Liao Zhu dropped a bombshell with an air of casualness: "This is the blood of Madame Meng's eldest brother, the eldest son of the Wen family, Wen Qian."
Madame Meng's whole body trembled, the color draining from her face: "What did you say!"
She gripped the edge of the table, leaning forward: "Say that again."
Liao Zhu looked at her and repeated word by word: "This is the blood of Madame Meng's eldest brother, the eldest son of the Wen family, Wen Qian."
Madame Meng shook uncontrollably: "No, impossible. My eldest brother died in the invasion of the foreign tribes."
Liao Zhu's eyes were filled with sorrow: "Then let me tell Madame Meng a story."
She looked at Madame Meng, her slender lashes trembling almost imperceptibly.
"More than thirty years ago," Liao Zhu said, "there was a little girl. Her mother was a courtesan in a brothel, and because of her beauty, she was bought out by a wealthy merchant to be his concubine. When the girl was three, the Northern Liao army stormed the city of Yinzhou. Her father fled with his family, but because he despised her mother's consumption, he abandoned both her and her mother in Yinzhou. He never came back.
Her mother took her along, selling off whatever jewelry she had on her, fleeing while singing for money to survive. Half a year later, the court recovered the lost territory, and by then they had sold off all her jewelry. Her mother's consumption had worsened—without medicine, her health deteriorated until she could no longer even sing for a living. So the little girl had to go out and beg.
She was young, dressed in clothes stripped from the dead—all men's clothing—so everyone took her for a boy. She followed a group of beggars, holding a broken bowl, chasing after the people of Yinzhou again and again for alms. The war had just ended and the city was rebuilding; no one had money. She didn't yet know how to read people's expressions, just kept chasing after them, so she was beaten, scolded, and driven away time after time. She was afraid of pain, and cried whenever she was hit. Later, even the mere raising of a hand made her tremble all over.
When she was four and a half, her mother fell gravely ill, at death's door. She knelt at the entrance of the medical clinic, begging the doctor to save her mother. Her mother had consumption—everyone knew she couldn't survive. If not for her daughter, the mother would have thrown herself into the river long ago. The clinic staff drove her away, but she kowtowed again and again. Then a young young master, seeing that she was just a pitiful child, paid the doctor on her behalf and asked him to go look at the boy's mother.
She was dressed as a boy, so everyone thought she was one, including that young master. After that, her mother's condition improved a bit, but consumption is a bottomless pit—it could never truly be cured. She could only keep begging. Whenever she managed to get a steamed bun, she would bring it home to share with her mother.
At five, an old beggar in the city kindly told her of a place where it was easy to beg, where many kind-hearted people gathered. She followed along and hid among the crowd. Sure enough, that place had many compassionate people who would regularly distribute porridge and buns. She saw that young master again, along with the three young ladies of his household.
She thought to herself: these people are so good, so gentle even when giving food to beggars. She was small, just a child, and when the young master and his sisters handed out food, they always noticed her and gave her an extra portion. She would kowtow in gratitude. No one could give out food every day, so the young master couldn't come out daily either. But with those charitable handouts, she managed to get by, full one day and hungry the next, keeping her mother alive.
In the autumn of the twenty-sixth year, on a night that was especially, especially cold, her mother coughed up blood and lay on the bed, barely breathing. Her mother said she didn't think she could hold on this time. But the girl didn't believe it—she was only six, understood nothing, and only knew she wanted her mother.
She rushed out of the house, hoping to beg the clinic doctors again, to plead for some medicine. She had run barefoot down two streets when she ran straight into that familiar young master..."
Madame Meng clutched the corner of the table desperately.
Yes, that's right. In the autumn of the twenty-sixth year, the Northern Liao invaded again. More than half of Yinzhou's troops were supporting elsewhere. The Yinzhou army couldn't withstand the Northern Liao's strong forces, and the city gates were breached.
That was the day her eldest brother disappeared.
When they found him, there was nothing left but a skeleton, with Northern Liao arrows still stuck in the body.
