Chapter 1479: The Old Lady's Anomaly

Seeing Shu Yu's worried expression, Meng Yunzheng couldn't help but chuckle and patted her head, "Don't worry too much. The Second Prince's target is the Emperor, and in their eyes, we are just small fries. We are still operating in the shadows."

At least they didn't know that Meng Yunzheng was originally the current Emperor's man, and that he had already secretly aligned with Xiang Weinan.

They still had their cards to play.

Shu Yu nodded, "Alright, we can only wait for news now. I'll head back first."

"Okay."

Meng Yunzheng saw her off to the door, and coincidentally, the carriage carrying the goods arrived. Ying Xi drove the cart over.

After Shu Yu and the others returned to Fenghuai Street's Lu family residence, they unexpectedly ran into Grandma Lu, who had just returned from an outing.

Surprised, Shu Yu asked, "Grandmother, where did you go?"

Looking listless, the old lady was supported by Hua Xian as she entered the house. Waving her hand, she said, "I went to Shishi Village."

Not wanting to press her further, Shu Yu quickly walked to the other side and helped her inside.

Previously, when Grandma Lu saw someone supporting her on both sides, she used to say that she was still strong and didn't need help. But today, she didn't say anything and simply walked forward, seeming a bit absent-minded.

Shu Yu became even more worried.

After the old lady returned to the courtyard, she didn't come out again, even having her dinner in her room.

Moreover, she ate very little and her usual hearty appetite was nowhere to be seen.

Shu Yu was deeply concerned, so after the old lady went to rest in her room, she quickly called Hua Xian out and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong with Grandma? Why did she go back to Shishi Village? Did someone bully her?"

Hua Xian shook her head hurriedly, "No, it's just that Grandma's mood isn't too good."

According to Hua Xian, the previous afternoon, someone from Shishi Village came with news that a certain Liu Shi had passed away and asked if Grandma Lu would go to pay her respects.

Grandma Lu was stunned when she heard the news.

Early the next morning, she asked Hua Xian to accompany her to Shishi Village.

The mourning events at the Liu family lasted for the entire day, and Liu shi had already been laid to rest.

However, the old lady seemed unable to recover her composure. Sometimes, she would watch the younger generation of the Liu family crying, and her eyes would turn red too. But she couldn't find the right words to console them.

Originally, it was getting late, and Grandma Lu planned to stay at Lu Dasong's house for the night. However, the Liu family and the Lu family were relatively close, and though Liu Shi had been buried, the mourning events were still ongoing. The wails of the mourners occasionally reached their ears.

Hearing this, Grandma Lu's emotions inevitably became low.

Concerned that Grandma Lu's health would suffer from this situation, Hua Xian discussed with Lu Dasong and decided it was better to return. Staying in such an atmosphere wouldn't do to Grandma Lu any good.

Naturally, Lu Dasong agreed, so Hua Xian brought Grandma Lu back.

Originally, Lu Dasong planned to escort them personally, but there were still many matters to attend to at the Liu family, and Grandma Lu asked him to stay and help.

Upon hearing this, Shu Yu furrowed her brows, "Does Grandma have a good relationship with Liu Shi?"

Hua Xian wasn't sure about this.

On the side, Ruan Shi nodded, "Their relationship was indeed quite good. They both got married to Shishi Village in the same year and were the same age. They lived close to each other, and they did everything together."

 Chapter 629: Three Consecutive Upgrades and the Appearance of the Artifact Spirit (3)

The little black dot on the Merit Orb was incensed. “You dummy Yanyan, stinky Yanyan, who told you that I’m the eyes of the Merit Orb? I’d love to break the Merit Orb into pieces to vent my frustration. How could I be the eyes of that dead thing?”

Mo Yan was at a loss for words, feeling a bit dumbfounded by the insults. She decided not to delve into the complicated relationship between the little black dot and the Merit Orb and simply placed her bleeding finger on the Merit Orb.

This time, the Merit Orb didn’t drain her blood as aggressively as when it was first activated, though it did absorb a fair amount. Fortunately, Mo Yan’s physical condition was quite good, so the loss of blood didn’t affect her much.

After the orb stopped absorbing blood, Mo Yan didn’t pull her finger away immediately. Suddenly, a snowball the size of a fist bounced out of the orb, landing directly on her shoulder.

Mo Yan was stunned for a moment before she lifted her hand to catch the snowball, which was bouncing around on her shoulder. The snowball felt extremely soft, with no hair or fur, and aside from the pair of eyes on top that looked like snail antennae, it resembled a real snowball. If hidden in snow, it would be almost impossible to spot.

In fact, the snowball wasn’t as round as its eyes suggested; its body was more of an elongated oval. If it had arms and legs, it would look like a small snow doll.

Mo Yan had never seen such a peculiar creature. It wasn’t an animal since she couldn’t feel any warmth or pulse from it. It wasn’t a non-living thing either, as its eyes were very lively, and though it didn’t have a mouth, it could communicate with her as effortlessly as a human.

Seemingly aware of Mo Yan’s confusion, the snowball spoke seriously, “This isn’t my true form. Only when the space reaches Level 10 will I be able to manifest my true form.”

“True form?” Mo Yan seized on the unfamiliar term, “What is your true form? And how did you suddenly appear in the space?”

