Huarui understood immediately. "How ingenious, my lady. Having the Yan family's eldest grandson personally rescue and bring back someone who then testifies against the Cao family... outsiders would hardly doubt the truth of the testimony. Moreover, if he could be discovered within the Duke of Chu's residence, perhaps we could even pin a charge of aiding and abetting on the Chu family. Killing two birds with one stone!"
Roumin smiled slightly but hadn't spoken yet when Piaoxu suddenly entered. "My lady, the Master of the Lang Pavilion is here. He seems to be coming to demand an explanation!"
As soon as the words fell, that figure in red appeared in the palace hall.
Yun Lang said calmly, "All of you, leave."
"But..." Huarui and Piaoxu wanted to say something, but they felt a wave of pressure bearing down on them, and then they were both ushered out the door.
With a snap, the doors and windows closed shut.
Inside the palace, Yun Lang looked at her quietly for a moment. "Was it you?"
Roumin asked, "What is elder brother referring to?"
"Five days ago, the Ming Division undertook a mission. The An Division lost two men. Old Du said they were acting on your orders." Yun Lang's expression was extremely detached. "I'll ask once more. The matter of the Xue family, was it your doing?"
Only the Bai Xiao Pavilion could wipe out a family in the capital without leaving a single trace.
Roumin sighed softly. "Truly, nothing can be hidden from elder brother... Ah!"
Yun Lang directly seized her wrist. "Roumin, I've told you before, haven't I? Do not act recklessly. It will expose the Bai Xiao Pavilion. Yet you seem to have paid it no mind at all!"
Roumin lifted her gaze, "looking" at him with those eyes veiled in a grayish haze. "Is elder brother afraid of exposing the Bai Xiao Pavilion, or are you afraid that my actions will implicate your beloved?"
"You!" Yun Lang's eyes darkened, but he saw her give a light laugh. "Elder brother is angered. It seems Roumin guessed correctly. Then Roumin would also like to ask elder brother in return: in elder brother's heart, who is more important? Roumin, or your beloved?"
Yun Lang let out a scornful laugh, released her wrist, and turned to leave.
Roumin called out, "Second Brother."
This address successfully made him stop. Yun Lang turned back, his peach-blossom eyes holding a complex emotion. "Little sister, I won't pursue this matter any further. But regarding the Chu family, do not make another move. It's not that I'm afraid you'll harm her, but rather... you are no match for her."
Having said that, he turned and left, not seeing the sudden fury that erupted in the young maiden's eyes.
No match?
He actually dared to say she was no match for her?
Huarui and Piaoxu hurried into the hall, only to see Roumin's face dark and gloomy. After a moment, she said, "I've changed my mind. Not the Cao family, target the Yan family. Put on another act, make that Xue Baiqing believe it was Chu Ruoyan behind it all!"
"But the family with the greatest grudge against the Xue family is the Cao family, my lady. Perhaps we should stick to the original plan and eliminate them first..."
"No! I want her dead! She must die!"
Every word from Roumin dripped with a desperate madness. The two maidservants had no choice but to comply.
Imperial Academy.
Yan Wenjing had tricked the third person who kept shouting everywhere that the Chu family was the murderer. After pushing the person into the manure pit and letting him flounder for a while, he said, "Well? How does eating shit taste?"
"Yan Wenjing, you bastard, you son of a bitch! Just you wait till I get up there, I'll break your—"
Before the person could finish, he saw Yan Wenjing suddenly change his expression to one full of concern. "I'm sorry, classmate Feng, it was Wenjing's fault for not being able to pull you up in time. You wait here, I'll go find the teacher right away!"
As he turned, he bumped right into Teacher Tang. Young Master Feng down in the pit was still cursing angrily, "You scum, stop pretending! It was clearly you who pushed me down!"
"Outrageous!" Teacher Tang's shout made Young Master Feng finally see the teacher on the bank. He said plaintively, "It's true, Teacher, he really did push me down, I swear!"
Teacher Tang looked utterly disappointed. "I heard everything just now. Wenjing was desperately trying to save you, yet you spew vulgarities and repay kindness with blame... Who in the Imperial Academy doesn't know that Wenjing is the most obedient and sensible? You lot, not striving to improve yourselves is bad enough, but to target him all day long is truly the height of disappointment!"
Young Master Feng was dumbfounded, his mouth agape... and he swallowed several more mouthfuls...
By the time he was fished out, covered in stinking filth, and looked over at Yan Wenjing, surrounded by people receiving praise... he couldn't catch his breath and fainted on the spot.
After school, Steward Fang came to pick him up.
Hearing about the day's events at the Imperial Academy, the old steward sighed. "Ah, young master, you are still too impulsive..."
"Hmph, I don't care. The Duke of Chu's residence is Third Aunt's maiden family. Whoever dares to speak ill of it, I'll deal with them!" Wenjing declared, holding his head high. His gaze swept over a scene outside the street, and he shouted, "Stop the carriage!"
Before the coachman could react, the young master rushed out and jumped off the carriage.
Steward Fang was startled and hurried after him, only to see Yan Wenjing run up to the entrance of a secluded alley, his eyes wide with surprise. "Xue Silly Egg, is that you? Xue Silly Egg?"
Huddled in the alley was a child, clothes tattered, face filthy.
Hearing the voice, he trembled in fear, shrinking further inside...
Yan Wenjing stepped forward a few paces. "It really is you, Xue Silly Egg. I thought I was seeing things..." He placed his hands on his shoulders, and Xue Baiqing trembled even more violently, desperately trying to bury his head.
Yan Wenjing frowned, forcibly lifting his face. "Heavens! Your eyes... who blinded your eyes?!"
On the dirty little face, the eyes were tightly shut, with two distinct trails of dried blood at the corners.
Xue Baiqing seemed terrified, opening his mouth and biting down on Wenjing's hand...
"Young master!"
Steward Fang exclaimed in alarm. Yan Wenjing raised his hand to stop him, his face cold and stern like a little adult. "Steward Fang, please help me get Xue Silly Egg to the carriage. I'm taking him to see Third Aunt!"
Duke of Chu's Residence.
Chu Ruoyan was practicing calligraphy when she heard Wenjing's voice.
The little black sesame glutinous rice ball rushed in, grabbed her hand, and pulled her outside. "Third Aunt, come quickly, come and see!"
Chu Ruoyan saw the bite mark on his wrist, still bleeding. "How were you injured? Who bit you?"
Yan Wenjing shook his head. "Never mind that. Xue Silly Egg is outside! Someone blinded his eyes, and he's completely disoriented, doesn't even seem to recognize people..."
Chu Ruoyan's heart tightened. "Are you talking about Xue Baiqing, the eldest son of the Xue family's second branch? Where did you find him?"
Yan Wenjing was momentarily stunned. "Just in an empty alley in Pingkang Ward... Is something wrong?"
Chu Ruoyan narrowed her eyes.
For the past few days, the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice had turned the capital upside down without finding him. And now Wenjing just stumbled upon him? There must be something fishy!
She deliberately slowed her steps, holding Wenjing and asking him carefully for all the details.
Yan Wenjing was clever too. After finishing, he said, "You suspect someone wanted to use me to expose Xue Silly Egg? But why?"
Chu Ruoyan remained silent, unable to figure it out.
Just then, a commotion arose outside the courtyard, followed by the main gate being pushed open. Officials from the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice filed in.
Shi Hong, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice leading them, said gravely, "County Mistress Changle, we received a tip that someone saw Xue Baiqing, the eldest son of the Xue family's second branch, in your residence. The matter is urgent, we must act accordingly. Please allow your humble official to search the premises!"
