Chapter 67 (Catching Bugs) Geese won't be caged...
"Elder sister, this letter is like a gift from a loved one."
I was so tired of my parents' endless nagging and urging that I didn't want to be forced to meet those ladies who criticized and nitpicked at me. So I had no choice but to run away from home.
I didn't inform you beforehand because I was afraid my parents would use this as an excuse to cause trouble for you and disrupt your life with your brother-in-law. Please forgive my abrupt departure. Don't worry about me; I'm doing well now and am writing this letter to you in a felt tent at the Shuozhou military camp.
Are you surprised that my letter to my family appeared in the Bai family's New Year's gift?
As luck would have it, not long after I escaped from the Zhou residence, I heard that the capital had increased its security and that the city gates were being searched more thoroughly, which told me that my escape had been exposed.
In my confusion, I unintentionally entered a shop to hide, which happened to be a branch of my elder sister's maternal family, the Bai family. This was because I had seen this familiar emblem on the list of New Year's gifts sent to the Zhou family by the Bai family.
In a moment of desperation, I revealed my identity and met Bai Ruixuan, the third master of the Bai family who had led the caravan to the capital. He was also your uncle, elder sister. With his help, I disguised myself as a caravan worker and successfully left the capital.
Uncle Bai asked me what my plans were for the future. He said that running away from the wedding was not a long-term solution, but at that time I felt completely lost, as if the world was so big but I had nowhere to go.
So he suggested that I go north with the caravan, just to travel and relax. Whenever I wanted to go home, he would arrange for a caravan heading to the capital to bring me back.
Elder sister, on my journey north, I saw many sights I had only ever read about in books. I saw endless golden wheat fields swaying gently in the wind; I saw the Yellow River with its surging waves, the boatmen's shouts echoing through the heavens; I saw the steep cliffs and treacherous paths of the Taihang Mountains, caravans moving cautiously in a single line, the wind rustling the bronze bells on the cliffs, and the falling pebbles; I saw stone Buddha statues hidden deep in caves, their ancient outlines, weathered by wind and water and covered with a layer of moss, remaining only after thousands of years.
Later, I followed Uncle Bai to the border between Daye and Mobei. Although the two countries had been at war for years, the people still secretly traded with each other. Near every lush oasis, a small market would form.
The grasslands are vast, the sky is high and the land is wide. I can ride horses freely, chase prey, shout and yell, cry when I want to cry, and laugh when I want to laugh. This is completely different from those hunting grounds on the outskirts of Beijing, fenced off exclusively for the sons of the powerful and wealthy. No, the two are incomparable, worlds apart.
I've seen the moon over the desert, heard the tinkling of camel bells, and even tasted freshly slaughtered lamb! It had absolutely no gamey taste; just a pinch of salt was enough to make your tongue tingle with deliciousness. It's such a pity that words can't describe it, and I can't take you to experience such a delicacy.
It's funny, my father named me Yanling (Wild Goose Feather), and taught me to ride horses and use a knife from a young age. But when I grew up, he asked me to put away my rough and unruly nature and learn to be a good wife and mother like other young ladies who are good at needlework and embroidery. How could that be possible?
Geese are not kept in cages, and I don't want to live a caged life either.
I've traveled so many roads and seen so many beautiful sights, elder sister, I don't want to go back to the capital, and I certainly don't want to be married off with a red veil over my head to a complete stranger I've barely met.
Uncle Bai and the Bai family caravan took great care of me along the way. I knew that this was all thanks to my elder sister, and I felt even more ashamed, not knowing how to repay them.
Eldest sister, I must apologize to you on behalf of Mother. The Bai family has never forgotten you all these years, sending people to the capital annually to request a meeting with you. It was Mother… Mother obstructed this, forbidding the Bai family from visiting while simultaneously claiming that you were unwilling to associate with merchants of humble origins. She deceived both sides for over a decade. I only recently learned the truth, and I truly do not know how to face you, or the Bai family's generous assistance.
Just as I was pondering how to politely decline the Bai family's kind offer of shelter and settle down alone on the border, I never expected that fate would suddenly present me with an opportunity.
