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“Daren, the previously unwritten autopsy reports, does min’nü have to write it up for Daren?”
According to usual practices in the past, Bó Ruò Yōu had to write up a report which would be presented as evidence to the court after the post-mortem autopsies. However, owing to the hecticness of the post-mortem autopsies in this case, the bureaucratic procedures had been neglected and delayed until now. Hè Chéng chortled and said, “That would be for the best. Xiao Bó ah, it is really all thanks to you this time around. There’s no need for you to rush, stay in the city for two more days, I’ll dispatch someone to send you back later.”
Bó Ruò Yōu declined to comment, though her eyes swept towards the direction that Huò Wēi Lóu was leaving in. Huò Wēi Lóu’s celerity was something she had already anticipated but leaving after one night was slightly beyond her expectations. After thinking about how Huò Wēi Lóu had saved her twice but there was no way of repaying him, Bó Ruò Yōu could not avoid feeling like she owed him something, and with this departure, she was afraid that they would not have chance to meet again, so it could only remain as a debt in the end.
Hè Chéng continued to say: “The hour is already late today, there is nothing pressing at the moment, it would be better if you went back to rest.”
Bó Ruò Yōu hesitated momentarily, “Min’nü is also planning to return to Qingshan County earlier, Daren is aware that min’nü’s foster father is of ill body, and it’s difficult to put one’s heart at ease.”
Hè Chéng replied with a sigh, “Apologies for disrupting your filial piety. Forget it, I will order someone to prepare the brush, ink, and autopsy sheets, you can write it up tonight.”
Bó Ruò Yōu hummed in response. At this moment, Zhèng Wén Róng walked over. He was leading the servants to put out the fire just now, so his body was stained with quite a bit of soot and ash, and the fatigue, in addition to the horrifying revelations tonight, made his countenance weary and bitter, completely bereft an immortal cultivator’s air and bones that was pervasive during their first encounter that night.
“Daren, is it possible… is it possible to let me meet that child?”
There was some fear in his eyes, but it harboured a plea too. Hè Chéng muttered irresolutely to himself, “She has just been arrested, and it’s not optimal to arrange a meeting so soon. Allow benfu to conduct the interrogations before speaking of this again. She’s burdened with three lives, and a light sentence is nevertheless impossible. Fourth Master is not a person who doesn’t understand the judicial procedures; he should be aware that once the Ministry of Justice makes the final decision, she will be escorted back to the Capital soon after. There is a lot of time in between, there will eventually be a chance to meet.”
Zhèng Wén Róng continued to ask: “Fifth Brother and Yún Ní, what about the two of them?”
Hè Chéng exhaled audibly, “That will depend on the Capital’s opinion. Back then, your residence falsely reported the birth date, and even concealed the matter of having twins. To put it severely, it’s deceiving the monarch, to put it lightly….”
Hè Chéng laughed bitterly, “Benfu really doesn’t know how to put it lightly.”
Worry flooded Zhèng Wén Róng’s face instantaneously, “With what has happened, one does not beg for glory, splendour, riches, or rank, and only prays that the Zheng clan’s bloodline won’t be broken off.”
Hè Chéng thought about it, “If Fourth Master really wishes to save them, perhaps a letter should be sent to the Capital directly. The old Marquis Xinyang is currently in charge of the Marquis Xinyang Residence, and he can still speak to the personages in the imperial palace. Currently, only the elder can help with a thing or two.”
Zhèng Wén Róng’s eyes brightened immediately. Marquis Anqing Residence was in Qingzhou, and its coming and going with its relatives in the Capital were not very frequent. Moreover, he had been sent out of the Marquis Residence ever since he was young, so he was all the more unfamiliar with his relatives in the Capital, but the old Marquis Xinyang was his biological maternal uncle, and apart from pleading him, there really wasn’t any other alternative.
“Daren’s words are exceedingly useful, zaixia will send a letter to Capital now.”
Hè Chéng nodded, “You have to be quick. Marquis Wuzhao will be sending a letter to the Capital as well. You can’t be as fast as him, but you cannot delay either, lest the Imperial Palace learns of the news first and sends down an order before Marquis Xinyang has the time to plead for mercy; by then, even he would be powerless to reverse the desperate situation.”
