Trembling, Chen Shoujie pulled out an unfinished embroidery piece from his bosom, laughing and crying uncontrollably.
“At first, I didn’t know. Later, I realized she was a criminal, but she had truly repented. Besides, those who deserved to die were already dead. I thought I could keep this matter hidden, and it would be over. I never imagined that after so many years, the truth would still come to light, exposed to the world.”
Chen Shoujie’s sudden speech revealed his presence to everyone.
Qi Yeyun no longer concealed anything and, along with two brothers from the Imperial Guard, carried him out from the back hall.
Tear stains marked Chen Shoujie’s wrinkled, pale face. Though he appeared full of remorse, it evoked no sympathy from those present.
He had concealed the truth and hidden the real culprit. As an official of the court, his actions betrayed the trust placed in him by both the government and the people.
Moreover, because of his selfishness, so many wronged souls from the Jinxiu Fang case could not rest in peace.
In everyone’s eyes, no matter how deep his regret might be now, it could never make up for his past mistakes.
“It’s all my fault, it’s all my fault…” Chen Shoujie kept muttering.
His remorseful expression seemed somewhat dazed as if he were still trapped in the case from years ago, unable to come back to his senses.
“What’s the use of admitting your mistake now?” Yunque suddenly lost her temper and berated Chen Shoujie,
“So many people were wrongly put to death, so many wronged souls unable to rest in peace, yet you hid the real culprit and covered up the truth. Even if you regret it now, can those people come back to life?
Have you no conscience? All these years, have you been able to eat well and sleep soundly?”
Yunque’s harsh words made Chen Shoujie even more ashamed. He lowered his head, silently bearing it all without a word.
“Now you’re pretending to be a good person, now you know to feel remorse. This case has been closed for so many years, how have you been treating those wronged souls in your heart? Have they come to you at night to voice their grievances?”
Yunque persisted relentlessly, her anger seeming as if it would devour Chen Shoujie alive, frightening to behold.
Yunque’s words cut into Chen Shoujie’s heart like knives, and now all he could do was feel guilty and apologize, unable to make any real amends.
Shen Du couldn’t bear to listen anymore. Knowing Yunque’s fiery temper wouldn’t cool down anytime soon, he intervened,
“Enough. Regardless, everyone now knows the inside story of what happened then. When I have the chance, I will report this to the Empress and hope to have the old case reopened, to comfort the spirits of those who died.”
Hearing Shen Du say this, Yunque finally calmed down a little.
Zhu Yan, standing to the side, furrowed her brow at this point. Though Yunque’s temper was indeed explosive, her reaction just now seemed a bit excessive.
She couldn’t help but feel suspicious.
However, she kept these doubts to herself, not voicing them aloud.
Just as everything seemed to be settling, Ji Fangming suddenly recited some words that shocked everyone present.
“The scholars laugh at moths flying into flames, not knowing they are mayflies, born in the morning and dead by night, not entering the cycle of rebirth. The moth passes through fire without dying and is reborn.”
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhu Yan’s expression changed. She was very familiar with these words.
Madam Tang had once said the same thing, leaving a deep impression on her. Now Ji Fangming had recited the same phrase, without any difference.
It seemed that her and Shen Du’s guesses were correct. Even if this case was settled, it was merely the tip of the iceberg of the group behind it all.
Like Madam Tang, he was just a scapegoat.
If they wanted to truly understand how powerful the forces behind this were, they would have to investigate what happened in the Jinxiu Fang case years ago.
Zhu Yan coldly observed all this. Although she knew the person before them was just a scapegoat, there was nothing she could do about it.
They couldn’t imagine how powerful the forces behind this were, but judging from the current situation, they were certainly extraordinary.
Suddenly, she remembered when she had wanted to investigate the Luo Zhi incident, but everyone had tried to stop her. They were all looking out for her, while she alone insisted on pursuing the case.
Could it be that she had been wrong all along?
Zhu Yan’s thoughts had wandered far, and she hadn’t even noticed it herself, just lost in her musings, saying nothing.
Shen Du turned his gaze towards Zhu Yan. She was unusually quiet today, or perhaps she was already calculating something else.
“Don’t think that just because you regret it now, those wronged souls will forgive you,”
Ji Fangming glared fiercely at Chen Shoujie,
“Those souls are watching you from heaven. They’ll watch you every day until you die. Even if I couldn’t kill you, the rest of your life won’t be easy.
I’ll be waiting for you in the underworld. I want to watch with my own eyes as you atone to them.”
Ji Fangming shouted at Chen Shoujie as if he had gone mad, but Chen Shoujie seemed to have fallen into a state of illness.
He paid no attention to Ji Fangming’s tirade, just sitting there with a blank expression, repeatedly saying, “I was wrong, I was wrong…”
Seeing Ji Fangming lose control of his emotions, Jing Lin quickly stepped forward to restrain him.
Shen Du waved his hand and had the man taken away.
Everyone’s mood was very depressed. Although the Jinxiu Fang incident happened many years ago, it remained deeply etched in everyone’s memory.
Such a cruel scene was truly unforgettable, and now that old matters had been brought up again, it was as if everyone had been transported back to the past.
Just as everyone thought the matter was concluded, Qi Yeyun suddenly stepped forward and said with a puzzled expression, “When I went to see Madam Tang last time, I saw Master Ji also go to chat with Madam Tang. I couldn’t hear clearly what they said, but could it have something to do with this case?”
Hearing this, everyone present was confused.
Shen Du immediately furrowed his brow, as if he had thought of something.
Zhu Yan exchanged a glance with Shen Du and knew they had come to the same realization.
It was already dusk by the time they returned to Shen Manor.
Just as Zhu Yan was about to head to the kitchen to cook, Shen Du grabbed her hand, “Let the cook make dinner today. Come with me.”
Without waiting for Zhu Yan’s response, he pulled her directly into the study.
The two sat facing each other. Zhu Yan lowered her eyes in thought. After a long while, she looked at Shen Du and said, “Are you also suspicious of Chen Huoe’s identity?”
Shen Du didn’t respond, indicating his agreement. Zhu Yan continued, “You’re also suspecting that Chen Huoe is Ji Fangming in disguise, aren’t you?”
“We’ve come to the same conclusion again,” Shen Du stood up, his tone particularly solemn, as if he had more to say to Zhu Yan.
“Now that the person has been caught and confessed to the crime, let’s not think too much about it,” Zhu Yan said as if to comfort him. She then asked, “Regarding the Jinxiu Fang case, how confident are you?”