Ties of Love, Ruan Wan

These past few days, people in Beijing have been discussing Sun Shishi's supposed resurrection. Such a fantastical and mysterious event has naturally become a topic of conversation among everyone.

Sun Shishi publicly claimed that she could not remember how she died, but privately she had already started spreading rumors.

It was Ruan Wan who couldn't tolerate Sun Shishi and plotted to poison her.

Ruan Wan's reputation in the capital has never been good. However, the news that she committed suicide for Lou Qianyuan recently changed people's opinions of her.

Now, rumors have resurfaced, with some expressing disbelief: "Sun Shishi is getting married the next day, why bother killing her?"

Some people, however, are skeptical, saying, "That Ruan Wan once arranged a marriage for Sun Shishi, not long after her own grandmother passed away, which shows that she had long been unable to tolerate Sun Shishi."

Immediately, someone chimed in, "Yes, it was rumored that Sun Shishi was going to marry Bao Chengyun."

"You're referring to Bao Chengyun, the newly appointed scholar who passed the imperial examination last year. I think he's currently the assistant magistrate of Lingtai County in Qingzhou Prefecture."

"It was him. I don't know why it suddenly changed to Lord Qin, who was remarried. Perhaps Ruan Wan forced Sun Shishi, and when she refused, she killed Sun Shishi."

Some people were puzzled, "Why? Ruan Wan and Sun Shishi have no grudge against each other, so why must Ruan Wan kill Sun Shishi?"

The man said mysteriously in a low voice, "I heard that Young Master Lou wanted to take Sun Shishi as a concubine, which angered his wife."

Someone immediately retorted, "You're talking nonsense. Everyone in the capital knows that Sun Shishi has been in love with the Crown Prince for many years without success, and that the Crown Prince is so fond of his wife. Why would the Crown Prince suddenly want to take a concubine, especially Sun Shishi?"

The man chuckled and said, "I only heard about it; I don't know the specifics. Anyway, the living are dead, and the dead are alive. How could I possibly know?"

Ruan Wan remained unmoved by the rumors brought back by A Zi. Ruan Wan was officially dead; she was now the Holy Maiden of Miao territory.

How could you get angry over rumors about the deceased Crown Prince's wife?

"Was it Sun Shishi who released the news?"

Azi replied, "No, Sun Shishi has been staying in the manor these past few days and hasn't stepped outside at all."

Ruan Wan thought so too; it was impossible for anyone in the manor to help Sun Shishi spread such news.

Cui Mo, Cui Lu, and A Jin all know the truth of the matter, and they would never help Sun Shishi slander Ruan Wan and Lou Qianyuan.

Azi continued, "These messages all come from the streets. When I investigate, the leads always go cold, and I can never find out who is spreading the rumors."

Ruan Wan sneered, "Who else could it be but that one from Qingfang Courtyard? Who else has the time and ability to do these things?"

Azi looked puzzled, expressing her incomprehension: "Why is this princess so fixated on two dead people?"

"She's not fixated on the dead, she's clearly fixated on the living."

Linglong is trying to control Sun Shishi and make a fuss about her.

Linglong's only goal now is to deal with this saintess who monopolizes Xia Changfeng.

Could it be that she has discovered something and is still suspecting that the Holy Maiden is actually Ruan Wan?

Ruan Wan instructed A Zi to "closely monitor the movements at Qingfang Courtyard, and report who they meet and what they say."

Azi accepted the order and said, "However, Yujie is extremely cautious, and I dare not get close to her."

"It's alright, don't get too close. If you really can't hear clearly, just give up. The most important thing is not to expose yourself."

Ruan Wan has been worried these past few days. Linglong is an unpredictable and uncontrollable person, and she doesn't know what cards Linglong might have up her sleeve.

Will it threaten her plans?

That night, Ruan Wan was plagued by nightmares. In the pitch-black scene, a pair of old cloth shoes appeared, and the groans of an old man came from afar.

