Chapter 61: Move like a ginseng and a shang (3) Human pig.
In November, everything is entering autumn, the sky is yellow and the wind is slightly cool.
The Anxiang couple treated them very well, caring about their well-being and taking good care of them, but Meng Xuanli still felt that living there was a real intrusion, even if Anxiang didn't say anything. After some thought, she decided to move out with Fuyao.
Meng Xuanli found a small courtyard in town, with three main rooms, a front yard, and a backyard. The backyard was especially beautiful, with its splendid wood and unusual rocks. Although old, it felt very peaceful.
In no time, Meng Xuanli bought it.
On the day of moving out, Anxiang was very reluctant to leave. Her eyes were red and she pulled Meng Xuanli aside to tell him many things.
Meng Xuanli was grateful and replied, "I'll trouble you and Fuyao with the shop's affairs first. The accounts will still be settled once a month according to the old rules. If you encounter any difficulties, just come to me directly." Her body gradually became heavy, and she found it difficult to stand for a long time or bend down to take medicine.
An Xiang understood: "Don't worry, my lady. I will take good care of the shop. You can just focus on recuperating."
Meng Xuanli nodded, and after giving some more instructions, he and Fuyao went to the new courtyard. It faced the street, and there were two trees outside the door: a winter jasmine and a locust tree. The neighbors' doors were closed, and it seemed no one was there.
"Madam, I heard from the broker that these two families went to Dongdu to do business. They are away all year round and only come back during the Chinese New Year."
Meng Xuanli nodded and pushed open the door. "So that's how it is." Seeing the courtyard was pristine and new, she tilted her head and asked, "I remember it wasn't this clean when I came here. Is this you...?"
Fuyao helped her in and said as they walked in, "It's Miss Anxiang and her husband. When they heard we were moving out, they renovated the courtyard. Miss Anxiang said my wife likes to swing, so they set up a swing in the backyard."
Meng Xuanli was stunned for a moment, then suddenly thought of the swing in Puyuan, which Lu Guanque had cut down and built a new one. Later, due to many things, she never sat on the swing again...
"I didn't expect she still remembered." Meng Xuanli shook his head slightly, as if sighing, "It's a warm day. Go take out the bedding and dry it in the sun. You can have a good sleep tonight."
Fuyao smiled and nodded: "I'll go right away."
Meng Xuanli rubbed her temples and poured herself a cup of tea. Her gaze fell on the pile of fallen leaves in the distance, golden and oily. After gazing for a long time, she realized that this was her ideal state.
That afternoon, the sky was dark and gray clouds were gathering, as if a rainstorm was brewing.
Meng Xuanli was afraid of catching a cold, so she didn't stay under the flower vines. She moved the wicker chair and sat under the porch, covered with a velvet blanket, flipping through the notes in her hand boredly.
After a long time, there was a faint sound of thunder in the sky, and then a light rain began to fall.
Meng Xuanli put down the book, gathered the blanket around him, and was about to get up and go into the house when he heard intermittent sobbing coming from outside.
This place is secluded. Who would come here on a rainy day and cry so sadly?
Meng Xuanli frowned, hesitated for a moment, then stood up, holding her umbrella, and slowly walked to the courtyard gate. Through the door, she could make out that it was a man's voice.
Meng Xuanli hesitated, her hand hanging in the air, but in the end, she still pulled the latch.
Outside the door, under the eaves, a figure was curled up.
He was wearing a half-worn robe, his back to the door, his shoulders hunched, his head buried deep in his arms. Perhaps he heard the door open, he sniffed and slowly turned around.
Meng Xuanli, standing behind the door, was stunned for a moment when she saw him. Almost immediately, the scholar's eyes widened and he said in disbelief, "Meng... Madam Meng? Are you Madam Meng?"
Meng Xuanli nodded and asked in surprise, "Liu Lian, why are you here? And you look like this?"
Liu Lian's face flushed, and he wiped it hastily with his wet sleeve, a little embarrassed: "I was passing by here and disturbed Madam Meng."
Seeing how miserable he was, and since he was an old friend, Meng Xuanli stepped aside to open the door and said gently, "The rain is getting heavy. If you don't mind, Mr. Liu, please come in and take shelter from the rain first."
Liu Lian noticed her body and hesitated, but seeing that his clothes were soaked and he had nowhere to go, he bowed deeply: "...Thank you, Madam Meng."
Fuyao was surprised to see the strange man and was about to step forward to stop him. Meng Xuanli shook his head and said, "Go find a clean cloth and make a bowl of ginger soup to help Master Liu get rid of the cold."
"……yes."
