Erica– Been without Wi-Fi for a few days, apologiesfor the delay

  Should the student be better than their teacher

  BaiZhiandZhaoYuewerebrieflytakenaback. BaiZhiwhispered:“Xiaojie, JiuYiniangislockedupinherowncourtyard,Laoyesaid——”


  “FatherdidnotsayIcouldn’tgoandaskquestions.”LiWeiYangidlysaid.

  BaiZhisaid:“Buttheweatherissocold.”


  LiWeiYangdidn’tpayanymindtoit:“Itdoesn’tmatter.Let’sgo.”


  ZhaoYuehadbeensolemnandsilent.Hearingthis,shenodded:“Yes.”


  Therewasnotraceofanyonealongtheway.Perhapsnoonewantedtogooutinthisheavysnowyweather.LiWeiYangfirmlyheldontohercloakandwalkedintoJiuYiniang’scourtyardbutdidnotrunintothecaretakers.Inthesnownotfaraway,therewasasilhouetteofa figuremovingstrangely.

  Thatperson’slonghairwasunkempt,fallingeverywhereandseemedtobedraggingherfeet.Her kneesstiff,shewalkedasifhe was awkwardlylimping.ShewasgettingcloserandclosertoLiWeiYangandcouldbefaintlyseenonlywearingthinlayerofclothes……Inthisweather,howcouldanyonewearsomethingsosparsehere!Amomentlater,LiWeiYangsaweverythingclearly.ThepersoninfrontofherwasnoneotherthanJiuYiniang!Shewasnotwearingthinsummerclothesbutawhitenightgown.

  LiWeiYangfrowned,howcould JiuYiniangrunoutsideofthehousealone?!Didn’tLaoFurenordertohavemoreservantsto guard herandkeepherunderclosewatch……Howcouldshe runoutsidewithoutanyonedoinganything?Whydidsherunoutinthiskindofweather?!

  ZhaoYueinstinctivelyplacedahandontheswordbyherwaist,cautiouslyeyingJiuYiniang.

  JiuYinianghadalreadydiscoveredthemandsuddenlystaredintenselyatLiWeiYang,clappingherhandsandlaughing.

  LiWeiYangnoticedhervoicewasratherabnormalandshuddered.Shelookedatherfaceandonlysawapairofsoulless,holloweyesasshehadwithLiChangXi!

  “Hahaha,soit’syou!”JiuYiniangtwirledapale,frozenbluefinger.Herhandswerealwaysbeautifulanduntaintedbyevenalittlebitofdust,butnowtheywerecoveredinmud,dirtandblood.

  “Iknowyou!You’rethatcapableSanXiaojie!Ahno!It’sLiWeiYang!Thatbearerofmisfortune!”


  LiWeiYangraisedhereyebrows.CouldJiuYinianghavetrulylosthermind?

  ZhaoYuewantedtostopJiuYiniangfromcominganycloser,butLiWeiYangshookherhead.ZhaoYuehadtostepback.JiuYinianggiggledominouslyandcameclosertoLiWeiYang.Thestrangelightinhereyesintensifiedassheusedthesecretivetoneofvoiceofayoungchild:“Child, aren’tyoureallycapable?!Savemethen,saveme,Ireallydidn’tharmyou!Ididn’thurtanyone!Theyareharmingme!Theycolludedwithoneanothertoharmme!IonlyfeltthatthingwasbeautifulandwantedtoborrowittomakeoneforJinger.Itrulydidn’tharmyou!”


  Thewordsofamadwomanwerenotnecessarilycredible,butLiWeiYang’sintuitiontoldherJiuYiniangwastellingthetruth.

  Shefrownedandsuddenlyraisedhervoice:“Wherearethepeopleinthiscourtyard?Didyoualldiesomewhere?”


  Hervoicewasnotveryloudamidstthewindandsnow,butsevenoreightpeopleappearedfrominsidethecourtyard,fourMamasandacoupleyatous.Theyallhadafearfullookontheirfaces.

  LiWeiYangcoldlysaid:“Allofyouweresupposed towatchoverJiuYiniang,whatareyoualldoing?!”


