Detective Agency - Story

Overview • Star Lily Case Files • Moonlit Night Castle • Detective Agency • Mystery of the Vanishing Stele • Secret Whispers of Spring Plains • Phantom Sea

Case Commission[]

Red lanterns swayed slightly,

warm candlelight dyed the carved porch with a hazy orange.

The food on the table was giving off steam,

and the fragrance of plum blossoms wafted in the air.

Nikki and Momo sat excitedly around the table, waiting for the food.

With the crisp sound of bead chains, the hostess placed a food box carved with complicated patterns in front of Nikki. The cover of velvet red cloth added a touch of mystery to the food.

Momo: It is the legendary Plum Blossom Cake! It must be delicious!
Nikki: Momo, how do you know that? you haven't even seen it yet...
Momo: You don't understand. It's my sixth sense!

Momo reached out his short claws to lift the red cloth on the food box. His expectant eyes were focused on the...

'Where is the Plum Blossom Cake?!'

'What happened?!'

The Plum Blossom Cake was missing, only an oddly-shaped plum blossom branch was in the empty box. Who ate it and when?

The light of the full moon fell on the green and black roof tiles, and people in the inn were happily drinking and laughing.

The cold wind blew over the plum blossoms in the Flower Field, the snow on the branches rustled down as a light fall of snow.

The Long Street was decorated with lights, as bright as day, full of bustling colors.

Everything was as peaceful as a dream.

Smart and brave detective,

Welcome to the Feast of Delicacies in the Moon Inn.

The game has begun. Please solve the puzzle and find out the person who ate the Plum Blossom Cake.

Feast of Delicacies[]

(Festival lanterns hung in front of the Moon Inn, and the candles shone through them with warm red light.)
(Outside the inn, there were vendors hawking, street performers shouting and onlookers cheering and applauding, making the lively street bustling forever.)
Momo: Wow! How bustling it is!
(Momo leaned on the window and looked down excitedly.)
Nikki: Probably because the festival is coming?
Momo: It's a pity that I didn't eat the Plum Blossom Cake... Damn, who stole it?
Nikki: This should be the case we are going to investigate today. But I don't know the specific situation.
(The bead chain made a crisp sound, Lu Yinian put aside the curtain of the private room and came in.)
Lu Yinian: Sorry to keep you waiting for so long. There are many guests today. Please forgive my thoughtlessness.
Momo: It's Shopkeeper Lu! She must know what happened!
Nikki: Momo, don't be so hasty... Shopkeeper Lu. there are many guests in the Moon Inn today. Is today a special day?
Lu Yinian: We have dinners with special offers these days. We've invited several famous cloud chefs to make new dishes and many other delicacies, so guests are more than usual.
Momo: I see... What's so special about the Plum Blossom Cake? Is it especially delicious?
(Lu Yinian smiled.)
Lu Yinian: Royal Cloud chefs studied for one year and tried various ingredients before deciding to use sesame, plum blossom and glutinous rice to make it. So its taste is totally different.
Lu Yinian: Plum Blossom Cake has been offered to the royal family as a tribute to the palace. This is the first time it is offered to the public. That's why so many people have flocked here.
Momo: A royal cuisine? No wonder so many people come to try it!
Nikki: Shopkeeper Lu, how many people know the news that Moon Inn will launch new products today?
Lu Yinian: I asked the Mayor of Moonlit City to help me post the notice in the city a few days ago. So I think probably everyone in the city knows the news.
Nikki: When was this Plum Blossom Cake made? Where did you put it before that?
Lu Yinian: The making process is complex, so the chef only made one box and placed it in the kitchen at noon. I didn't know it was gone until I took it out and uncovered the red cloth.
Momo: Someone must have stolen it!
Nikki: What about the plum blossom in the food box?
(Lu Yinian shook her head and asked someone to get the food box.)
(Nikki opened the box which was still covered with the red cloth. Some sesames were scattered on the white plate. A bird-shaped plum blossom branch rested quietly on it.)
Momo: This is... the clue left by the suspect?
Lu Yinian: That's all I know about it. You need to find out the rest. I'll leave this plum branch to you. Hope this helps.
Nikki: OK. but I don't have a clue yet.
Momo: Detective Nikki, you can do it! Find out the person who ate Plum Blossom Cake!
Nikki: You're so excited when talking about food.
Lu Yinian: The kitchen is on the first floor of the backyard of Moon Inn. You can go there and have a look.
Nikki: OK, thank you very much.

