Volume One: Unrecognizable Paper Leaves, Wandering Free Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Ruins

The flames were completely extinguished by the second hour after midnight. Several streets nearby had been sealed off by patrolling officers from the Kyoto Prefecture as soon as the fire broke out. With the city under martial law recently, only those who had hurried over to help fight the fire were present; there were no crowds of onlookers.

More than a dozen prefecture officers had joined in battling the blaze. Once the fire was out, their first task was to search for any victims who might have perished in the inferno. Unlike local officers, the Kyoto Prefecture’s men were well-trained, and during this period of martial law, such a major fire required cautious handling.

Though the great fire was out, the ruined walls and shattered tiles still smoldered with wisps of smoke. After the flames had died, Chief Steward Qiu quickly joined Manager Xu to check the pawnshop’s staff. The Qi family’s pawnshop was sizeable; including Manager Xu, there were eleven employees between the front and back rooms, but tonight only five were on duty. Manager Xu himself oversaw the front hall, while the other four guarded the back storeroom.

The pawnshop stored many items pawned and redeemed, as well as some cash. A shortage of silver had forced them to stop accepting new pawns a few days earlier, but to prevent disappointing loyal customers, the remaining silver was kept on hand just in case. No matter how dire the situation at the Marquis of Brocade’s residence, this money could not be transferred elsewhere—for a pawnshop, trust was paramount, and refusing regular clients was unthinkable.

Among the debris, several iron chests containing silver were found intact, allowing them to pinpoint the storeroom's location. Aside from the silver and a handful of fireproof items, most other goods stored had been consumed by the flames.

Yang Ning followed Chief Steward Qiu through the wreckage of the pawnshop, his expression grave.

“Master, most of the pawnshop’s goods have been destroyed,” Chief Steward Qiu said, searching the ruins with two others and forcing a wry smile. “The exact losses are unclear since the account books were burned, but it must be considerable. Fortunately, the staff are all unharmed—a small mercy amid disaster.”

Yang Ning said little; even without Qiu’s words, he knew the fire had dealt the Marquis’s household a heavy blow.

“Master, Manager Xu believes the fire started in the back storeroom,” Qi Feng reported, having come from the rear. “He said he heard shouting from the courtyard late at night. When he checked, he found the back storeroom ablaze and hurried over. The fire had already taken hold and spread quickly. He joined the night staff in fighting the flames, but they couldn’t contain it alone, so they sent for more help as they battled the fire.”

“Where were the account books kept?” Yang Ning asked.

Qi Feng replied, “They were kept in the cabinet. Manager Xu was in a rush to fight the fire and didn’t retrieve them in time. By the time he thought of it, the cabinet was already burning. He tried to salvage the books, but the flames were too intense, and the staff held him back.” He added, “Chen San confirmed the fire began in the storeroom. They had no keys, and when the fire broke out, Manager Xu arrived quickly.”

“So, the fire started inside the storeroom?”

“All of them said so,” Qi Feng answered. “The staff’s night quarters are right beside the back storeroom, and they take turns patrolling through the night.”

Yang Ning furrowed his brow. “If the fire started in the storeroom, how did it ignite?” He turned to Chief Steward Qiu. “Who holds the keys to the storeroom?”

Chief Steward Qiu answered, “The storeroom is the most crucial part of the pawnshop; even Manager Xu cannot open it alone. It is sealed tightly, with no windows, only a double-locked door for entry. Manager Xu and Steward Lu each have a key to one lock; only both keys together can open it.”

“Where is Steward Lu?”

“He and Manager Xu alternate night shifts,” Qiu explained. “Tonight was Steward Lu’s night off, so Manager Xu was on duty. After closing, no one should have been able to enter the storeroom.”

Yang Ning said, “That’s odd. No one could enter, yet the fire started inside. That’s almost supernatural.”

Chief Steward Qiu frowned. “The storeroom is never opened at night, and bringing fire inside is strictly forbidden. There should be no way for a fire to start within.”

“Who discovered it first?” Yang Ning mused and finally asked.

Qi Feng quickly replied, “Chen San. He was on patrol, checked the premises, then went to the latrine. When he returned, the storeroom was already ablaze, and the fire spread incredibly fast. He woke the others and alerted Manager Xu. By the time Manager Xu arrived, the storeroom was engulfed.”