Three of them in total.
Liao Zhu's eyes glistened with tears: "The little girl saw a man raise a blade and strike the young master from behind. Before he died, she vaguely heard the young master grabbing the man's collar and cursing him for drinking while the Northern Liao had already stormed the city. The two argued, and somehow the man seemed enraged—or perhaps gone mad—and suddenly drove a blade through the young master's chest.
As if shocked by his own act, he dropped the knife in panic and fled. The young master lay on the ground, blood pooling around him. A jade pendant fell from the murderer's body. The pendant hit the ground, and blood from the young master's chest flowed over it, covering it."
Madame Meng trembled violently, her fingers digging deep into her palms: "Who... who exactly killed my eldest brother?"
Liao Zhu wiped away her tears: "Madame Meng, tell me—who would be most afraid of that jade pendant being found? It wasn't worth anything. What use did it have other than identifying its owner?"
"No, impossible, impossible!" Madame Meng clutched the pendant tightly, tears streaming down her face as she shook her head over and over: "Why would he? He had no grudge against my eldest brother."
Liao Zhu spoke softly: "Yes, Xinniang, who was only six at the time, didn't understand either. Why? She wanted to save the young master, but people were coming, so she grabbed the pendant and ran. Later, she was beaten at the clinic for stealing, but she got the medicine and went home, and her mother survived another day. She took the pendant to the young master's house, hoping to tell his parents the truth, but she heard they had led their troops out of Yinzhou.
Later, they came back with their army, and she went to their door. She was a dirty little beggar, and she didn't dare say she knew the truth about the young master's death. How could the gatekeeper let her in? How could he pass along her message? She couldn't see anyone. She lingered nearby for days, and then the young master's father, the Chief Protector, was transferred away, and the whole family left, no one knew for how long."
Liao Zhu stepped forward, lowering her voice, each word heavy as stone: "Madame Meng, tell me—after that great victory, why were your uncle and aunt suddenly transferred out of Yinzhou, which they had defended for over a decade? Who was so afraid, and so influential, that he could have a fifth-rank Chief Protector reassigned from a battleground that should have brought him honor?"
Madame Meng's heart clenched in sharp pain. She pressed her hand to her chest, determined to hear it all even if it killed her.
Her eyes bloodshot, she stared at Liao Zhu: "You still haven't told me—why did he do it?"
A cold, scornful smile curled at the corner of Liao Zhu's lips: "Madame Meng, is it that you don't dare to believe, or that you refuse to think? How powerful is the Meng family? His post as a minor garrison captain in Yinzhou was merely a way to build his credentials."
She paused, her voice dropping even softer: "What could he possibly gain from the Wen family? Madame Meng, tell me—what was the only thing he took from the Wen family?"
The air fell into abrupt, dead silence.
"Hehe," Liao Zhu let out a soft laugh, her eyes filled with sarcasm. "So it's you, Madame Meng. All General Meng took away from the Wen family was you, wasn't he? Madame Meng, have you forgotten? You once truly loved your eldest brother and almost married him, didn't you?"
Madame Meng shouted hoarsely, "Since this is the truth, why didn't you say it earlier?"
"How could I say it?" Liao Zhu stepped closer to Madame Meng, her words dripping with blood. "How could Xinniang say it? You married General Meng, and the Wen family was transferred out of Yinzhou. The city was searching everywhere for beggars. There were beggars around when he killed someone that day. Xinniang knew that the murderer must have noticed the jade pendant was missing. She didn't even dare to wear men's clothes anymore and changed into women's clothes. She was just a child, a six - year - old child. What could she do! She didn't understand anything and didn't know who to trust at all!"
Liao Zhu clenched her fists tightly, her body tense. "Xinniang was a timid person. She had been timid and cowardly since childhood and was also afraid of pain. She waited and waited. Finally, when the Wen family came back, she still couldn't get close to them. And she saw you, a young lady of the Wen family, married to the murderer. What do you think she felt and what could she do? She was still a child at that time!"