  ThefourMamashastilykneltdownandapologized.Wheneveritwasthiscold,theydidnotstandguardbythedoorsandsneakedinsomewinetodrinkandplaycards.TheyjustrealizedthatLiWeiYanghadarrivedbutdidnotdaretocomeoutinfearofbeingpunished,butitseemed likeitwasunavoidable.

  AMamaquietlysaid:“Xian Zhuforgiveus,theweatheristoocold.AlltheNubi’shandsarefrozenblue.WethoughtJiuYiniangwasmentallyunstableandwouldnotrunout,sothen——”


  LiWeiYangcoldlystaredatthem:“QuicklyhelpYinianginside!”


  Huh? Didn’tJiuYiniangharmSiShaoye?SiShaoyewasXian Zhu’sfull-bloodedyounger brother.WhydidXian ZhucontinuetotreatJiuYiniangthiswell?TheMamaslookedatoneanother.TheydidnotdaretoobjectandquicklydirectedpeopletoseizeJiuYiniang,butthestrengthofamadwomanalwayssurpassedthatofanaverageperson.JiuYiniangbegantolaugh,hervoicesharpasshebrokefreefromthecrowd,swayingassheran.Everyonerushedtoseizeherandaftersomedifficulty,theymanagedtoholdherdownonthesnow.JiuYiniangwasbarefoot,herentirebodycurledupasifshewasgettingsick.

  LiWeiYanglookedonfromafarandhadanominouspremonition.Shewhispered:“Haveyourolder brotherwatchoverJiuYiniang.”


  “Yes.”ZhaoYuequietlyresponded.

  LiWeiYang’sintuitionwasratheraccurate.Onedaylater,JiuYiniangwasfounddeadinherroom.

  “ThephysiciansaidJiuYiniangcommittedsuicidebyswallowinggold.”LiWeiYangslowlysaid.

  ZhaoNanshookhishead:“No, Nucaistoodguardoutsidetheentiretime.Ifshecommittedsuicidebyswallowinggold,Nucaiwouldhaveseenit.”


  LiWeiYangsighedandsaid:“Ofcourseshedidn’tcommitsuicide,shewasmurdered.”


  “Xiaojie,whenyatoubroughtdinnerinthatevening,JiuYiniangwasstillwell.Nucaihadalsotestedthefoodwithasilverneedle.Therewasnopoison,butaftersixhours,JiuYiniangstoppedbreathing.

  AtfirstNucaisuspectedshehadbeenpoisoned,soNucaihadcheckedallthefurnishingsinroombutcouldnotfindanytrace of poisonanywhere. Then,NucaiexaminedJiuYiniang’scorpseandfoundthatshelookedasifsheweredreaming,asifithadbeenpainless.

  “So,thepersonwhokilledhermusthaveusedapoisonthatcouldnotbedetectedoractedinawaywecouldn’thavepossiblyimagined.”


  LiWeiYanghadlivedinthe palaceandknew aboutmany types ofpoisonthatcouldnotbedetected.Forthemostpart,thosewereingredientsthatcontainedarsenic,soitwasnotsurprisingthatZhaoNancouldnotfindthecauseofJiuYiniang’sdeath.

  “Itseemsouronlycluehasbeenlost,”ZhaoNanfrowned.Inhisopinion,thewindingtroublesinthisgrandresidence havemadepeople’sheadshurt.Someonepeacefullylivingouttheirdayscouldsuddenlydieinfrontofeveryone’s eyes.Hereallycouldnotunderstandit;hewouldrathergotothebattlefieldtofightandkillthantobeafraid,worryingaboutwhenanarrowwillcomeforhimoutofnowhere.

  “Didn’tanyofyouthinkthatJiuYinianggoingmadisstrange?”LiWeiYangprompted.

  ZhaoYuenodded:“Shewasingoodhealth,butfromthemomentsheleftHeXiangCourtyard,it’sasifsheturnedintoadifferentperson.”


  LiWeiYangnoddedandsaid:“LiChangXilosthermindbecauseofthetraumaIcausedher,butwhydidJiuYinianggomad?”


