“Miss Jiang, what exactly are you talking about? The Xie family died ten years ago,” Lu Ze’an said with a darkened face, his tone heavy. So what if she was the legitimate daughter of Yingguo Gongfu? Did that give her the right to speak recklessly?
Moreover.
She was just a country bumpkin who had returned from some unknown Taoist temple. Yingguo Gongfu might not even take this true heiress seriously.
“I’ve already given Marquis Lu a chance. Since you don’t want it, then you’d better take care of yourself,” Jiang Yunxi said before turning to leave. She had come directly to the Marquis Wenxin Estate hoping the other party would repent and turn back. It seemed he was unwilling.
Accustomed to wealth and glory, who would willingly give it up?
But those who bring misfortune upon themselves cannot be saved!
Lu Ze’an watched the woman’s cold and proud retreating figure, his expression darkening further. So what if she knew about the events of ten years ago?
Everything required evidence. Xie Sirou had died ten years ago, and there were no other witnesses at the time. He wanted to see how she planned to investigate.
Jiang Yunxi left the Marquis Wenxin Estate directly.
“I must have been blind back then to choose to marry him and even raise that heartless beast’s child for six years,” Xie Sirou said, her voice filled with hatred. At the time, she had always believed she couldn’t bear children and was consumed by guilt.
In the end, the Lu family suggested adopting a newborn child, and she agreed.
From childhood, she had nurtured him with care, striving to give him the best, never imagining the child was actually Lu Ze’an’s with his mistress.
“This was a destined calamity in your life. Even without this matter, you would have faced other tragic misfortunes,” Jiang Yunxi said, her words piercing.
“Is my fate really that terrible?” Xie Sirou felt a headache coming on.
“Performing good deeds and accumulating merit bit by bit builds blessings. Although it can’t completely change fate, it will at least make life much better than it is now. As for those who commit countless evils, retribution will come eventually,” Jiang Yunxi stated firmly.
Evil people aren’t without retribution; it’s just that the time hasn’t come yet.
Xie Sirou thought back to her life. As the daughter of a wealthy merchant, she had never wanted for food or clothing, yet she lacked compassion. Every time she saw beggars, she only felt disgust at their filth and never gave alms. So it was she herself who had missed the chance to change her fate.
…
Jingzhao Yin Office.
Jiang Yunxi struck the Drum of Injustice heavily, and soon officers emerged.
The loud, powerful drumbeats gradually attracted passersby, who stopped to gather and watch.
“Who are you, and why are you beating the drum?” the leading officer asked, looking at Jiang Yunxi.
“I want to see your superior,” Jiang Yunxi said, putting down the drumstick.
“Follow me inside,” the officer said before turning and heading into the government office.
Jiang Yunxi straightened her back and followed.
“Who stands below, and what grievance do you bring?” Qu Xinwen sat upright, looking at the woman in the center of the hall.
“I wish to accuse Marquis Lu Ze’an of the Marquis Wenxin Estate. Ten years ago, he murdered his lawful wife, Lady Xie. I ask Your Honor to seek justice for Lady Xie,” Jiang Yunxi declared, each word ringing with conviction.
Qu Xinwen widened his eyes. “A case from ten years ago, and you want me to reopen it? Do you have new evidence?”
“Not at present,” Jiang Yunxi replied.
“Since you have no evidence, what gives you the right to ask me to reopen a ten-year-old case?” Qu Xinwen laughed in exasperation, radiating strong displeasure.
“Are you saying that if commoners have a death in their family but lack evidence, they cannot come to the Jingzhao Yin Office to report it?” Jiang Yunxi retorted.
Qu Xinwen was momentarily speechless. “You just said Marquis Wenxin killed his wife?”
The affairs of the Marquis Wenxin Estate.
He did have some recollection of them.
“Marquis Wenxin and his wife were struggling by the water’s edge, causing her to fall into the water. He could have saved her but instead watched her drown, then erased the footprints left from their struggle and quietly left,” Jiang Yunxi said solemnly.
