Ministry of Justice
Cui Yun had not returned ho for many days, engrossed in reviewing past disappearance cases.
He tiredly massaged his brow.
Jiang Zhao promptly offered him a cup of hot tea.
"Perhaps, sir, you should rest a bit."
He replied helplessly, "To speak dishearteningly, whenever girls were reported missing before, the reports were always tily."
Following Emperor He’s command, the Ministry of Justice responded more forcefully than this ti, sealing the city gates and even conducting house-to-house searches.
"Even then, it all ca to naught in the end."
This ti, Jiang Zhao held little hope.
Cui Yun leaned back, picked up the cup of tea, and took a sip; the warm tea flowed down his throat, warming his body.
He glanced indifferently at Jiang Zhao.
"I never believed we would catch anyone this ti."
Jiang Zhao was startled.
Cui Yun’s voice was cold and clear, "Has the perpetrator been scheming in darkness for years alone, or is it an organization? How have they repeatedly escaped searches? Is there an official covering for them? We know nothing."
Jiang Zhao shafully lowered his head.
"So what are you suggesting?"
Cui Yun’s fingertips traced the patterns on the tea cup.
Records from previous dynasties ntion the seductive scent of Buhuo.
Ti has passed, and it has been hundreds of years; people and events have long since turned to dust. Cui Yun did not wish to delve into matters of the forr dynasties.
"During the Jiayou Period, including Wei Yingying, there have been precisely ten disappearances caused by Buhuo."
"In the second, sixth, and tenth year of Jiayou, each experienced one case. Total three cases."
Cui Yun paused, then continued.
"One case in the thirteenth year of Jiayou."
"Two cases in the sixteenth year, and three cases in the seventeenth year."
Now, the new year, the eighteenth year of Jiayou began with another case involving Wei Yingying.
Jiang Zhao’s brow twitched violently.
"In previous years, there were a few years in between, but now three consecutive years have had incidents, and the number of people is also on an upward trend."
Cui Yun nodded, "Indeed."
"All victims were either young children or girls, but certainly not for trafficking; there would be no need for such risks on the perpetrator’s part."
"This act rather seems like revenge."
Suddenly he comnted lightly, "Just see, Wei Yingying is only the beginning."
Jiang Zhao suddenly looked up, "What do you an, sir?"
Cui Yun, "If this matter remains unresolved, more people will go missing this year. If Wei Yingying does not appear later, it will be a signal from behind the scenes tying up loose ends."
He too was curious. After setting such an elaborate strategy, what exactly is the opponent planning?
If their designs don’t involve Cui Rong, he himself wouldn’t mind stoking the flas to let the fire thoroughly scorch the earth.
After all, the empire under Emperor He’s reign is nothing but a façade, internally rotten long ago.
What of turmoil?
What of destruction?
Fifteen minutes later, an official hastily ca to report.
"Sir!"
Jiang Zhao, weighed down by Cui Yun’s words, now had a foreboding feeling.
"Lady Wei has returned."
Jiang Zhao abruptly widened his eyes, looking at Cui Yun and then toward the official, "What do you an! How did she return?"
"The ssage was personally relayed from the Minister of Industry Mansion; as for details, I am not aware."
Cui Yun indifferently shifted his gaze away.
Jiang Zhao anxious and unwilling to delay, "Sir, should we personally interrogate?"
"No need," Cui Yun said, unhurried.
"The Emperor will personally question her."
Sure enough, after Emperor He learned of the incident, he specially summoned Wei Yingying to the palace.
However, Wei Yingying knew nothing when asked.
Emperor He, clad in a Dragon Robe, inherently commanded respect without anger. His body slightly leaned forward.
"Where have you been these past few days? Who abducted you? Why did they release you back here? Narrate everything that happened, and do not omit any minor details."
It was not surprising he acted this way. It wasn’t out of concern for Wei Yingying, but rather because this incident had severely violated the majesty of the Imperial Family.
For the sake of ascending the throne, he had even slain his own brother; the path to power was fraught with bloodshed and he had made countless enemies.
Emperor He even suspected, who was avenging a deep blood feud?
Currently, he could only be toyed with, and tragically none of his capable subordinates had any clues!
And now, Wei Yingying had beco the only breakthrough.
Wei Yingying knelt on the ground, completely drained, her eyes brimming with frightened tears.
Although she was the most favored legitimate daughter of the Minister Mansion, she had rarely t Emperor He. Seeing the stern faces of many officials in the hall, her mind was utterly chaotic at this mont.
"Emperor, your servant girl does not know."
She stamred, even let out an ungraceful belch.
"Your servant... your servant girl just fell asleep, and when I woke up, I was on my bedchamber just as usual... no different. Yet Daddy, Mama, and the maids by my side all said that your servant girl had disappeared for several days."
She still couldn’t believe it.
But the situation was grave involving the reputation of a girl, she had to believe even if she didn’t.
Wei Yingying looked bewildered, and tears stread down heavily. She dared not cry out loud, it was indeed a pitiful sight.
Emperor He frowned: "Do you have absolutely no recollection of these past few days?"
"...No."
Emperor He was displeased. Yet he felt powerless and helpless.
————
Yingwu, that night, settled down to sleep on the floor in Shen Hua’s room.
With an additional person, everyone adapted quickly, and she only needed to do two things daily: eat and keep an eye on Shen Hua. This also made everyone including Yicui quite nervous.
But Shen Hua acted as if nothing was abnormal, she continued to eat, sleep, and even went under the crooked tree in the alley to chat, listen to gossip, and discuss experiences about pregnancy.
For example,
"The blacksmith’s wife on East Street has given birth, it’s their third daughter. Her mother-in-law is harsh, scolding from morning till night. Last night, she rushed out hurriedly, seemingly to abandon the baby in the mountains."
Shen Hua briefly stopped peeling her walnut. She restrained her curiosity, waiting for more details.
"These past few days the governnt has been stringent, and the official could have easily caught her sending her for a thorough interrogation in the governnt office."
"That old hag is truly heartless, why would their household want to cut short their rations? Thwarted this ti, she might yet vent her anger on her daughter-in-law; just watch, if not this ti, there will definitely be a next. The weather is cold, the baby girl will surely not survive."
Shen Hua: "Wicked."
Shen Hua: "Children are so adorable, my own flesh and blood, I couldn’t bear the thought of them getting hurt in the slightest."
Lies.
Children are nothing but debt collectors, Shen Hua has no patience for them.
Yingwu remained expressionless.
Sister-in-law Wang, growing tired of repeating: "Miss Shen is beautiful, and certainly, the child will also be attractive."
Of course!
Earnestly accepting all praise, Shen Hua unhesitatingly chid in: "My deceased husband was also handso, there wasn’t a second one like him within ten miles."
If Shen Hua ever gives birth, it would only be to the most beautiful!
Yingwu remained expressionless.
Keep fabricating!
Sister-in-law Liu: "About four months, and then the baby starts moving."
Shen Hua smiled sweetly: "Really, I also noticed it yesterday."
"But Miss Shen, didn’t you previously say that you’re only two months pregnant?"
Blatant lies that she uttered and then forgot all about them. How could she still rember?
Shen Hua thought she was about to give birth.
Shen Hua radiated an aura of maternal love: "Perhaps the child in my womb is precocious."
She added: "Takes after ."
Returning to the small courtyard, Shen Hua collapsed into a chair. There was silence for a while, just when Yingwu thought she had fallen asleep.
Shen Hua: "Help, another day being overwheld by my own acting skills."
Reviews
All reviews (0)