  “Maybe……Shemadeagravemistakeandwasafraidofbeingpunished——”BaiZhisupposed.

  LiWeiYangshookherhead:“Ifshewasdaringenoughtodoit,shecertainlyknewoftheconsequences.Howcouldshegomadsoeasily?”


  BaiZhididnotspeakanymore.ShealsofelttherewassomethingwrongwithJiuYiniangsuddenlygoingcrazy.Perhapssomeonehadahandinit.

  OnlyMoZhousighedandsaid:“PoorLiuXiaojie,shehasalreadylosthermothernotlongafterbeingbornintothisworld.”


  LiWeiYangsmiled:“Thisisactuallyagoodthingforher.AlthoughJiuYiniangwasbeautifulandclever,shedidnotgrowupinalargeprestigioushousehold.Sheiseasilymanipulatedbyothers.Withamotherlikeher,Liumeimeiwillbeinvolvedinmanytroublesomematters.Nowthatsheisdead,JiangYueLanhastoestablishherimageofagentle,goodmotherinfrontofeveryone.Shewillexpectantlytreatherwell.”


  BaiZhinodded;“Xiaojiehasapoint.”


  MoZhoudisagreed:“WhoknowswherethenewFuren’sheartis.WhatifshealsodisposesofLiuXiaojie?”


  LiWeiYanglaughed:“Foolishyatou, whywouldsheneedtoactagainstLiumeimei?Liumeimeiisonlyaconcubine-borndaughter.Infuture,sheonlyneedstogiveherabitofdowry.ShecouldalsouseLiumeimeitofurtherher familyinterests. Ofcourse,shemustbecarefullyraised ——forthesakeofJiangYueLan’sgoodname.ButMinZhiisdifferent……”


  Firstofall,suppressingtheconcubine-bornsonistokeeptheinheritanceforthelegitimateson.Eveniftheconcubine-bornsonmovedout,hewillalwayshaveashare.Ifhedoesn’tmoveout,youwouldhavetoputmoneytowardssupportinghishousehold.Whenitcomestoanarrow-mindedandunfavored mainbranchofthefamily,theywillnaturallytreatmoneyastheirfleshandbloodandresentnotbeingabletoremovetheconcubine-bornsonfromexistence.

  Thesecondreasonistoprotecttheeldest,legitimateson’sstatusinthehousehold.AmongtheofficialsinDaLi,thereweremanyconcubine-bornsonsthathavesurpassedtheirlegitimatecounterparts.Withachievementsinhand,notonlycouldtheywrestlefavorfromthelegitimateson,buttheirmothergainshonorasherson’spositionrisesandmayevenbeabletocompetewiththeofficialwife’s.

  LikethecurrentprefectofZhangzhou,LiuFang,whowasoriginallyaconcubine-bornson.HewasraisedbythelegitimatemotherLiushifromayoungage.Whenhereturnedandsawthathisbirthmother,Lishi,withaheadofwhitehair,stillhadtoabidebyetiquettetowardsthelegitimatemotherandcouldn’tbearit.HepurposelyaskedforBixia’sedicttoallowhimtobringhisbirthmothertoZhangzhouPrefecturewithhimtosharehisprosperity.TheEmperorsawthatLiuFanghadenduredmanyyearsofhardworkandhardships,butthenewsspread,andhislegitimatemotherLiushifeltthissonwastoounrulyandwasfurious.SheorderedtheservantstochokeLishitodeath.So,itseemedlike sheraisedthisconcubine-bornsonwithherguardraised.Thiswasalsohumannature.ThiswasthemainreasonLiWeiYangdidnotwanttoleaveMinZhiwithJiangYueLan.Ifshedidn’thaveason,shemaytreatMinZhiwell,butwhatifshehadherownson?Theproblemwould becomerathercomplicated.

  LiWeiYangthoughtupuntilthispoint,thenlookedatthebranchesoutsidethewindowthatwereswayedbythewind:“Thisisthelastsnowfalloftheyear.”


