Chapter 117 In truth, he thought she was too cute.
Wei Yihua was puzzled and uncertain about her conjecture. She held back until the meeting ended and the other three female officials had left before she stepped forward and grabbed Yue Yining's hand.
Yue Yining was taken aback, and when she turned around, she met her tense and eager eyes.
"Yue Yining, who exactly is this friend you're talking about?" Wei Yihua stared at her, her eyes fixed on her expression. "Does this person really exist?"
Yue Yining anticipated that the Princess was intelligent and would become suspicious, but under her relentless pressure, she almost lost her composure and revealed a flaw.
Yue Yining moved her lips, as if to speak, but a dark shadow flashed past outside the hall; someone had suddenly arrived.
"Your Highness, the Eldest Princess." Su Yue curtsied before the threshold, her voice clear and bright, "It's time to depart for the palace. The Imperial Concubine is waiting for you; do not be late."
Su Yue thought the princess and Yue Yining had a quarrel, and she looked at the two of them with some unease as she said this.
Wei Yihua calmed down a bit and gently released Yue Yining's hand. "After I finish this busy period, I will go to the palace to see my mother today and stay there overnight. I will come to find you again after I leave the palace tomorrow. At that time, you must explain to me what happened."
Yue Yining lowered her head slightly, adopting a respectful and obedient posture: "Yes, Your Highness, please take care."
Despite her anxiety and urgency, the princess, adorned with jeweled hairpins and gold ornaments, had to put aside her concerns for the time being. With a turn of her crimson skirt embroidered with balsam flowers, she followed her personal maid out of the hall, her light and airy attire flowing like a fairy, slowly blending into the boundless autumn mist.
Yue Yining stood under the corridor, her gaze fixed on the princess's back until she could no longer find her figure amidst the golden and red expanse.
Yue Yining had indeed come with the resolve to die. She knew she might not have the chance to live out her remaining years in peace, so when she saw a house for sale by a merchant while renting a place in Jiulian Town, she was more excited than ever before, unable to suppress the intense desire that was almost palpable.
That was the second time in her life that she had acted willfully.
She bought a house, even though it was dilapidated and old, even though she knew she could only live there for a year.
I would give a thousand pieces of gold for a single spring, only to toss it away and let the east wind do nothing.
In retrospect, it seems that she could indeed rewrite the fate that had ordained her, overturning the destiny of the fallen Dongxi Kingdom, without having to pay with her own life.
She had many companions and a lord she could wholeheartedly assist. She almost completely believed that they could change what was supposedly her destiny, to the point that she dared to fantasize about the possibility of surviving and leaving the capital to travel the world and live a leisurely life.
She never even dared to dream of it before.
Knowing that this journey is to one's death, it is already difficult to face it calmly.
She wasn't so detached as to imagine the beauty of life while leaping into the abyss of fire; she could only stop thinking about her future. Nor was she so noble as to make the decision to sacrifice her life to save the world without hesitation; she hesitated and wavered. It was those four years of traveling that gradually instilled in her the determination to face death without regret.
For 1,500 days, I traversed the land on foot and by carriage, wandering aimlessly, making the world my home. The people I met along the way were either acquaintances or instant friends; the roads I traveled were sometimes treacherous peaks and secluded valleys, sometimes misty willows and picturesque bridges.
The ordinary landscapes, the innocent voices and smiles of children, the chaos of war and the prosperity of peace—all are unforgettable and etched in my memory.
She is the only one in the divination who can save Dongxi from his death, even if the price is her life, she cannot escape it, she cannot live a life of dishonor.
Thus, his will became firm, his mind settled, and finally, his intentions became resolute.
When Yue Yining returned to the palace, she found a young eunuch waiting at the door. Upon seeing her return, he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Greetings, Lady Yue. Young Master Wang has come to request an audience, and I have arranged for him to wait in the side hall."
"knew."
The young master Wang mentioned by the eunuch was Wang Zhou, the man who had been sought out by the eldest princess and given to Yue Yining as a male concubine.
Yue Yining later helped him out of the predicament. In return, Wang Zhou would use his family connections to help her find the mastermind behind the Wang case and uncover the buried truth.
