Сhарter 93: Bright Наll
"Whаt еlsе do you knоw? Тell me еverything."
Shеn Du hаd а kееn еye fоr reading peoplе. Just bу watсhing the shорkееpеr sреаk, hе knew thеre was morе thе man hаdn't said.
The shоpkeеper's liрs twitсhеd, аnd hе соntinued, "Thе Grеat Раviliоn Cоmmandеr is trulу astute. I knеw this mаtter wаsn't so simple."
Аfter speаking, thе shоpkеeper glаnсеd arоund tо еnsurе nо оne еlsе was рresеnt, then lowеred his vоiсе, "Thаt Lоrd Liаng is еxtremelу good to that Qing'er girl. Nоt only did he hаve clоthes сustоm-madе for her, but they also often cultivated flowers and plants together. Qing'er frequently gave Lord Liang Dieffenbachia plants. With our humble status as common folk, we dare not speculate recklessly, but anyone with eyes can see that Lord Liang is utterly smitten with that Qing'er girl."
"Dieffenbachia!" Zhu Yan exclaimed as if she had realized something, her voice rising sharply.
"Yes, yes, yes," the shopkeeper nodded vigorously. "And she gave him quite a few."
Both Zhu Yan and Shen Du sensed something was wrong. By now, Zhu Yan had pieced together all the clues.
Liang Jiren and Qing'er had a child together, which was why he harbored murderous intent toward Liang Chenzhong. And those Dieffenbachia plants were provided by Qing'er.
Could it be that Liang Jiren had truly lost his humanity, harming Liang Chenzhong for the sake of a child with a courtesan?
Inside the Bright Hall, in an elegant chamber.
The tea poured by Rong Zhui still wafted with faint tendrils of steam as he sat down opposite the couple.
The Shen Du couple never visited the Bright Hall without reason, so their arrival this time left him wondering about their purpose.
Yet, Rong Zhui already felt a vague unease in his heart.
"Great Pavilion Commander, Madam Shen," Rong Zhui began. "Might I ask what brings you here this time?"
Shen Du's expression was grim, making it difficult for him to speak.
Zhu Yan steadied herself. "Rong Zhui, although the murder case has been solved, there are still some details I don't fully understand. I'd like to gather some information from you. I hope you can speak truthfully."
Zhu Yan's words carried hidden meaning, and Rong Zhui, being clever, understood immediately.
"Madam Shen, you jest. Even if it's unrelated to the case, if you ask, I, Rong Zhui, will certainly tell you everything I know."
"That's for the best."
Zhu Yan quickly continued, getting straight to the point. "Last time I questioned you, I learned you had private dealings with Liang Jiren, but you insisted it was to discuss the posthumous marriage between Liang Chenzhong and Kuang Zhanxin with the Liang family. Now we're revisiting this matter and asking you the same question again. Is your answer still the same?"
Upon hearing this, Rong Zhui's face instantly turned pale.
"Why bring this up after so long, Madam Shen?"
"Just answer my question. There's no need to ask anything else."
Zhu Yan's words pressed Rong Zhui firmly. Rong Zhui clenched his hands, his eyes showing signs of panic.
After a moment, Rong Zhui seemed to make up his mind. He took a sip of the tea beside him and said, "Since Madam Shen is revisiting this matter, you must already know the inside story. If so, why ask so many questions?"
"So, you were truly deceiving me back then," Zhu Yan's gaze turned sharp. "Do you know the penalty for deceiving... deceiving an official?"
Rong Zhui lowered his head with a faint smile. "Hasn't the case already been solved? If there are any charges, I, Rong Zhui, will accept them. But Madam Shen, you didn't come here solely for this, did you?""What was the true purpose of your meeting with Liang Jiren?" Zhu Yan demanded, then glanced at Shen Du beside her.
Shen Du's gaze was exceptionally sharp; both of them already knew the answer.
If Rong Zhui lied now, even Shen Du couldn't guarantee what he might do.
Rong Zhui steadied himself and said, "Master Liang is involved with Qing'er from Lanyan Pavilion, and Qing'er has already borne him a child. That is all."
"Was Liang Jiren seeking you out at that time to have you conceal this from us?" Zhu Yan questioned.
Rong Zhui nodded. "That's all. The day he met with me wasn't about Zhan Xin's posthumous marriage with the Liang family's son. He was only worried these matters might bring him unnecessary trouble, so he wanted me to hide this from you."
"Then did you know that Qing'er has been providing Liang Jiren with Dripping Guanyin?"
"What Dripping Guanyin?" Rong Zhui looked at Zhu Yan in surprise. "I don't know."
Zhu Yan turned to Shen Du, who gave a slight nod in response.
"Alright, if you don't know, then it's fine. We've disturbed you for some time again. It's getting late; we should head back."
Without waiting for Rong Zhui to try to keep them, the two stood up and left.
Returning to the Shen residence, Shen Du once again stayed overnight in the study.
This conveniently gave Zhu Yan the opportunity to sort through the case.
Connecting all the clues, Zhu Yan finally understood the reasoning behind it all, but she was so shocked by the entire truth she could hardly contain herself.
Even a vicious tiger does not eat its own cubs—how could Liang Jiren commit such a cruel act?
Unable to sleep deep into the night, Zhu Yan rose at the first light of dawn and returned to the Zhu residence.
She had hoped to find some comfort at home, but seeing her birth mother Jin Shi's worried yet unreasonable demeanor, she knew she was mistaken.
"It's not even light out yet, and you've come running home. You must have been bullied at the Shen residence. What did I tell you? That Shen Du is no good man. Don't worry, your mother will go demand justice for you right now."
"Mother."
Just as Jin Shi was about to leave, Zhu Yan quickly stopped her. "My coming here has nothing to do with Shen Du. Please don't add to the chaos."
"I'm adding to the chaos? Everything I do is for your sake, you ungrateful child."
Seeing her mother so concerned for her warmed Zhu Yan's heart, but this matter truly had nothing to do with Shen Du.
If she let her mother's quest for vengeance proceed, wouldn't Shen Du be wronged to death?
Just as the whole family was preparing to demand justice for Zhu Yan, a servant suddenly came to report that Shen Du had already arrived at the gate.
Everyone panicked. Though they all talked about settling scores with Shen Du, when he actually arrived, each one felt a twinge of fear.
"Quick, quick, take the Sixth Young Miss away," Jin Shi hastily ordered. She intended to personally meet this worthy son-in-law.
Before Zhu Yan could protest, the servants half-led, half-pushed her to a side room.
Shen Du entered, greeted the two, and then got straight to the point. "Is Zhu Yan here?"
"She is," Jin Shi replied, hands on her hips, casting a disdainful glance at Shen Du. "But, Great Pavilion Commander, for my daughter to come running home before dawn, she must have suffered greatly at the Shen household. My daughter is young, has a bad temper, and is clumsy with her hands and feet. Why don't you show some mercy, Great Pavilion Commander, and just let her go?"
"..."
Shen Du was utterly bewildered by Jin Shi's words. When had he ever made Zhu Yan suffer again?
Why on earth was he being asked to let her go?"I do not understand what you mean." Out of courtesy, Shen Du remained quite polite toward Jin Shi.
And Jin Shi was left speechless as well. This worthy son-in-law before her held a high-ranking official position and was a favorite of the Empress, so she certainly could not resort to force.
OpenNovel