Yang Xu returned to the Qiu residence from the Zhang family's villa, remaining silent the entire way. His short stature had endured too many changes and pressures in a short period. The fierce and reckless spirit of a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger, once present in Stone Village, was gone. He was utterly dejected.
"You should talk to Xiao Xu properly and prevent him from getting stuck in a rut," Qiu Zongxi, despite his usual temper and frequent scolding of Yang Xu, had watched him grow up. It was Qiu Zongxi who taught him to hold a brush for the first time. It was not an exaggeration to say Yang Xu was like his grandson.
His previous strictness was because the Yang family was about to rise again, and Yang Xu needed to mature quickly. However, no one wanted Yang Xu's young body to bear the weight of two lives; it was too heavy.
"Uncle Qiu, I understand," Yang Shoucheng said, looking at his son walking ahead, lost in thought. Even if Uncle Qiu hadn't mentioned it, Yang Shoucheng intended to have a serious talk with him.
"Go ahead," Qiu Zongxi patted Yang Shoucheng on the shoulder and then strode away.
On the other side, Zhan Feiyu returned to her room, warmed herself by the charcoal brazier, and drank hot water. Feeling comfortable, she couldn't help but sigh, "If I didn't have to study, I wouldn't get out of bed all winter!"
Yin Wuyan watched the young girl make such a bold declaration. A smile quickly flickered in his long, narrow phoenix eyes, and he felt even more sympathy for the girl who studied diligently by the lamp every day. Compared to the daughters of noble families in the capital, this girl had it too hard.
However, no matter how much he doted on Zhan Feiyu, Yin Wuyan never persuaded her to give up.
Society was harsh to women. Even those of royal blood relied on their husbands for honor after marriage. A wife's glory came from her husband, and a mother's from her son. Men, however, were often fickle, with multiple wives or concubines. Thus, women could only rely on themselves.
The hardships Zhan Feiyu endured in her studies now would become her capital for establishing herself in the future, something no one could take away.
He Nuan poured another cup of tea for Yin Wuyan before turning and leaving. Glancing at the sky, she realized it was almost time to prepare dinner.
In the room, Zhan Feiyu reviewed the events of the past half-month in Xiangwu County in her mind. She picked up a pear with a bamboo skewer and munched on it, crunching loudly.
The sweet and watery taste of the snow pear spread through her mouth, dispelling the dryness from staying by the charcoal brazier and sleeping on the heated brick bed all day. Even the烦躁 in her heart seemed to disappear with it.
"Eat a little less; you just recovered from a cold," Yin Wuyan reminded her. The young girl was usually self-disciplined and sensible, but at times, she was utterly childlike. Like now, eating a pear was as if she had eaten a heavenly peach, her eyes curving with a smile of satisfaction.
Yin Wuyan recalled the young ladies he had met. They smiled without revealing their teeth, maintained proper etiquette, but appeared stiff and uninteresting.
After finishing a slice of pear in a few bites, Zhan Feiyu took a handkerchief to wipe her mouth before getting down to business. "Big brother, no one would bother to take off their earrings before committing suicide."
When facing death, when life itself was no longer valued, why worry about earrings being cut by scissors or stained with blood?
Zhou Shuyao's jade rabbit pounding medicine gold and jade earrings were somewhat long. When slitting her throat, they might have been touched. That was why she had removed one earring beforehand and placed it on her dressing table.
Although Zhan Feiyu had not seen the body up close, she had glanced at it from a distance. Before her death, Zhou Shuyao wore her hair in a crescent bun, dividing her hair into two sections, lifting the top part to form a crescent shape, and securing it with a hairpin, followed by a dangling ornament.
The remaining hair cascaded down her shoulders. Then, a hair tie was used to gather a strand on each side. This way, when she lowered her head, the loose hair would not obstruct her vision. It also served to protect her ears and neck.
This was why many young girls in winter liked to wear crescent buns.
It was precisely because of the hair's coverage that the person who killed Zhou Shuyao did not notice the earring on her right ear. Of course, Zhan Feiyu also deduced that the perpetrator must have been a man, which was why he overlooked the fact that her left ear was bare, without an earring.
Yin Wuyan picked up the conversation. "There were only three masters living in the villa. The perpetrator must be Zhang Minhua or Zhang Minxian."
And based on the scene, the perpetrator had to be Zhang Minxian. If it were Zhang Minhua, and her daughter was dead, even if she had the heart to kill, she would have tidied her daughter's remains afterward, thus discovering that one earring was missing from her ear.
Moreover, if Zhang Minhua had indeed ordered Zhou Shuyao's death, then when Zhan Feiyu appeared earlier, she would likely have used her grief as an excuse to avoid contact. Appearing in public might reveal clues, and avoiding them was the safest course of action.
"Even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs. Madam Zhou's grief-stricken expression was not fake," Zhan Feiyu recalled. In fact, Zhang Minxian's behavior had no flaws; he was merely an elder suppressing his pain after losing his niece.
