Chapter 1542: Wei Ronghua's Record

  Upon hearing Shu Yu's words, the crowd suddenly understood.

  It's really impressive. When others sell things, they have to gradually expand from a small shop. But Lu Xiangjun, on the other hand, had her products sold out directly as soon as they were available, even without opening the shop.

  "Lu Xiangjun, what about the surprise mentioned in the catchy rhyme on the opening day? What kind of lottery is it?" Someone asked, and everyone else became enthusiastic.

  Compared to knowing the glorious history of Lu 's shop, they were more interested in things related to them, like the lottery. For ordinary people, it was an irresistible temptation.

  Seeing everyone eagerly looking at her, Shu Yu could only helplessly say, "Well, you'll have to wait until the opening day to find out. If I reveal it now, it won't be a surprise anymore."

  "Can't you give us a little hint?"

  Shu Yu shook her head.

  The crowd felt disappointed, but they knew it was just over ten days away, so they could wait a bit longer.

  As they were talking, Ying Xi and Wei Fangfang came over with a bucket of tea and poured a bowl for each person waiting nearby.

  "It's hot today, and you've been waiting here. Have some tea to quench your thirst."

  Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

  They did feel a bit thirsty.

  The tea was ordinary, not too strong in flavor, but it had a slight sweetness aftertaste compared to plain water. After everyone drank, they felt refreshed and had a great impression of this shop that hadn't even opened yet.

  They were just passersby, and the shop's items hadn't even been put on the shelves, nor had they been sold yet, but they were served tea as guests. If they were to enter in the future as customers, their treatment would certainly be no worse.

  At the very least, they wouldn't encounter those shopkeepers who looked down on customers.

  After serving the tea, Shu Yu saw that Ying Xi was now free, so she asked her to take over Wei Ronghua's position in recording, while she walked aside to talk to him.

  "shopkeeper Wei, you've made quite a scene."

  Wei Ronghua heard that there was no blame in her words, so he relaxed and smiled, "I heard about the catchy rhyme. It's everywhere on the streets. If there wasn't someone pushing it, it wouldn't have become so popular. I thought that since the shop owner created such a stir, it's natural to make it even more lively."

  Shu Yu took a sip of tea, "You're right."

  "Last night, after coming to the shop and meeting Yi Ping, I felt that it's important to leave a deep impression. Just the catchy rhyme is not enough; the process of recruiting workers also needs to be grand."

  Especially since the catchy rhyme mentioned the capital and the palace. Although these two places were eye-catching, they would also give people the impression that sunflower seeds and sunflower oil were luxurious items that ordinary people couldn't afford.

  Once people had that kind of thought, even if there was a lottery, many would be hesitant to come and see.

  So Wei Ronghua wanted to use the worker recruitment event as an opportunity to let everyone know that the sunflower oil was indeed a bit more expensive as cooking oil compared to other products, but the sunflower seeds were reasonably priced and affordable for ordinary families.

  Shu Yu nodded, it seemed that the introduction from Master Miao had been accurate; Wei Ronghua did have ideas and capabilities.

  "Alright then, shopkeeper Wei, I'll leave the worker recruitment to you."

  She had come to take a look and discuss the lottery on the opening day.

  Right now, Wei Ronghua was busy, so she would take care of the matter herself.

 Chapter 1541: Xiao Shi's Departure from Dongqing Temple

  Shu Yu watched from behind for a while before walking up to the front.

  Seeing her approach, Wei Ronghua was surprised and quickly stood up.

  Shu Yu waved her hand, "shopkeeper Wei, continue with your work. We can talk later."

  Wei Ronghua sat back down halfway and continued recording the information of the applicants who came to register for the job.

  Shu Yu walked up and looked at a few pieces of paper nearby.

  The records on them not only had names and ages but also some simple information, such as work experience, home address, literacy level, and appearance.

  After all, as a shop assistant in the front, appearance was also important. If someone had an amiable appearance, it would be the best. At the very least, they should look decent and presentable.

  Wei Ronghua's markings were quite interesting. If someone had a prominent characteristic, he would draw a circle.

  Shu Yu flipped through the papers and found that there were quite a few people registered.

  This was only the registration from the morning, and there was still another day and a half left. She estimated that the list would be quite long by the end.

  The problem was, they only needed one assistant.

  Shu Yu chuckled; it seemed like they were crossing a single log bridge amidst a thousand troops.

  Not to mention that she had entrusted everything to Wei Ronghua, so she wouldn't interfere. Now that she put down the papers in her hand, she planned to see if there was anything else she could help with.

  But just as she raised her head, she saw someone in front of the shop's steps asking her, "Excuse me, are you Miss Lu Xiangjun?"

  Was she recognized?

  Shu Yu nodded, "Yes, I am."

  The people around became excited upon hearing this, "Then, are you the owner of this shop?"

  Someone hurriedly asked, "Miss Lu Xiangjun, we heard about that catchy rhyme. Is it true that your shop's sunflower seeds and sunflower oil are actually sold in the capital city and the palace?"

  Shu Yu stood by the door and nodded, "Of course, false advertising is not something I'd dare to do. Besides, it involves supplying the palace. If I lied, I could be caught and punished. Indeed, the products have been tested and approved by the imperial doctors and food experts. They are safe and healthy. I also have the Emperor's personal inscription praising the sunflower oil. You will see it all on the day of the grand opening."

  Hearing her affirmative response, the crowd couldn't help but whisper to each other. Even if the Emperor hadn't tried it, the concubines and noblewomen in the palace probably have, right? Moreover, there was the Emperor's personal inscription; if he hadn't tried it, how could he know if it was good and how could he give praise?

  "Miss Lu Xiangjun, these things are so good. Why didn't you open a shop in the city earlier?"

  Shu Yu helplessly said, "I wanted to, but both the sunflower seeds and sunflower oil were new products at first and not available elsewhere. When they appeared in Jiangyuan County, the former county magistrate had to report any new products to the court. As a result, people from the palace and the capital came directly to buy them. The workshop was small at first, and the output was low. It couldn't even supply the small shops in the county, let alone the big shops in the capital."

  Chapter 692: Expanding Speculations (1)

At the end of September, the weather had taken on the chill of early winter. The leaves on the fruit trees had turned yellow, with only a few green tips remaining, unable to withstand the cold frost of the night.

The warm sunlight bathed Mo Yan, but despite her warm clothing, she felt cold all over.

No wonder the high-yield rice was such an achievement; the Emperor had not only bestowed the title of County Princess upon her but also intended to use her as a shield against the Lin family. It was truly a poisoned “pie.” What was even more laughable was that this “pie” was given by her own contributions. Now she was forced to accept it, with no strength left to resist.

Royal favors were indeed not to be touched lightly!