Wang Zhou, who was sitting behind the desk, saw her enter the hall and quickly stood up to bow. Yue Yining gently helped him up, saying, "No need for such formalities."
"You've come to see me, so you must have found something while I was away from the capital, right?"
Wang Zhou nodded and handed the scroll on the table to Yue Yining. "Your Excellency has been away from the capital for several months. During that time, I have recorded everything I found and am just waiting to hand it over to you when you return to the capital."
Please take a look.
Yue Yining flipped through the paper scrolls he had brought, her brows furrowing more and more with each reading. In the end, she could not hide her astonishment and looked up in surprise, meeting the gaze of Wang Zhou, whose face was grave.
Yue Yining's mind went blank for a brief moment.
After regaining her senses, she opened her mouth and looked directly at Wang Zhou: "...Where did you find all this information?"
"Your Excellency, I used many connections within my parents' clan and even shamelessly sought out my father's former subordinates and officials who were close to him during his time in office. Because my father was considered honest and upright among the Wang family, they were all willing to help me secretly gather information."
Wang Zhou clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to his chest, speaking solemnly, "When the Wang family was at its peak, it had many hidden shares in the north-south trade routes and money shops, which were not its open businesses. Even after the liquidation, some of these businesses still remained. These trade networks are the most well-informed. Through the old manager who used to be in charge of these hidden networks, I learned about the rumors and gossip related to the downfall of the Wang family back then, as well as some suspicious money flows."
"These sources of information are scattered and fragmented, and there are many risks involved in collecting them. I dared not entrust them to others and did most of the work myself, sometimes only arranging one or two absolutely loyal old servants to act as intermediaries and pass on the information. Although it took a long time, I was fortunate enough to fulfill my mission and finally gathered these fragments together and delivered them to you, sir. There are many tricks involved, so I hope you will understand."
Wang Zhou's words were earnest and heartfelt, clearly out of fear that Yue Yining would suspect that he had tampered with the intelligence.
He was naturally aware of the significant importance of this intelligence.
"...I've finished reading it." Yue Yining slowly put down the scroll in her hand, looking at him with deep eyes.
"If the source of the information is credible and the content is true, then can I conclude that Xie Zhi's belief that Wang intended to rebel was actually due to being misled?"
“Yes, Xie Zhi’s evidence that the Wang family intended to rebel was all fabricated,” Wang Zhou said. “I don’t know who tampered with it, but the contents of the correspondence that Xie Zhi found were all fabricated in advance. The fabricator obviously wanted to sow discord between the Wang and Xie families, belittled the Xie family in the letters, and even implied that the Wang family had long planned to rebel.”
“I sent people to investigate the opinions of some officials who sided with the Xie family. Xie Zhi was completely unaware that he had obtained false evidence. He really thought that the Wang family was plotting a rebellion, which is why he attacked the Wang family, surrendered to the emperor, and planned the downfall of the Wang family.”
At this point, Wang Zhou closed his eyes and said in a dry voice, "Someone slandered the Wang family and deceived the Xie family, causing the two families to coexist peacefully on the surface but to fall apart in secret. In the end, Xie Zhi drew his knife on the Wang family first."
Yue Yining gripped the wooden handle of the scroll tightly; she was still in shock.
This result was completely unexpected. She never imagined that Xie Zhi, who had orchestrated the downfall of Wang and whom she believed to be the mastermind, was actually just a tool in someone else's hands.
That's none other than the shrewd and calculating Prime Minister Xie, a first-rank official in the current court!
With just this one move of sowing discord, the Wang family, who had dominated the court for decades, was overthrown without lifting a finger or losing a single soldier. Such a brilliant strategy that achieved great results with minimal effort!
The astonishment lingered in her heart. Yue Yining raised her head and looked at Wang Zhou's expression, which revealed a hint of pain. While her mind was clear, she could also vaguely empathize with him.
Although Wang was not wronged, the case was ultimately closed according to the standards for corruption, with only a few powerful officials from Wang's main family being punished, while the rest were exiled or demoted.
