Encountering three at night

  "Yes," replied Qiao Yan. Wei Chi Hong didn't find this question strange, she was a member of the Qiao family and now stood just a few steps away from the Qiao residence.

  Wei Chi Hong's eyes revealed a hint of inquiry, "So, you are the descendant of Qiao Xian Xi?"

  Qiao Yan nodded.

  After the defeat of Jiawu, Taiwan was ceded to Japan at the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Qiao Xianxi, who was then the Minister of Colonization and Development in Taiwan, moved his family to the island and bought a British-style villa. Around 1917, Qiao Xianxi's son, Qiao Zhi (also known as Qiao Yan's great-grandfather), built another villa next to the original one and connected the two buildings with a corridor, which was collectively known as the Qiao Family Mansion. The two villas were referred to as the "Big House" and the "Small House". The Big House had fallen into disrepair over time, and it was the Small House that had been renovated and where Qiao Yan and her sister Qiao Ran now lived. Chen Ashow, the granddaughter of the old caretaker of the Qiao Family Mansion, had always lived there and took care of the daily lives of the two sisters after they moved in.

  "Didn't you just ask me if I wanted to go home and have a cup of coffee? Does that invitation still stand?"

  Qiao Yan was taken aback, this was her warning to the stalker, but Wei Chi Hong took it as an excuse to enter. However, she quickly smiled in response, "Of course, Captain Branch is visiting my humble abode, I'm honored."

  Wei Chi Hong strode forward, his long legs eating up the distance. Qiao Yan could only run to keep up with him, and it seemed as though Wei Chi Hong was the master of the Qiao estate. She panted softly and muttered, "This is simply inexplicable!"

  Qiao Yan's voice was very low, but Wei Chi Hong apparently heard it, his footsteps paused for a moment, then slowed down, slowly approaching the gate of the Qiao family mansion.

  Qiao Yan took the key and opened the door, leading Wei Chi Hong through the garden to her residence, a small building also known as "Eight-Cornered Building". The five-story building was designed by French people and got its name because of its eight-sided rhombus exterior wall. Wei Chi Hong seemed very interested in everything around him, constantly looking around.

  "You seem very interested in my family," Qiao Yan couldn't help but say.

  "It's indeed very interesting," Wei Chi Hong frankly admitted, "I've heard many stories about the Zhao Manor, but hearing is not as good as seeing, and today I finally have the chance to enter and visit."

  "What's the story?" Qiao Yan quietly examined Wei Chi Hong, she really wanted to know what kind of purpose this cold-faced superior had in entering her subordinate's home on their first meeting.

  He pointed to a small door on one side of the garden, which was sealed with cement. "That little door was dug out by your great-grandfather Qiao Zhi when his sixth concubine was critically ill. According to custom, the coffin of a concubine could not be carried out through the front door, only through a side or back door. But the garden had no back door, so your great-grandfather ordered the butler to arrange for workers to dig a small door overnight. However, when the little door was suddenly opened, the sixth concubine miraculously recovered, leaving behind this rare physical evidence of the unbridgeable gap between wives and concubines in the old days."

  Qiao Yan was stunned, this story, she only heard Aunt Ai Xiu mention it after returning this time, even Hong Bingwei, a historian who has explored the history of the Qiao family, did not mention it in the chapter on the Qiao family mansion in his book "Visiting Old Villas on Zhuolu Island". How did Wei Huchong know so clearly?

  Qiao Yan and Wei Chi Hong entered the living room one after another, Qiao Yan's sister Qiao Ran heard the sound and ran out, seeing Wei Chi Hong, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes, "Sister, who is this..."

  "This is our police team leader, Mr. Wei Hóng", Qiao Yan introduced to her sister.

  Qiao Ran was four years younger than Qiao Yan, with a clear and elegant appearance, and a gentle and delicate temperament. Her two eyes stared straight at Wei Chi Hong, as if searching for something on his face.

  Wei Chi Hong was stared at by her until he felt very uneasy, lightly shrugged his shoulders and left the original place.