Liao Zhu could no longer control the surging anger in her chest. "She kept this secret, always kept this secret. For a feeling of gratitude, for a sense of kindness. She kept it for twenty - six years. One day, she heard that Lord Yan of the Kaifeng Prefecture was very capable and had even arrested and executed a princess and her consort. She thought maybe she could try to trust the Kaifeng Prefecture.
She drew the pattern of the jade pendant on paper and took it to the Kaifeng Prefecture. She lingered, hesitated, was uneasy and afraid there. Because she only had one chance. Once she trusted the wrong person and lost the jade pendant, she would have no evidence at all. Just when she was hesitating, there was an urgent performance at the Huihua Tower. She had to go to the tower to earn money first. Because she was preoccupied, she bumped into Cao Jian, and the drawing paper fell from her body and was seen by Cao Jian. She almost lost her life."
Liao Zhu said, "Madame Meng, Xinniang and I are just weak women, the lowest - level musicians. What good fortune do we have? We simply have no access to you. If it weren't for a series of coincidences, if we weren't of any use, if we hadn't pretended to be Prince Ning, could I be standing in front of you and meeting you today?"
Back then, in order to gain Xinniang's trust, Cao Jian deliberately led Meng Yi to the Huihua Tower so that Xinniang could see the murderer with her own eyes.
How sad! This was actually the second time Xinniang had seen the murderer since the murder scene twenty - six years ago.
Hearing this, Madame Meng suddenly raised her head. The makeup on her face was all smeared, and she looked completely broken.
She gritted her teeth and asked, "How did Xinniang die?"
Liao Zhu choked with sobs and said, "She committed suicide. After weighing the pros and cons, she knew that a jade pendant alone couldn't prove anything and couldn't bring the murderer to justice. So, she set up a plan with those who used her. She used her life to exchange for an outcome. Either the murderer would pay with his life, or the truth of that year would be revealed. Although no matter which option was chosen, it would be a crime of murder. But she was not willing to accept it. She wanted the truth."
Liao Zhu took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and composed herself. "Madame Meng, we know that General Meng is in a high position and has made great contributions. Maybe, even if the truth is exposed, he won't die. But Xinniang's wish was for the truth to come out, so..."
She said word by word, "This jade pendant is for you, Madame Meng. Only you can make General Meng tell the truth. Xinniang left a suicide note with me, stating that she committed suicide and had nothing to do with others. If General Meng admits what he did that year, I will make this suicide note public. All Xinniang ever wanted was to repay the kindness of a meal back then. She didn't care about life and death. What she wanted was for the whole truth to be revealed to the world. Don't try to force me to hand over the suicide note. I'm also a dying person and won't live long."
Liao Zhu really, really wanted to help Xinniang fulfill her wish and emphasized the revelation of the truth again and again.
After finishing what she had to do, Liao Zhu and Ning Yuan walked out of the meeting room.
Meng Zheng was waiting at the door.
He recognized at a glance that the woman in the maid's clothes behind Ning Yuan was Liao Zhu.
He squinted his eyes and asked, "What did you say to my mother?"
Ning Yuan said indifferently, "Just some old things. For the details, ask your mother, Lord Meng."
After saying that, he took Liao Zhu and left together.
Meng Zheng walked into the meeting room. Madame Meng was lying on the table, looking as if she had been torn apart.
She was crying, but it didn't seem like ordinary crying. It was more like the wailing of a broken soul.
"Mother..."
Meng Zheng quickly walked to Madame Meng's side, knelt down on one knee in front of her, and looked at her with pain and concern. "Mother, what's wrong with you?"
Madame Meng cried until she was hoarse. She covered her chest and murmured weakly and pale - faced, "I didn't expect it. I really didn't expect it. How could he do such a thing? How dare he? He actually lied to me, lied to all of us... for twenty - six years..."
Twenty - six years!
He looked at her every day and spent every night with her. When he called her uncles and aunts and said he regarded them as his parents and would take care of them in their old age, what was he thinking?
