The Twelfth Chapter

"Ji Chan, how can you be so shameless!" Madam Xue said angrily.

"Madam Xue, didn't you also rely on being shameless when you were the Marquis's concubine? It's just that your judgment wasn't good. You waited all these years until your beauty faded before entering the Marquis's Manor. Who knows if someone will replace you in another two years." When it came to provoking people, A Chan was no less skilled than anyone else.

"You..." Madam Xue felt dizzy. How had she never realized Ji Chan was so difficult to deal with before?

If she had known, she should have killed her in the inner estate back then! Now that she had been released, she dared to be so brazen in front of her.

A Chan turned around, the golden threads on her skirt depicting flower petals shimmering in the sunlight. She said cheerfully, "Madam Xue, please don't make me wait too long."

After A Chan had been gone for a while, the maid who had been sent away cautiously stepped forward to help Madam Xue.

She asked worriedly, "Madam, are you alright?"

Madam Xue gritted her teeth and said word by word, "I'm fine, let's go back."

"Yes."

A Chan walked back with the food she had bought. As for whether she could get Lady Lin's dowry back, it was definitely impossible this time. People like Madam Xue wouldn't act without seeing a profit. She might believe her words, but without evidence, she would absolutely not let go of any benefits she had already obtained.

When she would get the dowry depended on when her fate with Lord Bai would arrive.

After returning, A Chan gave the Hundred Flower Cakes she bought to Lady Xiao Lin and Mama Sun. The two accepted them with smiles. Lady Xiao Lin took one bite and cried out, clutching her stomach.

"Aunt, what's wrong?" A Chan was startled and quickly leaned over to ask.

"It's nothing." Lady Xiao Lin waved her hand and handed the Hundred Flower Cake to Mama Sun. "I don't know what's going on, but this child has been particularly restless lately, kicking me a couple of times every now and then."

Seeing her belly bulge from time to time, A Chan couldn't help but frown. "Have you seen a doctor recently, Aunt? What did the doctor say?"

"No need to see a doctor. I've already had two children, how could I not know what's going on?" Lady Xiao Lin said nonchalantly.

"What two?" Zhao Wenyue happened to have just finished her prayers at the Flower Goddess Temple and was walking out. Seeing the pastries in A Chan's hand and the sugar-coated chestnuts she was holding, she pouted with some disdain.

"It's nothing. Do you and A Chan want to go play for a while longer?" Lady Xiao Lin asked in a gentle tone.

"I don't want to play, I want to go home." Zhao Wenyue walked to Lady Xiao Lin's side, linked her arm, and gently swayed it, as if acting spoiled.

"Alright, whatever you say."

On the way down the mountain, several ladies came to talk to Lady Xiao Lin. Lady Xiao Lin's attitude was somewhat indifferent, and she dismissed them after a few casual words.

After they had gone far away, Lady Xiao Lin said to A Chan, "These families are all below the Fifth Rank. Perhaps their families don't have many offspring, and they want to get a bargain. They really are dreaming."

Those who inquired had all asked about Ji Chan's background. They looked down on Ji Chan's reputation, yet they also felt that since she had been raised by the Marquis's Manor as an eldest daughter for so many years, it wouldn't be impossible to take her into the manor.

"What's wrong with being below the Fifth Rank? Maybe they're ambitious," Zhao Wenyue couldn't help but mumble.

"You've been corrupted by your father's stubbornness. When marrying, you should marry someone of higher status. Do you expect your father to get promoted and become rich after you marry? That's a dream. Why should such a good thing fall to you?"

"But when you married my father, he was only a Jinshi," Zhao Wenyue retorted, unconvinced.

"If it weren't for your maternal family..." Lady Xiao Lin paused. "Do you think there are many good men like your father in this world?"

She poked Zhao Wenyue's forehead. Although her tone was harsh, they didn't start arguing about this topic like before.

The mother and daughter supported each other, walking ahead amidst a crowd of maids. A Chan and Mama Sun followed behind.

By the time the group returned to the city, it was already past noon. Although they had eaten sugar-coated chestnuts and Hundred Flower Cakes all the way, they still felt hungry without having a proper meal. Not to mention the aroma of food wafting from the restaurants along the road, making one's mouth water.

Lady Xiao Lin stopped the coachman, and the carriage behind them also stopped.