Meng Xuanli walked to the corridor, sat back in the rattan chair, and covered herself with a blanket. "Please sit down, Mr. Liu." After a pause, she continued, "But why did you end up here?"
Liu Lian was a year younger than her, and he acted like he needed to be protected in front of her. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he choked up, "Madam Meng, you don't know that Guangde Hall in Yanjing is gone."
Meng Xuanli instinctively straightened up, stunned and said, "Gone? How is this possible?"
"A fire broke out." Liu Lian sighed and continued, "Three months ago, a fire suddenly broke out at night. The fire was extremely large. By the time we discovered it, it was too late."
"The medicinal herbs, medical books, and medicine shelves in the shop... were all reduced to ashes. My mother was resting in the back hall at the time and couldn't escape..." His voice became smaller and smaller.
Meng Xuanli's body stiffened, a dark mist covering her vision. Although she hadn't been at Guangde Hall long, she understood that it was Doctor Chen's life's work. And Liu Lian's mother, surprisingly...
Meng Xuanli's face was bitter, and he was about to speak to comfort her when he heard Liu Lian continue, "After I finish dealing with the affairs in Yanjing, I will take my mother's ashes back to my hometown in Lingnan. I want her to be buried in peace, a kind of return to her roots."
"Today, I wanted to go to town to find a Feng Shui master to choose an auspicious site for my mother, but I ended up meeting a con man. He was so eloquent that he ripped me off of all my money. I...ah, I'm so useless."
Meng Xuanli didn't intend to meddle in other people's affairs, but she had been well cared for by Doctor Chen and Granny Liu. She was silent for a moment, then waved to Fuyao and whispered a few words.
Fuyao nodded, went into the house, brought out a purse, and handed it to Meng Xuanli. Meng Xuanli handed the purse to Liu Lian: "Master Liu, take this money. Let your mother rest in peace first."
Liu Lian shook his head and refused, "Madam Meng, I know you mean well, but we just met by chance. How can I accept your money for nothing? This is absolutely unacceptable."
"Take it." Meng Xuanli pursed his lips and sighed, "Just consider it a small token of my appreciation. Burying the old man is what a son should do."
Liu Lian's lips trembled, his eyes reddened, and he took the purse with trembling hands: "... Madam Meng, your kindness is so great that I will never forget it."
"Hurry up and get up." Seeing him about to kneel, Meng Xuanli quickly gestured to Fuyao to pull him up, "No need to be so polite."
Liu Lian stood up and saw that Meng Xuanli was pregnant. He suddenly remembered the news about the Duke. He asked worriedly, "Madam Meng, are you okay?" He asked carefully, fearing that he would touch upon her sorrow.
"Why not? I like places with water. I heard the climate here is mild, so I came here." Meng Xuanli pursed his lips and smiled, "Let the past go."
Liu Lian laughed dryly and agreed: "Yes, Lingnan is a little hot here, but everything else is good."
Meng Xuanli looked at the raindrops in the courtyard with a clear and bright gaze: "The rain seems to have subsided. Master Liu, please go and get back to your business."
Liu Lian suddenly came back to his senses and said quickly, "Yes, yes! Thank you, Madam Meng, for reminding me. Then... Madam Meng, take care. Liu Lian will take his leave first."
Meng Xuanli nodded slightly: "Take care, Mr. Liu."
Seeing Liu Lian's figure disappear at the door, Meng Xuanli withdrew her gaze and looked at her abdomen. She recalled the last autumn when she was still in Yanjing. In the space of a year, dust returned to dust, and so many old friends were gone.
Meng Xuanli sighed for a moment, then held on to the handrail and slowly walked back to the house.
#
A sharp north wind blew across the imperial city's vermilion walls. Inside the imperial study, the underground heating system burned fiercely. Xiao Ting stood before the imperial desk, his hands behind his back, his mind on the previous incident.
The shadow appeared silently, knelt on one knee, and said clearly: "Your Majesty, I have found out."
Xiao Ting didn't turn around. He tapped the table with his fingers and said calmly, "Speak."
"We've investigated everyone who came and went from the Duke's Mansion, and ultimately pointed to one person—Wu Ming." After a pause, Shadow continued, "This man's original name was Su He, and he used to be called Su Zixu. He was the adopted son of the Xuzhou Su family. He died in an accident many years ago, and later operated covertly in the Eastern Capital."
"Su He?" Xiao Ting slowly pronounced the name, feeling like he had heard it somewhere before.
He turned around and said in a cold voice: "Where is the person?"
"According to your majesty's orders, he has been secretly captured and imprisoned."
"Take me there."
The dark cell never sees sunlight all year round, the air is filled with dampness and fishy smells, and the walls are flickering with flickering firelight.