“How do you know this in such detail?” Qu Xinwen’s brows furrowed tightly. He remembered now—it was the wife’s maternal family who had reported the case. He had personally gone to the lake to investigate, but there were no traces of any struggle or altercation left there.
In the end, the case was closed as Madam Xie accidentally slipping and drowning.
“Madam Xie told me.”
“Madam Xie died ten years ago,” Qu Xinwen said gravely. The coroner had examined the body; she had indeed drowned, with no wounds or signs of poisoning on her.
Jiang Yunxi said calmly, “Her soul and spirit told me.”
Qu Xinwen’s face darkened with fury. “This is the Jingzhao Yin Office, not a place for games. Please be serious.”
“I am serious. As the official in charge of the Jingzhao Yin Office, you should know that the people have the right to report cases here. It is the duty of this office to handle them. Please investigate thoroughly. My name is Jiang Yunxi, and I am currently staying at the Hanwang Residence.” With that, Jiang Yunxi turned and left.
Qu Xinwen stared wide-eyed.
Jiang Yunxi?
The mother of Prince Han’s dragon and phoenix twins!
Hadn’t she just returned to the capital?
How could she come back and immediately accuse the Marquis Wenxin Estate?
Was she really this audacious?
“Sir, should we investigate this?” asked an officer beside him.
“Investigate. What if she complains to Prince Han?” Qu Xinwen said angrily, his face dark. If this blew up, they’d have to investigate anyway.
…
Hanwang Residence.
Jiang Yunxi dressed the two children carefully. This was their first time dining in the palace, and besides the Retired Emperor, there would likely be others present.
When Zhan Beiyuan arrived at Fanghua Courtyard, he saw the mother and her two children in the pavilion.
Jiang Yunxi seemed to be teaching the children to write.
But as he drew closer, he realized it wasn’t writing—she was teaching them to draw talismans.
“Father, look at how well I drew!” Mianmian said, holding up her talisman proudly when she saw him.
“Not bad…” Zhan Beiyuan said, though it was a lie. To him, it looked like a turtle with four legs, but to avoid discouraging the child, he could only praise it.
Mianmian blinked her large, watery eyes and smiled sweetly. “I’ll give it to you. It’s a talisman for peace and safety.”
Zhan Beiyuan felt a headache coming on but reached out to take it. “Thank you.”
“Remember to wear it at all times. It will keep you safe,” Mianmian said earnestly.
“Alright,” Zhan Beiyuan replied, folding the talisman neatly and tucking it into his sleeve.
Jiang Yunxi’s lips twitched slightly. Seeing that Zhan Beiyuan had accepted it, she decided not to say anything more. “Your Highness, have you come to take us to the palace?”
Zhan Beiyuan looked at her and said, “Besides Father Emperor, there may be others at the dinner. Be careful with your words then, so no one can find fault.”
“I’ll do my best to be careful,” Jiang Yunxi said after a moment’s thought.
Zhan Beiyuan: “…”
What did she mean by “do my best”?
The carriage soon arrived at the palace gates.
Zhan Beiyuan walked on the left, the two children in the middle, and Jiang Yunxi on the right.
The man was handsome, the woman coldly elegant, and the two little ones—one with a stern, cool expression and the other smiling sweetly and adorably—formed a beautiful sight as they walked together, drawing curious glances from onlookers.
Eunuch Qin was already waiting at the entrance of Defu Palace. When he saw the family of four arrive, he greeted them with a broad smile and ushered them inside.
“Imperial Grandfather.”
Momo and Mianmian, upon seeing the Retired Emperor seated at the table, dashed toward him.
The Retired Emperor looked at the two little ones, his face beaming with joy, and had them sit on either side of him.
“Your son pays respects to Father Emperor and the Emperor,” Zhan Beiyuan stepped forward and bowed.
“Your subject pays respects to the Retired Emperor and the Emperor,” Jiang Yunxi bowed, then glanced at the young man seated beside the Emperor. She could sense that he was in the same profession as her.