Ink Burns

Chapter 187 Bamboo Leaf Green Appears Online

A cloud drifted in from the north, blocking the torrential rain and providing a rare moment of comfort and tranquility.

Before long, the cloud wisely dispersed, and lightning and thunder struck like heavy hammers. Then the rain intensified, as if in retaliation against the cloud, pouring down and crashing against the branches and leaves of the old locust tree at the entrance of Xue Nan's residence.

Shan Yue, holding an oil-paper umbrella, turned her head slightly to avoid the raindrops bounced off the old locust tree branches and leaves. With a slight glance back, she saw the dazzling white lanterns and white silk hanging under the eaves of the North Mansion.

Another person has died in Xue Beifu.

Just as the coffin of the Zhu family was being buried, another dead body was carried back to the mansion horizontally.

The mourning hall in Beifu was a very cost-effective building – it was used very frequently, almost year-round.

Yesterday evening, the Prefect of the Capital arrived.

Two minor officials, one in front and one behind, hurriedly carried a bamboo pole. On the pole lay a person covered with a coarse white cloth, which was stained bright red with blood. Thick, foul-smelling blood dripped down the pole.

"Second Master! Second Master is dead!" Huang Zhi cried out, pulling up her skirt and running breathlessly into the side of the water.

Shan Yue was grinding ink and sketching by the window, while Xue Xiao was half-reclining on a bamboo recliner on the other side of the lattice, his legs crossed, holding a scroll of "One Hundred Illustrations of Painting" in his hand, swaying leisurely with a unique air of ease.

Huang Zhi's startled cry was like a thunderclap from a clear sky!
With a flick of his wrist, Shan Yue created a crack in the stone of the "Mountain Moon Painting," transforming it into a shattered rock struck by lightning.

As soon as Huang Zhi finished speaking, Luo Feng strode in quickly, his demeanor steady and composed. He bowed and said, "My lord, my lady, we have received news from the Prefect of the Capital that Xue Chen has just passed away."

Xue Xiao slowly sat up, his expression unchanged. He tapped the edge of the side table with a book in one hand and slowly raised his eyes: "You were a step too slow—take ten taels of silver from my own savings and give it to Steward Zhi as a reward."

The sky has fallen in the wind: ? What news could arrive faster than the Prefect of the Capital?
The wicked steward's mouth instantly twisted into a wriggling caterpillar, and he raised an eyebrow: It's Auntie! It's the gossipy auntie at the street corner!

"Xue Chen is dead?" Shan Yue frowned and looked up, asking in confusion, "How did he die?"

Luo Feng spoke first: "Xue Chen angered the young master of the Chang family for some reason during the 'fighting' incident. The young master of the Chang family delivered three heavy punches, all of which landed on Xue Chen's forehead. When the Prefect of the Capital received the report in advance and rushed to the scene, Xue Chen was already bleeding from all seven orifices and was beyond saving."

Chang Yusu? He killed Xue Chen?
Shan Yue was astonished.

Dogs fighting?
how come?
Xue Chen has always been good at playing the victim and appeasing others, and she has always been accommodating to the Chang family's temper. Chang Yusu and Xue Chen have always been on good terms, so why would she suddenly turn on them and kill them?

After a brief moment of astonishment, Xue Xiao suddenly recalled the meaningful question his sister-in-law had asked him in the corridor that day.

Xue Xiao looked at Luo Feng: "Did the Prefect of the Capital imprison Chang Yusu?"

"The place was surrounded by people, three layers deep. With so many eyes and ears, the Prefect of the Capital always handled the formalities perfectly and took him away on the spot."

"What about the Chang family? Did they go to the Prefect of the Capital to inquire about their whereabouts?"

"Not yet."

Are there any suspicious bystanders at the scene?

"You mean Chang Yusu's accomplices?" Luo Feng replied incredulously, "When has he ever used anyone else to beat or kill someone?!"

They did it all themselves!
In the capital, Chang Yusu had a widely circulated boast: "When it comes to bloodshed, it's always the most satisfying to do it yourself!"

Xue Xiao slowly nodded, his mind returning to normal: In other words, there was no one else present.

In other words, the instigator has successfully escaped.

Xue Xiao glanced at Shan Yue and saw that his wife was frowning, her expression extremely complicated, with a hint of regret amidst her confusion, a touch of doubt amidst her regret, and a hint of bewilderment amidst her doubt—a sense of powerlessness, like having prepared a powerful move only to have the enemy die from a minor typhoid fever on the battlefield.

