Chapter 37

Chapter 37

The news of Lu Suian's furious caning and expulsion of the study's pageboys caused quite a stir throughout the main household.

Though Lu Suian was known for his strictness and integrity, he was by no means a harsh or cruel master. While other young masters and even the lord himself might routinely have several lives on their hands, Lu Suian, apart from capital cases handled in his official capacity, had never treated any human life lightly, nor had he ever physically punished or beaten a single servant.

Thus, this unusual incident alarmed both Lord Lu Jingrong and Lady Xiao. Even Lady Fang, residing far away in Jinyuan, was slightly surprised upon hearing the news and promptly sent someone to investigate.

When the commotion reached Riverbank Residence, Shen Anning was also taken aback. For a moment, she wondered if she had angered him the previous day, causing him to vent his frustration on the servants in a fit of pique.

However, this thought flickered in her mind for only an instant before she immediately dismissed it.

Firstly, she didn't possess that much influence!

Secondly, Lu Suian was not that kind of person. He prided himself on being upright and would never unleash his anger on unrelated individuals without cause. Those two must have done something rebellious that touched his raw nerve!

Adhering to the principle of harmonious coexistence between husband and wife, after breakfast that day, Shen Anning, acting in her capacity as his wife, followed established practice and sent someone to the front courtyard to inquire. The response came directly from Chang Li, stating: "The two had loose tongues and violated the heir's taboos."

Lu Suian’s duties at the Dali Temple ranged from ordinary cases to those involving court officials and matters affecting the state’s foundation, so this explanation was impeccable. As for the specific details, Shen Anning didn’t concern herself; having followed the procedure, she had fulfilled her duty.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, although she didn’t need to oversee the household management, she still had the obligation and duty to assist her mother-in-law. At the very least, she had to keep up appearances. Moreover, in this life, she had many more relatives and friends around her, as well as several dozen people in Riverbank Residence to care for and manage. She soon plunged into busy preparations, completely putting aside the unpleasantness of that evening.

After that day, Lu Suian was also out of sight for more than ten days in a row.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival drew near, cases from various provinces and prefectures were reported and accumulated at the Dali Temple, all needing to be processed before the festival. Each death penalty case required strict review, submission to the Board of Punishments, and final approval by the Board before being submitted to the Emperor. Sometimes cases were sent back for re-review, judged again, and verified repeatedly, making the process particularly tedious and complex.

The entire Dali Temple was in utter chaos. After eight or nine days of intense work, they finally completed about eighty to ninety percent of the tasks by the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, leaving only minor details. Everyone slacked off and relaxed again, with some even taking the opportunity to leave early to go home for the festival.

That day, Lu Suian returned to the Dali Temple at noon, having traveled back from Chengde. As soon as he appeared, colleagues from the Criminal Division and other departments crowded around him, asking, "Reviewer Lu, was the case in Chengde truly caused by a female ghost?"

It turned out that Lu Suian’s trip to Chengde was for a bizarre case involving ghostly disturbances and a headless female corpse.

The He family in Chengde had discovered an unidentified female corpse, and along with various ghostly rumors, the local people were panic-stricken and fearful. The county was unable to solve the case, so it was reported to the Capital Prefecture. Since the family involved was Chengde’s wealthiest, doing business with the palace as a royal merchant, the case had wide implications. The Capital Prefecture did not dare to investigate on its own and thus reported it to the Dali Temple.

The case was so strange and bizarre that even among the hundreds of cases handled by the Dali Temple each year, it stood out, sparking widespread interest.

But Lu Suian replied indifferently, "It’s all just a ruse!"

After saying this, he did not elaborate and walked straight inside. However, as he reached the entrance of the Criminal Division, he seemed to remember something, paused for a moment, then turned around to face his fellow officials. Unexpectedly, he posed a surprising question: "Gentlemen, in your opinion, if one person has always treated another very well but suddenly stops doing so, what might be the reason?"

Lu Suian stood at the main entrance of the Criminal Division, one hand behind his back, the other lightly holding his sleeve, his posture upright and serious as he asked this question.

His question left his colleagues baffled.

They looked at each other, their expressions ambiguous.

Soon, a young colleague in his twenties stepped forward and joked lightly, "Oh, Reviewer Lu, you’re finally treating us fellow officials as insiders. What’s the trouble? Have you had a quarrel with your wife?"

Another immediately chimed in teasingly, "Well, this question depends on who is treating whom poorly. If I treat Sima Nan poorly, it must be because Sima Nan is acting shamelessly. But if Lady Lu suddenly treats you poorly, then it depends on what you have done to Lady Lu?"