The little black dot on the snowball’s head twirled around and said cunningly, “You’ll find out what my true form is when the space reaches Level 10! As for how I appeared in the space... I’m the artifact spirit of the space, so I naturally came into existence with it! The reason I’m appearing now is due to the constraints of the laws of heaven and earth…”

The snowball’s unique tone, filled with nostalgia, recounted the origins of the space. It turned out that the ancient jade space was meticulously crafted by a powerful cultivator named Mo from a cultivation world for his only daughter, who lacked spiritual roots. He hoped the space, rich in spiritual energy and capable of growing all kinds of things, would ensure her health and longevity.

At the same time, not wishing for his daughter or her descendants to misuse the space and accumulate karma that might affect his cultivation, he embedded a Merit Orb and set up a formation. Only by accumulating enough merit could the space be upgraded.

The cultivator’s daughter was kind-hearted and, remembering her father’s teachings, accumulated much merit using the space. She was loved and supported by the mortal world and lived to a ripe old age. After her passing, the ancient jade space was passed down to her descendants, continuing from generation to generation.

The snowball was an artifact spirit accidentally created during the crafting of the space. However, at that time, the spirit was like an ignorant infant, with no use to the space or the cultivator’s daughter, and lacked intelligence.

As the space gradually upgraded, the artifact spirit began to change, and by the time the space reached Level 6, it could control everything within the space, commanding the elements and everything in it. 

 Chapter 628: Three Consecutive Upgrades and the Appearance of the Artifact Spirit (2)

Mo Yan couldn't quite pinpoint the changes, but it felt as if the previously lifeless plants had been infused with souls; she could sense a kind of joy emanating from them. Just as she laughed and shook her head, dismissing it as a hallucination due to lack of rest, the voice from earlier resounded in her mind again, this time crystal clear: "Wow, Yanyan, you're here! You finally came to see me!"

Startled, Mo Yan looked towards the source of the voice but saw nothing. As she puzzled over this, the voice continued, "Yanyan, come to the Jade Platform!"

Determining the direction of the voice, Mo Yan quickly ran towards the Jade Platform. Although the appearance of this voice was bizarre, everything about this space upgrade had been unusual. Moreover, if this voice could reach her through the space's connection even when she was outside, it could easily harm her now that she was inside. Mo Yan trusted that the space, which had accompanied her through two lives and upgraded through accumulated merit, wouldn't harbor anything harmful or evil towards her.

The space had expanded to a vast area, roughly equivalent to a circle with a radius of fifteen hundred meters. After running for a while, she reached the Jade Platform. She instinctively looked at the Merit Orb in the center and saw that it had returned to its pristine, crystal-clear state. However, something peculiar had happened—there were now two round, black spots the size of marbles on the orb's surface. As she watched, the black spots blinked mischievously, revealing themselves to be a pair of eyes!

Stunned, Mo Yan realized that the Merit Orb had somehow sprouted eyes. She felt as if she were in a fantasy.

The eyes seemed to be very pleased with Mo Yan's astonishment, sliding around the orb's surface energetically. The voice, tinged with urgency, spoke again: "Yanyan, hurry, let me out! I'm suffocating in here!"

Mo Yan snapped out of her daze, staring at the blinking eyes. Strangely, she didn't find them frightening; instead, she felt a sense of warmth and familiarity, as if they were an old friend or family member.

Hearing its plea to be released, Mo Yan was puzzled. "How am I supposed to let you out? Do I have to break the Merit Orb?"

The little black eyes rolled disdainfully, "Yanyan, you dummy! If you break the Merit Orb, how will you accumulate merit to upgrade the space?"

Being called a "dummy" almost made Mo Yan choke in exasperation. Frustrated, she retorted, "You didn't explain properly; how was I supposed to know what to do?"

The little eyes shifted, seeming a bit embarrassed, and muttered, "I forgot!"

"Poof!"

The incongruity of the mature voice suddenly taking on a coquettish tone made Mo Yan laugh out loud, unable to keep a straight face.

The little eyes seemed perplexed by her laughter but quickly pressed on, eager to be freed. "You just need to prick your finger, like when you first activated the space, and drop some blood on the Merit Orb. That will release me."

Mo Yan hadn't expected it to be so simple. She quickly found a small knife and cut her index finger. Just as she was about to let the blood drip onto the orb, she hesitated, concerned. "You're the eyes of the Merit Orb; is it really okay to release you?" 

 Chapter 1478: They Are Different

Shu Yu expressed her agreement, "Fortunately, my younger brother is not like that."

Ruan Shi nodded in agreement, "Yes, after that incident, I was worried for a while that our family might end up like the Zhang family. I had a serious talk with Ah Rui about it. Luckily, your younger brother is becoming more humble and sensible as he studies, and I'm pleased to see that."

Initially, Ruan Shi was most worried about Lu Sanzhu, as he was the most likely one to become unruly with someone backing him.

However, she was mistaken; both Lu Sanzhu and Lu Sanzhu's wife were meticulous in small matters and had a clear mind in major issues.

Seeing the cautionary tale of the Zhang family, it was only natural for Ruan Shi to worry more.

Shu Yu hugged her mother's shoulder, "Don't worry, our family is different from the Zhang family. County Princess Zhang failed to recognize her own position, but I am very clear about mine."

Ruan Shi's smile widened, her eyes and eyebrows curved with joy, "Indeed, County Princess Zhang can't compare to you, Ah Yu. With you around, such things will never happen in our family."