Moon Feast[]

Momo: There are so many guests today in the Moon inn... The front hall is full.
Nikki: Well, they must come for the dinner party.
Momo: I don't know what delicious food will be served in the feast... Are there any grilled fishes?
Nikki: Since it is the Feast of Delicacies, there will definitely be a variety of delicious cuisines.
Momo: I'm really looking forward to it...
Nikki: Wipe up your saliva, Momo!
Momo: It's rare for the Moon Inn to be so busy. Nikki, change into a lively and lovely clothes to match the festive atmosphere!!

Fragrance of Tea[]

(Nikki and Momo walked into the backyard and followed the corridor to the kitchen.)
Momo: What a pity, I didn't get the chance to eat the legendary Plum Blossom Cake... I wonder whether the grilled fish made by the cloud chef would taste better than the ordinary one?
Nikki: Don't think about food all the time. The most important thing for us now is to find out the person who stole the cake.
Momo: You're right! Nikki, you must catch the guy who stole the Plum Blossom Cake!
Nikki: OK, I'll try my best. The kitchen should be just around the corner... Eh, hold on.
Momo: Nikki, what's up?
Nikki: Look at the room on the second floor. Is the window facing the kitchen?
(Momo looked up. The carved pearwood window on the second floor is half-open, and a man in a gorgeous suit was sitting by the window. It is indeed opposite to the kitchen)
Momo: Well... Shall we go to that room and ask something first? Maybe we can get some useful clues!
(Nikki and Momo noted the position of the window, then went to the corresponding room on the second floor and knocked on the door.)
(A man's majestic voice came from behind the door.)
Bai Yongxi: Come in, please.
(Nikki opened the door, only to see a man with a solemn face and a gorgeous suit sitting by the window.)
(The faint aroma of tea suffused the room. A set of purple sand ceramic cups were neatly placed in front of the man, who was holding a cup and slowly bringing it to his mouth.)
Momo: Hey, isn't him... Bai Jinjin's elder brother?
Bai Yongxi: I remember you. You are Jinjin's friends.
Nikki: Sorry to bother you. We are here to investigate the missing Plum Blossom Cake.
Bai Yongxi: I've heard about it. But what does it have to do with me?
Nikki: We found that the window of your room is facing the kitchen downstairs, so we want to ask if you have seen any strange people entered or exited the kitchen?
(Bai Yongxi asked Nikki and Momo to sit down by the window, and poured two cups of tea for them.)
(Nikki picked up a cup and took a sip, finding that the tea was rich in flavor with a sweet and mellow after-taste.)
Bai Yongxi: I just checked into this room in the afternoon and have been sitting by this window reading books and drinking tea since then. As to the strangers...
Momo: What stranger did you see?!
Bai Yongxi: At sunset, I saw Zhong Lizi entered the kitchen, and he had stayed there for a long time before coming out. But I didn't see what he did.
Momo: It sounds suspicious... Maybe he’s the person who ate the Plum Blossom Cake!
Nikki: Momo, it's too early to draw a conclusion. We'd better investigate further.
Momo: You're right, Nikki. Let's go!
(Nikki nodded and put down the cup in her hand)
Nikki: Thank you for providing the clue. We have to go to the next place to investigate.
(Bai Yongxi nodded slightly, his looked outside the window coldly on the eaves not far away.)