However, when a behemoth collapses, even the aftershocks are too much for the insignificant ants to bear. The massive personnel changes, promotions, and demotions inevitably led to wrongful convictions like those of the Wang family—clearly innocent and loyal officials were implicated, losing their positions and being demoted to the lowest social class.
Without the help of an official like Yue Yining, who has a powerful background and outstanding abilities, Wang Zhou wouldn't even have had the chance to find out the truth.
But will everyone be so lucky? How many people have been unjustly implicated in this conspiracy? Who has already fallen into a hopeless situation?
If he hadn't met Yue Yining back then, if he had truly succumbed to the powerful and wealthy to save his parents and relatives, selling his body and soul, what use would it have been if he later learned the truth from others and overturned the case?
The damage and loss have already been done, and for the rest of my life, it will be like a thorn stuck in my flesh, growing into a thick layer that is difficult to remove.
She was momentarily at a loss for words, but Wang Zhou said in a hoarse voice, "Lord Yue asked me to investigate the truth behind the Wang case. I guess you must have your reasons, but I don't know if you already have someone in mind to suspect?"
Yue Yining thought of someone almost instantly.
Only he could do it. He was deeply trusted by Xie Zhi and could use the Xie family's network of connections to orchestrate a scheme that would deceive Xie Zhi without leaving a trace.
Xie Qingyu, the eldest son of the Xie family.
Even the timing matches up. Xie Qingyu returned to Beijing in early January, and less than two months later, the Wang case broke out.
The entire process of setting up a plan in the capital, gaining Xie Zhi's trust, and Xie Zhi taking the initiative to attack the Wang family, along with the preparation time required behind the scenes, took exactly a little over a month, starting from when Xie Qingyu was recognized and returned to the mansion—it was just right.
But the thought had barely crossed her mind when Yue Yining suppressed it.
How is that possible?
How could Xie Qingyu do such a thing? He was kind-hearted, upright, and renowned for his filial piety. He always treated those around him with gentleness and kindness. The person who orchestrated this scam simply didn't care about human life.
Anyone could be the mastermind, but he is the only one who cannot be.
Moreover, why would he frame the Wang family and sow discord between the Wang and Xie clans? His mother was a woman from the Wang family, and the Wang family was his maternal grandmother. If the Wang family fell from power, it would bring him no benefit but only harm. Even if it was for the sake of self-interest, he could not find any reason for Xie Qingyu to harm the Wang family.
However, apart from Xie Qingyu, the others did not meet their pre-set conditions, making it almost impossible for them to complete this earth-shattering plan.
After thinking for a long time, Yue Yining pursed her lips and gently shook her head at Wang Zhou: "...No. I can't think of anyone else either."
The light in Wang Zhou's eyes dimmed: "...That's right. The fact that this person was able to escape unscathed and hasn't been investigated yet shows that he's an extraordinary individual. Not only is he cunning, but he may also wield power, be backed by multiple forces, and be protected and concealed."
The cruel truth is that even with all that they've uncovered and the evidence in hand, it's all for naught. If they had uncovered the truth before April, perhaps they could have handed the evidence over to Xie Zhi, making him realize he'd been deceived. Maybe Xie Zhi would have been enraged and exposed the mastermind.
But Xie Zhi was already dead, and together with his wife, they became two wronged souls on the banks of the Luo River.
The case against Wang has been closed as a corruption case. Now, who cares who initially framed Wang for treason?
As Yue Yining lowered her eyes, a wave of emotion washed over her, but a sudden doubt also crossed her mind.
Thinking about it this way, Xie Zhi's death seems far too coincidental. The investigation into the overthrow of the Wang family had just been completed when he died unexpectedly on his way south to pay respects to his ancestors. In this way, even if someone wanted to investigate later, the person who had whispered in his ear back then would be nowhere to be found.
It was practically like... a premeditated murder.
Yue Yining paused, touched by her own sudden thought.
Yes. Why did she so readily assume that Xie Zhi's death was just an accident?
A high-ranking official died far from home, and he was from a powerful family connected to the recent major case in Yanjing. His sudden death at this critical juncture seems suspicious and should have been thoroughly investigated. Why did this unexpected incident seem to have been settled so quickly after several months?
