Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Qinyuan.

Before dawn, Lady Xiao rose as usual. The Marquis had to attend court early each day, and for twenty years, Lady Xiao had consistently risen early to serve him.

Outside, maidservants tiptoed in with a silver basin and tea. Wrapped in her robe, Lady Xiao emerged. Yi Hong promptly set down her tasks and hurried over to assist. As she helped adjust Lady Xiao’s dress, she leaned in and quickly whispered something into her ear. Lady Xiao, who had been tilting her head to straighten her collar, paused for a moment before asking, “Did the young mistress call for water?”

Yi Hong nodded. “I heard she called for it twice.”

At this, Lady Xiao’s hands stilled. She fell silent, lost in thought for a moment, her expression contemplative.

Just then, a faint sound came from the inner room. Lady Xiao snapped out of her reverie, glanced at Yi Hong, who immediately lowered her eyes and stepped aside. Lady Xiao then picked up a teacup, walked around the screen, and entered the inner room, saying, “It’s still early, my lord. Why not rest a little longer?”

Inside, Lu Jingrong was awake, dressed in white inner garments and getting out of bed. “The Ministry of Rites has been busy lately. The Turkic envoys are due to arrive in a few days, and His Majesty is keeping a close watch. We must ensure nothing goes wrong.”

As he spoke, he took the tea offered by Lady Xiao and took a sip. Suddenly, he asked, “I heard Sui Ge’er returned to the residence yesterday?”

Lady Xiao naturally and attentively took the official robe from the wooden rack and helped Lu Jingrong change, replying with a smile, “Indeed. I heard he even had all his study belongings moved to Ning’er’s room the day before. These two have always been a handful, but now it seems they’ve finally settled down.”

She spoke lightly, with a hint of amusement.

Lu Jingrong nodded approvingly. “Good, he’s teachable. Sui’er is making progress!”

After a pause, he chuckled and stroked his short beard. “It would be even better if we could hear good news (of a pregnancy) this year.”

Lady Xiao said, “It’s time for our eldest branch to have an addition to the family.”

As she spoke, she turned to Yi Hong in the distance and instructed, “The young mistress has been helping me manage the household affairs lately and must be tired. Have the kitchen prepare a bowl of blood bird’s nest soup and send it to her. Tell her to rest well today and not bother coming early to pay her respects.”

Yi Hong promptly and expertly accepted the order and left.

With a kind and considerate expression, Lady Xiao warmed Lu Jingrong’s heart. He grabbed her hand and pressed it firmly against his chest, sighing sincerely, “It is Young Mistress Shen’s good fortune to have a mother-in-law as wonderful as you.”

After a pause, he added, “This household owes everything to you, my lady. Without your diligent management over all these years, the Lu family would not be as illustrious as it is today. To have a virtuous wife like you, I must have accumulated blessings in my past life.”

Lu Jingrong’s words were full of affection. With maidservants still in the room, Lady Xiao shot him a reproachful look, feigning sternness. “At your age, my lord, aren’t you embarrassed by such sweet talk?”

Lu Jingrong laughed. “When you blush, my lady, you look just as beautiful as you did at eighteen.”

Even though Lady Xiao tried to maintain a dignified composure, she couldn’t help but flush, her older face tinged with redness.

The old couple’s early morning flirtation was the envy of onlookers, and the maidservants nearby smiled and lowered their heads.

After Lu Jingrong left, Yi Hong returned from delivering the blood bird’s nest soup to Chuanze Residence. Lady Xiao was having her breakfast and, upon seeing Yi Hong, even set down her chopsticks to ask with particular concern, “Did Young Mistress Shen have the soup?”

Yi Hong replied, “When I arrived, the young mistress had just risen and hadn’t eaten yet.”

She glanced at Lady Xiao and added, “But while chatting with Chun Qi, I heard that the young mistress finished the entire bowl of blood bird’s nest soup yesterday. It seems she must like it. After all, top-quality blood bird’s nest costs several taels of silver per liang, and that small bowl today was worth over ten taels. I doubt the young mistress would let it go to waste, especially since it was a gesture of your kindness. She must be extremely grateful.”

Yi Hong reported thoroughly.

Lady Xiao nodded. “That’s good. I only hope she will soon bear a child for the Lu family.”

As she spoke, Lady Xiao picked up the soup from the table and sipped it slowly, her face wearing its usual gentle and considerate expression.

Shortly after, she specially rewarded Yi Hong with a serving of black-bone chicken soup.

“By the way, my lady, guess who I ran into on my way back just now?”

