Last plan

That night, I had a very uneasy dream, and then I heard the wind chimes ringing again.

In her memory, the last place Sui Zhixu was conscious was the lake below the cliff. The lake water was freezing cold in the dead of winter, and the water rushed into her mouth, nose and ears.

Silence, a deathly silence, and Xu could even feel the blood draining from his wounds.

Sui Zhixu didn't know why she was convinced that she heard the sound of wind chimes. Her body gradually sank down, and darkness enveloped her, like a lurking beast that would devour her in a moment.

The last glimmer of light vanished completely before his eyes, and Xu suddenly awoke with a start, still gripped by the fear of surviving the ordeal.

wrong.

Countless earthenware jars were displayed on the walls of the house, and rustling sounds kept coming from inside. Xu Zhixu instinctively felt that it was insects crawling.

She turned her head to look. The linen curtains and the simple furnishings inside clearly indicated that this was not Jianjia Pavilion. The place was filled with a strange medicinal fragrance and a faint smell of blood.

Jianjia Pavilion?

How could she possibly compare a place she didn't even know about?

"The Gu worms in your body have flared up again? Don't you know?" A voice, neither clearly male nor female, drifted to her ear through the wooden door.

She was somewhat stunned, silently waiting for the person outside to come in. The moment she pushed open the door, it was bright daylight. She raised her hand to shield her eyes, and a blurry figure stood in the light.

Before I could even see the person's face clearly, the silver ornaments on their chest jingled.

The next second, Xu fainted, the crisp sound still ringing in her ears.

She slightly opened her eyes, and the gauze curtain made of mermaid silk came into view. She reached out and pinched her cheek to confirm that what was in front of her was reality.

Is it a memory from the past?

Gu worms? Is that person Jiang Li?

As dawn broke through the window, light streamed into the room through the window frame. Disturbed by her dream, her mind was foggy. She quietly got out of bed.

She rose at sunrise to attend to her duties. Knowing that the most important thing right now was Mingyi's case, she suppressed her chaotic dreams and stepped out the door.

Upon seeing Dan Hong rushing over, Sui Zhixu returned to the Sui family home, where Dan Hong was naturally also present.

Dan Hong leaned closer to Sui Zhixu and lowered her voice, "Last night you gave the envelope to Ning San Niangzi, and this morning some people went to the government office to beat the drum and appeal for justice, accusing An Yuanbo of privately issuing usurious loans."

"Emperor Anyuan?" Sui Zhixu slowly raised his eyes to look at Dan Hong. "Mingyi's father?"

Dan Hong: "That's right, there is no second Earl An Yuan in Chang'an."

"Help me wash and dress up as a maid from the Ning family. I'll go find Ayan now."

Mingyi had already made arrangements for this. According to the laws of the Great Qi, if there is conclusive evidence that an official is privately issuing usurious money, he will be dismissed from office. The Earl of Anyuan has no official position, and his empty title is insignificant in Chang'an City. Naturally, he will be stripped of his title, and in more serious cases, he may even be demoted.

Mingyi's father has lost his title. If Madam Ming wants a divorce, the elders of the Ming family will help her. It all depends on Madam Ming herself.

By the time Sui Zhixu had washed up, changed his clothes, and rushed to the government office, the matter was basically over.

She spotted Ning Yan in the distance and quietly followed the crowd to Ning Yan's side. "How could it be so fast?"

The government has always been harsh on those who sue officials or those who sue for titles, often delaying the process.

Ning Yan turned her head and whispered, "Young Master Cheng brought evidence. I feel like he found out a long time ago. With conclusive evidence and the Marquis of Wu'an's heir here, the government will naturally make a decision soon. Once it reaches the emperor's ears, the Earl of Anyuan's title will be completely gone."

Sui Zhixu glanced around and asked, "Where are they?"

Cheng Zhijie was nowhere to be seen, nor was An Yuanbo. Only a few emaciated commoners who had come to file a complaint were present in the hall.

Everyone who saw it was deeply moved.

Xu Yiran sighed with regret. An Yuanbo squandered the Ming family's money, spending his days in brothels and red-light districts. Madam Ming indulged him, letting him spend money like water.

Unexpectedly, he was still not satisfied, or perhaps Madam Ming had inflated his appetite. Over the years, the Ming family's wealth only went out and never came in, eventually running out.

He started lending money at exorbitant interest rates, endlessly extorting money from these impoverished people.

With no recourse for their grievances, the Earl of Anyuan grew increasingly arrogant, a trait that persists to this day.

“Mingyi was gentle and mild-mannered. I never imagined she had this side to her. She was still a human being, and even a clay figure has some spirit. It’s just a pity.” Her voice choked with emotion.

Ning Yan regretted something, and Xu Zhi knew it all too well. Ming Yi had prepared everything, but died on her way out.

Alternatively, she might be able to leave, but after a while, the poison will take effect, and she won't live much longer.