Wang Zhou hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something, but when he looked up and saw the change in Yue Yining's expression, he froze.
"...The bigger man?"
Yue Yining slowly lowered her hand, somewhat lost in thought.
She remembered.
She wasn't without suspicion; on the contrary, when she went to pay her respects to Xie Zhi, she specifically instructed Xie Qingyu to investigate the matter thoroughly, especially the two maids who survived from the ship, and to question them carefully.
Xie Qingyu agreed to her request at that time.
After Xie Zhi's death, the person who held the most power in the Xie family was Xie Qingyu, who was the heir of the Xie family.
In other words, if Xie Qingyu wanted to find out the truth, the two surviving maids would be the best entry point. With the power of the Xie family, it would not be difficult to entrust the officials of Luoshui region to conduct the search. However, if Xie Qingyu ordered that the truth of Xie Zhi's death not be thoroughly investigated and that it be treated as an accident, then no one in the Xie family could go against him.
Only he could do all of this.
In both of these matters, only Xie Qingyu met the conditions set by the mastermind.
No one but him will do.
Upon hearing the conjecture, Yue Yining was startled.
No, that's still not right. Xie Qingyu had absolutely no reason to do either the Wang case or Xie Zhi's death.
Moreover, the latter is even more absurd than the former.
Who would plot to kill their own powerful father? Jin Lingxi murdered her father because Jin Yuanxiu murdered his wife and mistreated her, but Xie Qingyu had no such motive. He was the eldest son highly valued by Prime Minister Xie and Lady Wang. Prime Minister Xie's love and care for Xie Qingyu was well-known among the noble families of Yanjing, and Xie Qingyu was renowned in the capital for his filial piety. These two seemed like a perfect father and son, a perfect match.
Xie Qingyu is the most likely mastermind, yet he is also the least likely mastermind.
"Bigger man?"
Yue Yining snapped back to reality, her gaze fixed on Wang Zhou's face opposite her. He seemed somewhat worried about her: "What's wrong, Lady Yue? I see you've been sweating profusely."
Yue Yining reached up and pressed her hand to the side of her neck, feeling a damp, sticky sensation. She was speechless; it was late autumn, the weather was cool, and she couldn't even find a reason why she was suddenly sweating.
Faced with Wang Zhou's worried gaze, she could only manage a few dry laughs: "Ah, maybe my belt was too tight today?"
"It's alright, it's nothing."
"...Actually, there is something I would like to report to Lord Yue." Wang Zhou spoke after a long silence, his voice low and clear, "In the first month after Lord Yue left the capital, I had already investigated these matters. I knew that the mastermind behind the Wang case was very likely the Xie family, so in the following two months, I did not pursue the case further, but instead chose to investigate the Xie family."
"Your Excellency Yue helped me with the investigation and provided me with a great deal of assistance and convenience. I should be extremely grateful, but I used them for other purposes without your permission. I deserve to die for this crime." After saying this, Wang Zhou lowered his head deeply and, under Yue Yining's astonished gaze, bent over and slammed his forehead heavily against the bluestone ground.
"Hey, hey, don't do this!" Yue Yining hurriedly stood up, went around the table to help Wang Zhou, who was on the ground, "It's really nothing, I don't mind at all! Get up first before we talk—"
Yue Yining was walking too fast and accidentally tripped over a soft mat, causing her to fall to the ground unexpectedly. Fortunately, Wang Zhou heard the noise, looked up, and caught her quickly.
Just then, the door was gently knocked twice and pulled open from the outside.
It was Fu Yao's voice: "Miss, someone from the Xie residence has arrived—"
The conversation abruptly ended, as abruptly as if the other half had been chopped off by an executioner.
Having just experienced a dizzying sensation, Yue Yining looked up from Wang Zhou's arms and saw that Fu Yao, who had opened the door, and Huang Qiu, who was following behind her, were both staring at her with wide eyes.
Yue Yining: "......." Wait, what position is she in now?
She sensed something was wrong and was about to sit up when Fu Yao's expression changed. She said in a rapid, almost fiery voice, "Please wait a moment, my young lady isn't available right now," and then slammed the door shut.
