Chapter 144 Pride Across the Road (Part Six) She was like a cat whose fur he was stroking...
Under the setting sun at dusk, the surrounding area resembled a vibrant red brocade. Zhi Rou, holding the rope, lifted her face and met Wei Yuanzhan's dark eyes: "Why are you waiting for me here?"
"I want to see you, is that alright?" She met his gaze.
Wei Yuanzhan always fell for this, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curled up, but after only two breaths, he saw her frown and ask, "Which time did you call?"
His skin was slightly flushed, and his originally sharp eyebrows and eyes softened a bit. Zhi Rou could tell that he had probably come from some banquet.
Wei Yuanzhan loosened the reins and dismounted, pinched his earlobe, cleared his throat, and said, "Jade Wind Pavilion."
He took the reins from her hand, pulled both horses together, and slowly walked forward.
"Didn't you run into Zhang Fenglin in Yuanzhou before? His father is the Vice Minister of Revenue, and he has a close relationship with Sun Siren, the Minister of Revenue. I suspect that he also has dealings with Sun Siren, so I wanted to test him."
He said in a low voice, "I took Sun Siren's seal and had Changhuai make a copy."
"Did you take it up close?" Zhi Rou turned to look at him, as if they were sitting together. "Won't he suspect you?"
Wei Yuanzhan hummed in response, first answering the first question, then cheerfully added, "It doesn't matter."
Even if he harbors doubts, without any evidence, there's nothing he can do.
Zhi Rou stood side by side with Wei Yuanzhan. Perhaps it was because her questioning gaze was too direct, he immediately noticed it and added, "He seems to be... not very wary."
The two figures moved toward the steps of the mansion. Seeing that the young master had returned, the gatekeeper immediately stepped forward and took the reins from his hand.
When it came time to formally visit the Marquis's residence, Zhi Rou felt a sense of trepidation. She stood facing Wei Yuanzhan and said, "I won't go in." She then took her horse and said, "Wei Yuanzhan, thank you."
Wei Yuanzhan stopped and looked at her face, which was bathed in the glow of the sunset, somewhat puzzled.
Is she going to leave after only a short visit?
"Thank me for what?"
The servant led Yueying into the stable through the side gate; the area in front of the mansion was empty. His shadow fell on Zhirou, offering some relief from the cool, refreshing effects of the wine.
"It's unfair to be seated at the same table as strangers."
He was stunned for a moment, then smiled slightly.
How long will she remember his arrogant and childish words and deeds when he was young?
The horse seemed alarmed by the smell of alcohol, so Zhi Rou comforted it while turning her gaze back to Wei Yuanzhan.
She thought for a moment: "Do you know what happened in the city last night? The Imperial Guards entered the Song residence to search. I asked my father, and he only said that they were following the rules and told me not to worry. But I saw Su Du this morning, and he told me that what happened last night was done by Song Lang."
"His Highness was assassinated last night, and it seems the perpetrator has not yet been apprehended."
Thinking of the seemingly unremarkable and easily overlooked Military Selection Division Secretary in the Jade Wind Pavilion, Wei Yuanzhan frowned slightly. "Song Lang... he was also at Sun Siren's banquet today."
Zhi Rou's mind was in a state of confusion, and she was slightly startled by what she heard. Her wide sleeves were billowed up by the wind, and she raised her hand to pull them back down.
"I heard from my second brother that Song Lang was promoted three times in one year, thanks to his influence over His Highness the Crown Prince... Since Minister Sun is the Crown Princess's brother, it must be natural for the two of them to be on good terms, right?"
"Judging from the scene at the banquet today, he seems to be more under the control of Sun Siren."
After Wei Yuanzhan finished speaking, without changing his gaze, he abruptly asked, "Why have you come here today?"
When she looked up and met his searching gaze, Zhi Rou's eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she still answered, "I said, I want to see you."
Wei Yuanzhan pursed his lips and looked at her calmly.
He had seen Zhi Rou's troubled state, and even if it wasn't visible on her face, he could still sense it.
Zhi Rou's hand, holding the reins, unconsciously tightened its grip slightly.
Don't you believe me?
It was so quiet that you could hear the wind rustling through the fabric of clothes.
Zhi Rou did not lie.
After separating from her mother, she devoted all her attention to Song Lang.