Was he glad that he had covered up the matter back then, or was he feeling guilty for having blood on his hands?
He used to seem like a loyal official, a kind - hearted father, a good son - in - law, and a good husband.
He kept teaching Zheng'er to be a kind - hearted person, to have a sense of justice, to be upright and honest.
What about him?
Did he do it?
He killed his own brother, the son of the uncles and aunts who had taken care of him all the way.
He killed the eldest brother she had once admired, worshiped, and loved.
Then he took his brother's place.
How hateful!
So hateful!
The betrayal that had lasted for twenty - six years was finally torn apart at this moment, revealing the bloody truth inside and tearing Madame Meng to pieces.
Meng Zheng asked anxiously, "Mother, what did Ning Yuan say? Did he try to sow discord between you and father?"
Madame Meng shook her head but couldn't say a word.
In the evening, she refused Meng Zheng's offer to accompany her and stood alone in front of Wen Shouan and Wu Yao's door.
It was so cold.
It was so dark.
There was not a single star in the sky.
Ning Yuan and Liao Zhu had no reason to lie to her. Because they couldn't do anything to Meng Yi. The only thing they could do was to give the jade pendant to her and let her ask Meng Yi in person.
This was not a frame - up, nor was it a fabrication of charges.
If they wanted to frame Meng Yi for murder, one Xinniang would have been enough. Xinniang's case was already an iron - clad one. As long as Meng Yi didn't speak up, he would be guilty of a capital crime. They didn't need to go through all this trouble.
Madame Meng looked at the vague figures of Wen Shouan and Wu Yao.
These were the benefactors who had reached out to save her from the fate of being devoured by relatives and sold when she was in the most difficult situation.
No one in the Wen family had ever done her wrong.
But she had become the fuse for her eldest brother's murder.
Her mind kept going back to twenty - six years ago.
She remembered when she first arrived at the Wen family, she was so cautious. She didn't dare to say a word more or make an extra move, for fear that the slightest mistake would make her uncles and aunts unhappy and drive her out of the Wen family.
At that time, her uncle and aunt were strangers to her. They were only distant relatives who were not even within the five - degree kinship.
However, her elder brother and elder sister were so gentle. Knowing that she was still not at ease, they came to play with her every day and took her out for shopping.
On her first birthday after she came to the Wen family, her uncle and aunt held a grand celebration and introduced her to everyone, telling them that she was their family member, just like their own daughter.
Her elder brother was good at using a red - tasseled spear. When he wielded it, it was as if he was competing with the rising sun, as magnificent as the dragons pulling the chariots of the emperors.
It was extremely dazzling.
Her family made lanterns, and people from all over the place loved to buy their lanterns for festivals.
Grateful for the Wen family's care at that time, she made a lot of lanterns during the Mid - Autumn Festival.
She was very skillful. Her elder brother was greatly surprised and carefully kept the lanterns she gave him. After that, he would take them out and play with them every festival.
Later, Meng Yi came to Yinzhou.
He was sent by his family to gain experience here. He served as a military officer, only one rank higher than the ordinary soldiers in the Yinzhou army. But because of his special status and high - level martial arts, he was regarded as a bosom friend by her elder brother and often invited to their home.
Meng Yi was not only good at martial arts but also had unique insights in military affairs. She had heard her uncle praise him more than once.
At that time, her elder brother even joked that if their uncle kept praising Meng Yi like that, he would be jealous.
At that time, her whole heart was on her elder brother, and she couldn't see anyone else.
Later, Yinzhou City was captured, and her elder brother's body was brought back, with several arrows from the Northern Liao on it.
In the war - torn era, it was normal to be killed by the enemy by mistake, and no one suspected anything.
Her uncle, who had lost his beloved son, had to endure the pain and lead the troops to resist the Northern Liao.
In the battle between the two armies, the Northern Liao was menacing, and the Yinzhou army was outnumbered. Her aunt took her and the three elder sisters and fled all the way.