  BaiZhiandMoZhoulookedatoneanother,notunderstandingwhyLiWeiYangsuddenlymentionedthis.

  Theperson who had thesamethoughtsasLiWeiYangwasLiXiaoRan.HefeltJiuYiniang’smadnesswasstrangeandsuspectedsomeonepoisonedher.Asheponderedoverit,shesuddenlydied.Perhapssomeonemurderedher.Atfirst,hewantedtothoroughlyinvestigate.Unfortunately,theshopownerwasdeadandwith neitherawitnessnora testimony, theonlycluewaswiththeyatoubyJiuYiniang’sside.Herwordsbecametheonlydoorstothe truth. Nomatterhowshewasinterrogated,theyatouonlyrepeatedthat:JiuYiniangpoisonedSiShaoye,andshedidnotknowanythingelse.Lateron,LiXiaoRansentforanexpertintorture,butthatyatoustilldidnotchangeherconfession.

  “Nomatterwhatitis,ithasnoeffect.Eithertheyatouistellingthetruthorshebelievesthatwhatshe’ssayingisthetruth.”LiWeiYangsaidtoZhaoYue.

  ZhaoYuedidnotunderstand:“Whatisthedifference?”


  LiWeiYangsmiled:“ThedifferenceisthatshereallydidseeJiuYiniangputthepoisoninsideorsomeoneelsemadehermistakenlythinkthatJiuYiniangdealtwithpoison.”


  ZhaoYuesuddenlyunderstood:“Then, isthereawaytoinvestigateit?”


  LiWeiYangcoldlysaid:“Ithappenedonce,sotherewillinevitablybeasecondtime.Aslongaswepretendnottoknowanythingforthetimebeing,theotherpartywillcontinuetoact.”


  ZhaoYuenodded:“NubicertainlywillcarefullywatchoverSiShaoye.”


  Atthatmoment,ZhaoNanquicklycameinandkneltdowntosay:“Xiaojie, followingXiaojie’sinstructions,NucaisearchedthroughJiuYiniang’sfoodintherecentdays……”Hehandedoverastackofpapers.

  LiWeiYanglookedatitforawhilebutstillcouldnotseeanythingoutoftheordinary.Sheloweredhervoice:“Thereisnothingstrangewithfoodpreparation.Whatisgoingonhere?”Awhilelater,shefrowned:“Gofindaphysician.”


  ZhaoNanrespondedandquicklydisappeared.LiWeiYangsolemnlylookedathisretreatingfigure.

  Twohourslater,ZhaoNanbroughtbackanold,white-hairedandbeardedphysician.LiWeiYanglookedatZhao,andheimmediatelysaid:“NucaitoldtheguardsatthegatethatayatouinXiaojie’scourtyardwasill,sotheLifamilyphysicianwouldnotbesummoned.”


  LiWeiYangnoddedandsaid:“Pleasetakealook,istheresomethingwrongwiththesefoods?Orwouldconsumingtoomuchofanyofthese beharmful?”


  Theoldphysicianwastremblingandstilldidnotknowwhathappened,buthesawtheluxuriousfurnishingsintheroomandLiWeiYang’smannerofdressandunderstood.Heloweredhishead,notdaringtolookatLiWeiYang.Heacceptedthepapersandscannedthrougheachone.

  ThesepapersrecordedJiuYiniang’sdailymealsinthepastmonth.

  Theoldphysicianexaminedthemandpointedatadishthatwas preparedforeverymeal:“Thissteamedcassava——”


  LiWeiYangsaid:“CassavaisuniquetoJiuYiniang’shometownandsomethingshelovestoeat.Fuqinalwaysdotesonherandsendsforittobedeliveredfromherhometown.Shedidnottouchitwhenshewaspregnant.It’snothingnew.Why,isthereaproblemwithit?

  Theoldphysicianlookedalittlehesitant:“Theleaves, stems,androotsofcassavasaretoxic,andfreshrootsarethemosttoxic.Ifraworundercookedcassavaiseaten,eventhroughasipofsoup,itmaystillcontaintoxins.Consumingtoomuchofitwillleadtodeath.Therefore,mostpeopledon’tlikeeatingit.”


