like now.
"Alright then, but remember to wait for us in the private room of Hu Yu House after you're done."
"I'll take Yu'er to investigate that girl named Xixi."
"Oh, and it's not convenient for you to inquire on the road, so I'll arrange for someone to go with you."
Saying this, Ankang looked at the leader of the Flower-Clad Eunuchs.
She had seen Li Xuan sitting on his shoulder last night.
"This..."
Ankang thought for a moment, unsure how to address him.
At this moment, the leader of the Flower-Clad Eunuchs timely reported his name.
"Your humble servant, Xu Lang."
Ankang nodded and continued:
"Alright, Xu Lang."
"You accompany Li Xuan on this trip."
Xu Lang had clearly heard Ankang and Li Xuan's conversation from the side, knowing that Li Xuan was going to find Zhao Four now.
Xu Lang looked at a Flower-Clad Eunuchs in the team, temporarily transferring the command of this team, and then accepted Ankang's instructions.
"Your humble servant understands."
Ankang smiled, then released Li Xuan from her embrace, and Li Xuan immediately jumped onto Xu Lang's shoulder.
"We'll meet at Hu Yu House later."
Ankang waved at Li Xuan, then had Yu'er push her towards the nearest brothel; they were now going to inquire about that girl named Xixi.
"Lord Li Xuan, shall we depart now?"
Xu Lang looked at Li Xuan on his shoulder and asked respectfully.
Li Xuan nodded, very satisfied with the sensible Xu Lang.
"Old Zhao certainly has a way of training his subordinates."
He secretly praised him in his heart.
Xu Lang knew that Li Xuan was going to find Zhao Four now.
Xu Lang had heard that young man show off Zhao Four's name and family background before, so he was very clear about it.
The fourth son of the Minister of Revenue, Zhao Gu.
Zhao Four didn't need to ask passersby; upon returning to the Wannian County Government Office, he just said it was Ankang's command, and immediately got Zhao Four's home address.
Coincidentally, Zhao Four's home was in Xuan Yang Ward, where the Wannian County Government Office was located, right next to the East Market.
No wonder this Zhao Four was always playing in the East Market; it turned out to be right on his doorstep.
Xu Lang, with Li Xuan, soon arrived outside the Zhao family residence.
As expected of the Minister of Revenue's mansion, in Xuan Yang Ward, a residential area densely populated by officials, it was considered among the best.
Under Li Xuan's guidance, Xu Lang arrived at a secluded wall of the Zhao family residence.
Li Xuan leaped onto the high wall of the Zhao family residence, then nodded to Xu Lang and jumped inside.
Xu Lang looked left and right, skillfully finding a place to hide and monitoring the vicinity.
...
Li Xuan jumped into the Zhao family residence, landing precisely in a flower bed.
He looked around, and the Zhao family residence had pavilions, terraces, and towers, all complete, looking quite upscale.
"It seems the Minister of Revenue also earns a lot of money."
Li Xuan hid from people inside the Zhao family residence, searching for traces of Zhao Four.
He was now afraid that Zhao Four hadn't returned home yet and was still out wandering.
If that were the case, it would be difficult for Li Xuan to find Zhao Four.
However, Li Xuan hadn't searched for long within the Zhao family residence when he vaguely heard noisy sounds coming from not far away.
When he arrived, he saw a lively scene.
"Xiao Si, Xiao Si..."
"Hurry and open the door. Mother had someone make your favorite roasted suckling pig. Come and try it while it's hot."
Outside a room, a plump middle-aged beautiful woman was knocking on the door, constantly calling out.
Behind her followed a group of servants, carrying a whole roasted suckling pig.
The pig skin was roasted golden, still sizzling with oil, and a fragrant aroma could be smelled from a distance.
Li Xuan took a deep breath, then thought:
"Xiao Si?"
"Is she calling Zhao Four?"
Li Xuan didn't dally, directly circled around, and went onto the roof from the back of the room.
He had just checked; the room's doors and windows were locked, with no place for him to climb in.
Therefore, Li Xuan had no choice but to open a "skylight" on the roof.
After opening the skylight, Li Xuan immediately saw the situation inside the room.
On the bed, a pile of cotton quilts was trembling.
Li Xuan sniffed casually and recognized Zhao Four's scent.
"It's already this late, and this guy is still in bed?"
But then, Zhao Four's words changed Li Xuan's mind.
"Go, all of you, go away. Don't knock on the door anymore."
"Mother, please call all those guards back. I beg you!"
Inside the room, Zhao Four was hiding under the covers, pleading with a crying voice.
Seeing his attitude, Li Xuan's eyes immediately turned cold.
"Xiao Si, what exactly happened?"
"Tell Mother, and Mother will definitely help you find a solution."
The middle-aged beautiful woman outside was coaxing him, still knocking on the door, wanting Zhao Four to come out of the room.
"Go away, go away, all of you, go away!"
"Get as far away from me as possible!!!"
Zhao Four's hysterical voice came from under the covers; just by listening to the sound, one could tell he was terrified.
"This kid indeed has a guilty conscience."
Li Xuan now understood that Zhao Four's reaction after seeing Third Young Master Hou blown up yesterday was actually fear.
"Xiao Si, how can you speak to Mother like that?"
The middle-aged beautiful woman outside actually started crying, wiping her tears with a handkerchief.
As soon as Li Xuan heard this, he knew that Zhao Four's mother was a spoiled young lady who had been pampered all her life.
Just because her son talked back to her a few times, she started crying. This was too fragile.
"What's all this noise in broad daylight!"
At this moment, a majestic voice came.
Li Xuan curiously climbed to the edge of the roof and looked down, only to see a figure dressed in a deep crimson official robe with a gold belt walking quickly.
"My Lord."
Both the middle-aged beautiful woman and the servants bowed in unison.
Li Xuan couldn't help but carefully examine this person.
He should be Zhao Four's father, the Minister of Revenue, Zhao Jingcheng.
Earlier at Cuihua Tower, Zhao Four had revealed his family background.
Zhao Jingcheng's appearance was not bad; he probably was a handsome young master when he was young.
However, the rat whiskers he kept somewhat affected his overall demeanor, making him look a bit shifty-eyed.
But Zhao Jingcheng's whiskers were thin and long, and they stood up slightly, yet they were very sparse.
To grow good-looking whiskers, it also depended a lot on one's natural talent.
Clearly, Zhao Jingcheng was not someone suited for growing whiskers.
Zhao Jingcheng understood the situation immediately upon seeing the scene at the doorway.
"Madam, why bother with him?"
"He must have caused trouble outside again and is now too scared to come out."
"Zhao Gu, why did I give birth to such a coward?"
"You're at home now; who can break in and beat you up?"
"Useless thing!"
Zhao Jingcheng cursed a few times outside the door, then left with his wife, also instructing the servants to send the freshly roasted suckling pig to his room.
It seemed that Zhao Four had not for the first time acted like a coward at home.
Li Xuan returned to observe Zhao Four's reaction, only to hear a trembling voice from under the covers after a long while:
"Father, Mother, this time it's different..."