Zhèng Wén Róng clasped his hands together, “Yes, many thanks Daren.”
Hè Chéng nodded again. By virtue of how he was the main official for this case, it was not good for him to say more, so he brought Bó Ruò Yōu to the front courtyard. Meanwhile, Zhèng Wén Róng stood there, watching as the pair became more distant in time, and he unconsciously issued a heavy sigh.
Hè Chéng sighed with some emotions as well. After moving a few paces away, he started talking to Bó Ruò Yōu, “We have witnessed quite a few cases, but when it comes to homicides in old and prominent families like that of the Marquis Anqing Residence, this is also benfu’s first encounter with it. These illustrious and large families all appear glorious, splendid and high-born, but it’s unknown how many things which cannot be seen in the light are hidden inside.”
After giving a pause, Hè Chéng then said: “There are still a few details that are unclear in this case, and Momo Yu is among the people who have been taken into custody for further interrogation. You can write up the autopsy reports tonight, and if you’re in a hurry tomorrow, you can return to Qingshan County directly. I have to thank you properly this time around.”
He turned his body to glance at Bó Ruò Yōu, only seeing the mildness and kindness between her refined brows and eyes, which stirred some intent to care for her. “What kind of symptoms does your foster father have? I remember that he’s a person who practices medicine as well. If Qingshan County is inconvenient, benfu can look for a compound within Qingzhou City for you, so you and your foster father can stay in Qingzhou City, which makes doctor visits and medicine sourcing much more convenient.”
Hè Chéng had the intention to allow Bó Ruò Yōu to stay by his side and help him some time ago, and he even revealed this idea in front of Huò Wēi Lóu. Bó Ruò Yōu took some time to think after hearing that, but she said: “It will depend on Yifu’s intentions, moreover… It’s more than likely that we won’t be staying in Qingzhou for long.”
Hè Chéng’s heart jolted, “Not staying in Qingzhou for long? Where to then?”
Bó Ruò Yōu smiled faintly, “Returning back to the homeland. Min’nü is not a native of Qingzhou.”
Hè Chéng was aware that Bó Ruò Yōu had resided in Qingshan County for many years, but he did not know where her clan grounds were, so he questioned: “Where is your homeland?”
“In… the north side.”
Hè Chéng bopped his head. Once he thought about how Bó Ruò Yōu would be leaving Qingzhou in the future, he could feel the sky darkening by a few shades, though he did not specifically ask which north side she was referring to, “Xiao Bó ah, once you leave, I…”
Bó Ruò Yōu smiled lightly, “Daren has devoted his heart to the commoners, and will definitely rise straight into the clear sky, perhaps [you] won’t be staying in Qingzhou for long either.”
青云直上 (pinyin: qing yun zhi shang) – rapid promotion to a high post; meteoric career.
Those words reached Hè Chéng’s heart deeply, and as if she was also afraid of Hè Chéng asking more, Bó Ruò Yōu turned the topic towards the case, “For the inside story of this case, it will probably be necessary to ask Momo Yu. When one of the children was being hidden back then, she was just an infant. Who took care of her during that time, who trapped her in the secret room after she grew up, and how she was taken care of, it’s highly likely that only Momo Yu is cognizant of those details.”
After mulling over it, Bó Ruò Yōu continued to state: “The material evidence inside the secret room has already been seized and brought up, but it’s unfortunate that other rooms were destroyed, or more exhibits would have been found. However, now that the facts have been confirmed, it can be assumed that Momo Yu won’t dare to continue concealing it.”
The pair reached the front courtyard as they were conversing. Hè Chéng ordered a government hireling to find and bring over the autopsy sheets, brush, and ink, and Bó Ruò Yōu started to write up the autopsy reports in the front courtyard’s wing-room. Just as she wrote a few characters, an embroidered emissary suddenly arrived, “Bó guniang, Hou’ye asks ȳou to make a trip.”
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Bó Ruò Yōu faltered slightly, and Hè Chéng thought that something bad happened after hearing that, “Is it because there are still leaks in this case?”
The embroidered emissary’s eyes remain trained on them as he said: “This subordinate does not know, Hou’ye only said that he wanted to see Bó guniang.”