"That's right. Let's go now; it's getting late."

After Ruan Shi had rested enough, she got up, picked up the packages, and left the inn.

As they rode in the carriage, they unexpectedly saw County Princess Zhang again when they reached the city gate. However, County Princess Zhang didn't notice Shu Yu this time; she was being assisted onto a... mule cart.

Shu Yu raised an eyebrow; last time County Princess Zhang came to cause trouble, she arrived in a luxurious and spacious carriage with guards. But now, she could only sit in a narrow mule cart?

Moreover, the place she came out from seemed to be a small grocery store, not a large establishment.

It seemed that Zhang Maolin's incident had a tremendous impact on County Princess Zhang.

Shu Yu fell silent and pulled down the curtain as the carriages passed each other.

Back in the county, it was already evening. The carriage first went to Liufang Lane to unload the fabric.

Taking advantage of the moment when Guo Bing was unloading the goods, Shu Yu went to the Meng family's residence, which was also in Liufang Lane.

Only Meng Yunzheng was at home; Meng Han was helping Niu Shi look after Xiao Songle and hadn't returned yet.

Shu Yu told Meng Yunzheng about the information she learned at the Tan family. Upon hearing the news, he frowned, "If there really is something wrong with the Changjin Prefecture, and if Qi Lie still hasn't responded, it's not surprising."

After Qi Lie received his letter, he would probably send someone to investigate.

The result of the investigation was uncertain, but if the Changjin Prefecture was under the control of the Second Prince, the person sent to investigate would surely face many difficulties. There might not have been any response yet, and it's possible that something had happened. Maybe... they had already tipped their hand.

Shu Yu was worried, "Should we go to the Changjin Prefecture?"

"Not for now; let's wait for news. If we return there immediately, it'll attract more attention," especially now that he was the fifth Prince's ally and a minor official in the Changjin Prefecture. Every move he made would be magnified. Once they entered the territory of the Changjin Prefecture, they might be under surveillance.

Shu Yu nodded, feeling somewhat regretful. If they had uprooted the Second Prince when they dealt with Gong Qiu, things wouldn't have become so complicated.

If only the late emperor hadn't been so concerned about face and had directly beheaded the Second Prince alongside Gong Qiu, they wouldn't be facing so many challenges now.

  Chapter 627: Three Consecutive Upgrades and the Appearance of the Artifact Spirit (1)

Mo Yan knelt before the ancestral tablets, waiting calmly as the space continued to upgrade. She hadn't expected the process to take so long, even after kneeling for two hours. The unusual duration of the upgrade made Mo Yan anxious. After a distracted lunch, she returned to her courtyard under the pretense of catching up on sleep and tried once more to access the space.

Despite her efforts, she still couldn't enter. Fortunately, the mental connection to the space grew stronger, suggesting positive changes within it, though she couldn't ascertain what those changes were. Exhausted from the previous night's sleeplessness, Mo Yan's eyes drooped as she lay down, dismissing the small furball who wanted to nap with her. She soon drifted into a restless sleep.

"Yanyan—Yanyan, wake up—come see me, wake up—"

Mo Yan, half-dreaming, heard a voice calling her name. It sounded childish, like a seven or eight-year-old, yet carried the tone of an adult. The unfamiliar voice repeated in her mind, making it hard to tell if it was real or part of a dream. Remembering an old superstition that hearing a voice calling one's name could steal one's soul, she hesitated to respond, despite not believing in such superstitions. The voice persisted, however, refusing to stop until she acknowledged it.

Growing increasingly irritated by the incessant calls, Mo Yan finally shouted, "Shut up!" Startled by her outburst, she sat bolt upright in bed.

The three beasts outside rushed in at the commotion, their eyes filled with confusion as they noticed her distress. Mo Yan ignored their curious looks, fully awake and sure she wasn't dreaming. Yet, the voice continued in her head, now simply urging, "Yanyan, come see me, come see me!"

Feeling her temples tighten, Mo Yan, confident in her mental health, checked the mark on her right palm. With a thought, she vanished from the bed, leaving the three beasts bewildered at her sudden entrance into the space without acknowledging them.

...

Mo Yan stood in awe on the soft, dark soil, gazing at the mist-shrouded, seemingly endless expanse of the space. She could hardly believe this vast area was the same space that had accompanied her through two lifetimes.

In her previous life, the space had maxed out at five levels, with a thousand mu of land, which had thrilled her then. Now, the land had expanded to at least ten thousand mu, a twentyfold increase from before!

Clutching her pounding chest, Mo Yan calmed herself after the initial shock. She walked around, closely observing the changes in the space. Not only had the land area expanded, but the spiritual energy in the spring water had also intensified. The original fruit groves, herb fields, and grain crops had all undergone significant transformations. 

 Chapter 626: Poison Dispersion and the Terrifying Space Upgrade (3)

Faced with her father's skeptical gaze, Mo Yan inwardly sighed. While the reasons she provided were true, they weren't the primary ones. To avoid getting her knees hurt and to prevent her father's impression of the person she liked from souring, she decided to only share part of the truth.

Mo Qingze, contemplating how to lightly reprimand his daughter, was unaware of her inner thoughts. If he had known, he wouldn't have been so lenient and might have opted for a harsher punishment.