Mo Yan looked up at Xiao Ruiyuan, whose eyes were filled with concern. After a long moment of searching for her voice, she finally spoke, “As a ruler of a nation, he can’t handle his own subjects, so he’s using me as bait to draw the Lin family’s fire. Does he really think I alone can deal with the Lin family?”

Xiao Ruiyuan, unsure how to comfort her, took her somewhat cold hand into his own and said with firm determination, “Yan’er, no matter what his plans are, I, Xiao Ruiyuan, will protect you!”

The warmth of his hand seemed to reach Mo Yan’s heart. She gently nodded and after a moment’s thought said, “If he is so wary of the Lin family but hasn’t acted against them, it must mean they have something on him. We need to find out what this leverage is. If we can remove it, the Lin family will no longer be a threat!”

Xiao Ruiyuan’s eyes showed admiration as he considered her insight. He shared his own unconfirmed suspicion, “The late Emperor had nine sons. Since the current Emperor was neither the legitimate nor the eldest son, born of a lower-ranking consort, had the Crown Prince not died young, the other princes might have contended for power and lost favor with the late Emperor. He might not have been recognized as a legitimate heir, let alone inherit the throne. It’s possible that Lin Taishi, as the mentor of three successive emperors and trusted by the late Emperor, might have some incriminating evidence.”

When the current Emperor ascended, Xiao Ruiyuan was not yet born. This was information he had recently uncovered, but he had not found any valuable leads.

Yet, his intuition told him that the Emperor’s rise to the throne as a non-legitimate son was not as simple as it seemed, otherwise, the princes who had contested for the throne would not have all met untimely ends within a year of his accession.

These matters were not secret, but neither were they widely known. This was the first time Mo Yan had heard of it and found Xiao Ruiyuan’s guess likely correct.

She took a deep breath and murmured, “If your guess is right and the Lin family holds such leverage, it’s hard to say whether it’s a blessing or a curse.”

Without this leverage, the Emperor would not have been wary of the Lin family, and Lin Guifei would not have been favored and poisoned Empress Chunyi, leaving Chu Heng to live in misery for over twenty years.

The Emperor’s fear of the Lin family forcing him to act might have led him to avoid avenging Empress Chunyi or dealing with the Lin family. Ultimately, the most innocent were Empress Chunyi and Chu Heng, who became the victims in the power struggle between the Emperor and the Lin family.

Xiao Ruiyuan coldly smiled, “The second and third generations of the Lin family are insignificant. Without Lin Taishi’s support, the Lin family would have long been reduced to nothing. If not for the burden of the family, Lin Taishi would not have been pushed out of the court, becoming a thorn in the Emperor’s side!”

Thus, even if descendants of a once-powerful family fail to establish themselves, their significance fades away in the course of history.

Mo Yan agreed deeply. Since the day Lin Guifei entered the palace, someone in the Lin family must have had improper thoughts. Whether Lin Taishi was involved or not, a single bad apple can spoil the whole pot. Even if Lin Taishi wanted to keep himself untainted, it would be impossible.

 Chapter 691: Xiao Ruiyuan's Schemes (4)

Mo Yan snapped out of her daze and looked up, meeting Xiao Ruiyuan’s smiling eyes. His slightly upturned lips captivated her, leaving her mind blank and her heart fluttering.

Seeing this, Mo Qingze’s face darkened. Despite the impulse to scold his daughter for her obvious infatuation, he forced a stiff smile and said to Xiao Ruiyuan, “My daughter must be too tired. She may have been impolite in front of Lord Xiao. Please don’t take it to heart.”

At this point, Mo Qingze was still trying to defend his daughter and salvage her reputation, showing just how much he cared.

Xiao Ruiyuan, noticing Mo Yan's flushed face at being called "Lord Xiao," smiled even more broadly. His voice was deep and pleasant as he said, “Your daughter is straightforward and charming. There’s no need to be concerned.”

“Ha ha, Lord Xiao is truly a person of genuine character. This friend of yours, Ziyu, I am determined to establish a connection with!” Mo Qingze laughed heartily, his admiration for Xiao Ruiyuan growing. The more he looked, the more pleasing Xiao Ruiyuan seemed.

Little did Mo Qingze know that this seemingly agreeable person would soon transform into a predator who would whisk away his beloved daughter, making him regret the decision to “invite the wolf into the house.”

“Friend?” Xiao Ruiyuan’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly, though his expression remained increasingly gentle, filled with respect for his elder. “As the elder, you are revered, and I admire your talents. If you don’t mind my humble abilities, perhaps we can establish an uncle-nephew relationship, and you can guide me.”

Mo Qingze’s eyes revealed a hint of disappointment. While he had read a few more books and gained some knowledge, the person before him was truly talented and ambitious. He knew the offer of guidance was merely a polite gesture.

Nonetheless, Xiao Ruiyuan’s proposal to call him “uncle” was a sign of respect. After all, he was much older. 

With this in mind, Mo Qingze’s face brightened again, and he smiled, “Guidance is too much to ask for, but if you have any questions, feel free to come by anytime. It will be a great pleasure to discuss things with you, ha ha!”

“Then I thank Uncle Mo!” Xiao Ruiyuan eagerly accepted the offer. Even the transition from “Master Mo” to “Uncle Mo” was seamless and without strain.

Mo Yan, witnessing this historically significant moment, was stunned. She realized that her previous attempts to deceive the villagers paled in comparison to the skillful manipulation she was witnessing.

If Xiao Ruiyuan were not so reserved, she could almost imagine him as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, swaying a long fox tail…

With Mo Qingze around, Mo Yan and Xiao Ruiyuan couldn’t find an opportunity to be alone. It wasn’t until lunchtime when Mo Yan brought out a jar of fine grape wine that Mo Qingze, in high spirits, insisted on having a few more drinks with Xiao Ruiyuan.

The wine was of high vintage and had a strong aftereffect. Mo Qingze, who had a low tolerance for alcohol, began to feel dizzy after a few cups. However, with a distinguished guest present, he didn’t want to retreat to his room alone, so he forced himself to drink a few more.

Xiao Ruiyuan, with a much better tolerance for alcohol, noticed that Mo Qingze was slurring his words and was concerned for his health. He quickly pretended to be drunk and declined any more drinks.

Mo Qingze, not one to push, put down his cup upon hearing this and urged Xiao Ruiyuan to eat more. After forcing himself to eat a little, he ended up leaning on the table and falling asleep.

Mo Yan, wearing an apron and bringing out dessert soup, saw Xiao Ruiyuan helping her father to stand. She quickly set down the soup and supported her father from the other side, glaring at Xiao Ruiyuan, “My father has a low tolerance for alcohol. Why didn’t you stop him? Now he’ll sleep until midnight, which is bad for his health!”

