Jinyi Spring

Chapter 92: Slip of the tongue
The night is as dark as ink, and everything is silent.

Ming Shanyue sat at his desk reading, the flickering candlelight illuminating his face clearly and making the cinnabar mole on his face appear even redder.

His gaze was deep, and he hadn't turned a single page of the book in his hand for half an hour.

Guo Mo entered the house and reported, "Sir, He Xiang has arrived."

He Xiang was a junior officer in the Flying Eagle Guard. On the surface, he had no connection with Ming Shanyue, but he was actually a spy planted there by the Duke of Dingguo two years ago and later handed over to Ming Shanyue.

He also participated in the search and guarding of the Wen family's residence.

Ming Shanyue put down her book and said, "Let him in."

He Xiang came in, took off his straw hat, and took out a piece of green jade pendant from his pocket and presented it to the emperor.

Ming Shanyue accepted it.

He Xiang said, "Tonight, I happened to be on night duty and secretly met with Wen Kai. I showed him the master's jade pendant and said that the master had long disapproved of Consort Xue and the Xue family's arrogance and cruelty towards loyal officials."
"It's also clear that Lord Wen was deliberately killed, it's a pity he returned to the capital too late. The master will find a way to protect the Wen family, so he can rest assured. He also mentioned the master's suspicions about Madam Wen's suicide..."

Upon seeing the jade, Wen Kai knew it must have been sent by someone from Ming Shanyue.

Wen Kai had been friends with Ming Shanyue since he was young and knew Ming Shanyue's character well. He knew that if there was only one person in the entire capital who could help the Wen family, it would definitely be Ming Shanyue.

Ming Shanyue is not only capable, serving as the Northern Garrison Commander, but also has a powerful background in the Ming government.

The Xue family made nice claims, but they first killed the father and then the mother.

Wen Kai said, "Before my father got into trouble, he told my mother and me that if he got out of prison safely, that would be fine, but if he died in prison, it must be the Xue family's doing. The Wen family is no match for the Xue family, so we should obediently follow their arrangements."

"After returning to our hometown, we'll live a quiet life, guarding our family fortune. Once no one is paying attention to us anymore, we'll marry Shu'er off to Jiang Huaizhao as a concubine. If Heaven has eyes, those wicked people will suffer; if Heaven doesn't, we'll just have to accept it..."

"But my mother couldn't bear the blow of my father's death..."

When Madam Wen heard that Wen Qian had died in prison, she fainted on the spot. When she woke up, she cried and made a scene.

"Master didn't have a heart condition, how could he suddenly die from a heart attack? It must have been that scoundrel Xue Jicheng who poisoned him..."

Wen Kai quickly dismissed everyone and whispered, "Mother, be careful what you say. We can't bring any more trouble to the family..."

Madam Wen wouldn't listen to her son at all, and cried, "Those pieces of evidence were handed over by the Xue family, and the words were also taught to your father by the Xue family. Why should your father take the blame for them?"

"It would have been fine if he had taken the blame, but instead of trying to rescue him, they took his life. Your father is really something. The Xue family sold him out, yet he remained so honest. He should have revealed the whole truth."

"And then there's my Shu'er, beautiful as a flower, gentle and kind. If nothing goes wrong, she'll marry the eldest princess's son, the most handsome man in the world, Shangguan Ruyu, and enjoy a lifetime of happiness."

"Why should she marry Jiang Huaizhao, and as a concubine no less? Jiang Huaizhao is a bamboo ware merchant, blind in one eye, and has a frightening scar on his face. He's not even worthy of carrying Shu'er's shoes..."

Enraged, Wen Kai covered her mouth and said in a low voice, "Mother, if you want this whole family to be buried with you, then go ahead and make a scene."

Madam Wen finally shut her mouth, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and wept bitterly.

Wen Kai looked out the window again to make sure no one was there, then turned back and whispered, "Mother, this result was achieved by my father with his life; otherwise, the family wouldn't be so peaceful."

“My father is wise. He must have a deeper meaning in making this arrangement. We should just do as he says. We should go back to our hometown and live a quiet life for a few months. I will personally send my sister to western Hunan a few months later and prepare a generous dowry so that she won’t feel too wronged.”

The Wen family had made preparations in advance, having hidden most of their assets elsewhere.

Back in their hometown, they had no worries about food and drink...

Tears welled up in Wen Kai's eyes as he murmured, "But my mother hanged herself in the middle of the night without anyone noticing. I know she wouldn't have committed suicide; she must have been murdered."

“My mother, how could she say such things so easily? It's also my fault, I should have reminded her sooner that there are Flying Eagle Guards watching us from the rooftops, trees, and some unknown corner…”

He Xiang pressed on, "Does Master Wen know why Lord Wen made this arrangement? And who is Jiang Huaizhao that your father would give his precious daughter to him as a concubine?"

Wen Kai shook his head and said, "I only know that Jiang Huaizhao is in the bamboo ware business and lives in Huaijiang, Xiangxi. He's been to the capital twice over the years, and both times my father met him privately. We've never met him..."

