Signaling Wan Xing to stand guard outside, Ye Zhen sat down opposite Xie Tingzhou.
“What does Elder Brother mean by that?”
“I don’t even acknowledge Xie Yunzhou, yet you address me as ‘Elder Brother’ so affectionately.”
Xie Tingzhou’s casual voice slowly sounded, but his next words made Ye Zhen’s heart tighten.
“You fell down the slope to conceal pre-existing injuries on your body. Let me think—what kind of wound would require those fine bamboo splinter scratches to cover up.”
And precisely on the leg area.
His slender fingers tapped rhythmically on the table as he smiled faintly.
“This is quite mentally taxing. Perhaps I should just interrogate the Marquise directly—she would certainly know.”
He didn’t acknowledge the Marquise as his mother, so he spoke these words without any hesitation, and wouldn’t mind actually interrogating her if necessary.
Ye Zhen also smiled, countering imperceptibly, “Have Elder Brother’s injuries improved?”
“They should have been nearly healed, but then a fierce cat caused trouble…”
At this point, Xie Tingzhou narrowed his eyes, “Cat… scratches?”
He suddenly remembered something from his youth when he’d studied secret archives from the previous dynasty. The records described how the last tyrant particularly enjoyed torturing women to death, with one method involving restraining a woman’s limbs, stuffing starving wild cats into her trousers, then whipping the cats.
The starved cats, when beaten, would scramble to escape, their sharp claws tearing the woman’s flesh to shreds. The woman would suffer unbearably while the tyrant watched her cry like “Pear Blossom in the Rain,” becoming excited and delighted.
He named this punishment “Pear Blossom in the Rain.”
Later it spread and madams widely adopted it to discipline unwilling prostitutes, a practice that continues to this day.
This punishment was extremely cruel to women. He had tried to regulate it, but given prostitutes’ lowly status, some brothels still used it secretly.
But Ye Zhen was the Shaofuren of the Marquis Estate—who would dare treat her this way? And why humiliate her so?
Thus his tone became uncharacteristically hesitant.
Ye Zhen’s hands clenched beneath her sleeves. However composed she was, having such truth guessed inevitably brought humiliation and shame to her heart.
Fortunately, she was skilled at concealing emotions, showing no trace of abnormality to Xie Tingzhou.
But outside the door, Wan Xing’s breathing grew rapid—both from worry that Ye Zhen might be exposed, and from fury at the Marquise’s viciousness.
This slight change in breathing confirmed Xie Tingzhou’s suspicion.
His pupils contracted slightly.
Truly unbelievable.
Was it the Marquise or Xie Yunzhou?
Or perhaps the mother and son conspired together.
Xie Yunzhou and Chi Heng’s affair couldn’t be openly acknowledged. If Xie Yunzhou wanted to return to the Marquis Estate, he needed to eliminate Ye Zhen—this outsider occupying his wife’s position.
For something as vicious as Pear Blossom in the Rain, even brothels had to use it secretly. Yet this mother and son dared employ it on the Marquis Estate’s Shaofuren.
His mind recalled Ye Zhen’s words in the mountains that day: “Some people must endure countless hardships just to survive.”
And those medicinal herbs she had thrust into his hands.
If Ye Zhen had been subjected to this punishment and couldn’t receive timely treatment, her body would fester.
Being versed in medicine, he quickly realized what kind of illness would cause the body to rot.
Venereal disease!
So that was it!
So that was how it was!
Xie Tingzhou crushed the teacup on the table.
No wonder the Marquise had been so desperate to frame Ye Zhen that day.
Because she knew perfectly well Ye Zhen carried evidence on her body.
Only by capturing Ye Zhen could she extract the truth about that night from her mouth.
It seemed the old man’s foolishness knew no bounds, treasuring such a wicked woman.
Then what other filthy secrets were hidden in the inner quarters of other noble houses throughout Da Yuan…
He lifted his gaze to Ye Zhen.
No wonder she would rather injure herself and seek out Old Madam Wang.
“Why did you attack that assassin?”
He abandoned his probing tactics and directly revealed his purpose.
This also meant exposing his vulnerability – he admitted to being the bearded man from that day.
Ye Zhen was somewhat surprised.
But she quickly deduced Xie Tingzhou’s purpose for coming.
“Does this count as a transaction between elder brother and me?”
He wanted information about the assassin.
And she wanted him to keep her affairs confidential.
Xie Tingzhou nodded, “You could understand it that way.”
Ye Zhen was equally straightforward, “He’s Xie Yunzhou’s man.”