Xiao Ruiyuan’s face showed genuine remorse as he apologized sincerely, “It is my fault. It won’t happen again.”

He offered no excuses for his future father-in-law’s low alcohol tolerance and didn’t seem to mind Mo Yan’s direct rebuke.

Mo Yan huffed and eyed him, “Do you dare say you weren’t doing it on purpose? Don’t think my father is easily fooled. When he figures out your little scheme, don’t blame me for not helping you!”

“I understand!” Xiao Ruiyuan’s gaze grew deeper, his voice like rich, aged wine. “But I miss you.”

Because he missed her and wanted to be alone with her, he took a risk of offending his future father-in-law, using a little trick to create a brief opportunity for them to be alone.

Mo Yan, who had intended to tease him further, found her words disappearing at the sound of “I miss you.” Her gaze remained locked on his deep eyes, and she heard only the heartfelt sentiment of his confession.

Unaware of the carefully planned maneuver to create this moment alone, Mo Qingze slept soundly, his daughter having fed him a bowl of hangover soup, cleaned his face, and covered him with a blanket.

After closing the door softly, Mo Yan joined Xiao Ruiyuan in the front courtyard for dinner.

Xiao Ruiyuan, having eaten little, was still hungry. With him being the honored guest, Mo Yan and the others had refrained from eating. Now that Mo Qingze was asleep, Mo Yan naturally invited others to join Xiao Ruiyuan, including the reluctant Xiao Shiyi, who was dragged out of the kitchen.

Li Xiu, her niece, and Tang Xin were unwilling to join the table, and Mo Yan, fearing they might feel uncomfortable, didn’t press them. With Zhen’er present and the five beasts occasionally lightening the mood, the dinner table was lively and enjoyable.

Mo Yan remained preoccupied with the second imperial edict from the Emperor. After sending the children to nap, she eagerly led Xiao Ruiyuan to the vine-covered courtyard to discuss his views on the matter.

It turned out their thoughts aligned, and both believed the Emperor’s actions had deeper implications… 

 Chapter 1540: Wei Ronghua Recruiting Workers

  Shu Yu could only temporarily put aside this matter, especially since Chen Ji's death was connected to that mysterious person. If it were Shu Yu herself, for the sake of safety, she would probably leave Jiangyuan County temporarily to hide.

  As a witness, Shu Yu was delayed for a day. The next day, she set off again to head to the capital city.

  The shop in Fufu Lane in the capital city had already been renovated, and to Shu Yu's surprise, it was surrounded by a lively crowd.

  When they were about twenty meters away, the carriage stopped.

  She exchanged a glance with Ying Xi and walked a few steps forward, grabbing a bystander and asking, "What's going on here? Why are there so many people?"

  "Heh, don't you know? The popular rhyme in the streets and alleys recently is that a shop in Fufu Lane will open for business on the first day of September. It's this one in front." The person pointed ahead and explained.

  Shu Yu smiled. It seemed that the use of popular rhymes was indeed effective; it had yielded results in just a few days.

  The person continued, "The shop is about to open, and the shopkeeper needs to hire suitable assistants. They spread the news yesterday afternoon, and anyone interested can apply. The application period ends in two days, and they'll start selecting people. If someone is a good fit, they'll earn quite a decent wage."

  Shu Yu was surprised. Two days ago was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and as far as she knew, Wei Ronghua would return to the city after the festival.

  From Donggu County to settling down and packing up, wouldn't he need at least a whole day? Yet, he had already started preparations yesterday afternoon?

  Ying Xi whispered, "Miss, this shopkeeper Wei is really diligent in recruiting workers."

  Shu Yu nodded, "Let's go in through the back door."

  The front was crowded with people, and it would be quite difficult to get in from there.

  Ying Xi led the carriage, and they went back to the previous intersection, then circled around to the back.

  When Shu Yu opened the door, the people inside noticed the commotion. Wei Fangfang, on guard, stared in their direction.

  Upon seeing Shu Yu, she immediately smiled, "Miss Lu, you're here."

  "Miss Wei is here too?"

  Wei Fangfang put down the stick she had picked up in a hurry earlier and clapped her hands, saying, "My father came here for work, so I came to help."

  Shu Yu walked in with a smile, "Then I must pay you for your work."

  Wei Fangfang quickly waved her hand, "No need, I didn't really do much. I just accompanied my father and occasionally poured him a cup of water."

  In fact, she had originally come to see if they needed someone to sweep and clean, but when she entered, she found everything already clean and didn't need her help. So she hurriedly went to the backyard to boil some water and bring it to the people waiting outside to apply. After all, it was hot at noon.

  Hearing this, Shu Yu became even more pleased with Wei Ronghua. He had good abilities, and his daughter was considerate in every way.

  She rolled up her sleeves, "Is the water ready? Let me help."

  Wei Fangfang was taken aback, "No, no need. I can handle it myself."

  The water was already boiled, and as she was about to go out to get a tray, she heard some commotion at the back door. She instinctively picked up the nearby stick and was on guard. Before she could even call for her father, the door was pushed open.

  Seeing her nervousness, Shu Yu had no choice but to let it be and asked Ying Xi to help instead, while she herself went to the front of the shop.

  Even before entering the shop, she could hear the lively and noisy chatter.

  Wei Ronghua was currently in the process of registering and inquiring with his assistants who had come early to the city. He was doing it in an orderly manner.

 Chapter 1539: Understanding the Truth

Shu Yu took the child from her arms, sat opposite the old lady, and while playing with Xiao Zaozao, she recounted what had happened in the courtroom.

Grandma Lu sighed upon hearing the story, "The Chen family is really causing trouble. That Chen Ji is scheming cunningly. Even though he might be well-read and a scholar, his character is truly despicable. Qiuju also brought this upon herself; if she hadn't gotten involved with Chen Xiucai, she would still be Miss Kong's maid. To send her away, they should've sought Miss Kong's consent."

"But the result is, she's not Miss Kong's maid anymore but Chen Xiucai's concubine. They can decide anything they want without considering others' opinions," Grandma Lu shook her head with regret. Then she asked, "How is Miss Kong now?"

Grandma Lu didn't know about the conflicts between Kong Zhiyou and Ding Yuehua; she only knew that when her granddaughter became an adult, she sent gifts to them. Though they didn't seem very familiar, they were still acquainted, so she naturally paid some attention to the matter.

This was the first time she had heard that Kong Zhiyou had suffered a miscarriage at six months due to being harmed. The Chen family seemed more like a wolf's den than the fierce households in their village. They protected the culprit Qiujun without any sense of justice.

If such a thing happened to her, the old lady would have definitely fought her own husband.