From this, Zhan Feiyu understood that concealing one's emotions was the norm for these officials. In the future, when interacting with people, she would need to pay more attention to subtle details.
"What about the motive for murder?" Yin Wuyan looked at Zhan Feiyu, concealing the fleeting complexity and thoughtfulness in his eyes.
The young girl's background was questionable. She was not the daughter of Old Master Zhan and Madam Zhou. It had been many years, and there were no clues. Only Old Madam Zhan's words remained. Finding the two wet nurses who brought the infant girl to Shangsi County back then would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
However, Yin Wuyan worried that one day this mystery would be solved, and the young girl would face her blood relatives. The schemes and dangers involved would be no less than those of the Zhang and Zhou families at this moment.
Even blood relatives were no exception; large families were rife with hidden corruption, schemes, and ruthlessness.
In fact, on the way back to the Qiu residence, Zhan Feiyu had been contemplating the motive for murder. Thinking of the tragically deceased Zhou Shuyao now, Zhan Feiyu still felt a pang of sadness. "Firstly, it was to absolve the Zhang and Zhou families, as well as Fu Langhuan, of the murder cases."
Rumors were rampant in Xiangwu County regarding Fu Langhuan's death, with various explanations. However, today, Magistrate Zhu had brought the coroner to exhume the body for examination, meaning the case was about to be resolved.
Zhan Feiyu knew that even if Zhou Shuyao had been drugged, strangling Fu Langhuan was not her original intention. But the fact remained that Fu Langhuan had died at Zhou Shuyao's hands.
She was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Zhou family and Zhang Minxian's niece. Now, she and Zhang Minxian were both in Xiangwu County.
In the future, the Zhang family's enemies could accuse Zhang Minxian of being the mastermind, attributing Fu Langhuan's death to him, making him the real killer who instructed Zhou Shuyao to commit murder.
Therefore, for the sake of his official career, Zhang Minxian had to ensure Zhou Shuyao died. As long as she was dead, it would be "a life for a life." Furthermore, Zhou Shuyao had killed because she was drugged, and she had already paid with her own life. In this way, public opinion would favor the Zhang and Zhou families.
Zhan Feiyu glanced over and saw Yin Wuyan nod, so she continued, "Secondly, it was likely aimed at the Yang family, or more precisely, at Yang Xu. Her death occurred at too coincidental a time. After a big argument with Yang Xu, they parted on bad terms, and then she committed suicide."
Yang Xu would undoubtedly believe he had caused Zhou Shuyao's death. But Zhou Shuyao was already dead, so Yang Xu could only channel his guilt and self-blame into compensating the Zhou and Zhang families, and Zhou Shuyao's relatives. This way, the Zhang and Zhou families would establish a connection with the General's mansion. As long as the two families did not engage in wrongdoing in the future, the now-powerful Yang Xu would surely look after them.
"Exchanging one life for the bright and upright future of two families. This is a profitable business," Zhan Feiyu sneered, a mocking smile forming on her round face. No wonder they say a man must be ruthless to succeed. The death of a niece who had no further value was too worthwhile.
Because of Fu Langhuan's death, Zhou Shuyao bore the crime of murder. Even if the authorities did not convict her in the end, Zhou Shuyao's life was ruined. It would be impossible for her to marry into a good family. Which official family or scholarly household would want a murderer's sister as a wife?
Even scholars from humble backgrounds would not marry Zhou Shuyao. Wasn't the purpose of studying and taking imperial examinations to achieve fame and fortune? Marrying a wife with such a stain would be equivalent to cutting off one's own path to officialdom.
Of course, with the influence of the Zhang and Zhou families, they could find Zhou Shuyao a minor official position in Linzhou Prefecture, but at most, it would be a registrar or a county lieutenant.
Furthermore, there would be no development in her career. It would be like Magistrate Zhu, who sought no promotion, living a mediocre life on a meager salary.
However, for the Zhang and Zhou families, the years of effort in cultivating and educating Zhou Shuyao were wasted. Yet, her death could bring endless benefits to both families. Faced with a choice, Zhou Shuyao had to die.
Yin Wuyan looked at Zhan Feiyu, who lowered her head and appeared dispirited after speaking. He gently stroked her head to comfort her. "The world is treacherous, and such things are common in large families."
Feeling the warmth of the palm on her head, Zhan Feiyu shook her head. She really couldn't muster any enthusiasm. "I know, but I still feel a bit upset."
It was like knowing that countless soldiers died in every border war, but knowing and witnessing it firsthand were entirely different experiences.
"Don't overthink it," Yin Wuyan's clear voice carried a comforting tone. He stroked the young girl's head again. "You've wasted a lot of time today. You haven't done your homework yet, have you?"
Her body stiffened. Zhan Feiyu slowly raised her head and looked accusingly at the handsome Yin Wuyan. Big brother's way of comforting people was truly "unique"!
...
Zhan Feiyu had no energy to mourn Zhou Shuyao's death. She would rather spend that time writing a policy essay or composing a regulated verse. However, the "supervisor" had changed from Qiu Zongxi to Yin Wuyan.
