Chapter 71 He wouldn't take such a risk...

However, if he really lies to her and hides things from her, there is nothing she can do.

Seeing that he had no intention of speaking after a while, Yu An immediately turned to leave.

"I didn't mean to hide it from you. Today I was just trying to catch the leader of a group that transported iron tools from the iron mine. I didn't expect that the other party was carrying explosives. I was just injured by accident."

Yu An stopped and looked at him again: "Does that mean you've caught him?"

He nodded, his eyes revealing no sign of doubt, and it didn't seem like he was lying.

Regardless of today's situation, what's done is done, and it would be pointless for her to dwell on who it was for.

Never mind, even if he intentionally lied to her, she wouldn't be able to tell.

Yu An said nothing more and turned to leave.

The iron mine was shut down that night, and Wei Ji interrogated the leader all night long. Even after Ji Jinghe went to the county government office during the day, the leader still didn't utter a single word.

"As far as I know, the Shen family can't offer you much money, so why are you so devoted to them?" Wei Ji wondered.

The man remained silent, bound to the rack, looking as if he were ready to be killed or tortured at will.

But he couldn't kill him. Even if Wei Ji wanted to be ruthless, he had to be careful, for fear that the man wouldn't be able to withstand it and would die.

Wei Ji cracked his whip and went out to find Ji Jinghe.

"Sir, you still won't speak."

"Go down and issue the order to seal off Jiangling City and thoroughly investigate the blacksmiths and iron mine owners within the city."

Now that we've torn off pretense, the Shen family will find out sooner or later anyway, so we might as well go all the way and investigate what we can control before they make their move.

Wei Ji accepted the order and left, while Ji Jinghe got up and walked into the interrogation area.

The man, barely alive, hung on the rack. When he saw Ji Jinghe approaching, his eyelids drooped, but a sneer appeared on his lips.

"Does a nobody like me need a high-ranking official like you to risk your life to protect me?"

"You know I'm a high-ranking official?" Ji Jinghe picked up the branding iron from the brazier and glanced at it, his expression completely nonchalant.

"The way the county magistrate bows and scrapes to you, how could he not be a high-ranking official?"

"Now that you know, you should quickly pour out what you know to avoid physical pain."

Ji Jinghe looked up at him and said disdainfully, "You're not the only one in this world who knows about this. While you still have some use, the real thing is to find a way to save your own life."

"Aren't all you officials the same? If you hadn't been so incompetent, I wouldn't have had to do these petty thefts..."

Ji Jinghe stopped there, having no intention of arguing with him, especially since he wasn't an official in Jiangling.

Ji Jinghe was busy checking all the blacksmiths in the county, staying at the county government office every night and not even going home.

These days, Yu'an has been living comfortably and has not cared about Ji Jinghe's affairs. She even learned that he had not returned for several days from Chen Shi asking Baozhu at the dinner table.

"He still has such serious injuries, and he's not taking medicine or resting. How can he possibly get better?"

"Such a grown man, how could he die from burns?" Li Baozhong said coldly, taking a bite of his steamed bun.

Chen clicked her tongue. "That wasn't a burn, it was an blast injury. How many people in the military have lost limbs because of these wounds? And you're just hoping for your grandson-in-law to be successful?"

Li Baozhong snorted and turned his head away, ignoring him.

Yu-an: "He's such a grown man, he knows his own affairs, so Grandma, don't worry."

Mrs. Chen was surprised, "So you don't care at all, girl..."

Yu An put down her chopsticks and said helplessly, "Grandma, you don't know him. He's the one among us who needs the least care. So don't worry about him."

Back home, Yu'an had just picked up the storybook when there was another knock on the door.

It's an old lady.

Baozhu opened the door and saw Chen carrying a paper package and a food box.

"I'm old and it's inconvenient for me. Please take me to the county government office by car."

"Didn't we agree that we wouldn't interfere?" Yu'an put down her book and got up to take it.

Mrs. Chen said, “At least you are doing this for the people. Even if your relationship with your husband is not good, you should still do this well. He is injured and has had a fever for several days. No matter how strong and healthy a person is, he will eventually break down.”

“I didn’t say that, your maternal grandfather said it,” Chen said in a low voice. “Don’t be fooled by your grandfather’s stubbornness. Just now, as soon as you left, he started saying, ‘Good child, be obedient. Go not only for Jinghe, but also for the people.’”

Yu An had no way to argue, so she opened the lid of the food box, saw the food inside, and sighed silently.

The old woman didn't know the truth, but she did.

Ji Jinghe was doing this because of her, so sending her food and medicine wasn't unreasonable.

She agreed, then changed into warmer clothes and took a car.

Inside the county government office, the lights were bright, but the arrival of uninvited guests made the atmosphere even more somber and oppressive.

Before we even got close, we could hear arguing coming from inside.

"Snap!"