Shu Yu shook her head, "I'm not sure, but now, there's only Chen Ji in the Chen family. Without his father suppressing him, he probably won't dare to do anything. Miss Kong has the backing of the Kong family, which is bigger and more influential than the Chen family. After this ordeal, they won't suffer any further losses."

Grandma Lu thought about it and agreed. After expressing her thoughts on the event, she changed the topic.

In the afternoon, Meng Yunzheng came over. His actions were swift, and he had already understood the intentions of the woman in Liufang Lane.

As expected, it was related to Chen Ji.

"Chen Ji deliberately got close to that woman, praising his son's intelligence and saying that if he studies and becomes literate, he will definitely pass the imperial examination. Later, he said he was eager to recruit talents and really wanted to take him as a student. However, though he has a scholar's status, his performance in the previous exams was mediocre, so he was afraid of misleading others by accepting him."

Chen Ji led that woman to think about Meng Yunzheng, explaining how Meng Yunzheng had a talent for tutoring and would be the best choice to teach her son. Besides, they lived in the same neighborhood, and it would be inappropriate to charge her.

The woman was tempted, but she also knew that Meng Yunzheng, though he appeared gentle, was not easy to deal with.

So, Chen Ji gave her another idea: to have her son directly stay at Meng Yunzheng's doorstep.

Chen Ji acted like he was concerned about the boy's apprenticeship progress and often came over to inquire, providing advice on the matter.

Both the woman and the child were no match for Chen Ji. Most likely, they were easily manipulated and told him everything.

In other words, Chen Ji secretly placed a child by Meng Yunzheng's side who wouldn't arouse any suspicion, and the other party had no idea, being fully utilized.

However, now that Chen Ji was dead and died in such a manner, the woman became suspicious of him. She no longer trusted his words and was probably not going to let her son stay at Meng's home anymore.

Nevertheless, even after understanding the truth, there were still no clues about the mysterious person.

Chapter 690: Xiao Ruiyuan's Schemes (3)

Mo Qingze looked at Yang Bao with confusion. Shouldn't matters like these be discussed privately within the family? The village head seemed to be overstepping his bounds.

Yang Bao, showing an awkward expression, rubbed his hands nervously before finally saying, “If Master Mo plans to hold a celebratory banquet, I hope you can invite a few village heads from neighboring villages.”

Mo Qingze, thinking Yang Bao wanted to use this opportunity to show off Liuyang Village’s prestige, shook his head and said, “Yan’er being appointed as County Princess is indeed a great honor from the Emperor. As her father, I am naturally proud and delighted! However, as you know, our Mo family’s foundation is shallow. With such a sudden and generous reward, it’s inevitable that some might view it with envy. It’s not a good time to draw attention, so…”

Yang Bao hadn’t considered this angle. Realizing his oversight, he felt a pang of guilt and said, “I didn’t think of that. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Mo Qingze smiled warmly, “It’s the village head who shouldn’t mind. After this period of excitement passes, we will hold a banquet for friends and acquaintances to celebrate. If you have time, do come and have a drink. As for the other village heads, if they wish to come and offer their congratulations, the Mo family would be very welcoming!”

Yang Bao’s eyes lit up with understanding. He responded eagerly, “Good, good, good! I will definitely come to the banquet. Please let me know if there’s anything specific you need. After all, it’s for the benefit of our village.”

“Specific needs?” Mo Qingze wondered what suggestions he might have, as making Liuyang Village look good in front of other village heads didn’t seem to require any particular advice.

Yang Bao, still smiling, didn’t notice Mo Qingze’s confusion and continued to be cheerful.

The Mo household’s festivities continued until the afternoon. As the sunlight reached the center of the front hall, everyone realized how much time had passed.

Filled with a variety of delicious fruits and pastries, the guests were not hungry but decided it was time to leave to avoid overstaying their welcome. Each person who left the Mo household carried a packet of pastries wrapped in oil paper, leaving with joy.

Despite the second imperial edict causing some distress for Mo Yan, it was considered a great event by others. As there were no candies at home, they had to make do with pastries instead.

Once the last congratulatory guest had departed, Mo Yan quickly closed the gate and leaned against it, exhaling deeply. Managing the enthusiastic villagers had been mentally and exhausting.

When Mo Yan returned to the front hall, she was startled to see the two men sitting opposite each other, chatting and laughing. It struck her that something was off.

Xiao Ruiyuan had visited before, and although her father had been friendly, it had been out of courtesy, mixed with a sense of gratitude. Now, it seemed that the two men, who had previously been unfamiliar, had discovered a common topic and broken through the barrier between them, becoming quite close.

One was a middle-aged man, well-read and gentle, while the other was in his prime, experienced yet reserved. They seemed like polar opposites but were conversing with ease. Was this what they called complementarity?

If this continued, the two would soon become good friends, which was generally a good thing, but Mo Yan couldn’t shake the feeling that something was strange.

“Yan’er, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and greet Lord Xiao!” Mo Qingze, unaware of his daughter’s concerns about the relationship between him and the so-called Lord Xiao, called out when he saw her lost in thought at the door.

Chapter 689: Xiao Ruiyuan's Schemes (2)

Mo Yan politely declined a few times before allowing him to go. She then asked Li Xiu and others to bring out various fruits and snacks to entertain the villagers.

The villagers, unable to see what they had hoped for, felt a bit disappointed. However, when they enjoyed the delicious snacks and fruits on the table and saw that Mo Yan continued to treat them with the same friendliness, without showing any airs of a County Princess, their disappointment quickly vanished. They eagerly asked about the reason for the two imperial rewards issued by Emperor Hui'an.

Mo Yan was at a loss. While she could easily fabricate an excuse for the high-yield rice, explaining the mission to rescue people with the five beasts was more challenging. To preserve her dignity and that of her sister Xin'er p, she could not reveal that it was to save her beloved. Instead, she came up with a story on the spot, claiming that they had gone to Phoenix Mountain to collect rare medicinal herbs. During their trip, they accidentally entered a hunting ground and, by chance, rescued several princes and nobles who were surrounded by wild beasts.

The explanation was full of "coincidences" and felt like a fabricated story, but it was coherent enough that no one could find any flaws in it.

The villagers did not doubt her story at all. They marveled at Mo Yan’s good fortune, believing she was blessed by the gods. Not only had she tamed the feared five beasts, but she also won the favor of the monarch and received such generous rewards due to her contributions with the five beasts and the high-yield rice. Such fortune was beyond ordinary people!

Xiao Ruiyuan, sitting quietly nearby while sipping tea and observing Mo Yan’s every move, suddenly found the tea to be more bitter than usual. How much longer would he have to wait to stand by her side openly, to declare to everyone that she was his and he was hers, so she would no longer have to furrow her brow and hide their relationship?

