Chapter 43: Liu Shuhui

Chapter 43: Liu Shuhui

Lu Lingyun brought Xia Mei back to the mansion.

Upon returning, she first handed her over to Shuang Hong to bathe, change clothes, and be assigned a room.

Lu Lingyun asked Shuang Hong to take care of her for now.

There were three senior maids in her courtyard, each pair sharing a room. Shuang Hong previously shared with Zhiran. Now that Zhiran was away, Xia Mei would stay with Shuang Hong.

Xia Mei was young, so Lu Lingyun instructed her to stay close by and handle lighter tasks.

After settling Xia Mei, Lu Lingyun had some free time.

Under Lady Qin's management, apart from the servants occasionally skimming off the accounts, everything else was handled diligently.

Now that Lu Lingyun took over, her stern handling of the wall repair incident served as a warning. Since then, the accounts submitted had been much more honest.

In the marquisate, Nurse An had secured a position as a senior housekeeper, and Cui Da's purchasing duties were taken over by Little Wei. On the surface, she had gained considerable influence within the marquisate.

Of course, Lu Lingyun knew that compared to the entire marquisate, the power she currently held was less than one-tenth.

She needed to cultivate more trusted confidants in key positions.

Lying idly on a soft chair, a housekeeper came in to report.

"Madam, there is a lawsuit seeking our help."

"A lawsuit?"

Lu Lingyun perked up.

Noble families wielded great power and influence, often resolving matters with a single word. Thus, smaller households often sought their assistance when faced with injustices.

For example, peasants in rural areas would seek justice from local gentry, while in larger cities, they would turn to prominent families.

Although Ningyang Marquisate wasn't among the top powers in Imperial City, its strength was enough to attract many seeking aid.

Lu Lingyun had dealt with such lawsuits before in Jiangnan.

"It's also an elderly person from our household's nephew," the housekeeper explained. "Their family runs an inn in the western part of the city. With the imperial examinations approaching next year, many scholars have arrived, making their business thrive. However, a fatal incident occurred at their inn, and the manager was arrested. They've come to us, hoping Madam can help release him."

Lu Lingyun frowned, "What kind of fatal incident?"

"Apparently, a few scholars got into an argument, which escalated into a physical altercation. The railing on the second floor was old and rotten, leading to the unfortunate death. The manager was arrested."

Lu Lingyun listened and said, "From what I hear, he's not unlucky. As the manager, failing to maintain the premises properly leading to a fatality warrants imprisonment."

The housekeeper continued, "True, but it wasn't intentional. Madam, the manager's name is Zhao, and his uncle was the late old master's chief steward. He once took a blow for the old master, losing his ability to have children. He has only one nephew to support him in his old age. Now, at his advanced age, he's come to us, willing to pay any amount to secure his nephew's release!"

Lu Lingyun straightened up, "Is the old steward still outside?"

"Yes, kneeling."

"Tell him to go home; I'll visit tomorrow."

"Alright!" The housekeeper left excitedly.

Lu Lingyun noted this matter and called Xia Mei over, "Xia Mei, you used to live in the western part of the city?"

"Yes, Madam."

After entering the mansion, the perceptive Xia Mei quickly adjusted her address.

"The accident at the western inn, have you heard about it?"

Xia Mei nodded vigorously, "Three days ago, there was a fatal incident at an inn. Several people argued, and one fell from the second floor!"

Lu Lingyun confirmed the details, ensuring the old steward and the housekeeper hadn't misled her.

"Go out later and ask your brother to find out the detailed circumstances and how many people were involved."

"Yes, Madam!"

Lu Lingyun decided to help, but first, she needed clarity.

The next day.

Lu Lingyun went to Yaoguang Pavilion to check on Cheng Yunshuo as usual.

Cheng Yunshuo was recovering well, both physically and mentally. It seemed he would fully recover in a couple of days.

Leaving Yaoguang Pavilion, she headed straight to Zhaoji Inn in the western part of the city.

With a fatality at the inn, the front entrance was sealed, and many guests had moved elsewhere, leaving only a few who entered and exited through the back door.

"Miss!"

As soon as she arrived, Dong Sheng emerged from the crowd.

"I'll lead you inside the inn."

"Alright." Lu Lingyun wore a hat and followed Dong Sheng through the back door into the inn.

Inside, things were scattered haphazardly.

Pots, pans, laundry, preserved meats, dried fish, and vegetables, along with unpleasant odors.

"Miss, the inn is now unattended. The manager has been arrested, and the workers have all gone home. Everyone here has to take care of their own food and lodging. This place is indeed filthy."

"No matter."

Lu Lingyun found a spot amidst the clutter and followed Dong Sheng into the inn.

The inside of the inn was even messier. On the first floor, there was a large dried bloodstain, and several tables had leftover dishes that hadn't been cleared. Fortunately, the weather had turned colder, so there weren't as many flies, but it was still quite dirty.

Lu Lingyun carefully examined the area around the bloodstain. "Was there something here before?"

"Yes, there used to be a flower pot here. That unlucky fellow was killed instantly when he hit the pot," Dong Sheng said.

As soon as he finished speaking, they heard a righteous and indignant voice, "Who are you calling unlucky?!"

Lu Lingyun looked up and saw a young man in coarse clothing with patches on his shoulders and sleeves standing on the stairs, glaring at them angrily.

"May I ask who you are?" Dong Sheng asked.

The man descended from the second floor and declared with righteousness, "I am Liu Shuhui!"

Liu Shuhui?

At the sound of this name, Lu Lingyun was momentarily stunned.

The Liu Shuhui from the previous life, the third-place winner in the imperial exams?!

Hearing this name, Dong Sheng, beside her, groaned and said to Lu Lingyun, "Miss, it's him. He's the one whose fellow villager died. He refuses to accept any compensation and insists on having the manager pay with his life. He claims that under the emperor's rule, justice must prevail, and if the Supreme Court doesn't execute the murderer for his fellow villager, he will appeal directly to the emperor!"

Lu Lingyun: "......."

Indeed, it was that stubborn Liu Shuhui.

She had far too vivid a memory of him.

This was the same Liu Shuhui who spent his entire life opposing Li Wenxun in the previous life, never backing down, and eventually became the governor overseeing the Jiangnan canal system.

He was stubborn to the core, always fighting against injustice. Such a person wasn't suited for the political arena, but his exceptional talent could not be overlooked. The current emperor, a wise ruler skilled at utilizing people's strengths, placed him in the position of canal governor, where he held his ground against all opposition.

One could say that Li Wenxun's high-ranking position was paved by Lu Lingyun, while Liu Shuhui's role as the canal governor was entirely earned through his own tenacity.

He was a top-tier talent and a top-tier stubborn individual.