Chapter 056 Yan Ji (Part 5)

Chapter 056 Yan Ji (Part 5)

Zeng Xiu kept crying, making He Lanting anxious: "Mother, tell me what happened from the beginning; don't just cry!"

Madam Li pushed the door open at this moment.

The cold wind from outside rushed in, and He Lanting, who was already feeling unwell, felt dizzy and faint from the sudden change in temperature. If not for the maid supporting her, she might have fallen.

Seeing He Lanting, Madam Li lowered her eyes guiltily, holding the medicine as she walked past He Lanting to stand before the old lady: "Old Lady, it's time for your medicine."

Zeng Xiu's lips trembled: "Jier is missing; how can I have the face to take my medicine?"

Madam Li spoke softly but dryly: "Only if you're well can you search for the young master again. This isn't your fault. If you keep doing this, the Lady Marquis will worry about both the young master and you."

Originally, Yan Ji was alive, but she had personally suffocated the child. Thinking of this, Madam Li felt terrified.

Her voice quivered, and she dared not raise her head, fearing that He Lanting would notice something amiss.

He Lanting had no idea that Madam Li had also gone to Baifeng Temple. Her focus was entirely on the Old Lady of Yongning Marquisate, so she didn't pay any attention to Madam Li.

He Lanting wasn't concerned about the old lady's health either. She merely listened to Madam Li, twisting her handkerchief in frustration, wondering why it wasn't the old lady's fault.

If not for Zeng Xiu, how could her child have been lost?

"How is it not my fault? It's all because of me," Zeng Xiu wailed, "Why did I leave the guards and maids behind, all for the sake of sincerity, insisting on taking Jier to fulfill a vow? To comfort the spirit of Lord Marquis in heaven."

Zeng Xiu beat her chest, recalling how her son knelt before her, pleading to marry He Lanting, who was staying at Wei Wuhou Mansion. His eyes were bright: "I love her. Mother, please grant me this wish."

He Lanting's background was ordinary, and she was a poor relative living off Wei Wuhou Mansion. Her slender figure was not the type elders preferred, but Zeng Xiu thought that as long as her son loved her, it was fine. Even when the old marquis disagreed, Zeng Xiu still arranged the marriage with He Lanting.

Zeng Xiu hated herself for being so open-minded back then. Why did she marry such a poisonous woman? This woman made her son bedridden for years, eventually leading to his death without leaving any descendants, forcing them to pass off Yan Ji as the heir of Yongning Marquisate.

"My son, my grandson, it's all my fault. It's all my fault," the old lady cried, tears streaming down her face, "It's all my fault. If not for me, this wouldn't have happened."

Seeing the old lady's state, He Lanting still blamed her but swallowed her accusations.

Yan Ji was nominally her own grandson. How could the old lady harm her own grandchild?

A fleeting thought crossed He Lanting's mind: Could the old lady already know that Yan Ji wasn't the true descendant of Yongning Marquisate?

He Lanting quickly dismissed the idea. When Yan Ji was born, the old lady's excitement was evident, and over the past five years, she had shown great affection for him.

The old lady's trip to fulfill a vow today was ultimately for Yan Ji's sake.

He Lanting took a deep breath and coaxed the old lady to take her medicine, her voice hoarse: "Mother, please take your medicine first. Afterward, we'll go to Baifeng Temple together to find him. If you don't take your medicine, you won't be able to go out and find Jier."

"Yes, yes, I mustn't delay things," Zeng Xiu nodded hastily, her disheveled hair causing her headband to slip.

Ignoring her appearance, she drank the medicine spoonful by spoonful.

After finishing the medicine, Zeng Xiu immediately stood up: "Let's go."

He Lanting wanted to leave smoothly, but unfortunately, after taking the medicine, Zeng Xiu only managed a few steps before panting heavily. The doctor diagnosed that the old lady couldn't go out.

Waiting for Zeng Xiu to take more medicine and for the doctor to arrive delayed them further.

He Lanting felt her heart tighten, knowing that Fu Bin had already left the palace and was waiting in a dark alley near the gate. As soon as she stepped out, they could "coincidentally" meet, allowing him to mobilize the Jinyiwei to thoroughly investigate Baifeng Temple and find Yan Ji.

Seeing that the old lady couldn't go out, He Lanting stood up: "Mother, we can't delay any longer. I'll take people to look for Jier myself."

"I'll stay here, and you can take everyone from the mansion!" Zeng Xiu held He Lanting's wrist, "Turn Baifeng Temple upside down. We'll definitely find Jier."

Although she knew the Jinyiwei would help, having more people was always better. He Lanting took everyone from the mansion.

As soon as He Lanting came out, her carriage broke down due to the rudeness of Fu Bin's servants. They exchanged a few words, and Fu Bin decided to bring the Jinyiwei to Baifeng Temple.

Because He Lanting's carriage was broken, and Fu Bin was a eunuch, it was natural for them to share a carriage.