"I heard he lost sight in his right eye and has a large scar on his right cheek from falling off a cliff. I didn't think much of it before, but my father gave me this instruction before he died, so there must be something I don't know."

"Also, someone must have asked about Jiang Huaizhao before my mother was murdered. My mother didn't know more than I did."

Wen Kai bowed deeply to He Xiang again, "Please tell Lord Ming that I suspect Jiang Huaizhao has a deep connection with the Xue family, and my father knows some things about them in the past."

"If Lord Ming can find out the reason behind this and eliminate the Xue family who are so powerful, and avenge my parents, Wen Kai will be extremely grateful."

……

After hearing the report, Ming Shanyue's face turned ashen, and his large hand on the table clenched into a fist, showing extreme frustration.

Wen Qian risked his life to ensure the safety of his family, and painstakingly revealed the secret to him before his death, but the woman's slip of the tongue ruined the entire plan.

He pondered for a moment, then said to He Xiang, "Tell Wen Kai that I understand. For the sake of the Wen family, tell him to keep his mouth shut. Mrs. Wen just couldn't accept her husband's violent death and took her own life."

"Furthermore, to avoid arousing suspicion, Wen Shu will be sent to Jiang Huai Zhao's place as usual in three or four months..."

He paused, then tapped his fingertips lightly on the table. "If nothing unexpected happens, Jiang Huaizhao has already run away, and Wen Shu will never become his concubine."

He Xiang was taken aback and asked, "Isn't Jiang Huaizhao the most likely person to be caught first?"

Ming Shanyue shook her head and sneered, "Wen Shu is a girl who has caught the eye of both the Empress Dowager and Princess Yanghe, and could be Shangguan Ruyu's wife. Yet Wen Qian would rather let her be Jiang Huaizhao's concubine. Is this man no ordinary person?"

There was something else he couldn't say: it was an accident that Wen Qian was able to see him before his death. If he hadn't, his chess piece would have fallen to that person named "Jiang Huaizhao".

By making his beloved daughter his concubine, he must have hoped that Jiang Huaizhao could seek justice for the Wen family.

How could someone of such stature be easily captured?
After He Xiang left, Ming Shanyue summoned Guo Hei and said, "Quickly summon Wei Fu to see me."

Wei Fu was a manager of the Ming family's secret guards.

Ming Shanyue was almost certain that Jiang Huaizhao was the one who knew the inside story of the "Red Hare baby swap". If they could find him, the case would be solved.

However, Madam Wen's slip of the tongue allowed the Xue family to learn about the existence of "Jiang Huaizhao" first, and they will definitely rush to Xiangxi to find him.

Therefore, it would be difficult for me to find him.

Two days later, Wu Yibo's case was settled, confirming his crimes of abusing his power, framing loyal officials, and embezzling military funds.

Wen Qian was filled with remorse, which led to a sudden heart attack and his death in prison.

The Emperor, mindful of the great contributions Wu Yibo's ancestors had made to the Great Yan Dynasty, did not impose a severe punishment.

However, he was stripped of his title of Earl of Wuyi, his son was stripped of his official position, demoted back to his hometown, and his descendants were forbidden from holding official positions for three generations.

Even their relatives were spared, and their immediate family members were also spared.

This result was obtained by Wen Qian at the cost of his life and silence.

The Xue family never dreamed that Wen Qian had told Ming Shanyue some secret before he died.

Although Feng Chuchen didn't know what it was about, she guessed it might be related to the Xue family.

The servants of the Wen family have been sold off, and their master has been given five days to leave the capital. The Flying Eagle Guards ransacked the house, but they were relatively restrained towards the Wen family members; no one was beaten, and no one was sexually harassed.

More than twenty Flying Eagle Guards kept watch outside the small courtyard day and night.

On October 12th, after treating Madam Ming, Feng Chuchen and Banxia took a carriage to the Wen residence to bid farewell to Wen Shu.

The Wen family will depart tomorrow to return to their hometown of Hezhou.

It wasn't because Feng Chuchen had any connection with the Wen family; they didn't. It was simply a matter of one person seeing a doctor and the other paying.

But when her aunt passed away, the Wen family sent people to offer their condolences, and Feng Chuchen felt that her family should remember this kindness.

Banxia went to a Flying Eagle Guard and said, "My young lady knows Miss Wen Si and wants to send her some gifts and medicine."

After saying that, he took a silver ingot and gave it to the Flying Eagle Guard.

Not only did Shangguan Ruyu inform the Flying Eagle Guards who were raiding the house, but Deputy Commander Xue and Ming Shanyue also did so, so they naturally dared not go too far.

The Flying Eagle Guard took the silver and pointed to a pavilion not far away, saying, "You all wait there, I'll go and invite Miss Wen Si."

Feng Chuchen walked into the pavilion.

Looking around, the carved railings and jade steps still remain, but everything has changed...

This grand mansion, once a place of great wealth and honor, is now a place on the verge of collapse. Wealth and glory are sometimes more dangerous than poverty; a single downfall can lead to utter ruin.

Soon after, Wen Shu arrived gracefully.

