Chapter 120 Lord Chen is dead.
Zhu Yan stared intently at those faces, and after a long while, she sheathed her sword. She said, "I won't kill you, but I won't stay by your side anymore. I'm going back to where I belong. As for the contract, give it to me if you want, or don't. That thing is no problem for me."
Zhu Yan's heart was elsewhere, so Zhou Mujiao had no use for her indenture. Without a word, she handed the indenture to her: "Are you going back to the capital? Are you also a member of the Six Doors?"
"It wasn't like that before, but it will be from now on. The next time we meet, you'd better stay away from me. I'm not a good person. Jiang Wuyu betrayed my feelings, Li Luo left heartbroken because of me, and thus could never see her family again until death. I was trapped here for more than ten years because of her, and in the end, you rescued me..."
But one thing is one thing. I won't forgive Jiang Wuyu and Li Luo just because you saved me, nor will I think that being trapped absolves me of the fact that I caused Li Luo's abduction.
Zhu Yan walked to the door and turned back again: "You are a smart person, and I like dealing with smart people. I also hope that you can continue to be smart. Zhao Yun Jing is sincere enough to you, but he is too foolish. In the Imperial City, fools have no right to live."
Zhou Mujiao chased after her and hugged her from behind: "Thank you, Sister Zhu Zhu."
She was pushed away by Zhu Yan after only a few counts.
As Zhu Yan's figure was completely swallowed by the darkness, Zhou Mujiao felt a sense of emptiness in her heart.
Although he didn't spend much time with Zhu Yan, he genuinely considered her family. Now, that family member is gone...
"We'll arrive in the capital by the winter solstice of the year after next at the latest." Zhao Yunjing appeared behind her. "Sister Zhu Zhu is also in the capital; we'll meet again eventually."
"But she said, stay away from her."
"She will come to you on her own."
Even so, Zhou Mujiao's mood has been very low these past few days, so low that even Shi Ba doesn't dare to dance in front of her anymore, and no one dares to mention the name Zhu Yan in front of her.
"Ah Jiao, the house is almost finished. I've found two auspicious days for you to move in. Which one do you think you should choose?"
With something to do, Zhou Mujiao immediately put the unpleasant matter aside.
Zhao Yunjing was building a pavilion halfway up the mountain when Chen Xiuxiu peeked out and said, "Brother Zhao, I've always believed you wouldn't kill anyone."
"Oh, really?" Zhao Yunjing smiled at her, a rare occurrence. "Thank you."
Chen Xiuxiu's heart started pounding again. She said, "I... I've decided to join the security team. From now on, I'll protect you on your way to and from school! Don't worry, I'm very good at fighting you, I definitely can..."
Zhao Yunjing immediately regretted answering! This Chen Xiuxiu was going on and on. It wasn't so bad that he was annoyed, but what if Ajiao misunderstood?
Suddenly Chen Xiuxiu cried out, "Brother Zhao, soldiers! Soldiers are coming!"
Zhao Yunjing climbed down from the tree when the soldiers arrived.
Officer Liu cupped his hands in greeting: "Young Master Zhao, Lord Zhao requests your presence at the yamen. There's been progress in the case of those two students."
Zhao Yunjing called out to Zhou Mujiao, and the two of them followed Constable Liu.
Last time, Zhao Yunjing was taken away by the soldiers on charges of 'murder,' but this time he was chatting and laughing with them.
The villagers watched from a distance, discussing the matter animatedly, but their opinions were completely different from last time. Finally, they called out to him from afar, "Yun Jing, come back for dinner soon!"
An old woman with bound feet chased after them, insisting on giving them food. Zhao Yunjing couldn't refuse, so he accepted. Zhou Mujiao then secretly slipped a silver coin into the old woman's waist.
With the prefect's personal presence, even ordinary people noticed something amiss. In addition, Constable Liu led his men to patrol and question people on the streets every day, and other officers and soldiers went to the villages to collect evidence. So even though the news of Lord Chen's imprisonment was not made public, rumors about his demotion by the court spread like wildfire.
It is unclear whether someone in the Chen family let slip the news that Lord Chen and Young Master Chen had severed ties, but immediately the question of who had committed a greater mistake, Lord Chen or Young Master Chen, became a topic of discussion involving the entire nation.
Lord Zhao was reviewing the case files when Zhou Mujiao and Zhao Yunjing went in and sat down. Jiang Wuyu arrived, followed by Young Master Chen and Miss Chen.
It wasn't surprising that Young Master Chen would come, but Zhou Mujiao felt something was amiss when he also invited Miss Chen.
Could it be that something has happened to Lord Chen?
"Once everyone has arrived, I'll announce it directly."
Lord Zhao stood up, his face solemn: "Lord Chen passed away last night. Young Master Chen, Miss Chen, please accept my condolences."
When Miss Chen received the message from Lord Zhao summoning her to the yamen, she was still thinking that her father was definitely innocent. Lord Zhao had asked her and her brother to come so that he could bring her father out. Therefore, when she came out, she specifically instructed the family cook to prepare her father's favorite braised pork ribs.
The last thing I received was the news that my father had passed away!
Miss Chen broke down, crying and making a scene, and even cursing Lord Zhao for being an corrupt official who drove her father to his death.
"Wan'er, stop making a scene!"
Suppressing his grief, Young Master Chen ordered Miss Chen to be escorted back to her residence before asking Lord Zhao, "Lord Zhao, my father has always been in good health. I believe that you wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for him during his time in prison. Lord Zhao, how did my father die?"
"Hanging himself."
After Lord Zhao finished speaking, he took out a letter: "This is the suicide note found on his body."
Then he placed another stack of letters on the table and said to Zhao Yunjing, "Young Master Zhao, these are left by Lord Chen for you and Brother Jiang... Brother Jiang. You two take a look first."
The will left by Lord Chen for his son contained only the old father's hopes and worries for his son. The words were simple and elegant, the kind of handwriting that the son had been used to since childhood. There was no sign of haste in the handwriting, so it was conceivable that this will was prepared by him long ago.
Young Master Chen couldn't understand why his perfectly healthy father would suddenly try to kill himself.
"Lord Zhao, did my father leave any further messages?"
"Yes. I want you to keep your hatred for Zhao Yunjing, strive to rise up, and get to the capital as soon as possible. Tell me, that's where your world truly lies."
Should we maintain our hatred for Zhao Yunjing?
Young Master Chen harbors no hatred towards Zhao Yunjing. His jealousy is a far cry from hatred. Moreover, why would his father want him to harbor hatred? Could it be that his father's death is related to Zhao Yunjing?
"Lord Zhao—"
Zhao Yunjing stopped him: "Lord Zhao, I believe that as the son of the person involved, Young Master Chen has the right to know everything."
In his hand was a case file. On the yellowed paper was written the case of the corrupt official Li, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, twenty years ago!
Young Master Chen was completely bewildered. Twenty years ago, his father was just a junior civil official who had just entered the officialdom. How could the case file of such an important case as Lord Li's embezzlement have fallen into his hands?
Could it be that my father's death wasn't related to Zhao Yunjing, but rather to this embezzlement case?
Young Master Chen trembled all over, and Zhou Mujiao gently patted the back of his hand: "Open it. No matter what the truth is, we'll face it together."
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