Gu Ying thought for a moment and shook her head, "I'm afraid it's too late to go arrest people now."
She understood Jiang Yin's personality, he was extremely cautious and careful. If Su He really found Pear Blossom Lane, I'm afraid the Chu residence would be devoid of people very soon.
Su He said smugly, "My men are keeping watch there, the people inside can't escape. There aren't many influential Chu families in Bianjing, most of the residents in the area around Pear Blossom Lane are traveling merchants from other places, with mixed sorts coming and going. So this person's identity still needs to be verified."
Gu Ying murmured with her brow furrowed, "Chu..."
In her memory, whether in her previous life or this life, there was no one with the surname Chu.
Su He turned his head and asked, "Is there anyone with the surname Chu among the people my sister-in-law knows?"
Gu Ying shook her head, "No. But I want you to help me check one more person to see if he is related to the one with the surname Chu."
Su He said, "Please tell me, sister-in-law."
Gu Ying pressed her lips together and said, "Jiang Yin."
Su He recognized this person and had checked his ancestry back eighteen generations. His eyebrows quirked up lightly, "Isn't Jiang Yin dead?"
Gu Ying's brows furrowed as she gave a cold laugh, "I'm not sure he's really dead. After all, his corpse was taken away by Han Lin at that time, and I didn't see his body rot with my own eyes. Now it seems he may have faked his death and escaped, who knows."
Only then did Su He realize things were a bit strange.
He gave Gu Ying a meaningful look, suspicion growing in his heart. Why was this dismissed excellent graduate who was an aide to the deposed Prince Li Yang so concerned about this person?
He stroked his chin without asking further, "Since my sister-in-law wants me to investigate, I will certainly do as told. I will also do my best to bring the one with the surname Chu back."
Gu Ying was too preoccupied to care about anything else at this moment. The people around her could be used when useful, "Thank you, Master Su."
Su He smiled, "Sister-in-law need not thank me."
Just as he finished speaking, someone rushed in to report urgently from outside.
The Censorate's courtyard had tight security after Gu Ying moved in. Lady Qin had taken precautions to forbid idle people from entering.
Gu Ying let the person in. They heard the man from Floating Cloud Building speak hastily, "Mistress, Master, bad news! The Chu residence was somehow flooded and when your subordinate rushed in, the inside had already been burned into ruins!"
Su He, who had just confidently claimed he could bring the one surnamed Chu back, now had a black line on his forehead. "What happened?"
The man shook his head, "I don't know. A few of us were following orders to keep watch near the Chu residence. We watched with our own eyes as the fire started burning from the inside. The outer door was shut tight with no one putting out the fire. The flames rose quickly even though it was raining today, which was unreasonable. But..."
Su He's expression was a little ugly as he asked, "But what?"
The man's eyebrows furrowed solemnly as he quickly added, "When your subordinate went in to inspect, I discovered there was a large amount of tung oil inside the house."
Gu Ying's complexion froze for a moment, and the porcelain white skin took on a chill in the dim evening light.
As night fell, the heavy rain that came in the late afternoon passed as quickly as it arrived. Now it was drizzling lightly.
She slowly got up, feeling her body grow heavier by the day, making her movements a little clumsy.
But she still calmly supported herself on the armrest and walked to the door, gazing at the faint curtain of rain in the yard. "I have to go take a look at the Chu residence."
She wanted to see for herself the place that might have been where Jiang Yin was hiding.
To see if her guess was correct.
Ye Zhuojiang practically jumped up from his chair, "I'll go with Ying!"
Although Su He didn't approve of Gu Ying traveling so far in her condition, when he met her determined gaze, he also got up reluctantly and said, "In that case, I'll go along too."
Gu Ying caressed her protruding belly, her eyes calm. "Okay."
She would no longer choose to fight alone. For the sake of her child, she had to rely on Su He and Zhuojiang's help.
...
The night was thick as impervious ink.
When the low-key green brocade carriage arrived at Pear Blossom Lane, the surroundings were already very quiet.
The patrol guards had left after handling the fire, leaving only a pitch-black ruined manor.
Gu Ying felt her stomach tighten slightly, probably because she had been running around too much today and was a little uncomfortable.
When she got out of the carriage, Ye Zhuojiang immediately noticed her haggard expression and supported her, asking, "Ying, is your stomach upset?"
Gu Ying was sweating on her forehead. The little one in her belly was very lively, kicking her from time to time. Now for some reason, as if sensing its mother's unease, it couldn't settle down either.
Gu Ying endured the pain and whispered hoarsely, "It's fine."
