Chapter 72 The Truth Behind the Breach Case (Part Two) If I Win, Would You Be...?

Hearing this, anyone would find it unbelievable. Wang Yan asked her, "Why? It can't be that you don't allow me to wear the same color as you, can it?"

Zheng Qiuhui grabbed her and dragged her away without a second thought, saying, "Your clothes are too ugly, I'll get you a new one."

“Hey—” Wang Yan winked at Shen Minghuai, pretending that he couldn’t win against Zheng Qiuhui, and was pulled away by her.

Shen Minghuai followed Pan Haixia into the pavilion in the lake. Zheng Ying'er sat obediently beside her mother, as if she had overheard something she shouldn't have known.

"I would like to ask Madam Pan for a small favor."

Pan Haixia agreed without hesitation, “I won’t tell anyone about what happened to Madam Wang. Now that the culprit is dead, you two don’t need to worry, this matter will definitely not reach the capital.”

Shen Minghuai was speechless for a moment. “Madam Pan, you’ve misunderstood this matter. A-Ying wasn’t bullied by anyone. She just couldn’t stand people like that doing such despicable things with impunity.”

Pan Haixia's eyes widened suddenly, and she said with shame, "I'm sorry. I misunderstood. Fortunately, the women here no longer have to live in constant fear."

Since her mother returned to the manor, Zheng Ying'er had not had the chance to ask this question. Now she could finally speak: "Was it Mother... who silenced her?"

Pan Haixia corrected her daughter, saying, "This isn't called silencing him; he deserved it."

Shen Minghuai looked up and saw the woman's face radiant with spring, her pupils as black as ink, pure and unadulterated. He suddenly felt as if a snake was coiled opposite him, waiting for its chance to strike.

"Is it really you?"

“It’s us.” Pan Haixia’s expression instantly softened into a gentle smile. “What favors does Young Master Shen need from me?”

Shen Minghuai calmed himself down and slowly explained the matter of borrowing the account book. He was pondering how to persuade her when Pan Haixia unexpectedly agreed again. Based on the previous misunderstanding, Shen Minghuai repeated what he had just said to make sure she hadn't misheard.

"I know, it's just an account book from five years ago. Don't worry, I'll get it for you in two days."

"Is it really that simple?" Shen Minghuai wondered, and asked again and again, "Are there any other conditions? If you want to terminate the contract—"

"Do you think I'm stupid? Where am I supposed to find so much money to spend if I leave the Zheng residence? You saved me, I helped you, we're even."

Seeing Zheng Qiuhui chase after them into the garden, Pan Haixia quickly led her daughter and fled. Wang Yan, with a thick layer of rouge on her face, came running after them; Zheng Qiuhui clearly couldn't outrun her.

"Stop laughing, it's impossible to wipe off, can you leave now?!"

Shen Minghuai pursed his lips and carefully wiped it off, but it really wouldn't come off. Zheng Qiuhui's cries grew closer and closer, and Wang Yan, holding Shen Minghuai's hand, quickly fled the Zheng residence.

"Bad boy! Don't ever see me again!"

On the thirtieth day of the first lunar month, Qin Dai went out of the city again. But this time, he wasn't going to look at potential partners; he was going mountain climbing. Shen Minghuai and Wang Yan followed him discreetly, suddenly appearing before Qin Dai at a fork in the road.

"Young Master Shen, what a coincidence. It's you again."

Wang Yan turned around in confusion, "What methods did you use?"

Shen Minghuai shrugged and sighed, "I did my best."

"Hurry! Let's go." Wang Yan tugged at his sleeve and quickly followed.

The three of them reached the summit effortlessly. While they couldn't claim a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains—the mountain was only about twice the height of Mingfu Temple Pagoda—the scenery, though not as grand as Du Fu's poem about reaching the summit, was still beautiful. A few farmers were loosening the soil, with scattered green shoots dotting the landscape.

Qin Dai looked at the two of them, panting, with great envy, "Young and strong, it's effortless... but when you're old... you're out of breath."

Wang Yan quietly walked to his side. "We've climbed the mountain and seen the scenery. Can we sit down and talk now?"

Qin Dai, supporting his back, walked to the pavilion and sat down. "It's time to rest."

"Uncle Qin, do you still remember—"

Qin Dai interrupted him directly, "I have to remember this and that every day, how can I remember so much? I can't remember it all."

“You’ve been in the prefecture for so many years, you must be well aware of those shady dealings. If we let things go unchecked, the next breach could happen at any time. How many more times can Huazhou withstand this? Why should the people living here suffer man-made natural disasters?” Wang Yan spoke his heart out.

Qin Dai didn't care much and said, "Don't talk to me about these grand principles. You two have no proof. Even if I really believe that you intend to overturn Lord Wen's case, the account book was destroyed five years ago. I can't help you."

Shen Minghuai replied, "But I've heard that the previous prefect investigated many wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice. These records must have been lost in the flood, right? How could he possibly verify them?"

Qin Dai joked, "The former prefect had extraordinary abilities, so why don't you go ask him? Why are you looking for me?"

Shen Minghuai pressed on relentlessly, saying, "This shows that someone is trying to pass off fakes as genuine; the files destroyed five years ago were all fake."

Qin Dai burst into laughter, "Young Master Shen, I admire your imagination. Who has such an ability to switch the prince with a cat? Do you know how many files are in the archives?"

Wang Yan lost his patience and said directly, "I swear in my father's name and he swears in his father's name that we are really here to clear Lord Wen's name. Since you have the account book, you should help us."

Qin Dai said to her very seriously, "I didn't say I didn't believe you. You say you do, and I say I believe you. It's very fair and reasonable."

