Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Each word from Xiu Niang pierced him like an icy whip, striking his face and heart with merciless cruelty.

Xun Yunhe silently mocked himself, the pain in his eyes seeming to bulge outwards, stinging the area around them like thorns.

He didn't respond to Xiu Niang. From her words, he deduced that Qingniang and Nannan were still alive – and that was good, very good indeed.

"Was it them who did this today?" He restrained his emotions, asking softly, word by word.

Looking at this man, taut as a fully drawn bow, seemingly on the verge of breaking at the slightest touch, Xiu Niang was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. The events of the day might be hidden from the curious onlookers outside, but they could not be concealed from these important officials before her.

She said nothing.

Just then, Pei Mushan's voice came from the side entrance,

"Brother, have you seen my sister-in-law? She insisted I wait for her in the Great Hall of the Buddha, but she hasn't shown up after all this time."

Pei Mushan, having heard that Pei Musheng was here, had come with Shao Fu in tow.

It was already three quarters past the hour of Wei at night, yet the temple was still bustling with people. The Minister of Punishments, Xiao Yu, accompanied by the abbot and others, had gone to the neighboring building to take statements. After the guards cleared the scene and escorted away the related suspects, only Pei Mushan and the others remained at the execution ground.

Pei Mushan's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing his sister's words.

Something was off.

Xu Yunqi hailed from Jingzhou, and her father had died on his way to the capital for the imperial examinations when she was just four years old...

The previous night, she had inexplicably requested his help for manpower.

Her mother's surname was Zhang.

As all these pieces of information aligned in his mind, an inconceivable thought sprang up in Pei Mushan's heart.

Scanning his surroundings swiftly, his gaze finally settled on a corner of the veranda.

Pei Mushan panted as she rushed in, heading straight for her brother. "Where's Sister-in-law? I'm asking you, Brother!" She tugged at his sleeve.

Pei Mushan stood motionless, his handsome face contorted with a mix of disbelief. His eyes were fixed intently on that spot,

A gentle voice echoed from the shadows along the arcade.

"Shan Shan, I'm here."

Xu Yunqi emerged from the darkness, dressed in simple attire.

She stood there as always, radiating warmth and grace. Behind her, Yinxing stretched lazily, while Xiu Niang returned to her side. The three of them resembled officials who had just finished a day's work at court, composed and content.

"Sister Shan Shan!"

Pei Mushan rushed towards her but was held back by her brother, Pei Musheng. He gently pulled his sister back and strolled over himself.

"Yunqi," he called softly.

That single word, "Yunqi," was like a balm to Xun Yunhe's withered heart, yet it also felt like a razor slicing through his chest.

Xun Yunhe's gaze fell upon the girl in white, and her slender frame trembled involuntarily. Squinting, he studied her cautiously. With her hands clasped before her abdomen, she stood quietly in the corner of the staircase. The soft glow of lamplight bathed her cheeks, and the fluttering of her skirt suggested she could take flight with just a step.

The thorn in Xun Yunhe's eyes softened at that moment.

"Yunqi?"

This was the name he had given her, and it was the first time he had called her by her full name.

Was this young girl before him truly his Yunqi?

Her gaze was light and indifferent, not seeking anything at all. Her entire demeanor resembled leisurely clouds in the sky, ready to scatter at the slightest breeze.

It echoed the original intention behind the name he had chosen for her, yet she bore no resemblance to her past self in the slightest.

"Daddy, I caught this fish!" The plump and innocent little girl reached into the bucket with great force, effortlessly grabbing hold of a black fish's tail and lifting it out. Water splashed all over her, but her bright, innocent smile shone vividly under the blazing sun.

As he approached, she threw the fish at him with a boldness unchecked.

He had indulged her to the point of lawlessness.

Tears sprang from the corners of his eyes. Xun Yunhe closed them deeply, struggling to take each step closer to her. The words "Nanny" were on the tip of his tongue, but they refused to be spoken.

Realizing that Xu Yunqi was the central figure in the Drum of Petitions incident, Pei Muhang's heart felt as if it were being scorched by molten lava, burning with intense heat. This foolish girl had shouldered everything all by herself.

He stepped forward and took Xu Yunqi's hand in his.

Her hand felt as delicate and boneless as ever, but now it carried an extra chill.

Xu Yunqi stood at the foot of the steps, offering him an apologetic smile before her gaze effortlessly swept over his shoulder to greet Pei Mushan in the distance.

Liu Yue was recounting the day's events to Pei Mushan, who gazed at her silent sister-in-law with wide-eyed astonishment.

Xun Yunhe paused three paces away from her, and Yinxing stepped forward to shield her waist.