It was rare to see Shan Yue with such an expression. Like a slender and beautiful bamboo viper, it blinked its narrow eyelids in a daze, its tongue sticking out in shock, forgetting to put it back.

Xue Xiao coughed lightly, deciding to give his wife a little bit of the shock from his sister-in-law.

"I suspect that Xue Chen's murder is related to Shui Guang," Xue Xiao said softly.

Bamboo Leaf Green slowly and calmly shifted its neck towards Xue Xiao, and slowly squeezed out a twisted "Hmm?" from its throat.

Xue Xiao succinctly explained Shui Guang's speculation about Xue Chen that day: "Shui Guang, I don't know her very well—"

But I've figured you out pretty well.

The two sisters were worlds apart in temperament, but their single-mindedness was exactly the same. "Since she knew of Xue Chen's crimes, how could she stand idly by?" Xue Xiao's voice was deep. "However, I didn't expect this young girl to act so swiftly, sending Xue Chen to his coffin in just seven or eight days—"

Xue Xiao laughed, a hint of admiration in his voice for his colleague: "As expected of your sister, she's quite capable and cunning. She seems harmless all the time, but she's a ruthless character who acts decisively."

"Ah—" The bamboo viper's eyes widened, and it spat out its tongue, making a sharp, explosive sound on the spot!
Like a kettle boiling.

Was that sound coming from Shan Yue?

Xue Xiao resisted the urge to pick his ears.

Are you sure it's not some kind of witch doctor possessing your own bamboo viper?
"Shuiguang, Shuiguang is the purest, gentlest, and happiest girl in the world!" Zhu Yeqing's voice was so high-pitched it was almost cracking.

Xue Xiao was somewhat taken aback.

She may be happy, but no one says she can't kill happily, right?

What if her happiness comes from killing?

What is the logic?

Xue Xiao had doubts, but dared not refute them, so he could only rub his chin with one hand to make himself look like he was busy thinking.

Bamboo Leaf Viper's face flushed red like a five-step snake: "Anyway, I absolutely do not believe it! We at Shuiguang have never been willing to kill even chickens, so why would we bother to kill someone!?"

Zhu Yeqing stood up, paced back and forth, regained her human form, and then asked a couple more questions about what had happened when Luo Feng appeared.

Luo Feng smiled bitterly: "Chang Yusu has just entered the capital and the servant involved in the 'beating' incident has also been imprisoned. Now, I have asked Lord Xiao Po to replace the people on duty at the capital with officials from Tianbao Temple. This can only temporarily stop the Chang family from visiting the prison—as for the rest, I have truly said everything I should have said."

Having regained her human form, Shan Yue paced the ground a few more times, then suddenly stopped and turned around: "Stop them today, regardless of the consequences. We must stop the Chang family today. Tomorrow, we will let them pass tomorrow—"

Shan Yue looked at Xue Xiao again, her voice urgent: "I will go to the Chang family tomorrow—I will find a way to accompany Madam Zhou to visit the Prefect of the Capital in prison."

"As for tonight—his book—"

The book?

Those two words spoken by Shan Yue were truly excellent.

Xue Xiao straightened his back and said in a low, light voice, "Yes."

"Today, I beg you to do whatever it takes to secretly protect Xinglin Hall at Qiushui Ferry—I'm counting on you." Shan Yue, now in human form, was earnest and stubborn.

Xue Xiao suddenly curved his lips into a smile, his thin, diamond-shaped lips tinged with a hint of indulgence: "Look, you're the most stubborn person in the whole body—if you firmly believe that your sister is pure, kind, and gentle and wouldn't do such a terrible thing, then why do you need me to send someone to protect her in secret?"

"Xue—Qi—Shu—!"

The bamboo viper clenched its fists and growled, stretching its neck in a fit of rage, somewhat resembling a king cobra.

***
The old locust tree leaves splashed with rainwater once again.

Shan Yue lowered her eyes, her gaze returning to the white banner hanging under the eaves.

The northern prefecture has suffered a series of calamities, its population is sparse, and it is quiet.

"Tap tap tap——"

Four or five women, all in a panic and carrying bundles, hurried down the steps.

The leading old woman knelt down with a "plop," kneeling in the rain: "Young Madam! Young Madam, please wait!"

Shan Yue paused and turned back, her eyes cold and indifferent.

Not a single old woman or servant in the Northern Mansion showed any kindness to Xue Xiao when he was young—all the Xue family servants who had cared for, shown concern for, or protected the young Xue Xiao were driven out by Madam Zhu for various reasons.

Those who remain are nothing but despicable people who scorn the weak and fawn over the strong.

There's no need to give them a friendly look.

(End of this chapter)