Mo Qingze, who was also watching, had a completely different reaction. He observed his daughter’s calm demeanor as she deftly impressed everyone in the room and wondered if she had used similar tactics on him in the past.

Before Mo Qingze could delve into such thoughts, Yang Bao, looking excited, approached and patted him on the back with such force that it nearly knocked the wind out of him.

“Ha ha, Master Mo, you have truly raised a wonderful daughter. She has brought glory to our Liuyang Village!” Yang Bao laughed heartily, his face filled with deep wrinkles, clearly expressing genuine joy. 

Having a County Princess from his jurisdiction was indeed something to be happy about. Regardless of the actual benefits, it would make dealing with official matters much easier in the future. He could walk with his head held high among other village heads.

Moreover, with the praise of “pure and untainted, virtuous and benevolent” from the Emperor, the village girls would benefit as well, as it would enhance their reputation and make marriages much easier in the future.

“My daughter has always been excellent!” Mo Qingze smiled, his eyes gleaming with pride.

When others praised him, Mo Qingze would typically be modest, but when it came to praising his children, he would accept it all and add a few words of agreement, emphasizing how outstanding his children were.

Yang Bao, clearly aware of this, continued to praise Xin'er and Zhen’er, and then tentatively asked, “Since Yan’er has received consecutive rewards and is newly appointed as a County Princess, it’s truly a joyous occasion. Does Master Mo plan to hold a celebratory banquet?” 

 Chapter 1538: All the Information on the Papers Is Wrong

Shu Yu had a rough idea now. Although Kong Zhiyou's description was quite vague, it was better than nothing.

After Kong Zhiyou finished speaking, she felt a huge burden lifted off her heart, "In any case, the rest is up to you. From now on, I have nothing to do with this matter."

"Alright."

Only then did Kong Zhiyou feel relieved and got off the carriage. Standing beside the carriage, she hesitated for a moment and finally said two words, "Thank you."

Shu Yu thought she wouldn't say those two words, so she smiled, "Goodbye."

Kong Zhiyou left, and only after she returned to her family's side did Meng Yunzheng get back into the carriage.

"What happened? Why did you chat for so long?" he asked.

Shu Yu gave him the two pieces of paper and recounted what happened.

Meng Yunzheng frowned, and Shu Yu found his expression peculiar, "What's wrong?"

"...I've just figured something out," Meng Yunzheng said.

Shu Yu was surprised, "What is it?"

Meng Yunzheng explained, "Chen Ji must have bribed or deceived someone. A few days ago, there was an aunt in Liufang Lane who wanted her son to study with me, asking me to be his teacher. She saw that I occasionally taught Quan Quan and Xiao Song, so she wanted me to take her son along as well."

However, Meng Yunzheng was preparing for the imperial examinations. Teaching the two kids from his family was a way to relax in his spare time, and he didn't demand much from them. Just cultivating a habit of learning and literacy was enough.

This was different from formally accepting students. Therefore, he rejected the aunt and told her to find teacher Wen instead.

However, the aunt refused to accept his refusal and had her son waiting at the door of his house.

The child was only five years old, and he would cry whenever Xia Yan drove him away, saying that his mother would beat him when he went back.

Meng Yunzheng was not a devout believer and wouldn't change his principles just because the child was pitiful. He went to look for the aunt, but she avoided him. He didn't have so much time to waste on this.

Besides, the child would just sit at the entrance of Meng's house. Since Meng's house was in Liufang Lane, even if the child didn't sit at his door, he would still play nearby, and there was no danger.

Meng Yunzheng's reputation was very good among the neighbors, and they all knew about his character. They understood and supported him, helping to persuade the aunt. However, she avoided them as well.

Meng Yunzheng occasionally went out, either on foot or by carriage, and the child would follow him until the entrance of the lane but not dare to follow any further.

Instead, Meng Han would often encounter him when she went out. Feeling sorry for him, Meng Han would lie to him, saying that Meng Yunzheng was not home and had gone here and there. She had indeed managed to coax the child back home a few times.

Shu Yu raised the two pieces of paper in her hand, "So, the information on these papers... is all wrong?"

Meng Yunzheng smiled and nodded, "Yes, some parts are occasionally correct, but most of it was casually made up by Meng Han. The times I left and returned home are partly true and partly false."

Shu Yu, "..."

For a moment, she didn't know whether to sympathize with Chen Ji or not.

Meng Yunzheng put away the papers, "I'll go back later and talk to that aunt, see if her actions are related to Chen Ji."

"Okay."

The carriage continued on its way, and when it arrived at Liufang Lane, it stopped. After Meng Yunzheng got off the carriage, Shu Yu continued on home.

Although Grandma Lu knew she was just going to give testimony, she was still worried. She held Xiao Zaozao in the front hall, waiting for her return.

When she saw Shu Yu safely come back, she hurriedly got up and asked, "Is the case settled? What exactly happened?"

 Chapter 1537: Let's Call It Even

At first, Kong Zhiyou intended to enter the study while no one was around to find something to deal with Qiuju.

However, when she saw Chen Ji's body, her first suspicion was on the person who had secret dealings with him. The second suspicion fell on Meng Yunzheng, as the matters they discussed were related to him, and he might be involved.

Kong Zhiyou had hesitated, but in the end, she searched the study and found these two pieces of paper, which she then hid. She also had her own agenda. If this matter had nothing to do with Meng Yunzheng, then her actions would be helping him in a way.

Whether it was Meng Yunzheng or Shu Yu, their status was not low. If she encountered any trouble in the future, she might be able to seek their help with this information.

Actually, when she saw Shu Yu testifying for Qiuju at the yamen, Kong Zhiyou was angry and considered revealing those two pieces of paper, implicating Meng Yunzheng in the suspect list as well.

However, Shu Yu, despite their past grievances, stood on Qiuju's side, thoroughly investigating the matter and proving her innocence.

Kong Zhiyou was grateful that she restrained herself and didn't impulsively hand over the evidence.

Now that the truth about the case had come to light, and it was evident that Qiuju had murdered Chen Ji, things had become simpler. Kong Zhiyou felt slightly relieved and decided to give these items to Shu Yu, considering it a way to repay her help at the yamen.

"Lu Xiangjun, that's all I know. I don't know the grudges between Meng Yunzheng and that mysterious person, and I don't want to know either. I have no other requests; I just hope that after giving you these things, I won't be involved in this matter."

Shu Yu finally accepted the two pieces of paper handed over by Kong Zhiyou and started looking through them.

In fact, there was no important information recorded on them, just some of Meng Yunzheng's whereabouts, such as when he left and returned home.

This information wasn't secretive; even the neighbors in Liufang Lane could know about it, let alone Chen Ji.