The speaker was named Lou Jing. He, Sima Nan, Sun Miao, and Lu Suian were all *jinshi* graduates from the same cohort, similar in age, and full of high spirits. When together, they often bantered and teased each other, without any real malice.

As soon as Lou Jing finished speaking, he and Sima Nan exchanged a knowing look and laughed.

This caused the surrounding colleagues to burst out laughing.

Lu Suian usually did not participate in their banter, but this time, he did not get angry. He merely glanced at them lightly, then turned his gaze to Chang Li.

Chang Li was holding a thick stack of dossiers.

Sun Miao, understanding the situation, stepped forward immediately, took the files, and began flipping through them on the spot.

The other dozen or so colleagues gathered around to look, scanning the pages rapidly. In moments, their expressions shifted from surprise to shock, then to horror, followed by a long silence, and finally, all emotions dissolved into a sigh.

It turned out that the so-called ghost case and the headless female corpse case were merely sensationalized.

The He family had recently experienced strange occurrences. Many servants encountered a female ghost wandering the residence at night, frightening everyone. Soon after, a headless female corpse was discovered, terrifying the entire He family into chaos. Subsequently, female members of the He family were killed one after another. In just half a month, four of Young Master He’s seven concubines had died, plus the headless female corpse, making five lives lost. Each victim was decapitated, a gruesome sight. Rumors of a vengeful female ghost began circulating in the residence.

In the end, Lu Suian spent three full days uncovering the mastermind behind it all: Qi Yiniang, recently taken into the He family as a concubine.

The first headless female corpse was Young Master He’s new favorite, the eighth concubine-to-be.

The others who died were also among Young Master He’s usual favorites.

When apprehended, Qi Yiniang offered no resistance and admitted her guilt then and there.

Young Master He, heartbroken and half-mad, demanded to know why? Why had she done this to Wan-niang? Why to them? Why to him?

Qi Yiniang, filled with sorrow, remained silent for a long time, as if turned into a numb, lifeless shell. She refused to look at Young Master He any longer. After a long while, she turned to Lu Suian, gazing dazedly, and murmured, "Why did he suddenly treat me poorly?"

"It wasn’t like this before?"

"He treated me very, very well, as if he would fetch the moon from the sky for me. But, Lord Lu, why? Why did he suddenly treat me poorly?"

"Why? Why is that?"

As she spoke, Qi Yiniang began to laugh, then cry, swaying between laughter and tears for a long time.

Just because he treated her poorly, she killed the soon-to-be eighth concubine and the other four?

Lu Suian found it unfathomable.

After reading through the files, Lou Jing sighed softly, "Another poor woman trapped by love? What else could it be? Simply because he stopped loving her. Men are often like this—when they love you, they shower you with sweet words and would even fetch the moon from the sky for you. When they stop loving you, you become worthless. To go to such lengths for a scoundrel—how could it come to this?"

Ouyang Nan gritted his teeth and agreed, "Blame that heartless man from the He family. If she wanted to kill anyone, it should have been him. Why take it out on others? Those innocent women are so pitiful."

But Lou Jing said, "What do you know? This is called killing to break the heart. Killing the scoundrel alone wouldn’t satisfy her hatred. She had to make him suffer, living in agony—that’s what truly cuts to the core. This Qi Yiniang is truly merciless!"

"But why are heartless men called heartless? Because they are cold and unfeeling. They wouldn’t be heartbroken over a few lives. Believe me, today he might mourn a little, but tomorrow he’ll be dallying with new lovers."

Lou Jing and Ouyang Nan went back and forth arguing.

Lu Suian, without anyone noticing, had already slipped inside.

Young Master He stopped treating Qi Yiniang well because he ceased to love her.

What about Shen Anning?

She had also gradually treated him less well. Was it because… she had ceased to love him too?

Love… what is it?

And before, when she was so considerate and meticulous, was it because… of love?

This unresolved matter inexplicably put him on edge.

Just as Lu Suian was massaging his temples, brow furrowed, a vendor's call suddenly rang out from the street outside the Dali Temple: "Tofu pudding for sale! Tofu pudding, tofu pudding—melts in your mouth!"

Inside, Lu Suian glanced sideways.

Seeing this, Chang Li called out over the tall courtyard wall, "Tofu pudding seller, come in through the side gate—"

Chang Li went to the side gate and brought in an old man in his sixties with disheveled white hair. He announced to everyone, "Everyone, tofu pudding is here! Today, the young master is treating all the officials."

The tofu pudding seller, known as Old Man Sun, was a peddler who worked the streets in this neighborhood. He usually made his rounds near the Dali Temple, and everyone there was fond of his tofu pudding.