Yue Yining's hand was raised in mid-air: "..."
This isn't right!
Huang Qiu was there to deliver something. His eldest son always liked to send things to the princess's residence, whether he had something to do or not. Huang Qiu was always the one in charge of delivering them, simply because he was the youngest of the Xie family guards and didn't like standing guard. He always took the initiative to take on these kinds of jobs that required running around.
Who would have thought that today's delivery would bring him another jaw-dropping glimpse of something truly astonishing.
As soon as the door closed, Huang Qiu, who was naturally perceptive, noticed the murderous aura emanating from Fu Yao. It was menacing and seemed to have a tangible presence.
Huang Qiu: "..." Why? Surely he didn't do something wrong?
Huang Qiu was trembling with fear, but Fu Yao turned around and stared at him like a nightmare, saying slowly and deliberately, "Did you see something just now?"
Huang Qiu: "......"
Huang Qiu: "No! I didn't see anything!"
Fu Yao said softly, "That would be perfect."
Huang Qiu: "..." He was very suspicious that if he told the truth, he would be brutally silenced here.
After delivering the goods, Huang Qiu immediately slunk back to the Xie residence. Fu Yao waited until he left before knocking on the door again. This time, the door opened by itself shortly afterward.
Upon seeing Yue Yining for the first time, Fu Yao scanned her young mistress's attire from head to toe. Relieved, she immediately straightened her expression and glared, exclaiming, "Miss! What just happened?! How could this be so improper?! In broad daylight, how could you—"
"Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding!" Yue Yining interrupted her with a bitter face. "Am I such a lustful person? It's one thing for others, but Yao Yao, you think the same way about me? I'm so wronged and frustrated!"
That makes sense; her young mistress has hardly ever been with a man in recent years. Fu Yao was convinced and felt somewhat reassured, but she still had some doubts: "Then just now—"
“That was Young Master Wang. We were discussing matters in the hall when I stood up and accidentally tripped. He caught me and prevented me from falling to the ground. That’s all.” Yue Yining said helplessly, “Who knew it would be such a coincidence that you just pushed the door open and bumped into us.”
Fu Yao suddenly realized: "Oh, I see!"
"It's alright, Miss. Don't worry, no one saw it except me." Fu Yao added, "The little guard who came to deliver the things didn't see it either. I'm quite burly, so he blocked it."
Yue Yining was about to say something, but was abruptly interrupted by this sentence.
She couldn't help but glance at Fu Yao, who was petite and cute and barely reached her nose: "..." Is she burly?
"Never mind, go and call someone to take Young Master Wang out of the manor," Yue Yining said.
"yes."
After Wang Zhou left, Yue Yining sat down at the table, her fingers gently stroking the two scrolls on it.
Wang Zhou left her with all the information he had gathered about the Xie family over the past two months through various means. He said that this was probably all he could find out, and there was nothing more he could do to help.
As they parted, he knelt down again and kowtowed deeply to her. This time, Yue Yining did not stop him.
Yue Yining spent the afternoon browsing through scrolls and documents in the hall. The spread-out hemp paper was covered with messy, illegible calligraphy.
As the sun began to set, the afterglow of the sunset painted the brick floor with the colors of begonias blooming in the sunlight. Only then was the half-closed wooden door pushed open again, startling the blooming begonias that swayed and tilted, their petals fluttering down.
"Miss, a guest has arrived," Fu Yao said. "It's Ye Miheng."
Yue Yining was taken aback: "He came to see me?"
She thought he was angry with her in the car last time, since she had sided with Xie Qingyu. This man has a terrible temper; he didn't say a word to her on the way back, and she was prepared to not be able to contact him for the next few days.
Unexpectedly, Ye Miheng took the initiative to come to her.
Has she changed her personality?
Yue Yining collected all the scraps of paper on the table and put them away before saying, "Go and bring him over."
The man, always dressed in a royal blue satin robe, stood out against the bleak autumn scenery as he slowly walked towards her. Yue Yining, who was waiting for him under the eaves, gazed at him, lost in thought.
A withered yellow leaf was swept up by the wind and landed on her head, very lightly, like a warm hand that had stroked her head when she was a child.