However, only a small part of the papers recorded specific activities, such as whom Meng Yunzheng met and what he did.

There was nothing surprising about it. Meng Yunzheng's routes were quite monotonous. He either went to visit Shu Yu's family or the bookstore, or he met with teacher Wen. Otherwise, he would stay at home all day, not even venturing outside Jiangyuan County, and his activity range was limited to Liufang Lane.

The papers only contained the time and location, and nothing more.

This explained why Meng Yunzheng didn't notice it. There was no need to keep an eye on him to know such details.

However, although there was no crucial information on the papers, if they were found at the crime scene by the authorities, it might have dragged Meng Yunzheng into the whirlpool of the case.

Kong Zhiyou had indeed done them a great favor.

She kept the papers and said, "Thank you."

"No need. Consider it my repayment, and we're even," Kong Zhiyou replied.

After that, Kong Zhiyou wanted to leave and opened the carriage curtain, but Shu Yu suddenly asked, "Can you tell me what that person looks like?"

She had mentioned earlier that the person was around forty years old, which meant she had seen his face.

Kong Zhiyou furrowed her brows, "I don't have a clear memory of faces. I only glanced at him briefly at the time and didn't dare to look too much. So, I can't provide a detailed description. But I can tell you a few distinctive features."

Shu Yu sat upright attentively, "Please tell me."

Kong Zhiyou thought for a moment and described his height, age, hairstyle, a large nose, and short eyebrows.

 Chapter 1536: Unexpected Eavesdropping

That guest was the old man Qiuju mentioned.

Kong Zhiyou didn't intend to eavesdrop at first. After losing her child, she had been sitting through her postpartum recovery, watching the father and son in the Chen family acting as if nothing happened and being affectionate with the murderer. Kong Zhiyou was thoroughly disappointed in them and didn't want to get involved.

However, she heard them mentioning Meng Yunzheng's name.

Shu Yu was surprised, "Who did you say?"

Kong Zhiyou looked at her steadily, "It's your fiancé, Young Master Meng Yunzheng."

Shu Yu's brows immediately furrowed. Earlier at the county yamen, both she and Magistrate Xie felt that the person who had contact with Chen Ji was suspicious, but they never expected that this person was actually related to them.

With a serious expression, Shu Yu asked, "What did they say?"

"I heard that person telling my father-in-law to pay attention to Meng Yunzheng's movements. He also said that Meng Yunzheng has been getting close to teacher Wen recently, and teacher Wen is looking for knowledgeable people in the county. It seems that he wants to find some teachers, and that person suspects that Meng Yunzheng might be behind it. So, he asked my father-in-law to approach master Wen, apply as a tutor, and then get close to Meng Yunzheng to see what he's up to and what his intentions are."

Kong Zhiyou wasn't familiar with Meng Yunzheng, but he was Shu Yu's fiancé. After experiencing the ups and downs, she had come to understand certain things and realized Ding Yuehua's kindness and her past warnings.

In a way, it was a way to repay a favor. Since Ding Yuehua had a good relationship with Lu Xiangjun, she wanted to go and warn her too. That's why when she heard Meng Yunzheng's name, she didn't immediately leave but stood in the shadows to eavesdrop.

After hearing what she said, Shu Yu's face changed slightly, thinking of what Meng Yunzheng had told her last night.

Indeed, Chen Ji did go to teacher Wen, but teacher Wen didn't like his character, so he refused.

"Is there anything else?"

"My father-in-law agreed to do it. I don't know if he succeeded or not. However, he's a rather selfish person and probably wanted to have a backup plan, so he suggested giving Qiuju to that old man."

"That old man claims to be old, but he's actually in his forties." However, compared to Qiuju, who was sixteen years old, he could indeed be considered an old man.

Kong Zhiyou said, "From what I overheard in their conversation, that old man has some influence, and he had no objections to taking Qiuju in. But!" Her voice suddenly became sharp, "Qiuju is the one who caused me to end up like this. How could I let her go?"

If she really followed someone else, how could she seek revenge? If Qiuju gained power with that person, she would have to watch her enjoy the good life.

Kong Zhiyou simply couldn't bear that.

She felt she had to speed up her plan to deal with Qiuju, but her health was too weak.

When she was six months pregnant, she had a very dangerous situation. Although she had gone through her postpartum recovery, her body was still weak.

Furthermore, when she eavesdropped in the dark for most of the day, the wind blew and it rained. The next day, Kong Zhiyou fell ill.

After a lot of effort, she recovered just in time to learn that Chen Ji and Qiuju were planning to watch the lanterns on the Mid-Autumn Festival night when nobody was at home. Since there was no one at home, it was a good opportunity for her to sneak into the study and take a look. If she could find out the old man's identity, maybe she could sabotage Qiuju's plan to leave the Chen family.

  Chapter 688: Xiao Ruiyuan's Schemes (1)

With the situation coming to a temporary halt, the lead officer, accompanied by his subordinates, escorted the six dejected individuals out of the Mo household. Observing their retreating figures, those present knew that not only would these six face a grim fate, but Mo Yongxi, who had orchestrated their actions, was also doomed. If things went poorly, a few years in prison would be a light punishment.

However, no matter how the government ultimately ruled, all the consequences were Mo Yongxi's own making, and she had no one else to blame. No one here would sympathize with her, not even Wang shi and others who had previously colluded with Hong shi; they shrank away, hiding at the back of the crowd, afraid to come forward.

Finally, while everyone's attention was focused on Mo Yan and the rewards, Wang shi and the others sneaked away from the Mo household, fearing that their involvement in this scheme might be discovered.

They hurried to the old Mo household, relaying everything that had happened today to another culprit, Hong shi.

Hong shi, feeling guilty and fearing that others might discover she had incited Mo Yongxi to deal with the Mo family, had avoided the Mo household today. Despite her confidence in her youngest daughter’s abilities and her belief that her daughter’s schemes would succeed, she couldn't rest easy until she received the news she wanted to hear.

Reality, however, slapped her hard in the face. The person they had plotted against had soared to greatness, becoming a high-ranking County Princess, while her own daughter was about to become a prisoner, and she herself might be dragged into it, potentially ending up in the same cell with her daughter.

Faced with this possibility, Hong shi was devastated. After a moment of grimacing and convulsing, she started frothing at the mouth, and then collapsed to the ground, her body twitching uncontrollably as if possessed by a ghost.

Seeing this, Wang shi and the others screamed in fright, waking up Niu shi, who was sleeping in the next room. Rubbing her sleepy eyes and cursing, Niu shi came out to find Hong shi frothing at the mouth and unconscious. Terrified and wide awake, she screamed and called back the elderly Mo and Mo Yongfu, who were working in the fields.