Seeing Mo Yan looking pitiful, Mo Qingze, who had always doted on his children, softened considerably. Still, he forced himself to maintain a stern demeanor and said, "I'll forgive you this time, but if there's a next time, don't blame me for enforcing the family rules without regard for your dignity."

The "family rules" Mo Qingze referred to were a disciplinary method he devised for his increasingly mischievous son, involving two thin bamboo boards specifically made for spanking.

Mo Yan felt a shiver run down her spine, recalling the sound of the bamboo board meeting flesh whenever her brother was punished. Her knees already started to ache just thinking about it. She resolved to keep the real reason a secret, at least until Xiao Ruiyuan became her father's son-in-law.

Satisfied with the impact of his words, Mo Qingze showed a hint of a smile and said, "Since you did make a mistake, it wouldn't be right for me to let it go unpunished. You'll kneel here in front of the ancestors' tablets for two hours."

Without looking back at his daughter's troubled expression, he hurried out, deciding to have his younger daughter bring a soft cushion to avoid hurting Mo Yan's knees.

The room became quiet with one less person. Mo Yan glanced at the ancestral tablets, shook her head, and smiled bitterly. She straightened up and knelt properly, reflecting on her actions. She acknowledged that she needed to learn from this experience and not recklessly rely on her space abilities. She valued her life and the well-being of her family too much to continue taking such risks.

Soon, Xin'er sneaked in, carrying a rabbit fur cushion and a soft pillow. Seeing her sister kneeling on the hard floor, Xin'er felt a pang of sympathy. She quickly placed the cushion and pillow under Mo Yan's knees, complaining tearfully, "Father was too harsh. Even if you did wrong, he shouldn't punish you so severely. Kneeling for two hours will make it hard for you to walk, especially after staying up all night. You can't endure this; I need to ask father to let you rest."

Mo Yan gently tapped her sister's hand and said, "I did make a mistake, and father's punishment is justified. Besides, he must care since he sent you with the cushion. Don't defy him on my behalf."

Xin'er pouted, "Father didn't tell me to bring anything. He just said you were here reflecting and warned me not to disturb you. I came secretly, worried he'd take the cushion away if he knew."

Mo Yan chuckled and poked her sister's cheek. "Father could have chosen not to mention my punishment. The fact that he did is his way of hinting for you to bring a cushion. If you hadn't understood, he probably would have brought it himself."

Xin'er clapped her hands in realization, "I knew father wouldn't really let you kneel like this. I'll bring a blanket so you can rest."

Mo Yan quickly refused, "I'm being punished and can't sleep in front of the ancestors; it would be disrespectful. Don't bring a blanket, or father will get angry."

"Alright," Xin'er reluctantly agreed, glancing at the ancestral tablets.

Xin'er wanted to stay and chat with Mo Yan but feared that their father would see it as a sign of insincerity and increase the punishment. Mo Yan noticed her hesitation and reassured her, "If I get bored, I can sneak in a nap. With you here, I won't be able to rest."

Seeing her sister's fatigue, Xin'er quickly said, "I'll leave and close the door. If you can't hold on, just rest for a bit. The ancestors won't mind!"

Mo Yan smiled and patted Xin'er's head, agreeing.

After Xin'er left, closing the door behind her, Mo Yan rubbed the ancient jade mark on her palm, intending to fetch some food from her space. To her surprise, she couldn't access the items inside or enter the space herself. The space was still there, as the connection hadn't been severed, but it seemed to be undergoing an upgrade.

Yesterday, the red markings on the Merit Bead only covered about half of it. Even after saving dozens of people, it seemed insufficient for a fourth upgrade. The only explanation was that one of the people she saved had a merit as significant as Xiao Ruiyuan's, magnifying the effect a hundredfold or more.

Last night, the space was functioning normally when she retrieved the thousand-year ginseng and black lingzhi. If her actions had triggered the upgrade, it could only mean that the person she saved, likely Crown Prince Chu Heng, had a merit value far beyond the ordinary.

Chapter 1476: County Princess Zhang's Downfall

The next day, when Shu Yu was about to leave, Ruan Shi and Ah Xiang had already gone to the Tan family's fabric store for purchases.

Ying Xi informed her, "Madam said that Miss is tired and should rest a bit. They are familiar with the fabric store now, and there are assistants to help with loading the goods. Let's wait for them to return here at the inn."

Shu Yu smiled, "Understood."

Enjoying a rare moment of relaxation, she had breakfast in the inn. It seemed that the shopping took longer than expected, so Shu Yu canceled the room and sat with Ying Xi in the lobby, waiting for Ruan Shi's return.

After more than an hour, Ruan Shi walked in with a beaming smile. Shu Yu noticed that she was sweating and asked her to sit down and rest before setting off again.

Ruan Shi explained, "The Tan family recently introduced a new type of fabric from the capital. It feels exceptionally comfortable to touch, and despite the scorching weather, it's still cooling when worn. However, it's a bit expensive. The shopkeeper said that they don't sell one or two pieces, but he still gave us a discount to bring one back."

Shu Yu chuckled as she watched her mother. Ruan Shi was usually reserved, but when it came to discussing clothing and fabrics, she would become very talkative, leaving no room for others to interject.

Concerned that her mother might be tired, Shu Yu offered her a glass of water.

