Chapter Thirty-Nine: Ambitions Higher Than the Heavens, Fate Frailer Than Paper

Wen Wuniang bit her lip, watching the two young men walking side by side ahead of her. Though they were cousins, their family backgrounds were worlds apart. She had once thought herself fortunate enough to be matched with the second son of a fourth-rank official in the capital—more than adequate for her current status, and she was thoroughly satisfied. But ever since she had met Ji Changge, a bitterness she could not name had taken root in her heart. The legitimate eldest son of the Princess Royal, Young Lord Ning, stood before her. Yet despite her remarkable beauty, she was but a concubine’s daughter, forever overshadowed by the legitimate daughter, Seventh Lady. Looking back on how Young Lord Ning had just behaved towards Seventh Lady, there was not a trace of the disdain rumored about the city.

Wen Baniang whispered softly to Wen Qi, “Seventh Sister, who is that gentleman in white?”

Wen Qi paused. She remembered that when she had first arrived in this world, Wen Baniang had cursed Ji Changge as little better than a beast. To think that, with him now standing before her, she failed to recognize him.

She beckoned Wen Baniang closer, who leaned in suspiciously.

“That’s the man you hate so much… Young Lord Ning.”

“What?” Wen Baniang clapped a hand over her mouth, catching Ji Changge’s sidelong glance. So he was that heartless Young Lord Ning! And to think she had just found him so elegant—bah!

Wen Wuniang watched the pair’s startled reactions, snorted coldly, and leaned in to murmur, “Seventh Lady, don’t blame me for not warning you. Haven’t you suffered enough at his hands?”

Wen Qi’s gaze turned cold, then she smiled faintly. “Each person’s fate is their own; who can say who harms whom? I was too stubborn before—no more now.”

Ji Changge hesitated. Her words seemed to defend him, yet why did they sound so harsh, even painful? No longer persistent…

“Cousin?” Su Mu noticed Ji Changge’s odd expression, unsure what he had said wrong.

Ji Changge collected himself. “A few days ago, when Second Sister-in-law Su visited my mother, she heard I would pass by Hanjiang County. She asked me to tell you she and Ling are both well, and you need not worry.”

He spoke loud enough for the three behind to hear. Wen Wuniang’s face froze; her heart plummeted. She had thought Su Mu was still unmarried, never imagining his wife already had a son. Was she to become a concubine to a man with a legal wife and heir?

Seeing Wen Wuniang’s sudden gloom, Wen Qi shot a glance at Ji Changge. His temperament truly resembled her own: settling scores immediately, who would remember them a decade later?

“All is well then. Thank you, cousin,” Su Mu replied with a smile that did not reach his eyes.

…

Su Mu was about to send word to Wen Qiran, but Ji Changge waved him off. “It’s already late; let’s not disturb Lord Wen’s rest. We can speak tomorrow.”

Wen Qi was about to retire when Ji Changge suddenly said, “Seventh Lady, may I have a word with you in private?”

Sensing the curious looks from Wuniang and Baniang, Wen Qi had half a mind to refuse, but thinking he likely wished to discuss Magistrate Wang’s case, she nodded. “Very well.”

Wen Wuniang and Wen Baniang stared, wide-eyed, while Su Mu gave Wen Qi a meaningful look. So the rumors about these two were not entirely baseless. No wonder Seventh Lady was always lukewarm towards him. Noting the hint of jealousy in Wen Wuniang’s eyes, Su Mu raised his brows, feeling a pang of envy himself. Had he been born into such a family, he would surely have surpassed his indolent cousin—but fate had sent him to this backwater as a seventh-rank county magistrate. He sighed as he instructed the servants to prepare the rooms, then went to wait aside.

The two walked to a secluded corner. Ji Changge’s smile faded. “Magistrate Wang is suffering from excessive grief and has lost his wits. Sometimes lucid, sometimes deranged.”

Given the shock he had suffered, this was not surprising. Who could bear such a blow calmly? Wen Qi sighed. “Is there any clue as to the murderer?”

Ji Changge shook his head. “We discovered the servant who left with Wang Junfu that day is also missing—dead or fled, we do not know. If we can find him, perhaps we’ll learn where Wang Junfu went that day. But there is no lead on the deaths of Madam He and Young Master Feng. We’ve questioned everyone in the household and found nothing amiss. All those with motive and opportunity have alibis. Wet nurse Yu and maid Yuyan deny any involvement, and there is neither witness nor evidence against them.”

Wen Qi considered. “The household was bustling for days; servants came and went constantly. The killer must know the residence well and move about without raising suspicion. An outsider would have been noticed. Yuyan was gone only a short while; if she and Yu are innocent, then the murderer is surely someone within. If either or both are guilty, neither gained from He and Feng’s deaths—they might have been manipulated. In that case, someone among those you questioned must be lying in concert. The killer likely had a conflict of interest with Madam He and Young Master Feng; you should focus your investigation on those people and look for flaws.”

Ji Changge pondered for a moment. “Wang Junfu’s whole family was murdered; I suspect the same hand. But if the killer meant to slay them all, why disguise Wang Junfu’s death as the work of Luo Wenshui, yet poison Madam He and Feng directly?”

Wen Qi shook her head. “That’s for you to investigate, my lord. I only examine corpses, not cases.”

“We’ll wait for Uncle Quan to return from Yongzhou; perhaps he will discover something.” Ji Changge sounded troubled.

Su Mu had strained to overhear but the distance was too great and their voices too low; he gave up.

“I’ll return tomorrow,” Ji Changge said softly.

Wen Qi was taken aback. Was that why he’d come so late—to ride a big yellow ox and set off fireworks?

“Oh.” The words on her lips became nothing more than a simple “oh.”

“Get some rest,” Ji Changge said, turning to walk toward Su Mu. In the moonlight, his shadow stretched long across the ground.

Wen Qi turned and headed to her own rooms.

Wen Baniang was already waiting inside. As soon as Wen Qi entered, she hurried over. “Seventh Sister, was he really Young Lord Ning?”

Wen Qi nodded blankly.

Nurse Wu came in carrying a tray of pastries. Hearing the name Young Lord Ning, she nearly dropped the tray in shock.

“What? Did you just say Young Lord Ning?”

Wen Baniang nodded. “Nurse Wu, did you see a handsome gentleman in white just now? That… that was Young Lord Ning.”

“That was him?” Nurse Wu stared in amazement, glancing at Wen Qi. But she was even more astonished to see that Wen Qi seemed utterly unmoved, as if the man they spoke of had nothing to do with her at all—which, in truth, was exactly how Wen Qi felt.