Hurriedly, Hè Chéng took away the brush from Bó Ruò Yōu’s hand, “Stop writing, stop writing, let’s go, move, move, to see Hou’ye—”
Although it was not stated that he wanted to see Hè Chéng, Hè Chéng did not dare to be careless either and he tagged along for the entire road there. Upon reaching the guest courtyard, he only had the part of waiting outside the courtyard as one might expect.
Fu gonggong chuckled as he brought Bó Ruò Yōu across the threshold, “We will be leaving tomorrow, when is Bó guniang returning to Qingshan County?”
Bó Ruò Yōu replied, “It should be the day after tomorrow. If Hè daren doesn’t have any other instructions, min’nü hopes to return earlier as well.”
Fu gonggong nodded, and the pair entered the study.
Bó Ruò Yōu bowed with womanly obeisance, “Greetings to Hou’ye.”
Huò Wēi Lóu was still clad in a black robe as he sat behind the writing desk. His expression was dark and unfathomable as he scrutinised Bó Ruò Yōu before he suddenly asked: “Planning to go back the day after tomorrow?”
Bó Ruò Yōu nodded, “Yes, Yifu is still in the throes of illness, he needs someone to take care of him.”
After hearing those words, Huò Wēi Lóu’s expression darkened momentarily. His half-lidded phoenix eyes gave Bó Ruò Yōu a side-long glance, as if he was hesitating about something. Fu gonggong found his appearance to be rather suspect, but in the next moment, Huò Wēi Lóu said: “Ever thought about going elsewhere to be a coroner?”
Bó Ruò Yōu raised her head with some surprise. Huò Wēi Lóu was ennobled as Marquis Wuzhao, and while he commanded the Court of Punishment, the judicial cases that passed through his hands were scarcely ordinary cases of homicide. He might have asked this question, but it was unclear what he was considering.
Bó Ruò Yōu’s thoughts turned and doubled back hundreds of times. In the end, she still lowered her eyes, “For the time being… There has been no such considerations.”
Fu gonggong widened his eyes instantaneously.
Although Huò Wēi Lóu’s sentence was phrased as a question, the meaning present within was obvious. If it was exchanged with a normal person, they would only be itching to serve like a dog or horse for Marquis Wuzhao, but this little Bó guniang actually responded with a rejection upon opening her mouth.
Heart alarmed and trembling in fear, Fu gonggong casted a look at Huò Wēi Lóu. Sure enough, Marquis Huò’s irises had already darkened slightly.
Fu gonggong wiped away a handful of sweat for Bó Ruò Yōu, coughing lightly as he said: “Bó—”
“Forget it.” Huò Wēi Lóu suddenly interceded before asking, “Prior to this, benhou mentioned that a single request will be granted once the case is solved, are you done thinking?”
Bó Ruò Yōu shook her head, “Min’nü has no requests.”
Huò Wēi Lóu peered at Bó Ruò Yōu, his brows furrowing a little. Out of all the people he had met, all of them had their own desires, and knowing the desires of a person was akin to accurately pinching seven inches of a snake. However, Bó Ruò Yōu was proving to be slightly difficult to fathom. Let it be known that after they parted ways today, it would be hard for her to gain this chance again.
“Forget it, [you] may withdraw.”
Huò Wēi Lóu’s tone of voice was calm and without fluctuations, and only Fu gonggong could hear that he was slightly frustrated.
Bó Ruò Yōu sighed in relief at the bottom of her heart as she quickly bowed, “Min’nü will be taking her leave.”
She turned around and left, her footsteps quick, as if he was some kind of high-magnitude flood or fierce beast, which made Huò Wēi Lóu raise an eyebrow subconsciously.
It was only after Bó Ruò Yōu stepped out of the door that the oppressive gaze was obstructed. She spat out a deep breath. She was not afraid of Huò Wēi Lóu, but after all that was said and done, it had been a struggle to breathe in that study just now.
Huò Wēi Lóu voiced that question probably because there was some business that he wanted her to attend to, but her body was like duckweed, and she had her foster father who needed to be taken care of; it goes without saying that she could not go elsewhere to be a coroner.
Despite that, there was an inexplicable thread of novelty in the recesses of her heart.
What kind of business was it, such that it could make Marquis Wuzhao openly request for a small and insignificant coroner like her?