By the time the father and son hurried back, Wang shi and the others, fearing responsibility, had already fled. Only Hong shi lay on the cold ground, her fate unknown.

The father and son tried shaking her, slapping her face, and splashing her with cold water, but no matter how much they called, she wouldn’t wake up. The two men sat on the ground, faces filled with despair.

In contrast to the gloom at the old Mo household, the Mo family was bustling with activity. Villagers who had been present during the decree were eager to congratulate them. Among them were sincere well-wishers as well as flatterers. Later, villagers who received the news in the fields put down their tools and flocked to the Mo household.

The noise was so loud it could be heard even from outside the courtyard.

People’s eyes were glued to the boxes of rewards in the courtyard. Although they couldn't see the items inside, they could guess that anything taken out was beyond their means to buy or use.

Mo Yan knew that flaunting wealth was unwise. Even though many already knew about these precious rewards, the impact of actually seeing them was far greater than just hearing about them. To avoid drawing unwanted attention or appearing superficial, she politely declined the villagers' requests to open the boxes and asked Lin Yong and Lin Da to help move the rewards to the family’s storage.

Without waiting for Xiao Ruiyuan’s instructions, Xiao Shiyi eagerly volunteered to help. It was no surprise that this County Princess would be his future mistress. By currying favor now, he might have someone to plead on his behalf in the future if he made a mistake. 

 Chapter 687: Two Imperial Edicts - Fortune and Misfortune Await (4)

Mo Yan steadied her emotions, gradually calming down. She nodded to Xiao Ruiyuan and reached out to take the edict from him.

The surrounding villagers, kneeling, looked on with envy, thinking that Mo Yan’s delight was a bit foolish. They laughed good-naturedly.

Being granted the title of "County Princess" by the Emperor was more prestigious than that of noble daughters from aristocratic families. Henceforth, when she went to the government office, even the governor of Jingzhao would treat her as a distinguished guest! In Da Chu, the Emperor’s direct daughters are called princesses, while the direct daughters of princes are called county princesses. For illegitimate daughters, if they win the favor of the Emperor, Empress Dowager, or Empress, they might be granted the title of county princess; otherwise, they remain ordinary royal family members without any official position.

The title of "County Princess" was added by the founding Emperor at the beginning of the dynasty, specifically for women who had made great contributions to the country and its people. Not only did they receive court salaries, but they also enjoyed the same honor as a direct daughter of a prince. In other words, a county princess held the same status as a county lord.

Moreover, being granted the title of county princess meant that her achievements would be recorded in history, a distinction even noble princesses could rarely attain. Over two hundred years, fewer than five women had been granted this title, highlighting how difficult it was for an ordinary woman to achieve such honor!

Facing the villagers' congratulations, Mo Yan smiled and thanked them but felt overwhelmed. She could already foresee the attention this title would attract, both curious and ill-intentioned. With many clever people in the world, she had willingly given the credit for the high-yield rice to Yan Junyu to avoid drawing attention and revealing her unusual circumstances.

If someone investigated the origins of the high-yield rice, how would she explain it? The more unclear the situation, the more it arouses curiosity. Over time, it was inevitable that people would notice, as her father and Grandpa Li had already done.

What worried her most was the Emperor’s attitude. Although she deserved the title of county princess for the high-yield rice, the Emperor's refusal to shift the credit to Yan Junyu or the Crown Prince to consolidate the latter’s position made her deeply suspect this "gift" was laced with a hidden agenda.

With pressing matters to address, Mo Yan set aside her concerns about the Emperor's intentions for now. She gave a generous red envelope to the proclamation eunuch and, with her father, politely sent him off. Then she had the officials and villagers assist in capturing the six individuals who had accused the Five Beasts of harming people, extorted her family, and were planning to flee.

Before Mo Yan could begin interrogating them, the six, intimidated by her status as county princess, confessed everything about the mastermind behind the plot.

When they revealed that the mastermind was Mo Yongxi, the crowd erupted in shock:

“Good heavens, it was Mo Yongxi who did this! She married into such a good family and still harbored ill will against the Mo family?”

“Haha, who knows what that woman was thinking? But now, she’s definitely hit a wall; Miss Yan is now a county princess!”

“Don’t be too happy too soon. Didn’t those six say that the malicious woman is allied with a noble young lady? That young lady has powerful connections; Miss Yan might not be able to handle her.”

“Indeed, that woman’s luck seems to be running out. This is going to be tricky…”

The villagers whispered among themselves, doubtful about the Mo family’s situation. The young lady from the Lin family had connections to the Emperor and the Empress, with a respected concubine (Lin Concubine, who had been cast aside in the palace), and even a prince.

Any one of these three powerful figures was beyond the Mo family’s reach. Moreover, the three were all from the same family, so it was unlikely they would use their influence to harm the Mo family. Instead, they might seize the opportunity to strike against them.

Upon learning of the connection to the Lin family, Mo Yan's expression darkened. Thanks to Chen Ji, she had gained considerable knowledge about the Lin family recently. The Lin family was formidable enough to make even the Emperor wary. Seeking justice from them now was akin to throwing stones at an iron wall; it would only lead to retaliation, as the villagers had speculated.

Nevertheless, she was curious about how Mo Yongxi had managed to get close to the Lin family’s young lady. The Lin family operated discreetly, while the Lin young lady was known for her participation in various literary events and was well-regarded in the capital. She was known for her lofty attitude and often looked down on other noble daughters.

How such a person became involved with Mo Yongxi was truly intriguing.

Seemingly sensing her curiosity, Xiao Ruiyuan advised, “Many powerful figures have failed to manage their subordinates, leading to their reputation being tarnished. Perhaps the Lin young lady is unaware of what Mo Yongxi has done.”

So, Mo Yongxi might be using the Lin family’s influence against her, but the Lin young lady might not be aware of it? Mo Yan understood immediately.

With this in mind, the next steps became clearer. Mo Yan had the six individuals tightly bound and personally wrote a complaint against Mo Yongxi, which she handed to the lead officer. After the officer respectfully accepted the complaint, he responded meaningfully, “Mo Yongxi has repeatedly acted against the county princess and her family. Although the county princess has previously overlooked this due to familial ties, this time, with her plotting to harm the Emperor’s own auspicious beasts and harboring malicious intent against the county princess and her family, the county princess can no longer tolerate it. I hope your lord will handle this impartially and not let such a malicious woman wreak havoc!”

The lead officer clasped his hands and said solemnly, “With all the evidence in hand, we will certainly punish the venomous woman who dares to harm the County Princess and the auspicious beasts severely. Please rest assured, County Princess.”

