Chapter 111: A Turning Point

As dusk settled, the autumn sun cast a warm golden glow over the courtyard of Ji'an Hall. Children's clothes hung out to dry on rows of bamboo racks, swaying gently in the evening breeze like colorful banners.

The rocking horse in the corner has faded paint, and the red rope tied to the swing has also faded, but it still sways gently in the breeze, as if children had just played there.

In the corner, several clumps of late-blooming chrysanthemums were in full bloom, their delicate fragrance mingling with the sweet scent of the old osmanthus tree not far away, creating a warm and fragrant atmosphere in the air.

Meng Yutong led Bai Zhi into the courtyard, carrying newly made autumn and winter clothes and several packets of commonly used medicinal herbs. She had been busy with wedding preparations and hadn't visited the children in a long time.

"Miss Meng has finally arrived!" Qiu Niang came out of the house to greet her, her eyes crinkling with laughter. She quickly took the things from her hands. "The children were just talking about it a few days ago, saying that Sister Meng hadn't come for a long time. Could it be that you've forgotten about them?"

Several children playing in the courtyard gathered around upon hearing the sound, calling out "Sister Meng" in their cheerful voices. When they saw what she had brought, they swarmed around the stone table, curiously examining the novel toys, their laughter echoing through the courtyard.

Meng Yutong and Qiu Niang sat down on the stone bench, smiling as they watched the heartwarming scene. Qiu Niang sighed softly, her voice gentle, "I heard that you and Physician Ji are married, and I haven't yet congratulated you on your wedding. You two are a perfect match, a match made in heaven." She paused, then lowered her voice, "To be honest, I was originally thinking of introducing you to my nephew, but it seems I'm a step too late."

Qiu Niang looked lovingly at the children playing and continued, "Although Physician Ji appears cold, he has the softest heart. He comes here every month without fail to provide free medical care, rain or shine. The children love to pester him with questions, and the expenses of Ji'an Hall are largely thanks to his secret assistance. With such a kind heart, he will surely be a good husband."

Meng Yutong smiled faintly and remained silent, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the patterns on the stone table.

Just then, a small figure quietly squeezed next to her.

Just then, a little person suddenly squeezed in next to her. The little girl was wearing the cat mask that she had given her, with two small buns on her head, and a pair of smiling eyes could be seen through the holes in the mask.

The setting sun cast a warm glow on the mask. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the little girl's pupils were a rare amber color.

"Xiaoxue, haven't you been looking forward to Sister Meng's visit every day?" Qiu Niang gently reminded her, "Let your sister play with you for a while."

Xiaoxue took off her mask, revealing her delicate face. She gently tugged at Meng Yutong's sleeve, gazing at him expectantly.

Meng Yutong was slightly taken aback.

Gazing into those amber eyes, she seemed to see another face for a moment. A secret thought quietly took root in her mind, and she unconsciously grasped Xiaoxue's hand, her heart surging with emotion.

"Little Xue, be good," she gently stroked the girl's head, "go play over there for a while, I'll talk to Qiu Niang for a bit and then come find you."

Xiaoxue hugged the mask and nodded happily. She skipped and hopped to the corner of the wall, squatted down, and began to observe the ants moving house intently.

Meng Yutong turned to Qiu Niang and asked, "Qiu Niang, how old is Xiaoxue now?"

After a moment's thought, Qiu Niang replied, "She must have been a little over one year old when she was brought to Ji'an Hall. She has been here for three years, so she is four years old now."

After hearing this, Meng Yutong's suspicions deepened. So, the age matches up.

She remembered that Ji Yun had mentioned that Xiaoxue had been abandoned in front of Ji'an Hall.

She then asked, "When Xiaoxue was brought here, did she have any tokens on her person?"

Qiu Niang nodded. Seeing Meng Yutong's concern, she asked her to wait there while she went inside and searched for a while. Soon after, she came out with a small box in her hand. "This is all I have."

Meng Yutong opened the box and saw a woven bracelet lying quietly on the red silk.

The knot is made using a rare spiral braiding technique, with five-colored silk threads interwoven to form an intricate sun pattern. A perfectly round amber bead is embedded in the center, shimmering with a honey-like luster in the sunset.

“This is a ‘longevity thread’ unique to Nanzhao,” Qiu Niang explained. “Legend has it that when a Nanzhao woman gives birth to a daughter, she will personally weave such a bracelet with sunflowers to pray that the child will rise like the sun and have a safe and prosperous life.”

Meng Yutong lightly touched the amber with her fingertips, feeling its warm and smooth texture.

“This weaving technique is quite ingenious,” she said, raising her eyes nonchalantly. “Could I borrow it for a few days to observe? I’d like to learn how to weave a similar one.”

"If Doctor Meng likes it, then take it," Qiu Niang readily agreed.

After playing with Xiaoxue for a while, dusk had fallen. Meng Yutong bid farewell to Qiu Niang, but instead of returning directly to the mansion, she took a detour through the Imperial Street.

As dusk settles, vendors line both sides of the Imperial Street. The shouts of fruit vendors, the drums of acrobatic troupes, and the aromas from food stalls intertwine to create a lively scene of everyday life.

She stopped in front of a stall specializing in woven items, and the stall owner immediately greeted her with a smile: "Young lady, you're here again. Did you like the cleverly designed rings that your family of three bought last time? I've just received some new woven ropes of all colors and styles. Young lady, take a look and see if there's anything you like."

The stall was filled with a dazzling array of bracelets, from the simplest colorful ropes to exquisite styles inlaid with pearls and jade pieces, and even exotic silver bell bracelets. It was indeed much more abundant than other places.

Meng Yutong's fingertips brushed over rows of silk ropes, finally stopping in front of a hand rope about the width of a finger. The rope was made of gold thread with a pattern of blooming sunflowers woven from crimson silk thread, just like Xiaoxue's.