The teacup made a crisp sound as it fell to the ground.

"Ji Jinghe, what have I said to you?!" Shen Yi stood with his hands behind his back. "I told you not to get involved in this matter, why won't you listen? Not only do you disobey your grandfather, but you've even abandoned your mother?"

“My mother has been married into the Ji family for decades. I don’t know how many times the Shen family has thought of her. When she was seriously ill and bedridden in the Shen family, why didn’t even a single member of the Shen family come to visit her?”

Ji Jinghe questioned in a cold voice, his expression extremely indifferent.

Shen Yi stared at him, and heard him say again, "If my maternal grandfather hadn't insisted on seeing my mother before he died, I don't know if my uncle would have sent a message to my mother, asking her to come to Lizhou to attend the funeral."

A brief silence fell over the room.

Shen Yi narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth, cursing, "Well done, Ji Jinghe. You are indeed a good son of the Ji family. You have learned everything from your father. Back then, if you hadn't been so selfish and ignored me, would I have ended up in Huilizhou?"

"Your mother is my only biological sister, but when I failed the exam, she didn't care at all. Did she even lend me a hand?"

"Now that I'm living a good life, you're interfering again... What's wrong with me earning my own money? Why do you have to drive your own uncle to the brink of extinction?"

Ji Jinghe stared at him and sneered, "Isn't my uncle also trying to kill me? Weren't those people who rushed out in the middle of the night sent by my uncle?"

"yes!"

Shen Yi pointed at his nose, "I just want to kill Chu Yu'an. If it weren't for her, would you have come to investigate me?"

"Let me tell you, you and she should give up on that idea as soon as possible. If you want to bring down the Yan family, go ahead and try to become the head of the Spring and Autumn Period!"

"She brought down the Xia family, and now she wants to bring down the Yan family. I just don't understand, what benefit would she get from taking down the Yan family? Wasn't the Chu family's case already overturned?"

Shen Yi held his breath, which caught in his chest, unable to move.

"It's a matter of right and wrong, and has nothing to do with any particular family. The Yan family has shaken the foundation of the nation, so they deserve to be punished. Uncle, if you still respect the law and care about the lives of the Shen family, you should confess now and tell the truth."

Shen Yi: "Delusion!"

"You sue me today, let's see how many days you have left to live."

He turned and left, and as he opened the door, he immediately saw the figure standing not far away.

Shen Yi walked straight ahead, as if he hadn't seen Yu Anren.

Yu An was stunned. When she arrived, she heard Qing Que say that Shen Yi had come. But a moment later, before she even reached the door, Shen Yi came out.

Looking inside the room, Ji Jinghe was nowhere to be seen.

She stepped inside, placed the two food boxes on the table, and looked at him. Ji Jinghe was sitting at the table writing something.

Her face was flushed, her brows were slightly furrowed, and she was wielding her pen very quickly.

“My grandmother asked me to bring you some food and medicine. Since you’re not feeling well, you should take care of your health,” she said.

Ji Jinghe looked up and realized that it was her.

“I’m perfectly fine, there’s no need for Grandmother to worry.” He put down his pen, stood up, and closed the door. “It’s so cold outside, you shouldn’t have come.”

Looking at the hot tea that Ji Jinghe had poured for her, she naturally noticed the water stains from the broken teacup at her feet.

It's clear that the conflict between the uncle and nephew was quite significant.

"Did your uncle say anything when he came?"

"It's nothing, he just won't cooperate," he said casually.

She didn't want to pry into their relationship.

Ji Jinghe was determined to investigate the matter thoroughly, but the Shen family's attempts to persuade her only exacerbated the conflict. This was just the beginning; she really didn't know what would happen later on.

She couldn't understand why Ji Jinghe was in such a hurry this time, since the Emperor clearly had no lower limit on the time.

"Your maternal grandfather said you should keep a close eye on your injury, lest it worsen," Yu'an advised before preparing to leave.

Take care of yourself during this time, and be careful when you go out.

After saying that, Yu An opened the door and left.

She no longer inquired about Ji Jinghe's affairs. Whenever there was a new development, Su Mu would come to report it, but Yu An was not very interested, and it probably went in one ear and out the other.

Baozhu asked in bewilderment, "So, Miss doesn't care?"

“It’s no use caring, I can’t help anyway.” Yu An sighed.

"I'm starting to regret it. You know, the Chu family's case has already been overturned, and they're now completely innocent. Is it even worth investigating the Yan family's framing of my father for colluding with a foreign general?"

Baozhu: "Of course it's worth it. Wasn't the reason the late emperor was determined to punish you, sir, precisely because of your collusion with foreign generals?"

Although no one cares about it now, the murderer is still the murderer, so how can we let him go?

Baozhu seemed to have figured it out. He patted her shoulder and said, "Girl, don't be afraid or worried. The path is under your feet. If I keep investigating like this, there will eventually be a result."

