Xie Jiayan was about to speak when Yu Mingyue said, "Brother Jiayan will be the future Grand Secretary. With no more villains plotting against you, you won't die young like in the storybooks. Brother Jiayan will live a long and healthy life."
Yu Mingyue was drunk, but Xie Jiayan was sober. He heard every word she said.
"What storybooks? Where did you read them?"
"I saw them in a dream. But don't worry, the villain who harmed you, Chai Xinyue, is already dead. The Five Clans owe you their gratitude and won't send anyone to pursue you. No one in this world will harm you anymore, so you don't have to worry so much about the Great Wei..." Yu Mingyue's elbow slid down, her head resting on her arm as she mumbled.
"Sixth Sister, you are not to tell anyone else these words."
Yu Mingyue replied hazily with her eyes closed, "I only tell Brother Jiayan. Even my mother doesn't know. This is a secret..."
Xie Jiayan called out twice but received no response, realizing she had fallen asleep.
Xie Jiayan found it difficult to help her to bed, so he sent Li Fu to call the cook. The cook, having already received a reward from Xie Jiayan, took good care of her.
While some slept soundly, others did not sleep at all.
Xie Jiayan remained silent after returning to his room. Hua Chaofei shook his head and sighed, "What a great opportunity that was! If you had cooperated even a little, you would have already won the beauty's heart."
The Yu family doted on Yu Liuniang so much. How could the Yu family possibly disagree with the person she wanted to marry? Besides, Jiayan had a debt of gratitude to the Cui family and even the Five Clans; he was not unworthy of a mere young girl.
After a long while, Xie Jiayan said softly, "I will bring her danger."
"You are worrying about things that will never happen. You are being alarmist. What danger can you possibly bring her in your current state?" Hua Chaofei couldn't stand to see him torment himself.
To repay his mother's kindness, he had risked entering the capital to rescue her from the temple. To quell the conflict between the court and the aristocratic families, he had shuttled between them.
If not for his mediation, the Five Clans would have been wiped out, the Sage would have been known as a tyrant, and the refugees would have revolted. The Great Wei would have eventually perished like the previous dynasty, lasting only two generations.
He had been true to his parents and to the people of the world, but he had only failed himself.
"An innocent man is not guilty for possessing wealth, but he is guilty for possessing it." Xie Jiayan smiled self-mockingly. His very origin was a sin.
In the storybook that Sixth Sister mentioned, he was also alone, destined for a lonely life, to die from exhaustion and worry.
This was for the best.
Since he could not give her what she desired, he should not give her hope.
Perhaps he should not have come on this trip at all.
However, since he was here, he would resolve the matter of the Canal Gang, also ridding the people of a menace.
...
Yu Mingyue woke up with a slight headache, but otherwise felt fine.
Li Fu, who was waiting outside, heard the movement and knocked on the door. "My lady?"
"Come in!" Yu Mingyue rubbed her temples and sat down at the table. "Has Brother Song woken up? I wonder how his situation is. I'll go find him later..."
Li Fu, usually sharp and quick, stood there looking hesitant, scratching his head.
"What is it?"
"My lady, you really don't remember?"
"Remember what?"
"My lady got drunk yesterday..." Li Fu stammered.
Yu Mingyue nodded. "It's unavoidable to drink a few extra cups when socializing. Don't mention it to my mother when we get back."
"I won't say a word. However, my lady said something after returning last night..."
"What did she say? Why are you so hesitant today? You're not being efficient at all. Tell me quickly what happened last night. I have things to do later." Yu Mingyue took a sip of tea.
She realized she had a rebellious streak. When investigating a difficult case, she became even more excited. If she could resolve the matter of the Canal Gang this time, it would be another great achievement.
Most importantly, she had to make the people of Yangzhou believe that the laws of the Great Wei were not mere decorations. Regardless of one's status, anyone who violated the law must pay the price.
Li Fu knelt down with a thud. "My lady, when we returned yesterday, we encountered Scholar Xie at the entrance of the inn..."
Yu Mingyue jumped up from her chair anxiously. "Then why didn't you stop me!"
"I couldn't stop her either. My lady wouldn't let me help her, and insisted on relying on Scholar Xie..." Li Fu said softly.
"Then where is he now?"
"Who?"
"Scholar Xie!"
"Third room on the left."
Yu Mingyue rushed out in a hurry. This was truly embarrassing. She didn't know if she had said anything else.
Li Fu suddenly called out, "My lady's hair?"
Li Fu pointed to Yu Mingyue's hair. The cook, knowing she was a woman, had let down her hair last night. Her disheveled state was indeed not suitable for going out.
Fortunately, men's hairstyles were simpler. Yu Mingyue quickly tied her hair with a ribbon, found a man's straight robe, and hurried out.
As she reached the door and was about to knock, she pulled her hand back. After a moment of hesitation, she mustered the courage to knock.
Be calm. As long as she wasn't embarrassed, it would be fine. She had no memory of it anyway, and she had already failed to confess her feelings once before. She had experience, so she wasn't afraid!
She raised her hand to knock again, but the door opened from the inside. Hua Chaofei came out yawning, clearly having just woken up.
His clothes were slightly disheveled, and his hair was a bit messy. Because he was handsome, he looked lazily alluring.
Yu Mingyue thought she had gone to the wrong room. "Brother Jiayan doesn't live here?"
"He left early this morning."
Yu Mingyue glanced inside, clearly not believing Hua Chaofei's words.
Hua Chaofei leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. "No need to look. He's really not here. We were together last night."
"You... were together last night." Yu Mingyue's eyes widened.
"Yes," Hua Chaofei replied calmly.
Yu Mingyue's gaze fell on Hua Chaofei again. As if suddenly understanding something, her eyes instantly dimmed.
No wonder Brother Jiayan didn't like a beautiful woman like her, who was good in every way. It turned out they...
Hmph, he must have been the one clinging to Brother Jiayan. Looking at his demeanor, he was clearly not a good person.
Hua Chaofei was startled by Yu Mingyue's glare and immediately became alert. What was wrong with this girl? She looked at him like he was an enemy. She must have remembered what she did last night.
Alas, it was a pity.
Such a perfect couple, it was a shame.
Hua Chaofei's pitying look was perceived by Yu Mingyue as a provocation. She was so angry that she almost lost her temper on the spot, but she knew she couldn't win against him, and it would be too ungraceful. This kind of thing was about mutual consent.
She had originally thought that a woman pursuing a man was like piercing through a veil, but now it was different. Brother Jiayan's heart was not with her at all, so there was no point in her pursuing him further.
Hua Chaofei shook his head as he watched Yu Mingyue leave in anger. This girl's temper was indeed fiery.
...
Yu Mingyue had a light breakfast and went to find Song Yuming, only to find that he was also not there.
How strange. She had made a significant discovery at Chunhua Tower last night, and now everyone was absent. Who was she supposed to discuss it with?
Never mind, she would handle it herself. Whether the Canal Gang was problematic or not, it would be more reliable for her to go to the docks herself.