Stone Coffin Female Corpse 2

"Speaking of Ninghai, it's always been a place of constant turmoil!"

"Stop keeping me in suspense, tell me already!"

"Hey, don't be in such a hurry, let's talk things over slowly. Do you know which family is the richest in Ninghai?"

"We're all from out of town, how would we know this!"

"It's the Qian family. Their mansion is located in the east of Ninghai. It's very grand, and they run a rice business. They're incredibly wealthy. A year ago, the Qian family welcomed a young mistress, who is the only beloved daughter of Magistrate Feng."

"Wow, merchants joining forces, the Qian family is really rich."

"Indeed. If he weren't extremely wealthy, how could he have married Miss Guan? But the problem lies with this Miss Guan herself."

"Magistrate Feng's beloved daughter was renowned throughout Jiangnan for her talent, and she was also incredibly beautiful. As the saying goes, a graceful lady is sought after by gentlemen, and in previous years, the threshold of the yamen was almost worn down by suitors. But Magistrate Feng only had this one daughter, and he was reluctant to marry her off. He also couldn't find a suitable husband, so the matter was delayed until last year."

"How come you only have one daughter?"

"You can tell at a glance that you are not from Jiangnan. Magistrate Feng's beloved wife is famous far and wide. When Madam Feng was giving birth, she was seriously injured and could not have children afterward. Magistrate Feng did not take a concubine, and the couple doted on their only daughter as she grew up."

"That's a good reputation. What happened after that?"

"After Miss Feng married into the Qian family, she was dutiful to her parents-in-law and lived in harmony with her husband. It was a well-known story for a time, but the good times didn't last long and a big incident occurred."

"Oh! Just tell me already, don't keep me in suspense!"

"Alas... this matter is truly lamentable. Miss Feng, no, I should say Madam Qian, actually had an affair with a man."

"Ah! How could this be!"

"It is said that in the woods ahead, Madam Qian and her lover were disheveled and engaged in illicit acts when they were caught red-handed by the eldest son of the Qian family. A woman who does not uphold the virtues of womanhood is to be drowned in a pig cage, but after all, she is the only daughter of Magistrate Feng, so the Qian family did not dare to go too far. However, the eldest son of the Qian family was so angry that he beat Madam Qian to death with a stick."

"Oh my god!!"

"This happened suddenly, but since Madam Qian was the one who was unfaithful, Magistrate Feng couldn't do anything about it. At the time, the Qian family refused to bury Madam Qian in the ancestral grave, saying it was unclean, so her body was taken back to the yamen."

"Although Madam Qian was at fault first, the Qian family is really too harsh."

"Indeed! It was a human life, and to make matters worse, when Magistrate Feng brought the body back, he didn't keep an eye on Madam Feng. Madam Feng loved her daughter dearly, and she couldn't catch her breath on the spot, passing away as well."

"What!!"

"The government and the Qian family severed ties, and the two families grew to dislike each other."

"After all, it involves two lives!"

"But what did you mean by saying there were constant troubles?"

"This is what happened recently. A little over a month ago, the Feng family's ancestral graves were dug up, and the corpses that had just been buried a few months ago disappeared without a trace. A few days later, a woman appeared at the yamen gate, and it was none other than Madam Qian!"

"Holy crap, is this a zombie a resurrection, or was it never really dead?"

"The common people all felt it was strange, but Magistrate Feng did not. When his beloved daughter returned, he welcomed her into the yamen without asking why, and even forced the Qian family to sign a divorce agreement, completely severing the relationship between his beloved daughter and the Qian family."

"Magistrate Feng truly loves his daughter."

"well…."

"how?"

"He does love his daughter, but he can't even tell what's important. A while ago, he used his position as county magistrate to pressure another family to marry his daughter."

"After what happened, it's one thing to keep her at home, but to expect her to marry out? Who would want that?"

"So they picked an easy target. Although the Xiao family of Ninghai also engages in business, they are small-scale and low-key. That's why their young master caught the eye of Magistrate Feng."

"Cough cough cough cough—" Upon hearing this, Xiao Congzhi, who had been calm all along, suddenly coughed, choking on a mouthful of water, which made his eyes water.

Xie Mowen also looked surprised, reaching out to pat Xiao Congzhi on the back as he asked, "Which Xiao family could this be?"

Xiao Congzhi wiped the tea that had spilled from the corner of his mouth and replied with a blank expression, "There is only one family with the surname Xiao in Ninghai."

Xu Congyun drank her tea with her head down, looking like she was in a bad mood.