Even though the county princess had no real power, her status as the first county princess personally granted by the Emperor ensured that their superiors would not dare to be careless, even if the malicious woman had the support of the Lin family’s young lady…

 Chapter 1535: That Person, I've Seen Before

Kong Zhiyou first thanked Meng Yunzheng before stepping on a stool and getting into the carriage, sitting opposite Shu Yu.

Shu Yu thought she would at least express her thanks, but after getting into the carriage, Kong Zhiyou kept her head down and remained silent.

Shu Yu asked, "...If you're not busy, you should go home. Your grandmother must be worried about you."

Kong Zhiyou exhaled and looked up, saying, "Lu Xiangjun, I thought you would take the opportunity to humiliate and retaliate against me when you testified for Qiuju. I thought you would step on me. I was too narrow-minded; I apologize."

"Is that what you wanted to say?"

"Of course not."

Shu Yu waited for her to finish apologizing and say thank you, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she took out a few pieces of paper from her sleeve and handed them to Shu Yu.

Shu Yu was puzzled. "What is this?"

Without taking them, Kong Zhiyou took them back and said, "Actually, I lied about something in court today."

"So what?"

Kong Zhiyou pursed her lips. "I told the county magistrate that I let Dongmei go home to reunite with her family because I was grateful for her care for me. But that's not true. I let her go home to my father-in-law's study to take something."

"To take something?" Shu Yu's gaze unconsciously fell on the papers in her hand.

Kong Zhiyou confirmed her guess. "Yes, that's right. When I learned that my father-in-law would also be away, I planned to let Dongmei go home, and when the time comes, I would be the only one left at home, making it convenient to take things from the study."

Stealing?

"Just that when I arrived at the study, I heard some noise inside and knew that something unexpected had happened. I originally intended to leave, but then I heard a loud crash from inside. I didn't want to get involved, but I couldn't resist and went in to see. To my surprise, I saw him lying on the ground, dead, with his eyes wide open."

At that moment, Kong Zhiyou was frightened and ran away instinctively.

But after running a few steps, she came back again. After confirming that Chen Ji was indeed dead, she still didn't immediately report it but instead went into the study to find the things she wanted before shouting that someone had been killed.

At that time, Kong Zhiyou had no idea that Chen Ji was killed by Qiuju, but she had no other suspicious person in mind, so she naturally implicated her enemy.

Originally, Kong Zhiyou had thought of doing something more, directly pointing the evidence at Qiuju. However, she spent some time looking for things and worried that it might arouse suspicion.

Moreover, the more you do, the more mistakes you make. If she made a mistake and implicated herself, it wouldn't be good.

Upon hearing this, Shu Yu asked, "What are these papers? Why did you want to find them?"

Kong Zhiyou smiled, but her complexion was pale, making her smile seem somewhat aged.

She said, "Qiuju didn't see the old man, but I did."

Shu Yu's heart skipped a beat, and she sat up straight, "You saw him?"

"Yes, it was about five or six days ago. I had just finished my postpartum recovery and was planning to return to my mother's home." However, halfway there, she learned that her cousin, whom she had always had a bad relationship with, had also gone back to her mother's house. If she went back looking so miserable, she would surely be mocked, and she didn't want to be ridiculed. So, "I returned to the Chen family in the middle of the journey."

"Dongmei sent me back to report to my mother, so she didn't have to wait for me at home. That's why there was only one person entering the house, but I didn't expect that there would be a guest at home."

 Chapter 1534: Waiting Specifically for Shu Yu

Magistrate Xie was somewhat concerned about the old man mentioned by Qiuju, but Qiuju didn't know, and Chen Xiucai was completely unaware of these matters.

The only thing certain was that Chen Ji had died, and he died because of his own poison.

Since Qiuju couldn't provide any more information, Magistrate Xie had the official scribe place the charges in front of her and had her leave her fingerprint.

Immediately, it was announced that Qiuju would be taken to the prison, and the judgment would be made on a later date. As for the others, since they were unrelated, they were allowed to leave.

Magistrate Xie slammed the table and said, "Leave the court."

The cheers of the onlookers outside could be heard, applauding the revelation of the truth in this case.

Qiuju was dragged away, and the others left the courtroom one after another.

Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng were then invited to the back office, where Magistrate Xie was waiting for them.

Magistrate Xie expressed gratitude to both of them for their help in this case, and then he brought up the topic of the old man.

"I can't shake off this uneasiness in my heart. You tell me, in Jiangyuan County, who could be the person that Chen Ji tried to climb up to? The origin of the arsenic is also suspicious. If it was indeed given by that person, what was the purpose of giving Chen Ji the arsenic?"

Magistrate Xie had only been in Jiangyuan County for half a year, and there were many things he didn't understand. What he most hoped for was that during his tenure, Jiangyuan County would be safe and free from major incidents.

He sought advice from Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng because they were intelligent and had some acquaintance with him. He wanted to exchange ideas with each other.

However, Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng exchanged glances and shook their heads, "Qiuju's clues are too scarce. We have no leads."

But...

Meng Yunzheng said with a serious expression, "Why not have someone secretly investigate this person? Since he had dealings with Chen Ji, it's likely not just once or twice. Perhaps someone might have seen something, like the neighbors. I also agree that this person's actions are somewhat strange, and he is an unpredictable factor."

Yes, that's the feeling, as if a major event could erupt at any time, just like the death of Chen Ji this time. Magistrate Xie nodded immediately, "You're right. I'll have people pay more attention. If you come across any leads, remember to inform me."

"Yes, Daren."

After finishing their conversation, Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng bid farewell and left. Magistrate Xie didn't detain them; he still had a pile of things to deal with.

At this moment, Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng were indeed puzzled. After leaving the yamen, they got on the carriage waiting outside.

As Ying Xi pulled the reins, preparing to leave, she suddenly stopped and said softly, "Miss..."

Shu Yu was about to discuss today's events with Meng Yunzheng when she heard Ying Xi's call, so she lifted the curtain and saw a few figures not far away.

At a glance, she saw Kong Zhiyou standing in the middle.

Aside from Dongmei, there were also other members of the Kong family accompanying Kong Zhiyou. Most likely, her parents were among them.

Earlier, there were quite a few people from the Kong family outside the courtroom as well.

Seeing Shu Yu looking over, Kong Zhiyou immediately said to the people around her, "Father, Mother, I want to speak to Lu Xiangjun for a moment."

Her mother sighed and nodded gently, "Go ahead. If it wasn't for Lu Xiangjun and Meng Xiucai's help today, you wouldn't have gotten out of this situation so quickly. Thank them properly and visit them another day."

Kong Zhiyou nodded, then walked over to the side of the carriage, "Lu Xiangjun, can I have a private conversation with you?"

Shu Yu raised her eyebrows, and seeing Meng Yunzheng's response, he jumped off the carriage.