  LiWeiYangfrownedandthensaid:“Thisisunlikely.Thekitchenstaffwouldnotserveuppoorlypreparedfood.”


  Theoldphysiciandidnotdaretosaymoreandpointedatanotherdish:“ThisEnokimushroomanddaylilydish ……Ah……Themushroomscontainatypeofcolchicine.Ifit’snotcarefullycookedandconsumedinlargeamounts,itcaneasilyleadtotoxinsdisruptingthedigestivesystem.Ordinarypeoplecanstilldigestit,butifsomeoneweakandfrailwastoeatit ……”


  Frail? JiuYinianggavebirthafewmonthsago.Herhealthnaturallycouldnotbeatitsbest,butdaylilywasoftenusedincooking.LiWeiYangneverheardofitbeingtoxic,soshemadeanexpressionofdisbelief.

  Theoldphysicianexplained:“Thisoldmanhasseenwithhis owneyesapatientwithgastrointestinalbleedingforsevendayswhoseemedperfectlynormalbutsuffocatedtodeathintheend……”


  BaiZhimadeafaceofdisgust.Thisoldphysiciandaredtosay‘suffocatetodeath’infrontofXiaojie—— hewastrulyoutofline!

  LiWeiYangshookherhead.ThiscouldnotexplainJiuYiniang’sdeath.Tosayshediedbecauseofthetoxinsinmushroomsordaylilieswasabsurd.Everyoneeatsthesethings,andnoonehaseverdied from this.Theoldphysicianwasspeakingofaspecialcasethatwouldonlyhappenundercertaincircumstances.No,waitamoment,whatifsomeonedeliberatelyundercookedthecassavaorintentionallyletthefrailJiuYiniangconsumealargeamountofcassava?

  Theoldphysiciancontinued:“Xiaojieisyoungandit’s normal that you haveneverseenthis.WhenIwasyoung,IusedtoexaminecorpsesfortheImperialCourt.Isawwithmyowneyesallthestrange,primitivewayspeoplekilloneanother!Takethisroastporkandpotatodish.Theblossoms,leaves,androotsofthesepotatoescontainalotoftoxins,especiallyintheshoots.Younggreenpotatoesordarkspotsduetoimproperstoragecontainextremelyhighlevelsoftoxicity.Aslongasonemakesgood useofit,theycaneasilyputsomeonetodeath.Ofcourse,tograspthis,onemustneedtoexperimentwithitmanytimesandhavedirectaccesstothevictim’sfood……”


  LiWeiYangunderstoodeverything.Shewavedahand.BaiZhiimmediatelyplacedalargesilverbagintheoldphysician’shand.Theoldphysicianpanicked:“This …… Ididnotexamineanyoneyet,Icannotacceptsomuchmoney……”


  LiWeiYangsmiled:“Thankyouforclarifyingmysuspicions.”


  Theoldphysicianwasrewardedbutfrightened.Heintendedtosaymore,butZhaoNanhadshowedhimout.

  BaiZhisoftlysaid:“Thisoldmanscarespeoplewithwhathesays!Weeatthosethingsevery dayandhaveyettoseeanyonedie!”


  LiWeiYangshookherhead:“Indeed, ifyouwanttouseitproperly,youmustknowJiuYiniang’shealthverywellandusethischancetokillher.Thisisnotsomethingtheaveragepersoniscapableof.I’mafraidapoisonsexperthasappearedinthishousehold.”


  “Xiaojieissayingit’s——”ZhaoYuewasstunned.

  AchillinglightcrossedLiWeiYang’seyes:“Toputhertodeathlikethat,IknowwhythispersonwouldwanttostepfootintotheLifamily!”


  InadifferentresidenceintheCapital……

  ZhouTianShouworriedlywalkedinthroughthedoorsandgreetedtheyoungmaninceremonialgarmentsstandinginthehall.Theyoungmanturnedbackwithasmile:“Noneedtostandonceremony,Taoistleader.”