Special Dinner[]

Nikki: Zhong Lizi's room...should be here.
(Nikki knocked on the door, but found that the door was only half-closed, so she opened it and went in.)
(The room was simple but elegant. A sandalwood square couch could be seen first. A girl was facing the door, leaning against a table on the square couch, reading a book.)
Momo: This is... Bai Jinjin!
(The girl raised her head when she heard the sound. She smiled after seeing Nikki and Momo, and put down the book in her hand.)
Bai Jinjin: Hi, Nikki and Momo. What brings you here?
Nikki: Long time no see, Jinjin. We are here to investigate the missing Plum Blossom Cake.
Bai Jinjin: Is that the royal tribute Plum Blossom Cake?
Momo: Yes, the one that sounds delicious!
Nikki: Hmm, but isn't this Zhong Lizi's room? Where is he?
Bai Jinjin: He went out. What's the matter?
Nikki: We heard that Zhong Lizi had been to the kitchen at dusk, so we wanted to ask about it.
Bai Jinjin: At dusk? Ah... I was a bit hungry at that time, so he went to the kitchen to find something for me.
Momo: But he had been in the kitchen for a long time.
Bai Jinjin: Eh? Oh, I see...
(Bai Jinlin looked down and chuckled as if she suddenly remembered something, she covered her cheeks and flushed.)
Nikki: Jinjin, do you recall anything?!
Bai Jinjin: That's because he cooked the meal for me himself... No wonder today's dinner tasted a bit different. I thought the chef of Moon Inn suddenly lost his standard.
Momo: ...Stop displaying your affection! We are all single.
Nikki: So, that explains why he stayed in the kitchen for a long time.
Bai Jinjin: Are you suspecting that Lizi stole the Plum Blossom Cake? But when he returned, he only brought back the meal. I didn't see any cake.
Nikki: It was just our speculation, but now it seems that it's not him... By the way, have you seen this plum branch?
(Nikki took out the plum branch that Lu Yinian gave them. Bai Jinjin had a look and shook her head)
Bai Jinjin: The shape is a bit strange. It looks like... a bird? This is the first time I have seen a plum branch with such a unique shape.
Momo: Our investigation has reached a dead end! Nikki, what should we do?
Nikki: Let's check the kitchen. Since the Plum Blossom Cake had been placed in the kitchen, we may find some clues there.
(Nikki and Momo said goodbye to Bai Jinjin and walked towards the kitchen.)

Dark Cuisine[]

Momo: I feel so hungry... There should be grilled fish in the kitchen!
Nikki: ...Momo, we are investigating!
(They crossed the long corridor and walked to the kitchen. The kitchen was not locked, and the door was slightly open, so they walked in.)
Momo: It feels like anyone can come into the kitchen... Putting such an important thing here, no wonder the Plum Blossom cake was stolen! But what's that strange smell...
(When they walked in, they were surrounded by overwhelming smoke immediately. The entire room was filled with choking smoke, they can see nothing.)
Nikki: What's going on?
Momo: It's on fire?!
??: I'm so sorry! Just a minute!
(Suddenly, there was a 'bang' in the kitchen, which was followed by some crackling noises that sounded like the collision of pot lids.)
(As the smoke gradually dissipated, a busy figure gradually became clear.)
Momo: Eh? You are ... Xia Ying!
(Nikki pinched her nose and dispersed the smoke with another hand, then looked at the girl who was a little bit embarrassed and some unrecognizable black stuff on the stove.)
Nikki: Xia Ying? What are you doing?
Summer: I wanted to cook something to eat, but I didn't expect...
Momo: You didn't expect you would burn the kitchen?
Summer: I didn't mean it... This is my first time cooking. I didn't expect it to be so difficult to cook.
Momo: ...You'd better stay away from the kitchen in the future.
Summer: Although I failed this time, I will definitely succeed next time.
Nikki: Okay, but when did you come to the kitchen?
Summer: Not long. I came to the Moon Inn to taste the new Plum Blossom cake, but heard that something had happened here, and the Plum Blossom Cake was gone.
Nikki: Yes, we are investigating the case. Did you come to the kitchen after the Plum Blossom Cake was gone?
Summer: Yes. I had been in the room all day till I was a little hungry. Then I came here.
Nikki: It seems that you don't know about the suspect neither...
Momo: Nikki, the plum branch!
Summer: Plum branch?
Nikki: Oh yes, I almost forgot it.
(Nikki handed the plum branch to Xia Ying.)
Nikki: Although the Plum Blossom Cake was gone, this plum branch was left in the food box. I think it may be some evidence left by the suspect. Have you seen this plum branch before?
(Xia Ying took a closer look at the plum branch for a while, then pondered for a moment.)
Summer: I have only seen plum branches with such a peculiar shape in the Flower Field.
Momo: In the Flower Field?!
Summer: Yes, many plum trees are planted there. They are in full bloom at this season. There are many plum branches like this. But the plum forest has been taken care of by Winter.
Momo: Winter? It's her...?
Nikki: We are not sure yet. But since Winter is the only one who's related to this plum branch, we'll have to go to the Flower Field. But ... Let's help you clean up this mess here first.
Summer: Ah ... thank you, Nikki!