However, before she could hand the water to Ruan Shi, her mother seemed to freeze midway. Following her gaze, Shu Yu saw a familiar figure standing at the entrance of the inn.

Ruan Shi noticed Shu Yu's reaction and asked, "Why is she glaring at you? Is she still looking for trouble?"

The person in question then turned around and left after giving Shu Yu a fierce glare.

Shu Yu retracted her gaze, feeling puzzled. "County Princess Zhang looks much worse now, and her clothes seem rather old. She only has one maid with her?"

"That's her own doing," Ruan Shi snorted, with a hint of schadenfreude in her tone.

Curious, Shu Yu asked, "Mother, do you know what happened?"

"I do. Two months ago, when you were in the Changjin Prefecture, the incident was quite a sensation," Ruan Shi explained.

"Her family encountered some trouble?"

"Yes," Ruan Shi said, "It's more accurate to say that her younger brother got into trouble. You know, that shameless guy who wanted to marry you, the one who was beaten by Lord Xiang when they came to our house. It seems the incident spread in the city as well. With his personality, being picky about everything, no one wanted to marry him after that."

"But later on, I heard he got married to a woman from a small family. With the Zhang siblings' characters, they wouldn't have chosen someone from such a background. But that Zhang County Princess's younger brother insisted on marrying her; it seemed he really liked that girl. When I heard about it back then, I thought the girl was unfortunate, marrying into a family like theirs. Little did I know, she was the formidable one."

Ruan Shi's voice became somewhat emotional, and she seemed a little unconvinced.

"Do you know why that girl married County Princess Zhang's brother? It's because she got pregnant, but the child is not his. She had an affair before marriage, so she had to find someone to marry her. She chose the Zhang family because they had some money, and that Zhang guy had a reckless personality, making it easy for her to manipulate him. The Zhang family insisted on marrying her, but it was actually her who schemed to seduce him."

Shu Yu was speechless. From the sounds of it, that girl was indeed quite formidable.

 Chapter 625: Poison Dispersion and the Terrifying Space Upgrade (2)

Seeing Mo Yan's sincere attitude, clearly aware of her mistakes, Mo Qingze's expression softened slightly, but his voice remained stern: "Knowing it's wrong and still doing it—you're compounding your errors! If you knew it was wrong, why did you do it?"

Mo Yan lowered her head, full of helplessness. She couldn't reveal the real reason just yet, and she hesitated to concoct another lie. After thinking for a moment, she decided not to fabricate too much and softly explained, "As the saying goes, 'Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda.' Even though the person in question is a highly esteemed Crown Prince and could potentially bring trouble to our family, it is still a human life. I had the medicine that could save him, and knowing that, I couldn't just stand by. I wouldn't have been at peace for the rest of my life if I hadn't helped."

As she spoke, she cautiously glanced at Mo Qingze. Seeing his frown deepen, she quickly added, "My greatest mistake wasn't using the medicine to save someone, but not discussing it with you first and acting on my own."

Mo Qingze listened, somewhat convinced by this reasoning. He felt a mix of pride for his daughter's kind heart and frustration at her recklessness. He was torn between punishing her severely or letting her off with a warning.

Noticing her father's softened expression, Mo Yan felt a surge of hope and continued earnestly, "Father, this was a one-time act of recklessness. If I encounter something like this again, I will definitely consult with you first. I will only act if you permit it; otherwise, I won't take matters into my own hands."

Mo Qingze nodded slightly, seemingly believing her words. Just as Mo Yan thought her father was about to let her off the hook, he posed another troubling question: "The Crown Prince's severe poisoning and the need for those three key ingredients—how did you come to know about this when I haven't heard anything?"

This time, Mo Yan hesitated longer. Under Mo Qingze's questioning gaze, she reluctantly explained, "Do you remember General Xiao? The last time he visited our home, I overheard him discussing this issue with his attendants. I kept it in mind and started paying attention to the herbs in the mountains. I never thought I would actually find them! Now, thinking back, it must have been fate."

Mo Qingze recalled that last winter, General Xiao, who had once saved their family on the road, had visited their home. However, he remained suspicious: "The Crown Prince's illness may not be a complete secret, but it isn't widely known. Even fewer people know that the poison can be cured. General Xiao is cautious and highly skilled; how could he casually mention this outside and not notice you overhearing?"

Mo Yan felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead, admiring her father's reasoning skills. If he were in modern times, he could have been a great detective! Even though she was on the verge of being caught, Mo Yan found herself internally joking about her father's abilities. Seeing the doubt on Mo Qingze's face growing, she quickly explained, "I don't know the exact reason. Maybe General Xiao was too focused and didn't notice me, or perhaps he did notice but thought that as a village girl, I wouldn't be able to cause much trouble, so he didn't care."

After speaking, she dared not look up at her father, fearing that her unease would heighten his suspicions.

Mo Qingze still harbored doubts, but out of trust for his daughter, he convinced himself to believe her and restrained himself from asking further.

Seeing Mo Qingze remain silent for a long time, Mo Yan glanced up and met his gaze directly. She immediately put on a fawning smile and pleaded, "Father, in my heart, you're a kind, understanding, and loving parent. I've told you the truth and acknowledged my mistake. Please forgive me this once, and I promise I won't make the same mistake again!" 

