“Do you know why Nanny Yu was sent to the ancestral hall?”
Zheng Wenrong looked puzzled, as though he could not recall who Nanny Yu was.
Huo Weilou explained: “She was the maid your mother brought from the capital, her trusted confidante. Yet she was punished to guard the ancestral hall for fifteen years.”
Zheng Wenrong’s eyes lit with recognition. “Ah, her. She truly was Mother’s closest attendant. In the early years, she arranged my returns to the household. Later, another steward took over. Mother still allowed me short stays, perhaps to make up for me, but outwardly she kept it secret. Why she changed attendants, I do not know.”
“But I do remember her. She came from the capital, trained in the household of Marquis Xinyang, well-versed in all noble etiquette and rules. She managed everything for Mother, even personally selecting her servants. She was thorough and flawless in conduct, never making mistakes.”
“At that time, Father was still alive. The inner quarters were not Mother’s alone. With Nanny Yu’s help, Mother faced no threats. Yet Nanny Yu was cold and strict, harsh with subordinates. I was young then, and whenever I saw her, I felt afraid.”
A woman trained as well as her mistress, meticulous in all things — yet she erred in the great matter of a concubine’s childbirth, resulting in two deaths. How could anyone believe such a thing?
Zheng Wenrong continued: “She was sent to the ancestral hall? I have not been there in years. Perhaps only after death may one enter the Zheng family’s ancestral hall.” His words carried sorrow.
Huo Weilou glanced at the night outside. “Enough questions for tonight. You may withdraw.”
Zheng Wenrong was about to bow, but could not help asking: “Marquis, is the killer truly someone within the household?”
Huo Weilou’s eyes narrowed. “Yes.”
Zheng Wenrong’s gaze grew bitter. He sighed, bowed deeply, and left the hall. When he arrived, he had the air of a wandering Daoist. Now, as the cold wind lifted his sleeves, though he still carried dignity, his steps were slow and heavy, weighed down by the dust of the mortal world.
Prefect He sighed. “I have served in Qingzhou for years, visiting the Marquis’s household many times. I never knew Third and Fourth Masters were twins. For years, I only heard that the Fourth Master was ill and traveling. Who would have thought it was for this reason? Truly, why go so far? The household is not in the capital. Even if twins were born, it would only be gossip. Why separate mother and child so cruelly?”
Eunuch Fu replied: “Prefect, you do not understand. The greater the noble house, the more they believe such sayings. Though the Marquis’s household has long lived in Qingzhou, they still dream of returning to the capital. So neither the old Marquis nor the old Madam dared take it lightly.”
Prefect He, born of humble origins, naturally did not understand the ways of noble houses. Hearing Eunuch Fu’s explanation, he listened with humility.
At that moment, an Embroidered Uniform Guard entered. “Marquis, Fifth Master Zheng went to the ancestral hall one incense-stick ago. He has not yet come out.”
This was within Huo Weilou’s expectations. “Could you overhear their words?”
The guard shook his head. “We approached, but inside there was no sound at all.”
Huo Weilou’s brows rose. No sound at all? Two living people in a room — even if speaking softly, trained guards should still hear something. How could there be no sound?
“It seems the Zheng ancestral hall holds secrets.” He rubbed the black jade ring on his finger and stood. “Keep watching the ancestral hall. After Zheng Wenan leaves, continue to watch him as well.” He looked at the guard. “Be thorough.”
The guard quickly obeyed.
Huo Weilou then instructed Prefect He: “Tonight, continue guarding the household’s main paths. Dispatch more constables.”
Prefect He answered at once. “Rest assured, Marquis. More men have already been sent. The Daoist is still calculating. Likely tomorrow or the day after, he will have results.”
Since the calculation spanned fifteen years, Huo Weilou did not press. He was about to leave the hall when his gaze swept across Bo Ruoyou, who stood frowning in thought. His eyes narrowed.
Prefect He coughed lightly. “Xiao Bo—”
Bo Ruoyou lifted her eyes and saw Huo Weilou watching her. She had no choice but to speak. “I was wondering if I miscalculated. Tonight we examined everyone in the household, yet none matched the killer.”
Prefect He said awkwardly: “Well, aside from the Marchioness and Nanny Yu, all were present. Those two cannot be suspects. The killer must have climbing skill.”
The killer could descend from the Yaoyue Pavilion by rope and scale walls and courtyards. Clearly, he could not be an old woman past fifty, nor a mad lady who could barely walk.
Prefect He did not blame Bo Ruoyou, but he was puzzled. Perhaps she had truly miscalculated? The killer’s stature and traits were deduced from her autopsy. If there was an error, then the entire line of investigation had been wrong from the start.
“Trust those you employ.” Huo Weilou said no more. Leaving those words behind, he walked out of the hall.
Eunuch Fu smiled. “Miss Bo, don’t be afraid. The Marquis never doubted you. You need not doubt yourself. Since the killer dared to strike, even while the Marquis was present, and did not stop, he must have skill.”
Bo Ruoyou looked at Huo Weilou’s back as he left the hall, speaking with the guards in the courtyard. From her angle, his spine seemed forged of iron, straight and unyielding, bearing the weight of a thousand pounds, yet never bending.