Former border garrison commander Feng Chun was dismissed and beheaded for embezzling military equipment. The new garrison commander, General Liang Xian, immediately launched sweeping reforms to address the malpractices in the army, rectify the atmosphere on the border, and harmonize the relationship between the army and the people, which won him the support of the people.
General Liang had a daughter named Liang Saijin, a spirited woman who preferred swords and spears to cosmetics. She argued with General Liang, pointing out that if the border forces were insufficient, why only recruit able-bodied men? Women could also fight on the battlefield. In the early years of the founding of the Great Ye Dynasty, there were so many female marquises and generals standing in the court. Why are there no women among them now before the Hall of Supreme Harmony?
Sister Saijin issued a recruitment notice, and I was the first to answer the call. I barely lasted fifty moves against her. She praised my swordsmanship and took me in as her personal guard. We now live together in the military camp and participate in daily training. Perhaps soon I will have the opportunity to fight alongside her!
Winter comes earlier in the northern desert than in the capital. I have already lit a brazier in my yurt. While writing this letter, I breathed on the inkstone several times to prevent the ink from freezing. If you see any pauses or hesitations in the writing, it means my fingers are frozen and won't obey my commands.
Eldest sister, I apologize to you again on behalf of my mother. I know that no matter how much I say, it cannot make up for the unfair treatment you have suffered over the years, but I still want to say that I will try my best to repay what Father and Mother owe you—perhaps after this winter, you will have a little sister with a hundred households?
I, the future Commander Zhou, Commander Zhou, and General Zhou, will be your most reliable family member. From now on, no one will dare to bully you!
P.S.: Starting this year, the Bai family's New Year's gifts will be delivered directly to the Marquis of Changning's residence, no longer passing through my mother's hands.
P.S.: I overheard Uncle Bai mentioning that my eldest sister's maternal grandfather, Grandpa Bai, fell ill earlier this year and his health is not good. The old man is very concerned about you, his granddaughter, and hopes to receive news from you.
Words cannot fully express my feelings; I eagerly await your kind reply.
Respectfully presented by my second sister, Zhou Yanling.
...
Yan Yi held the few thin pages of letter paper, yet they felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, pressing heavily on her heart, leaving her speechless for a moment.
What a twist of fate, what destiny it was, that Zhou Yanling, whom the Zhou family had been searching for all over the capital, actually left the capital with her mother Bai family's merchant caravan.
It turns out the Bai family had never forgotten "her"; her maternal grandfather and uncles all remembered her fondly...
Sadly, the girl who lost her mother at a young age and endured it all alone will never know.
"Yan Yan, your younger sister is really something."
Shen Lingyue didn't have many feelings; she simply applauded Zhou Yanling's boldness and courage.
"She's only seventeen, yet she dared to run away from home and travel north with a caravan. Now she's going to the battlefield!"
She said sincerely, "She did something that even we didn't dare to do, that's so cool."
Yan Yi composed herself, carefully folded and put away the letter, and smiled at Shen Lingyue: "Yes, Yanling is indeed remarkable."
It was Lin Qiyu who cut off the Bai family's contact, and she wouldn't have taken her anger out on Yanling anyway.
However, Yanling was able to truthfully tell the truth in her letter and sincerely apologize for her mother repeatedly. Her efforts to make up for the lack of family affection and care made Yanyi feel very warm and comforted.
Shen Lingyue, resting her chin on her hand, commented, "This can be considered a case of a good shoot emerging from a bad bamboo. However... war has no eyes, and she's still so young. What if something unexpected happens..."
She asked Yan Yi if she wanted to write a reply to persuade Yan Ling.
"The letter also said that she is now General Liang's daughter's personal guard. Putting aside whether women can fight on the battlefield or whether killing the enemy can bring merit, even General Liang himself would not watch his daughter fall into danger."
Yan Yi calmly analyzed, "Yan Ling is currently in a state of high spirits. Writing a letter to her will only dampen her enthusiasm and have no effect. It would be better to advise her to practice martial arts diligently, act cautiously, and take care of herself."
She made up her mind to visit Gu Lin at the Duke of Ling's residence in a few days.
He had returned from the northern desert battlefield and might be able to offer her some experience of life on the border and in the military camp, as well as ways to survive on the battlefield.
