Chapter 15 She Seems Ready to Cry at Any Moment…

Chapter 15 She Looked as if She Was About to Cry…

Sun Ma, who had been supported all the while, suddenly lunged forward, her bloodshot eyes filled with agony. She gripped Zhao Wenyue’s arm tightly and shrieked, "How could you do this to Madam? How could you treat her like this!"

Zhao Wenyue struggled desperately to break free from Sun Ma’s grip, crying hysterically, "What’s wrong with me wanting to marry Xue Lang? If Mother hadn’t kept refusing, I wouldn’t have resorted to this. I never meant for her to die—it was all an accident!"

Sun Ma finally lost control and slapped Zhao Wenyue across the face, glaring hatefully at the daughter Madam had doted on since childhood. "How could Madam have given birth to someone like you?"

"You wicked old hag! How dare you hit me? It was you who incited my mother; otherwise, she wouldn’t have died!"

Even now, Zhao Wenyue tried to shift the blame for Xiao Lin Shi’s death onto others, refusing to acknowledge her own fault.

The Zhao family’s drama had descended into utter chaos.

"Take them away."

At Bai Xiuming’s command, Bright Mirror Bureau Guards stepped forward to separate them. Xiao Lin Shi’s personal maids supported Sun Ma, while Zhao Wensheng and Zhao Wenyue were escorted out.

With the siblings gone, the courtyard grew much quieter.

Bai Xiuming turned to Sun Ma and asked, "You were the first to discover your Madam’s body. Did you see the jade hairpin?"

Sun Ma struggled to recall the scene—Madam covered in blood, and that still-living monster. She remembered Madam had been wearing the hairpin.

Sun Ma answered with certainty, "Yes, she was wearing it. I remember Madam was wearing it. She loved that jade hairpin and wore it all the time, except when sleeping."

The thought that Madam might have died because of that hairpin made Sun Ma break down in tears again.

Her words made A Chan frown. When she had checked earlier, there had been no jade hairpin on Xiao Lin Shi’s head.

Could the jade hairpin have run away on its own?

She suddenly recalled her encounter in the West Market. If the hairpin had concealed a Snow Needle Snake, perhaps it really could have slithered away.

Just then, a Bright Mirror Bureau Guard reported, "Lord, we’ve searched the entire room but couldn’t find the jade hairpin."

Bai Xiuming acknowledged with a faint "Hmm" and turned to Jiang Kai. "Bring Lord Zhao back."

Thus, Zhao Ming was summoned back to the main courtyard.

"Does Lord Bai have further instructions?" Zhao Ming asked stiffly, his face tense. Despite his usual mild-mannered demeanor, being treated so roughly as the victim’s family had stoked his anger.

"The investigation into your wife’s murder is still ongoing. Until the results are finalized, I advise you to keep your household in check," Bai Xiuming replied calmly, seemingly oblivious to the other man’s hostility.

"That hardly needs saying, Lord Bai."

"As for Lord Zhao’s children, both are involved in this case and must be taken to the Bright Mirror Bureau for questioning."

Zhao Ming said grimly, "Understood. I shall follow this case closely. I trust Lord Bai will conduct a thorough investigation and ensure no innocent party is accused."

The investigation was temporarily concluded, but the case remained unclear. Without the jade hairpin, there was no way to determine who had used Zhao Wenyue to deliver it to Xiao Lin Shi—or what their motives had been. A Chan had no leads.

As the Bright Mirror Bureau Guards withdrew in an orderly manner, Zhao Ming finally noticed A Chan preparing to leave.

He approached her, his expression still heavy with grief. "You’re A Chan, aren’t you? Your aunt often spoke of you these past days."

A Chan stopped and bowed. "Greetings, Uncle. Please accept my condolences."

Zhao Ming sighed deeply, watching Bai Xiuming’s retreating figure surrounded by subordinates. "A family disgrace. It’s my fault for raising such an unfilial, treacherous wretch, leading to your aunt’s tragic death."

A Chan thought it strange—her uncle seemed to believe his son, Zhao Wensheng, was the true culprit, while his daughter, Zhao Wenyue, was innocent. His earlier words to Lord Bai had emphasized this.

Yet, from an outsider’s perspective, it was Zhao Wenyue’s jade hairpin that had likely caused Xiao Lin Shi’s death. Otherwise, Sun Ma wouldn’t have been provoked into striking her young mistress.

Why did her uncle’s view differ from everyone else’s? Keeping her doubts to herself, A Chan said, "This isn’t your fault, Uncle. Please don’t blame yourself."

Zhao Ming shook his head, his expression still desolate.

Glancing at the sky, A Chan realized the curfew had long passed. Staying at the Zhao residence wasn’t appropriate, so she bid farewell. "Pardon me, Uncle, but it’s late. I must take my leave."

Zhao Ming couldn’t properly ask her to stay and nodded. "I’ll have a servant escort you back."

A Chan declined. "No need. The Bright Mirror Bureau men likely haven’t gone far. I can leave with them."

Though it wasn't on their way from Changping Lane, that didn’t matter.

"Very well." Zhao Ming’s voice wavered. "I’ll send word when your aunt’s funeral is arranged."

"Thank you for your consideration, Uncle. I’ll take my leave now."

"Go ahead." Zhao Ming kept watching until A Chan was out of sight before turning away.

He scanned the courtyard and ordered, "Have the main courtyard sealed. Everyone else, return to your quarters."

With that, he left without lingering, making straight for his study.

