Chapter 12. Which beast did this? Daddy's going to kill him...
Chapter 12
Six months ago, after Sheng Qingge was brought back to Suzhou by Jiang Yuchu, she left behind a suicide note written in blood and took poison in prison less than a day later.
Every word in the blood-written letter was a lament and an accusation against Gu Wenlang's betrayal. She accused him of being greedy for wealth and status, saying that marrying the princess was just a means for him to climb the social ladder. However, after the affair was exposed, she shifted all the blame onto Sheng Qingge, causing the princess to develop great hostility and murderous intent towards Sheng Qingge, which forced Sheng Qingge to go south.
Apart from that, the suicide note did not mention the princess's death, and Gu Wenlang's body was retrieved from the lotus pond in the backyard of the princess's residence. After an autopsy, it was confirmed that he had drowned.
It turned out that after Sheng Qingge went south, the princess disdained to bother with courtesans anymore and instead turned her anger towards the culprit, Gu Wenlang. Unable to bear the humiliation, Gu Wenlang finally poisoned the princess and his unborn child. Afterwards, fearing the emperor's wrath and that Sheng Qingge might kill him out of hatred, Gu Wenlang committed suicide after the princess's death, and his body was only recently recovered.
After Gu Wenlang's body was found, the emperor ordered the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice to convict Gu Wenlang. Before He Hansheng could return to Huadu, the entire Gu family was executed to appease the spirit of Princess Biyue in heaven.
This was the result the emperor wanted, but for He Hansheng, the truth was definitely not that simple.
The princess was poisoned by her husband, so who was the one who wanted to kill Sheng Qingge? In order to survive, she humbled herself and maneuvered among the powerful and wealthy, desperately trying to escape under the influence of various forces, and even went so far as to kill Song San Niang, who was on good terms with her. With such a strong will to live, how could she have committed suicide by poisoning herself after being imprisoned and before the trial?
The case was shrouded in mystery, and He Hansheng wanted to continue the investigation. However, with the end of the year approaching, letters from home were being delivered to his desk one after another. Even the Emperor himself issued an edict ordering him to return to the capital immediately to spend the New Year with his mother.
With less than a year to go before his father's death anniversary, and his mother all alone at home, He Hansheng naturally had to return to Beijing early to prepare for his father's New Year memorial service.
On the eve of his return to the capital, He Hansheng sat by the window, holding in his hand a woman's moon-white sash embroidered with green begonia flowers. It was left by Shen Suining that day, while the one he had tied around his waist that day had been mistakenly taken by her.
He Hansheng stroked the pattern on the belt with his fingertips, lost in thought, until Jiang Yuchu knocked on the door several times to bring him back to his senses. He quickly wrapped the belt around his palm and hid it in his wide sleeve.
"Young Master, I have made all the arrangements and we will be able to depart soon." Jiang Yuchu pretended not to have seen He Hansheng's panic earlier.
He Hansheng was silent for a moment, then said, "Okay."
Jiang Yuchu looked up at He Hansheng. "This time, we will be traveling by land back to the capital. Forgive my impertinence, but when we pass through Yangzhou, I wonder if you... would like to make a trip to Shuyu Manor to meet with Master Shen?"
“No need,” He Hansheng blurted out, then realized something and looked at Jiang Yuchu with a more scrutinizing gaze. “You’ve been putting a lot of thought into important matters lately, and you’ve even learned to make arrangements for me.”
"Your subordinate wouldn't dare," Jiang Yuchu lowered his head. "Your subordinate just feels that I haven't thanked Hall Master Shen in person for capturing Sheng Qingge last time. If you think it's unnecessary, then just pretend that I never mentioned this matter."
Three days later, He Hansheng stood at the foot of the stone steps in front of the gate of Shuyu Manor with Xie Li.
Jiang Yuchu went up and knocked on the door. After a long while, the person inside finally opened the door again and said impatiently, "I've already told you, the heads of all the halls in our Shuyu Manor are surnamed Shen. I don't know which one you're looking for!"
“I have already said that it is Master Shen of Bifeng Hall.”
"There's more than one Hall Master Shen in the Bifeng Hall!" Xing Li raised her voice. "If you don't understand, get lost! Don't waste my time!"
Just as Xing Li was about to close the door, Jiang Yuchu quickly stopped her, squeezing out a crack. "It's that Master Shen who recently went to Qianchunfang in Suzhou! Please inform her that we have important business with her!"
Xing Li scoffed, "You're trying to trick me, aren't you? None of the hall masters in our manor have left their homes in the past month! Get out!"
The two were pushing and shoving each other in front of the door when Shen Yan happened to see it.
The group stood in the pavilion on the mountain, with a clear view of the scene at the entrance. Shen Yan frowned and asked, "Who is visiting? How could Xing Li be so impolite?"
Xun Zong glanced at him and smiled, “Xing Li dares to act so recklessly, probably because the young master instructed him to do so.”
“It’s Ningning again,” Shen Yan’s brows relaxed and his eyes were filled with laughter. “These children have all been corrupted by Ningning. They are all extremely naughty.”
Shen Yan continued down the steps, and in the time it took to turn a small corner, Jiang Yuchu had already been pushed out the door by Xing Li.
Since it was Shen Suining's instruction, even if he didn't know the reason, Shen Yan didn't need to care. However, in the instant he turned around, he caught a glimpse of He Hansheng standing at the foot of the mountain.