Shen Minghuai suddenly realized what was going on, took out Zhao Can's list, and handed it to Qin Dai. "This is the list Zhao Can gave me. None of the people on it participated in the major overhaul five years ago."

Qin Dai's expression finally changed. "Zhao Can?"

Shen Minghuai explained, "Five years ago, when he was serving as the magistrate of Baima County, Lord Wen handed this list to him."

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Wang Yan was about to explain in detail how they obtained the roster to prove that it was genuine. However, there was no need to waste any more words this time.

Qin Dai smiled with genuine relief. "This roster was given to him by me. You've finally gotten the opportunity you've been waiting for."

The two followed Qin Dai back to his home, where he looked at the floor for a while before moving a chair, removing the wooden board, and placing page after page of account books on the table. His fingers slid over the unbound scraps of paper, finally stopping at one spot, which he pulled out. It was the record of all the materials used for annual repairs five years ago.

Wang Yan asked in surprise, "Are those all dossier files down there?"

Seeing her utterly bewildered expression, Qin Dai said disdainfully, "That's why I told you two to watch your step."

Shen Minghuai suddenly bowed deeply to Qin Dai, "Thank you, Uncle Qin. We will definitely overturn this case."

Qin Dai also became very serious, bent down to help Shen Minghuai up, and held his hand tightly, "I'll be waiting for your good news in Huazhou."

Next, they only needed to wait for good news from Pan Haixia. Before they could hear anything from the Zheng family, they were greeted by the arrival of Li Changling, who, as expected, brought back physical evidence that the people of Linghe Town had not participated in the major repairs, as well as a witness. Just then, Pan Haixia sent someone with news.

"Doesn't that mean we can return to the capital after receiving the account books tomorrow?"

She hadn't been this happy since leaving the capital, completely oblivious to the silent silence that had fallen between the two remaining people in the room. Wang Yan muttered to herself, wondering when she should return home…

That day, Wang Yan got up early and, while Shen Minghuai went to retrieve the account books, went to the morning market with Li Changling to eat a bowl of dragon beard noodles. After a fresh rain, people were shedding their heavy winter clothes and donning lighter garments, and more and more people were going out for spring outings. The willows on the riverbank had already sprouted buds, and it wasn't until the fragrance of plum blossoms filled the air that one noticed a touch of red on the plum blossoms in the courtyard of the small shop.

Not long after, Shen Minghuai returned with a letter. When his gaze fell upon Li Changling but found none, he knew that he would ultimately be the one to speak. A bitter feeling welled up in his heart, and he slowly looked at Wang Yan. The moment their eyes met, the cunning in her eyes vanished, replaced by hope. It was as if a drowning person, no matter how hard they tried, could not reach the other side with their cries of despair. He couldn't speak.

Li Changling took the letter from his hand and looked at it, then froze on the spot.

Why are you all being so mysterious? Wang Yan frowned, snatched the letter away, and stared blankly at Shen Minghuai. "Is it true?"

"The Marquis of Anxi is imprisoned, and the Fifth Prince is established as heir apparent."

Li Changling steeled his heart, took out Wang Fuzhi's letter, and stuffed it into Wang Yan's hand.

Tears welled up on the note, blurring her vision with the words "You shouldn't have come back." She suddenly remembered the Marquis of Anxi's relative by marriage, who had been summoned back to the capital. Li Changling had only mentioned him briefly that day, and she hadn't heard from him since. Silently, she realized she had been kept in the dark.

Wang Yan clutched the letter and demanded, "Didn't you ever intend to let me return to the capital?"

"Aying..." He finally spoke again, it was necessary to speak, facing the ending he had already guessed when he embarked on this path. Before leaving the capital, his heart was still wavering, but recently he noticed that Wang Yan's condition was getting worse and worse. If she wanted to get rid of the nightmare, she could not go back to that place.

Shen Minghuai took two steps forward with difficulty, but his outstretched hand was violently flung away. His beloved was sobbing uncontrollably in front of him, but he dared not hug her again.

"Did you even ask for my opinion? I could have stayed with you in that dangerous place, sharing the hardships, so why did you push me away..."

No one comforted her. She sat in the carriage leaving Huazhou, tears still streaming down her face. They returned to Shangjing together, and Wang Yan then traveled south with Li Changling. During the day's journey, Wang Yan didn't utter a single word.

Ten miles from the city gate, Shen Minghuai changed horses to return to the capital, and Wang Yan did not get out of the carriage to see him off.

He called out one last time, "Aying".

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Wang Yan leaned against the curtain, watching his shadow linger before the window for a long time, and tears continued to flow.

Li Changling couldn't bear it and advised her, "At least say goodbye."

Wang Yan slowly lifted the curtain, and the person who had been waiting for a long time brightened up. She quickly leaned out and grabbed him.

"Shall we go back to Beijing together?"

Shen Minghuai abruptly withdrew his hand, forcing a smile. "I was born to become the next Duke of Dingguo. This is not only my destiny, but also my choice."

Duke Dingguo, Duke Dingguo, why do you still want to be the same Duke Dingguo! Is power really that important? Wang Yan asked one last question, unwilling to give up: "Are you really unable to let go?"

Shen Minghuai was silent for a moment, then spoke again: "I can't let go."

Just as she was about to close the window without any hesitation, Shen Minghuai called out again.

"Aying!"

She still couldn't bring herself to do it, telling herself to at least let him finish speaking. Shen Minghuai approached and presented one of the jade pendants to her; she was certain she hadn't misheard.

"If I win, will you be my wife?"

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Author's Note: The next chapter will be told from the female protagonist's perspective, focusing on Yan'er's healing journey.