This thought was pressed down by Bó Ruò Yōu as it flickered past. There were some bumps in her childhood, so she grew up beside her foster parents, and her temper was rather placid. If she desired a reputation or benefits, she could have already made use of the fact that the Qingzhou Prefectural Magistrate Hè Chéng was quite appreciative of her, but she had her ambitions elsewhere in the end.
Upon seeing her come out, Hè Chéng immediately stepped forward to ask: “Xiao Bó, what did Hou’ye say?”
Bó Ruò Yōu shook her head, “Hou’ye asked min’nü if she wanted any rewards.”
The bottom of Hè Chéng’s eyes lit up, “What did you say?”
Bó Ruò Yōu smiled bitterly, “Min’nü was just fulfilling her own duties, she does not dare to want any rewards.”
The excitement in the depths of Hè Chéng’s eyes extinguished immediately, “You… Why can’t you grasp the point ah, this is the Marquis Wuzhao, do you know what kind of benefits he can give you, just by opening his mouth?”
Bó Ruò Yōu cocked her head and contemplated briefly, “Could he make min’nü a Huangfei as well?”
Hè Chéng was aware that Bó Ruò Yōu was jesting, so he sighed helplessly. Seeing that Huò Wēi Lóu did not have any intention of meeting him, he started to walk outwards with her. Just as they stepped out of the courtyard doors, a young male servant from the residence approached them. Hè Chéng presumed that he was looking for him, so he asked: “What’s the matter? Was there an accident in the front courtyard?”
That young male servant shook his head, turning to look at Bó Ruò Yōu instead, “Bó guniang, someone is looking for you outside the residence gates.”
Even Hè Chéng was slightly surprised when he heard that. Bó Ruò Yōu would always return to Qingshan County after finishing up a case, and inside Qingzhou City, it was highly probable that she was only familiar with the government hirelings. At this moment, that young male servant continued to state: “He’s a lame person.”
Once those words landed, Bó Ruò Yōu’s expression changed slightly, “Yifu is here.”
Hè Chéng was shocked, “Ah? Isn’t your foster father seriously ill…”
Bó Ruò Yōu was slightly anxious, “It isn’t clear why he has come to this place. Daren, min’nü will go and see Yifu first.”
Hè Chéng waved his hand before telling that young male servant that he must not neglect Bó Ruò Yōu’s foster father, and then he watched her depart at a brisk pace.
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Bó Ruò Yōu met Chéng Yùn Zhī inside the tearoom of the Marquis Residence’s gatehouse.
Chéng Yùn Zhī, who was close to half-hundred, was dressed in a coarse and unadorned robe, with the hair at his temples greying. Owing to his long-term illness, his countenance was wan and sallow, which made him appear older than his actual age, and in addition to the walking stick he was leaning on, his entire person seemed to be dire straits, and he was only welcomed into the tearoom to wait after the gatekeepers heard that he was Bó Ruò Yōu’s foster father.
Upon catching sight of Chéng Yùn Zhī, worry spread across Bó Ruò Yōu’s face, “Why has Yifu come here?”
Chéng Yùn Zhī’s leg was cumbersome, so he had never left Qingshan County for the past ten years, and now that he had broken the precedent and entered Qingzhou City, it genuinely shocked and worried her.
Chéng Yùn Zhī surveyed the tearoom door, and once he saw that there was no one outside, he asked: “Yōu Yōu, did the embroidered emissaries come to the city?”
Bó Ruò Yōu was a touch surprised, “How did Yifu know?”
Chéng Yùn Zhī replied, “Someone in the county saw them, and thought that it was some astounding personage, and he brought it up once he returned. After hearing him talk about it, I was made aware—”
Bó Ruò Yōu stared at Chéng Yùn Zhī, “Yifu knew that it was the embroidered emissaries just from hearing about it?”
Chéng Yùn Zhī waved his hand, “That’s not important. I’m only asking you, has the case been solved?”
Bó Ruò Yōu nodded, “Just an hour ago, in fact. The murderer has been arrested; I was originally planning to go back tomorrow.”
However, Chéng Yùn Zhī asked: “The embroidered emissaries are being controlled by Marquis Wuzhao right now, and since the embroidered emissaries have been mobilised, was it Marquis Wuzhao who arrived?”