Shen Yan was stunned and stood there.
...
Shen Yan arrived at Shen Suining's residence, Yuquan Villa.
Madam Shuyu was giving a speech when Shen Yan heard it before he even stepped inside.
"Who exactly are those two people Xingli chased away? Are they another romantic entanglement you've gotten yourself into?... No? If they aren't, why don't you just go out and meet them openly? Shen Suining, don't try to fool me with the same tricks you use to fool your father. Your mother isn't stupid!"
"Don't care about you? Do you think I'm free to bother with you? You'd better make things easier for me. You just went out for a bit and caused so much trouble. Luckily, Feng Yu was there this time. If you were in jail, I'd be ashamed to go down the mountain to bail you out!"
"Yes, you rescued Feng Yu, but this could have been avoided! Besides, what price did you pay to make up for this mistake? I often tell you to be careful, but you ignore me! You were just lucky that you had Feng Yu to bail you out when things went wrong!"
"..."
Seeing that Madam Shuyu's scolding was getting louder and louder, Shen Yan hurriedly went to help. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Shen Suining kneeling on the ground unwillingly, while the others stood to the side with their backs turned, not daring to breathe.
Shen Yan looked at Shen Suining, then at Madam Shuyu, who was quite angry. "What's wrong? Did Ningning make you angry again?"
"Ask her what good deed she did!"
Shen Yan looked at Shen Suining, "Ningning, what happened? Tell your father."
"I got ambushed," Shen Suining said softly, seemingly feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Upon hearing that his daughter had been attacked, Shen Yan immediately became anxious. "Is she injured? Is she alright? Did Jishetang take a look at her? What did they say?"
“I’m not injured,” Shen Suining coughed twice and mumbled, “Jishetang has examined me and prescribed me a contraceptive decoction.”
"……What?!"
These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly silencing Shen Yan.
He looked at Madam Shuyu and understood why she was so angry today. Even Shen Yan was furious when he found out about it.
"Which beast did this! Father will go and kill him!"
"I'm still sitting here, why are you meddling?" Madam Shuyu called out to Shen Yan, calming him down for a moment. "I've already ordered a kill order to be issued in the martial arts world, you don't need to worry about this."
"Jianghu pursuit..." Shen Yan paused in surprise, "There's no need for such a grand display, after all, it concerns Ningning..."
"He murdered my daughter, and I'm already being incredibly lenient by not having him hanged on the city gate tower and whipped!"
"..." Shen Yan and Shen Suining silently looked at Madam Shuyu.
"Stop peeking! Even if that bastard ambushed you first, it's no excuse for your carelessness!"
Shen Suining immediately looked away, stammering, "Actually, the reason you're angry is simply because you feel I've been wronged. But don't you think about it? Is the daughter you raised yourself the kind of person who would let herself be wronged?"
"..." Madam Shuyu almost choked on her breath. "Say that again?"
“Ahem, um… I just heard from Xun Zong that Sui An’s letter has arrived. Would you like to go and take a look, my lady?” Shen Yan offered a way out at the right moment.
Madam Shuyu remained stern and refused to back down, but Shen Suining, quick-witted, seized the opportunity and said, "My elder brother has sent a letter, I'll go get it right away!"
"..." Madam Shuyu was so angry that her head was spinning. Shen Yan quickly helped her sit down and poured her a cup of tea.
Madam Shuyu took the tea, her expression instantly turning sour as she gave Shen Yan a cold look. "You certainly know how to behave. Ningning is young and inexperienced, and you're always there to smooth things over and blindly help her. Is this something you can just brush off with a shoddy job?"
Shen Yan was used to it; whenever his wife was upset with Ningning, she would always take it out on him.
"Of course I know that causing trouble is a big deal, but Ningning's personality is such that the more you go against her, the less she'll understand. Since she's stubborn and thinks it doesn't matter, why do you have to expose her little secret?"
"You're the only one who understands."
“I’m used to it. I always have to appease the younger ones first, then the older ones,” Shen Yan said with a smile, holding Madam Shuyu’s hand. “That’s just my fate.”
"At your age, aren't you ashamed?" Madam Shuyu withdrew her hand with a hint of disgust, her anger subsiding considerably, but replaced by an unconcealable worry.
"Did you see the two people Xing Li chased away?"
“Yes, I saw it.” Shen Yan knew what Madam Shuyu wanted to say. After a long silence, he sighed, “He and his father look so alike. Even from a distance, I can recognize him as Brother Jingchuan’s son at a glance.”
Madam Shuyu also felt sorry: "Brother He died young. This is the first New Year he has spent since he passed away. Since you cannot go to the capital to pay your respects, you can set up a mourning hall at home to express your feelings."
"Thank you for your understanding, Madam."
"The camaraderie among soldiers may be hard for others to understand, but I certainly do," Madam Shuyu said, holding Shen Yan's hand. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have risked being discovered by the court to go and support your brother Jingchuan after years of living in seclusion and avoiding trouble, upon hearing that he was heading south to fight against the Japanese pirates."
Shen Yan held his wife's hand tightly in his palm.
“However, after that child inherited the title,” Shen Yan closed his eyes, seemingly in pain, “the promise I made to Brother Jingchuan will never be fulfilled.”
A note from the author:
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