Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 160 We should at least collect the body, right?
The two turned to leave, but the boss called out to them softly.

“There’s no need for you two to do this. I trust your character. I overheard the young lady who was with you at the noodle stall earlier, and I know you are both good people. She even gave me a lot of extra money, and I feel guilty about it. If you don’t mind, please rest in my humble abode for a while, and we can make plans after those people leave.”

Chunyu Shuang and her companion stopped abruptly, exchanged an incredulous glance, and seemed lost in thought.

To be honest, neither of them noticed when Jiu Que paid them, and judging from Jiu Que's matter-of-fact expression, they didn't suspect anything was amiss; he was clearly quite used to it. But this kindness had already saved them twice today. Should they start giving more money to others when they go out in the future?
Hmm, it seems her (his) savings aren't enough.

Ahem, we’ve gone off topic.

With the owner's permission, the two followed the mother and daughter into the house, where they were served hot tea and delicious, crispy snacks. It must be said that the owner of this restaurant truly lived up to his reputation; even his homemade snacks were incredibly tasty. Xie Mingchen picked one up and tried it first, then nodded to Chunyu Shuang.

Even the imperial physician thought there was no problem. Chunyu Shuang skillfully struck up a casual conversation with the other party while eating snacks. After all, when she worked as a clerk in the Ministry of Justice, she mostly did miscellaneous tasks like interrogating suspects. Moreover, the men in the Ministry of Justice would always use the excuse of not wanting to get involved with women to dump those troublesome female suspects on her. She had long since honed her skill in lowering the other party's guard through casual conversation and obtaining the information she wanted.

In just a few words, Chunyu Shuang realized that the male head of the household had most likely encountered some trouble.

"Really? My brother hasn't been back for three years? Uh, sister-in-law, don't worry, he definitely won't be seeing someone else. After all, look how well-behaved and sensible Ruohua is, and you're hardworking and capable too. No one would neglect their wife and daughter. Maybe something has held him back?"

“I really hope he gets stuck in some trouble, but I don’t want anything to happen to him. That simpleton only has strength to his name; if he goes out into the world, he’ll be easily scammed. It’s been three years since he left, and I don’t know where he is. There’s not a trace of him. It’s strange, though; none of the men who left with him have come back. It’s one thing if he’s just stupid, but surely the men who left with him can’t all be stupid too? And to be honest, my husband, though a bit simple-minded, is a minor official because of his strength and family connections. But now that he’s gone, the family’s position is gone too. That’s fine. Even if he’s not an official, I have a noodle-selling skill; I can still support the family. But the problem is, we have no idea where he is…”

As he spoke, the strong boss's eyes gradually welled up with tears. He turned his face away and wiped his face.

Chunyu Shuang was at a loss for words to comfort her. Just as she was racking her brains, Xie Mingchen gently tugged at her sleeve. Seeing that he had attracted Chunyu Shuang's attention, Xie Mingchen dipped his finger in tea and wrote the number 'three' on the table.

Why write this? This boss's husband has indeed been missing for three years... wait, three years?!

Chunyu Shuang immediately felt a chill run down her spine. The strange occurrences in Yancheng seemed to have started three years ago! Could it be that this shop owner's husband had also been arrested and taken to the salt fields? But the other party had been very vague and hadn't elaborated. Chunyu Shuang carefully considered her tone before speaking cautiously.

"Sister Fang, perhaps this question is a bit presumptuous, but I still want to ask, did your brother go to the salt field to apply for the job with the men from the neighborhood?"

Sister Fang paused in wiping away her tears, quickly looked up, and warily stared at Chunyu Shuang. She had already pulled her daughter behind her back, shielding her with her body. Perhaps sensing its owner's tension, the large, lazy black dog slowly straightened its back and began to purr, instantly creating a tense atmosphere.

Sister Fang stared at Chunyu Shuang for a long time, but only saw a sincere and pure expression on the other's face. After hesitating for a moment, she finally nodded gently. Even in her own home, Sister Fang's voice was very low, as if she was afraid that someone might overhear her.

"This matter was suppressed by the government. Our husbands went to the salt fields to answer the call, but they didn't return for a long time. As you should know, the Prince of Binyang has always been considerate and kind to his people, so we commoners were bolder. We even thought of going to the Prince's mansion to find out what happened, but who would have thought that the Prince's mansion would suppress us so forcefully and strictly forbid us from talking about this matter. They also said that our husbands, brothers, and even father stole silver from the salt fields and ran away, and they haven't been caught yet. Anyone who discovers their whereabouts must report to the authorities, otherwise they will be punished as accomplices."

“We are not very knowledgeable, and we have to take care of our families. Moreover, all the men in the family have disappeared. During that time, all sorts of things were said, but in the end, we couldn’t overcome the authority of the Prince’s Mansion. Gradually, everyone stopped discussing this matter. But I believe that although my husband is a bit simple-minded, he is not a bad person. He once fought alongside the Prince of Binyang on the battlefield and has a strong patriotic spirit. Over the years, he has served as a minor official and has never used his position to seek personal gain. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have needed to enlist in the salt fields to earn more money.”

“Our fathers, husbands, and brothers are missing, but we can’t report it to the authorities, or even mention it openly. Sigh, I’m a little better off. I’ve always been healthy and have a skill, so I can always support Ruohua. The girl next door, Wang, has never been very healthy. Since her husband went missing, her health has deteriorated, and she still has to support the family. She hasn’t been out for two whole days. I need to find some time to go and check on her…”

The more Chunyu Shuang listened to Boss Fang's story, the more strangely familiar it felt. Hmm, could Boss Fang's man really be at the saltworks? But she had only briefly strolled around the outside of the saltworks before rushing to the city to investigate the Prince's residence. Even if Boss Fang's man was indeed at the saltworks, she didn't know if he was still alive. In that case, saying it would only add unnecessary trouble for Boss Fang, wouldn't it?
Just as Chunyu Shuang decided not to speak, Boss Fang keenly noticed the reluctance and hesitation in the young lady's eyes. At that moment, this uneducated woman seemed to concentrate all her intelligence in one instant; she suddenly knelt down, pulling her daughter along with her.

"Miss, I know you are a distinguished person. Do you know where my husband is? We were husband and wife for many years, and our relationship was quite deep. If he is dead, shouldn't I at least provide a proper burial for him?"

(End of this chapter)