Shen Lingyue nodded in agreement: "I'll go with you. It's been a while since I've seen Sister Zheng."
After reading Zhou Yanling's letter, the two finally had time to carefully examine the gift list sent by the Bai family.
Perhaps to compensate for the lack of care for their granddaughter/niece over the past ten years, the Bai family's New Year's gift was incredibly generous, as if they were trying to make up for the past few years in one go. In particular, there were all kinds of top-quality furs, ginseng, and antlers, as well as precious medicinal herbs for nourishing the body. Even if Yan Yi drank a bowl of it every day and poured it out, she still wouldn't be able to use it all.
Shen Lingyue clicked her tongue in amazement, then grabbed Yan Yi's arm and exclaimed dramatically, "My best friend has struck it rich! You're going to be a little rich lady!"
She mentally cursed Yan Yi, that heartless stepmother, for having embezzled countless good things over the years. She was so wicked!
Yan Yi shook her head and sighed, "I don't know what Yan Ling said to them. They're treating me like a fragile crystal that can be blown away by the wind."
Shen Lingyue pointed to the signature at the end of the gift list, "Didn't Sister Yanling say that this person is your own uncle? Why don't we invite him in and ask him?"
Yan Yi realized what was happening and quickly sent someone to the main gate to ask if the Third Master of the Bai family had arrived and to invite him in to talk.
After waiting a while, Si Xiang led a man who looked to be around thirty years old into Jiu Si Yuan.
"Young Madam, Second Young Madam, Third Master Bai has arrived."
Yan Yi subconsciously stood up and took two steps forward to greet him, pursed her lips, and said softly, "Is this your uncle? I am Yan Yi."
Bai Ruixuan's eyes reddened the moment he saw her face clearly. He blinked hard a few times in disbelief before nodding vigorously.
"So alike, so incredibly alike! You and your sister are practically identical..."
He was only seven years old when his sister got married. He cried and chased after the bridal sedan chair for a long, long time. He thought that when he grew up a little older, he could go to the capital to see her, but a few years later, he received the devastating news that his sister had passed away.
Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye, and he has finally found traces of his sister in his niece.
Bai Ruixuan wiped his eyes in embarrassment. He was already a father of two, yet he felt incredibly ashamed in front of his niece.
Yan Yi waited quietly for him to calm down, then introduced Shen Lingyue to Bai Ruixuan: "This is the second young mistress, my sister-in-law, the youngest daughter of Minister Shen of the Ministry of Rites."
Upon hearing this, Bai Ruixuan immediately stood up to greet him, his humble nature as a businessman seemingly ingrained in his very being.
"Uncle, don't be so polite, we're all family."
Shen Lingyue helped him up, then added with a smile, "Sister-in-law forgot to say, we are the best of sisters, the best in the world!" Bai Ruixuan blinked, looking a little confused.
Wait a minute, didn't Miss Zhou say that Yan Yi and her sister-in-law were notorious sworn enemies in the capital?
How could things have changed so quickly in just a few months?
Shen Lingyue guessed what was going on from his expression, and pretended to be unhappy and snorted: "That girl Zhou Yanling is just afraid that I will compete with her for her sister, so she is deliberately talking bad about me."
When Zhou Yanling was mentioned, Yan Yi asked about the circumstances of Bai Ruixuan taking her away from the capital.
She worried that her sister would only share the good news and not the bad. After all, traveling thousands of miles away from home, how could the journey be as smooth as she described?
"Well, this is my fault, really. Miss Zhou was in a panic and asked me for help, saying that her father wanted to marry her off to a fifty-year-old man as a second wife. When I heard that, I was furious. How could he treat his own daughter like that? So I dressed her up as a young shop assistant, took a spot in the caravan, and let her escape from the capital."
Bai Ruixuan touched his nose sheepishly and glanced at his niece again.
There was no way around it; Zhou Chuan's image as his brother-in-law had completely collapsed in his mind. He didn't doubt Zhou Yanling's words at all, and even felt a sense of vengeful satisfaction from "kidnapping his daughter and ruining his plans for promotion and wealth."