Just as Yi Hong was about to express her gratitude while holding the chicken soup, she suddenly remembered something and said.

Lady Xiao looked at her and saw Yi Hong smiling mischievously, "It's Nanny Jiang."

"Oh? Nanny Jiang is back?"

Lady Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly a bit surprised.

Nanny Jiang was the right-hand woman of the lady from Jinyuan. A few months ago, her daughter-in-law gave birth to a chubby boy, so she took leave to return to her hometown to take care of them. Who would have thought she'd be back today?

She was not only Lady Fang's confidante but also the wet nurse of the hereditary heir, Lu Sui'an. Whether in Jinyuan or the entire main household, she held a respectable position.

Upon hearing this, Lady Xiao seemed to smile faintly, but after a moment, she shook her head and said, "It seems the manor is in for some excitement again."

Jinyuan.

Lady Fang, who had been looking troubled, her spirits lifted immediately upon hearing that Nanny Jiang had returned, as if seeing a glimmer of hope. She bolted upright from the couch and urged, "Quick, quick, bring her in."

No sooner had Lady Fang spoken than a plump and well-dressed nanny entered gracefully. She appeared to be around fifty years old, with a rosy complexion and a steady demeanor. Though her features were ordinary, she had slanting eyebrows and eyes that, upon closer inspection, revealed a mix of gravity and shrewdness.

She was adorned with gold and silver, far more dignified than the average nanny. One might easily mistake her for a lady from a respectable family.

This was Nanny Jiang, the wet nurse of Lu Sui'an.

Because she had nursed Lu Sui'an since he was a child, he held her in high regard, and thus she was respected throughout the Marquis' estate.

"My lady, it's only been a few months, but how... how have you become so haggard?"

As soon as Nanny Jiang entered, she hurried to pay her respects to Lady Fang. But halfway through her greeting, she was taken aback by Lady Fang's drawn and weary appearance.

Before she could recover, Lady Fang had already pulled her to sit on the couch, exclaiming with a mix of agitation and resentment, "You wretched old woman, you finally remembered me! I thought you had abandoned me to enjoy yourself elsewhere."

Lady Fang scolded her, but her words were clearly filled with affection and dependence. After venting, she gritted her teeth and said bitterly, "You have no idea what I've been through these past few days. That Shen woman has been trampling all over me—"

Lady Fang poured out all her grievances, recounting every detail of her struggles over the past two months to Nanny Jiang with anger and resentment.

Nanny Jiang's expression shifted repeatedly as she listened—surprised, shocked, and then thoughtful. She remained silent for a long time after Lady Fang finished speaking. Finally, she said, "The young mistress used to be as docile as a kitten in front of you. How could she have changed so much in just a few months? From what you’ve said, it’s as if she’s a completely different person."

Lady Fang said bitterly, "Exactly! I don’t understand it either. If it weren’t for her face being exactly the same, I’d think someone had swapped her with an imposter!"

She added through gritted teeth, "I don’t know where she got such luck, but she’s been acting high and mighty lately. First, she gained favor with the Emperor and Empress, then caught the eye of the master. Even my eldest son has fallen under her spell. Not only did she cause the loss of a good maid like Qiluo, but she also made Lu Jingrong reprimand me severely. Now she doesn’t even come for daily respects. I, as her mother-in-law, have become nothing but a decoration, a laughingstock in this household."

As she spoke, Lady Fang grew so agitated that she was so furious she nearly choked.

Nanny Jiang quickly patted her back and said, "After hearing all this, even I’m curious. I must go and see for myself what this young mistress is really like."

While comforting Lady Fang, Nanny Jiang spoke thoughtfully.

Lady Fang, as if finding her pillar of support, instantly revived and asked, "How will you handle it?"

Nanny Jiang smiled, her eyes narrowing, and said, "Since ancient times, it’s not easy for a daughter-in-law to defy her mother-in-law, but putting a daughter-in-law in her place is easy. The weight of filial piety alone can suppress any daughter-in-law in the world. My lady, you’ve been too lenient. What mother-in-law in the world would tolerate such insolence from a daughter-in-law? I refuse to believe that the young mistress, no matter how capable, would dare to disregard the principles of filial piety."

In an instant, Nanny Jiang had already devised a plan.

Meanwhile, at Chuanze Residence, after breakfast, Lu Sui'an hurried off to his office. Since Xiaoqiong Mountain was remote and the journey long, he specifically took two guards with him.

No sooner had Lu Sui'an left than Shen Anning also boarded a carriage. She made a detour to the old residence to pick up Shen Mu before heading out of the city.

