Chapter 34: No Good Banquet 13: Indecision
Fang Yan quickly left to verify whether the dagger's handle had been smeared with the "One Step Absolute" technique. Only Xun Shu and He Xuan remained in the courtyard, along with the pomegranate tree overhead.
The pomegranate tree has passed its flowering season, and there are only a few drooping pomegranate flowers left on the tree. When the wind blows, the flower stalks can no longer support the petals, and they fall down, covering the ground and the table.
The atmosphere in the courtyard was suffocatingly silent. Xun Shu had never imagined that one day the relationship between her and He Xuan would become so cold and awkward that she even hoped that Fang Yan, the weak scholar, would come to mediate.
She stared at the blood-red pomegranate blossoms on the table, her fingers clenched into a ball, unsure of what to say. He Xuan sat across from her, his gaze fixed on the scattered hair at her temples, also unsure of where to begin.
Do I have to start from half a year ago?
Six months ago, as a junior official at the Dali Temple, he secretly left the capital to investigate a long-ago case, sneaking into Chaozhou with only a few followers. When they reached Chaozhou, word leaked and they were surrounded and attacked. All his men were killed, leaving him gravely wounded. He hid in the mountains and gradually lost consciousness.
Then Jiang Zheng and Xun Shu took him back to the coffin shop.
When he woke up, he looked at the impoverished coffin shop and Jiang Zheng, who was willing to starve to save him, and he felt a strong sense of vigilance in his heart.
Born into a wealthy family, he had seen countless people currying favor with the powerful. How could there be someone in this world who was so poor themselves, yet still willing to help others? The old man and the young man in the coffin shop must have a greater plan.
It is possible that his attack was also related to them.
He feigned amnesia, carefully concealing his identity, and stayed in the coffin shop to recuperate while secretly contacting the capital. When he contacted his subordinates and was able to leave the coffin shop, he found that if he continued to stay, using the coffin shop as a disguise, he could freely walk the streets and alleys of Chaozhou City, investigate old cases, and get close to his target without being noticed.
He finally found a reason to stay.
Later, day after day, winter turned to spring, he got used to living in the coffin shop and fell in love with everyone there.
He had long wanted to tell what he had been hiding, but he had never found the right opportunity, and he was also afraid of what he would have to face after telling the truth.
He rarely hesitated in his life, but in this matter alone, he was hesitant and indecisive.
Seeing that the old case would soon be solved, he no longer had any reason to stay in Chaozhou or in the coffin shop.
He doesn't have much time left.
Just as he was hesitating, the person opposite him suddenly made a move and handed the stack of yellowed papers in front of him. He looked up and saw Xun Shu's calm eyes.
"I found this last night. It looks like Zheng's mother's diary. I looked through it, but didn't find anything relevant to the case. You can take a look at it. If you don't find it useful, I'll send it to Zheng later as a reminder for her."
He Xuan took it, his smile a little pale: "Okay, Ah Shu, sit and wait for a while, I will be able to finish reading it soon."
He Xuan lowered his eyelashes, watching intently. Xun Shu pinched the pomegranate petals on the table in his hands, rubbing them repeatedly until his hands were stained with the color of the flower juice. Then he whispered, "He Xuan, let me ask you again, have you ever lied to me about anything?"
He Xuan's hands trembled, and the paper in his hand seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and he almost couldn't hold it steady. He placed the yellowed paper on the table, unwilling to hide it any longer: "Yes."
As soon as the word came out, half of the heavy stone in his heart was lifted. He Xuan raised the corner of his lips and revealed a relaxed smile that had not been seen for a long time.
Xun Shu threw the crushed petals onto the table, pursed his lips and said nothing.
He Xuan saw her dirty fingers, pulled her hand over, and wiped it carefully with a handkerchief. "I've wanted to tell you for a long time, but I really didn't know how to start. Ah Shu, I just realized recently that I also have things I fear, and there are times when I don't know what to do." He showed a self-deprecating smile, three parts lonely and four parts pitiful. "Ah Shu, can you please promise me not to be angry with me?"
Xun Shu pulled his hand back, shook his head, and refused bluntly: "I can't promise you. I don't even know what you've hidden from me, or how much you've hidden. How can I promise you in advance?"
He Xuan sighed and smiled bitterly, "You're right. Ah Shu, once Magistrate Zhao's case is over and we leave this place, I will tell you everything."
Xun Shu tilted his head, the yellow hairband on his bun swaying with his movements. "Wait until we leave this place? You mean the Zhao residence? But don't you want to leave?"
Just now in the main hall, when Xun Shu spoke for him, He Xuan guessed that she already knew. Now he was not surprised to hear her say this: "Yes, there is a reason why I can't leave for the time being. But Ah Shu, wait for me, it won't be long before everything here will be over."
Xun Shu stared at him and didn't say anything for a long time.
She wanted to ask him what he meant by "everything is over". What would happen when everything was over and the truth was revealed, and the secrets came to light... But she didn't dare to ask. Wasn't the secret that He Xuan hesitated to tell aloud the fact that she was unwilling to accept and had been avoiding?
Once again, Xun Shu looked away as if to avoid it, his voice lighter than the wind: "You should read these daily records first."
He Xuan looked at her, sighed lightly, and said no more.