However, the leader spoke again the next day, saying that he was not the only one delivering goods to the Shen family; there was also an iron mine from Lizhou. They would meet each other every time they delivered goods.

After tracing the route, it indeed matched the information provided.

Ji Jinghe suddenly returned home, also because of this matter.

He is going to Lizhou.

"This matter started because of me, so I'm going too."

"This has nothing to do with you. You stay here and I'll be back as soon as this is over."

Yu An was confused. "Investigating the Yan family is my business, how did it become yours?"

“When your family had that trouble back then, I couldn’t help. Now, whether it’s for my own good or not, it’s my responsibility to take care of this matter.” Ji Jinghe stood up. “You should rest. I’ll stay at the county government office tonight.”

Yu'an felt speechless, and before she could react, the person had already opened the door and disappeared.

During the day, Chen and Yu sat together and began to chat about the things around them.

"Do you remember the child you used to play with when you were little? The Zhang family next door, the same age as you, always busy with the family business, and still not married."

Baozhu sat beside her, winding silk threads, and laughed, "You were quite the leader of the kids when you were little, with so many playmates."

"What do you think?" Mrs. Chen said with a satisfied look. "She was so naughty when she was little. All the old women in the neighborhood told me that you were born into the wrong family and should have been a boy."

Ms. Chen clicked her tongue in surprise, "Don't interrupt."

"That boy from the Zhang family, your mother and I almost arranged a marriage between you two when you were little. If your father hadn't been promoted so suddenly, it might have actually happened."

Looking at it this way, it really seems like they were destined to meet but not to be together.

"Actually, I think it's fortunate that we didn't make a decision. It's all about things from when we were kids. What if we regret it when we grow up?" Yu-an said earnestly.

Chen chuckled, as if to say, "I know you too well." "That young man from the Zhang family is so handsome, how could you possibly regret it?"

Li Baozhong had previously mentioned to her that if Yu'an could get a divorce, finding another Zhang family member wouldn't be a problem. They would be a good match, and she could live nearby and be taken care of.

Just then, a sound came from outside the courtyard.

Someone called out.

Everyone opened the door to look, and before Yu'an could react, she heard Chen Shi immediately greet her with a smile.

"Xiao Bai, what brings you here? You've returned from Jingzhou City?"

Yu An squinted as she watched Chen take a basket of fresh vegetables from the top of the wall.

The man was handsome, a real heartthrob. Their eyes met, and he spoke first.

"Grandma, this must be Yu Niang."

“Yes, yes, this is Yu Niang.” Madam Chen greeted her. “Yu Niang, this is Zhang Bai, the son of the Zhang family I just mentioned.”

"Hello, Brother Zhang Bai." Yu An bowed slightly and gave a greeting.

Zhang Bai said with a smile, "I didn't believe it when my mother told me you were back. I hadn't seen you for so many years, I didn't even recognize you."

"I don't recognize you either."

"I'm afraid it's not that you don't recognize it, but that you've completely forgotten it," Zhang Bai joked, saying a few more words while perched on the wall before bidding farewell.

From then on, the two families kept exchanging gifts over the wall.

Li Baozhong: "If you ask me, this Zhang family boy seems better than that boy. I suggest you, Yu Niang, get a divorce and remarry."

"You old fool, what nonsense are you spouting..." Chen tapped the rim of her bowl.

Li Baozhong frowned: "I'm serious, this is Jiangling, not the capital. Why are there so many rules? Divorce and remarriage are not uncommon."

The elderly couple chatted and laughed, which Yu'an enjoyed listening to, but never took it to heart.

That evening, Su Mu sent word that another merchant caravan of the Shen family had been captured in one fell swoop, along with Shen Yi's "confidant." Upon receiving the news, the Emperor had dispatched Zhang Yanche south to assist in a thorough investigation.

Having power makes all the difference; the effects were seen in just four or five days.

Baozhu listened attentively, then looked surprised: "Doesn't that mean the Shen family will be thoroughly investigated?"

Yu An: "You could say that..."

If you do the math, it only took about two months, including the time spent traveling.

Baozhu interrupted, making Yu'an forget what she wanted to ask. After Su Mu left, the matter was left in a daze.

One day, when she went out to buy groceries, she happened to run into Zhang Bai, who was also going out, at the door.

"Brother Zhang, are you going out?"

"Yes, I'm out checking out the shop, going out to buy groceries so early," Zhang Bai said with a smile.

"You have to get up early to buy groceries."

Yu An responded generously, without the slightest awkwardness. Her kind and cheerful personality was endearing, and the conversation quickly became engaging and unstoppable.

For a moment, I stopped paying attention to the person standing not far away.

Baozhu was momentarily dazed, raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sun, and squinted as she looked.

After Zhang Bai left, she nudged her young mistress with her elbow, "Miss, I think I just saw the old man..."