Chapter 19 Yao Er 19 The Truth 1
The rain fell all day, washing away all the dust from the flowers, plants, and trees in the courtyard, leaving every leaf a vibrant, tender green. The remaining flowers in the treetops, already teetering on the brink of collapse, could no longer withstand the weight of the rain and fell to the ground, leaving a mess.
The study window was wide open, and Zhao Yuanming stood behind the window. The rain blurred and melted his face, making it unclear, but one could clearly feel that he was absent-minded.
He seemed anxious, as if he was waiting for someone.
I don't know how long I waited. When moisture entered the study through the open window and softened the papers spread out by the window, I heard a sound from the courtyard gate. A man in linen clothes quietly slipped into the courtyard. After entering, he did not forget to close the courtyard door, then turned around and smiled at Zhao Yuanming: "Brother Yuanming, are you waiting for me?"
Zhao Yuanming swallowed unconsciously, his expression stiff: "Why is Wan'er here?"
Wang Fuwan walked to the window, put away her umbrella, and smiled at Zhao Yuanming through the window: "Brother Yuanming, are you still sad about Madam Zhao's matter?
Zhao Yuanming clenched his teeth to suppress his emotions and squeezed out a few words from between his teeth: "Aren't you sad?"
"Of course I am sad. Madam treats me very well, like her own daughter."
"But I don't think you look sad."
Wang Fuwan was stunned for a moment, then pursed her lips, looking pitiful. "Brother Yuanming, I don't want to lie to you. I'm sad, but I'm also happy. When I think about how, after Madam leaves, no one will stand between us, and how we can be together forever, that slight sadness disappears." She took a half step forward, resting her hand on the windowsill, and said in a mournful voice, "Brother Yuanming, aren't you happy?"
At that moment, a bright light flashed, illuminating the entire sky. The instantaneous light blurred Wang Fuwan's features as she stood backlit, leaving only her silhouette from the side, casting an eerie shadow.
Zhao Yuanming's heart suddenly skipped a beat and he unconsciously took a half step back.
Thunder roared, shaking the earth. He remembered what those people had said and raised his voice with courage: "Of course I'm happy. Wan'er, I have something to ask you. Aunt Sumei said that you came to the Zhao residence on the night my mother died. Since you are here, why don't you come to my yard to look for me?"
The joy of mutual affection completely overwhelmed Wang Fuwan. She was immersed in it and could not extricate herself. Upon hearing this, she did not hide it and said with a smile: "Of course I have been here."
This answer was not what Zhao Yuanming expected. He felt bitter in his heart and whispered, "Have you seen your mother?"
"Of course I did. I saw her from a distance walking towards the yard with you, and then going into the room to talk."
"Did you hear what we said?"
Wang Fuwan shook her head. "There was another person behind you at the time. She followed you into the courtyard and stood outside the house listening to you. I didn't dare get close, for fear of being discovered."
Another person? Did they hear what he and Su Mei said? Zhao Yuanming's mind was in a state of chaos. He couldn't recall the scene of that day. He felt confused and panicked. He could only ask tentatively, "Do you know that person? Do you know who that person is?"
Wang Fuwan glanced at him and said, "Brother Yuanming, who that person is doesn't matter. She's dead after all. Even if she heard something, she won't have the chance to speak out."
That person was indeed Mrs. Zhao.
Just now, the government officials came with his father and told him that if anyone came later, they might know the truth about the night his mother was murdered. He was told to use any means to get as much information as possible. He didn't know why they had to do this, but he was willing to help the government find the murderer as soon as possible, so he agreed immediately.
He didn't expect that the person coming was Wang Fuwan, and he didn't expect that Wang Fuwan had run into his mother before.
Zhao Yuanming's heart, which had already cooled down, was now completely cold. He looked at the person in front of him, thought of their companionship over the years, and thought of what Su Mei said that day, and his heart became more bitter.
How could he continue his questioning? At this point, did the truth still matter?
Zhao Yuanming was silent for a moment, gritting his teeth. When he spoke again, he lowered his voice and pleaded, "Wan'er, it's dangerous here, let's go!"
Wang Fuwan was stunned. Before she could react, she saw two people rushing out from the invisible corner next to the window, a man and a woman. They were the two people she saw in the cloth shop at noon.
He Xuan shouted, "Master Fang, if you don't come out now, the others will run away!"
As soon as he finished speaking, noises echoed around the courtyard. Men in official uniforms emerged from various corners, having been hiding for who knows how long. The doors to the east and west wing rooms were kicked open, and Fang Yan and County Magistrate Zhao emerged. County Magistrate Zhao's expression was heavy, his eyes red. Fang Yan held his head high, his chest puffed out, and remained silent. Though dressed in menial clothing, he still exuded the dignity of a county lieutenant.
Wang Fuwan immediately understood what had happened. She turned and glared at Zhao Yuanming: "Zhao Yuanming, is this how you treat me?!"
Zhao Yuanming pursed his lips and could not utter any words to defend himself.
Wang Fuwan stopped looking at him. When she turned around, a smile was already on her lips. She looked at Fang Yan coldly: "Sir, what are you doing? I didn't do anything!"
"Wang Fuwan, do you have the heart to let your mother take the blame for your murder and pay for your life?" Fang Yan frowned slightly, looking at Wang Fuwan as if she were a monster. "How can you bear it!"