He moved quickly, finishing reading all the contents within the time it took him to read an incense stick. He then carefully folded the fragile papers and said seriously, "These daily records cannot be returned to the Zheng family for the time being."
Xun Shu was stunned: "Is it related to the case?"
"Maybe there is, maybe not." He Xuan said vaguely, putting the paper in his arms, "But we still have to go find Zheng. I have a few questions about this diary, and I hope she can answer them."
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Zheng was being held in her room, with a guard from the yamen standing at the door. The guard recognized Xun Shu and He Xuan, and upon seeing them approaching, a look of embarrassment crossed his face. "Miss Xun, Mr. He, County Magistrate Feng has issued an order prohibiting unauthorized persons from approaching Zheng."
He Xuan pulled a few copper coins from his sleeve pocket and stuffed them into the man's hand. "We are not strangers. County Magistrate Fang is overwhelmed, so he sent us here to ask Zheng a few questions on his behalf."
The guard looked at the copper coins in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and said with a smile, "Next time you're in this situation, don't give me any more copper coins. These few coins aren't even enough for a drink." He put the copper coins away, opened the door, and lowered his voice, "Since County Magistrate Fang has ordered it, I won't make things difficult for you. But this is against the rules. Don't tell anyone after you leave."
He Xuan responded with a smile: "Of course, don't worry, sir."
The door opened wide, revealing everything inside. It was exactly the same as it had been the day before. Zheng was sitting on a couch by the window, embroidering a lotus flower. She looked up at the noise and saw two people walking into the room. Surprise flashed in her eyes. "Why are you here?"
He Xuan took out the paper from his arms and handed it to Zheng, saying briefly, "Time is tight, so I won't exchange pleasantries. We came here today because we have a few things to ask you. Take a closer look. Is this your mother's handwriting?"
Zheng took the paper and looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar words on it. Her hands began to tremble and her voice choked with sobs. "Yes, this is my mother's handwriting..." She raised her head, her eyes red but filled with unbelievable joy. "Where did you find it?"
Xun Shu said slowly, "The place I live in now is probably your mother's old residence. Last night, I couldn't sleep, and by chance, I opened a secret compartment beside the bed and found something inside."
"Yes, my mother did live there before... Can you leave these to me? After that incident, all the things in our house were confiscated by the government. I didn't even have a single thing of my mother's... If I could take my mother's belongings with me when I die, maybe I can still see her in the underworld... I miss her so much..."
Zheng clutched the papers to her chest, tears streaming down her face, yet she was careful not to let a single tear fall on them, regarding these yellowed sheets of paper as priceless treasures. Xun Shu felt reluctant and looked up at He Xuan. He Xuan understood what she meant, hesitated for a moment, and sighed, "I can leave them to you, but I still have some use for a few of them, so I need to take them away first. When I'm done with them, I'll have someone return them to you."
Zheng wiped her tears with her sleeve and said, "Thank you, sir."
He Xuan stepped aside to accept her gift and pointed at Xun Shu who was standing beside him: "Don't thank me, thank her if you want to thank someone, this is all her idea."
Zheng's tears had not yet dried, and she smiled with pursed lips: "Thank you all." She handed the paper back to He Xuan, watched him pull out a few sheets, and asked softly, "Is there any problem with these sheets?"
Xun Shu took a few steps closer and saw that the pictures He Xuan took were all related to the pond in the backyard.
Ever since she first came to Zhao's house, she felt that the pond was poorly built. Could there really be something strange about it?
He Xuan pointed at the words on the paper and asked Zheng, who was sitting opposite him, "Do you still remember the year when the pond construction mentioned here took place?"
Zheng sighed. "How could I not remember this? At the end of the 28th year of the Qiyuan reign, my father met a few Taoists and often invited them and County Magistrate Feng to our house for drinks. From that time on, at their persuasion, my father came up with the idea of building a pond in the back garden. In the spring of the 29th year of the Qiyuan reign, the winter snow hadn't melted yet and the ground was still hard, but my father found craftsmen and hurriedly began work. Mother argued with him several times over this. Not long after the pond was built, the rainy season arrived. The rain in Chaozhou started, and it never stopped. Several surrounding counties and prefectures were flooded. Then... that incident happened. All the men in the family were beheaded, and the women were sold into brothels. Mother passed away soon after, leaving me alone..."
Xun Shu's attention was focused on the Taoist priests Zheng mentioned. He couldn't help but frown and asked, "Do you know why those Taoist priests wanted to persuade your father to build a pond?"
"It seems they say that this house has bad feng shui. Building a square pond in the backyard can improve the feng shui."
Whose Taoist priest is so ridiculous? I wonder if he's a fake? Xun Shu continued to ask, "Do you know what sect those Taoist priests came from?"
Xun Shu only asked tentatively, but he didn't expect Zheng to remember it clearly: "Of course I remember. Those Taoists came from the Sitian Pavilion, the school of the current emperor's most trusted national teacher. I heard that the people in the Sitian Pavilion can tell a person's life and death with just one glance. But my father was so close to those Taoists, why didn't they ever mention a word about the disaster that happened to my family back then? If they were willing to help resolve it, my father and mother wouldn't have ended up like that..."
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The author has something to say: The next update will be next Monday~
Next Monday I will enter v~ There will be more chapters when I enter v, and more chapters the day after v~
Thank you all for your support~Bow!
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