Chapter 580: Pre-Wedding Troubles (9)

Chapter 580: Another Wedding Eve Scandal (IX)

Zhao Lianxin's accidental death meant Shulan, after reporting the incident, never got the chance to mention the exact hillside bend where it occurred. The Duke of Zhao had no choice but to send men scrambling up the mountain path that very night, searching along the way.

His granddaughter had died unexpectedly, and they had to recover her body—no matter what.

The Zhao family needed time to locate Zhao Lianxin's remains, so her accidental death was kept under wraps for now, to keep tomorrow’s Zhao-Su wedding celebrations on track.

After the celebrations, they would inform Empress Dowager Shu in Langjing. With her daughter's wedding taking precedence, the dowager’s grief wouldn’t cast a shadow over the wedding when the newlyweds visited her in the palace afterward.

To prevent the Zhao-Su alliance from being affected, the Duke of Zhao suppressed the news of Zhao Lianxin's accidental death.

The entire matter was wrapped up swiftly and silently, in less than an hour.

"According to Grandfather, Zhao Lianxin changed her route to Yun County on her own, leading to the accident. Shulan, her lady-in-waiting, should have spoken the truth. However, whether the snow-laden rocks just happened to give way, spooking the horse, was truly an act of nature or a man-made disaster remains unclear. If it was deliberate, who was behind it?"

With the matter swiftly suppressed and Third Cousin’s wedding plans unscathed, it would have been best to let it go. Yet, a sliver of suspicion still nagged at Su Rao.

Regarding Old General Su's claim that Zhao Lianxin altered her course to Yun County due to Yun Luoling's wedding—this raised suspicions. If, as Su Rao had previously speculated, the Duke of Zhao had orchestrated Zhao Lianxin’s arrival behind the scenes, then it made no sense for only Zhao Lianxin, her maid, and a single Border Guard to be traveling alone, encountering such a disaster.

The Duke of Zhao, no matter how furious he was at Zhao Lianxin for tarnishing the family's reputation, would not have killed his own granddaughter. Had guards been shadowing her, they’d have intervened—so why didn’t they?

From Yun Ji's perspective, things seemed even more suspicious. Zhao Lianxin was no fool—she was shrewd. If so, why would she change her route to Yun County just because of her cousin Yun Luoling? Yun County was the last place she’d seek refuge.

If she had altered her path to seek family protection, fearing an assassination attempt by Xianyi Chishaou, that would be understandable. Yet, knowing her grandfather's nature, why would she still choose to go? Su Rao couldn’t make sense of it.

"Rao Rao, this inconsistency is indeed puzzling. I’ve already sent Mubai to secretly follow the Zhao family’s search party. Don’t lose sleep over it, Rao Rao."

His slender, jade-cool fingers smoothed the furrow between her brows—again. "Don’t overthink it."

Tomorrow was her brothers' wedding. Since Third Cousin remained unaffected, there was no need to let tonight’s sudden incident weigh on her mind.

Zhao Lianxin’s death—a splintered branch had run her clean through the gut—was no feigned demise. Her maid insisted it was an accident, so there was little else to ponder. If it was indeed a man-made disaster, if Prince Yi or Jing had a hand in it, they’d have scrubbed it clean of any foul play, leaving only the appearance of natural misfortune.

Mentioning Yun Mujing reminded Su Rao of her earlier thoughts—his involvement couldn’t be dismissed either.

Alternatively, whether the Duke of Zhao was responsible or if Zhao Lianxin had brought this upon herself—whether it was fate or foul play—Xiao Mubai would likely uncover the truth within days. Speculating now was pointless and would only sour tomorrow’s mood.

"You’re right. No use crying over spilt milk, and it only ruins the mood. There’s no need to worry—the truth will out, sooner or later."

She rubbed her temples with delicate fingers, letting go of her lingering doubts.

Regardless of whether Zhao Lianxin’s death concealed deeper secrets, whether the Duke of Zhao or Zhao Lianxin herself had played a role, or if Xianyi Chishaou and Yun Mujing had orchestrated it—since it had no impact on the Su family, she could simply send letters to Zhu Xian and Langjing after her brothers’ wedding to clarify matters.

If it was truly an act of nature, then Zhao Lianxin had simply been unlucky. If it was their doing, the disaster would still appear natural—she’d still be left holding the short end of the stick. Her death was the consequence of her own past actions.

"One wrong move, and the dominoes fall. If Zhao Lianxin hadn’t been infatuated with Yun Ji and dug her own grave, perhaps her fate wouldn’t have ended in such an accidental death."

It wasn’t lamentation—just an idle remark.

Su Rao set aside her thoughts and prepared for bed.

Tomorrow called for an early start.

"One misstep indeed leads to another. A highborn lady like her, even without delusions, was doomed from the start. No point wallowing, Rao Rao."

Yun Ji tossed off the remark.

Women born into prestigious families are immersed from childhood in teachings and experiences deeply tied to familial interests, their very temperaments long shaped by their lineage.

"Regretful?"

Yun Ji's final remark drew a peculiar glance from Su Rao, who eyed him briefly before leading him into the inner chamber with an amused laugh. They retired together as was their custom.

Yun Ji seemed to think she harbored some lingering sympathy for Zhao Lianxin's death—that her kindness stirred within her. But that wasn't the case. It was merely a thoughtless comment, devoid of deeper sentiment. What did Zhao Lianxin's life or death matter to her? Just a meaningless outsider, nothing more.

Under the radiant moon and the shimmering night, the abrupt incident of Zhao Lianxin's death had already passed for the Su family. With their descendants' weddings unaffected, there was no reason for distress—only a warm, peaceful evening.

For the Zhao family, however, it was a night of torment.

Tomorrow was the day to give their daughter in marriage, so tonight, the lights remained unextinguished—as was proper. Yet the Zhao Duke, as the head of the household, had no need to oversee every detail himself.

Yet this night, the lamps in his chamber also stayed lit.

From the moment Shulan was carried in, to seeing off old General Su, then returning to the estate to issue orders and arrangements, he had retreated to his quarters—but the lights never dimmed.

Alone, he sat in the armchair of his chamber.

The flickering candlelight cast shadows across his aged face, the marks of time etched at the corners of his eyes, the wrinkles beneath them pronounced. Yet below his eyes, his expression was stern—lips pressed flat, his chin framed by a grizzled beard that gleamed silver in the wavering light, making him appear even older. A man who, though only in his fifties, bore the countenance of a man a decade older.

He sat like this for an hour, until the house steward who had accompanied him to Yun County knocked on the door.

*Thud. Thud. Thud.*

Only then did the weariness fade from the Zhao Duke's face. His eyes, lowered for two hours, finally lifted to fix on the door.

He bade the house steward enter.

Hands resting on the armrests, his posture rigid and solemn.

The house steward stepped inside, followed by a house guard—a private retainer of the Zhao family.

The moment this man entered, catching only a glimpse of the Duke's expression from the corner of his eye, he immediately fell to one knee, offering his plea for punishment.

They had failed to keep watch over the young mistress, leading to her untimely demise. He begged the Duke to exact the proper punishment.