  Chapter 624: Poison Dispersion and the Terrifying Space Upgrade (1)

Mo Yan, not wanting to draw attention, hurried home before dawn under the protection of a hundred guards, quickly returning to the outskirts of Liuyang Village. At that moment, a faint light was just emerging in the east, and the village remained peaceful and quiet. There were no early-rising villagers on the road, and the Mo family lived alone at the edge of the mountain, so they wouldn't disturb their neighbors. Otherwise, seeing such a grand escort, the Mo family would surely be the talk of the village.

Seeing the front gate of her home tightly shut, Mo Yan knew no one was awake yet. She could have quietly slipped back into her courtyard, hiding her activities from the night before. However, seeing the guards behind her, she couldn't let them leave without even a sip of water. Reluctantly, she stepped forward and pulled the bell rope at the front gate.

The tinkling bell woke up Li Xiu and her niece. Li Xiu told her niece to continue sleeping and got up to dress, wondering who would be knocking so early. When she opened the door and saw Mo Yan, along with the imposing guards behind her, she was stunned.

Mo Qingze, upon hearing the news, quickly tidied up and hurried to the front hall to entertain the royal guards. While pouring tea in the kitchen, he shot a stern glance at Mo Yan, who was sitting by the stove pretending to be asleep, and decided to deal with his troublesome daughter after the guests had left.

Although the Mo family's tea was sweet and the meat buns were particularly tasty, leaving a good impression on the guards, they couldn't stay long as they had to report back. After eating and drinking, they took their leave, despite Mo Qingze's polite attempts to make them stay.

The guards rode off on their tall horses, their thundering hoofbeats catching the attention of the villagers already working in the fields. Seeing the guards in their yellow uniforms and armed with swords, the villagers looked on in confusion, wondering if someone had committed a great crime that had brought these royal guards to the village.

The villagers, having never seen such a scene, were worried that trouble had come to the village. They rushed to the village chief, Yang Bao, to find out what was happening. Yang Bao, having no idea that royal guards had visited the village, was also confused. He promised to go to town to find out more and assured the villagers not to panic, finally calming them down.

Meanwhile, Mo Yan, who was being harshly reprimanded by Mo Qingze, had no idea of the commotion she had caused in the village. Kneeling before the ancestral tablets, she faced her father's stern gaze. Despite the pain in her knees, she didn't dare move.

Mo Qingze, although he could see his daughter's discomfort, hardened his heart and avoided looking at her, sternly asking, "Do you understand your mistake?"

Mo Yan glanced at her father and lowered her head in guilt, speaking honestly, "I shouldn't have lied to you, shouldn't have gone out in the middle of the night without saying anything, and shouldn't have taken such risks... It worried you, and that was wrong of me. I'm willing to accept any punishment, but I hope you won't stay angry and harm your health."

This time, she indeed had made mistakes. If it hadn't been for the coincidence of saving those princes, she could not have avoided punishment for trespassing. Later, she took the risk of offering a thousand-year-old ginseng. If the Crown Prince's poison hadn't been successfully removed or if something else had gone wrong, leading to the Crown Prince's harm, who knows if Emperor Huian, in his grief, might have taken his anger out on her family?

However, she chose not to mention her daytime rescue of Xiao Ruiyuan, only stating that she had ventured into the mountains to find the ginseng. She didn't know if her father would be angrier knowing she risked herself for a man. She planned to explain everything in detail when the right opportunity arose.

 Chapter 1474: Jiang Kuanyu is Dead Too?

Steward Tang said, "I inquired about it, and that escort company deliberately kept it hidden to protect their reputation. They had only taken small jobs before, with short routes for escorting goods. The Jiang family's request to escort them back home was their biggest contract. The escort company hoped that this trip would bring them fame. If news of an accident got out, who would trust them with future business?"

So, when something happened during the escort, and one of the escorts died, the leader of the escort company strictly prohibited anyone from talking about it. They covered up the incident to maintain their reputation.

Coincidentally, the deceased escort was alone, with no family or anyone to notice his absence. Even if he hadn't shown up for a long time, no one would find the escort company to ask about him.

But the neighbors would still ask questions when they didn't see him for a long time. The escort company claimed that the escort died in a later job, expressing regret.

Although both cases involved death, it wouldn't cause any suspicion as long as it wasn't linked to the escorting of the Jiang family.

Steward Tang had learned these details from another escort who was the best friend of the unfortunate escort who died. This escort felt guilty about his friend's accident and had been feeling upset, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Upon hearing this, Master Tan furrowed his brows tightly, "This escort company is truly heartless. When someone dies, they should at least let people rest in peace."

He looked up and asked, "You mentioned earlier that the accident happened on the return journey due to bandits?"

"Yes," Steward Tang nodded, "but those bandits were just a group of random people, so the small escort company managed to deal with them."

"What about the rest of the Jiang family?"

Steward Tang hesitated for a moment and said, "The other members of the Jiang family are fine, but... Young Master Jiang fell off a cliff. At that time, the escort tried to save him, but a piece of the cliff fell off. The escort and Young Master Jiang were both missing. The escort company and the Jiang family searched the area but couldn't find them. They only found bloodstained fabric, suggesting that they might have been eaten by wild beasts."

Both Master Tan and Young Master Tan gasped, "What did you say? Jiang Kuanyu fell as well?"