As the caravan traveled northwest and almost reached the Yellow River, Zhou Yanling accidentally blurted out that the so-called elopement was completely fabricated, and that the Second Miss was simply running away from home out of rebellion.
"They had already gone so far that it was too late to send someone back to the capital."
Bai Ruixuan recalled, a look of lingering fear on his face, "I have to say, we were very fortunate to have her on this trip, otherwise my uncle probably wouldn't have had the chance to see you again."
It turned out that the caravan was unlucky this time and encountered bandits halfway through the journey.
If it weren't for Zhou Yanling leading the guards in a desperate charge, all of them would have been buried deep in the mountains and forests.
Yan Yi's expression changed instantly: "Yan Ling, she killed someone? Was she injured?"
"Yeah, I killed four or five, but the situation was too dangerous at the time, so I didn't count them clearly."
Bai Ruixuan dared not hide the truth and said, "She was slashed on the arm and back and lay in the carriage for several days to recover. Fortunately, the wounds were not deep and the scars are not very noticeable. As long as she continues to apply medicine, they should fade in a year or two."
"No wonder she dared to sign up for the army; she's already seen blood."
Shen Lingyue's face was full of admiration, but then she remembered Zhou Yanling's warning to her not to bully Yan Yi...
Thank you so much for sparing my life, little sister QAQ
Yan Yi clenched her fists involuntarily, her heart pounding uncontrollably, overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
I knew she wasn't telling the truth in her letter.
Why bother eating freshly slaughtered mutton...aren't you afraid of getting itchy and uncomfortable wounds?
Seeing her niece's worried expression, Bai Ruixuan comforted her, "It's alright. Before I came from the north, she had already fully recovered and was full of energy. She's always by Liang Niangzi's side, looking very impressive."
Liang Niangzi is the Liang Saijin mentioned in Zhou Yanling's letter; she is twenty-five years old this year. It turns out she has been engaged three times.
My first fiancé was someone I was betrothed to when I was a child. He died of a cold when he was seven years old.
She was engaged to her second fiancé when she was eighteen. They had only gone through half of the traditional betrothal ceremony when the man went out of town with his friends. He got drunk and accidentally fell into the river and drowned.
For this reason, Liang Saijin waited two years for her fiancé, and only got engaged for the third time when she was twenty years old.
As a result... her third fiancé fell madly in love with another woman and refused to marry her no matter what. They even got pregnant before marriage. The woman, heavily pregnant, went to the gate of the Liang family and made a scene, saying that the Liang family was abusing their power and had broken up the ill-fated couple.
"So this third marriage proposal also fell through. Rumors started circulating that she was a jinx to husbands... So angry that Miss Liang cut off a lock of her hair in front of Guanyin and vowed never to marry. From then on, she was called Lady Liang."
Merchants are always well-informed. Although General Liang had only been transferred to the border for half a year, Bai Ruixuan had already found out everything about the Liang family.
Shen Lingyue sneered upon hearing this: "What do you mean by 'husband-killing'? It's clearly these men who are unlucky and unworthy of the general's daughter."
According to the new era of fortune telling, being a "husband-killer" is equivalent to being a "lucky wife"!
Bai Ruixuan was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing after realizing what he meant. "If Madam Liang heard this, she would definitely consider you a confidante."
Shen Lingyue looked longingly at Yan Yi and said, "It would be great if we could also have the chance to go on a trip with my uncle's caravan."
The vast desert frontier, the cattle and sheep grazing on the border... who doesn't dream of galloping across the world on horseback?
I envy Yanling! So, is it too late for her to start learning martial arts now?
Yan Yi came to her senses and asked Bai Ruixuan, "Yan Ling said in the letter that my maternal grandfather's health is not very good. What exactly is the situation?"
Bai Ruixuan frowned and sighed, "Your maternal grandfather traveled around doing business when he was young. The long journeys and hardships caused him to develop health problems. Now that he is old, he finds it especially difficult to endure the harsh winter and spring seasons. He can't even get out of bed."
Seeing the worry in Yan Yi's eyes, he comforted her, "Your uncles and brothers, your second uncle's family, your aunt, and so many other brothers and sisters are taking care of you. You can recover slowly. Besides, if he could receive your reply and know how you are doing and whether the Marquis's mansion is treating you well, that would be more effective than any thousand-year-old ginseng."
