At the banquet.
Despite the table laden with delicious food, Han Zijin had no appetite. He could only hope the party would end soon so he could find an opportunity to ask about Chaolu.
I long to see that little girl again, to ask her where they have all been all these years, why she ended up as a maid in the Marquis's mansion, and what about her mother, grandmother, and brothers?
The morning dew did not appear at the banquet, but delicacies were served continuously, and the banquet lingered for a long time.
I heard that the dishes and quantities were requested by the old lady.
Han Zijin couldn't help but resent the old lady of the Marquis's mansion, wondering why she had to prepare so many dishes.
Does she not know that there are still many people in Da Yuan who are starving? She is truly an ignorant old woman.
After complaining to the old lady, he couldn't wait any longer. He made an excuse that he had drunk too much and needed to use the restroom, and pulled Xie Tingzhou away from the table with him.
Once they reached a secluded spot, he hurriedly said, "Please, Commander Xie, find me an opportunity to see the child alone."
Xie Tingzhou asked, "Brother Han, why do you want to see her?"
Han Zijin was silent for a moment, then said truthfully, "She should be my daughter. I married a wife during the years I was living in the countryside."
Seeing that he didn't hide anything, Xie Tingzhou then said, "There was a flood in her hometown, and her mother and grandmother both perished."
Her eldest brother, along with his two younger siblings, fled famine and arrived in the capital a few years ago in search of their father. To support his siblings, Wu Da sold himself into servitude at the Marquis's residence, becoming Liu's groom.
You're saying my eldest son is also in the Marquis's residence?
Han Zijin's eyes filled with tears. "What about the second son? Is he alright? Is he also at the Marquis's residence?"
When he left home, his second son was only three years old. He stumbled and followed him, reluctant to let him go out to work as a镖师 (bodyguard/escort).
The eldest child was only six years old at the time, and he sensibly comforted his younger brother, "Daddy went to earn money to pay for Grandma's medical treatment, he'll be back soon, little brother..."
But when he returned, Wujiazhuang had been completely washed away by the flood.
I heard that those who survived either sat in pig-slaughtering basins or clung to driftwood and floated away with the current; he never heard from his family again.
Memories etched deep in his heart will always bring tears to Han Zijin's eyes whenever he thinks of them.
Fortunately, he finally saw his daughter, and he will soon see his sons as well.
He smiled and wiped his eyes, his gaze full of anticipation as he awaited Xie Tingzhou's answer.
Xie Tingzhou prided himself on being hard-hearted, but seeing him like this, he still felt a pang of pity.
But in the end, he was told about Wu Da's punishment by Liu Shi and how Wu Er and his sister avenged their elder brother.
"This matter was due to the negligence of our Marquis's Mansion. Although Liu Shi and Xie Jinyao have been dealt with by Father, they were ultimately unable to bring Wu Da back to life. This is something the Marquis's Mansion owes Wu Da."
Upon learning the purpose of his bringing his younger siblings to Beijing, we could only try to find their father as an act of atonement, and eventually we found him through Brother Han.
He brought Han Zijin here today to cooperate, not to make an enemy, so he used some skill in his speech.
Han Zijin was filled with grief and indignation.
However, he was born into a powerful family and knew very well that people were divided into different classes. Since Wu Da had become a slave of the Marquis's mansion, even if he was beaten to death without cause, the Marquis's mansion would not have to pay with his life.
In this capital city, countless servants are beaten to death and thrown into mass graves every day.
The Marquis of Zhongyong spared the lives of his second son and daughter, which, rationally speaking, was already considered benevolent.
But it was his son who died, the son he had been searching for for many years. He clenched his fists and said, "I don't blame you and the Marquis, but the Marquis's wife killed my son. As a father, I can't do nothing."
Xie Tingzhou had no interest in Liu's life.
“I’m not stopping you, nor am I trying to exonerate the Marquis’s family, but do you really think that only Lady Liu is responsible for Wu Da’s death?”
What do you mean by that?
People from Wujiazhuang who were scattered and left behind have gradually returned to their hometown over the years.
Only his wife and children were nowhere to be found. He wondered if someone was interfering, but he couldn't find any evidence.
Xie Tingzhou sighed, "To be honest, this is a shameful matter for my Marquis's mansion, but it is because of this shameful matter that we were able to contact Brother Han and Chaolu."
He didn't play dumb, and said frankly, "My stepmother, Liu, seems to have some connection with Fu Jiang, the magistrate of Qingzhou County."
During the investigation of Fu Jiang, we discovered that he entered the princess's residence in the middle of the night. After some inquiries, we learned that he was the one who had found Brother Han back then.
The princess is grateful to him and has already begun the process of transferring him to the capital. I wonder if Brother Han is aware of this?
When Han Zijun was injured and fell into a coma after being attacked by bandits while escorting goods, it was Fu Jiang who rescued him and recognized his identity, sending a message to the capital. Han Zijin naturally knew about this.
Although he was annoyed that Fu Jiang had informed Kang Le, he still had to accept the debt of gratitude for saving his life.
He had not heard about Kang Le's transfer to Fu Jiang, nor had Kang Le mentioned it.
Han Zijin wasn't a fool. He asked, "Do you suspect there's something fishy about Fu Jiang saving me back then?"
Xie Tingzhou did have this guess, but it was just a guess.
It's rather unusual that Fu Jiang, a scheming and despicable person, has been hiding such a great favor—saving the imperial son-in-law—and is only now using it.
Princess Kang Le has been walking on thin ice all these years, yet for Fu Jiang, she risked the emperor's suspicion by interfering in the transfer of officials, which is even more unusual.
I'm afraid the events of that year were not as simple as they seemed on the surface.
However, Xie Tingzhou couldn't say anything without evidence, so he left it at that and said Han Zijin would investigate on his own.
“We’ve been out long enough. Let’s go back first. I’ll take you to see her after the banquet.”
Having received the promise, Han Zijin also knew that since the Marquis of Zhongyong was not present, Xie Tingzhou, as the heir apparent, had to attend the banquet to entertain him, so he followed him back to the banquet.
Marquis Zhongyong personally escorted the old lady back to her courtyard.
"Over the years, I always thought that the family was harmonious and ignored Tingzhou's accusations, thinking that he was really just being naughty and unreasonable."
But Mother, I only learned today that you harbored murderous intentions towards Tingzhou. Do you know how much pain I'm in?
The old lady remained silent.
She no longer wanted to argue with the Marquis of Zhongyong. She carefully recalled the arrangements made today, wondering where things had gone wrong, or if fate had truly been against her.
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