"I've always been curious, Lord Xun," she said. "After the incident back then, even if you were convinced that something had happened to my lady and your wife, did it never occur to you to seek out Elder Zhang?"

The thought of Ye Shi and Xun Yunling occupying the position that should have been hers for over a decade made Yinxing feel utterly disgusted.

Xun Yunhe's gaze remained fixed on Xu Yunqi's profile. He scoffed at her words, his voice grated between his teeth, "How could I not have searched?"

All eyes in the crowd turned curiously upon him.

"After avenging your mother and sister, I returned to Jiangling. First, I gave them a proper burial. Then, I began searching for your grandfather, Yunqi. As you know, he had never shown much affection towards me; he didn't even appear on our wedding day. Throughout the years, he only appeared once when you were born, and after that, he vanished without a trace."

"The tragedy that befell your mother and sister, I was determined to inform him at all costs. Unfortunately, he seemed to have disappeared into thin air, leaving no news behind. Just as I was on the verge of despair, one gloomy evening, he suddenly appeared before me."

Xun Yunhe would never forget that spring evening. Sitting alone atop a barren hill in Xiushui Village, lost in thought about his wife and child, he heard a despairing cry echoing through the mountains. Recognizing it as Zhang Lao, he immediately rushed down the slope, "Father-in-law!"

At the foot of the hill, he saw Zhang Lao standing fiercely before the graves of his wife and daughter, his Daoist robe fluttering in the wind. His gaze seemed to pierce through Xun Yunhe's very being.

"How dare you call me father-in-law?!"

Xun Yunhe fell to his knees before him,

"Father-in-law, Qingniang and Nannan were cruelly murdered. It's my fault. Do with me as you wish; I deserve any punishment."

In a fit of rage, Zhang Lao kicked him away, then rushed forward to seize his clothing, lifting him up. With a menacing approach, he loomed over Xun Yunhe's pale face and shouted,

"Xun Yu, I warned you. If you wanted to marry Qingniang, you should have settled down nearby as a schoolmaster. If you harbored great ambitions, you should have left her long ago. But you refused to listen, and now look at the disaster you've caused. Are you satisfied?"

At that moment, Xun Yunhe felt utterly defeated and overwhelmed by regret. He accepted Zhang Lao's scolding and beating without retaliation.

Zhang Senior scolded for a while before casting him aside, standing with his hands behind his back in front of the grave, no longer looking at him.

"From this day forth, you will change your name and leave Jingzhou. Never return. You may remarry and have children, but you are not to mention the names Qingniang or Yunqi to anyone. Nor are you to let anyone know that you once had a wife named Zhang Qingniang."

As Xun Yunhe spoke, a mouthful of blood trickled from his lips. "How could I agree? I begged him to kill me instead, to atone for your mother and daughter."

"Instead, these words enraged Zhang Senior, who kicked me away again," Xun Yunhe said, his voice raspy from dryness. He coughed violently, leaning against one wall and unable to straighten up.

Ginger looked at him in shock. "What happened then?"

With his eyes closed, Xun Yunhe gasped for breath and replied in spurts, "Then he threatened to take his own life... He raged at me like a madman, saying that if I didn't comply, he would exhume your mother and daughter's graves, ensuring they could never rest in peace."

He lifted his gaze again, looking at Xu Yunqi with pain in his eyes.

"Yunqi, was it my maternal grandfather who hid you two back then? He must have been afraid that I would bring more trouble and death upon myself, so he forced me to swear an oath and leave Jingzhou, right?"

Xu Yunqi didn't answer immediately but turned slowly, narrowing her eyes as she met his gaze. "When did you see my maternal grandfather?"

Xun Yunhe replied, "Three months after the incident in Xiushui Village."

Xu Yunqi's delicate brows knitted together.

On the day of the incident in Xiushui Village, she was rescued by a heavy downpour and hid in the cellar for about half an hour. Her grandfather then carried her away. It was also on that day when rumors spread that her father had climbed the social ladder and left Jingzhou, while others said he had died on his way to the capital. Mother Zhang refused to believe it and entrusted her to the neighboring Auntie Fatty before setting off alone with a backpack to search for her father at the county office.

Unfortunately, Mother encountered soldiers sealing off the mountain path and fell down the slope. She was rescued by Xu Ke, who happened to pass by unintentionally. Meanwhile, Auntie Fatty, due to a twist of fate, inadvertently sealed their fates.

Not long after, her grandfather found Mother.

Calculating the days, by the time Xun Yunhe met her grandfather, Mother had already been taken hundreds of miles away to Honghu County by Xu Ke. She was living in an unknown mountain village under her grandfather's care.

Despite her and her mother being alive, Grandfather insisted on forcing Xun Yunhe to leave, all just to prevent him from stirring up more trouble, was it not?