Ye Zhuojiang wrinkled his handsome face in worry, "Take this medicine to make the baby be good for a while."
Gu Ying looked up into the youth's dark eyes. She trusted Ye Zhuojiang. Although young, he had a famous reputation and was a genius in medicine.
After taking his pill, the baby did indeed settle down a lot.
Stepping into the manor that had become practically ruins, erected upright in the center of the main hall was a brand new wooden sign. It had a few lines written in red cinnabar:
"Ying, I am still recovering from serious injuries and this is not the right time for us to reconcile. When I return safely, we will be together for life—Jiang Yin."
Gu Ying's mind shook and her entire body stiffened like a green bamboo.
Not only her, even the two men standing behind her were stunned.
The wording was too subtle, it could even be said to be ambiguous. But Gu Ying's love story with the Heir Apparent of the Duke of Guo's estate was known to all. Was Jiang Yin leaving this message only to make them misunderstand?
But how could Jiang Yin expect them to come here with Gu Ying tonight and happen to see this message?
So the rumors from back then that the Second Young Lady of the Earl of Dongping was infatuated with the new top examinee graduate were true?
Su He and Ye Zhuojiang exchanged a look, unanimously turning to look at Gu Ying walking in front.
That lonely figure in smoke purple clothes was especially desolate in the night wind, yet also emanated an inexplicable aura of terror.
Gu Ying clenched her fists tightly until her knuckles turned white. The fine rain falling on her dark hair, the lantern in her hand emitted a dim, flickering candlelight.
Her throat felt heavy. She walked over and raised the lantern to illuminate the words on the wooden sign.
The ink had already dried, meaning it wasn't freshly written.
He expected her to come, so deliberately left the sign here for her to see.
By doing so, rather than waiting for her to investigate, he took the initiative to admit he was still alive.
A person like him never fought unprepared battles. Since he dared reveal himself, he must have already made follow-up arrangements!
What exactly was he still trying to do!
When would he stop entangling her!
"Sister-in-law..." Su He hesitated before asking, "Is this really Jiang Yin's handwriting?"
Gu Ying's brows furrowed as her heart felt irritably crumpled by Jiang Yin.
After a long while, she nodded silently.
The brushstrokes were Jiang Yin's, no doubt about it.
After marrying him for two years, being his wife for two years, her heart and eyes were full of that man. How could she not recognize his handwriting?
Gu Ying thought for a moment and shook her head, "I'm afraid it's too late to go arrest people now."
She understood Jiang Yin's personality, he was extremely cautious and careful. If Su He really found Pear Blossom Lane, I'm afraid the Chu residence would be devoid of people very soon.
Su He said smugly, "My men are keeping watch there, the people inside can't escape. There aren't many influential Chu families in Bianjing, most of the residents in the area around Pear Blossom Lane are traveling merchants from other places, with mixed sorts coming and going. So this person's identity still needs to be verified."
Gu Ying murmured with her brow furrowed, "Chu..."
In her memory, whether in her previous life or this life, there was no one with the surname Chu.
Su He turned his head and asked, "Is there anyone with the surname Chu among the people my sister-in-law knows?"
Gu Ying shook her head, "No. But I want you to help me check one more person to see if he is related to the one with the surname Chu."
Su He said, "Please tell me, sister-in-law."
Gu Ying pressed her lips together and said, "Jiang Yin."
Su He recognized this person and had checked his ancestry back eighteen generations. His eyebrows quirked up lightly, "Isn't Jiang Yin dead?"
Gu Ying's brows furrowed as she gave a cold laugh, "I'm not sure he's really dead. After all, his corpse was taken away by Han Lin at that time, and I didn't see his body rot with my own eyes. Now it seems he may have faked his death and escaped, who knows."
Only then did Su He realize things were a bit strange.
He gave Gu Ying a meaningful look, suspicion growing in his heart. Why was this dismissed excellent graduate who was an aide to the deposed Prince Li Yang so concerned about this person?
He stroked his chin without asking further, "Since my sister-in-law wants me to investigate, I will certainly do as told. I will also do my best to bring the one with the surname Chu back."
Gu Ying was too preoccupied to care about anything else at this moment. The people around her could be used when useful, "Thank you, Master Su."
Su He smiled, "Sister-in-law need not thank me."
Just as he finished speaking, someone rushed in to report urgently from outside.
The Censorate's courtyard had tight security after Gu Ying moved in. Lady Qin had taken precautions to forbid idle people from entering.
Gu Ying let the person in. They heard the man from Floating Cloud Building speak hastily, "Mistress, Master, bad news! The Chu residence was somehow flooded and when your subordinate rushed in, the inside had already been burned into ruins!"
