That son was also startled by Xie Zhifei’s courtesy and quickly bowed: “My name is Zhao Dongrong, I’m the eldest. This is my younger brother, Zhao Fanglin.”

Xie Zhifei thought to himself that these names were quite sophisticated.

“This is Yan Sanhe, this is Pei Xiao. They’re investigating the Zheng family case together with me. In our group, Miss Yan takes the lead.”

The Zhao family’s mother and three sons’ expressions showed obvious surprise.

In this era, men were honored and women were lowly, men led and women followed. How could there be a woman more capable than men?

Only then did Yan Sanhe speak indifferently: “You should have heard about the Zheng family case by now, correct?”

If the head of the Five Cities Military Patrol Bureau was secondary, then this Miss Yan’s status must be extraordinary.

Zhao Dongrong said hastily: “We just heard about it not long ago. My mother hasn’t slept well for two days.”

“My heart is distressed and also feels wronged.”

The old lady wiped tears with her handkerchief: “If it’s not that scoundrel surnamed Wu who committed the evil, then who else could it be?”

Yan Sanhe glanced at the old lady, her gaze directly addressing Zhao Dongrong: “What was Madam Zhao’s given name?”

“My younger sister was called Zhao Qingyun.”

Qingyun?

Yan Sanhe silently recited it once in her heart: “All three of your siblings’ names are taken from the Songs of Chu. Was your late father a successful examination candidate?”

She even knew the origin of the names?

Only then did Zhao Dongrong discover that he had underestimated Yan Sanhe by a layer. His attitude became even more respectful:

“My father was an unsuccessful provincial graduate who later opened a school specializing in teaching people to read.”

“Did Zhao Qingyun study in the school from childhood?”

“She didn’t really like studying—she just liked reading poetry and lyrics, and could write a little herself.”

“Do you still have anything she wrote?”

“Long gone. She burned it all herself before marrying out.”

“Son, what’s that young lady’s name?”

“Mother, she’s called Miss Yan.”

“Miss Yan.”

Anxiety showed in the old lady’s eyes: “Let’s not talk about those useless things. Let me tell you…”

“Everything I’m asking is useful.”

Yan Sanhe coldly interrupted: “I ask the questions, you answer them. Don’t disrupt my rhythm.”

Seeing Yan Sanhe’s words were quite impolite, Xie Zhifei quickly soothed: “Old Madam, don’t worry. Let’s take it slowly—this matter can’t be rushed.”

This time, even Yan Sanhe couldn’t help but look at Xie Zhifei.

Being a friend to old women was one thing, but this wasn’t how one should be a friend.

Xie Zhifei knew he had overdone it and explained: “After all, she’s an elder.”

The old lady’s muddy, graying eyes stared gratefully at Xie Zhifei.

Of the three people, this child was most likeable.

Not only handsome, but without any official airs, unlike that young lady who kept a stern face and was cold from head to toe.

Yan Sanhe didn’t know whether to praise or scold the surname Xie.

The reason she was asking so carefully was that Zhao Qingyun had cared for her for a full eight years. In the end, “mother and daughter” had died in the same bed, showing their relationship was extremely close.

She wanted to learn more about this person she had called “Mother.”

“What did she look like?”

Zhao Dongrong: “My younger sister had an oval face, large eyes, very fair skin. Among all the young ladies within a hundred li, she was the most beautiful.”

Yan Sanhe: “What about her temperament?”

Zhao Dongrong thought for a moment: “Her temperament was also good—gentle and soft. She never quarreled with anyone, just somewhat melancholic and sentimental.”

Beautiful appearance.

Gentle temperament.

Full of literary talent.

This matched perfectly with Yan Sanhe’s imagined image of Madam Zhao.

Only such a delicate and beautiful woman could attract Zheng Huantang, who came from a military family.

The corners of Yan Sanhe’s mouth curved up slightly.

That curve held a trace of pride known to no one—pride for Zhao Qingyun.

“I’ve heard she brought misfortune to two betrothed fiancés. Is this true or false? Tell me about it in detail.”

Zhao Dongrong sighed: “Miss Yan, how should I put this? I’m her older brother, so naturally I’d say it’s false, but those two men really did die.”

When my sister was five years old, a fellow student who had gone to the capital for the examinations with Father came to visit our home.

That person saw my sister sitting in the school listening to lessons at such a young age and was very pleased.

It happened that he had a seven-year-old son at home. After discussing with Father—well-matched families, knowing each other well—this marriage was settled.

Who would have known that when that boy reached twelve years old, he contracted a sudden illness and died just like that. Naturally, the betrothal ended.

People eat grains and cereals and always have headaches and fevers. When Heaven wants to take someone, no one can stop it. At the time, no one thought in that direction.

After my sister came of age, Father and Mother began looking for a good family for her.

The Zhao family couldn’t be called a prominent household, but we were a well-off family. My sister was beautiful and had a reputation as a talented woman. Soon we connected with the prefect’s family.

After both sets of parents met, everyone was very satisfied, and the three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts began.

Who would have known that just as they were about to set an auspicious wedding date, the prefect’s son fell from his horse, his head striking a large rock, and he died instantly.

Having lost her son, the prefect’s wife was heartbroken and went to consult an expert fortune-teller.

I don’t know if it was true or false, but the reading revealed that my sister’s eight characters were very strong—any man with slightly weaker eight characters would be brought to death by her.

“Miss Yan, the first time could be called a coincidence, but the second time…”

Zhao Dongrong shook his head helplessly: “Good news doesn’t travel far, but bad news spreads a thousand li. My sister’s reputation for bringing misfortune to husbands spread just like that.”

Yan Sanhe sneered: “Whoever sought the expert naturally gets their fortune told favorably.”

Upon hearing this, the Zhao family’s mother and three sons all changed expressions.

Especially the old lady—the look in her eyes toward Yan Sanhe suddenly heated up.

Isn’t that exactly right?

But some people would believe it.

Even more absurdly, some said all one hundred eighty members of the Zheng family who died were brought to death by her daughter.

“What was the connection between her and Zheng Huantang?”

Being asked this, Zhao Dongrong looked at his mother: “Mother, you tell it.”

Thinking of the past, the old lady slapped her thigh hard in frustration: “This matter is all my fault!”

A perfectly good young lady now carried the reputation of bringing misfortune to husbands—what prospects could she have in this life?

In just half a month, her daughter lost a full ten catties, her face becoming gaunt.

She was flesh fallen from her own body. The old lady saw it in her eyes and worried in her heart. After discussing with her husband, they decided to take their daughter back to her natal home for a visit to lift her spirits.

Thus, mother and daughter, accompanied by several loyal servants, took a full month to reach Wuzhen in the south.

On the day they arrived in Wuzhen, they happened to encounter the plum rain season of the Jiangnan region.

Her daughter held an oil-paper umbrella and stood on a bridge.

The child had grown up in Tianjin Wei and had never traveled far before—this was her first time seeing the small bridges and flowing water of the Jiangnan region. For a time, she was transfixed.

As she watched, thinking of her reputation for bringing misfortune to husbands, tears streamed down.

Just then, a black-canopied boat slowly approached on the river.

At the bow stood a young man, also holding an oil-paper umbrella—it was Zheng Huantang, who had come south with his elder brother.

He too was visiting the south for the first time.

Zheng Huantang noticed someone on the bridge and lifted his umbrella to look.

Through the fine drizzling rain, he saw a young lady in green clothing silently weeping beneath her umbrella. That young lady had a graceful figure and pitiful features—she inspired an indescribable sympathy.

Gazing at the young lady’s dark tresses and vermilion face, Zheng Huantang also became transfixed.