Robert van GulikTHE WILLOW PATTERN16+Dead night. A frightened, half-naked woman drags the corpse with difficulty to the marble stairs... And the next morning, city residents learn that a respected businessman, one of the richest rice merchants, allegedly stumbled on the steps the night before and, falling, broke his skull. The case is transferred to Judge Dee, but before the famous detective has time to delve deeper into the investigation, a new crime awaits him - an old nobleman, about whose intimate life there were dark rumors, was found murdered in his office. An old drawing on a tea cup will help Judge Dee reveal the secret of both deaths. Cover designer Alexander Andreychuk. Artist Ekaterina Skvortsova.