Meanwhile, Yang Shoucheng was doing the same thing as Yin Wuyan.
Regardless of whether Zhan Feiyu and Yang Xu were intelligent or foolish, they were, after all, children under ten years old. Suddenly facing the death of someone close to them, and two people in succession, it was natural for the elders to offer guidance.
"Father, I know what you're saying, but Fu Langhuan died because of me, and I also bear undeniable responsibility for Cousin Zhou's suicide." Yang Xu's personality was stubborn. He spoke with a blank expression, his eyes clouded with darkness and pain, devoid of their usual radiance.
Yang Shoucheng was a man of few words by nature. He was not good at comforting people, even when it was his only child he needed to guide.
Looking at Yang Xu, who was still trapped in self-reproach, Yang Shoucheng said in a deep voice, "The dead cannot be brought back to life, so what do you intend to do?"
Talking endlessly was useless. Fu Langhuan was dead, and Zhou Shuyao was also dead.
After a long silence, Yang Xu finally looked up, his gaze firm as he looked at his father sitting opposite him. Although his face was still immature, his attitude was exceptionally resolute.
"I owe the Fu and Zhou families two lives. As long as the two families do not violate the laws of Daqing, if they encounter any trouble, I will do my utmost to help them."
After speaking, Yang Xu hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "If it's a matter of life and death, I will only help once. If it's a minor matter, then no more than three times."
Having studied at the Qiu residence with Zhan Feiyu for many days, Yang Xu had not made no progress. At least he knew that he could not help in violation of the law, and he also knew that he could not help indefinitely. Therefore, helping once with major matters and three times with minor matters meant neither party owed the other.
Yang Shoucheng did not object. Looking at Yang Xu, who had already made up his mind, he suddenly said, "It has not yet been determined who killed Fu Langhuan, but Zhou Shuyao's death might be because of the promise you just made."
In an instant, Yang Xu almost thought he had misheard. He stared blankly for a long time before speaking, "Father, what do you mean by that?"
After arriving at the Zhang family's villa, Yang Shoucheng also went to Zhou Shuyao's boudoir where she had committed suicide. He then stood at a distance and took a cursory look at the body. He did not know about the earring incident.
However, Yang Shoucheng had roughly deduced the reason for Zhou Shuyao's suicide: using her life to pave the way for the Zhang and Zhou families and secure a future.
Looking at the stunned Yang Xu, Yang Shoucheng spoke plainly and bluntly. "Zhou Shuyao bore the crime of murder. Even if she escaped imprisonment, she would still tarnish the Zhou and Zhang families, implicating all the unmarried girls in the clan, and even the married elders would be affected."
Zhou Shuyao had a younger sister, and there were cousins in the clan, as well as cousins on her mother's side. Any respectable family would not want their son to marry the sister of a murderer as his wife.
He stood up, poured a cup of tea, and drank a few sips. After Yang Xu had almost figured it out, he added another blow. "She had always flattered you before, but why did she go against the grain this time and argue with you?"
"I..." Yang Xu stammered. Although the argument at the time was a result of heated words, both of them felt guilty and self-reproachful because of Fu Langhuan's death, and their emotions had collapsed, leading to the argument.
But if, as his father said, Cousin Zhou had deliberately argued with him, then her suicide was to manipulate him, making him feel guilty and self-reproachful, and to help the Zhang and Zhou families in the future.
After a long time, Yang Xu suddenly shook his head, as if trying to clear his muddled mind. "But how old was she? She liked Big Brother Qiu. How could she bear to commit suicide?"
Although Yang Xu was a bit straightforward, he was not stupid.
Qiu Zongxi and Zhou Shuyao had pleasant conversations, and since they were the same age and nearing marriageable age, Yang Xu had noticed some signs.
However, Yang Xu didn't need Yang Shoucheng to answer this question. He himself realized that if Zhou Shuyao had a chance to marry Qiu Jinyu before, then after Fu Langhuan's death, that possibility was gone.
The Qiu family was a noble family from Qianzhong Dao. Although Qiu Jinyu was from the third branch, he was also a scholar and even a "Xiao Sanyuan" (top scholar in three examinations). Even if he were willing to marry Zhou Shuyao regardless of his future, the Qiu family would absolutely not agree. Marrying a murderer as a wife would bring disgrace to the entire Qiu family.
Seeing the devastated Yang Xu, Yang Shoucheng, who was not good at comforting people, could only say stiffly, "If you still can't figure it out, why not ask Xiao Yu? She's much smarter than you."
Zhan Feiyu's intelligence was only one aspect. What Yang Shoucheng valued most was her insight. Although the young girl was not old, her demeanor and conduct were so perfect that there was nothing to fault.
What Yang Shoucheng admired most was Zhan Feiyu's principle of taking wealth justly. She had sent hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to the border. Such a loyal, patriotic, and intelligent young girl, Yang Shoucheng felt that Yang Xu would definitely benefit from learning from Zhan Feiyu.