Bó Ruò Yōu responded in the affirmative, which caused Chéng Yùn Zhī to sink into deep contemplation. Bó Ruò Yōu could not fully grasp what Chéng Yùn Zhī was trying to imply, so she could only ask probingly, “What does Yifu mean by that?”
Chéng Yùn Zhī raised his head, his muddy-looking eyes not straying away from Bó Ruò Yōu once, “It’s been so many years, we should be going back.”
……
Inside the guest courtyard, Huò Wēi Lóu picked up the documents that had been sent from Luozhou over the past few days again. His visage was as deep as water, and Fu gonggong waited for a full pillar of incense (30 minutes) before he stepped forward to ask in a soft voice, “Hou’ye… did something bad happen in Luozhou?”
With a loud slap, Huò Wēi Lóu threw the documents on the writing desk, strength neither light not heavy. Fu gonggong’s eyebrows twitched when he witnessed it, picking up those documents to have a look as he mumbled, “Wasn’t it just being rejected by Bó guniang, although it is the first time, there’s no need to be so angry… What?! A perfectly alright person suddenly died?!”
Huò Wēi Lóu simply pretended not to hear Fu gonggong’s mumblings as he remarked in a deep voice: “A person dying at this critical juncture; if it was said that there is nothing dubious going on, it would truly be difficult for anyone to believe it.”
Fu gonggong made an “oh” noise, “Which is why Hou’ye wants to ask Bó guniang to head to Luozhou together?”
Huò Wēi Lóu’s brows arched up, to which Fu gonggong coughed lightly before saying: “Maybe… Ȳou should forgo asking, and just issue an order? It’s not like Bó guniang can go against an order?”
Huò Wēi Lóu swept Fu gonggong with a faint look. Fu gonggong said: “As a matter of fact, the Ming Family’s Da Gongzi is already on the way, there is no need for Hou’ye to insist on having Bó guniang go to Luozhou.”
Huò Wēi Lóu retracted his line of sight, and it was still hard to distinguish joy and anger in his expression.
Fu gonggong only found it slightly funny. It was not that they had never encountered talents that could be used but could not be subdued when they were handling business elsewhere, and he never saw Huò Wēi Lóu being affected by it. However, a myriad of his emotions was being expressed externally right now, even if it was barely perceptible.
Fu gonggong heaved a sigh, “Honestly, it makes sense in retrospect. A little guniang travelling to Qingzhou City from Qingshan County is not an easy endeavour in itself, how could she follow us? The people ȳou bring along are matured men, and each and every one of them are like fiends. If there’s anyone who dares to follow us, they either ate a bear’s heart and a leopard’s gall, unless they are conspiring for something from ȳou, Marquis Wuzhao—”
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“Hou’ye, Bó guniang asks for an audience.”
Before Fu gonggong could finish speaking, an embroidered emissary was already making a report from outside.
Fu gonggong was astonished, “Why did she come back so quickly.”
Huò Wēi Lóu fiddled with the black jade ornamental ring on his hand, pausing before he said: “Let her come in.”
Very quickly, Bó Ruò Yōu’s delicate figure appeared at the door again. When she was leaving, she could not wait to flee, but she was very slow in arriving. Some hesitation was visible on her face as she walked in, as if she was being pushed into coming here by someone from the back.
“Greetings to Hou’ye.”
After bowing first, Bó Ruò Yōu lowered her eyes, at a slight loss about how she should begin.
Huò Wēi Lóu stared at her with deep eyes, but he did not ask about anything either.
Pursing her lips, Bó Ruò Yōu toughened her scalp and said: “Hou’ye, min’nü can go somewhere else to be a coroner, may Hou’ye issue his command.”
Fu gonggong could not resist laughing out loud, “Why has Bó guniang changed her mind?”
Bó Ruò Yōu also felt her face heating up. However, her following words proved to be a greater surprise. Her voice deepened as she stated: “Because… Because min’nü has something to ask of Hou’ye.”
Huò Wēi Lóu looked at Bó Ruò Yōu’s respectful and clever appearance with a smile that was not a smile. He sneered faintly, her character was quite unyielding a moment ago, and now she had sent herself to his door. Did she think that his place was somewhere she could come and go as she pleased?
“What is that request?”