If Su Du's words were true, she feared that she would cause trouble for her father.
My mind was in turmoil, and my train of thought was also disrupted, so I was inevitably quite unhappy. So I took my horse out and strolled along the road to the residence of the Marquis of Yining.
A few crows were swarming around them at dusk. The horse stood to one side, its head nuzzling against Zhirou's sleeve, as if seeking comfort.
I believe you.
"I really wanted to come see you and say a few words to you."
In fact, she can make sense of herself. No matter what kind of emotion she is, she can resolve it on her own with a little time.
But since she had Wei Yuanzhan, she always wanted to get closer to him, the closer the better. With him around, her mood immediately improved.
After listening, Wei Yuanzhan chuckled and said, "Is that all? Aren't you coming in with me?"
"No, I'm afraid I won't be able to get out." She said sarcastically.
This was a clear indication that she hadn't returned home the previous night, but Wei Yuanzhan seemed not to understand. He fixed his eyes on Zhirou and spoke in a caring and probing tone.
"Would you like... me to hug you?"
"Huh?" Before Zhi Rou could react, he was already close by, bending down slightly to embrace her.
Through her thin summer shirt, she could clearly feel his burning body temperature. His chin rested on her shoulder, and his large hand gently stroked her back.
"Don't worry, Zhirou."
Unaware of where she had slipped up, Zhi Rou was momentarily stunned, her heart pounding with an unbearable tingling sensation.
She buried her face in his neck, like a kitten being stroked.
A soft "whoosh" sound gradually spread, and the horse, unable to bear the heat, swayed its tail slightly.
After a short while, Wei Yuanzhan released her, a smile in his eyes, and gently rubbed her face: "If anything happens, have someone send me a message, and I will come to see you."
Zhi Rou's face slowly turned red; it was from his pinching.
She pulled his hand away: "I know."
He turned to the side and pulled out the riding crop from his waist. "You can go back now."
Wei Yuanzhan stared intently at the riding whip for a while, then suddenly smiled: "Good."
Sensing a deeper meaning in his gaze, Zhi Rou felt a little guilty. Before he could step back, she mounted her horse, paused for a moment, looked at him, and said, "I'm leaving."
He stood there until the sound of horses' hooves could no longer be heard before turning back.
By the time Sun Siren discovered the seal was not on him, it was already completely dark.
After searching around without success, they immediately sent people to turn the Jade Wind Pavilion upside down, and finally found it in a secluded corner.
The incense sticks in the incense burner were half-burned, and wisps of smoke billowed from the burner's opening, swirling around the table.
Looking at the seal he had lost and then found again, Sun Siren stammered, "How could it have fallen out?"
He raised his head and glanced at the servants standing outside, his mind wandering back and forth as he thought of Song Lang. After a moment of contemplation, he let go of his hand and slumped back against the headrest, feeling dizzy.
Song Lang didn't have the guts to scheme against him.
Before long, the door opened a crack, and the servant quietly entered. Seeing his troubled expression, the servant assumed that the failure of the Wanyuan Merchant Guild was causing him distress.
After a moment of silence, he bowed and asked, "Sir, should we still send someone to Song Zhirou's side?"
Sun Siren snorted a laugh: "She's already back in the capital, why would she send anyone?"
He lifted his eyelids, suddenly sat up straighter, and said in a tone that was both contemptuous and contradictory, "Isn't there Song Lang too?"
At the same time, Chang Huai came out of Wei Yuanzhan's room and met Lan Ye with a resentful look on his face outside the door.
He tossed away the pebbles in his hand one by one, then stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with him: "Why do I leave everything to you? Am I useless?"
Chang Huai glanced at him sideways and said, "You're impatient. Practice some more."
Thinking of Yuanzhou, which was not much different from Yuyang, Lan Ye touched the tip of her nose and casually asked, "How long are you going to be gone?"
"It's hard to say."
"Ha, then you might as well not come back."
Chang Huai stopped in his tracks. Lan Ye had already taken several steps. Seeing that no one was beside him, he turned to the side.
"While I'm away, take good care of the master and don't say too much," Changhuai instructed.
Hearing this, Lan Ye's face darkened, and he smirked, "I don't need to pay attention to you." He then strode forward and went back to his room.