At first, Zhou Yanling confessed to him that it was her birth mother who had been causing trouble all these years, preventing the Bai family from contacting their granddaughter. Bai Ruixuan was not without anger, and even considered abandoning her on the road.
Anyway, she wasn't born to his sister, so what does it matter to him whether she lives or dies?
But before he could act, the caravan encountered bandits. Bai Ruixuan almost thought he was going to die, but Zhou Yanling took a knife for him, which slashed her arm.
This was a life-saving grace, and Bai Ruixuan could not deny it against his conscience.
Later, he took Zhou Yanling back to the Bai family's old house. After dismissing everyone else, he personally watched Zhou Yanling kneel in front of her father to apologize on behalf of her mother. He also talked to the old man about many things that happened when Yan Yi was a child, trying to let him know as much as possible about his granddaughter.
Bai Ruixuan's resentment dissipated—adults should handle their own affairs, and it was really inappropriate to take it out on the next generation.
Yan Yi nodded in agreement: "I will write to my maternal grandfather. I would appreciate it if you could stay in the capital for a few more days, as I need to prepare return gifts for my maternal grandfather, uncles, and aunts. I would appreciate it if you could take them back with you."
Bai Ruixuan waved his hands repeatedly, saying there was no need for such trouble. "You've been all alone in the capital for over ten years, and it's all because we haven't taken good care of you. How could we possibly accept your things?"
Yan Yi insisted, "This is my way of showing respect to our elders; we must not disregard proper etiquette."
Shen Lingyue chimed in, "That's right, Uncle, don't be polite with her. She'll be in charge of the entire Marquis's mansion in the future, so you can just wait to enjoy your good fortune."
Bai Ruixuan was confused again. Wasn't it said that the two branches of the Marquis's family were fighting fiercely for the title? How come his niece had already won?
It seems living too far away isn't a good thing; I'm losing touch with everyone...
But in any case, this trip finally allowed him to see the only child his sister had left behind, and he would be able to have dealings with the Marquis's mansion in the capital from now on.
Bai Ruixuan decided to send more people to the capital next year to expand the business and keep an eye on Yan Yi's situation at any time, killing two birds with one stone.
It was inconvenient for him to stay long in the inner quarters of the Marquis's residence, and after drinking two cups of tea, it was time for him to take his leave.
“Every time I come to the capital, I stay in the backyard of the Bai family business, which is on Zhengyang Street. You can send someone to ask around and you’ll find out.”
Bai Ruixuan looked at Yan Yi again and again, carefully memorizing her appearance with his own eyes.
When he got home, he told his father: "My sister's daughter has grown up and is just as good as she was when she was young."
...
After counting and storing the New Year's gifts sent by the Bai family, Yan Yi started rummaging through boxes and cabinets to see if she had any medicinal herbs or supplements suitable for Old Master Bai.
The weather is getting colder and colder, so Bai Ruixuan can't stay in the capital for long. He has to hurry back home for the New Year.
Shen Lingyue chimed in, "Why don't we try taking advantage of Grandma? She's an elderly woman; she should have some common knowledge about health and wellness, right?"
Yan Yi was both amused and exasperated. "They're all elders; how can we rob Peter to pay Paul?"
After thinking for a moment, she took out the several thousand taels of silver notes that Pei Xian had given her.
“The capital is definitely more prosperous than the north, gathering treasures from all over the world. Let’s go out for a stroll, maybe we can buy some good things to send back to Grandfather.”
It was still early, so the two quickly tidied up and went out.
On the way, Shen Lingyue had a sudden inspiration, "My mother owns a pharmacy that has been open for more than ten years. Why don't we go to the shop owner and ask him to help us purchase or collect some rare medicinal herbs?"
Otherwise, neither of them would understand these things, and if they went out with the money, they would only be seen as fools with too much money to be taken advantage of.
"What about ginseng that's two or three hundred years old? And even Polygonum multiflorum is divided into superior, medium, and inferior grades. There's a lot more to this than meets the eye!"
Yan Yi thought about it and realized that made sense. Everyone has their own expertise, so it would be more reliable to consult with experienced professionals in the field.