Leaving the city and heading towards the suburbs, the number of people gradually dwindled.

Xiaoqiong Mountain was along the same route as Hanshan Temple. In her previous life, Shen Anning rarely left home, but she had traveled this road frequently—first accompanying Lady Xiao and Fang Shi for annual mountain worship ceremonies, and later accompanying Fang Shi for treatment for wasting-thirst disorder—so she was quite familiar with it.

Throughout the journey, Shen Mu remained quiet and reserved, yet every time Shen Anning glanced at him, he would quickly lift his gaze to meet hers, acknowledging her attention respectfully.

She did not tell him the name of the revered master they were going to visit, fearing that his prestigious reputation might intimidate him.

She simply instructed along the way, "When you meet the master later, just act naturally—neither arrogant nor impatient, and avoid flattery or sycophancy. The elder has a difficult temperament, so be patient. With your talents, you should be able to impress him."

Shen Anning coached him carefully.

Shen Mu listened attentively and replied, "Alright—"

After a pause, he glanced at her and obediently added, "I'll follow your guidance, sister."

Having said that, he seemed a bit awkward and immediately lowered his head.

At that moment, the carriage reached a fork in the mountain path—one road led to Hanshan Temple, the other to Xiaoqiong Mountain. After turning onto the path to Xiaoqiong Mountain, the surroundings grew even more desolate, with virtually no human activity. The area was filled with mountain trails and dense forests. Halfway up the mountain, they had to leave the carriage and continue on foot.

Shen Anning led Shen Mu out of the carriage. Looking up, she noticed that a recent storm had left the path littered with withered branches and decaying leaves, almost obscuring the trail.

It was autumn, lending the entire mountain a bleak and desolate atmosphere. Suddenly, an unidentified bird flew through the woods, emitting a peculiar call.

"Madam, this place is so remote. Why would Master Zhuang live in such a secluded mountain?"

Bai Tao grew uneasy and instinctively pulled her garments tighter.

Shen Anning hadn’t expected the place to be this remote either but simply remarked, "Since ancient times, sages have often had eccentric preferences. It’s not unusual."

As she spoke, she glanced up at the winding path ahead.

Seeing her gaze fixed on the mountain trail, Shen Mu thought she might be hesitant and offered, "Sister, why don’t you rest here for a while? Let me go ahead and check the path ahead."

After a pause, he added, "If the way is clear, I’ll come back for you."

Shen Mu said thoughtfully.

Unexpectedly, Shen Anning’s mouth quirked slightly as she replied, "This little slope won’t trouble me."

With that, she lifted the hem of her skirt and deftly began ascending the rocky path.

After all, she had grown up in the mountains.

As soon as she started, Bai Tao followed skillfully behind her, even throwing a challenging look at Shen Mu, saying, "Young sir, care for a race?"

Then she swiftly ascended the mountain.

Watching the two—mistress and servant—moving with such ease and familiarity, Shen Mu was surprised. Then, recalling his sister’s past experiences, he seemed to comprehend. He watched them climb for a while before quickening his pace to follow.

However, as soon as he caught up and rounded a prominent rock, the two figures ahead had already vanished.

Looking further up the mountain, the winding path seemed endless, but there was no sign of that slender form.

Just then, a brief, sharp cry echoed from the distance— "Ah!"

Shen Mu’s heart tightened, his expression changed, and he immediately rushed toward the source of the sound.

…

Meanwhile, at the Dali Temple, it was an unusually busy day. As expected, the prefectural office handed over the dismemberment murder case that had thrown the capital into disarray to the Dali Temple.

The two deputy ministers were swamped with duties, so the case, which had thrown the entire capital into turmoil, eventually landed in Lu Suian’s hands.

In the morning, Lu Suian went to the mortuary to examine the remains—if they could be called that, as they were merely scattered limbs.

In the afternoon, he prepared to return to the crime scene, but just then, a pale-faced constable from the prefectural office rushed in, reporting, "Another body has been found, another body has been found—"

The officer looked terrified and panicked.

Lu Suian leveled his gaze on the officer and said, "Steady yourself. First, tell me where the body was found? Is it male or female? Is it intact or dismembered?"

Lu Suian’s steady, sharp gaze gradually steadied the officer. After a long moment, the officer collected his thoughts and replied deliberately, "It’s a woman, dismembered like the last one. It was found… at the foot of Xiaoqiong Mountain."

Lu Suian had remained composed until then, but upon hearing "Xiaoqiong Mountain," his composure faltered, and his brow twitched. The next moment, his sharp, cold gaze shot directly at the officer—

"Say that again! Where was the body found?"