Scrolls of Mountains[]

(Nikki and Momo helped Xia Ying to clean up the mess in the kitchen, then said goodbye to her and walked out of the kitchen.)
(As soon as they stepped out of the kitchen, a woman who was passing by the corner hastily ran into Momo. The stuff she held in her arms were scattered all over the ground.)
Momo: Ouch ... it hurts!
Nikki: Momo, are you okay?!
Spring: I'm sorry, I didn't see you. Are you okay?
(Momo rubbed his butt, and the girl helped him up. It turned out to be Spring.)
Momo: Nothing serious... But, why is there some red on my cloak? Am I bleeding?!
Spring: No, just some red paint colors.
(Spring picked up the paintbrushes on the ground, and showed Momo the brush with red paint on it.)
Momo: Phew... Thank goodness it's paint. I thought I was going to die...
Nikki: Spring? What are you going to do? You are in such a hurry.
(Nikki squatted down, helping Spring pick up the brushes and drawings scattered on the ground.)
Spring: I'm going to see Fu Su. I have been designing this drawing for a long time, and only the last part is left to be finished, so I want to ask Fu Su for advice.
Momo: Fu Su?
Spring: My drawing is inspired by wild sceneries. He may know more about it. This afternoon l went to his room but he was not there. An idea just struck me, so I wanted to ask him again.
Nikki: He is not in his room all the time? So where did he go?
Spring: I don't know. I waited at the door of his room for a long time, but he didn't come back.
Momo: It sounds suspicious too!
Nikki: Weird indeed. Although I don't know the specific time when the Plum Blossom Cake was stolen, it must be between noon and dusk, so...
Momo: Fu Su was not in his room in the afternoon, he may be the one who stole the cake!
Nikki: It's just a guess. Using this to identify the suspect is not enough. Let's go to the Flower Field and look for more clues of the plum branch!
(Nikki and Momo helped Spring pick up the stuff on the ground, then said goodbye to her and went to the Flower Field.)

Shadow in Deep Snow[]

Momo: There are so many flowers in the Flower Field!
Nikki: Yes. Although it's winter, there are many flowers that don't belong to winter in full bloom.
Momo: I wonder if there are any clues in the Flower Field...
Nikki: Since the thief left the plum blossom branch, it must have something to do with the plum blossoms here.
Momo: Ah-choo... It's so cold here!
Nikki: Look at the snow here. It should have snowed not long ago, that is why it's so cold.
Momo: It's always very cold when the snow is melting, so you'd better change into an elegant and warm clothes as soon as possible.

Pavilion in the Lake[]