Ying, on the other hand, was lost in thought. Since sitting down, she was only concerned with not letting passersby see the burns on her face.

The four of them continued their journey after dawn, and within half a day they arrived at the outskirts of Ninghai City. Thinking they would have some tea before entering the city, they stopped to rest at a teahouse outside the city. There they happened to meet a group of young people who seemed to be from out of town, chatting loudly about interesting things in Ninghai. Halfway through their conversation, the talkative teahouse owner joined in like a storyteller.

Xiao Congzhi thought he was just going to listen to a play, but he never expected that it would end up involving the Xiao family. It turned out to be a family matter. Xiao Congzhi put down his teacup, stood up, and said helplessly to the other three, "It's getting late, let's go."

Xie Mowen and Xu Congyun stood up nimbly and walked away, with Ying Girl half a step behind, floating behind the three of them.

Entering the city went more smoothly than expected. Although Miss Ying said she couldn't enter alone, the Ninghai city gates didn't actually check things carefully. Clearly, this was just a clumsy excuse. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, Xiao Congzhi winked at Xie Mowen.

"Hey? Where's Miss Ying?" Xu Congyun exclaimed in surprise, turning around to look around.

With their internal strength, Xiao Congzhi and Xie Mowen naturally sensed Ying's whereabouts, but they planned to let her go and observe her next move.

Xie Mowen said, "Her goal is to get into the city, and it's normal for them to part ways once they're there. Let's go, we'll take you back to the Xu family."

Xu Congyun nodded and, as she followed Xie Mowen, she still looked around, unwilling to give up. After walking together for most of the day, she felt a sense of familiarity about the girl named Ying.

She couldn't quite put her finger on it, nor did she have any basis for it; it just suddenly appeared in her intuition, making her somewhat uneasy.

The Xu family is a prominent family in Ninghai, and their mansion is located in the heart of the bustling city center, aiming to provide a tranquil oasis amidst the hustle and bustle.

No longer did Xie Mowen and Xiao Congzhi need to lead the way back to the Xu family home. Xu Congyun lifted her skirt and walked familiarly towards home. At first, she walked quickly and impatiently, but as she got closer, she slowed down.

Xie Mowen watched Xu Congyun's retreating figure and commented, "He feels timid as he approaches home."

Xiao Congzhi paused, took Xie Mowen's hand, and said calmly, "I have some too."

Xie Mowen turned his head away. He couldn't tell anything from Xiao Congzhi's expression, but he could sense a subtle tension from the warmth of their skin touching.

Xie Mowen grasped Xiao Congzhi's hand and squeezed it gently, which reassured him.

Xu Congyun finally held back her tears and knocked on the door. When the door opened, a servant came out and rushed into the inner courtyard upon seeing her, shouting as he ran, "Master, Madam, Miss is back!"

The tears that Xu Congyun had been holding back in her eyes suddenly streamed down her face, and once they started, they couldn't be stopped.

In the blink of an eye, a commotion arose from afar, and a group of people escorted two richly dressed individuals, hurrying towards the gate.

It must be Mr. and Mrs. Xu.

"Yun'er!" The old lady ran for the last few steps, grabbed Xu Congyun's arm and pulled her close, looking her over carefully. After a few glances, she couldn't help but shed tears. Her hands trembled as she wiped away the tears that kept flowing from her daughter's eyes, and she asked in a sobbing voice, "Are you not doing well?"

Mr. Xu was relatively calmer, but tears welled up in his eyes. He put his arm around Mrs. Xu's shoulder to calm her down, and then asked Xu Congyun with concern, "Why didn't you say goodbye before coming back? Did that scoundrel bully you?"

Xu Congyun was trembling all over. From the moment her parents came into view, she could no longer control herself. Countless emotions surged up: guilt, regret, sadness, fear...

Seeing that Xu Congyun could not respond, Xiao Congzhi stepped forward, bowed to Master Xu and Madam Xu, and said simply, "Why don't we go inside first?"

Master Xu then noticed that there were two young men behind Xu Congyun, neither of whom looked like his son-in-law. He frowned, sensing that something was amiss. He then instructed a maid to help Xu Congyun to the backyard, while he and his wife invited Xiao and Xie into the mansion.

Xiao Congzhi's decision not to let Chen Yu send a message to the Xu family in advance was based on two considerations. First, they would be making this trip and could talk to each other in person rather than through a cold letter. Second, Anling is more than ten days away from Jiangnan. If they had been informed by letter in advance, wouldn't the Xu couple have been living in fear for more than ten days?