At that time, Xun Yunhe had already achieved remarkable success in the provincial capital. On his last visit home, he informed his mother that in two months' time, he would be able to bring them both to the capital for the imperial examinations.

If it were in the past, she would have undoubtedly believed, like Xun Yunhe, that Grandfather had lost all hope in him and was determined to tear their little family apart. But now, she no longer held that view.

How bitterly she had cried back then, incessantly demanding her father day and night. Her once-plump cheeks had withered away, and with Grandfather's deep affection for her, how could he possibly bear to see her suffer?

He held her in his arms, tears streaming down his face, soothing her day and night. He repeatedly apologized to her, saying "I'm sorry," until she grew up.

Not just towards Uncle Xu, Xun Yunhe treated her father the same way.

Recalling the years she had spent traveling with her maternal grandfather, they would change their surname at every new place they visited – one day they were Zhang, the next they were Liu. They never ventured into official domains, and he repeatedly instructed her to never reveal the truth about her master's identity if anyone inquired.

Was he hiding from someone?

Was he afraid of something?

Connecting the dots to her maternal grandfather's mysterious appearance on the outskirts of the capital and his subsequent disappearance without a trace, Xu Yunqi suddenly realized that her grandfather wasn't afraid of Xun Yunhe as a person; it was the journey to the capital, the City itself, that he feared.

There must be someone in the capital that he neither wanted nor dared to meet.

Xun Yunhe's words had only deepened the mystery surrounding her grandfather.

What secret did her grandfather carry on his shoulders?

She vowed to find him, alive or dead.

Understanding this, Xu Yunqi lifted her gaze again to meet the man's eyes.

Xun Yunhe's crimson eyes were tinged with resentment. If Elder Zhang had not kept the truth from him back then, he would not have been separated from his wife and daughter for so many years, causing his little girl and Qingniang so much suffering.

Staring at him blankly for a moment, Xu Yunqi's expression gradually turned composed. She chuckled softly and said,

"Lord Xun, there's no need for you to look at me like that."

"Over these years, you've climbed the ranks, achieved your ambitions, and have children to bring you joy. You haven't truly lost anything."

Noticing the pain in Xun Yunhe's eyes intensifying, she continued,

"You also don't need to feel guilty towards me. I'm doing well. After you left, my grandfather took me on a journey across the land, showing me its beauty, healing people, and acting as a hero for the people. I, Xu Yunqi, have never wasted a day of my life due to someone's absence, nor will I in the future. It was always thus, and it shall remain so."

Sparkling light danced in the young maiden's eyes, clear and luminous. Her calm demeanor seemed to effortlessly turn adversity into good fortune.

Pei Muhang gazed at her, his heart struck by an intense emotion. Her exceptional skills, her generosity, and her composure were one thing, but silently shaking the foundations of the court, alarming the Three Judicial Ministries and the Emperor, avenging herself flawlessly – when sympathy or even heartache arose for her plight, she appeared to stroll through life's challenges as if they were mere trials.

He couldn't help but marvel once more at the kind of wife he had married. There were endless mysteries surrounding her, and he was curious about what lay ahead for him.

"As night falls, Yunqi, I'll escort you back home."

Pei Muheng cast another glance at Liu Yue at this moment.

Liu Yue was still in a state of shock.

Compared to Xun Yunhe's domestic dispute just now, the revelation that Xu Yunqi was Xun Yunhe's biological daughter had a more profound impact on the court and the public. Once this news became known, it would undoubtedly stir up a great commotion.

Liu Yue took a deep breath, his feelings mixed as he looked at Pei Muheng. He then bowed to Xun Yunhe and said, "Lord Xun, His Majesty is still waiting in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Now that the truth has been revealed, please come with me to the palace to meet the emperor."

Xun Yunhe's steps felt heavy as if weighted with lead. His hollow eyes fixated on Xu Yunqi, showing no intention of moving.

Pei Muheng had no choice but to lead Xu Yunqi down the stairs first. Xu Yunqi instructed Xiu Niang, "You should accompany Lord Xiao back to give your statement," and then told Yinxing, "You personally see her home."

The identity of "her" was clear without needing to be explicitly stated.

Xun Yunhe's chest felt as if it had been struck hard. His tall figure tensed up, as if standing on the edge of an abyss, with a furious gale threatening to engulf him.

The wife of the despised third prince of the Xi Palace was his beloved daughter.

She had recognized him long ago but concealed her emotions.

Her medical practice was criticized by others.

Her birth had been ridiculed.

Her father had died on his journey to the capital for the imperial exams when she was only four years old.

She bore the surname Xu, and her mother remarried a minor official of the fifth rank.