She used to love autumn because of her master's name.
How did things change so drastically?
When Ye Miheng came to her, Yue Yining had already suppressed the slight melancholy and worry that had been revealed, and became as gentle and composed as ever. "Why did you suddenly come to see me?"
"My master wants to see you."
Yue Yining was stunned for a moment. Ye Miheng lowered his eyes to look at her, but his feigned indifference gradually crumbled under her direct gaze, turning his ears red like maple leaves.
“My master, Hua Siren, sent me a letter, telling me to go to Jinling to find her after I return to the capital.” Ye Miheng looked at her awkwardly and said, “...She said that I should bring you along too.”
"Yue Yining, do you want to go?"
...
The wind comes from the northwest, not caressing the trees in the courtyard, but first howling at the high eaves, revealing the spaciousness of the mansion of a grand family, and a sense of grandeur rising from the clouds.
Of course, this has nothing to do with Yin Yi, who works here.
He's at work now, or rather, he's being tortured—in any case, he's being tormented by his boss, Xie Qingyu.
"What do you think she might be lacking in?"
The man sitting at the desk had a handsome profile, looking at the book in his hand, but he was muttering to himself, seemingly very annoyed, "I've already given her so many things, I'm afraid she'll get tired of me one day if she keeps receiving the same things."
Yin Yi: "......"
Xie Qingyu looked up when she received no response. "Hmm?"
"Are you really talking to him?" Yin Yi was speechless, but honestly replied, "I think the people of Yue don't seem to care much about food, clothing, or daily necessities."
"That's because you don't understand her." Xie Qingyu seemed to be in a better mood. He smiled slightly as if he had thought of something. "She's actually quite greedy. On the way back to the capital, she even sneaked out to eat at a restaurant with her servants because she wanted to have a good meal."
Yin Yi really wanted to say, "Yes, yes, you're right. Let him go!"
He vaguely heard a sigh, which came from that exquisitely crafted young master.
"...She is really, so cute."
If he hadn't come to this book, he wouldn't have known that Yue Yining was such a vivid person. She wasn't just a great, selfless figure; she also had her own hobbies and preferences, she could feel embarrassed, guilty, dissatisfied, and gluttonous.
The process of him getting to know her was like digging for treasure bit by bit, never missing a thing, and thus accumulating joy day by day.
Every day, he became more and more enamored with her.
"I really want to give her something, something she can carry with her every day," Xie Qingyu murmured softly.
Yin Yi: "Young Master can choose from the treasure vault within the manor..."
“How can that be?” Xie Qingyu lowered her eyes slightly, her eyes revealing a gentle spring light. “She gave me a sachet that she made herself. If I want to give her a gift in return, I should naturally make something for her myself.”
Yin Yi: "......."
There's really no need to emphasize those two words anymore.
He already knows, he knows perfectly well!
After a brief silence, Xie Qingyu sighed again, her clear and gentle voice uttering words that threatened to kill:
"...I really want to kill that Wang Zhou."
Yin Yi: "..."
Sure enough. He said the reason this person had gone mad again was because of what Huang Qiu reported at noon, right?
He didn't remember much of the content, only a few words like "dazed look", "huddled together", and "in broad daylight". He had no other recollection.
He always forgot about these matters between men and women after hearing them only once.
"...It seems she really likes this person," Xie Qingyu murmured, almost as if in a dream. "Otherwise, she wouldn't always have him accompany her."
Why? That man named Wang Zhou is clearly inferior to Xie Qingyu in every way.
Is it because he's exceptionally good in bed?
Yin Yi had no idea what Xie Qingyu was thinking about again; he only felt that Xie Qingyu was more like a ghost than a human.
Xie Qingyu, with her long eyelashes lowered, thought for a long time before softly calling Yin Yi over.
"Have someone buy me a bolt of red silk," he instructed. "No need to cut it, just long enough to tie a person up."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Yu Yu thinks he looks much better tied up than Wang Zhou [rainbow fart]. This play will be saved for the third case, so stay tuned!
The author furiously typed: Secretly updating! My dear readers will definitely be thrilled and shower me with nutrient solution! [Rabbit head with upright ears]
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