Previous life.
She had heard a little about the name Pei Jingzhe.
This man had solved countless cases with extremely ruthless methods. From nobles to commoners, anyone who fell into his hands received no special treatment. He enforced the law strictly and handled many wrongful convictions.
In his later years, he even supported the new emperor’s ascension to the throne, wielding immense power throughout the court—
Yet for some unknown reason, he never married in his lifetime.
Rumors circulated that he remained unmarried his whole life waiting for someone who would never return—
Others said he preferred male companions.
Calculating the time.
In this current life, Pei Jingzhe should be around forty years old, just entering the peak of his official career.
As Song Jinyao thought this, her heart stirred slightly. What about the Song Family’s case—
In her previous life, she had fainted and missed the burial procession, so she naturally didn’t know Pei Jingzhe had come to Taihe Xian.
Now that they’d encountered each other in this life, perhaps she could—
But the next moment.
Song Jinyao suddenly felt her chest tighten, sharply remembering something.
Her gaze turned complicated as she looked at the pitch-black Coffin Guo.
Her beautiful eyes showed a trace of frustration—how could she have almost forgotten this?
The corpse inside that coffin was an unidentified body those three beasts had stolen from the charitable mortuary!
Could the case being investigated at the city gate be the charitable mortuary’s missing corpse case?
Although she felt this possibility was unlikely—Dali Temple typically only handled difficult major cases, and such a minor missing corpse case wouldn’t be worth their attention—
If it wasn’t for this case, why would they appear here so coincidentally?
Regardless, Song Jinyao’s mind was in turmoil now.
She couldn’t help her eyelids twitching violently, her entire body tensing up—
She laughed mockingly to herself. Ah, humans! When you harbor secrets, you can never be at ease.
She wasn’t worried about those three ungrateful wretches getting caught for stealing a corpse.
But—
If Lu Xiuyuan’s feigned death was exposed now, all her carefully planned money transfers and subsequent arrangements would face complications!
It wasn’t that she was greedy for money, but giving these funds to those four beasts…
She refused!
Wasn’t the best way to take revenge on someone to take away what they cared about most?
What would it matter if they were just caught for a minor corpse theft offense and given a few lashes at the government office? That wouldn’t satisfy the resentment in her heart!
At this moment, Song Jinyao lost all thoughts of currying favor with Lord Pei or reopening the Song Family’s case.
Getting through this immediate crisis was more important!
“Make way! Everyone make way!”
Sudden commotion erupted ahead as a team of Xuan Yi Guard filed out.
The leader wore a black brocade robe with gold thread dark patterns, his jade belt emitting a cold blue glow under the sunlight. He appeared to be around forty, with stern, cold features, his robe fluttering as he walked, startling the scattered paper money on the ground—
Song Jinyao’s breath caught.
Even without having met the living Yama King himself, Song Jinyao could guess who this was from his imposing presence!
Her heart pounded wildly.
But then she reconsidered—in her previous life, those three rebellious sons hadn’t mentioned any burial obstruction when they returned, suggesting it had proceeded smoothly. Song Jinyao’s tense spine relaxed slightly as she silently recited a Buddha’s name.
[Amitabha.]
Amid her chaotic thoughts.
The city gate guards shouted: “Those behind, hurry up and follow.”
Were they being let through?
Song Jinyao breathed a sigh of relief.
The procession began moving slowly forward.
But before she could fully release that breath, she suddenly felt a sharp gaze piercing through her like a physical force.
She lowered her head and restrained her gaze, only to hear that clear, cold voice cut through the air: “Wait.”
The voice was cold like shattered jade falling to the ground, yet clearly audible amid the noisy funeral procession.
Then someone from the Xuan Yi Guard shouted again, “Hey, that procession—Lord Pei orders you to stop!”
Instantly, the funeral procession that had just started moving came to a halt.
Amid the chaos, Song Jinyao felt a gust of wind sweep past her side. The three-foot mourning veil on her head was lifted, suddenly obscuring her vision.
As she straightened the veil and turned her head, she found herself face-to-face with a strikingly handsome, enlarged visage, startling her so much she nearly cried out.
She gasped, momentarily unable to tell whether the person before her was a living human or a resurrected ghost.
What living person could approach so silently?
“Watch your step.”
As she stumbled backward, the other person suddenly grabbed her sleeve.
Distinct knuckles pressed through the coarse linen fabric, radiating a scorching heat that made her yank her sleeve back as if burned by a hot iron.
The plain hemp fabric tore with a “rip,” revealing half of her snow-white wrist.
“Thank you, my lord.” Song Jinyao forced herself to remain calm as she adjusted her sleeve, taking the opportunity to study the newcomer.
The man was clad in a black brocade robe with gold-threaded dark patterns, exuding an aura of noble authority. Even the loose robe couldn’t conceal his robust, well-built physique—a poised, powerful presence like an elegant stalking leopard, radiating immense pressure.
—This was none other than Pei Jingzhe, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
He was squinting at her, his gaze wolf-like, confirming the rumors that he was indeed a tough individual.
This displeased Song Jinyao; the man’s eyes were far too invasive.
She couldn’t quite describe that look, but she was certain it wasn’t the kind a man would give a woman. She was already past her prime—even if Lord Pei were desperate, he wouldn’t be interested in her.
Instead, Song Jinyao believed Lord Pei was looking at her as if she were a criminal.
However, since she hadn’t stolen the corpse, she could simply regroup and replan once the truth came to light.
Having reasoned this through in an instant, Song Jinyao no longer felt panicked.
“Lord Pei,” she broke the silence, deliberately infusing her voice with a touch of sorrow. “My family is holding a funeral today, and we cannot miss the auspicious hour. Could you please make an exception and let us pass?”