"Yes, only the two of them had an accident. But the Jiang family didn't believe it. Madam Jiang said that without finding the body, her son must be alive, and she wouldn't allow the escort company to spread rumors. The escort company didn't want to admit the failure of the escort mission, so they just went along with Madam Jiang's words, not mentioning Young Master Jiang's accident, and continued to escort the rest of the family to their hometown in the north."

After listening, Shu Yu narrowed her eyes. She was sure Jiang Kuanyu was still alive, and it was very likely that the escort who fell off the cliff with him was alive too.

But if he was still alive, why hadn't he returned yet?

Maybe... Jiang Kuanyu had killed him? Or perhaps he knew something and didn't dare to come back?

She looked at Steward Tang and asked, "Do you know where the accident happened?"

"Yes, it was about twenty miles away from leaving the Changjin Mansion."

Shu Yu pondered for a moment, "With such a significant incident, shouldn't the authorities be informed?"

"They did report it. The local authorities sent people to investigate, and they found traces of wild beasts at the bottom of the cliff. They also found the bloodstained fabric of the escort and Young Master Jiang. It was believed that they were attacked and eaten by wild beasts after their deaths."

Shu Yu sighed. She suspected that there were issues within the Changjin Mansion, and now it seemed that the local authorities might also be involved.

It was likely that Jiang Kuanyu was still in the Changjin Mansion. He deliberately chose that location for the accident to separate himself from the rest of the group.

Madam Jiang's reaction suggested that she believed her son was still alive.

Chapter 1473: One Person's Death

Master Tan sighed, "Of course, they returned."

"Returned?" Shu Yu was surprised, "When did they return? Weren't they supposed to be sent to the north?"

Master Tan nodded, "Actually, I inquired about this at the beginning of the year. They said they were sent away."

Shu Yu was taken aback, "Sent away? That's not possible because Jiang Kuanyu appeared at the Changjin Mansion."

Master Tan explained, "When the Jiang family left, we were all concerned about Ah Cheng's condition and didn't have the energy to deal with other matters. When Jiang Kuanyu came to visit Ah Cheng, we asked for his address so we could keep in touch. But he said he hadn't been to his hometown himself, and he had some conflicts with people from there. He wasn't sure if he would go back or stay where he was. He said he would contact us once he settled down."

With this explanation, Master Tan let the matter go.

In fact, his connection was Old Master Jiang, and the one who had a good relationship with Jiang Kuanyu was his son, Tan Cheng. But considering Tan Cheng's condition...

After the Jiang family left, Master Tan didn't pay much attention to them. It was only during the New Year when relatives and friends came to visit that he thought of Old Jiang again. He suddenly remembered that Jiang Kuanyu hadn't sent any letters since he returned home.

Since there was no news from the Jiang family, Master Tan went to the escort company that escorted them back to inquire. It was then that he found out the Jiang family had hired a relatively unknown small escort company.

The leader of the escort company said they had safely delivered the Jiang family to the north.

Satisfied with the answer, Master Tan didn't inquire further.

However, a few days ago, when Young Master Tan became a suspect, Master Tan's attention turned back to Jiang Kuanyu.

Shu Yu thought of the escort company, and so did Master Tan.

So, yesterday, he went to the escort company again and asked more carefully. However, the people there became impatient and said that it had been too long and they couldn't remember the details.

Master Tan found it strange, so he asked for the exact address, but the escort staff refused to disclose it, claiming that the Jiang family had forbidden them from revealing it.

Feeling that something was amiss, Master Tan sent his steward there to keep an eye on things and try to find someone who was involved in the escort to ask questions.

Just as Master Tan was about to mention this to Shu Yu, his steward rushed in, "Master, Steward Tang is back."

Indeed, talking about someone would make them appear.

Master Tan suddenly looked up and saw the steward running in with sweat all over his face.

The steward seemed like he wanted to speak as soon as he entered, but when he saw Shu Yu, he suddenly clammed up, leaving only heavy breathing.

Master Tan gestured for him to sit down, and a servant came over with a cup of tea. After the steward had a sip, Master Tan said, "Have you inquired about the Jiang family's situation at the escort company? Just tell us, let Lu Xiangjun hear it too."

With Master Tan's words, the steward felt relieved.

He breathed slowly, his eyes slightly widening as if he had some astonishing news, "Master, not all the ten or so escorts who escorted the Jiang family back returned. It is said that they encountered bandits on the way, and one of the escorts died."

Master Tan's brow furrowed, "Died?"

The steward nodded repeatedly.

Master Tan was puzzled, "Why hasn't any news about this incident been reported?"

 Chapter 1472: Several Questions from Shu Yu

Master Tan, in fact, didn't have time to investigate this matter. After all, before Jiang Kuanyu left the capital, he had several estates and shops under his name.

Shu Yu rubbed her forehead, "Yes, I originally thought it was just a matter of settling accounts with silver. I met Young Master Jiang for the first time during the transaction, and it's been a while since then. There shouldn't be any issues. But if Young Master Jiang really poisoned Young Master Tan, then he's not as kind as he appears on the surface. He must have a deeper and more cunning side, which makes me uneasy."

Master Tan chuckled at her words, "You don't need to worry about this, Lu Xiangjun. Before leaving, he sold all his properties, and there were many buyers. It wasn't directed at you personally. Poisoning my son is a matter of personal grudges."

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Shu Yu's eyes. It seemed that the Tan family, just like her, had concluded that Jiang Kuanyu was the actual murderer among the three suspects.

