Chapter 68: Heart Lake

Chapter 68: Heart Lake

How could you ask such a question with a straight face?

Yan Sanhe snorted and stood up, heading outside.

"I waste my time explaining to you lot. Otherwise, I'm always occupied with genuine matters."

Pei Xiao's expression cracked slightly.

Ji Lingchuan whispered, "I told you not to meddle!"

"Uncle, who am I doing this for?"

Ji Lingchuan glared at him. "Hush! Hurry up and follow!"

In the courtyard, Xie Zhifei approached and asked Yan Sanhe, "Did you find anything?"

"Mistress, mistress..."

Just then, Li Buyan swept in like a gentle breeze.

Seeing everyone standing in the courtyard, she grinned, revealing a charming smile. She then approached Yan Sanhe and whispered something into her hand.

Upon hearing this, Yan Sanhe turned to look at Li Buyan.

Li Buyan nodded slightly.

Pei Xiao's expression cracked once more.

Oh, Buddha, what mysterious game were these two mystics playing? Couldn't they just speak openly?

Damn it, he was so eager to know!

"Miss Yan?"

Curiosity also plagued Ji Lingchuan.

Yan Sanhe shot him a glance and coldly said, "Let's head to Heart Lake first."

"I can join you at Heart Lake, right?" Xie Zhifei, who had been left aside, smiled.

Yan Sanhe raised an eyebrow. "Lord Xie has nothing better to do?"

"Not exactly," Xie Zhifei replied while stroking his chin, then chuckled. "Mainly because it's almost mealtime, and I was hoping to ask Uncle Ji for a meal."

The old lady at Heart Lake wouldn't hide any secrets.

Ji Lingchuan quickly said, "Sure, let's all go together."

Since the victim, Yan Sanhe, didn't mind, he naturally wouldn't object either. After exchanging a glance with Li Buyan, they walked out side by side.

Xie Zhifei grabbed Pei Xiao by the neck and whispered, "Did you find anything?"

"Nothing!"

...

Yan Sanhe had initially assumed that the Heart Lake was merely a small stream excavated within Lord Ji's rear garden. However, when he finally laid eyes on it, he was utterly astonished.

It turned out to be an extensive river, with a dam running through its center. Upon this dam, a delicate bridge had been constructed.

Ji Lingchuan pointed to a waterside pavilion by the riverbank and said, "Madam particularly enjoys sitting there, often for half a day at a time."

Yan Sanhe inquired, "When was this Heart Lake constructed?"

Ji Lingchuan: "Some seven years ago, this was still a garden. The matriarch said that water symbolizes wealth, so I had a lake excavated here."

At the side, Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao exchanged a glance.

The Crown Prince entrusted the management of the grain transportation to Ji Lingchuan around seven years ago. That was likely when his greed started to grow, otherwise, where would he have obtained the funds to dig such a vast lake?

"Silence, you stay here with them. I'll go check on the Pavilion by the Lake."

"Miss Yan, please wait a moment, I'll accompany you there."

An arm elegantly blocked the way.

Li Buyan smiled and said, "Mr. Ji, there's no need for you to follow."

"Hmm..."

Ji Lingchuan looked at Pei Xiao and Xie Zhifei, feeling rather at a loss.

After a moment of hesitation, Xie Zhifei decided to press the matter further. "Why can't we go with you?"

"Because..."

Li Buyan blinked. "The impurities in a man's aura might disrupt my young miss's train of thought?"

The men: "..."

Pei Xiao realized that Li Buyan was indirectly insulting them and grew furious. "Li Buyan..."

"I was just joking, why did Magistrate Pei take me seriously? Calm down, calm down!"

Calm down??

Pei Xiao roared inwardly.

Oh Buddha, is there still room at the Leifeng Pagoda by the West Lake?

Please, swiftly subdue this mystical woman!

Amitabha!

...

The pavilion by the water was delicately constructed, perfect for enjoying the willows in summer or admiring snow in winter – a refined spot.

Yan Sanhe stood by the water's edge with her brows knitted tightly.

Li Buyan had just whispered three things into her ear:

First, the Ji residence indeed had no dogs; instead, she had spotted several cats.