While Xu and Ningyan stood aside whispering, Cheng Zhijie, An Yuanbo, and Ming Niangzi were talking in the second hall behind the main hall.

He remained indifferent to his father-in-law and mother-in-law, even as Ming Niangzi clutched his clothes and pleaded desperately.

"I have to admit that you are indeed important to Mingyi." After a long while, Cheng Zhijie coldly looked at Mingniangzi kneeling on the ground at his feet.

At first, Ming Niangzi's face showed hope, but then her complexion gradually turned pale.

“You’ve let her down again.” Cheng Zhijie pulled at the hem of his shirt. “She made countless decisions for you, but the final choice is in your hands.”

Cheng Zhijie smiled and gently helped Ming Niangzi up. "She won't blame you. She can't bear to part with you, but she has chosen not to see you."

Cheng Zhijie's smile was so eerie that Ming Niangzi, who looked similar to Xu Mingyi, instantly burst into tears.

Cheng Zhijie felt irritated. They were mother and daughter, with such similar faces, yet so different. Cheng Zhijie was somewhat relieved that Mingyi had grown wildly like a cattail on the estate.

No, Cheng Zhijie looked up and met the eyes of Xu Zhituo, Mingyi's biological father, who had been hiding behind Ming Niangzi's frail body.

Mingyi has always been unyielding.

Long ago, Xu Mingyi actually had a younger sister named Mingzhen, the "zhen" in "treasure".

Xu Zhituo was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the ninth year of Jianwu (620 AD). In the same year, he became the son-in-law of the Ming family, and Mingyi was born the following year.

Xu Zhituo and Ming Niangzi once had feelings for each other, but those feelings completely disappeared with the passage of time.

Two years later, after the passing of Old Master Ming, Xu Zhituo became increasingly arrogant. In Xiao Mingyi's memory, her father rarely came home, and when he did return home a few times, he always smelled of perfume and alcohol.

In the sixteenth year of Jianwu, when Xiao Mingyi was seven years old and Xiao Mingzhen was five, Xiao Mingzhen fell seriously ill. Mingniangzi kept crying, resenting Xu Zhituo for not coming home no matter how she called him.

She kept sending servants to look for her. Xiao Mingyi was holding the listless Xiao Mingzhen in bed, speaking softly and gently rocking her as she told her a story. The girl in her arms slowly closed her eyes, and Mingyi continued to tell the story, tears falling onto Xiao Mingzhen's eyelashes.

"Zhenzhen, shall I tell you a story, big sister?"

Xiao Mingyi, holding Mingzhen, continued, "During the Jin Dynasty, there was a man named Wang Zhi who went to the mountains to chop wood. He saw several children, some playing chess and some singing. Wang Zhi went closer to listen... A day in the mountains is like many years in the world."

As the air grew cooler, Xu Zhituo still hadn't returned by dawn. Ming Niangzi screamed her heart out outside the tent, while Mingyi cried inside, until she couldn't utter a single word. She held Mingzhen in her arms, burying her face in Mingzhen's shoulder.

Her concept of death was too vague. She only knew that Mingzhen was seriously ill, that she no longer spoke, no longer called her "elder sister" in her soft, sweet voice, and that she had no smile, no laughter, and no breath.

There will never be another one.

The candles lit by the maid in the middle of the night gradually dimmed, and Xu Zhituo finally returned, carrying his usual scent of perfume.

Mingyi stepped out of the tent and saw her mother sobbing softly, her heart breaking. Suddenly, she smiled. Her mother had always relied on her father, even after Zhenzhen died.

Why is Zhenzhen gone?

Where was Zhenzhen's father when she was sick? He always had a strange fragrance about him. She caught a glimpse of the candlestick out of the corner of her eye, picked it up, and smashed it straight at Xu Zhituo's head.

That's settled then. Zhenzhen misses him a lot, so he should go and keep her company.

He should go.

The cheap perfume powder mingled with the smell of blood, the remains of candles rolled away, and the screams of the maids filled the air. Some called for a doctor, others for people to carry Xu Zhituo. In the middle of the night, the Anyuan Earl's mansion was in complete chaos.

Ming Niangzi watched helplessly, crying uncontrollably, her mind a complete mess. In a panic, she threw away the blood-stained candlestick from her hand, hugged Xiao Mingyi tightly, and murmured, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, your mother is here."

The candlestick clattered to the ground with a "clang," and a few drops of blood flowed down it onto the floor.

Mingyi didn't say a word, just quietly looked at Xu Zhituo.

Xu Zhituo collapsed to the ground, unconscious whether from drunkenness or something else.

When he woke up again, the monks that Ming Niangzi had invited were chanting the Ksitigarbha Sutra in the front yard to pray for Mingzhen. Xu Zhituo's head was spinning. He didn't even know what had happened. He remembered that last night someone from the Earl's Mansion called him back and said that the Second Madam was seriously ill and that she had passed away the next day.