Bó Ruò Yōu hesitated for a moment, “Min’nü does not dare to make presumptuous demands, nor does she know why or what Hou’ye will command. If the handling of the business satisfies Hou’ye, only then will min’nü have the courage to make a request to Hou’ye.”
Fu gonggong looked at Huò Wēi Lóu, then looked at Bó Ruò Yōu. Just as he was thinking that Bó Ruò Yōu was going to suffer some hardship for leaving and returning, Huò Wēi Lóu suddenly opened his mouth and said: “Tomorrow, [we] will be leaving for Luozhou, there is an old case that happened ten years ago which you will be made to investigate.”
Bó Ruò Yōu’s pale fists clenched within her sleeves as she responded: “Yes, min’nü will definitely do her utmost.”
Huò Wēi Lóu seemed like he did not want to exchange another sentence. With some impatience creasing the space between his brows, he waved his hand, “Withdraw.”
Bó Ruò Yōu exhaled through her mouth, not expecting that it would be this easy and simple. Just as she stepped out of the room, Huò Wēi Lóu’s expression became slightly stern, “Go and check, who did she talk to just now after leaving.”
Fu gonggong found it rather strange as well. Bó Ruò Yōu was not the type to possess a fickle temper; for her to have such a huge change in her decisions was really quite strange.
The embroidered emissary stepped outside to make the inquiry, obtaining the precise information very quickly before he returned to make the report: “It was Bó guniang’s foster father who arrived. He said that Bó guniang has left home for a few days, and he was worried about her, so he came over to take a look. He just departed from the Marquis Residence moments ago.”
“Her foster father?” Huò Wēi Lóu’s brows were wrung together.
Fu gonggong supplemented, “Bó guniang was raised by her foster parents.”
Huò Wēi Lóu’s fingers knocked on the armrest subconsciously, and after a short while, he uttered, “Go and investigate who her foster father is, then check her family background. Since she will be used for a few days, her origins cannot remain unknown.”
After giving a pause, he continued, “Have the item that is being sent over from the Capital turn towards Luozhou.”
Fu gonggong understood these tasks, so he personally went out to issue those instructions.
……
When Hè Chéng learned that Bó Ruò Yōu was going to follow Huò Wēi Lóu to Luozhou to investigate a case, it was already the morning of the second day. After interrogating the offenders for the entire night, bruises had formed under his eyes and his face shined with oil. Upon hearing this news, his entire person was shocked awake from the fatigue.
By the time he reached the Marquis Residence to send off Huò Wēi Lóu, he noticed that there was an additional horse carriage to the group of horses, and Bó Ruò Yōu was already standing outside the residence’s entrance and waiting there in a very sensible manner. She was still as elegant and self-composed as when she first arrived; the first glimmers of dawn were draped over her shoulders, and her whole body was exuding a steady serenity that did not conform with her age.
Hè Chéng greeted her, “Xiao Bó, you’re going to follow Hou’ye to Luozhou?”
Bó Ruò Yōu bowed with womanly obeisance, “Yes. After this trip, it’s more than likely that min’nü will not be returning to Qingzhou again. One thanks Daren for his consistent concern all these years.”
Hè Chéng was informed that Bó Ruò Yōu would be leaving Qingzhou sooner or later, but he did not expect that this change would arrive so quickly. When he recalled the fact that Bó Ruò Yōu had helped him solve quite a few difficult and unresolved cases, he felt all kinds of complicated flavours at the bottom of his heart, “Since when was it me looking after you? It’s more like you have assisted me quite a bit. With the suddenness of your departure, I don’t even have the time to prepare a reward gift.”
Bó Ruò Yōu laughed out loud, “Daren does not have to take the trouble. Daren is wearing a face full of fatigue, did the interrogations last all night long?”