After entering the mansion, Madam Xu originally wanted to take care of her daughter, but the fact that a strange man had sent her daughter on a long journey was also something to worry about. Therefore, she forced herself to stay calm and, together with her husband, welcomed Xiao and Xie into the reception room.

Although the servant had prepared tea, Xiao and Xie had no intention of sitting down for a long chat. Instead, they stood in the hall and explained the whole story.

After they finished speaking, Mr. and Mrs. Xu remained silent for a long time. Mr. Xu looked dazed, as if he couldn't believe it, while Mrs. Xu covered her mouth, her heart aching so much that she couldn't even cry.

Xiao Congzhi sighed, "In that case, Brother Xie and I can retire successfully." After saying that, he gestured for Xie Mowen to leave.

Master Xu took two steps to catch up, grabbed Xiao Congzhi's hand, and solemnly said, "This is a great favor, and my Xu family will do everything in our power to repay it. If you two need anything, just say so."

Xiao Congzhi smiled slightly: "It's nothing. On the contrary, I promised Miss Xu something. Once she's calmed down, you can remind her that she can come to me if she needs anything."

After leaving the Xu family, Xiao Congzhi, despite being close to his hometown, had to go to the Xiao family.

On the way, Xie Mo asked, "What did you promise Miss Xu?"

"When I asked her to speak, I promised her a life of peace and happiness as the emperor. Now I think she doesn't want to find a place to live in seclusion, so that promise is just a blank imperial edict."

Xie Mowen understood and nodded, saying, "When she saw us in Anling, she was very surprised, obviously thinking that we would not keep our promise to send her to Jiangnan. It is necessary to remind her now."

"Um."

"Xiao Congzhi".

"Um?"

"Don't look so miserable. You're going to meet your family next." Xie Mowen defiantly reached out and tugged at Xiao Congzhi's cheek.

Xiao Congzhi slapped Xie Mowen's hand away, and taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, he put his arm around Xie Mowen's shoulder, pushed him against the wall, and kissed him fiercely.

Xie Mowen instinctively supported Xiao Congzhi's waist and opened his mouth to meet the kiss. Xiao Congzhi's kisses were always gentle and delicate, but this time they carried a sense of urgency and release, ending with a light bite.

"Hiss—" Xie Mowen licked the blood bead from the corner of his mouth, looked up and lightly pecked Xiao Congzhi's lips twice, asking softly, "So nervous?"

Xiao Congzhi frankly said, "I can't say for sure. I should say my uncle and grandfather, but I never thought I would have any dealings with the Xiao family in this life."

“Back in Qilin Village, you used the surname Xiao right in front of Ge Yun, risking being discovered by the Empress Dowager and Prime Minister Jiang, to acknowledge this relationship. You must have thought about it.” Xie Mowen pointed a finger at Xiao Congzhi’s heart.

Xiao Congzhi curled the corners of his mouth and said with a wry smile, "Although my birth mother's status in the court and among the people is unknown, I am still to be included in the royal jade tablet, which has the character 'Xiao' written on it. This can't be considered a risk."

"But in the end, you used this surname. The Lin surname represents the world, the Xiao surname represents oneself. Go with it, don't be afraid."

Xiao Congzhi kissed Xie Mowen for a while longer. After calming down, he took Xie Mowen's hand and held it in his palm. He then turned around and walked towards the Xiao family home without hesitation this time.

Because Xiao Sizhao rushed back to Jiangnan, the Xiao family naturally knew that they would need to meet the emperor after the Mid-Autumn Festival, but they did not know the exact date. Therefore, they were on high alert every day after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Xiao Congzhi and Xie Mowen had just seen the plaque of the Xiao residence when they saw someone run out of it. Who else could it be but Xiao Sizhao?

Xiao Sizhao rushed forward with a joyful expression, about to kneel down, but Xiao Congzhi flicked his sleeve and caught him with his inner strength, jokingly saying, "Don't kneel, how are you going to explain this kneeling?"

Xiao Sizhao quickly pulled his sleeves together and stood aside, bowing his head in self-reflection: "It was I... I was inconsiderate."

Xiao Congzhi picked up his folding fan, patted Xiao Sizhao on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Let's go."

Xiao Sizhao turned and led Xiao Congzhi into the mansion. When his gaze fell on Xie Mowen, he frowned slightly, pretending not to see him.

Xie Mowen shrugged, deciding not to argue with Xiao Sizhao at this moment.

The Xiao family was indeed low-key. The gatehouse was small, and the mansion was not large either. It was located in the suburbs, far from the bustling city, and the furnishings were simple at first glance. There were also very few servants. The more Xiao Congzhi walked, the more he felt indebted. He did not show it on his face, but his heart sank deeper and deeper.

