When Shen Qiyuan questioned him again, his speech became much more fluent: “The servants of the Grand Preceptor’s manor include both those inside and those outside. I am one of the outsiders who signed a death contract. Grand Preceptor Liu arranged for me to marry and have children, treating me quite well, so I willingly killed and concealed corpses for him. To this day, I have seven or eight lives on my hands.”

“This old woman was a wet nurse bought by the former First Lady. Grand Preceptor Liu said her hands and feet weren’t clean, so he had me kill her and make it look like she drowned herself in the pond.”

“I did indeed tamper with the carriage from Ningyuan Marquis’ Manor, but I didn’t succeed. That time wasn’t my job either – I only helped create some chaos to prevent the carriage from moving forward. It has nothing to do with this humble person.”

Ruyi listened with a sigh. What a righteous and upstanding Grand Preceptor Liu – secretly engaging in quite a few dark deeds.

She looked teasingly at Shen Qiyuan: “Your lordship’s supervision of the Imperial Clan Court is truly lax.”

Shen Qiyuan’s expression grew grave.

This was indeed a dereliction of duty by the Imperial Clan Court. If Grand Preceptor Liu’s crimes were confirmed, everyone in the Imperial Clan Court, including himself, would be held accountable.

Ruyi suddenly produced a silver ingot, heavy and solid, appearing to weigh seven or eight taels.

She placed it in front of Butcher Liu and said softly, “If you can tell me in detail about those seven or eight lives, this silver ingot will be used to raise your only son.”

“Don’t act recklessly!” Shen Qiyuan frowned. “How can interrogating criminals involve using silver? Confessions obtained this way are inadmissible.”

Ruyi glanced at him: “Who said I was interrogating him? I’m just asking. The confession I obtained won’t be presented in court anyway. Your lordship needn’t worry.”

Butcher Liu stared at the silver ingot and suddenly sighed: “I know what the young lady wants to ask, but even if I tell you, you’ll only add to your grief.”

“It’s fine,” Ruyi said casually. “I’m the type who likes to spend money to buy unhappiness.”

Butcher Liu: “…”

Seeing they were about to reach the yamen, he lowered his eyes and quickly said: “I didn’t kill the First Lady, and it probably wasn’t the master who killed her either.”

Ruyi raised an eyebrow: “Could it be that she couldn’t think it through herself?”

“Who knows? When I went in, the First Lady’s body was already cold. The master was holding her and crying – that was the first time I saw the master cry. It seems the master truly loved his wife deeply.”

Ruyi found this amusing and couldn’t help laughing out loud.

Butcher Liu looked at her in surprise, his eyes showing both confusion and dissatisfaction. After all, she was his flesh and blood – how could she laugh upon hearing such news?

After laughing enough, Ruyi said, “I find that deep love in this world is truly worthless. Not treating someone well while alive, not treating them well when dead – a grown man only needs to shed two tears when his wife dies to be revered as a devoted lover.”

How absurd.

Butcher Liu looked at her uncomprehendingly, probably thinking she was mad. In Great Qian, unfilial children would be beaten with wooden boards.

Lord Zongzheng, beside them, seemed not to have heard their conversation, spurring his horse forward two steps and dismounting first at the yamen entrance.

Ruyi wiped the tears from laughing at the corner of her eyes and said to Butcher Liu, “Say whatever you know when you go in. I’ll take care of all your worries.”

Butcher Liu looked at her in surprise, but before he could say more, he was escorted into the yamen by the purple-hatted officers.

Ruyi obediently waited at the entrance for a summons. As long as Butcher Liu was willing to talk about the Grand Preceptor’s manor, Shen Qiyuan would summon her for questioning.

However, two hours later, Shen Qiyuan came out, and she still hadn’t received any summons.

Ruyi frowned: “He didn’t confess?”

“He confessed everything, involving quite a few cases, all related to Grand Preceptor’s manor.”

“Then why didn’t you call me in?” Ruyi puffed out her cheeks. “Besides me, who else can prove he’s from Grand Preceptor’s manor?”

Shen Qiyuan glanced at her sideways and mounted the carriage from the back door.

Ruyi followed and stepped up, sitting huffily across from him: “Are you being involuntarily restrained again, not planning to investigate further?”

“No.” He waved his hand. “Don’t make a fuss.”

“What do you mean by making a fuss? This concerns the original owner’s wish.” Ruyi looked at him pitifully. “You wouldn’t not know, would you? The owner of this body used an array sacrifice to summon me here with a request. If I can’t fulfill it, I’m afraid I won’t live for many years.”

How could he not know?

Shen Qiyuan turned his head away: “Do you know what her wish is?”

“Naturally to seek revenge, to avenge her mother.” She hooked his finger and shook it softly. “Lord Shen, Lord Zongzheng, shall we go back and hold court for summons?”

Unable to bear her pestering, he finally became annoyed: “Do you think seeking revenge is that simple? In what capacity would you appear in court? Grand Preceptor Liu has already discarded your name registry – you can’t prove you’re his daughter.”

“Even if you could prove it, accusing your father as a child would earn you fifty lashes, and he still might not be convicted.”

“You’ve lived for thousands of years – how can your thinking be so naive?”

After angrily saying all this, Shen Qiyuan looked up to find Ruyi watching him, neither annoyed nor angry, but rather smiling.

“What are you doing? Can’t you hear what I’m saying?” he asked irritably.

“I heard.” Ruyi moved closer to him, half-lowering her eyes to look at his lips, seductive yet teasing: “Your lordship cares for me and fears I’ll be beaten.”

“…I didn’t say that.”

“That’s what it sounded like.” She reached out, her fingertip gently caressing his lips. “Do you think those fifty lashes could kill me?”

They couldn’t kill her, but so what? Didn’t she feel pain? Wouldn’t she suffer? Must she pretend not to care at all to show her great demon abilities?

Shen Qiyuan pursed his lips: “Everyone has a mortal body – don’t always try to be tough.”

“What else can I do if I don’t act tough?” She pecked his lips. “You can’t seek revenge for me, can you?”

The person before her said nothing, only pressed the back of her head and pulled her over for a fierce kiss.

Ruyi blinked innocently.

This person was filled with anger and conflict, as if extremely unwilling yet still choosing to be close to her.

Why?

Getting a chance to breathe, she couldn’t help asking: “Don’t you immortals have any pretty girls?”

Shen Qiyuan’s face, which had just softened, instantly darkened.

…

Zhou Tingchuan was driving with his ears plugged when he suddenly felt the curtain behind him move.

He turned around to see Miss Liu sitting beside him, looking sheepish.

“What’s wrong?” Zhou Tingchuan asked in confusion. “Miss doesn’t like sitting inside?”

Touching her nose, Ruyi smiled: “Yes, it’s cooler outside.”

“Oh.” Zhou Tingchuan truly believed her and considerately let her sit in the windy spot.

So when they returned to Moon Gazing Pavilion, Ruyi started sneezing.

“Caught a cold?” Shen Qiyuan lifted the carriage curtain and asked condescendingly.

Sniffling, Ruyi turned back with a smile: “How could that be? Probably some young gentleman is thinking of me intensely. Ah, achoo—”

“Indeed, thinking intensely.” He said coldly, released his fingers, and the curtain fell.

The carriage drove away without mercy.