Chapter Eleven: Finding Evidence of the Third Wife's Crimes
Stay in place.
Zhao Yu seemed to have a premonition. He turned around, his narrow phoenix eyes scanning the crowded street.
There was nothing there.
Zhao Yu felt as if a piece of his heart was empty. He pursed his lips, his deep and handsome face revealing a chill, and his aura suddenly turned cold and somber.
Qin Zhitong couldn't help but ask, "Big brother, is something the matter?"
Qin Zhi's childhood was similar to Zhao Chenyu's, and the two siblings both called each other "brother" like the rest of the Zhao family.
Shen Lingyin glanced at Zhao Yu, her profile revealing a pitiful sight.
She bit her lip and said, "He'an, are you upset that I came without telling you? Ruoyu and I are best friends. She's in the capital, so it's only right that I come to welcome her."
Just after Zhao Yu picked up the Qin siblings, Shen Lingyin suddenly appeared.
Zhao Yu and Shen Lingyin once studied together at the Imperial Academy. Zhao Yu was a high-and-mighty young man among his peers, while Shen Lingyin was a famous talented woman in the capital.
It's unclear when it started, but whenever Zhao Yu is mentioned, Shen Lingyin's name always follows closely behind.
It was widely rumored in the capital that the two were childhood sweethearts, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, and a perfect match.
Shen Lingyin had hinted at Zhao Yu's intentions many times, but Zhao Yu treated everyone the same, as if there were an insurmountable iceberg in his eyes.
No one can get close.
Shen Lingyin was no exception; her hints went unanswered, and even her engagement to the Crown Prince failed to stir any emotion in Zhao Yu.
Thinking of this, Shen Lingyin couldn't help but feel angry, but she didn't dare to show it, so she could only lower her head and look very aggrieved.
Qin Ruoyu's gaze shifted between Zhao Yu and Shen Lingyin.
She put her arm around Shen Lingyin's wrist. "Yinyin, Brother He'an wouldn't do that. He must be busy with something."
Zhao Yu was impatient and glanced at Qin Ruoyu.
Qin Ruoyu was taken aback, then fell silent and lowered her head.
Zhao Yu spoke a few words to Qin Zhitong in a deep voice, explained the arrangements for the afternoon, and then turned and left.
Qin Zhitong watched his older brother's retreating figure and patted his younger sister's head.
"My elder brother is strict and values rules above all else, do you remember that?"
Qin Ruoyu stuck out her tongue, "Okay."
Shen Lingyin's smile was forced.
What exactly is wrong with her? Why doesn't Zhao Yu like her?
Zhao Yu returned to the spot he had just been. He walked through several alleys, but he couldn't find that familiar figure.
Guan Yan couldn't help but ask, "Sir, what are you looking for?"
Zhao Yu let out a breath; perhaps he had misunderstood.
"Go back to Dali Temple."
"Oh? Aren't you on your day off today?"
Guan Yan stamped his foot and had no choice but to follow.
-
Imperial City Guard.
Xiao Qingyan was coming out of the dungeon when his servant Xiao An stood guard outside, carrying a food box.
“Young master, I just got it from Miss Xu.”
The young man was dressed in black, with bloodstains on his body. His originally cold face softened instantly when he heard Xu Chumian's name.
To avoid the smell of blood on his tableware, Xiao Qingyan took a quick bath and changed into new clothes before starting his meal.
There were three dishes and a soup on the table, along with ointment for wiping wounds.
The room was immediately filled with fragrance.
Xiao Qingyan had gentle features and a faint smile on his lips.
Chu Mian was unlike any other woman he had ever met. She was raising her younger sister alone and never had the thought of abandoning her. She seemed weak, but she was extremely resilient.
Chen Feng and several colleagues saw Xiao Qingyan's expression as soon as they entered the room.
Chen Feng immediately joked, "Oh, so our Lord Xiao is a married man now."
"Let me smell it, it smells so good."