Xie Mowen was only half a step behind Xiao Congzhi, his eyes occasionally glancing over. He could notice even the slightest movement Xiao Congzhi made. He cleared his throat and asked, "Why is there no one to serve us in this mansion?"

Xiao Sizhao glanced back at Xie Mowen. He didn't like this person, but since he was someone the emperor always kept by his side, he couldn't not answer since the question had been asked. So he lowered his eyes and replied, "Knowing that His Majesty was coming, and fearing that there would be too many people around, we sent them all back after the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Xiao Congzhi frowned: "Wouldn't that cause a lot of inconvenience?"

Xiao Sizhao quickly replied, "No. Scholars don't like extravagance anyway, Your Majesty need not worry about it."

After saying that, he turned around and continued to lead the way. Xiao Sizhao's tone became increasingly cheerful: "These past few days, my father has been urging me to keep watch at the gatehouse. I didn't expect to actually do it. Otherwise, I would have been negligent."

Xiao Congzhi pondered, "I should have informed you in advance, but I really wasn't sure of the time. I hope this time won't disturb you?"

"Your Majesty can come at any time. Right now, Father and Grandfather are in the garden, probably reading. Otherwise, they would be at the gatehouse keeping watch."

Xiao Congzhi suddenly realized that he had been thinking too little about the Xiao family, from the past to the present.

“The garden is just ahead.” Xiao Sizhao stopped. “I’ll go in and tell them, so they won’t be impolite.”

Xiao Congzhi raised his folding fan and placed it on Xiao Sizhao's shoulder. Meeting Xiao Sizhao's questioning gaze, he said earnestly, "Although there is no kinship in the imperial family, I have come to Jiangnan this time not as an emperor. Even if I am only in a corner of Jiangnan, I hope you will treat me as Xiao Congzhi."

Xiao Sizhao was taken aback. It wasn't that he didn't understand the emperor's meaning, it was just...

"Congzhi is the name bestowed upon me by the late emperor; it is my courtesy name."

Xiao Sizhao's pupils contracted slightly. The king was not yet twenty years old and should not have a courtesy name. Whether it was "Congzhi" or a name bestowed by the late emperor, it was something that had never been heard of in the world.

"Just think of us as江湖人士 (jianghu people) visiting relatives." Xie Mowen patted Xiao Sizhao's chest, then put his arm around Xiao Congzhi's shoulder and led them towards the garden.

Xie Mowen moved too fast, and Xiao Sizhao didn't even have time to react before the two of them entered the garden side by side. When he hurriedly walked forward, he saw a group of people kneeling in the garden, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

Xiao Sizhao froze, his face expressionless: "I didn't expect my mother to be here today."

Xiao Congzhi looked at the three people kneeling on the ground, raised his hand to rub his temples. As soon as he entered the garden, his maternal grandfather, Old Master Xiao, stood up and looked in his direction with some hesitation. Xie Mowen said directly, "I was delayed on the way. I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting."

Before Xiao Congzhi could even blink, the three people in the garden knelt down. There was no time to stop them. Xiao Congzhi had reason to suspect that they had practiced before. Their speed even surprised Xie Mowen, who hurriedly removed his hand from Xiao Congzhi's shoulder.

"Alright, there's no need to rush things," Xiao Congzhi said, raising his hand and walking towards the head of the table. He said in a calm tone, "Get up."

As Xiao Congzhi turned and sat down, the four members of the Xiao family stood in front of him with their heads down, like four quails. Xiao Congzhi sighed, "I came here to visit my relatives. If you treat me like this, you'll think I'm here to interrogate you."

Xiao Sizhao, the most composed person in the room, raised his head and replied with a serious expression, "I wouldn't dare."

Xiao Congzhi rubbed his temples again: "Never mind. Si Zhao told me before that the Xiao family had some plans?"

“It’s not a scheme.” This time it was Old Master Xiao who spoke. He still didn’t look up, but looked at the ground. His voice was strong. “Since His Majesty ascended the throne twelve years ago, the Xiao family has started some businesses, mostly in the shadows. We have accumulated a lot of assets. Scholars don’t like extravagance, and we don’t have any use for them. If His Majesty needs them, he may take them.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Congzhi closed his eyes briefly, his breath quickening. When he spoke, his voice was deep and hoarse: "The Xiao family has been a scholarly family for a hundred years, with a profound heritage. Since I ascended the throne, I have sold my ancestral property and moved to Ninghai. For the next twelve years, I have kept a low profile and secretly amassed wealth. Over the years, the entire family has lived a simple and frugal life, solely to accumulate this wealth, without expecting it to be of any use. It's just... just something prepared for me. Such deep affection and kindness should not be easily overlooked."