(They walked slowly along the path of Flower Field.)
(The moonlight poured down on the vast wheat fields, the wind brought the smell of roses. Stream ran through the flower shrubs, some fireflies stopped on the blue-white flowers.)
Momo: The Flower Field is in full bloom all year around!
Nikki: It's really beautiful... But where is the plum forest that Xia Ying mentioned?
(They walked to the stone corridor. At the end of stone road was a small pavilion in the lake. A figure was leaning on the railing and looking at the distant view.)
Momo: There's someone over there! Will it be Winter?
Nikki: Let's go check it.
(Nikki and Momo got close to the pavilion in the lake. The person in the pavilion turned around. It was Ghost Dancer.)
Ghost Dancer: You are... Nikki and Momo?
Momo: Ghost Dancer? What are you doing here?
Ghost Dancer: The moonlight is very beautiful today. This pavilion happens to be a good place to enjoy the scenery, so I came here. What about you?
Nikki: We are here to investigate the missing Plum Blossom Cake.
Ghost Dancer: Is it the new product Moon Inn introduced tonight?
Momo: Eh? You've heard of it, too?
Ghost Dancer: A few days ago, I saw the notice of Moon Inn in Moonlit City, that's why I know about it. But I'm not interested in the cake, so I didn't go to Moon Inn.
Nikki: Did you notice anything strange in front of the notice?
Ghost Dancer: No. I didn't. But Fu Su was there with me.
Momo: Fu Su again? Now I'm getting more suspicious of him.
Ghost Dancer: However, he may be not very interested in it. He just glanced at it and left.
Nikki: OK... Now I'm not sure if it's Fu Su. We also have the clue of the plum branch. Let's find Winter first.
Momo: You're right. Let's go find the plum forest! We have been here for a long time.
Ghost Dancer: Are you looking for the plum forest?
Nikki: Yes, do you know where it is?
Ghost Dancer: Go straight along the stone corridor. You can see it when you walk across a stone bridge.
Nikki: Great, thank you for your help, Ghost Dancer.
(Ghost Dancer nodded and continued to enjoy the distant scenery.)
(The moonlight was like snowflakes falling on the lake, the light of waves gleamed faintly.)

Hibiscus in Cool Lake[]

(The Flower Field was quiet except for the sound of the wind passing by.)
(It may have snowed not long ago. The plum forest in the distance was covered with white snow. Only dotted red that hid in the vast white could be seen.)
Momo: Look, it's the plum forest, isn't it?
Nikki: Well, let's go!
Autumn: What are you doing here?
Momo: Eh? It's Autumn!
(A woman in cheongsam walked down from the stone bridge towards Nikki and Momo. She held a bamboo basket with a handful of hibiscus in it. The pink flower clusters looked pretty.)
Nikki: What beautiful hibiscuses!
Autumn: Well, although the flowers in the Flower Field are blooming all the year round, it's cold these days, and the hibiscus doesn't grow very well. So I picked some to make juice.
Momo: Is hibiscus edible?
Autumn: My pleasure.
Momo: Ah, just like plum blossoms can be made into Plum Blossom Cake!
Autumn: Plum Blossom Cake?!
Nikki: Oh, by the way, Autumn, we are looking for Winter. Someone stole Moon Inn's Plum Blossom Cake and left a plum branch. Maybe Winter knows something, so we are here.
Autumn: Winter? She is not at the Flower Field. What does this plum branch look like?
(Nikki handed the plum branch to Autumn. She observed it carefully, then sniffed the blossom on the branch.)
Autumn: This plum branch seems to come from the plum forest of Winter. Only the plum blossom in the Flower field has such a strong aroma.
Momo: So Winter stole the Plum Blossom Cake?!
Autumn: But the plum blossom has been blooming too soon recently. Winter cut some with unique shapes to passers-by on Long Street. The shape of this plum branch is very unique...
Nikki: So except Winter, it's no surprise that other people who have been to Long Street have such plum branches.
Momo: Eh? Isn't the number of potential suspects extended again?
Autumn: Is the Plum Blossom Cake you're talking about the legendary palace tribute?
Momo: Yes, it is!
Autumn: Is there sesame in it?
Nikki: Well, that's right. Shopkeeper Lu said that it was made of plum blossom, sesame and glutinous rice.
Autumn: Then it shouldn't be Winter, because she doesn't like sesame very much.
Momo: So we can rule out Winter!
Nikki: Well, we have to go to Long Street to find more clues.