“Trust those you employ.” Those four words carried the weight of mountains, making Bo Ruoyou’s heart tremble lightly. Her hand clenched within her sleeve, but on her face bloomed only a gentle, graceful smile.
Eunuch Fu said: “The hour grows late. Miss Bo, you should rest first. Tomorrow we can discuss further. Rushing will only tangle matters more.”
Bo Ruoyou hesitated. Outside, Huo Weilou seemed to hear the words spoken within. He pointed to a guard. “Escort her back.” After a pause, he added: “Stand watch outside her courtyard tonight.”
Bo Ruoyou was about to protest, but Huo Weilou looked over. “The killer’s movements are uncertain, skilled in concealment. Those handling this case must not be harmed — especially you.”
Especially you.
Bo Ruoyou’s heart warmed. Lowering her eyes, she said softly: “Yes. I take my leave.”
Huo Weilou nodded, then turned back to speak with the guard. In their conversation, Bo Ruoyou thought she heard the word “Luozhou.”
Luozhou lay northwest of Qingzhou. Could this be the errand Eunuch Fu had mentioned?
The killer struck once every seven days. In six days, another murder might occur. Bo Ruoyou knew the case must be solved before then. And surely, Huo Weilou was anxious.
Escorted back to the guest courtyard, with a guard added to her side, Bo Ruoyou felt secure even walking the dimly lit paths. Though the Marquis’s estate was vast, with towers and courtyards stretching wide, the killer could be hiding anywhere in the dark.
Back at the courtyard, sleepy Chun Tao rushed out to greet her. After washing and eating, Chun Tao could not hold back. “Miss, today I saw you in the front courtyard, standing beside Marquis Wuzhao. You looked so grand! I heard you’re helping the authorities with the case? You’re amazing!”
Bo Ruoyou looked at Chun Tao’s childish face and could not bear to tell her she was examining corpses. She only said: “Then you must have seen Fourth Master Zheng too.”
Chun Tao’s expression changed at once. “Yes, I was terrified. I thought Third Master had risen from the dead. Who knew Fourth Master hadn’t returned for years because he and Third Master are twins? Miss, do you know? Twins are very unlucky.”
“I know,” Bo Ruoyou replied, saying no more. Instead, she asked: “Tonight I also saw the Marchioness.”
Chun Tao’s eyes widened. She whispered, “Wasn’t it frightening? The Marchioness has been mad for many years. She’s been treated with medicine all this time, but never improved. And the strangest thing is, whenever she meets Sha Gu, she stops being mad.”
Before Bo Ruoyou could ask, Chun Tao continued on her own.
Bo Ruoyou said casually: “Sha Gu?”
Chun Tao’s emotions showed plainly on her face. At this moment, her eyes flickered with fear and disgust. “Miss, you haven’t seen her? She was in the front courtyard today too. She has a huge scar on her face. They say she already had it when the Marchioness found her.”
“When did the Marchioness find her?”
Chun Tao thought for a moment. “I entered the household late, so I don’t know exactly. Perhaps six or seven years ago? With her appearance, she could never have been kept in the Marquis’s estate. But I heard that once, the Old Madam took the Marchioness to see a high monk, hoping he could cure her illness. On the way back, they found Sha Gu fainting from hunger by the roadside. The Marchioness had an episode — no one could stop her, not even the eldest young lady. She insisted on bringing the girl back. The Old Madam had no choice but to agree.”
“Afterward, the Marchioness cared deeply for her, almost like a daughter. And with Sha Gu present, the Marchioness’s madness seemed half cured. Though she still forgot things, she could speak, eat, and take medicine. So the Old Madam decided to keep her. When the Marchioness didn’t need her, she did servant’s work. If the Marchioness relapsed, Sha Gu stayed by her side for days. You see, that’s her fortune. Many in the household envy her…”
Chun Tao sighed. “But she is pitiful too. Her face ruined, her mind dull, unable to speak. Even her leg was broken. If not for the Old Madam’s kindness, she might have died.”
Bo Ruoyou raised her brows. “Her leg — was it broken after she entered the household?”
Chun Tao nodded. “Yes. About two or three years ago. She fell into a dry well on the east side of the estate. She was trapped at the bottom for days. Everyone thought she had run away. Later, a servant happened to pass by and rescued her. Her leg was broken. The Old Madam summoned doctors and treated her.”
Bo Ruoyou sighed, thinking of Zheng Yunní’s wounded hand, and of the Marchioness’s strange affection for Sha Gu. Something felt odd. Yet when she tried to ask about older matters, Chun Tao knew nothing — she hadn’t even heard of Nanny Yu. Bo Ruoyou realized she could learn no more tonight and went to rest. Just as she was drifting into sleep, faint sounds of firecrackers reached her ears. A hazy thought crossed her mind: the Lantern Festival of the fifteenth day of the first month had arrived.
That night, Bo Ruoyou slept uneasily. Before dawn, she awoke with a headache. Suddenly, voices sounded outside her courtyard. Her heart stirred. She quickly dressed and stepped out of the gate to look.
When the gate opened, Bo Ruoyou was stunned.
Zheng Yunní was leading more than ten servants toward the main gate of the estate. Each of them carried bundles and chests. From the look of it, they were preparing to secretly escape from the household!