Her once beautiful face is now so haggard it's almost unrecognizable. Her pale face is devoid of any color, her thin body is wrapped in a worn-out silk shirt, and only a wooden hairpin adorns her hair, the jewels and jade ornaments of the past are gone.

She hadn't expected that the person who came to see her off was Feng Chuchen; she had initially thought it was either her close friend, Miss Qin, or Miss Shangguan.

Upon arriving at the pavilion, Wen Shu, with tears in her eyes, said, "Thank you for coming to see me. It turns out there are still people in this world worth befriending. I never imagined that my best friend would be Miss Feng."

“My father is gone, my mother is gone, my little niece passed away yesterday, my sister-in-law and second sister-in-law are sick… Everything has changed. A fallen phoenix is ​​no better than a chicken. I don’t know what the future holds, I don’t know what to do.”

She burst into tears.

Her little niece, Grandma Wen's second daughter, was a baby less than a year old. Feng Chuchen witnessed her birth.

Feng Chuchen didn't know how to comfort her, and said softly, "Although ordinary people live a poor life, they are at peace..."

Is it stable? Not necessarily, it depends on how you plan.

He added, "There's always a way out; you'll get through this..."

As they were talking, several familiar figures walked over.

It was Shangguan Ruyu, along with Duan Yan, Song Yan, and two guards.

Upon hearing that Shangguan Ruyu wanted to see the Wen brothers, the Flying Eagle Guards dared not delay and ran in to fetch them.

When Shangguan Ruyu saw them, she also came to the pavilion.

Wen Shu's tears flowed even more profusely, and she turned away to wipe them away with a handkerchief.

She never expected that Shangguan Ruyu would come to see them.

It's a pity that such a handsome and refined gentleman was destined to be apart from her in this life.

Shangguan Ruyu said, "Take care, Miss Wen. I wrote a letter to Prefect Huang and asked him to look after you."

Wen Shu bent her knees slightly to him, holding back her tears, and said, "Thank you, Young Master Shangguan."

The Wen brothers came over.

They hadn't expected Shangguan Ruyu to come and see them off in person.

He clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Young Master Shangguan, Miss Feng."

Shangguan Ruyu handed a letter to Wen Kai, "This is a letter I wrote to Prefect Huang. Prefect Huang and my second uncle were classmates at the Imperial Academy. If you encounter any difficulties, go to them..."

The Wen brothers bowed deeply, "Thank you, Young Master Shangguan."

Feng Chuchen didn't want to listen to their conversation, so she presented Wen Shu with a small cloth bag containing twenty taels of silver and a packet of medicinal herbs.

"The journey ahead is long and arduous, Miss Wen, please take good care of yourself."

Wen Shu bowed again, her eyes brimming with tears. "Thank you, Miss Feng. Please take good care of yourself. As the mountains and rivers remain unchanged, I will always remember you."

Feng Chuchen left with Banxia.

She asked Uncle Wu to wait at the next street corner, and they walked to Xu's Steamed Bun Shop to buy steamed buns, which Feng Buji especially liked.

After buying the steamed buns, the two strolled along the street.

Banxia couldn't help but sigh, "Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are determined by heaven. Who would have thought that the once pampered and noble Miss Wen would dress like the girls in Beianfang today? That pride of hers has been completely worn away."

"Young Master Shangguan is not only handsome, but also kind-hearted. He even went to see them off at this time and arranged for their future..."

Feng Chuchen looked into the distance and said, "Yes, our circumstances have changed drastically."

Shangguan Ruyu is indeed a good person, daring to lend a helping hand to the Wen family during their most difficult time. Of course, his confidence stems from the powerful backing he has.

Suddenly, a commotion arose from the crowd ahead.

It was the sound of a little girl crying, "Mother, please sell me to a good family. If you sell me to Zuihuanlou, my life will be ruined."

A woman's loud voice shouted, "You jinx! You're so picky about where you sell your stuff! If someone buys it, you can just start chanting Buddhist prayers!"

The little girl's voice said, "Mom, I'm not the only one born on the fifteenth of July. My eldest cousin was also born on that day, and everything was fine at my second maternal grandmother's house."

The woman roared, "His family is fine, but our family is in trouble. Your grandparents and eldest brother were all cursed to death by you, and now I've finally given birth to a son, and you've cursed me half to death. It's already a miracle that I haven't strangled you to death..."

The little girl screamed as she was being choked, pleading, "Mother, please sell me to a good family. I'll earn money to take home for my brother's medical treatment and to support you in your old age. Please don't sell me to the brothel, please..."

"Shut up, you old hag! If I don't sell you for a good price, how will I get money for your brother's medical treatment..."

Who says there are no bad parents? I've encountered a mother who pushed her daughter into a fire pit.

Feng Chuchen was furious. He pulled Banxia along and squeezed into the crowd. There, he saw a little girl of about seven or eight years old being dragged by a middle-aged woman to a brothel in front of them.

The building has three floors and is decorated with many red lanterns hanging outside.

The little girl knelt on the ground and wouldn't move, so the woman dragged her forward like a stool.

Feng Chuchen whispered a few words to Banxia.

Banxia ran over and blocked the woman, saying, "Don't go, my daughter is willing to buy the little sister."