Trotting Horse Lamp[]

(The bustling Long Street was full of tourists.)
(The vendors' shouting was mixed by tourists' laughter, the faint fragrance of wine filled the air. There were many shops along the street, selling ornaments, snacks and antiques.)
Momo: Nikki, look! There are so many people over there! The lanterns are spinning!
Nikki: We're here to investigate... Ah, Momo, wait for me!
(Nikki and Momo came to the lantern stall through the crowd.)
(The stall owner was peddling a lantern. The candle light reflected the pictures on the outer colored paper, which kept changing with the spinning of the lantern.)
Momo: Amazing! How does this work?
Nikki: It must be the so-called 'trotting horse lamp'. It probably...takes advantage of the convection of air?
??: I see.
(A familiar voice came. Momo and Nikki turned around and saw a woman wearing a white tiger mask standing beside them.)
(The woman took off her mask and smiled at them.)
Nikki: General Yue? You're here, too!
Yue Qianshuang: Yes, I heard that there is a festival market on Long Street today, so Ruosheng and I come to join the fun.
Momo: Eh? Then where is Counselor Zhu?
Yue Qianshuang: She went to buy me candied haws. There were too many people here, and we got separated. I was looking for her, but met you guys.
Nikki: General Yue... Have you been on Long Street all day long?
Yue Qianshuang: The market opened early in the morning today. I probably came at noon.
Momo: Do you see anyone suspicious?
Yue Qianshuang: No, or maybe I didn't notice it? There were not many people in the market by then. I also saw the Mayor of Moonlit City inspecting the festival preparations.
Nikki: The mayor was here, too?
Yue Qianshuang: Yes, but why do you ask this?
Nikki: The Plum Blossom Cake to be launched in Moon Inn tonight has been stolen. We are here to look for clues. By the way, General Yue, did you see a girl giving off plum branches here?
Yue Qianshuang: A girl giving off plum branches? I didn't. But...
Momo: Anything else?!
Yue Qianshuang: Ruosheng came earlier than me, she seemed to have a plum branch in her hand when I met her.
Nikki: Is it like this?
(Nikki handed the plum branch to Yue Qianshuang, who looked at it and then shook her head.)
Yue Qianshuang: Her plum branch looked strange, but it is not the same as this one. But she came earlier than me, she may be able to provide you some clues. Let's go find her together!

Fine Clothes and Feather Fan[]

(Just as the three of them squeezed out of the crowd, they heard a familiar voice.)
??: Qianshuang!
(A woman wearing black clothes and a half silver mask, holding a feather fan rushed to them. She stood in front of them, then handed the candied haws to Yue Qianshuang.)
??: So you're here. I've been looking for you for a long time.
(She turned to Nikki and Momo, and took off the mask on her face.)
Zhu Ruosheng: Nikki and Momo? Why are you here with Qianshuang?
Nikki: Hello, Counselor Zhu. We are investigating the case of the stolen Plum Blossom Cake in Moon Inn, and happened to meet General Yue.
Yue Qianshuang: Indeed. Ruosheng, you arrived here earlier, I think you may know something.
Zhu Ruosheng: Plum Blossom Cake?! I did see the notice in the city. It was eaten by someone?
Momo: Yes! We're going to find out the thief!
(While talking, Nikki noticed that Zhu Ruosheng was wearing a uniquely-shaped plum branch on her waist.)
Nikki: Counselor Zhu, where did you get this...plum branch?
Zhu Ruosheng: My plum branch?
(Zhu Ruosheng looked down and understood, she then took the plum branch down from her waist.)
Zhu Ruosheng: This was given by a girl I met in the market in the morning.
Momo: Eh? Could it be Winter?!
Nikki: The blossom fragrance on these two branches seems to be the same.
Momo: They must come from the plum forest of Flower Field!
Zhu Ruosheng: Is there anything special of this plum branch?
Nikki: This is the evidence left by the man who ate the Plum Blossom Cake. Counselor Zhu, have you seen who else the girl gave the plum branch to?
(Zhu Ruosheng thought for a moment and answered.)
Zhu Ruosheng: I was wandering on Long Street this morning when the girl gave it to me. There were not many plum branches left in her basket. The last one was taken by the Mayor of Moonlit City.
Momo: The Mayor of Moonlit City?!
Nikki: What does the last plum branch he took look like? Do you remember? Is it the same as this one?
Zhu Ruosheng: I don't remember very well. But I just saw the mayor at the mask stall over there. Maybe you can ask him.
Nikki: OK, thank you, Counselor Zhu!
Momo: I feel like we are very close to the truth!
(Nikki and Momo said goodbye to them and walked to the direction Zhu Ruosheng said.)