  ZhouTianShouoriginallylivedinmountains,butforsomereason,hewasinvitedtothisplaceamonthago.Hemettheyoungmanhere,whoarrangedthisresidenceforhim.ZhouTianShouledamodestlifestyleandhadneverreceivedsuchacourtesy.Hecouldnothelpbutwalkaroundthecourtyardandglancedaround.Thetablesandbedweremadefrompreciousrosewood,thefour-paneledscreendividerwasinlaidwithgold,thecurtainsembroideredwithsilk,thebedding,andeventhesleepwearweremadeofsilk.Everythinginthehouse,eventhechamber pot,waslacqueredwithgold.

  Atmeals, thetablewouldbefullofseeminglysimplevegetariandisheswithmushrooms,winterbambooshoots,fungus,chestnuts,cauliflowerandvegetables.However,heknewthatwhilemeatwashardtocomebyinthese seas,freshvegetableswereevenmorerarethanabaloneandginseng.Hewasblindedbysuchextravaganceandcouldnotbelievewhatfortunehestumbledupon.However,somethingmadehimuneasy,notknowingwhattheotherpartywantedhimtodo.

  Now, theyoungmanappearedbeforehimasecondtime.ZhouTianShouknewthatthistime,itwouldbetogivehimatask.

  “IinvitedTaoistleaderheretoaskthatyouleavethisplace.”Theyoungmansmiledashesaidthis.

  ZhouTianShouwasshocked.Howcouldheleavesuchawonderfulplacebehind?Hisfacerevealedhisreluctance,buttheyoungmancontinued,withoutwaitingforhimtospeak:“Don’tmisunderstand.Ihavenootherintentions.SomeonewillcomeandinviteTaoistleaderintothepalace.”


  “Intothepalace?!”ZhouTianShouwasevenmoreastonished:“Inviteme?”


  Theyoungmansmiledandsaid:“Indeed.”


  ZhouTianShoufeltratherstrange.Hecouldn’thelpbutlookattheyoungman’sappearance,feelinghehadanobleandhandsomeappearance.Hiseyebrowswerelikemountains,hiseyeslikeapondinautumn,andeverythingfromhisnosetohismouthwas perfectly sculpted, butmostimportantlywas his fate ……ZhouTianShouhadanideaofthisyoungman’sidentity.Hewasgoodatlookingatfaces,butthereweremanythingsonecanseebutcannotsayforsure.

  “Youshouldreturntoyouroriginalresidence,Taoistleader.Inthreedays,QiHuangziDianxiawillinviteTaoistleaderintothepalace.”Theyoungmansaid.

  ZhouTianShoufearfullysaid:“Intothepalace……Mymaster……”Hismastersaidmattersinthepalacewerecomplicatedandtoldhimnottobeinvolvedwithquestionablepeople,butheknewthathismasterwasafraidhewouldstealhisbowlofrice.

  Theyoungman’ssmileseemedevenmorecharming:“Everythingwillbetakencareofonceyouareinthepalace.However,ifyouwanttosurpassyourmasterinBixia’seyes,youneedtobringBixiaauniquegift.”


  ZhouTianShoulookedhim,puzzled:“IamonlyapoorTaoist,whatgiftcouldIsend?”


  Theyoungmanonlysmiledandsaid:“Ah, agift.Ihavealreadypreparedoneforyou.”


  ZhouTianShoufollowedtheyoungman’sgazeoutthewindow.Hesuddenlystopped,hiseyesimmediatelyfixatedonayoungwoman.Hehadneverlookedclosely atbeautifulwomenandkepthimselfpure,butatthismoment,hestaredunblinkingly.Thebeautyinfrontofhimhadsofthands,afaircomplexion,sharpphoenixeyes,beautifuleyebrows,andaclever,charmingsmilethatmadeone’sheartquiver.Afterall,hewasareligiouspractitionerandimmediatelyrecollectedhimself:“Thisis——”


  Theyoungmanhadaslightsmile:“The emperorismissingaflawlessbeautybyhisside,right?”
——

  *****——

  Translator: Chau

  Editor: Erica

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