Ruan Wan wanted to get closer to see who owned the shoes, but she couldn't get any closer.

Upon hearing a rapid knock on the door, Xia Changfeng immediately woke up, jumped out of bed, and went to the door. "Who is it?"

"Your servant, Azi"

"What important matter could possibly disturb your holy maiden's peaceful sleep?"

At this moment, Ruan Wan also woke up and sat up, saying, "Azi, come in."

Xia Changfeng then opened the door, took out a tinderbox and lit the candle, only to see Azi looking flustered.

Ruan Wan immediately sensed something was wrong. Coupled with the dream she had just had, she asked, "Has something happened to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion?"

Azi nodded. "Steward Li of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion hanged himself tonight."

Ruan Wan was utterly shocked, thinking she had misheard, and repeatedly asked, "Uncle Li committed suicide? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"It's absolutely true. The mourning hall has already been set up in the Lou family mansion, and Sun Shishi is wearing mourning clothes and crying bitterly in the street."

Ruan Wan felt a wave of dizziness. How could Uncle Li have committed suicide, especially since Sun Shishi had only been back for a short time?

Xia Changfeng also looked doubtful, "Could there be a problem? Why are they rushing to put the person in the coffin?"

Ruan Wan looked at A Zi and asked, "Did anything happen at the Lou residence today?"

Azi replied, "This morning, Qin You came again to urge us to take Sun Shishi back to the manor, but he still hasn't taken her away."

Ruan Wan and Xia Changfeng looked at each other. She never expected that Sun Shishi would do such a thing to Uncle Li.

This was Uncle Li, who had raised her since she was a child. Ruan Wan felt guilty. "If I hadn't informed Qin You, would Sun Shishi have been able to harm Uncle Li?"

Xia Changfeng quickly comforted Ruan Wan, "Even if you don't notify him, someone as cunning as Qin You will come knocking on your door."

Ruan Wan still felt it was her fault. Perhaps Qin You would come to visit, but it would just be for show. Sun Shishi refused to go back with him, so it was fine.

However, it was Amu who informed Qin You, who mistakenly believed that it was an order given to him by the Seventh Prince, which is why he visited again and again.

Sun Shishi was pushed too far, which is why she killed Uncle Li.

Thinking back to the days spent with Uncle Li, although there were arguments and unpleasantness, Uncle Li always acted according to his own ideas and considered the Lou family's interests. He also genuinely cared for Lou Qianyuan.

Thinking of this, Ruan Wan felt guilty and heartbroken, and large tears streamed down her face.

Xia Changfeng panicked and didn't know what to do. He wanted to reach out and wipe away the tears on Ruan Wan's face, but his hand stopped in mid-air, not daring to touch her.

He hadn't yet confirmed whether Ruan Wan had forgotten her cousin and was beginning to accept him again from the bottom of her heart.

Xia Changfeng could only console him, "It's not necessarily that Sun Shishi killed her. Perhaps Steward Li is loyal, and seeing that Sun Shishi has returned, he has no more attachments and wants to follow his master. That's not impossible."

Ruan Wan wiped away her tears and looked at Xia Changfeng, "Help me find out whether Uncle Li committed suicide or was murdered."

If it really was Sun Shishi who did it, Ruan Wan will not let her get away with it.

Xia Changfeng nodded. "I'll go check it out at daybreak."

Ruan Wan added, "And Sun Shishi's two maids, A Qiao and A Rui, we must find out whether they are alive or dead."

Xia Changfeng is the grandson of the Lou family. Now that the Lou family is gone, it is only natural for Xia Changfeng to preside over Uncle Li's funeral.

Although Li was a servant of the steward, he was, after all, an elder of the Lou family for generations. In the past, when Lou Yingyuan was stationed on the border, it was Uncle Li who socialized with the high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital. His status and position were far beyond that of an ordinary servant.

Sun Shishi stood before the coffin, burning paper money. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and she was still sobbing. It didn't look like she was acting.