When they returned to Yinzhou, everything had changed.
Tears welled up again, like a sad and desolate elegy.
Madame Meng's hands and feet were cold.
Now when she recalled the past, she suddenly noticed many details that she hadn't paid attention to before. For example, every time she went to find her elder brother, Meng Yi was always the first to notice her. He would call her elder brother out for her and then go out with them to play.
For example, after they regained Yinzhou, her uncle was transferred away from Yinzhou. For a long time, Meng Yi didn't send a single letter or greeting, as if he had disappeared from the world. Three months later, without saying a word, he suddenly rode a fast horse from Yinzhou for a thousand miles to her uncle's camp and said that since her elder brother was dead, he was willing to support her uncle and aunt for the rest of their lives.
And later, he really did it. He treated her uncle and aunt as if they were his own parents. When the three elder sisters got married, he even took a huge amount of silver from the Meng family as their dowries. People said that even a real elder brother couldn't do that.
At that time, she was already married to Meng Yi, and she thought that he did all those things out of loyalty to her elder brother and love for her as his wife.
Now it seemed that he was clearly making up for his inner guilt.
Madame Meng closed her eyes.
Meng Yi, Meng Yi, how could you sleep so soundly at night in these twenty - six years?
...
The next day, after thinking all night, Yan Tongshu still thought that waiting for the local government in Yinzhou to reply would be too slow, so she decided to try to get Meng Yi to talk first.
"All rise!"
The bailiffs shouted.
Yan Tongshu sat upright in the courtroom.
Because Meng Yi held a high - ranking official position and the case was of great importance, Zhang Jiu and Li Fulin were both present and sat in the deputy judge seats.
Yan Tongshu struck the gavel in her hand and said, "Bring the suspect, Meng Yi."
The bailiffs brought Meng Yi in.
He was wearing shackles on his hands, but he looked calm and composed, neither overbearing nor humble.
Due to Meng Yi's official rank, he didn't need to kneel.
Yan Tongshu looked solemn and spoke in a calm voice, "Meng Yi, according to the recent investigation by the Kaifeng Prefecture, the female musician Pu Xin died on a flower boat. There were strangulation marks on her neck, and fingerprints were left on the collar stained with powder. After comparison, the fingerprints are yours. At that time, there were only you and Pu Xin on the flower boat, and there was no third person."
Yan Tongshu emphasized again, "The bailiffs of the Kaifeng Prefecture have questioned all the on - lookers that day, and it has been confirmed that there was absolutely no third person."
Meng Yi's expression turned a bit colder. "Absolutely no third person?"
He was also confused himself.
He didn't kill anyone. Then how did Xinniang, that damned woman who tried to threaten him with a jade pendant, seduce him, and marry into the Meng family, die?
Li Fulin said, "General Meng, human life is at stake. No matter what hidden reasons you have, it's important to clear your name first."
Zhang Jiu had a cold face, as if he had no emotions at all.
Outside the courtroom, Cen Xu stood in the crowd, pursing his lips and not moving.
Meng Yi held his head high, looked directly at Yan Tongshu, and asked, "So, Lord Yan, how do you plan to deal with me?"
Yan Tongshu said calmly, "If there is no conclusive evidence to clear your suspicion, then according to the basic logical facts, Meng Yi, you are convicted of murder. The case should be reported to the Ministry of Justice, and you will be sentenced to be beheaded."
As everyone knew, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice was on the side of Prince Ming.
Prince Ming was a thorn in the emperor's side.
And Meng Yi was a great general under the emperor.
What Yan Tongshu meant was that she planned to take advantage of this loophole, not report to the emperor, execute first and then report later, and directly go through the Ministry of Justice to get the approval for Meng Yi's death penalty.
Meng Yi was a very smart man. As soon as Yan Tongshu mentioned it, he could figure out the joints.
Li Fulin was even more anxious.
That couldn't be done!
Bypassing the emperor and executing first and then reporting, was Lord Yan crazy?
