His words were quickly passed down. Except for the two guards who took the corpse to the charity morgue, the rest searched the village house by house. From the neighbors, they learned that besides Ajin, there was also his blind old mother living here. The mother and son made their living fishing with a small boat. However, when they brought people to the river to identify it, they discovered the boat was missing.

The guard immediately bowed to Li Shimin: “Second Young Master, Ajin and his mother likely escaped by boat.”

Li Shimin immediately said: “Send more people to search downstream. We need to see them alive or see their corpses if dead.”

Soon, just like the previous two days, all available personnel from the Governor’s residence were dispatched. This time, they were no longer searching for Li Xuanba, but for Ajin and his mother – only they could identify the murderer!

Meanwhile, Li Shimin returned to the residence and wrote a letter to send by carrier pigeon to Li Jiancheng, who was far away in Hedong. Besides informing him of Li Xuanba’s death, he mainly asked why Feng Li had appeared in Honghua Commandery. He had a intuition that everything stemmed from Feng Li. The latter was eldest brother’s personal guard who usually never left his side – this time he must have appeared in Honghua Commandery under eldest brother’s orders.

Officials large and small from Honghua Commandery all came to the Governor’s residence to pay respects to Li Xuanba, mourning his early death. Some common people, especially those who had received kindness from Li Xuanba, spontaneously held memorial services outside the residence.

After keeping the coffin for three days, it was moved for burial. During these days, Jiang Caiping stayed by the coffin without moving a step, neither speaking nor crying, just kneeling quietly. For these three days, no matter how much Yunyi pleaded, she wouldn’t eat a grain of rice, only reluctantly drinking a few sips of water. Her entire person had become much thinner.

After returning from the burial, Yunyi helped her back to their room and went to the kitchen to get some porridge, again trying to persuade her to eat a few bites. But Jiang Caiping just sat there in a daze, neither speaking nor moving, her eyes as lifeless as dead ashes.

Seeing her like this, Yunyi sighed: “The Third Young Master has already gone. Why must you torment yourself like this? If you continue this way, you’ll starve to death.”

These words finally elicited a reaction from Jiang Caiping. Looking at Yunyi, she said softly: “If… I hadn’t pressured the Third Young Master like that, he wouldn’t have quarreled with the Governor, wouldn’t have left the residence, wouldn’t have been murdered. Sister… it was I who harmed the Third Young Master, it was I who killed him!”

Yunyi quickly said: “No, it wasn’t you who harmed him, it was…” She didn’t know how to explain. After a long while, she said: “The Third Young Master was deliberately murdered. Even if he hadn’t left the residence that day, there would have been… another time. The Third Young Master was destined to face this calamity – it couldn’t be avoided.”

“No, it could have been avoided. He could have been fine. It was I who harmed him!” Jiang Caiping shook her head. She was now deeply mired in self-blame, unable to extricate herself.

Yunyi held her hands, which remained cold even in this warm March weather, and said with pity: “Caiping, it truly has nothing to do with you. Don’t take all the blame upon yourself.”

Jiang Caiping didn’t speak, muttering to herself incoherently. Gone was her former lively and charming appearance. Yunyi suppressed her inner guilt and said: “Even if you live in self-blame forever, even if you drive yourself to death, the Third Young Master won’t come back to life. Instead, it will only cause your family pain and suffering. You said your family’s situation had just improved – do you want to destroy all of that now?”

“Moreover, the Third Young Master went to tell the Governor he wanted to marry you as his legitimate wife, which shows he truly liked you. I believe his spirit in heaven also hopes to see you live well!” As she spoke, she supported Jiang Caiping’s thin shoulders and said earnestly: “Caiping, even for the Third Young Master’s sake, please hold on, alright?”

Jiang Caiping gazed at her for a moment, then said tremblingly: “I know I need to hold on, but I don’t know if I can do it. I… I failed the Third Young Master so badly – do you think he would forgive me?”

“He will, he definitely will, because the Third Young Master liked you so much. Besides, you didn’t fail the Third Young Master – you gave him beautiful memories, didn’t you?”

“Beautiful…” Jiang Caiping showed a reminiscent expression. After a long while, she murmured: “It really was beautiful then, but I destroyed it with my own hands.”

Yunyi shook her head with a complex expression: “No, the person who destroyed all of this wasn’t you – it was me. Caiping, I’m sorry!”

Jiang Caiping didn’t know that Yunyi was the murderer who killed Li Xuanba. Thinking she was feeling guilty about previously advising her to leave Li Xuanba, she said: “It’s not sister’s fault. Sister was also doing it for my good. Perhaps my feelings for the Third Young Master weren’t that deep at the time, so I couldn’t believe, couldn’t persist.”

Yunyi took a light breath and said in an almost pleading tone: “No matter what, you must hold on. Caiping, promise me, alright?”

Jiang Caiping didn’t speak, just looked at her quietly. After a long while, she pointed to her chest: “Sister, it hurts so much here, like countless steel needles are stabbing!”

Yunyi held her and choked out: “I know, I know everything, but…”

“But I can’t die, right?” Before Yunyi could speak, she had already picked up the bowl of porridge and said while eating: “I know, I can’t die. I can’t make my family sad and heartbroken, can’t prevent the Third Young Master from resting in peace. I know.” With each word she spoke, a tear fell into the porridge, making it bitter and astringent. Perhaps… for a long time to come, everything she ate would be unbearably bitter.

After drinking half a bowl of porridge, Jiang Caiping put down the bowl: “Sister, I want to go home.”

Yunyi nodded: “It would be good for you to stay home for a few days. Tomorrow I’ll accompany you to see the Third Madam and have her speak to Steward Lin.”

Jiang Caiping shook her head: “No, I mean I won’t return to the Governor’s residence anymore.”

Yunyi was shocked and quickly said: “You don’t plan to continue being a dancer?”

Jiang Caiping nodded: “Although this job isn’t very tiring, the pay is good, and I have sister here, as long as I stay here, I’ll keep thinking about the Third Young Master and remain tormented by pain. So I plan to resign tomorrow and go back. After resting for a few days, I’ll look for other work.”

Although Yunyi was reluctant to part with Jiang Caiping, she knew this was best for her: “Alright, I’ll help you pack your things and go find Steward Lin to resign tomorrow.”

Jiang Caiping agreed, then suddenly asked: “Sister, will you blame me?”

Yunyi ruffled her lustrous hair: “Silly girl, how could sister blame you? But you must promise me one thing.” Before she could say what it was, Jiang Caiping said: “I promise.”

Yunyi was startled, then laughed: “You really are silly. If I said I wanted to sell you, would you agree to that too?”