Shen Lingyue told the coachman the address of the pharmacy, and the two found Zhao Lan's dowry shopkeeper without any trouble. The shopkeeper readily agreed and brought out all the rare medicinal herbs that had recently been acquired for Yan Yi to choose from.
Yan Yi described Old Master Bai's physical condition to him and asked him to give some health advice or suitable nourishing prescriptions.
Bored while waiting, Shen Lingyue wandered around the pharmacy. When she reached the backyard, she suddenly heard a noisy commotion outside, accompanied by a flurry of footsteps that grew closer and closer.
She walked over and opened the back door, and saw that the neighbors seemed to be rushing towards the northeast. She could also vaguely see the figures of several armed constables, who were loudly maintaining order.
What's going on?
Shen Lingyue followed the crowd with curiosity, a few idle words creeping into her ears.
"This is terrifying! Lady Wen is usually such a timid and gentle person, how could she dare to kill her husband?"
"I guess there's no other way. She has to take care of a husband who's paralyzed in bed, and a daughter who's a bottomless pit of medication..."
"Tsk tsk, you really can't judge a book by its cover, and a woman's heart is the most poisonous!"
Lady Wen?
Shen Lingyue felt the name sounded familiar and subconsciously quickened her pace.
She followed the onlookers through a maze of streets until she arrived at a dilapidated courtyard that had been neglected for years.
Two armed constables stood guard at the entrance, preventing neighbors from approaching. But looking through the half-open gate, a corpse covered with a white sheet lay on the ground, and one could vaguely see that the right leg had sunk in place, indicating it was hollow.
Shen Lingyue's heart skipped a beat.
Could it really be that Madam Wen they met at Jishantang last time? Didn't she mention that her husband broke his leg while working?
The neighbors say she killed her husband?
Last time, she, Yan Yi, and her eldest sister pooled together several dozen taels of silver for Madam Wen. In theory, that should have been enough for her to buy medicine for her daughter, take care of her family, and get through the winter.
Shen Lingyue frowned deeply, not understanding how things could have developed like this in just a few months.
She tiptoed and peered into the courtyard, trying to find Wen Niangzi's figure.
Suddenly, a strong force struck from behind, nearly knocking her over.
My son—
Shen Lingyue staggered before regaining her balance, and saw a young couple supporting an old woman with gray hair rushing up. The old woman was crying and wailing, and was trying to rush into the courtyard without any regard for others.
The man supporting her on the left said to the constable, "Sir, the dead man inside is my elder brother, and this is my mother and my wife. Please have mercy and let us in to see our loved ones one last time!"
The two constables exchanged a glance, and one of them went into the courtyard to report.
A moment later, a young official in his twenties came out of the courtyard and looked them over: "Are you relatives of the deceased Mu Dashan? What are your names?"
"Yes, yes, I am his younger brother, Mu Ersen. This is my mother, Madam Sun, and my wife, Madam Xiao Sun," the man said, bowing and scraping.
The young official grunted in agreement. "Come in, I have some questions for you."
He was about to lead the three relatives of the deceased inside when he suddenly saw a young woman in the crowd waving at him, "Judge Lü, it's me, it's me."
Does he look familiar?
Judge Lü took a few steps closer and asked uncertainly, "Are you... Pei Huaizhou's wife?"
Shen Lingyue nodded repeatedly, "It's me. We met at the door last time when you took my husband home."
—This is one of Pei Jinghuai's drinking buddies, who serves as a judge in Shuntian Prefecture, specializing in criminal and prison matters.
Judge Lü suddenly realized what was going on and gave a polite smile: "What are you doing here, sister-in-law?"
Shen Lingyue pursed her lips and carefully asked, "I want to ask, was the wife of the man who died inside surnamed Wen? Did she also have a sick daughter named Yaya?"
Instead of answering directly, Judge Lü asked her, "Does your sister-in-law know this family?"
“I guess so…” Shen Lingyue looked at him expectantly, “Could you do me a favor and let me in to take a look? I don’t believe that Lady Wen would kill her husband.”
Judge Lü frowned slightly and coughed lightly: "Sister-in-law, we are handling a case, a murder case, and bystanders..."