While Song Jinyao was observing Pei Jingzhe, he was also discreetly studying her.
A faint, elusive glint flashed in his narrowed eyes.
It was really her!
She wasn’t dead!
He hadn’t expected to encounter her during his trip to Taihe Xian. Pei Jingzhe’s heart thumped fiercely twice.
Yet, judging by Song Jinyao’s tone, it seemed she didn’t recognize him.
This left Pei Jingzhe feeling slightly unsettled.
Was his face that ordinary?
In that case, he wouldn’t reveal his identity just yet.
“Who died?”
Pei Jingzhe composed his emotions, returning to his usual aloof and reserved demeanor, as he glanced at the Coffin Guo and asked indifferently.
“My husband.”
“Hmm, good.”
Song Jinyao: “……”
Song Jinyao was speechless.
She had no idea how to respond to Lord Pei’s remark.
Although she also thought it was good.
Her expression was rather complicated.
She hadn’t heard that Lord Pei was also a sarcastic madman.
Pei Jingzhe offered no explanation; he genuinely thought it was good.
Then, the man’s cool gaze swept over Song Jinyao’s red, swollen eyes.
Suddenly, he frowned again.
“Your eyes—” Crying like this, were your feelings that deep?
He began to speak but then paused, habitually rubbing the bridge of his nose with his finger—a small gesture he made when displeased.
The next moment.
His eyes widened in shock.
His gaze lingered mockingly on Song Jinyao’s sleeve for a moment.
Pepper spray?
Interesting!
“Lord Pei, may we leave now?” Song Jinyao asked with her head tilted, her tone slightly impatient.
She found this Lord Pei rather baffling. She still needed to attend her husband’s funeral, yet he kept dragging her into irrelevant conversations, wasting precious time.
Before Pei Jingzhe could respond, his guard Yan Qing defensively snapped, “Lord Pei hasn’t finished questioning you yet! What’s the rush?”
Pei Jingzhe’s face darkened instantly. “Scram!”
It was unclear whom this rebuke was directed at.
Song Jinyao, with self-awareness, assumed it was meant for her. Why would Lord Pei scold his subordinate over a stranger like her? Her delicate brows furrowed briefly before relaxing. Though the wording felt insulting, at least she could leave now—which was a relief.
Thinking this, she took a step back and bowed respectfully.
“This humble woman won’t delay Lord Pei’s investigation any longer. I’ll scram now.”
Pei Jingzhe opened his mouth: “—” Wait, was that what he meant?
What had he even said just now?
As Song Jinyao turned to leave, a toneless remark came from behind: “Overacting ruins the performance.”
Song Jinyao froze—Lord Pei had seen through her fake tears!
Rumors said everyone at the Dali Temple had eight hundred tricks up their sleeves, sharp as hawks and hounds.
While Song Jinyao frowned, unsure how to respond, she saw him turn and call out to the soldiers at the city gate: “Let them pass!”
Just like that?
Countless questions flashed through Song Jinyao’s mind, but she didn’t dwell on them.
Outside the city gate, the suona horns resumed, and the wind swept two funeral paper coins to land at Pei Jingzhe’s feet.
He glanced down and smirked. “What a joyous occasion!”
Yan Qing’s mouth twitched twice.
“Sir—it’s inappropriate to say that. They’re holding a funeral.” How immoral.
Pei Jingzhe shot him a cold look. “Yan Qing, you’re awfully chatty today!”
Yan Qing: “—”
Meanwhile, the three brothers Lu Xiao, Lu Yue, and Lu Chuan gradually woke up.
The moment he opened his eyes, Lu Chuan sniffled, his lower lip quivering.
Ugh—he didn’t want to live anymore! Staying at the gravesite for forty-nine days? The thought alone made his guts twist in terror!
Would he even survive it?
He might as well bash his head in now and spare himself the heart attack at the cemetery.
He seriously doubted whether he was Song Jinyao’s biological son.
“Wah—this is gonna kill me!”
Whack!
The moment Lu Chuan started wailing, Lu Yue smacked the back of his head.
“Third Brother? Why are you hitting me too?”
Lu Chuan looked as pitiful as an abandoned stray puppy.
Seeing his teenage brother’s dramatics, Lu Yue rubbed his temples irritably, feeling a headache coming on.
He was a scholar—he shouldn’t resort to violence. He should use words instead. Restrain yourself, restrain yourself!
Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the urge to hit someone and said coldly, “Haven’t slept for days and your head doesn’t hurt? Still got energy to howl?”
“But… Third Brother, Mother wants us to stay at the gravesite! I’m really scared—aren’t you?”
“Scared of what? We’ve been to the charitable mortuary. A gravesite is nothing.” Lu Yue said this, completely forgetting he’d fainted earlier too. “I’ve thought it over—staying at the cemetery might be good. It’ll make it easier for us to take action.”
“Take what action?”
Lu Yue cursed inwardly, calling him an idiot, and said, “Of course, we dig up the grave and take the burial goods without anyone noticing. There’s so much silver—how could you bear to leave it behind?”
Lu Chuan shook his head; of course, he couldn’t bear to.
Upon hearing this, the second son, Lu Xiao, lit up and lavished praise on the third son.
“This is a great idea! Third Brother really has a clever mind! My good days depend on you!”
He recalled how their mother had placed nearly twenty thousand taels of silver and silver notes into the Coffin Guo as burial goods. The thought of getting his hands on so much gleaming silver made his heart burn with excitement. Not only could he ask Aunt Tao to help him buy an official position, but there would even be enough left to buy a small courtyard outside for Xiao Tao and her child.