Xie Tingzhou’s face turned cold, “Are you deceiving this Heir?”
He knew exactly how many people were around Xie Yunzhou. Especially since Fuguang had been in the Marquis Estate for many years – if the assassin were Xie Yunzhou’s man, he would definitely recognize him.
Moreover, though he had worn a fake beard that day, he had shown his real face.
Why would Xie Yunzhou send someone to kill him? And how would he dare?
His reaction made Ye Zhen realize that she had seen that assassin several years later.
In this current life, she indeed hadn’t seen that person around Xie Yunzhou yet.
Could it be that person wasn’t Xie Yunzhou’s subordinate yet?
Or was he recruited during Xie Yunzhou’s three years of feigning death?
“Ye Zhen wouldn’t dare deceive the Heir.”
Even if the assassin wasn’t Xie Yunzhou’s man before, he would be later.
Her gaze remained frank and open. She remembered clearly – that day the assassin had addressed Xie Yunzhou as master.
Xie Tingzhou also thought about Xie Yunzhou’s three years away from the capital. But if the assassin had joined Xie Yunzhou during those three years, how had Ye Zhen seen him?
Ye Zhen had considered this point too, but she absolutely couldn’t tell Xie Tingzhou about her rebirth.
“I saw that person near the manor. Granny Feng mentioned that Xie Yunzhou was returning to the capital with merits this time, accompanied by capable individuals.”
“That’s why when I saw you in the mountains, I assumed he was Xie Yunzhou’s man…”
In her previous life, Xie Yunzhou’s excuse for returning after three years was that after narrowly surviving, unwilling to remain mediocre, he had infiltrated the enemy country as a spy.
He provided much intelligence for Da Yuan, thus receiving imperial rewards and entering court service.
All this Ye Zhen had learned from the guarding matrons. Now she could only use the dead Granny Feng’s name to reveal this to Xie Tingzhou.
“He infiltrated the enemy country to provide intelligence for Da Yuan?”
Xie Tingzhou’s eyes turned deep, his tone skeptical.
Ye Zhen nodded, “That’s what Granny Feng said.”
In her previous life, having little contact with Xie Yunzhou, she hadn’t pondered deeply. But remembering his reaction when she killed Xie Yunzhou that night, she had doubts.
Could someone like him really endure the hardships of being a spy?
Yet the court’s rewards couldn’t be fake. Could Xie Yunzhou have stolen someone else’s merits?
She suddenly thought of the noble patron Xie Yunzhou had mentioned in her previous life. Could that person be manipulating things behind the scenes?
And this assassin might actually be that noble patron’s man.
“Granny Feng also mentioned that Xie Yunzhou has a noble patron supporting him behind the scenes.”
Ye Zhen revealed a bit more.
Since Xie Tingzhou cared so much about the assassin’s identity, he would investigate thoroughly. And she also wanted to know exactly who that man was – the one who failed to force himself on her, then ultimately severed her limbs and tortured her to death.
Simultaneously, she decided that after returning to the capital, she must obtain control over the Marquis Estate’s household management.
Perhaps she could trace Xie Yunzhou’s movements during those three years through the estate’s account books.
Since he had feigned death abroad, the Marquise, as his mother, couldn’t possibly have ignored him.
Xie Tingzhou leaned lazily against the chair back, watching as Ye Zhen lowered her gaze, her expression calm.
But the occasional slight tremble of her eyelashes betrayed their owner’s inner thoughts.
Xie Tingzhou was reminded of a fox he had once kept. It always appeared docile and calm, even quite adept at pleasing others, yet it was exceptionally cunning.
Ye Zhen at this moment greatly resembled that fox.
She had used the old man to deal with the Marquise, and now she was attempting to exploit him as well.
Withdrawing his gaze and rising to his feet, Xie Tingzhou’s voice was cool and languid. “You certainly know how to leverage others. If I discover you’ve lied, the consequences will be more than you can bear.”
“Ye Zhen wouldn’t dare.”
She also stood up, her gaze clear and unwavering.
With Granny Feng and the assassin dead, Ye Zhen had no fear of his investigation.
Somehow, Xie Tingzhou could see through her thoughts—truly a little fox.
A faint smile touched his lips as he retrieved a jar of ointment and a string of Eastern Pearls from his robe.
“I’ve taken the cost of the medicine for myself. These Eastern Pearls are the remainder—returned to you.”
Ye Zhen’s back stiffened, and she clenched her teeth.
These Eastern Pearls were from the County Magistrate’s box—Xie Tingzhou had found her hidden stash of valuables.
It was equivalent to obtaining evidence of her murder.