A Chan hurried toward the gate and, as expected, overtook the Bright Mirror Bureau group just outside.

Bai Xiuming stood beside a tall horse, seemingly about to mount.

A Chan made her way through the guards and stopped behind him, asking softly, "Would you be so kind as to escort me home, my lord?"

The surrounding Bright Mirror Bureau Guards gave her odd looks. Many gentlewomen in the capital had tried to catch their commander’s attention, but none had been so bold.

"No." Bai Xiuming stepped into the stirrup and mounted in one fluid motion, his refusal curt.

"But it’s past curfew. Your men brought me here—you wouldn't leave me here now?" A Chan looked up at him, her bright eyes shimmering with tears in the dim light.

Bai Xiuming couldn’t shake the thought she seemed perpetually on the verge of crying.

Her pitiful demeanor prompted Jiang Kai to intercede. "Commander, perhaps I could escort her back?"

Since he had brought her, it would be proper for him to return her. With the dragon-blood horse’s speed, it wouldn’t take long.

Bai Xiuming’s frosty look silenced him immediately.

A Chan dropped her head in defeat. "If it’s truly inconvenient, I’ll walk back alone."

She turned slowly. A tear fell to the ground with a soft *plop*.

Bai Xiuming’s hands clenched on the reins, then loosened. Finally, he ordered Jiang Kai, "Lead the men ahead."

"Yes, sir!"

Though they burned with curiosity, none dared stay behind to watch the Commander's business. They made haste to leave.

Bai Xiuming dismounted and asked A Chan, who said she'd leave alone but hadn't taken a single step: "Can you ride a horse?"

A Chan immediately turned around: "I was taught, but I don't dare to gallop."

"Mount up."

A Chan stepped forward, but the dragon-blood horse was too tall for her. After several failed attempts, she still couldn't climb onto its back. The horse snorted, as if mocking her.

Seeing A Chan half-dangling from the horse yet persistently trying, Bai Xiuming finally relented and reached out to support her waist, hefting her up.

Once A Chan was mounted, Bai Xiuming didn't ride with her but instead walked the horse.

The rhythmic clop of hooves was frequent, and the dragon-blood horse kept a brisk pace, yet Bai Xiuming walked as casually as if taking an evening stroll.

After leaving the Zhao residence, the streets were empty. Lighting was sparse, with lanterns scattered far between, and apart from the sound of hooves, only the wind could be heard.

The dragon-blood horse had walked for a long time before A Chan tentatively ventured: "Sir?"

"What is it?"

She asked: "If what the Zhao siblings said tonight was true, what punishment would they face?"

"Employing dark arts to harm people—Zhao Wensheng would get at least five years in prison."

"What about Zhao Wenyue? Isn't she the same?"

"She must wait until the stall owner is captured before she can be sentenced. If she was just a pawn, her charge would be much lighter."

"What if the stall owner can't be found?" A Chan paused, then added, "If even the jade hairpin can't be found, would she get off scot-free?"

If the Bright Mirror Bureau couldn't find evidence, Zhao Wenyue could change her story at any time. She might not realize this, but Zhao Ming certainly would.

"Possibly."

A Chan suddenly understood Zhao Ming's unusual attitude. Zhao Wensheng would serve five years—his life was effectively ruined, and he had become the Zhao family's cast-off.

But Zhao Wenyue still had value, which was why Zhao Ming had taken that stance.

"I thought Uncle would resent his children for Auntie's death, but it seems I was wrong. The impression he gave me was also completely different from what Auntie described," A Chan said softly.

That he could still play favorites with his children so coldly made her wonder: Was the good man Xiao Lin Shi had seen real, or just a carefully constructed fiction?

Bai Xiuming's mouth quirked: "You have clearer eyes than your aunt did."

His words confirmed A Chan's suspicion—Zhao Ming's devotion to Xiao Lin Shi hadn't been as sincere as it seemed.

"Perhaps it's because I've seen too many fickle men. I no longer believe there are truly good men in this world," A Chan said mockingly.

She couldn't tell whether Xiao Lin Shi had been fortunate or unfortunate—at least until her last breath, the lie had remained unbroken.

Bai Xiuming turned his head: "Have you been deceived before?"

A Chan's heart skipped a beat, mustering a smile: "You jest, sir. I was just thinking... of the Marquis of Jinyang. Before my mother passed, wasn't he every bit the devoted husband as Uncle?"

Just as A Chan expected him to respond, Bai Xiuming spoke: "We're here."

They had indeed arrived at Changping Lane, but without lanterns, A Chan barely recognized her own home.

She gripped the reins tightly, slowly sliding off the horse. Once steady, she curtsied to Bai Xiuming: "Thank you for escorting me home tonight, Sir."

Bai Xiuming gave a noncommittal grunt before mounting the horse again.

As he turned the horse to leave, A Chan's voice spoke up again: "Tonight was the third time we've met, Sir."

Bai Xiuming already sensed what she would say next, surprised at his own patience in waiting to hear it.

"Can't I really know your name?" She looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

"My name isn't a secret. You can inquire elsewhere."

"But I want to hear it from you directly."

"You're quite demanding."

A Chan blinked, stubbornly tilting her head up. In the darkness, she could only make out his silhouette, yet every subtle expression of hers was clear to Bai Xiuming.

Receiving no answer, her lips pressed together, and her mouth formed a small pout.

"...Bai Xiuming."

The sound of hooves all but swallowed his words.