Su He, who had just confidently claimed he could bring the one surnamed Chu back, now had a black line on his forehead. "What happened?"
The man shook his head, "I don't know. A few of us were following orders to keep watch near the Chu residence. We watched with our own eyes as the fire started burning from the inside. The outer door was shut tight with no one putting out the fire. The flames rose quickly even though it was raining today, which was unreasonable. But..."
Su He's expression was a little ugly as he asked, "But what?"
The man's eyebrows furrowed solemnly as he quickly added, "When your subordinate went in to inspect, I discovered there was a large amount of tung oil inside the house."
Gu Ying's complexion froze for a moment, and the porcelain white skin took on a chill in the dim evening light.
As night fell, the heavy rain that came in the late afternoon passed as quickly as it arrived. Now it was drizzling lightly.
She slowly got up, feeling her body grow heavier by the day, making her movements a little clumsy.
But she still calmly supported herself on the armrest and walked to the door, gazing at the faint curtain of rain in the yard. "I have to go take a look at the Chu residence."
She wanted to see for herself the place that might have been where Jiang Yin was hiding.
To see if her guess was correct.
Ye Zhuojiang practically jumped up from his chair, "I'll go with Ying!"
Although Su He didn't approve of Gu Ying traveling so far in her condition, when he met her determined gaze, he also got up reluctantly and said, "In that case, I'll go along too."
Gu Ying caressed her protruding belly, her eyes calm. "Okay."
She would no longer choose to fight alone. For the sake of her child, she had to rely on Su He and Zhuojiang's help.
...
The night was thick as impervious ink.
When the low-key green brocade carriage arrived at Pear Blossom Lane, the surroundings were already very quiet.
The patrol guards had left after handling the fire, leaving only a pitch-black ruined manor.
Gu Ying felt her stomach tighten slightly, probably because she had been running around too much today and was a little uncomfortable.
When she got out of the carriage, Ye Zhuojiang immediately noticed her haggard expression and supported her, asking, "Ying, is your stomach upset?"
Gu Ying was sweating on her forehead. The little one in her belly was very lively, kicking her from time to time. Now for some reason, as if sensing its mother's unease, it couldn't settle down either.
Gu Ying endured the pain and whispered hoarsely, "It's fine."
Ye Zhuojiang wrinkled his handsome face in worry, "Take this medicine to make the baby be good for a while."
Gu Ying looked up into the youth's dark eyes. She trusted Ye Zhuojiang. Although young, he had a famous reputation and was a genius in medicine.
After taking his pill, the baby did indeed settle down a lot.
Stepping into the manor that had become practically ruins, erected upright in the center of the main hall was a brand new wooden sign. It had a few lines written in red cinnabar:
"Ying, I am still recovering from serious injuries and this is not the right time for us to reconcile. When I return safely, we will be together for life—Jiang Yin."
Gu Ying's mind shook and her entire body stiffened like a green bamboo.
Not only her, even the two men standing behind her were stunned.
The wording was too subtle, it could even be said to be ambiguous. But Gu Ying's love story with the Heir Apparent of the Duke of Guo's estate was known to all. Was Jiang Yin leaving this message only to make them misunderstand?
But how could Jiang Yin expect them to come here with Gu Ying tonight and happen to see this message?
So the rumors from back then that the Second Young Lady of the Earl of Dongping was infatuated with the new top examinee graduate were true?
Su He and Ye Zhuojiang exchanged a look, unanimously turning to look at Gu Ying walking in front.
That lonely figure in smoke purple clothes was especially desolate in the night wind, yet also emanated an inexplicable aura of terror.
Gu Ying clenched her fists tightly until her knuckles turned white. The fine rain falling on her dark hair, the lantern in her hand emitted a dim, flickering candlelight.
Her throat felt heavy. She walked over and raised the lantern to illuminate the words on the wooden sign.
The ink had already dried, meaning it wasn't freshly written.
He expected her to come, so deliberately left the sign here for her to see.
By doing so, rather than waiting for her to investigate, he took the initiative to admit he was still alive.
A person like him never fought unprepared battles. Since he dared reveal himself, he must have already made follow-up arrangements!
What exactly was he still trying to do!
When would he stop entangling her!
"Sister-in-law..." Su He hesitated before asking, "Is this really Jiang Yin's handwriting?"
Gu Ying's brows furrowed as her heart felt irritably crumpled by Jiang Yin.
After a long while, she nodded silently.
The brushstrokes were Jiang Yin's, no doubt about it.
After marrying him for two years, being his wife for two years, her heart and eyes were full of that man. How could she not recognize his handwriting?