Xia Changfeng pulled A Jin aside and asked, "Who discovered that Butler Li had committed suicide?"

Ah Jin was still in a daze. He never expected that in just one year, the master would die in battle, the young master and the madam would also be gone, and now the steward Li was also dead. Ah Jin suddenly lost his backbone, and they didn't know where to go in the future.

"Your Highness, Haiping, who was on night duty at the second gate, discovered it last night when he passed by Steward Li's room."

Where is Haiping?

Ah Jin looked at Hai Ping, who was greeting the mourners outside the door, and said, "Hai Ping, come this way."

Haiping rushed over, first bowing to Xia Changfeng, and then Ajin said to him, "Recount to His Highness what happened last night when you discovered Uncle Li."

Hai Ping understood and said, "Your Highness, last night during my night watch, around midnight, I passed by Uncle Li's room and didn't hear him snoring, so I went over to take a look and saw that Uncle Li had already hanged himself. I put him down, and he was already erect."

That means the death occurred some time ago, most likely in the first half of the night.

Xia Changfeng asked, "Is there anything unusual in the room?"

Hai Ping glanced at the memorial tablet, frowned, and said softly, "Your Highness, I find something strange. Uncle Li's shoes aren't on his feet; one is by the door, and the other is by the bed."

After saying that, Haiping glanced at Sun Shishi in front of the memorial tablet. Xia Changfeng had already made up his mind. He was acting so hastily that even the servant could tell something was wrong.

Xia Changfeng then asked, "Where are Miss Sun's two plump maids? Didn't they come back with her?"

Sun Shishi, being a frail woman, probably didn't have the strength to hang Butler Li from the roof beam.

Haiping and Ajin exchanged a glance. Although the young master, his wife, and Butler Li were no longer there, they decided to keep the matter a secret.

Ah Jin said, "Back then, they thought Miss Biao was dead, so the young master and madam sold Ah Qiao and Ah Rui."

Xia Changfeng knew they weren't telling the truth. She couldn't have accomplished this without the help of those two plump maids. Could there be someone else in the mansion helping her?

Xia Changfeng looked A Jin and Hai Ping up and down, but couldn't find any flaws in their faces.

Xia Changfeng walked to the coffin and circled it. Sun Shishi knelt before the coffin, but her eyes were secretly watching Xia Changfeng.

After Xia Changfeng looked around, he reached out to open the coffin. Sun Shishi, who was kneeling beside him, suddenly stood up and, disregarding social etiquette, shouted, "What are you doing?"

Xia Changfeng simply looked at her, his eyes filled with authority. Sun Shishi then realized she had overreacted and quickly feigned a weak and heartbroken demeanor, saying, "Your Highness, respect for the dead is paramount."

Xia Changfeng looked directly into Sun Shishi's eyes and slowly opened the coffin lid. Sun Shishi looked guilty and lowered her head, not daring to look at Xia Changfeng.

Xia Changfeng glanced inside, then closed the coffin lid and walked outside. "Ah Jin, come here for a second."

Sun Shishi breathed a sigh of relief as she watched Xia Changfeng's retreating figure.

Xia Changfeng only needs to show up briefly; as a prince, he certainly cannot preside over the entire funeral of a steward or servant.

People in the capital knew that Xia Changfeng had come, and they also knew what to do; Steward Li's funeral would not be a somber affair.

The rest of the work was left to Ah Jin to handle, and from now on he would truly take on the role of the Lou family's steward.

Xia Changfeng rode swiftly to Yaotai Courtyard, where Ruan Wan, heavily pregnant, greeted him. "How are you?"

Xia Changfeng quickly stepped forward to help Ruan Wan, saying, "You're feeling heavy, so just sit in the room and wait. The sun is scorching outside."

Eager to know the truth, Ruan Wan pulled Xia Changfeng aside and asked, "Was it Sun Shishi who did it?"

Xia Changfeng looked at Ruan Wan's belly with a troubled expression, "You're about to give birth, so don't get distracted by these things. I'll handle it."

