Fortunately, Constable Zhu had news after half a month.
"That child is blessed. Heaven rewards those who are diligent. I found her biological uncle."
Right.
He thought of sothing.
"Old Master Sun, who used to teach at the county academy, received the news and ca back, saying he wanted to adopt her. But in his haste, he fell along the way."
Where’s his scholarly deanor in front of people?
At the ti, his clothes were torn, and his face was scratched, but he didn’t care about his appearance at all, looking extrely anxious,
Yet he had a wife at ho to take care of and had sprained his leg, so how could he look after the child?
Moreover, Hu Dazhu, the child’s biological uncle, insisted on taking the child away. He bluntly said he was worried the girl would be heartbroken and explained that Mrs. Yu had a small dispute with the family, which led to no contact over the years, so he had never seen the child.
Compared to the master, he was a stranger and feared the child wouldn’t go with him. So he didn’t agree to let Yu Tingwan see him and took her away that very day.
The weather was cold, Constable Zhu’s knees felt cold as he kneeled on the ground, but he didn’t care at all, moving a few steps forward.
"Sir."
He kowtowed heavily.
"I have investigated, Yu Jingcheng, though being part of the Escort Agency, is rough and wild but has never made enemies without reason. His wife rarely goes out, and other than being unable to bear children, she has a very good reputation."
"Though it sounds hurtful, the dead are like extinguished lamps, but the child left alive suffers, doesn’t she?"
As he spoke, he mumbled, "I wonder how the child is doing now."
After leaving, there was no news.
"Counting the ti, she should be married by now."
"Sir, I beg you. Could you reopen the old case and thoroughly investigate the Yu Family’s affairs?"
He Xuran, who had remained silent, digested this and stood up, walking towards the kneeling Constable Zhu.
Seeing He Xuran stop in front of him, Constable Zhu suddenly panicked.
Did he say too much?
He actually... actually begged the distinguished gentleman for a favor.
He had indeed been sowhat unaware of the propriety.
But just then, soone supported his arm.
A force pulled him to his feet.
"I..."
He Xuran’s voice was hoarse.
"I’m not worthy of such a gesture."
————
After leaving the tea house’s private room, Constable Zhu was in a daze. It was indeed He Xuran’s behavior that made him feel trepidation and fear.
Who was he exactly? And who was he himself?
It seed strange from the beginning.
Seeing Yang Weiweng at the corner, he hurried over.
"Just now, I..."
He had just started to speak but was interrupted by Yang Weiweng.
"No need to say."
Yang Weiweng instructed, "Since the Lord dismissed us, his intention was clear."
"No matter what he asked or what you answered. Rember, once you step out of that room, you must forget everything."
"Don’t ntion it to anyone."
Constable Zhu hurriedly agreed, "Yes, I will rember."
Yang Weiweng smiled faintly, "Alright, you can go back now."
Seeing him leave, Yang Weiweng then entered the room.
The tea house was sowhat simple, having not been repaired in years, and the furnishings inside were very old.
He Xuran stood by the window, suppressing his emotions.
As Yang Weiweng walked closer, He Xuran spoke in a calm tone.
"After the affair in Dai Ze County, I will return to the Capital. At that ti, you will accompany to the palace to report for duty."
Yang Weiweng cupped his hands and bowed, "Thank you, Sir, for the promotion."
"Promotion?"
"I simply don’t want truly capable people to remain in desolate places all their lives."
In the Capital, there are many who hold positions without doing anything, re nas without rit.
He Xuran turned slightly, looking at him.
"Back then, when you defied the royal order to refuse a marriage, people in the Capital said you were ungrateful and foolish, but I don’t think so."
He heard the conversation outside.
Yang Weiweng: "I am indeed apprehensive; it is true that I have a marriage engagent."
He Xuran responded blandly, "Acting without regard for consequences, unwilling to marry a Princess is also a fact."
Yang Weiweng fell silent.
In truth, he wasn’t very smart.
But he understood human relationships where they mattered.
He ca from a humble background, and making his way through the imperial examinations was a tough journey, yet he stood firm to establish so ambitions.
The Ninth Princess was of royal blood.
Regardless of her personality, connecting with this relation could let him rise swiftly to power. But it would co at a cost. In the Capital’s aristocracy, human life is worthless.
Today, the Princess favored him and forced him to be a Prince Consort. The day she tires of him, he could be crushed easily.
He could not afford such ambitions.
He Xuran: "Your fiancée even ran off with soone else."
Yang Weiweng: ...
Talking about this made him sad.
After all, since he could rember, she was the one he was supposed to marry.
He cherished her in his heart and didn’t wish to wrong her.
His parents on their deathbed were most concerned about his marriage. They wanted him to make a na for himself, then go with the marriage certificate and the tokens to marry her honorably and treat the girl well.
He Xuran: "I heard that after you left the Capital in embarrassnt to assu your new position, you first went to your future father-in-law’s house, intending to propose an early marriage."
"Your father-in-law, having learned you’d offended the Royal Family, was afraid of being associated with you."
"Your fiancée found you incompetent, unwilling to accompany you and suffer. Claiming she already had soone in her heart, she brought him before you to assure you, stating she wouldn’t marry anyone but him and that you stood in their way, having exchanged tokens. She demanded you annul the engagent and bless her."
Listening to this made Yang Weiweng even more uncomfortable.
He Xuran: "She even wanted to invite you to her wedding banquet."
Yang Weiweng’s hands began to tremble.
He Xuran: "That man taunted you, saying what’s the use of being a scholar, an official, if the woman ran off with him."
"Sir!"
Yang Weiweng: "Why do you insist on poking my heart today?"
He Xuran coldly: "Then why aren’t you leaving?"
He was feeling uncomfortable all over and wanted to taunt anyone he saw.
"Yes."
Yang Weiweng had just taken a few steps.
"Co back."
He Xuran looked at him intently.
"Have you been to the Wei Family lately? How is Wei Shen’s health?"
It was good he brought it up, for it reminded Yang Weiweng.
"I haven’t been there in quite a while."
Recalling the last ti when Wei Shen’s face was wrapped in bandages, Yang Weiweng was worried.
"I must visit him soon."
He Xuran was just about to suggest going with him.
But Yang Weiweng looked out the window for a while and was a bit surprised: "That looks like Mrs. Wei."
He Xuran suddenly looked over.
Amid the bustling crowd, he imdiately saw Yu Tingwan.
The girl was dressed in cotton clothes, without any jewelry, looking very plain.
Next to her was another girl. She had a Jade Pendant hanging and a golden hairpin on her head.
He Xuran felt stifled.
He thought, Yu Tingwan’s days must be quite tough.
Yang Weiweng: "It must be a coincidence, I’ll go down and ask..."
Before he finished speaking, the person beside him moved.
Downstairs.
Yu Tingwan didn’t return to the Zhao Family; she went directly to the market.
Liu Yan accompanied her: "There’s a shop selling hairpins ahead, let’s have a look."
Yu Tingwan: "No need."
The house is already piled up with them.
Liu Yan: "Then buy a bracelet, your skin is fair; it will look good on you."
Yu Tingwan thought for a mont: "I already have a box full."
Never really went through them.
Liu Yan: ...
"If you’re out of money, don’t force yourself; I can..."
Just then, the crowd stirred.
"Sir, hey, that’s Mr. He."
The crowd spontaneously made way for He Xuran.
Yu Tingwan raised her eyes and saw his complex expression, quickly walking toward her.
User Comments
0 comments from readers