"The Emperor already knows," Fu Bin comforted He Lanting, "The Emperor asked me to convey a message to you: all available forces will be mobilized to find Young Master Yan as soon as possible. If we catch the kidnappers, they will be punished severely. Please take care of yourself. The Emperor said your health is most important."

He Lanting coughed, "I know my body well; it's not a big deal. Right now, finding Jier is the priority. If I had known earlier, I would have gone out sooner."

Fu Bin continued to comfort He Lanting softly. As the wind grew stronger, it lifted the curtain, revealing Lin Baozhen to He Lanting.

Lin Baozhen smiled brightly at those around her, causing He Lanting to turn away anxiously. Seeing He Lanting's expression, Fu Bin reached out to lower the curtain.

In that moment, Fu Bin saw that the person was Xie Jingzhi.

The carriage continued to speed towards the outskirts of the city, while a large group of Jinyiwei rode horses swiftly toward Baifeng Temple.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Fu Bin got off the carriage first and respectfully invited He Lanting to do the same.

"Lady, it's snowing. Please wear your hood," Fu Bin said.

He Lanting looked up. The sky had become darker, heavy clouds pressing down over the capital city. With the northwest wind blowing, small raindrops began to fall. The cold rain hadn't fully wet the ground when it turned into snow pellets, hitting the roof of the carriage with an irritating sound.

He Lanting felt like she had heard the sound of snow pellets all along. Unbeknownst to her, the snow pellets had been blown away by the northwest wind, and now six-sided snowflakes were falling in clusters.

With the snow, finding Yan Ji would be even harder. Who kidnapped Yan Ji? Was he taken to a remote village to continue a family line, or was it for money? If it was for money, it would be simple.

What He Lanting feared most was someone discovering Yan Ji's true identity and using him to cause trouble.

As Xie Yuan descended the mountain, he saw Fu Bin waving his fan at someone nearby, "Haven't you adjusted the lady's cloak yet? It's getting caught."

"Yes."

"Cousin!" He Lanting's eyes lit up, and she hurried forward, "Cousin, do you have any news?"

Xie Yuan sighed. "I rushed over as soon as I got the news and have already searched Baifeng Temple thoroughly, but I haven't found Young Master Yan. Please accept my condolences."

This news was indeed grim. Fu Bin had also guessed that Yan Ji's chances were slim, but he dared not mention accepting condolences. He could only try his best to reassure them: "Young Master Yan is blessed, and surely the Jinyi Guard will find some clues."

With a sweep of his arm, he commanded, "Thoroughly investigate the identities of all the pilgrims who came today. Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must find Young Master Yan for me."

The Jinyi Guard officer in his long robe responded loudly, "Yes."

They ascended the mountain, forming a crimson dragon amidst the swirling snowflakes.

The Jinyi Guard operated more strictly than Wei Wuhou. They surrounded the mountain, preventing the remaining pilgrims from leaving, determined to screen everyone who had come to pray that day in the biting cold wind.

/

Old Lady Zeng, finding no one at home, carried Yan Ji's body directly into He Lanting's room.

Laying him on He Lanting's bed, Old Lady Zeng gently stroked the child's cheek. This child, now a cold corpse, would never play with straw toys or call her grandmother in a baby voice, nor would he bow to her like a little adult again.

The old lady smiled, then quickly shed tears.

Madam Li stood at the door, shielding the old lady from the wind. Seeing the old lady linger, she frequently glanced inside, feeling anxious.

Zeng Xiu took out a grasshopper from her sleeve and placed it beside Yan Ji's head, beckoning Madam Li over.

Madam Li hesitated but still approached, speaking quickly, "Old Lady, we should leave."

"No rush," said Zeng Xiu. "Let's sit for a while. There's no one in this mansion to fear. If anyone finds out, it's fate. Don't worry; this has nothing to do with you. It was all me. I hid the body in an empty statue, smuggled it out, and killed the child."

Madam Li sighed, looking at her palms. "It wasn't the old lady who killed him; it was me."

"The child's fate was both good and bad. Born to He Lanting, his life was cursed, but dying in your hands was somewhat merciful, sparing him a torturous death."

Old Lady Zeng tucked the child's blanket, kissing his forehead. "I thought about torturing him, but now that he's gone, I don't have the heart. He seems so innocent, after all, just a child."

Madam Li wanted to say something but didn't know where to begin. Zeng Xiu asked her to help her up.

"Everything is fine now."

Upon stepping out of the room, Zeng Xiu noticed the snowfall had intensified, lightly covering the branches and ground. It seemed it would continue for a while.

She whispered, "The snow will cover all traces. Heaven is helping me. That Lin Baozhen truly has good fortune. Madam Li, let me tell you about the Marchioness of Weiwu Marquis Mansion. She's quite interesting."

Madam Li eagerly hoped the old lady would talk, about anything, as long as it kept her mind off suffocating Yan Ji.