Ruan Wan, clutching her stomach, was burning with rage. "It really is her! I shouldn't have been soft-hearted and spared her life. She should have really died!"

Xia Changfeng sighed and told Ruan Wan the truth: "I opened the coffin and saw that Butler Li had two obvious ligature marks on his neck, and his shoes were kicked off. It was clearly not suicide."

Ruan Wan recalled the shoes she dreamed about last night, realizing they were a harbinger of Uncle Li's death, and felt even more sorrowful.

Seeing the pain on Ruan Wan's face, Xia Changfeng quickly helped her into the room. "I was just afraid you'd be like this. You're quite far along in your pregnancy now, don't upset the baby. This is your cousin's only heir."

After sitting down, Ruan Wan looked down at her stomach. "The saint's child wouldn't be so fragile."

A ruthless glint appeared in Ruan Wan's eyes. "I want her dead."

Xia Changfeng said, "I'll handle it. I'll make her disappear without a trace, so you don't need to worry about it."

Ruan Wan looked at Xia Changfeng with unwavering determination. "I will kill her myself. I will make her die by my own hand."

Xia Changfeng looked at Ruan Wan with a somewhat unfamiliar gaze; it was the first time he had ever seen such a look in the kind-hearted Ruan Wan's eyes.

Xia Changfeng was even a little scared.

Just then, Azi rushed in. Judging from her panicked expression, something must have happened again.

Ruan Wan asked, "What is it now?"

Azi replied, "Holy Maiden, Your Highness, the Emperor sent someone to the Lou residence to deliver an imperial edict, bestowing upon Sun Shishi the title of Grand Master of Ceremonies, ordering her to draw a temple on the ground, and appointing her to guard the tomb of the Duke of Zhenguo."

Both of them looked surprised. Xia Changfeng grabbed Azi's arm and asked, "When did this happen?"

Azi pulled her hand away. "Not long after His Highness left, Eunuch Zhang came to deliver the imperial decree."

Ruan Wan sneered, "When did Sun Shishi get in touch with the Emperor?"

Although Xia Changfeng did not want to criticize his father, he still spoke up, "Father is probably using Sun Shishi to maintain a good reputation as a loyal subject."

The thought of Lou Qianyuan and her father, the innocent civilians who were abandoned and died tragically in those two cities, and the 30,000 soldiers who fought valiantly filled Ruan Wan with rage.

He truly refuses to give up either fame or fortune: "He wants to earn a good reputation, but I'll do the opposite."

Ruan Wan looked at A Qing and said, "A Qing, find an opportunity to kill Sun Shishi quietly. If you want her to die, it would be best if she died of fright."

Aqing accepted the order and walked out of the courtyard. Xia Changfeng watched Aqing's departing figure with a worried expression. "Xiaozhu, it's not appropriate to kill her at this time. Father Emperor just bestowed upon her the title of Grand Master of Ceremonies."

Ruan Wan was already furious and acted recklessly. "A Qing will avoid the emperor's eyes and ears, and Sun Shishi will only be scared to death. No doctor in this Great Xia will be able to detect anything amiss."

Xia Changfeng sighed, then suddenly widened his eyes and stared at Ruan Wan, "Did you send Aqing to kill Zhang Qian?"

Ruan Wan calmed down a bit, turned her head away, stroked her belly, and ignored Xia Changfeng.

Xia Changfeng looked at Ruan Wan with a helpless expression, then sighed, "Just who are your two maids? One gathers information, and the other is responsible for killing, all without a trace. I saw the snow in your courtyard the other day, and there wasn't a single mark left."

Ruan Wan whispered to the baby in her belly, still ignoring Xia Changfeng.

Xia Changfeng moved closer to Ruan Wan and asked, "Xiao Zhu, let's discuss this. In the future, could you discuss these things with me beforehand?"

Ruan Wan looked up at Xia Changfeng and said, "No."