And the wound on her forehead—that's from that wretched girl!

How dare they commit patricide at such a young age!

Xu Zhituo's anger surged, and he rushed to the front yard. Prayer flags fluttered in the air, covered with dense Sanskrit characters.

Xu Zhituo paused, and Mingyi turned to look at him, his eyes filled with deathly silence and resentment.

"How come you're still alive?"

Mingyi didn't speak, but Xu Zhituo seemed to have heard her.

She was clearly a child. Xu Zhituo was so frightened that he quickly stepped back. Get rid of her, get rid of her immediately. What a wicked child! She was definitely a wicked child. Yet, not a single monk in the entire courtyard noticed her.

She absolutely cannot be left in the Earl's mansion; she will definitely harm him, she definitely will!

It doesn't matter, he can take a few concubines, she's just a young woman anyway.

Xu Zhituo acted quickly. After Mingzhen's burial, he hurriedly arranged for someone to send Mingyi to a manor outside the city, constantly cursing Mingyi as a scourge and a wicked creature who was reincarnated to harm him.

Xu Zhituo slapped Mingyi across the face and angrily chased her away from the Anyuan Marquis's residence.

Mingyi looked coldly at Xu Zhituo, which strengthened Xu Zhituo's resolve. Mingniangzi hugged Mingyi and cried at the door, whispering in her ear, "No, your father won't have any other children. Your mother gave him a drug that would prevent him from having children. He will only have you as his daughter. You will be back soon."

Mingyi's eyes flickered with desire, and he touched Mingniangzi's face. "You've always been submissive to him, why..."

Before Mingyi could finish speaking, Xu Zhituo roughly shoved her into the carriage, watching Mingniangzi get further and further away.

I stayed there for ten years...

Mingyi was given a new surname and became Xu Mingyi. She still did not go back. Xu Zhituo held onto the hope that he would still have a son. Mingniangzi still put him first. He changed Mingyi's surname, and Mingniangzi remained silent.

He wouldn't let Xu Mingyi come back, and Madam Ming acted as if this woman never existed. He wanted to take concubines and have children, and Madam Ming took one after another for him.

Later, Cheng Zhijie found a reason for Xu Mingyi to return home. Ten years later, Xu Mingyi was much smarter, and she learned to pretend.

She still couldn't let go of Ming Niangzi. Cheng Zhijie asked her, "You still can't let go, and you're still caught up in your mother's struggles."

Cheng Zhijie described the conflict between Ming Niangzi and Xu Zhituo as a struggle. Ming Niangzi was a pitiful person; she loved Xu Mingyi but didn't love him enough.

She regarded Xu Zhituo as her guiding principle and put him first in everything. At a certain moment, a powerful maternal love suddenly erupted, shattering her divine authority. This outburst exhausted all her energy, and she fell silent again, becoming Xu Zhituo's most loyal follower.

In her memory, Xu Mingyi smiled gently, and she imagined the gardenias on the branches in the morning dew, pure white and flawless. "Perhaps mother and daughter are connected by heart. My blood comes from her. I don't have the courage to sever this blood. Xu Zhituo has never cared about me. I can give her up, but she is different. I care about even the slightest bit of goodness in her."

Cheng Zhijie knew that Xu Mingyi had repeatedly asked Mingniangzi to divorce him. After returning home, she dealt with Xu Zhituo's concubines and maids, some of whom were also his doing. Xu Mingyi gave these innocent people money to go home, so that even if they lived a slightly more frugal life as independent women, they would still have enough to eat and wear for the rest of their lives.

Cheng Zhijie ignored Xu Zhituo and accelerated the process of stripping Xu Zhituo of his title. He left the second hall and looked at the emaciated people in the courtroom. Cheng Zhijie wondered to himself if he had made a mistake.

He was also an executioner, but he never admitted it.

With the machinations of the Marquis's family, the imperial edict stripping Xu Zhituo of his title reached his hands at noon.

On the sixth day of the third month, his more than ten years of life in the Earl's mansion came to a complete end.

The government would pursue the smuggled people for excess interest, but Cheng Zhijie's smuggling treasury would provide relief, offering them food and money, and finding them a job to support their families once they were able to support themselves.

While secretly observing Cheng Zhijie, Xu Zhituo and his companion discovered that Cheng Zhijie handled everything with ease. The only connection between Xu Zhituo's lawsuit and the case was that Xu Zhituo was Xu Niangzi's biological father.

The Xu family members who have been missing throughout the case.

Although they knew that Xu and the others had not gone to the Xu family to investigate the case, they were aware that Mingyi's suffering in the first half of her life came from Xu Zhituo, but these were unrelated to the case. Xu Zhituo could not possibly have killed the woman who had married him and brought him fame and benefits.

Although there may be no real benefit, this can be seen from Xu Mingyi's actions.

However, Xu Zhituo still did not have the courage to kill the Crown Prince's wife.