Second, behind the old madam's courtyard was a small garden, but it wasn't filled with flowers – it was a vegetable patch that had fallen into neglect due to lack of care.

The third thing: Madam did not reside in this courtyard before, perhaps moving in around eight or nine years ago.

This detail about the vegetable garden reveals that in her youth, Madam likely came from humble origins and never acquired the refined habits of Beijing's noblewomen, who were known to keep their hands clean, preferring to admire flowers and the moon instead.

This fact about the courtyard sparked another curiosity in Yan Sanhe:

Ordinarily, elders would seldom move from a place they've grown accustomed to.

Did Madam truly relocate here just because she loved that bamboo grove?

Or was there another reason?

And if so, what could it be?

The process of unraveling someone's true nature is like peeling an onion, layer by layer revealing their most vivid reality—be it beautiful, ugly, or a combination of both.

"Madam, who are you really?"

At this moment, Yan Sanhe developed a genuine interest in Lady Hu.

At that moment, Xie Zhifei's eyes froze.

She stood by the water, her azure robe billowing in the breeze, like a solitary star at dawn, appearing both isolated and ethereal from afar.

The "solitary star" approached them, stopping in front of Ji Lingchuan.

"Miss Yan, have you found anything?"

"Lake Heart is very beautiful."

Ji Lingchuan: "..."

Yan Sanhe looked at him and suddenly asked, "How many people in the household know about the issue with the old madam's coffin lid not closing?"

Ji Lingchuan hadn't expected Yan Sanhe to ask this suddenly.

"I didn't tell anyone. The few old servants who were watching the graveyard were transferred from the manor. They've been with me for many years and can be trusted with secrets."

"Uncle, you really can keep a secret. If it were me..."

"So that means, apart from you, no one in the Ji residence is aware of this matter, including your wife?"

Yan Sanhe shot Pei Xiao a glance as he spoke: Why does this kid keep interrupting?

Pei Xiao rolled his eyes silently: Why does this witch love to cut people off?

Ji Lingchuan broke out in a cold sweat. He gritted his teeth and said, "Miss Yan, ever since I was stripped of my position, there's been unrest in the household. The matter of dissolving the hex is too bizarre. I... "

Yan Sanhe interjected, "You're worried it might uncover some of the old lady's secrets, aren't you?"

Ji Lingchuan's expression conveyed his helplessness. "After all, she is my mother. If anything were to happen..."

Yan Sanhe replied, "Your concern is understandable."

"Ahh?"

This exclamation simultaneously escaped both Ji Lingchuan and Pei Xiao's mouths.

"There's an issue we need to address now."

Yan Sanhe: "You've burned everything that belonged to the old lady, leaving no trace behind. To uncover the truth bit by bit, I need to question three groups of people."

"One group is those who served the old lady; another is her closest sons and daughters-in-law; and the third group consists of younger generations like Mingting."

Xie Zhifei: "Miss Yan, am I correct?"

Yan Sanhe: "So you don't need to bask in the sun! You're quite clever."

Xie Zhifei wore a nonchalant expression. "Thank you for the compliment."

Yan Sanhe didn't have time for his banter.

"I'm an insignificant outsider without the mystique of a shaman. Many won't speak honestly to me, and they'll become suspicious. Would you agree, Lord Pei?"

Lord Pei felt strongly that she was subtly referring to him!

Pei Xiao harrumphed. "You indeed lack intimidation, and it's easy for people to be suspicious!"

"So!"

Yan Sanhe's icy gaze fell once more upon Ji Lingchuan.

"You have a choice to make. Either you confess the truth openly, or continue to hide it for the sake of your pride. The former will save time and effort; the latter will lead us down many detours."

Ji Lingchuan's expression was grave, his brows knitted tightly together as he struggled to find words.

"I have an idea, but I'm unsure if it will work," he ventured.

All eyes turned to Third Master Xie, who met Ji Lingchuan's questioning gaze. "Does Uncle Ji trust me?"

This question made it even harder for Ji Lingchuan to respond.

"If Uncle Ji trusts me, I can claim that it was the Military Commission conducting an investigation. This way, we can ensure their honesty without arousing suspicion."

Xie Zhifei gave Yan Sanhe a casual smile.

"What do you think, Miss Yan?"