“What else do you know? Tell us everything.”
Shen Du had an excellent eye for people. He could tell from the shopkeeper’s speech that he hadn’t finished speaking.
The shopkeeper’s lips twitched as he continued, “The Grand Chancellor is truly perceptive. You knew this matter wasn’t so simple.”
After saying this, the shopkeeper looked around to ensure no one else was present, then lowered his voice, “That Lord Liang was very fond of Miss Qing. Not only did he have clothes custom-made for her, but they often cultivated flowers together. Miss Qing frequently sent Lord Liang dripping water guanyin. As mere commoners, we dare not speculate, but anyone with eyes could see that Lord Liang was exceptionally fond of Miss Qing.”
“Dripping water guanyin!” Zhuyan exclaimed, as if remembering something, her voice rising an octave.
“Yes, yes,” the shopkeeper nodded vigorously. “He gave her quite a few.”
Zhuyan and Shen Du simultaneously felt uneasy. At this point, Zhuyan had pieced together all the clues.
Liang Jiren and Miss Qing had a child together, which led to his desire to kill Liang Chenzhong. The dripping water guanyin was supplied by the Qing.
Could it be that Liang Jiren had truly lost his humanity, willing to harm Liang Chenzhong for the sake of a child with a courtesan?
Inside Tongming Hall, in an elegant chamber.
The tea Rong Zhui had just poured still emitted wisps of steam as he sat down across from the couple.
The Shen couple never visited Tongming Hall without reason, and Rong Zhui was already feeling uneasy about their purpose.
“Grand Chancellor, Madam Shen,” Rong Zhui began, “May I ask the reason for your visit?”
Shen Du’s expression was grim, and it seemed difficult for him to speak.
Zhuyan composed herself and said, “Rong Zhui, although the murder case has been solved, there are still some details I don’t fully understand. I hope to get some information from you. Would you be willing to tell me the truth?”
Zhuyan’s words were laden with meaning, and Rong Zhui, being clever, understood immediately.
“Madam Shen jests. Even if it were unrelated to the case, if Madam Shen asks, I, Rong Zhui, would certainly tell you everything I know.”
“That’s good,” Zhuyan quickly replied, getting straight to the point. “Last time we questioned you, we learned that you had private dealings with Liang Jiren, but you insisted it was about arranging the ghost marriage between Liang Chenzhong and Kuang Zhanxin. Now we’re revisiting this matter. Is your answer still the same?”
Hearing this, Rong Zhui’s expression immediately became very uncomfortable.
“So much time has passed. Why is Madam Shen suddenly asking about this?”
“Just answer my question. There’s no need to ask about anything else.”
Zhuyan’s words put immense pressure on Rong Zhui. He clasped his hands tightly, his eyes showing signs of panic.
After a moment, Rong Zhui seemed to make up his mind. He took a sip of tea and said, “Madam Shen is revisiting this matter, so I assume you already know the inside story. If that’s the case, why ask so much?”
“So, you were indeed lying to me back then,” Zhuyan’s gaze turned sharp. “Do you know the punishment for deceiving… for deceiving an official?”
Rong Zhui lowered his head and smiled wryly, “Hasn’t the case already been solved? If there’s any crime, I’ll accept it. But surely Madam Shen didn’t come just for this?”
“What was the real purpose of your meeting with Liang Jiren?” Zhuyan asked accusingly, then glanced at Shen Du beside her.
Shen Du’s gaze was exceptionally fierce. They both knew the answer in their hearts.
If Rong Zhui lied now, Shen Du couldn’t guarantee what he might do.
Rong Zhui calmed himself and said, “Lord Liang was involved with Miss Qing from Lanyan Pavilion, and Miss Qing had already borne Lord Liang’s child. That’s all.”
“Liang Jiren met with you just to have you conceal this from us?” Zhuyan questioned.
Rong Zhui nodded, “That’s all. Our meeting that day wasn’t about the ghost marriage between Zhanxin and the Liang family’s young master. He was just worried these matters would bring him unnecessary trouble, so he wanted me to hide this from you.”
“Then do you know about Miss Qing continuously providing Liang Jiren with dripping water guanyin?”
“What dripping water guanyin?” Rong Zhui looked at Zhuyan in surprise. “I don’t know about that.”
Zhuyan looked at Shen Du, who nodded slightly.
“Alright, if you don’t know, then it’s fine. We’ve taken up some of your time. It’s getting late, we should head back.”
Without waiting for Rong Zhui to try to keep them, the couple stood up and left.
Back at the Shen residence, Shen Du once again spent the night in the study.
This allowed Zhuyan to piece together the case.
With all the clues connected, Zhuyan finally understood the reasons behind it all, but the truth shocked her to her core.
Even tigers don’t eat their cubs. How could Liang Jiren do something so cruel?
Zhuyan couldn’t sleep that night. At the first light of dawn, she returned to the Zhu residence.
She had hoped to find some comfort at home, but seeing her birth mother, Lady Jin’s worried yet overbearing manner, she knew she had been mistaken.
“The sky’s barely light, and you’re running back home. You must have been mistreated at the Shen residence. What did I tell you? That Shen Du is no good. Don’t worry, I’ll go settle this for you right now.”
“Mother,” Zhuyan quickly stopped Lady Jin as she was about to leave. “My coming here has nothing to do with Shen Du. Please don’t complicate matters.”
“I’m complicating matters? Everything I do is for you, you ungrateful child.”
Seeing her mother so concerned for her, Zhuyan was touched, but this matter truly had nothing to do with Shen Du.
If she let her mother pursue this vendetta, wouldn’t Shen Du be wrongfully accused?
Just as the family was preparing to seek justice for Zhuyan, a servant came to report that Shen Du had arrived at the door.
Everyone panicked. They all talked about confronting Shen Du, but when he arrived, each of them felt nervous.
“Quick, take the Sixth Miss away,” Lady Jin hurriedly ordered. She wanted to face this son-in-law herself.
Before Zhuyan could protest, the servants half-pushed, and half-led her to a side room.
Shen Du entered, greeted the two, and then got straight to the point, “Is Zhuyan here?”
“She is,” Lady Jin put her hands on her hips, looking at Shen Du with disdain. “But Grand Chancellor, the sky’s barely light and my daughter has run home. She must have suffered greatly at your house. My daughter is young, has a bad temper, and is clumsy. Why don’t you show some mercy and let her go?”
“…”
Shen Du was completely baffled by Lady Jin’s words. When had he ever mistreated Zhuyan?
Why was he suddenly being asked to let her go?
“I don’t understand your meaning,” Shen Du replied politely to Lady Jin out of courtesy.
Lady Jin was left speechless. The son-in-law before her held a high official position and was favored by the Empress. She couldn’t take a hard approach.