Hè Chéng heaved a sigh, “Indeed, the stupid girl was the first to confess last night, and then it was mainly the interrogation of Momo Yu. It was originally assumed that she would no longer refute, but who could have thought that she would be ridiculously obstinate, and she only confessed at daybreak. There’s a mechanism in that ancestral hall, and she personally took care of the hidden child before she was five years old. Afterwards, she would only go down to the secret room once every few days to deliver water, food, and clothes through the secret window. She didn’t even meet the child face-to-face, which was why she never realised that the person inside had been swapped. Afterwards, she said that after seeing Hou’ye arrive, she proceeded to destroy the mechanism to the dark room, completely disregarding the child’s life and death…”
Hè Chéng continued to sigh. Bó Ruò Yōu thought about everything she had seen and heard in the residence the past few days, her heart similarly heavy. Hè Chéng then said: “That Zheng wu’ye (5th) actually confessed too. However, his crime is simple; it’s nothing else besides knowing about the twins that year, and how she was hidden in the ancestral hall with Momo Yu watching over her. All these years, he didn’t meet the child once, and everyone seems to have deliberately forgotten about her existence, and he also said that they originally wanted to wait for the big wedding with His Second Highness to pass before sending her away, since they were afraid that her face being exposed would give rise to variables…”
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Bó Ruò Yōu took a tangent and asked: “What did the stupid girl confess to?”
Hè Chéng’s expression relaxed slightly when he heard that, “The stupid girl spoke about anything she was asked. Two years ago, the Oldest Young Lady saved her, and she saved the Oldest Young Lady from the well because she harboured gratitude in her heart. She felt that since she and the Oldest Young Lady had a scar on their faces, they appeared extremely similar, and in wanting to repay the debt of gratitude, she treated her like her kin. In the past two years, the Oldest Young Lady moved around the residence like an apparition, and she originally wasn’t used to life above since she had been living underground for so many years, but the stupid girl was a sincere one. She would always help her, and she gradually became an ordinary person.
“She might look frail and small, but she has lived more like a savage that had stayed in the forests for too long during her many years underground; she’s dauntless, ferocious and without fear, capable of fighting tooth and nail for her life at any given time. When she was being locked inside the prison cell, she actually hurt a government hireling by breaking his wrist.”
Hè Chéng sighed loudly again before saying: “But when it comes to sisterhood, I’m more inclined to believe that the stupid girl and the Oldest Young Lady are more like sisters. The stupid girl said that after the Oldest Young Lady was brought to the surface, she started to remember a lot of things, and began recognising the people gradually. Subsequently, she learned of the changes in the Marquis Residence in the past few years, playing witness to how the masters in the residence were living well, as if they genuinely believed that she did not exist in this world, and with all levels of the residence worrying over the marriage between the younger one and His Second Highness, a large amount of hatred started swelling from the bottom of her heart.
“Later on, she would frequently pretend to be the stupid girl to move around the residence, and there were even two instances where she privately interacted with Da Furen. The people in the residence all disdained the stupid girl, so they didn’t pay too much attention to her, and they managed to deceive everyone. The stupid girl said that the Oldest Young Lady’s temperament is extremely cold, and apart from her and Da Furen, she guards against and abhors everyone else, especially Lao Furen.
“Before the New Year, and after they learned that that the masters would be heading the Capital at the beginning of spring, the stupid girl realised that something was wrong with her. During the past two years, she grasped all the personnel and terrain of the residence, and she was even clear about when the servants changed shifts. On New Year’s Eve, the stupid girl saved some of the New Year’s meal and waited for her to come out to eat. After they finished the meal, she proceeded to slink towards the Buddha-worshipping Hall, and on the morning of the second day, Lao Furen was met with her demise. The stupid girl said that she already guessed that Lao Furen’s untimely demise was related to her back then.”
Bó Ruò Yōu’s eyes congealed, “The fake Oldest Young Lady and His Second Highness’ marriage was fast approaching, and the entire Marquis Anqing Residence was going to the Capital. This time, it’s highly probable that the entire Zheng clan will be settling in the Capital, and they will not be returning to Qingzhou for the next few decades, which means that she, as the person who had been hidden away, would inevitably be left inside that underground room for the rest of eternity, so she could no longer repress herself.”
Hè Chéng nodded his head, “The stupid girl did ask about it later, but the Oldest Young Lady didn’t explain it to her detail. She had no choice, and she could only continue to help her. But for some unknown reason, she originally had the chance to act against Zhèng Yún Ní, but she did not do so during those instances…”
Bó Ruò Yōu knitted her brows upon hearing that statement, contemplating for a short while before stating: “It looks like her human nature was obliterated, but she’s still capable of distinguishing the main culprits. She saved the stupid girl, and the stupid girl saved her, so she also treated the stupid girl as her trusted aide. She has been locked up for so many years, and it’s plausible that she remembers that this younger sister of hers was once locked up for numerous years, or perhaps, she wanted to leave her for last.”