The next day, just after dawn, the moon's shadow gradually receded from under the eaves of countless houses, and the sky gradually brightened.
After greeting her parents, Zhi Rou went straight out of the mansion.
As the sun rose earlier and earlier, the businesses in the city became increasingly diligent. The shops at the end of Liuli Street had new signs, and the shop assistants were busy wiping tables and cleaning.
Zhi Rou got out of the carriage and bought soup dumplings for Xing Hui and the others, inviting them to eat inside. She ate a few bites of wontons herself, then went to fetch her horse, telling them not to follow and to return in half an hour.
The Fourth Sister appeared and disappeared unpredictably, and Xinghui was already used to it. Seeing that it was daytime, she did not try to stop her.
Just as Jing Yao stood up, a force pulled her back to her seat: "Eat."
Clumps of periwinkles were planted in the old alley. After passing a few houses, Zhi Rou glanced back and quietly climbed into a courtyard.
Zhou Ling and his companions were busy preparing food, surrounded by green smoke and the rapid sounds of knives clashing.
Hearing some noises in the courtyard, she looked through the door and saw Zhi Rou. She quickly greeted her and said, "What brings you here, Miss? Is there something you need?"
"Aunt Zhou, could you please tell me about what happened before in detail?"
On the way back to the capital, they had already told her a lot in detail, especially about Ling Xi. Zhou Ling raised her head and asked, "What would you like to hear, Miss?"
The others put down what they were doing, wiped their hands, gathered around, invited her to sit down, and served her a cup of fresh tea.
"Has my mother ever mentioned the name 'Song Lang'?" Zhi Rou asked.
Zhou Ling and the others frowned in thought, then shook their heads.
"What about the young strategist in the army?"
Upon hearing this, everyone around her looked on in surprise, glancing at her for a moment before lowering their eyes again.
One should not address elders by their names lightly. Zhi Rou still showed respect when addressing them, so why couldn't she even call the general "father"?
If a gaze were to fall upon her, Zhi Rou couldn't help but pinch the corner of her sleeve.
Zhou Ling quickly replied, "There is indeed a man surnamed Song under the general's command, but it has been a long time, and we do not know where he is now."
The inexplicable embarrassment eased, and Zhi Rou quietly loosened her grip, turning to ask, "What does he look like?"
"I remember... this person was over seven feet tall, very frail, with a short beard of about an inch on his face, a high nose and narrow eyes."
“He has difficulty seeing at night; he has dim eyes,” another person added.
More than twenty years have passed, and a person's appearance will always change. Zhi Rou couldn't reconcile Song Lang's face with their descriptions, and her handsome eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Does no one know his given name besides his surname?"
"He was introduced by Lord Han back then, who said he came from humble origins and had come up with a name of his own... I really don't remember."
Zhou Ling sat down. "Miss, are you inquiring about this person because something seems amiss?"
Zhi Rou said, "I suspect that the current Military Selection Division Director Song Lang is the same person as this young strategist."
But she had no concrete evidence.
She swallowed unconsciously, her fingers twisted slightly, and her voice sounded somewhat unnatural.
"My...father, how did he treat him back then? Did they have any personal grudges, or rather, could my father make enemies with anyone?"
When General Chang was mentioned, Zhou Ling and the others' eyes dimmed slightly, their tone filled with sorrow and resentment.
"The general has always trusted his men. The young strategist is literate and thoughtful, good at devising ingenious strategies, and is highly regarded by the general. I heard that at the beginning of the fifth year of Shuode, on the eve of the war with the north, there was a great flood in Linzhou. When the general led his troops to cross the river, he even saved the young strategist's life."
"...If we're talking about personal grudges, who else would a general like him have a grudge against besides those on the battlefield?"
"I remember that the young strategist has served the general for quite some time. In the beginning, he was too arrogant and caused trouble for his comrades. He was punished by the general once and received twenty strokes of the cane. However, the general does not command troops. Although the general is strict in his discipline, the soldiers all respect him sincerely. It would be absurd for him to hold a grudge against the general because of this..."
They spoke slowly and deliberately, while Zhi Rou sat among them, seemingly blending into the wooden furniture of the room, exuding a somber atmosphere.
Chang Yu also received a second chance at life from the Feng family.
