Wen Ruo moves the corpse
The setting sun and a lone bird flew together, the afterglow falling on its outstretched wings, like a golden roc soaring freely in the sky, overlooking the capital city, skimming over the undulating rooftops of East Street, the bare branches rustling, dappled silhouettes falling on the window frames, startling the people inside.
Wen Ruo rubbed her sore fingers and immediately went to the window. The white dove cooed and pushed open the window. It fluttered down onto the table, its pink claws landing on the crooked characters, getting covered in ink. Its tail had a black line, and its round, beady eyes darted around, showing no fear of people at all.
My gaze fell on its feet, where a strip of paper, almost as thick as a finger, was tied with a red string. After taking it off, the pigeon fluttered its wings, its wingtips brushing past Cao Xi's complaint, and then it perched on the empty bookshelf, its head bowed as it preened its feathers, quiet and obedient.
Who sends such a thick scroll of messages by carrier pigeon? She'd been cooped up for days, not hearing any news from outside, even her mother wouldn't tell her anything. Even when Xiao Shun brought her food, she was being watched. Suddenly, a carrier pigeon arrived. Wen Ruo was curious; why would her former employer still send letters? Hadn't they changed hands long ago?
She unfolded the note, her brows furrowing slightly. It was clearly written by Qi Guanlan; the villagers had kidnapped him and were using him as a lifeline.
The two little figures at the back of the paper leap off the page. One of them is frowning and holding a big knife. He is being stopped by the other little figure. She doesn’t need to think to know who it is. She can even imagine the expression on his face as he writes the letter.
After the villagers handed the matter over to the Dali Temple, they confessed everything when questioned. They said that a scholar had come to the village and said he wanted to settle down there. Seeing that the village was about to disperse, he had no choice but to reveal that he had seen Qi Guanlan going to Yan'an Temple to make donations. They acted on impulse.
As for the scholar, it was the one with the messy hair who provided the clue. Because he hit Qi Guanlan, he was specially targeted by someone who was petty. Before he could ask a few questions, he was so frightened that he confessed that he had been peeping at the scholar writing a letter and that the pen he was using was made of purple bamboo.
When the Dali Temple led their men over, the scholar had already left, and even Qi Guanlan's clothes were gone.
As she finished reading, Wen Ruo habitually squinted. The Purple Bamboo Brush? She remembered that the scholar who ran the stall seemed to use it too. She had occasionally mentioned it to Yu Niang, who was also in the village. Could the two of them be related?
Could he be the one who wrote the letter?
The scholar was somewhat cynical and disapproved of Qi Guanlan and Yang Cong's actions. He took the opportunity to hide Yu Niang and let the two fight like dogs, which is why he didn't actually kill Yu Niang. Everything seems to make sense.
Zhang Tingjia also said that he was threatened with a knife by a masked man. If that's true, he had no choice but to do it, which makes sense. If he was lying to her, did the two of them know each other?
Wen Ruo carried the pigeon to the cage next to the stove. She originally thought it was for raising chickens. What did her former employer get in return that he would give her even pigeons that he had raised for so long? It couldn't be that one or two taels of his private money, could it?
On the third day after Wen Ruo received the letter, the traveling doctor came to share the news. His Majesty was overjoyed and announced to the whole world that Qi Guanlan was kind, honest, generous, and righteous. He had raised 10,000 taels of silver on his own and distributed porridge and clothing to relieve the disaster victims. He had also moved Huangshi Village with his kindness and repaid evil with good. He was specially granted the title of Prince of Anping.
There was also the case of Yu Niang. Yu Niang, the scholar, was already dead. In order to make an example of others, Yang Cong was stripped of his official rank and exiled thousands of miles away, never to return to the capital. Yang's father was suspended from his post for half a year and his salary for three years was also given to Yu Niang's parents.
At the same time, the Emperor and Empress revised the law, stipulating that anyone found to have committed marriage fraud leading to death or disability would be severely punished, with the punishment extending to three generations of their family in serious cases. Suddenly, the纨绔 (playboys) of the capital quieted down, and the Dali Temple (Court of Judicial Review) was busier than ever.