Criminal Dialogue[]

(Nikki and Momo walked to the mask stall along the street where bright lanterns were hanging on both sides of it.)
(There were all kinds of masks on the stall. A man was squatting in front of the stall to pick masks.)
Momo: It's the Mayor!
(Hearing the sound, the man turned his head and looked at Nikki and Momo.)
Xie Guizhou: Nikki, Momo?
Momo: I got you!
Nikki: Mayor, you must be the guy who stole the Plum Blossom Cake!
(The smile on Xie Guizhou's face did not change)
Xie Guizhou: What are you talking about? I never heard of any Plum Blossom Cake.
Nikki: Shopkeeper Lu of Moon Inn said that it was you who posted the notice of Moon Inn launching new products in the city. How could you not know the Plum Blossom Cake?
Momo: So you're lying!
Xie Guizhou: Okay... I just forgot. But you can't say that I'm the one who stole it just by this.
Nikki: What about this plum branch?
(When Nikki took out the plum branch, the smile on Xie Guizhou's face paused for a moment.)
Nikki: This is an important evidence left by thief, it comes from the Flower Field. We know that Winter came here to give off plum branches, and the last one was taken by you.
Nikki: If this is not your plum branch... Where is yours that you took?
(The smile on Xie Guizhou's face disappeared. He frowned, as if he was trying to figure it out.)
Xie Guizhou: Maybe, I lost it somewhere.
Nikki: Plum Blossom Cake is made of glutinous rice and sesame, sesame crumbs can be stuck to people's body easily. I guess there should be sesames left on your clothes when you ate it.
Momo: Nikki, look! Sesame!
(Momo pointed to Xie Guizhou's collar. There were a few imperceptible sesames on his lavender lapel.)
(Xie Guizhou picked up the sesames on his lapel, then blinked at the Nikki and Momo with a naughty smile.)
Xie Guizhou: You got me. Well, I admit, I ate the Plum Blossom Cake.
Momo: I knew it! Nikki, you succeed again, you are really a master detective!
Xie Guizhou: It seems that you are more excellent than I thought.
(Nikki and Momo went back to the Moon Inn.)
(As they opened the door, the smell of food wafted through the air. The warm candlelight lighted up the whole room, making it especially warm and harmonious.)
Lu Yinian: Nikki, thank you for helping me solve this case. The Feast of Delicacies has begun. Please sit down and enjoy the delicious food!
Nikki: Eh? But the Plum Blossom Cake was already...
Lu Yinian: I wanted to serve it as the first dish and make it the first surprise of the party. But we are rushing to make new ones now, hoping they can be finished before the end of the party.
Momo: Great! Nikki, we can eat the legendary Plum Blossom Cake! There are also a lot of grilled fish!
(Lu Yinian brought Nikki to the round table, which was full of delicious food. And friends she met along the way were already sitting around the table.)
(The full moon's light fell silently on the eaves, casting a thin veil over the dark blue tiles.)
(People were toasting with each other. Their thoughts and emotions were merged into joyful laughter, together with the fragrance of food, dispelling the cold of winter.)

Reward Letter[]

To the brave detective:

First of all, thanks for finding out the thief who ate the Plum Blossom Cake.

Moon Inn Cuisine is a special festival event we prepared to thank new and regular customers. We invited famous chefs from all over the Cloud to prepare over 20 delicious dishes, and among them, the Plum Blossom Cake is the highlight.

The Plum Blossom Cake was a tribute exclusive to the royalty. This is the first time it goes to public and we attached great importance to the preparation work, but we never thought it could be stolen.

We are stepping up efforts to make new Plum Blossom Cakes, hoping that all the guests will have a chance to taste it.

To express our gratitude. Moon Inn wants to give you this gift. Finally, thank you again for coming to the feast. Please enjoy!

We look forward to your next visit!

Moon Inn Landlady

Lu Yinian