"Wow, wow, wow, whose chef is this? Tell us about it, when are we going to mooch a meal here?"
Xiao Qingyan's smile faltered slightly as he used the food box to block the others' view.
They wouldn't let anyone else look at them even once.
"You guys have a lot of free time?"
Several colleagues chuckled and walked away.
"I also need to go back and have my wife bring me food."
"snort."
The voices of the group disappeared.
Chen Feng remained where he was.
He stroked his chin and clicked his tongue, saying, "You didn't even fancy my niece. If I had the chance, I'd like to see what kind of woman would take you in."
Xiao Qingyan looked at his superior, his expression dejected, and said, "If Lord Chen has some free time, he can interrogate the prisoners."
Chen Feng: "Alright, alright, I know you treat him like a precious gem, you won't even let me mention him."
After the meal, Xiao An cleaned up the tableware.
Xiao Qingyan took out the carved jade puppy and placed it separately on the top layer of the food box.
Xiao An was also happy for the young master.
Xiao Qingyan: "Don't let her know my identity yet."
Xiao An: "Yes."
By the time Xu Chumian saw the jade puppy, it was already evening.
There was also a note next to it, which was for Mu Mu.
Xu Chumian smiled unconsciously. The jade was warm and smooth, and the patterns were cute and endearing. The sincere sentiments warmed her heart little by little.
Xu Chumian handed the things to Mu Mu.
The little girl loved it; the intact eye was bright and black.
She wrote a word in Xu Chumian's palm.
good.
Xu Chumian sat on the edge of the bed, holding her younger sister. "He is a very good person."
In the following days, Zhao Yu gradually obtained evidence against the third wife.
In the study of the Duke of Zhao, there was a thick book and several sheets of letter paper on the table.
These are all irrefutable pieces of evidence in the three-room case.
"Father needs to make a decision soon."
Duke Zhao's face was grim. He raised his eyes to scrutinize his eldest son, his eyes narrowing slightly: "How did you know all this?"
Zhao Yu leaned back in his chair, speaking nonchalantly: "I unexpectedly saw my third uncle at the gambling den, and followed the clues to investigate further."
In addition to the two serious crimes of reselling maps and lending money at exorbitant interest rates, the third aunt's family also occupied fertile land in their hometown of Anyang and abused several people.
They abused the Zhao family's name to commit all sorts of evil deeds.
Any one of these is a serious crime.
The Duke of Zhao looked extremely grim. Before his death, the old Duke had instructed his eldest son to cherish his brothers and sisters and take on the responsibility of the family.
But no one expected that the third wife would have the audacity to do such a thing.
Zhao Yu's eyes were like deep pools: "If my grandfather were alive, he would not want to see the third branch of the family destroy the Zhao family."
Duke Zhao looked at his son meaningfully. He had not mentioned it to Madam Zhang, but he had long noticed the abnormality in his son.
"He'an, the way of being an official is not about dealing with your father."
Zhao Yu lowered his eyes and said no more.
Although the Duke of Zhao valued filial piety and family ties, loyalty and righteousness came first. Even if it was his own brother, he could not tolerate harboring a rebellion.
The slightest misstep could ruin the entire Zhao family.
Duke Zhao planned to wait until a day of rest to go to the temple on the outskirts of the capital and tell his mother about this.
Zhao Yu did not linger and left the study.
Outside, Madam Zhang was watching the maidservant prepare soup in the small kitchen.
Zhao Yu stared for a moment, then looked away.
Madam Zhang called out to him, "Hey? He'an, wait a minute, you and your father should take some time to nourish yourselves."
Zhao Yu: "No need, Chu Mian—"
They're still waiting for me.
He cut off the four words.
Zhang shook her head, not having heard Zhao Yu's words clearly.
The night wind lifted the hem of Zhao Yu's clothes, and he strode into the night.
Guan Yan jogged after him.
He couldn't help but think about hiring another chef to make dishes that tasted similar to Miss Xu's...
Grandpa will be able to smile more often from now on...
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