"The emperor is shrewd, but he's also really biased. Look at you, you may not have done anything great, but you still put in a lot of effort. You just managed to get by as a young hero, and you didn't get any credit at all." Mr. Yi's words were laced with sarcasm and a hint of mockery.
"Being indebted to others is a virtue," Wen Ruo said, her mouth still full of ginseng slices given to her by the princess, her eyelids trembling from the pain. After a while, she slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. "My mother's leg ailment is likely to be cured, I have received instruction from Master Yi, and now I have your favoritism. I am already content. Even if there were more gold, it wouldn't be as good as Master Yi. I wouldn't trade him for anything."
Mr. Yi picked up a gold needle and stuck it in his hair, feeling extremely comfortable. He looked at Pomegranate Mother and said, "You have a good daughter. She is smart and can learn everything I teach her. Her handwriting is still a bit messy, but given time, she will definitely become a talent. I wonder who will benefit from her in the future."
Wen Ruo smiled sweetly, "Sir, you flatter me. I'm just telling the truth."
After Wen Ruo's serious illness, Shi Liu Niang has become much more open-minded. Looking at Wen Ruo now, she has been nourishing her for almost ten days, with nourishing soup at every meal. Even her chin has become rounder, and her lips are rosy.
As Wen Ruo stood up, she seemed to have grown taller. She was delighted, and the gloom that had been lingering between her brows faded away. "I really have to trouble you, Mr. Yi."
Time flew by, and Mr. Yi finished his acupuncture. "After another half month of herbal treatment, I will detoxify you."
Wen Ruo glanced in the direction of Shi Liu Niang, then turned and asked, "Can I go out now?"
Mr. Yi didn't speak. Wen Ruo sighed and said, "Fine, I'll keep quiet."
Qi Guanlan turned over a new leaf and became incredibly popular. His household received many visiting cards, including from prestigious families who used to look down on him for his hedonistic lifestyle and lack of ambition. But now, he had transformed himself into a prince through his own abilities, even surpassing the young prince.
He didn't meet with any of them, but he did accept a visiting card from his mortal enemy, Zhao Heng.
The Minghe Pleasure Boat is a perfect place for indulging in a life of pleasure and decadence.
At that moment, Wen Ruo was asleep. She tossed and turned for an hour or two, and then her face scrunched up, her nostrils flared, and her limbs twitched uncontrollably. "Help!"
She opened her eyes abruptly, gasping for air. This nightmare had been so real. She got out of bed, still shaken, only to find the bedding damp and her back chilly. She had unknowingly broken out in a cold sweat in her sleep; no wonder she dreamt of drowning and nearly suffocating.
Wen Ruo took off her inner garment, preparing to change into a new one. As soon as she took off her clothes, her eyes widened. A red mark was creeping under her skin on her elbow, still slowly wriggling. The Gu had awakened again.
As dawn broke, Wen Ruo quickly changed her clothes, took out the sleeping powder she had secretly prepared, and after an incense stick's time, the snoring in both rooms subsided a bit. Only then did Wen Ruo feel at ease and open the back door, secretly burying the key behind her.
This was the first time the Gu worm had acted up. She pressed her left hand in confusion and vaguely followed her senses to the arched bridge. She had only taken a few steps after getting off the bridge when the Gu worm rushed out, seemingly wanting to go to the Spring Water Alley around the corner.
She hurried over, and there lay a person, or rather, a corpse, on the stone steps by the river. "Could it be that Master is really dead?"
My master once said that the mother and child Gu were connected by a spiritual connection and could be used to collect the corpse. Who could have imagined that his words would come true? After not seeing each other for several years, they met again only to find that they were separated by life and death.
Wen Ruo glanced back to make sure no one was there, then strode over. Her exquisite and gorgeous sky-blue brocade robe was soaking wet, and a few strands of water plants were still hanging from her hair, as if she had just been pulled out of the river.
She looked around in confusion, but it was still quiet, not even a dog was there. Could it have climbed up on its own? Wen Ruo touched her chest, and the Gu worms quieted down again. What could have caused her master to lose his life?