Before he could finish speaking, the old woman's hoarse curses echoed from the courtyard.
"You jinx! You caused my son to have no descendants, you caused him to lose his leg, and now you're taking his life! I'll kill you to make you pay with your life!"
Inside the courtyard, Sun cursed as she suddenly lunged at the young woman standing to the side, who seemed to have lost her soul, and grabbed her neck tightly, shaking her violently.
The speed was so fast that even the constables nearby didn't have time to react, and it was too late to stop them. Just as the woman was about to be choked until her eyes rolled back, a figure suddenly rushed into the courtyard from outside, pushed Sun Shi away without saying a word, and forcefully pried her hands off.
It was Shen Lingyue who had seized the opportunity to sneak in.
When she recognized Wen Niangzi, she quickly helped her up, patting her back to help her catch her breath. "Are you alright? Where's Ya Ya? Where is Ya Ya?"
The name Ya Ya seemed to awaken her numb soul. Wen Niangzi opened her eyes wide with a start and gripped Shen Lingyue's hand tightly.
"I didn't kill anyone, I really didn't kill anyone. When I came back from outside, Dashan was already..."
Lady Wen couldn't continue speaking. She shook her head, tears streaming down her face like broken beads, looking both desolate and pitiful.
Judge Lü was a step too slow to enter the courtyard. Just as he was about to have someone "invite" Shen Lingyue out, he saw her supporting Madam Wen and comforting her repeatedly, while giving him a pleading look.
Judge Lü sighed silently, looking at the constables, coroners, and clerks in the courtyard—a group of grown men, none of whom were suitable to question the deceased's wife.
Moreover, ever since they arrived after receiving the report and carried the body out of the house, the initial examination revealed that Madam Wen had been in a dazed and silent state, as if she were isolated from the outside world.
He remembered that Huai Zhou had often praised his wife for being smart and capable. Fine, he would give him face today and ask his wife for a favor.
"You're lying! You're the one who killed my son!"
Sun was pulled away by her youngest son and daughter-in-law, but she still cursed Wen Niangzi without stopping, "You only care about buying medicine for that good-for-nothing every day, and you don't care about my son at all. You think he's a burden and wish he would die sooner!"
"I didn't." Madam Wen lowered her head, not daring to meet her mother-in-law's fierce gaze, and only whispered her defense, "I have never thought that Dashan was a burden, I have always taken good care of him..."
Madam Sun scoffed, "You take care of your older brother? Then why don't you stay home and stay out all the time? And who knows if the money you suddenly have for Ya Ya's medicine came from picking up some random guy outside!"
Mu Ersen's wife, Xiao Sun, was Sun's niece from her maternal family. They were both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, as well as aunt and niece. They even looked somewhat alike, with a sharp and mean expression on their faces.
"Hey, how dare you talk like that?" Shen Lingyue couldn't stand it anymore and said to Xiao Sunshi, "I paid for Yaya's medicine. Do I look like a wild man?"
Madam Sun's gaze swept over Shen Lingyue's clothes and jewelry, and she thought to herself: When did this jinx get to know such a wealthy lady? How come I've never heard her mention her?
Madam Wen gratefully grasped Shen Lingyue's hand and gently shook her head at her, "Madam, you have already helped me too much. You shouldn't have come here."
"I'm glad I came, otherwise, would I have waited for them to torture you into confessing?"
Judge Lü coughed twice and reminded her, "I haven't even started questioning her yet, let alone torturing her."
Shen Lingyue looked at Wen Niangzi intently, "Tell this official the truth as to what exactly happened. Ya Ya has already lost her father, do you want her to lose her mother as well?"
Encouraged by her, Madam Wen mustered her courage and said to Magistrate Lü, "I really don't know what happened. I went out to find work today, and before I left, I left some food for Da Shan on the small stove by his bedside so he could heat it up whenever he got hungry... But when I came back, I saw him hanging himself on the windowsill..."
As Madam Wen recalled the scene she saw when she opened the door, she couldn't help but cry again.
She was glad she had left Ya Ya with the neighbor before leaving the house; otherwise, what would have happened if the neighbor had seen her?
"Sir, she must be lying."