He had even met that Xu Ke, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Works. At a recent birthday banquet, Xu Ke had approached him nervously with a cup of wine, claiming they were fellow townspeople. So, this was the connection he was referring to...

Xun Yunhe's heart felt as if it was being violently pulled down, causing an upheaval within him.

*

As Liu Yue returned to the palace to report, Pei Muhang first accompanied Xu Yunqi back to her residence.

By some twist of fate, he had unintentionally become Xun Yunhe's father-in-law. If the case relied solely on that incident, the emperor would undoubtedly protect Xun Yunhe. But with this added connection, it was uncertain how the emperor would deal with Xun Yunhe now.

The carriage trudged slowly along the rugged mountain road.

Pei Muheng remained silent.

Xu Yunqi sensed that her husband's silence was unusual.

In front of the carriage wall hung a translucent crystal lamp. Its light flickered with the carriage's jolts, while Pei Muheng's slender fingers held onto hers, his handsome features creased in deep contemplation.

What Xu Yunqi had done today was exhilarating, but the one person she felt guilty towards was this husband of hers.

In the past, she would have said that they should stay together if they harmonized, and part ways if not. But now, facing a man who spoke of "marriage as a promise of unwavering commitment," Xu Yunqi found it impossible to be so casual. Being nonchalant would be disrespectful to him. Sincerely, she apologized,

"I concealed today's events from you. Forgive me."

Pei Muheng, captivated by her yet pained in his heart, couldn't help but feel hurt.

During these recent days of living together, sharing the same pillow each night, she had countless opportunities to reveal the circumstances or even a hint of what had transpired. Yet, she didn't. She kept him in the dark, excluding him from all her plans.

But he didn't wish to discuss these matters with her now.

He turned his gaze, maintaining his gentle tone.

"You've been through so much today, you must be exhausted. Let's talk about these matters another time."

Xu Yunqi shook her head. "To you, I went through life and death, a world turned upside down in one night. But in reality, I knew about all this long ago and have already experienced it."

Pei Muheng understood, realizing that the shock was for him, while for her, it was all in the past.

He took a slow breath and looked at her seriously. "Alright, then let me ask you, why didn't you tell me? Such a major event, such a grand spectacle – didn't you think of asking for my help?"

Xu Yunqi replied candidly, "You wouldn't have sounded the Dwenwen Drum."

Pei Muheng was momentarily speechless.

Indeed, he wouldn't. If it were him in her position, he would have handled it more tactfully.

He wouldn't have put Xun Yunhe on the spot like that.

But Xu Yunqi clearly didn't trust Xun Yunhe, fearing that as a husband, he might show leniency due to their marital bond. Thus, she resorted to drastic measures to cut off any escape routes for Xun Yunhe, and without hesitation, she stated that if Xun Yunhe truly allowed his concubine to commit atrocities and stood by idly, she would use the Three Judicial Departments to bring her father to justice. Fortunately, Xun Yunhe was also a victim, deceived by Ye Shi, and despite this, Xu Yunqi cared little about his political career.

Moreover, she didn't trust him at all.

This was what Pei Musheng found the hardest to accept.

He lifted his gaze, gently holding his wife's hands in his, almost laughing in spite of himself.

"Why are you so certain that I won't help you?"

Xu Yunqi looked embarrassed. Being honest would only hurt feelings, and the deed had already been done. The only way out was to admit her mistake. For the first time, she took the initiative to hold his hand back. "Third Master, I truly apologize for what happened today. You can scold me or blame me; I won't refute a single word."

Pei Musheng's thin eyelids quivered slightly as he suppressed his dark emotions.

"As spouses, we should stand together through thick and thin, sharing both honor and disgrace. Yunqi, do you really see me as your husband in your heart? Do you trust me even a little bit? Or perhaps... if I gave my consent, you could turn away from me without a second thought."

A barrage of questions hit her, each one piercing her heart.

The carriage fell abruptly silent, filled only with the humming of mountain winds rattling the windows.

Pei Muheng watched the lovely expression on her face turn awkward, and his heart sank bit by bit.

Seeing her husband's worsening mood, Xu Yunqi racked her brains to turn the situation around. She gently withdrew her hand from his grasp, soothing her flushed cheeks. With a flutter of her eyelashes, she said,

"Third Master, today is my birthday."

"So what?" Pei Muheng looked at her expressionlessly.

Xu Yunqi spoke softly, "Let's talk about something else."

Her delicate eyelashes, like feathers, blinked softly, stirring his heartstrings.

He observed as that sly fox tail retreated. Today was her birthday, and she had gone through such a painful past. To argue with her now would be ungentlemanly. Helplessly, Pei Muheng rubbed his temples.

Not demanding a divorce was already a significant step forward, he consoled himself.