The dusk was deep, and only a few stars dotted the sky.
Lan Garden.
A peace charm hung at the front of the bed, and calming incense was lit inside the room.
Yet, Yu Tingwan did not sleep well. Her forehead was drenched in sweat, as if trapped in that nightmare once more.
She saw that tomb again.
The surroundings were still veiled in mist, and all she could see in front of the tomb were a few plates of fresh fruits and an incense stick that was half-burned, showing evidence that soone had recently paid respects.
She had had this dream no less than ten tis.
Just when she thought it would be the sa unchanging dream, a sudden beam of light appeared in front of her, illuminating from afar, opening a new path to an unknown destination for her.
Yu Tingwan hesitated for a mont in her dream and then walked forward along the small path.
She didn’t know how long she walked.
The light grew brighter and brighter.
She tried to touch it, but an unexpected force from nowhere enveloped her abruptly, and the surrounding scene changed suddenly.
Yu Tingwan couldn’t collect herself in ti, unable to stabilize her steps. She tried to grab sothing but caught nothing, and her body moved uncontrollably forward.
At last, she stopped in a courtyard with elegant surroundings everywhere.
Voices ca from ahead.
Yu Tingwan looked up and saw Jiasan enter the courtyard, with Nanny ng slightly bending to report behind her.
"The lady was not here at noon, the master ca back once, hurriedly changed out of his official uniform, looked terribly upset, left without saying a word, and prepared a horse to leave."
The plum blossoms planted in the corner of the courtyard were in bloom, adding vibrant colors to the silver-clad surroundings.
Jiasan walked on the snow, her shoes making a creaking sound, but she walked unhurriedly.
"Perhaps he’s busy with state affairs."
"As the year-end approaches, things always tend to be particularly busy. Moreover, the palace has been restless recently. Since the Crown Prince left, the Eastern Palace remains unoccupied, it’s common for the master to be constantly on the move."
Nanny ng hesitated.
As if she wanted to say sothing, but hesitated to speak.
Jiasan sensed sothing was wrong, stopped her steps.
"What is it?"
"Are you hiding sothing from ?"
"As a humble servant, I dare not."
Nanny ng: "It’s just... just that our young master ca half an hour ago. He specifically asked if sothing happened at ho. I found it odd, everything in our house is fine, what could possibly go wrong? Only after asking did we find out that the master has taken leave from the Holy Emperor."
She had been serving Jiasan for a long ti, coming from the He Family, and the young master in her mouth was He Xuran.
Jiasan withdrew her smile a little, her face showing more scrutiny.
"The humble servant is guilty, but kept a watchful eye."
Nanny ng looked around and saw no one around.
"After so inquiry, it turned out that he went in the direction of Ze County again."
Jiasan’s smile gradually faded, inexplicable nerves mixed with expectation. Her hand clutching the handkerchief tightened, as if it could tear apart at any mont.
In the past, whenever Gu Fuju left Shangjing, he would always inform her.
On those fixed days, even if the destination was not ntioned, she wouldn’t ask, the two understood each other without words.
Nanny ng: "In previous years, it was always a few days at the start of spring when he set off, often missing the young lady’s birthday. This ti, I don’t know why, it’s right in the heart of winter, with thick snow outside, and as the New Year approaches, the master suddenly left without a word."
Although his legs were not agile, and he was a Civil Servant, always sitting working, his body couldn’t compare to those Military Generals.
Yet he didn’t take a carriage, insisted on riding. Was the journey that far and urgent?
Gu Fuju’s actions were always steady.
Could it be that Qing Ying was found?
Jiasan had just ford a guess, her thoughts uncontrollably surged upwards like a frenzy.
Yes, it must be so, there’s no mistake.
Nanny ng, lost in thought, did not notice.
"Madam, over these years the master has never taken a concubine, and treats you with utmost care, yet..."
"The master leaves for a period every year, outside there are always rumors that the master has soone outside. The humble servant finds it hard to believe, but you must keep an eye."
It’s no wonder Nanny ng worried so much.
After all, Madam never gave the master a son.
That’s the continuation of the family line.
If it were any other house, there would have been chaos already.
She was about to say more, but Jiasan grabbed her arm tightly.
Nanny ng saw Jiasan’s eyes glisten with moisture, an undeniable brightness erging.
"Quickly, get a carriage ready!"
The carriage could never catch up with horseback riding.
By the ti Jiasan arrived, it was already more than half a month later.
As she stepped into the Ze County territory, Gu Fuju’s subordinates received the ssage.
Uncle Yan, the trusted aide beside Gu Fuju, was shocked and rushed to notify the subordinates to contact Gu Fuju, and went over in person.
"Madam, why are you here?"
Jiasan couldn’t hide the smile at her lips.
"How could I not co?"
Even though she loathed this place, she had to co personally to take Qing Ying back.
That child would be twenty after the new year.
Had she married?
How had she lived all these years? Would she bla her? Would she be willing to see her?
The whole journey, Jiasan was restless.
But once she arrived here, her heart settled down.
She suddenly felt remorse for coming in such haste and bringing nothing.
Jiasan was about to speak when she t Uncle Yan’s panicked and sorrowful eyes.
Suddenly, her back chilled.
Snowflakes whirled down like blades. The piercing cold seed to blow the snowflakes horizontally.
This was a matter of the past.
Yu Tingwan, uncontrollable, followed along.
The scene shifted.
Once again, it was the familiar cetery. But what was different was that the mist gradually cleared, and the surroundings ca into Yu Tingwan’s view.
She saw the Grand Tutor Mansion’s carriage approach and stop.
Before the maid could lift the curtain, Jiasan exited with a stern face.
Her eye corners were red, but her hands under the sleeves trembled.
"Madam."
Uncle Yan didn’t know what to say.
After all, it was not long ago that he ca along with Gu Fuju to Ze County and watched him dig and set up a tomb before realizing the Gu Family’s earth-shattering secret.
He braved and continued.
"The master ca too late."
"He missed seeing her one last ti, even the body hasn’t been retrieved from the river yet."
He spoke with great sadness.
Over the past few days, the rapid flows made it hard to tell where it had washed to, perhaps it was consud by the fish beneath the river long ago.
The tomb was set, yet it was empty inside.
A young Daoist nad Bao Pu, passing by the riverbank, casually ntioned.
——"In Shu, there’s a custom, if a body lost in water cannot be found, it’s likely entangled by a water ghost. Incense must be lit on the riverside within the first three days, calling the deceased’s na to guide them ho, and you’ll surely find them within days."
Ho?
But the young lady died never knowing she was the Gu family’s daughter, even if there’s ti to guide her, she probably wouldn’t recognize the path ho?
As for the Yu Family, it was long turned to ashes.
She had no ho anymore?
Yu Tingwan: ???
Did she die underwater, or was she murdered and thrown into the river?
At this thought, the lady shivered involuntarily.
Seeing Jiasan’s complexion turning increasingly pale and harsh, Uncle Yan silenced himself.
Jiasan couldn’t believe Qing Ying was gone.
Even if a new tomb stood ahead.
Her body staggered, taking large strides towards it. Her face grew colder and colder.
The maids looked at each other.
Nanny ng couldn’t understand how Uncle Yan dared to speak such things before the madam, as if the master valued the deceased so much!
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