"My mother killed someone. According to the laws of our dynasty, she deserves to be executed! The law is like this, what does it have to do with me?" Wang Fuwan raised her eyes slightly, as if to challenge, "You say I'm the murderer, where's the evidence?"
Fang Yan's face was as gloomy as if it was covered with ink.
For a moment, the entire courtyard seemed frozen, the atmosphere as still as the ice beneath the eaves in December. Xun Shu, who had been standing by the window watching the excitement, couldn't help himself any longer. He walked out of the room, stood before Wang Fuwan, and said gently, "You don't know yet, but you and Zhao Yuanming are siblings, right?"
Xun Shu's words were like the scorching sun in July, instantly melting the frozen courtyard. Wang Fuwan was stunned when she heard it, as if she didn't understand what she was saying. She suddenly turned her head and looked at Xun Shu: "What did you say?"
Xun Shu spoke slowly, "Two months after the real 'Zhao Yuanming' was born, Sumei gave birth to a baby boy. At that time, 'Zhao Yuanming' was frail, looking considerably thinner than his peers. Coveting the Zhao family's wealth, Sumei and her husband harbored evil intentions. They bribed the wet nurse and, while the guards weren't paying attention, switched the two babies, nearly the same age, effectively replacing the prince with the cat. They hid the truth from the world." She paused, a flicker of pity in her eyes. "Originally, only your parents and your deceased wet nurse knew about this. If you hadn't fallen in love with this 'Zhao Yuanming,' this secret would have been buried with them, never to be revealed. Last autumn, when Madam Zhao learned of your relationship with Zhao Yuanming, although she felt it was a mismatch, she ultimately compromised out of love for her only son. You always thought Madam Zhao was the biggest obstacle between you two, but she had already agreed to your marriage. You misunderstood Madam Zhao."
All the strength in Wang Fuwan's body was drained away in an instant. She opened her mouth but couldn't utter a single syllable.
Xun Shu seemed to see through her confusion. "Are you asking, if Madam Zhao had agreed to your relationship, why did she change her mind? That's because your mother, Su Mei, disagrees! Madam Zhao went to see your mother about your relationship. Your mother knew you were siblings, so she tried her best to persuade Madam Zhao to give up the idea of you two getting married. That's why Madam Zhao suddenly changed her mind."
Wang Fuwan's lips gradually lost their color and her body trembled slightly. Xun Shu pretended not to notice and continued, "A few days before Madam Zhao's accident, she accidentally learned about some things that happened back then. She became suspicious of Zhao Yuanming's identity and went to find your mother, Sumei, to confront her. Sumei naturally denied it all, but once suspicion arises, how can it be easily dispelled? Madam Zhao probably still didn't believe it. Similarly, Sumei could no longer hide the torment and anxiety she had hidden in her heart for more than ten years, so she took the risk and came to the Zhao residence, not knowing that you were there too.
"Actually, we've been puzzled for a while now. Madam Zhao made a sudden decision to go to the garden that day. No one was with her and no one knew about it. So how did the murderer know? If it was a pre-arranged meeting, her personal maid wouldn't have been completely unaware of it. Then it could only be a coincidence.
"My guess is that the situation that day was this: Sumei arrived at the Zhao residence, and you followed her—or perhaps you didn't follow her, but simply wanted to sneak in to Zhao's residence while no one was in the shop to meet with Zhao Yuanming. You went to Zhao Yuanming's yard as usual, and unexpectedly saw Madam Zhao following Sumei and Zhao Yuanming, eavesdropping in the yard. Afraid of being discovered, you hid far away. Later, when Madam Zhao left in a daze, you followed her without hesitation.
"That day, someone saw two women leaving the courtyard in the darkness, one after the other, heading towards the back garden. They must have been you and Madam Zhao, right? You followed her to the pond and saw her grief-stricken, as if she had lost her soul. Evil thoughts came to your mind, and you picked up a stone, knocked her unconscious, and pushed her into the water. You thought that if you eliminated Madam Zhao, no one would stop you and Zhao Yuanming, but you were wrong. Terribly wrong."
Wang Fuwan stared at Xun Shu blankly, and the events that happened after the Zhao family moved back to Chaozhou inexplicably emerged in her mind.
Ever since County Magistrate Zhao had taken office and moved to this mansion, her mother had often brought her here to meet Mrs. Zhao, and it was because of this that she had the opportunity to become acquainted with Zhao Yuanming. Her mother was very kind to Zhao Yuanming, so much so that she often felt jealous and wondered who was her mother's biological child. She had complained to her mother, but she would always smile and say nothing.
She didn't expect that by accident, she had touched upon the truth.
She suddenly turned around and looked at Zhao Yuanming, but saw tears in his eyes, avoiding her gaze. It was obvious that he had known all this for a long time. She choked with disbelief and asked, "When did you know?"
Zhao Yuanming clenched his fists and did not answer.
Wang Fuwan screamed, her kind mask gone. "Why didn't you tell me? Why did it take an outsider like this to tell me now?"
Wang Fuwan's chest heaved violently, her eyes red and ready to burst, and she yelled like a madman, "I don't believe it! You're all liars! You have no evidence! Brother Yuanming is the county magistrate's biological son. He is definitely not my brother!"
Xun Shu had anticipated Wang Fuwan's struggle, but when it finally happened, she still didn't know how to handle it. Just as she was about to ask He Xuan for help, she heard County Magistrate Zhao, who had remained silent, say, "Since you don't believe me, let Su Mei speak to you herself."
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