Bó Ruò Yōu shook her head as she said that. In the end, she could not comprehend how a heavenly gifted and utterly admirable person like her would feel after being locked underground due to an accident that arose from many causes, hence, she had no way of completely understanding everything. When she thought about how a pair of twin sisters who could have originally got along joyously and harmoniously had fallen on this piece of land, she could only sigh mournfully. The originator that buried the funerary dolls had never been the two of them.
The real sisters never became sisters, and yet they had quite a bit of affinity with the stupid girl instead. Bó Ruò Yōu did not doubt the stupid girl’s words at all. During the frightening scene last night, the real Zhèng Yún Ní did not open her mouth to speak; she merely impressed upon people that she was cold, severe, and merciless, as though she did not possess the fear and soft-heartedness that ordinary people would have.
But Bó Ruò Yōu felt that this definitely wasn’t her full appearance, and in this world, perhaps only the stupid girl would know what kind of face the real Zhèng Yún Ní had.
Feeling slightly suffocated in her heart, she asked another question: “Did the sisters open their mouths then?”
Hè Chéng smiled sourly, “The older one stopped speaking once she entered the prison cell. She understands what she’s hearing, but she’s unwilling to open her mouth. Her person is wooden and dazed for the most part, and she immediately displays vigilance and severity once someone steps closer, which is rather frightening, as if she isn’t scared of being given a heavy sentence, and she can’t be bothered to dispute it as well. The younger one is somewhat insane and possessed, her words oftentimes lined with resentful phrases, but when she was asked about the details from that year, she’s barely coherent, and one fears that she has to be locked up for two more days to let her fully internalise her present circumstances.”
Bó Ruò Yōu became silent as she ruminated over the Da Furen, finding it all the more lamentable at the bottom of her heart. Both of her daughters had made their mistakes, but this mother was wholly innocent; she was the figure that invoked the most heartache. In that moment, Bó Ruò Yōu even went as far as hoping that her illness would become more severe, severe to the point where she could completely forget all these heart-rendering issues, for it would be better if she could live out the rest of her life madly and foolishly, but at least it would be transiently happy.
The pair were looking at each other wordlessly when they saw the Marquis Residence’s gates open, only for Huò Wēi Lóu to walk out with a group of embroidered emissaries trailing behind him.
Hastily, Hè Chéng stepped forward to welcome him, “Hou’ye, xiaguan is here to send Hou’ye out of the city…”
Waving his hand, Huò Wēi Lóu flipped onto the horseback once an embroidered emissary led his horse over, “There’s no need for a far send-off, parting ways here will suffice.” After giving a pause, Huò Wēi Lóu added, “Qingzhou’s style of governance has received an excellent evaluation for the past three years, which indicates that Hè daren has expended some effort and thought for Qingzhou’s common folk. The path of an official should be as such; if the excellent evaluation is maintained for another two years, perhaps one might have the chance to meet benhou in the Capital.”
These words happened to hold the same view as Bó Ruò Yōu’s statement that he would have a meteoric career, and in addition to how this praise personally came from Marquis Wuzhao, it made Hè Chéng exceedingly happy. He immediately lifted his robe hems and knelt down, “Xiaguan will never forget Hou’ye instructions—”
Huò Wēi Lóu did not utter another word. He swept a glance towards Bó Ruò Yōu, then raised his horsewhip to ride to the south of the city first.
Fu gonggong climbed onto his horseback as well before he said smilingly, “Bó guniang, what are [you] waiting for, we are setting off.”
The horse carriage was prepared for Bó Ruò Yōu, so she climbed on the horse carriage in a hurry, and she waved her hand at Hè Chéng before the group started moving forward.
When the multicoloured sunlight broke through the first layer of clouds, only a mirthful question that Fu gonggong was directing towards Bó Ruò Yōu could be heard, “Bó guniang, [you are] following us towards an unfamiliar land, do [you] feel afraid?”
At the carriage window, Bó Ruò Yōu smiled and shook her head, then Fu gonggong peered at the frontmost, erect and broad back figure of Huò Wēi Lóu, “Then… Bó guniang, what do you think of our Hou’ye…”