Chapter 148 This man killed Lin's only brother fifteen years ago and escaped at night
The next morning, when the maid from the outer courtyard came to report that the Rong family's carriage had arrived, Su Ying, who had already made preparations, took Taoxi and, according to their original plan, went to the post station to mail a letter first, and then went to the academy.
The road up the mountain was no easier to walk on than on flat ground. The carriage swayed as it rocked, and Su Ying's mind drifted back to the past. In those two years, had she ever imagined that one day she would be able to do whatever she wanted, go wherever she wanted?
"Young lady, you may be used to the leisurely life in the academy, and you don't know how hard our master works outside. This carriage, the outings, are all the pomp and circumstance of a lady from a wealthy family. Our Su family is indeed much richer than before, but we can't spend money as we please. I advise you, young lady, to stay in your own courtyard. You can see, this small courtyard is allocated just for you. Our Yuanbao and Fubao have to squeeze in with me, but they don't have the comfort of your own courtyard like you do!"
The former sarcasm and difficulties have now transformed into flattery and ingratiation as if by magic.
Is it Lin who has changed, or is it she who has changed?
Su Ying asked Taoxi to lift a corner of the curtain, and the coolness of the mountains came into the car, and the stuffy mood immediately dissipated for the most part.
Lin is still the same Lin, and she is still the same her. The only thing that has changed is the situation surrounding the chessboard.
Looking out at the mountain scenery stretching out behind her, Su Ying's heart was pounding. She wondered how her aunt was doing. Fu Bao's words yesterday had aroused her suspicions. She had to tell her aunt as soon as possible.
The academy was built on the mountain. The road from the foot of the mountain to the academy was built with funds donated by former students who had become officials in the court. Although it was not as smooth as flat land, it was also smooth and the car arrived at the academy soon.
Su Ying stepped out of the carriage and paused. Today wasn't a lecture day, so why was there a carriage parked in front of the academy? It didn't look like something used by ordinary families, but more like one used by government officials.
As I passed by the hall, I saw that my guess was correct, a guest had arrived.
There was a middle-aged man in plain clothes sitting in front of the hall. For some reason, Su Ying always felt that the man's aura was very different from the plain clothes he was wearing.
Seeing her stop at the door, Rong waved to her.
"Ying'er, come, let me see you," he stopped talking halfway because he didn't know how to let Su Ying address the guest in front of him.
"She calls Madam Du aunt, so should she also call me uncle according to seniority?"
Although that person kept calling her Mrs. Du of the Rong family, she didn't seem reserved at all, as if she was an old acquaintance of my aunt?
"You are an official, and Ying'er calls you uncle, so of course you don't mind. But those who don't know the truth might think that our Rong family is relying on you, County Magistrate Liu!" Rong glanced at the man, then turned to Su Ying and said, "Ying'er, this is Lord Liu, the magistrate of Yongjia County."
Su Ying knew in her heart that this person must be an old student of her grandfather. She immediately stepped forward to pay her respects and, following her aunt's instructions, she said, "Master Liu."
Lord Liu seemed to have seen Su Ying before, and he responded kindly, "I remember when I first met you, you were only this tall." He raised his hand to the height of the table, "Now you look more and more like your aunt when she was young."
Su Ying smiled shyly, did not answer, and walked behind her aunt.
After all, she was just coming of age, and she would still be shy when talking about her childhood. Rong reached out and patted her, her eyes full of love: "Lord Liu is here to visit your grandparents. When they arrive, you kowtow to them and then go with me somewhere else."
Mr. and Mrs. Rong were getting older, and Rong rarely returned to Yueqing, so she took the initiative to take charge of the daily management of the academy. This led to the scene that Su Ying saw, where she received Lord Liu.
Su Ying nodded, obediently sat in the seat below, waiting for her grandparents.
I thought my aunt and Lord Liu were just exchanging pleasantries, but unexpectedly, when my aunt asked, Lord Liu talked about Lin and Wei Liang.
"After investigation, it was confirmed that Lin was indeed from Yongjia. However, she did not move from Yongjia to Yueqing ten years ago. Instead, she had her good name revoked and her Yue name changed to Hangzhou Prefecture fifteen years ago."
"So, this Lin family is really not a good family."
Rong sneered, "Someone must have redeemed her ten years ago, and then spent money to tamper with the story, erasing the shameful incident in Hangzhou and simply saying she moved from Yongjia to Yueqing."
It goes without saying who is spending the money.
No wonder Su Jianrong had to embezzle the little dowry left by his eldest sister. It turned out that making a living was just a cover, and the real purpose was to change people's appearance.
"What about Wei Liang? Did he find anything?"
Rong continued to ask.
Lord Liu shook his head. "There is no such person. The village where the Lin family once lived is small and sparse. I have carefully checked the records and have not found any family with the surname Wei."
At this moment, Su Ying remembered what Fu Bao had said yesterday. She couldn't help but stand up and bowed to Master Liu again. She said, "Master Liu, you said you checked every household in the village where the Lin family came from?"
Lord Liu nodded: "That's right."
"Then, Master Liu, do you remember if there is a family in that village who came from the border, or from outside the border?"
Seeing that both her aunt and Lord Liu had doubts in their eyes, Su Ying simply told them what happened yesterday.
"From what Fubao said, Wei Liang must not be from the interior of the country. Since Lord Liu said there are no families with the surname Wei in the village, either he is indeed related to the Lin family and just changed his name. Or, his surname is Wei and his given name is Liang, but he has no blood relationship with the Lin family."
After hearing this, Lord Liu thought it made perfect sense. He pondered for a moment and said thoughtfully, "If I remember correctly, there are no outsiders moving into the village. It's just that..."
Lord Liu seemed to be considering the matter. He paused, then finally said, "There is a family that once adopted a boy, who seemed to be from the north."
Rong and Su Ying asked in unison, "Where is this person now?"
Lord Liu frowned slightly and said, "This man killed Lin's only brother fifteen years ago, escaped at night, and has not been brought to justice yet."
Upon hearing this, Su Ying and her aunt were both startled. Su Ying was young after all, and it was difficult for her to speak about matters involving human life. She only heard her aunt's trembling voice saying, "I have asked my father many times what kind of benefits he promised Su Jianrong to allow Ying'er to go to the capital. If so,"
Rong stopped talking halfway through. How could she say in front of Ying'er that her grandfather had covered up a murder in order to get her to avoid marriage and come to the capital?
The discerning Lord Liu could see the difficulty on Rong's face and said soothingly, "I'll go back and investigate further. Matters like these require hard evidence. Without solid proof, all speculation is nonsense and we shouldn't make any rash judgments."
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