The cell at the end of the road was sturdier and more eerie than the others. Su He was chained to the rack, his hair disheveled and his body covered in scars. Yet, he looked calm, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Seeing Xiao Ting walk in, Su He raised his head and said in a voice like a ghost crying: "Your Majesty, you are finally willing to come to see my cousin."
Xiao Ting stopped and looked at Su He's face carefully with a sharp gaze: "Cousin...what did you do to Lu Guanque?"
Su He grinned, showing his teeth: "I didn't do anything, I just watched him walk into the ending I set for him."
Xiao Ting recalled the information An Ying had gathered, and seemed to have figured out the whole story. He stared at Su He and smiled, "Even if you kill him, you won't be him. As for the reason, I'm sure you know it better than I do."
Su He was startled for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Haha, as long as he's dead, what can't be done?"
Xiao Ting suppressed his anger and began to recount each word carefully, "Meng Xuanli's eye disease back then was caused by you."
"As expected of the emperor, he knows all the news." Su He's laughter gradually died down, and he raised his eyebrows proudly, "It's just a little thing, I just want her to see it temporarily. I just like watching them resent each other, it's so interesting..."
"You are the one who sowed discord between them."
"So what?" Su He sneered, "He cares about her so much, I'm lucky I didn't kill Meng Xuanli."
"Oh, right, Lu Guanque was willing to die. I told him that Meng Xuanli had been poisoned by me, and there was no cure. His body would slowly grow cold, and he would die quietly. The only antidote that offered a glimmer of hope would come at a price."
Su He's eyes were filled with tears, a lifetime of resentment. "He actually did everything I told him. Hahahahahaha. For her, he was like a dog wagging its tail and begging for mercy, willing to do anything. Did he die in pain in the end? Was he very desperate?"
"He owes me this! He and his father owe me this!"
After hearing this, Xiao Ting could no longer suppress the anger in his chest. He walked directly to the torture rack, picked up the sword on it, and put it against Su He's neck.
Su He showed no fear at all, and even challenged him: "What? Your Majesty wants to kill me personally? That's fine, I don't want to live anymore."
"Kill you?" Xiao Ting said in a low voice, "That would be too easy for you."
"You poisoned Meng Xuanli and forced him to death. You even refused to let his uncle, De, go." Xiao Ting's throat choked as he spoke calmly, "You should have experienced so many things yourself."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Ting let go of his sword, took a few steps back, and said in a cold voice: "You sowed discord, causing them to separate and suffer."
"You have evil intentions, attempting to overthrow the Duke's Mansion and coveting everything that does not belong to you."
"Your hands have killed people you shouldn't have killed."
After a long pause, Xiao Ting tilted his head and ordered the executioner, "Turn Su He into a human pig and keep him alive with ginseng soup every day."
"Go, dig out his eyes now." Xiao Ting slowly turned his back, and almost at the same time, an inhuman scream came from behind him.
Su He's entire body was convulsing, the chains rattling as he struggled. Blood gushed out like a fountain, staining his face red, dripping onto the ground.
Su He's intermittent curses echoed in his ears. Xiao Ting walked calmly down the dark corridor, expressionless. Before he reached the imperial study, the eunuch beside him bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, General Zheng just came and said he and Miss Zheng would return to their hometown to worship their ancestors. I'm afraid they won't be able to attend court for the next two months."
"Ask for leave?" Xiao Ting sighed deeply, "...then let him go."
"Yes, I will go to Zheng's house right away."
#
Late at night, the north wind was howling. Most of the servants in the Zheng Mansion followed General Zheng back to his hometown to worship their ancestors. The huge mansion seemed very deserted.
At this time, a slender figure, with the brim of her hat pulled down and wearing a thick black cloak, walked through the corridor, bypassed the guards, and came to the backyard.
She looked around, confirmed that there was no one around, pushed open the wooden door, slipped in, and locked the door with her backhand.
The room was cluttered with junk and the air was filled with dust. She hurried to the worn-out wardrobe and pushed it open. Soon, a terrifying black hole appeared.
A cold, damp air hit her face. She held her chest, took a steady breath, and then walked in, taking the candlestick with her, one step at a time. The wardrobe behind her slowly slid back into place. The whole process was cautious and concealed.
The flickering firelight reflected on her chin. When she reached the end, she looked calm, took out the key from her bosom, inserted it into the keyhole, and turned it gently.
Behind the door was a small cellar. Rough stone walls surrounded it, and tiny specks of dust drifted in the dim light. Zheng Wanruo looked up, her gaze meeting that of the man on the bed.
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The author has something to say: I will fix typos later
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