"You don't know martial arts, so it's not safe for you to stay in the capital," Old Madam Xiao said worriedly. She was a burden, and Xiao Ling would only be a burden if she stayed.
"Grandmother, Ling'er has not been idle during her time away. Ling'er has done many things for Big Sister. Before, Ling'er was ignorant and felt that Big Sister snatched my father and the affection that should have been mine. I always instigated Grandmother against Big Sister, framed Big Sister repeatedly, and even went so far as to hire assassins to kill Big Sister. Fortunately, I came to my senses in time, and Big Sister is so forgiving, which is why I can talk to Grandmother here today. Although Big Sister doesn't care about my past mistakes, I cannot ignore them. Grandmother, I must stay by Big Sister's side to atone for my past wrongdoings."
Old Madam Xiao could hardly believe what she was hearing. Xiao Ling had hired assassins to kill her own sister. She wanted to scold her, but the words got stuck in her throat and wouldn't come out. Xiao Ling had done wrong and knew to repent, but her own wrongdoings were far more desperate than hiring assassins. Xiao Ling's crime was against the body, but hers was against the heart!
"I was wrong," the old madam said softly after a long silence, tears already wetting her face. Was it too late to repent now?
In the morning, a light rain began to fall, making the already dry and cold weather even more biting.
The Prime Minister's mansion's carriage left the city early, heading straight for Gan Ye Temple outside the city. Today was the first day of the lunar month, and as usual, the Prime Minister's wife would go to Gan Ye Temple to offer incense and pray.
Wen Mohan, enjoying a rare day off, had intended to visit Xiao Man. However, Wei Feng had sent word that he had found the person, so he accompanied the Prime Minister's wife to Gan Ye Temple to offer incense and pray.
While the Prime Minister's wife offered prayers in the main hall, Wen Mohan went to the side chambers. Wei Feng, guarding the entrance, rushed to meet him upon seeing him approach. "Young Master."
Wen Mohan looked at the side chamber. "Is the person inside?"
"Yes."
"Guard the outside. Do not let anyone approach."
"Yes, Young Master."
Wen Mohan pushed open the door and indeed saw Qiao Lan, Wen Moyu's personal maid, sitting in the room. Seeing him enter, she nervously stood up and bowed. "Eldest Young Master."
"No need for formalities," Wen Mohan said, closing the door. "I have some questions for you today. You only need to answer truthfully. Of course, in return, I will give you a sum of money to ensure you have a worry-free life."
Qiao Lan hesitated. After Wen Moyu's death, she had hidden her identity, married an honest farmer, and become a veritable farm woman. When Wei Feng found her, she was indeed trembling with fear, but she dared not refuse to come.
"Eldest Young Master, I don't know much."
"Then I'll ask, and you answer," Wen Mohan said slowly. "Last year, on the Qixi Festival, where did the 'Fire Charm Poison' that Wen Moyu had come from?"
"The shopkeeper of Man Yue Zhai gave it to Miss."
Man Yue Zhai? That was a property of the Cen family. Were the shopkeeper's words and actions at the behest of Cen Yu?
"Where did the poison Wen Moyu used to injure Xiao Man's eyes come from?"
"It was brought in by a young servant of the Cen family master when attending a wedding banquet."
Wen Mohan carefully recalled the situation at the time. Cen Yu had gone with him, and he had indeed brought a young servant. Later, when he went to find Xiao Man, he hadn't paid attention to the servant's whereabouts.
"Anything else?"
Qiao Lan secretly glanced at Wen Mohan, knowing that Wen Mohan liked Xiao Man. She carefully recalled matters related to Xiao Man. "There's something, I don't know if it's true. Miss once asked me to investigate the Eldest Miss Xiao, but Shui Yue Xiao Zhu was so well-guarded that it was difficult to get involved. We learned from a wet nurse around Old Madam Xiao that the Eldest Miss Xiao had once been poisoned by the Fire Charm Poison. However, when Old Madam Xiao led people to catch them in the act, no one was caught, and the Eldest Miss Xiao was unharmed. But the Fire Charm Poison is potent. Unless... through the union of yin and yang, there is no antidote."
Wen Mohan instantly recalled what Shi Shu had said. At that time, Wen Moyu must have been referring to Cen Yu poisoning Xiao Man to ruin her chastity, not that she herself had been implicated. That was why she said Xiao Man would surely kill him!
Wen Mohan covered his eyes with his hand, concealing the emotion in them. "What happened on the day General Xiao got married? Did Wen Moyu really sneak into the Chu family and snatch the bride?"
"No, someone brought the bride out and handed her to us."
"Who handed the bride to you?"
Qiao Lan thought carefully. "I don't know that person, but Miss seemed to know them. She even said to convey her thanks to your family's patriarch on my behalf."
Wen Mohan's heart grew cold. Was Cen Yu orchestrating everything from behind the scenes?
"At that time, Miss wanted to kill the Eldest Miss Xiao. She secretly allied herself with the Young Emperor Yun Qi and borrowed many experts from him to ambush and kill the Eldest Miss Xiao. Who knew that the Eldest Miss Xiao's martial arts were not good, but her Qinggong was extremely excellent. She escaped with the bride."
Wen Mohan felt a dull ache in his chest. He couldn't imagine how Xiao Man had escaped from so many enemies. Seeing Chu Qingge's predicament, how painful must her heart have been?
"I remember I struck her vital point at the time. Who saved her?"
"Young Master, you missed at the time and didn't hit the vital point. A mysterious person saved Miss. We don't know that person's identity, but we heard those people call him Left Emissary."
"Left Emissary?" Wen Mohan lowered his hand. Could it be Yao Yue Lou? Was Cen Yu the owner behind Yao Yue Lou? No, that's not right. Xiao Man had said that the National Preceptor had a close relationship with Yao Yue Lou. Cen Yu couldn't be the owner of Yao Yue Lou. Then who was the owner behind Yao Yue Lou?
"Anything else?"
"And..." Qiao Lan racked her brains as hard as she could. "And, the Eldest Miss Xiao seems to have a close relationship with the Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry and also with the Wuyue Kingdom. Her ambitions are likely not small."
Wen Mohan's pupils constricted. "Did you tell anyone about this matter?"
"No. I went to the Wuyue Kingdom with Miss at the time and discovered it by chance. I didn't tell anyone."
"Does the Left Emissary you mentioned know about it?"
"They probably know some things, but not everything."
"Very well. Here are three thousand taels of silver, enough for you to live the rest of your life. Never appear before me again."
"Thank you, Eldest Young Master." Qiao Lan immediately tucked the silver notes into her embrace. As she opened the door and walked out, as she passed Wei Feng, Wei Feng suddenly struck, piercing her chest with his sword.
Qiao Lan looked at the sharp sword protruding from her chest, disbelief in her eyes. The refined Wen family young master had broken his promise.
"Don't blame me, blame yourself for knowing things you shouldn't have known," Wen Mohan said softly. "Some things absolutely cannot be leaked."
Qiao Lan finally understood. Wen Mohan knew all about Xiao Man's affairs and was even trying his best to conceal them for her. And she, by chance, had learned secrets she shouldn't have known!
"Handle it properly and don't let anyone find out," Wen Mohan instructed. "To do such a thing in a sacred Buddhist place is truly a sin."
"Yes, Young Master."