Yu Mingyue was looking at the case files when Di Yiming entered. She was about to rise to salute him, but Di Yiming waved his hand dismissively and said, "Sit down, I have something to say."
"Yes!"
"Song Yuming's fiancée died suddenly on the ship coming to the capital. He has requested leave to go, and since you are always steady, you will accompany him to ensure he doesn't act impulsively," Di Yiming said.
Although she was not yet married into the family, she was considered a member of the Dali Temple household. If a suspicious death occurred on a ship and the Dali Temple couldn't solve the case, they might as well not operate in the capital anymore.
"Yes!" Yu Mingyue knew the matter was urgent and could not be delayed.
Du Rui also learned about Song Yuming's situation, and it had spread throughout the Dali Temple by morning.
"My lord, this subordinate wishes to accompany you," Du Rui said preemptively.
He had benefited from the previous case and, although still a subordinate, had been promoted. The three of them working together had earned them the title of "Iron Triangle" within the Dali Temple.
Yu Mingyue nodded, "Then I'll see you at the pier. The boat waits for no one!"
"Yes!" Du Rui said, his face filled with surprise.
Since his promotion, his salary had increased significantly. His wife had been increasingly attentive to him lately. Truly, a good wife brings prosperity, and a bad wife brings disaster. Du Rui thought that once he saved enough money, he could buy a house, and his wife would no longer have to endure the landlord's displeasure.
As Zhu Yu was still recuperating in Rong County, and this was a long trip, Li Fu was brought along. He was sharp-witted and had many friends in the martial world, which would make the journey more convenient.
When Cui Shi learned that Yu Mingyue was going to Yangzhou, she was already on the ship. By the time Cui Shi sent someone to chase after her, it was too late.
Cui Shi was both angry and heartbroken, but there was nothing she could do. This child had become impossibly wild, and she could no longer control her.
...
Yu Mingyue finally managed to catch up with Song Yuming's ship. Song Yuming stood on the deck, not exactly looking dejected, but such an expression was rarely seen on his usually optimistic and cheerful face.
"Brother Song, please accept my condolences." Yu Mingyue didn't know how to comfort him.
Song Yuming gave a wry smile, "It's not that I'm sad. I never met her, and I never expected that the first time I would see her would be to investigate her death."
This marriage was solely arranged by his stepmother. He had no power to resist it, nor did he feel much joy about it. Instead, upon hearing of her death, he felt that the girl was also an unfortunate soul.
"Life is unpredictable. Perhaps Brother Song's destiny holds another fortunate turn."
Yu Mingyue didn't realize her words would come true. Thinking back later, it was probably fate's arrangement.
This trip to Yangzhou was not far from Jiangzhou. She wondered if she would have time to see Brother Jiayan.
The weather in Yangzhou in May was already very hot. Miss Meng's body had been buried. The body of a married woman could not be buried in the ancestral tomb, but she and Song Yuming had not yet held the wedding ceremony, so she could not be buried in the Song family's ancestral tomb either.
Meng Sanniang was a concubine's daughter and not favored. In the end, her姨娘 (concubine mother) scraped together money to hire a Taoist priest and hastily buried her on a small hill.
Fang Yiniang called out to Song Yuming as "son-in-law" and her tears flowed uncontrollably, "Son-in-law, you've finally arrived. I've held on to this old life just waiting for you to seek justice for my unfortunate Sanniang."
"Aunt, our purpose here is to investigate Sanniang's cause of death. Please tell me everything you know." Song Yuming helped Fang Yiniang to sit down.
Just as Fang Yiniang was about to speak, a voice came from the courtyard, "Fang Yiniang, the master heard that the son-in-law specially rushed here from the capital. He has specifically returned from the yamen and is waiting for the son-in-law in the main hall."
Fang Yiniang became anxious and clutched Song Yuming's sleeve, fearing that if he left now, she would never have another chance to see him, and how would she then seek justice for her daughter.