"Young lady, you have a good eye!" The stall owner eagerly took out a bracelet. "This is a genuine Nanzhao daughter's bracelet, symbolizing peace and good fortune. In recent years, it has become popular in Lin'an due to its unique design."

Meng Yutong took out Xiaoxue's bracelet and handed it over: "Could you please take a look? Is this the Nanzhao weaving method?"

The stall owner examined the lantern closely for a moment, then nodded confidently: "No mistake! Although it uses thread from Lin'an, the spiral weaving and sun pattern are definitely Nanzhao craftsmanship."

Meng Yutong understood perfectly. She carefully put away the bracelet, then casually selected a few more decorative ropes before leaving.

As night deepened and the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) approached, the courtyard of Zhaoyutang was immersed in tranquility.

The persimmon tree in the corner of the courtyard cast dappled shadows in the moonlight, its ripe fruit like tiny lanterns hidden among the leaves. The pomegranate tree beside it had already finished blooming, its unripe fruit swaying gently in the evening breeze.

Ji Yun stood quietly outside Meng Yutong's house, gazing at the flickering light inside the window.

It made him feel that in this vast world, there was finally a place where he could find peace of mind, and people he cared about.

He stood outside the door for a long time, just watching quietly, without knocking or making a sound.

The door creaked open from the inside, revealing Meng Yutong standing there. Her dark hair was still damp with moisture, and her light purple nightgown accentuated her jade-like skin. Her long, black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a spring waterfall. A gentle breeze blew through the courtyard, and Ji Yun could almost smell the faint fragrance of her freshly bathed body.

"Come in," she said softly.

Ji Yun unconsciously curled the corners of his lips: "Waiting for me?"

Meng Yutong didn't answer and walked straight into the inner room. The small room was already cramped, and the addition of a desk by the window made it even more confined. She sat down on the edge of the bed and, seeing that Ji Yun was still standing there, patted the empty space beside her.

"How is the situation in the palace today?"

Ji Yun sat down as instructed, his tall figure immediately blocking out half the candlelight in the room, casting a shadow over the room, and the distance between the two suddenly became extremely close.

Meng Yutong shifted back awkwardly, but then took out an oil paper package from his pocket.

“These are dried lychees.” He handed them over, and seeing her confusion, he explained gently, “My grandfather went to Lingnan last summer, and I wrote to him asking him to bring back some fresh lychees. Unfortunately, his return was delayed, and the lychees were out of season. When he came back a while ago, he only brought back some dried lychees. But they are still dried lychees from Lingnan, so they should taste better than those from other places.”

He gazed at her, his voice gentle: "I remember you said that the lychee shell in that sleeping incense recipe was made from lychees that your father brought back when you were a child. You couldn't bear to eat them back then and kept them. Try it, these are all made from fresh fruit dried in the shade, so they should still retain some of the original flavor."

After their conversation yesterday, their relationship seems to have undergone a subtle change.

Meng Yutong opened the paper package, picked up a piece, and put it in her mouth. The flesh was sweet and mellow, with a faint honey aroma. Although it wasn't as juicy as fresh fruit, it had a unique flavor.

She swallowed the dried fruit in her mouth, the sweetness spreading across her tongue. She looked up and asked, "Has something happened in the palace today?"

Ji Yun lowered his long eyelashes, a chilling aura emanating from him: "Qing Shu is dead."

Meng Yutong paused, her eyes filled with disbelief: "Dead? Did he commit suicide?"

Ji Yun nodded: "The surviving assassin never confessed, but Jin'an's token was found on him. My aunt took the opportunity to request a reinvestigation of the Qiu Haitang case, and the guards found a pot of red jade and gold cups in Jin'an's bedroom."

His voice grew somber. "After Qing Shu confessed to all the crimes, he committed suicide by hitting his head against a wall. This case is of great importance. Although someone has taken the blame, a servant cannot bear such a crime. I have provided witnesses who can prove that Jin An had colluded with Qing Shu before, but Jin An only confessed to the Qiu Haitang case. She has pinned all the blame for the assassination on Qing Shu. Currently, Jin An has been stripped of her princess title and is temporarily imprisoned in Jinglan Pavilion. I previously offered to participate in the entire case, but today I used my poor injuries as an excuse to postpone the trial."

Meng Yutong frowned, her tone growing increasingly urgent: "If we continue the investigation, we can only start with that assassin. Is he safe in the palace? If something happens to him, this case will likely be left unresolved. What has the Empress Dowager's reaction been? Has she pleaded for Jin'an?"

If Consort Ruxian really takes action against that assassin, things will be much easier. He delayed the trial precisely because of this turning point.

Ji Yun reached out and patted her hand gently, reassuring her softly, "Don't worry, Aunt has already made arrangements and won't let the clues go cold. As for the Empress Dowager Xian's indifference to this case, it seems she wants to distance herself from Jin'an."

Meng Yutong glanced at him and glared at him. Ji Yun nonchalantly withdrew his hand and looked away.

Meng Yutong took out the bracelet from her sleeve and handed it to Ji Yun: "I went to Ji'an Hall today. This was given to me by Qiu Niang. She said it was a keepsake that Xiaoxue carried with her when she was sent here as a child. Look at the pattern. It's a style unique to Nanzhao. And Xiaoxue's eyes. I don't know if you've noticed, but her pupil color is very rare. It's amber, just like Jin'an's."

Ji Yun quickly realized what was going on, his eyes narrowing: "You suspect that Xiaoxue is Jin'an's daughter?"

Seeing Meng Yutong nod, he took the bracelet from her hand and pondered, "I'll investigate. If that's true, the fact that she kept Xiaoxue means she still has a weakness. Perhaps we can start from there."