“The General is not in the residence.”
The steward really couldn’t bear to watch any longer. He helped him up and advised gently,
“The General has accompanied His Majesty on a hunt. Xiao Luo’s case is under the jurisdiction of the Six Doors. Rather than wasting time here, Young Master might as well go and seek Lord Su…”
Su Jin had always been upright and incorruptible—he would never wrong an innocent life.
The steward stopped there.
Kong Wenlang’s eyes were red and swollen. “Thank you…”
But would Lord Su truly be willing to involve himself in such trouble?
Kong Wenlang staggered away. The General upheld justice, guarded the borders, and acted for the people—then what about Lord Su…?
In the previous Han family case, Lord Su had barely shown himself; it had mostly been the General handling matters…
Yet now, there was nothing else he could do but try.
Unfortunately, Lord Su was also not in the residence.
Di Yuanxin sighed and tried to persuade him. “My lord truly isn’t here…”
Helplessness seeped through Kong Wenlang’s eyes. Was he truly absent, or unwilling to see him…?
His palm scraped against the rough ground, breaking the skin.
“Lord Di, I’m willing to work like an ox or a horse in loyalty to my lord—just let me see him!”
“……”
Di Yuanxin was also at a loss. Kong Wenlang was convinced that the lord simply refused to see him.
Only after being hounded endlessly did Di Yuanxin finally say, “Wait here for a moment.”
“Thank you, my lord! Thank you!” Kong Wenlang was full of gratitude.
Di Yuanxin returned to the residence and knocked on the door of Pear Blossom Courtyard.
Taochun opened the door and said softly, “Miss is resting. Why are you knocking?”
Di Yuanxin explained Kong Wenlang’s situation. Taochun hesitated for a long while—soft-hearted, yet unwilling to wake her young lady.
Just as Taochun was torn, Su Yihan pushed the door open, a fur cloak draped over her shoulders. Her eyes were hazy with sleep, her voice lazy and soft.
“What is it?”
“Miss, why are you awake?” Taochun lifted her skirts and hurried over to support her.
“The knocking,” Su Yihan replied calmly.
Since she was awake, things were much easier. Di Yuanxin lightly slapped himself.
“All my fault—no need for Miss’s noble hands to discipline me. I’ll do it myself.”
After a bit of self-mockery, Di Yuanxin recounted the matter again.
“Miss, that Kong Wenlang is extremely stubborn. Ten oxen couldn’t pull him back. Who needs a weak scholar offering to work like an ox or horse anyway? What could he even do…” Di Yuanxin vented freely.
Su Yihan was silent for a moment before saying, “Have him wait in the main hall.”
“My lord truly isn’t here, but you can wait in the main hall. Speaking to my miss is the same,” Di Yuanxin told Kong Wenlang, arms crossed.
He had only thought the man troublesome and asked Miss what to do—he never expected she would actually agree to see him.
This scholar really didn’t know what kind of fortune he’d stumbled into.
Miss Su?
Kong Wenlang was also someone who rarely left his home. He had never seen the rumored Su family’s young lady, Su Yihan…
He quietly wiped the dust and grit from his hands onto his clothes.
There were already wounds on his palms; the pain made him hiss softly.
He hurried after Di Yuanxin.
Stepping into the Su residence for the first time, he found its furnishings even simpler than the Han residence’s. Yet the elegance carried a comfort that soothed the heart.
Kong Wenlang didn’t sit, standing stiffly to one side.
After tidying up slightly, Su Yihan arrived unhurriedly—willow-slender, graceful in bearing.
She wore a light cyan robe, ethereal and refined.
With a veiled hat obscuring her face, Kong Wenlang only dared glance once before lowering his head respectfully.
“Miss Su.”
Her voice was pleasant—light, clear in diction, with the gentle softness unique to those from Jiangnan.
“Sit.”
Su Yihan took a seat herself and sipped tea leisurely.
“My father has accompanied His Majesty on a hunt. Whatever you wish to say, you may say it to me.”
Before Kong Wenlang could speak, she continued,
“I know you’ve come for your father’s case. If my father were in the residence today, I might have had someone stop you from disturbing him.”
Given her father’s temperament, once he learned of a wrongful case, he would certainly interfere.
But Xiao Luo’s death was inseparable from the Han family. If her father got involved, there would be countless harms and not a single benefit.
Kong Wenlang froze, finally understanding her meaning. His sense of helplessness multiplied.
“So all that loyalty and righteousness written in books is just meant to fool idiots…”
There was no smile in Su Yihan’s eyes. “No.”
She set down her teacup, her tone gentle.
“A loyal minister is an idiot.”
In this vast land, anyone could guard it—yet time and again, it was those fools who stepped forward, filling the pits and mines planted by villains.
Her father was a fool. She could not be. She had to find him a way out.
“Kong Wenlang,” Su Yihan said, tapping the table lightly with her finger, “you said you’re willing to pledge loyalty to the one who saves you, correct?”
“Yes…” Kong Wenlang was dazed. Thinking carefully, what value did he even have to offer?
Su Yihan stated lightly, “I can help you—but you must pledge your life to me, serve me as an ox or a horse for the rest of your days.”
“What does Miss mean…”
Su Yihan smiled faintly.
“A person’s greatest value is their life. You have nothing else worth coveting—only this cheap life of yours, which can take the blame for me when needed.”
“I’m not in a hurry for your answer,” she said calmly. “Be a man—or be my dog. You choose.”
The girl had only recently come of age, yet her gaze was firm, her tone decisive.
A shred of reason told Kong Wenlang he shouldn’t trust her…
But his actions were more honest than his thoughts. He dropped to his knees with a thud.
“Miss, save me. From this day on, I will be a dog raised by Miss, at your command.”
The woman he loved, his sister, his mother—one after another, they were gone.
He didn’t want to watch his father leave him too.
Di Yuanxin said enviously, “You brat really struck gold. Don’t ever forget my miss’s kindness.”
Kong Wenlang looked confused at his meaningful words.
Since Kong Wenlang had already chosen Miss, there was no harm in telling him the truth.
“Young Master, who do you think was the real hero of the Han family case last time? My miss, sick as she was, stayed up several nights, searching everywhere for clues and evidence—that’s how she pulled you out.”
“Then… then Lord Su and General Shen…” Kong Wenlang stammered.
Di Yuanxin explained clearly.
“My miss took an interest in the case, so my lord stayed out of it. As for the General, he did contribute—after all, he was the one who uncovered Cheng Guan disguised as a woman in the end.”
Kong Wenlang was stunned for a long while before he began kowtowing in wild joy.
“Thank you, Miss… thank you, Miss… I will never forget your great kindness!”
Su Yihan didn’t stop him from kowtowing. She calmly asked about the case instead.
“Where was Kong Hongcai last night?”
“Last night… last night my father was called away…” Kong Wenlang hurried to explain.
“But he already promised me he wouldn’t harm Xiao Luo. He keeps his word! I swear it!”