Chief Steward Qiu snapped, “How could Chen San be so careless? Doesn’t he know the storeroom must never be left unattended?”

Qi Feng said nothing, and Yang Ning thought it was pointless to argue over such matters now.

“So, the fire broke out while Chen San was at the latrine,” Yang Ning mused. “A trip to the latrine wouldn’t take long. When he returned, the others were still asleep, meaning no one would have brought a lamp into the storeroom.”

Chief Steward Qiu shook his head. “Without the keys, entry is impossible. All the staff have been here at least three or four years; they know the rules and would never make such a mistake. In fact, when I locked the storeroom earlier today, I inspected it thoroughly—there was no fire source within. I watched as the door was locked.”

“You were here this afternoon?” Yang Ning asked.

“The deadline for the loan at the money house is tomorrow,” Qiu said, his brow furrowed. “The Third Lady sent me to check if any pawns had been redeemed, so we could transfer some silver. I inspected the storeroom to see if any could be sent to the manor.”

Chief Steward Qiu was the chief administrator for the Marquis of Brocade’s household. Yang Ning already knew that Qiu’s father had served the old Marquis, managing various affairs with exemplary order. Qiu himself had assisted his father and, after his father’s retirement, took over the role, continuing to manage the household diligently.

The Marquis’s two shops—a pharmacy and a pawnshop—had always prospered. While Lady Gu Qinghan oversaw them from behind the scenes, as a woman and family member, she avoided public attention, so Qiu handled many practical matters.

Yang Ning nodded slightly. “Chief Steward Qiu, were there any highly flammable items like sulfur in the storeroom?”

Chief Steward Qiu shook his head. “Absolutely not. The pharmacy has sulfur, but the pawnshop storeroom contains none of those things.” He asked, “Master, do you think the fire could have started spontaneously inside the storeroom?”

“If not, I can’t imagine how anyone could have entered to set the fire,” Yang Ning sighed. “Unless someone passed through the walls.”

Chief Steward Qiu’s expression grew grave, thoughtful.

Qi Feng finally spoke. “Master, the staff would never commit arson. They are all loyal old hands of the Marquis’s household. My only worry is...”

“What?”

“I fear someone took advantage and set the fire,” Qi Feng hesitated, but finally said, “Perhaps an enemy of the Marquis’s household wants to sabotage the pawnshop.”

Chief Steward Qiu nodded slightly. “Qi Feng speaks sense. Master, the General was upright and may have offended some people. Now, just after his passing, the pawnshop is mysteriously burned. It is possible that enemies are behind this.”

“Oh?” Yang Ning’s brows knitted. “Enemies?” He looked at the two of them. “You both believe someone set the fire deliberately?”

Qi Feng nodded. “It’s highly likely; otherwise, the fire is inexplicable.”

Yang Ning said nothing. Hands clasped behind his back, he wandered through the shattered remains, then suddenly stopped, crouched, and pressed his hand to the ground, sniffing his fingers. As Qi Feng approached, Yang Ning moved to another spot and crouched again.

“Master, have you discovered something?” Qi Feng asked softly.

Yang Ning stood and shook his head. “Nothing.” Just then, a commotion sounded behind him. Turning, he saw a crowd had gathered nearby. Manager Xu and Gu Qinghan were surrounded, with Duan Canghai standing beside Gu Qinghan, his expression cold and vigilant.

Yang Ning saw the group’s aggressive demeanor and his face darkened as he strode over. He heard someone say, “Third Lady, we all know you manage the Marquis’s household now. We’ve always respected the Marquis and mean no offense, but after such a disaster, we must speak out. The fire started in your pawnshop. I can’t speak for others, but our shop was burned to ashes, and my family’s livelihood depended on it. We ask for your guidance.”

“Who can deny it?” someone else sighed. “Your household is wealthy—one finger thicker than our waists. Losing a shop means little to you, but for us, it’s skin and blood. We respect the Marquis—he has just passed, and we don’t want to bring shame to the household. If it can be resolved privately, there’s no need to involve the authorities.”

Several others lamented loudly. Yang Ning realized at once that, in such a short time, the families whose shops had been affected had already gathered.