Shu Yu sighed, "It's true that Young Master Jiang sold many properties, but he voluntarily reduced the price of the land he sold to me. Doesn't that seem strange to you?"

The Tan father and son hadn't heard of this, and they were taken aback. "Voluntarily reduced the price? Why?"

"Young Master Jiang said that I have a kind heart and treat the tenants well. He wanted to establish good karma, so after we negotiated the price, he reduced it by two hundred taels. At that time, I was very pleased, thinking that Young Master Jiang had a good character. But he's someone who can harm a close friend, which contradicts being kind-hearted. Why would he suddenly lower the price for such a reason? The more I think about it, the more suspicious it seems. I'm worried that there might be something wrong with that estate and land. So, I came here today to ask for more information."

The Tan father and son paid more attention upon hearing her words.

Tang Cheng tightened his lips and straightened his back slightly. "Lu Xiangjun, feel free to ask. I'll speak without holding back."

"I heard that Young Master Jiang went back to his hometown. Where is his hometown?"

"Up north," Master Tan knew this. "Jiang Kuanyu's father came to Dong'an Prefecture twenty-eight years ago, and Jiang Kuanyu hadn't been born yet. When they first arrived here, they had a northern accent. They initially struggled with the local climate but I can't recall the specific northern location. It's been too long. He only mentioned the name of a county he associated with, probably due to some unpleasantness there. That's likely why he came so far away from his hometown, not wanting to talk about it."

North? Huajiang Prefecture is in the southern region.

As expected, Jiang Kuanyu's appearance at the Meng family was related to Meng Yunzheng.

Shu Yu pondered and nodded, "Does Jiang Kuanyu have any family members at home? He should be married by now, right?"

This time, Tang Cheng spoke, "After his father passed away, there's only his mother at home. He's twenty-six years old this year, married eight years ago, and has two children. Oh, his wife isn't a local; he brought her back from one of his business trips."

His wife isn't local either? So when Jiang Kuanyu's family left, they didn't leave behind any relatives?

"Final question." Shu Yu took a sip of water. "When the Jiang family left, with their entire family and so many belongings, and considering the long journey, they would have hired a mercenary escort, right?"

"Yes," Old Master Tan nodded.

Shu Yu squinted her eyes and spoke slowly, "Have all the guards from that escort returned?"

Chapter 1471: Lu Xiangjun and His Acquaintance?

Ah Xiang was quite worried, and Ruan Shi was trying to help with some ideas. However, both of them had limited connections and were not particularly decisive, so they couldn't find a solution to the problem.

As for Shu Yu, being an unmarried young lady, she really didn't have much experience in dealing with such matters, and she felt inadequate in helping.

Thus, while Ah Xiang and Ruan Shi were quietly discussing, Shu Yu could only look outside the window and enjoy the scenery. Ah Xiang didn't actually expect Shu Yu to solve the problem; she just needed someone to listen to her frustrations.

Nonetheless, Shu Yu decided that she could ask her elder brother and sister-in-law if they knew anyone suitable for Fu Xiangdi.

As the carriage arrived at Dong'an Prefecture, they parted ways not far from the city. Ruan Shi had to buy goods and would enter the city again tomorrow, while they planned to spend the day exploring the current clothing colors, styles, and trends in the city to gain some inspiration.

Since Ruan Shi and Shu You took over Yiren Pavilion, they often visited the city and other nearby towns to broaden their horizons.

After Shu You got married and soon became pregnant, the task of going out of town fell on Ruan Shi, Ah Xiang, Fu Xiangdi, and others who took turns.

As a result, they became quite familiar with the area.

Ruan Shi instructed Shu Yu, "After visiting the Tan family, come find us at the inn."

They usually stayed for a day like on a business trip, and they got used to staying at the same inn, which was close to the Tan family's clothing shop, making it convenient for purchasing goods.

Shu Yu nodded, "Alright, Mom, Aunt Xiang, you two take your time shopping. I'll leave now."

Ruan Shi waved her hand, watching the carriage head towards the Tan family.

At the Tan family's residence, the gatekeeper was a bit surprised by Shu Yu's sudden visit, especially since old Doctor Zhao and An Ning had returned the day before.

He quickly greeted Shu Yu and led her inside.

As Shu Yu reached the front hall, she noticed that young master Tan and master Tan were having a conversation.

"Lu Xiangjun, why have you come at this time?" master Tan hurriedly asked someone to serve tea and smiled at Shu Yu.

Shu Yu first inquired about Tan Cheng's health and then put down her teacup, hesitatingly saying, "I did come this time to ask Young Master Tan about something."

"Please, Lu Xiangjun."

"Old Doctor Zhao mentioned yesterday that there are clues about the murderer in the Tan family. I thought it was good news since there's progress and Young Master Tan has recovered. I hoped the Tan family would report it to the authorities and resolve the matter, and then I could congratulate you directly. However, when I asked Old Doctor Zhao about the identity of the murderer, I heard a familiar name – Jiang Kuanyu."

Both Master Tan and Young Master Tan were taken aback. "Do you know Jiang Kuanyu?"

Shu Yu nodded and sighed, "Yes, it's because I know him that I'm extremely uneasy. I'll be honest with you. Last year, I bought a property and hundreds mu of land, and the original owner was Jiang Kuanyu."

Master Tan was shocked. "You bought his property?"