Sun argued vehemently, "My elder brother has been bedridden for years with a broken leg, and he has difficulty even getting up. How could he have the strength to hang himself? On the contrary, my sister-in-law could have strangled him on the windowsill and then faked it as a suicide."
She glared fiercely at Madam Wen: "It's you who's not a virtuous wife, who despises your husband for being a useless person and a burden, and wants to kill him and remarry!"
Shen Lingyue suddenly asked, "Judge Lü, has the coroner finished examining the body?"
Judge Lü replied, "The preliminary examination is complete. Further examination at the morgue is needed to determine the exact details. What would you like to know?"
He beckoned, and an old man with a white cloth covering his face walked over, wearing a pair of sewn cotton gloves. He must be the coroner of Shuntian Prefecture.
Shen Lingyue ultimately lacked the courage to remove the white sheet covering the corpse herself. After thinking for a moment, she asked the coroner, "You just examined the body. Was he clean? Were there any bedsores or ulcers on his back and thighs?"
The coroner shook his head. "The patient has been paralyzed for many years due to a broken leg, so it's inevitable that he would be thin and weak. However, he was kept very clean and tidy, with no bedsores or ulcers, which is obviously due to someone taking good care of him every day."
Shen Lingyue looked at the Sun family of three opposite her and said, "Did you hear that? Taking care of a paralyzed patient is very hard work. Madam Wen has been able to keep her husband in bed for years without developing bedsores. Do you know how much effort that took?"
The walls of the Mu family compound were not high, and some busybodies had already climbed over them to watch the excitement. Shen Lingyue's voice could also be heard outside the compound.
Her words immediately sparked discussion among the neighbors.
"Yes, we've all seen how hard Madam Wen has worked these past few years. She's been incredibly good to the Da Shan brothers; there's no one more diligent and clean than her."
"That's right. Da Shan was much stronger when he first broke his leg. Wen Niangzi had to turn him over and wash him every day. She was so tired that she couldn't straighten her back. I had to accompany her to the nearby pharmacy to buy plasters for him."
"Da Shan's mother and his younger brother keep saying they love their son and their older brother dearly, but why haven't you ever come to take care of Da Shan day and night even once?"
With the support of the masses, Shen Lingyue became even more self-righteous.
"Did you hear that? If Madam Wen is really tired of taking care of patients, there are plenty of ways to get rid of Mu Dashan quietly. Why choose this thankless method that is likely to attract the attention of the authorities?"
She then asked the coroner, "Was there one or two ligature marks on the deceased's neck?"
"One step." The coroner called over his apprentice and showed her the pattern drawn on the autopsy table.
There is a diagonal ligature mark on the neck of the human figure, running diagonally backwards and intersecting at the middle of the back of the neck.
Shen Lingyue asked Judge Lü, "Your Excellency has judged countless cases and is very experienced. You should know the difference between suicide by hanging and homicide, right?"
Judge Lü certainly knew, but what he didn't know was why Pei Huaizhou's wife also knew.
He glanced at Shen Lingyue, cleared his throat, and said to the three Suns, "Based on the on-site examination of the body, the deceased, Mu Dashan, did indeed die by suicide..."
"I disagree!"
Suddenly, Mrs. Sun jumped up and said, "My son would not commit suicide. Even if he put the rope around his neck himself, it was this jinx who forced him to do it. She is the murderer!"
Seeing her eyes darting around, looking like she was plotting something, Shen Lingyue suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"Sir, if the deceased committed suicide, surely they would have left a suicide note? Have you found it?"
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Author's Note: Here she comes! [Let me see][Let me see] Hehe, didn't expect our Yanling sister to be so fierce, right? She ran away from home to escape an arranged marriage, so how did she end up marrying herself off? [doge]
I thought about it today and the plot seems a bit unpredictable, haha, since there haven't been many clues left so far. I hope you guys will be pleasantly surprised, hehe [sprinkling flowers]
However, the Bai family did indeed re-establish contact with Yan Yan because of Yan Ling, so from now on, our Yan Yan will have an uncle to back her up! [Sprinkling flowers]
I'll send a small red envelope to the babies who got close to the correct answer as encouragement later. [Thumbs up][Thumbs up]
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