Old Master Xiao stopped speaking and stood with his head down, seemingly unwilling to accept Xiao Congzhi's words. With him like this, the other three quails dared not speak either, and the entire garden was extremely quiet for a moment.

Xiao Congzhi smiled very faintly, and when he spoke again, his voice was filled with deep weariness: "I understand what the Xiao family means."

After saying that, Xiao Congzhi stood up and prepared to leave, but Xie Mowen pressed his shoulder down and pushed him back down.

Xiao Congzhi raised his head, looking at Xie Mowen with a bitter expression. Xie Mowen looked at Xiao Congzhi, but said to the four members of the Xiao family, "Now there is only a little over a month until His Majesty's birthday. The situation in Yidu is turbulent and unpredictable. We have traveled thousands of miles to Jiangnan. How could it be for that asset!"

Xiao Congzhi stood up again, pressed Xie Mowen's hand, and told them to stop talking. He looked at Old Master Xiao, took two steps forward, and said in a low voice, "An emperor cannot be hindered, much less controlled by maternal relatives. I understand your concerns. But if I can't remember the deep kindness of my maternal family and disregard blood ties just to eliminate the threat of maternal relatives, then I, as an emperor, would be too incompetent, and you would be too distrustful of me."

Old Master Xiao did not raise his head, but his body trembled slightly.

"If you insist, I will not force you. If I need to use those assets, I will definitely take them. When I take over the reins of government in the future, I will not mention the relationship between the Xiao family of Jiangnan and me, nor will I mention where these assets came from, and I will not expect Xiao Sizhao to come to Yidu to help me."

Xiao Sizhao suddenly raised his head and looked at Xiao Congzhi. Finally, from these words, he completely understood what Xie Mowen had told him that day: if they were not careful, they would be no different from the likes of Jiang Xiang.

Touched by these words, Xiao Sizhao's father looked up at Xiao Congzhi and, in the depths of silence, asked softly, "Does my son possess anything that can assist His Majesty?"

“I have read Si Zhao’s article.” Xiao Congzhi raised his head and looked at the distant sky. It was early winter, and the sky was getting dark. He said calmly, “After eliminating the Jiang family, the court will definitely be short of people, but it will not lack Xiao Si Zhao. However, I am confident that I can control the court. I just don’t know if Elder Xiao is willing to trust me?”

"Your Majesty," Old Master Xiao began, "once you step into the quagmire of power, no one can remain sober forever. Twenty-two years ago, my daughter insisted on marrying into the imperial family. At that time, the late Emperor had not yet ascended the throne, but the situation was becoming increasingly clear. I made the decision that the Xiao family would not enter the palace. However…"

Old Master Xiao finally raised his head and looked straight ahead: "It's been so many years, I can't tell if this persistence is a grievance against the imperial family."

Xiao Congzhi suddenly turned to look at Old Master Xiao, only to hear Old Master Xiao continue, "I don't want to get involved with the imperial family. My daughter died under mysterious circumstances almost twenty years ago. She was never even listed in the royal jade tablet. Her identity has been distorted by rumors. I don't even know where her body is buried!"

Xiao Congzhi hurriedly stepped forward, stopping a step ahead of Old Master Xiao, and said solemnly, "My mother is buried in the imperial mausoleum, her name is engraved on the jade tablet, but not in the same place as mine. The late emperor..."

Xiao Congzhi's words came to an abrupt halt as Old Master Xiao's trembling hand touched his cheek, and he saw a glimmer of light in Old Master Xiao's eyes.

“I knew it was similar; your eyebrows and eyes are exactly the same as your mother’s.”

Xiao Congzhi suddenly realized that the reason why Old Master Xiao did not want to raise his head earlier was not because he was intimidated by the emperor's power, but because he dared not see his face and his eyebrows and eyes that resembled his mother's.

Before he could dwell on it for long, Old Master Xiao stopped and straightened up: "Si Zhao, if you like her, take her with you. Even if the Xiao family becomes a regent and a hindrance to the emperor, I won't live to see it. The living have no say in what happens after death."

Xiao Congzhi wanted to say something, but after pursing his lips, he ultimately remained silent.

Old Master Xiao continued, "His Majesty just said he's here to visit his family, so let's have dinner here. When he leaves tomorrow, let's maintain proper decorum between ruler and subject, and not spoil Si Zhao."

Xiao Congzhi chuckled and nodded in agreement.