In return, the Feng family gave Su Du the title of "Second Young Master Feng".
Will the person who receives this favor always repay it?
Zhi Rou lowered her eyelids, composed herself for a moment, and then asked, "Aunt Zhou, Mother asked you to collect evidence. Did you find anything?"
In October of the seventh year of the Shuo De era, Chang Yu was accused of colluding with the enemy and privately raising troops.
He had already returned to the capital by then, and the letter he presented regarding his conspiracy with Bei Li was written a month after the Battle of Saichuan the previous year. A year had passed, making it difficult to verify, but within two months, he was convicted of treason.
"...It's only been two months since the incident. Who wouldn't want to investigate such a major case thoroughly? If the general truly harbored rebellious intentions, why wouldn't he conceal the handwriting and give others a handle against him?"
Zhou Ling's voice fell to the ground, full of regret, and her knuckles clenched unconsciously, making a cracking sound.
She had heard many rumors about Chang Yu, but she didn't believe every single one. Until now, these words that hit the nail on the head suddenly made her feel something for this unattainable person.
After things calmed down, Zhou Ling told them everything she knew.
Two letters from the past had been lost, both dated to the sixth year of the Shuode era. Ling Xi ordered them to investigate from there, but the postmen in the Yuyang area had all changed, and it was impossible to find out who had carried the general's letters or who had intercepted them.
The only clue that could be considered a lead was a groom at Yun Chuan Post Station. He had seen the postmaster of Yun Chuan Post Station receive a distinguished guest who seemed to be from the capital, and after that day, all the staff at the post station changed.
The person he mentioned remains unidentified to this day.
At this point, Zhou Ling's face showed a hint of shame and resentment. She was getting on in years, and the veins on her body stood out when she clenched her hands: "The coachman's description was very limited, only a few words about his appearance, and it was difficult to find any trace of him... We are incompetent."
She felt a warm touch on the back of her hand, looked up, and heard Zhi Rou say in a calm voice, "That's more than enough."
For over a decade, they did the same things for their mother that she still can't match.
Remembering the purpose of her visit today, Zhi Rou composed herself slightly and said slowly, "Aunt Zhou, Mother wishes to see you."
Upon hearing the words, Zhou Ling's mind was thrown into turmoil.
From the moment they approached Zhi Rou, all they hoped for was to see their former master.
Right now, she tried her best to control her emotions, but the turmoil still overflowed from her eyes: "When?"
The pomegranate blossoms outside were shaken off by the wind, swirling and brushing closer, one of them landing on the window.
"Six days from now, it will be my eldest uncle's birthday, and a banquet will be held at the mansion. I will introduce my mother to you all, as you have all disguised yourselves as actors."
After speaking, Zhi Rou stood up, bowed to them, and took her leave.
Yu Ren was still a little stunned. As she stepped out of the room, Zhou Ling chased after her: "Miss, won't you stay for dinner? It'll be ready soon."
Zhi Rou stood under the pomegranate tree in the courtyard and smiled, "Let's do it another day. There are still people waiting for me."
Since that was the case, Zhou Ling couldn't very well ask her to stay. Instead, she walked with her for a while, then turned to look at her and said, "The questions you asked today, young lady, were..."
"It was my own idea to ask."
On the way back to the capital from Qinyang, Zhirou asked them many questions about the past, but only about Lingxi. This time, when the old case was brought up, Zhou Linghou belatedly realized something and felt timid.
The pomegranate blossoms in the courtyard cast fiery shadows that covered Zhi Rou. She said gently, "Before I was nine, I only had my mother. She suffered a lot for me. Her will is my will."
...
The breeze before nightfall was warm but not hot, gently brushing against the eaves, and the bells under the eaves tinkled softly.
The lights were just turned on inside, and the flames flickered and danced, casting long, thin shadows behind the desk.
Zhi Rou poked her chin with the pen, her handwriting in the center of the two paperweights was messy and illegible, like a child's first lesson, with several blotches of ink.
For something that happened twenty years ago, the easiest way for a junior like her to uncover the truth was through connections. However, those who were there back then are now mostly gone, and the clues are few and far between.
Zhi Rou's gaze lingered on the two characters "Changxi" for a long time.
She thought to herself that she needed to test whether Song Lang had any eye problems.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