At Chang Li's words, Lou Jing, Sima Nan, Sun Miao, and others quickly gathered, saying, "In that case, we won't stand on formalities. Thank you, Judicial Reviewer Lu!"

They bowed respectfully toward the entrance of the Criminal Law Department.

Old Man Sun politely and cheerfully served each official a bowl. When Chang Li tried to pay him, he hurriedly declined, refusing to accept any money. "I couldn't take your money! Back then, my young grandson ran into the street and nearly got trampled by a galloping horse. Luckily, Lord Lu happened to pass by and saved him. Otherwise, I'd be burying my own grandson. It’s just a bowl of tofu pudding—how could I take money from you all? From now on, as long as I’m selling tofu pudding, any official from the Dali Temple can eat their fill, and I won’t charge a single coin!"

Old Man Sun repeatedly refused, unwilling to accept payment.

His words touched everyone deeply.

While he personally brought a bowl inside for his benefactor, the other officials quietly slipped money into Old Man Sun’s tofu pudding basket after he left.

"Lord Lu, please don’t mind the simplicity—"

Inside, Old Man Sun gratefully handed a bowl of tofu pudding to Lu Suian.

Lu Suian turned to him and said calmly, "Uncle Sun, what brings you by?"

No sooner had he spoken than Old Man Sun cautiously glanced around. Seeing no one else in the room, he lowered his voice and reported, "Young Master, recently, people have been frequently inquiring about the Crane Immortal Tavern, intending to buy the entire establishment. The inquiries come from two parties—one from Prince Ning’s residence, and the other—"

Here, Old Man Sun sneaked a glance at Lu Suian’s face before lowering his head again and whispering, "The other party is from the Marquis’s residence. It's actually... the young mistress’s people—"

Old Man Sun spoke with extreme caution.

Upon hearing this, Lu Suian narrowed his eyes sharply and said, "You’re saying my wife wants to buy the Crane Immortal Tavern?"

His voice held an edge.

Old Man Sun hurriedly explained in detail, "It wasn’t the mistress herself. The person concealed their identity but was later traced back to the Shen family’s old residence. After some investigation, we found out it was the young mistress’s recently arrived adoptive father—"

Old Man Sun detailed all of Wu Youcai’s inquiries regarding the tavern. He also mentioned that Wu Youcai had looked into other taverns, shops, and even residences. Finally, Old Man Sun hesitated and asked, "What's your decision? Should we sell the tavern? To Prince Ning’s residence, or... or to the young mistress..."

Old Man Sun was uncertain and couldn’t make a decision.

A sharp look flashed briefly in Lu Suian’s narrow phoenix eyes before vanishing.

"Let the best offer win. Play dumb, and don’t alert anyone."

Finally, Lu Suian spoke slowly.

Old Man Sun immediately acknowledged the order and respectfully offered the tofu pudding.

Lu Suian took it with his typical calm.

Old Man Sun bowed and silently withdrew, the entire exchange appearing natural and unnoticed by anyone.

Soon after, Old Man Sun was escorted out of the Dali Temple by Chang Li, carrying his tofu pudding baskets.

After finishing the tofu pudding, everyone dispersed.

Lu Suian suddenly instructed Chang Li to bring his horse, saying, "Back to the manor!"

Chang Li was surprised, as it was too early to leave work. But then he recalled the Marquis’s warning and quickly complied. Before leaving, he remembered something and carefully and concerned suggested, "Young Master, I heard the mistress enjoys the pear blossom cakes from Chen’s Shop on Luo Zheng Street, Pear Blossom Alley. Coachman Lao Li mentioned that the mistress had intended to buy some last time, but the Pei family caused a disturbance, and she never got to try them. Should I get some for you? The mistress would surely be delighted. I’ve heard women usually love that kind of thing—"

It was rare for Chang Li to muster the courage to offer advice to his young master.

He had worked tirelessly for the couple.

However, as he spoke under the young master’s sharp gaze, his voice grew softer and softer. Just as he expected to be scolded for overstepping, Lu Suian instead lowered his eyes in thought. Recalling that night and the earlier discussion with his colleagues, he surprisingly gave a faint nod and said, "Then go buy a portion."

Chang Li was instantly overjoyed and hurriedly prepared to head out.

But the moment he mounted his horse, he saw Lu Suian already on his own horse, spurring it forward and riding right past him toward Pear Blossom Alley.

The young master was going personally?

"..."

Chang Li’s jaw dropped to the floor.

Author’s note: Today’s expression: Smiling face.

Lu Suian: Do you see me smiling?

Thank you all for your support. I will continue to work hard!