Meng Yi raised his head, looked at Yan Tongshu with a fierce look in his eyes, and confronted her without yielding an inch.
Yan Tongshu knew that if she didn't push Meng Yi to a corner, he would never speak. Therefore, she couldn't show the slightest sign of concession in front of others.
Yan Tongshu's voice was extremely cold, as if she wanted to conclude the case right away.
She said word by word, "Meng Yi, do you have any evidence?"
After a long silence, Meng Yi suddenly smiled and said, "Lord Yan, you are an upright person."
Yan Tongshu tightened her lips.
Meng Yi smiled and said, "A person as upright as you, Lord Yan, won't allow yourself to wrong any good person."
You damned thing!
At this time, he still wouldn't open his mouth!
A bunch of expletives roared through Yan Tongshu's mind.
Judge! Judge! Judge!
This was Meng Yi's own doing.
Sentence him to immediate execution! Drag him out and behead him right away!
No.
After today, she would order a dog - headed guillotine, a tiger - headed guillotine, and a dragon - headed guillotine.
In the future, when she met someone like Meng Yi with a stubborn mouth, she wouldn't even wait for the approval from the Ministry of Justice and would directly behead them all!
Yan Tongshu took a deep breath. Calm down, calm down.
Don't be as petty as this stubborn person.
She was the upright Lord Yan, the gentle Lord Yan, and the kind - hearted Lord Yan.
Just as Li Fulin was about to persuade both sides to calm down, suddenly, Madame Meng's voice came from the door, "Lord Yan, may I ask a few questions?"
She was wearing plain mourning clothes, pushed through the crowd, and walked in.
Meng Zheng followed behind her, with a complicated expression on his face, as if he also didn't expect Madame Meng to come suddenly.
Yan Tongshu asked, "What do you want to ask, Madame Meng?"
Madame Meng didn't answer. She knelt on her knees, kowtowed respectfully, and said, "I, Wen Taojun, a common woman, pay my respects to Lord Yan."
Meng Yi and Meng Zheng both looked at Madame Meng in shock at the same time.
Wen Taojun was Madame Meng's real name.
She called herself a common woman.
Everyone realized at this moment that Wen Taojun's appearance would stir up a huge wave.
Yan Tongshu took another deep breath, preparing to face the storm head - on. "Get up, Wen Taojun."
Wen Taojun stood up. "Yes, thank you, Lord Yan."
Wen Taojun got up and walked in front of Meng Yi.
She had cried so much and for so long that her eyes were sore, painful, and swollen.
She looked at Meng Yi so calmly that it made Meng Yi nervous.
Wen Taojun slowly opened her mouth, her voice hoarse. "Meng Yi, do you still remember the oath you made to me on the day you proposed to me?"
Meng Yi was completely in a mess, panicked, and at a loss.
The woman he loved, the woman he had loved all his life, was standing in front of him, so fragile, so pain - stricken, so pale, as if she was suffering great grief.
He opened his mouth and subconsciously called out, "Madame..."
Wen Taojun stared at him with all her might. Her eyes were moist with tears, but not a single drop fell.
She didn't let Meng Yi get close. Instead, she shivered all over and scolded, "Answer me!"
Distant memories woke up at this moment.
Meng Yi stared at Wen Taojun intently. He seemed to realize something, but didn't dare to think about it.
Wen Taojun questioned him again. "What did you promise me at that time?"
Meng Yi finally spoke. "From now on, with my wife above, I, Meng Yi, will never deceive you by a single word or half a point. If I break this oath, may I be punished by heaven and die a terrible death."
"Good." Wen Taojun let her hands hang on both sides. Inside her long sleeves, her right hand was tightly clutching that blood - stained jade pendant. "Meng Yi, you said you'd never deceive or betray me. Then, tell me now..."
She raised her right hand. Her long sleeve fell, revealing that cheap and uniquely - shaped jade pendant covered with blood.
She asked him, "Tell me, Meng Yi, is this jade pendant yours?"