Turning her head over, an invitation fell out of her arms. When Wen Ruo saw the name on it, she swayed and almost sat down, her gaze fixed on the familiar face.
It must be Tao Yan without a doubt. Her original guess was now clear. She wiped the sweat from her palms, and a nameless anger rose in her heart. Tao Yan was really dead, or perhaps she had died in her place.
Master had always loved beauty, even choosing a beautiful and scenic spot for his grave. Yet he died in such a wretched state. Wen Ruo clenched her fists so tightly they cracked. She hid the body by the river, went to buy a wheelbarrow, and with great effort dragged the body back home.
She sat curled up in the backyard, staring blankly at the corpse. The name on the invitation was Qi Guanlan. Xi You died after meeting Qi Guanlan.
Mr. Yi stretched early in the morning and saw that she was so frightened that she almost strained her back. Seeing that her face was pale, he quickly took her pulse and asked, "How come the Gu worms have woken up again? What did you do?"
Wen Ruo carefully spread out the bamboo mat. Mr. Yi's Adam's apple bobbed. There seemed to be movement in the house to the west. He quickly pushed the cart and pulled it to his room.
Less than half a month after the group moved in, Mr. Yi's room was filled with prescriptions scattered all over the floor and medicine bags lying in disarray, making it impossible to even step inside. A cart was parked in front of the table. "Where did this corpse come from?"
"I found it while I was out for a walk," Wen Ruo said. A strange look appeared in Mr. Yi's eyes. "Finding it is one thing, but why did you bring it home?"
Wen Ruo smiled, offering no explanation, but instead pleaded, "Mr. Yi, could you please show me how he died?"
"Of course, I'd like something sweet today, sweet tofu pudding would be best."
After receiving the pardon, Wen Ruo immediately tidied herself up and strolled leisurely down East Street. The tofu pudding on East Street was a few coins more expensive than on West Street, but it came with delicious side dishes and was beautifully packaged. She lingered for a long time, and the tofu pudding was still hot.
Mr. Yi was knowledgeable and knew everything, even which tofu pudding shops were good or bad. However, she still preferred the sesame soup from West Street.
The scholar's stall remained in the same old spot. He sat there, glancing occasionally at the steamed bun shop next door, staring blankly at the steamer baskets. When he noticed someone watching, he turned away shyly and resumed fiddling with the few calligraphy pieces he had on the table.
A stack of paper, an inkstone, a small amount of ink that was almost used up, and two purple bamboo brushes, one long and one short, were placed on the table.
Wen Ruo took the breakfast home.
The door was locked. She fumbled around at her waist and suddenly froze. The place where she should have kept her key was empty. She had lost her key!
Wen Ruo followed the old path, circled around, and returned to the front door. She placed the breakfast on the stone stool, took out her hairpin, poked at it, and then waved it in front of her, but it didn't work.
As expected of a wealthy family, they use only the best chain doors; there's absolutely no chance of them being opened. Damn it, she muttered under her breath, unable to contain her anger as she vented her frustration on the door.
"Who are you?" Qi Guanlan appeared out of nowhere, glancing at the couplets on the door to make sure he hadn't come to the wrong place. "What are you doing, sneaking around like that? Stealing something?"
The door narrowly escaped disaster. The moment she heard the sound, Wen Ruo withdrew her foot, picked up the tofu pudding and covered her face. The movements were swift and fluid. As if by reflex, she took a few steps back and said, "I've come to deliver something."
Qi Guanlan wrinkled his nose. "Damn, the old man from Douguiyuan has quite a taste for food. Why did you have to kick down the door and pick the lock when you were delivering something?"
"I was just upset because I thought this family was so picky, making me travel such a long way and I was hungry."
Wen Ruo placed the tofu pudding in his hand and hurriedly ran away. Fortunately, he didn't follow her. She stopped at the corner, but suddenly another person appeared from the opposite side. She fell to the ground, and the person quickly helped her up, apologized, and disappeared without a trace.
Wen Ruo blew on her palms, then looked at the shop, and said with tears in her eyes, "What a good life!"
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