Chapter 54 Du Shaoqing's Gaze
"The deceased in this case went to Qingzhou to investigate a disaster relief case. From what you two said, there are obvious suspicious points about the cause of death."
However, despite such obvious doubts, the case was closed after layers of review.
That means there were layers of officials protecting each other, and they might all be involved in the disaster relief efforts.
This is no longer a single case of an official's murder, but a case of official corruption, and a major one at that.
If this matter is not investigated, all will be well; but if it is, it is likely that most of the officials in Qingzhou will be implicated and implicated.
Cases of official corruption should fall under the jurisdiction of the Censorate.
And I've heard that the people in the Censorate have been impeaching people in the court like madmen lately.
Neither the Court of Judicial Review nor the Ministry of Justice wanted to offend them.
Zongcheng asked, "Then why do you say we can't make the decision?"
"This matter should be submitted to His Majesty by the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review or the Minister of Justice, and His Majesty should issue an edict."
This way, the cause would be justified without offending the Censorate.
"You two, one a Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and the other a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, what decision do you have to make?"
Zong Cheng listened, glanced sideways at Du Zhengming, and said:
"He calls himself the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, but he's not even as good as my little niece."
Du Zhengming retorted, "Since the case was uncovered by your Ministry of Justice, why don't you report it to the Minister of Justice and have your minister report it to His Majesty?"
"Don't you know what's going on with our Ministry of Justice?"
The old minister is unwell; how long has he been on leave?
Du Zhengming glared at him: "This is no reason for you to push the case onto our Dali Temple."
Upon hearing this, Old Master Xie shook his head and said, "Alright, it's not a big deal. Go back and report it yourselves."
I believe that this matter will soon appear on His Majesty's desk.
After all, neither the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review nor the former Minister of Justice were incompetent.
"The main purpose of my visit today is to drink and make merry; let's not discuss matters of state anymore."
"Come on, let's raise our glasses and have another drink."
After hearing the old tutor's words, the two men raised their wine cups and drank them down.
After that, Du Zhengming's eyes kept falling on Xie Yunyu.
Xie Yunyu naturally sensed it, and not only Xie Yunyu sensed it, but Old Master Xie and Zong Cheng also saw it.
Zong Cheng, his face flushed and dark from drinking, took advantage of the moment when Old Master Xie went out to speak with dissatisfaction:
"What are you looking at?"
What? You're thinking of making a move on her?
My niece is so much younger than you, have you no shame?
Xie Yunyu was very embarrassed after hearing this and said:
"Uncle-Master, are you drunk? What are you saying?"
Zong Cheng, seemingly drunk, patted Du Zhengming on the shoulder:
Actually, you are quite capable.
He's alright...
"But with such a bad reputation, we dare not let our eldest niece marry you."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yunyu wished she could go over and shut Zong Cheng up.
Upon hearing this, Du Zhengming lowered his head and sighed.
Seeing that Zong Cheng had hit a nerve, Xie Yunyu comforted him, saying:
“Du Shaoqing, I’ve heard about what happened to you. It’s not your fault, and you don’t need to feel too guilty.”
Upon hearing this, Du Zhengming turned his head and looked over, his eyes slightly red from drinking, staring at Xie Yunyu.
"What do you want to say, Miss Xie?"
Xie Yunyu said with a faint smile, "In my opinion, the deaths of your two fiancées are too coincidental. There must be a mastermind behind this."
Moreover, judging from the methods used, the perpetrator must be a woman skilled in scheming within the inner quarters of a household.
Upon hearing this, Du Zhengming suddenly sat up straight and looked at Xie Yunyu, pressing her for an answer:
"Why make this inference? What makes you think the murderer is a woman?"
Xie Yunyu said, "The first person died in the lotus pond, and the second person died from falling off a horse."
Both of them were young ladies from prominent families, and they were always accompanied by a group of people when they went out. Why were they both taken advantage of?
Didn't you ever have any doubts?
No, you must have suspected it, and even sent people to investigate, but you didn't find anything, right?
Du Zhengming did not answer, but just stared blankly at Xie Yunyu.
Xie Yunyu continued, "The first person to die in the lotus pond died in the inner courtyard."
The second person died during a spring outing, also in a place where women often gathered.
You must have investigated the parties involved, but without reaching a conclusion, right?
Du Zhengming nodded silently.
Xie Yunyu smiled but didn't say anything. She dipped her finger in the tea and wrote the character 'Wei' on the table.
Then we stopped talking about it.
When Grandpa Xie returned, he saw Zong Cheng, who was almost asleep on the table, and then he saw Du Zhengming, who was deep in thought.
That concludes today's banquet.
They called in their servants and helped the two men back.
The next day, Xie Yunyu remained paralyzed at home.
Suddenly she received a message saying that Wu Yumin was coming to visit her.
Xie Yunyu was delighted and sent someone to inform Wu Yumin that she could come at any time, since she was bored anyway and didn't need to send a visiting card in advance.
Wu Yumin soon appeared at the Xie family's house. Zheng was very happy to hear this and warmly received Wu Yumin.
Then they let the girls go play in the back.
Wu Yumin lay comfortably on Xie Yunyu's specially made recliner and sighed:
"Ah... it's still more comfortable lying down."
Xie Yunyu asked her, "I just made some face masks yesterday. Now that you're here, let's put on face masks together."
Wu Yumin asked curiously, "What is a face mask?"
"It's something you put on your face that makes your skin whiter, softer, and more delicate."
Wu Yumin perked up immediately upon hearing this.
"Okay, this is good."
During the Grain in Ear and Frost's Descent seasons, I made face masks for the two of them. During the Summer Solstice season, I made peach milk tea for them.
Wu Yumin took a sip of milk tea, feeling the gentle breeze, and exclaimed in admiration:
"You really know how to enjoy life. That's how life should be lived: eat well, drink well, and rest well."
Xie Yunyu laughed and said, "Don't you live like this at home?"
"My mother, I don't know where she found a palace matron to teach us sisters etiquette."
From then on, the sisters in the family walked and sat as if they had been measured with a ruler.
I couldn't stand it anymore, so I ran away to my grandfather's place.
But you can only stay there occasionally for a while, just for a short time.
It seems this will be my second good place to relax.
Xie Yunyu laughed and said, "Don't worry, after you and my elder brother get married, you can live like this every day."
Wu Yumin reached out and patted Xie Yunyu, saying shyly:
What nonsense are you spouting?
Xie Yunyu smiled even more: "Are you shy? Men should marry when they are of age and women should marry when they are of age. What can't you say?"
Besides, my mother plans to go to your house to present betrothal gifts on the third day of next month.
Then you and my older brother will have a legitimate relationship, and we can have more contact.
Wu Yu chuckled softly but remained silent.
After a while, Xie Yunyu asked, "Why are you alone today? Where is Weiyang?"
Wu Yumin chuckled upon hearing this: "She's being kept in solitary confinement at home."
"Oh, why is that?"
"Two days ago, he and Qin Yingying got into a fight in the street, and his mother dragged him back home and locked him up so she wouldn't be allowed to come out."
"Qin Yingying, aren't those two on pretty good terms?"
"Well, this is a long story, it all started around the time you first returned to the capital."
It seems there was a spring outing at the academy that day, and the two of them went to participate.
But on the way back, it suddenly started to rain.
The two men's carriages both got stuck in the mud.
Just then, a carriage came from the opposite direction, with a student from the academy dressed in a blue robe sitting inside.
Wei Yang was a very chivalrous person, and he was also good at dealing with people. He went up and said a few words to her.
The student unloaded the horses from his carriage and helped Weiyang pull the carriage out.
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