Mama Sun quickly got out of the carriage and came to Lady Xiao Lin's carriage to ask, "Madam, is something wrong?"

"No, we've been traveling for a long time, and everyone is hungry. Let's have lunch at Zhiwei Building today," she said, pointing to a restaurant by the road.

Zhiwei Building was a well-known restaurant in Shangjing. As soon as the carriage stopped, a waiter greeted them with a smile, arranging for people to park the carriages while leading them inside.

Lady Xiao Lin was not a harsh mistress. She sent a few maids and the coachman to eat at another table, and asked Mama Sun to stay and sit with them.

She ordered six dishes, two of which were fish: one fish soup and one fried fish. The other four dishes, according to Mama Sun, were all favorites of Zhao Wenyue.

A Chan had no particular preference for food other than chicken. The chef at Zhiwei Building was skilled, and she found every dish delicious.

Zhao Wenyue also seemed satisfied, but after Lady Xiao Lin took a sip of the fish soup, she immediately vomited it out.

"Madam, what's wrong?" Mama Sun quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.

"What kind of fish soup is this? Why doesn't it have any flavor?" Lady Xiao Lin unhappily called for the waiter. The waiter then found the shopkeeper, and finally, the shopkeeper apologized and took the soup away, saying they would bring another bowl.

As a result, when the second bowl was brought, she still said it had no flavor.

Zhao Wenyue curiously scooped a bowl of the milky white fish soup, took a sip, and looked at Lady Xiao Lin in confusion. "Isn't this very fresh? Why does Mother say it has no flavor?"

Hearing Zhao Wenyue's words, A Chan and Mama Sun also scooped a spoonful of soup to taste. Just as Zhao Wenyue said, the fish soup was very fresh and delicious.

"Perhaps the fish here is cooked too lightly and doesn't suit Madam's taste. Let's have the cook make fish for Madam when we get back to the mansion," Mama Sun appeased her.

She thought about how Lady Xiao Lin usually ate fish cooked with rich oil and soy sauce. Because fish often had a strong fishy smell, this method helped to mask it, and Madam loved it. Now, this clear, watery soup, it was no wonder she said it had no flavor.

"Alright."

When the golden and crispy fried fish was served, Lady Xiao Lin only picked up a piece of fish meat to taste and then stopped using her chopsticks. Clearly, the flavor of this dish still didn't satisfy her.

Perhaps because she couldn't have fish at noon, Lady Xiao Lin remained unhappy.

After finishing lunch, she had the carriage take A Chan back to Changping Quarter first.

When they arrived, A Chan got out of the carriage. Seeing Lady Xiao Lin lift the curtain, she stepped forward.

Lady Xiao Lin's complexion wasn't good, but her tone towards A Chan was still gentle: "I heard from Mama Sun a few days ago that you had a cold. You must take good care of yourself when you get back."

"A Chan understands. I hope Auntie will also take care of her health."

"Alright, you've been out for most of the day. Go back and rest quickly. I'll have Mama Sun bring you to the manor to play another day." Lady Xiao Lin finished speaking, lowered the carriage curtain, and the Zhao Manor's carriage slowly drove away.

A Chan thought it was just a very ordinary farewell.

Until a few days later, just after Youshi, the sky outside darkened. A Chan was at home studying incense recipes for expelling rodents and insects, wondering where to find the main incense ingredients, when a Mingjing Division guard suddenly appeared at her door.

The leader was an unfamiliar face, burly, with fierce eyes, and a Battalion Commander's waist token hanging from his waist.

The man knocked on the door impatiently. When A Chan unlatched it, he shoved the door open and glared down at her, "Are you Ji Chan?"

"I am. What business does Master have with me?" A Chan was confused. Had something happened? She didn't seem to have offended the Mingjing Division recently.

"Do you know Lin Xiaoqiao?"

"Ah?" A Chan desperately searched her memory. She had never heard this name before.

The man frowned and repeated, "Lin Xiaoqiao, the wife of the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhao Ming. You don't know her?"

A Chan finally understood and quickly said, "Yes, she's my aunt. What happened to her?"

"She's dead. Everyone who had contact with her needs to be questioned."

"Do I need to go to the Mingjing Division for questioning?"

Jiang Kai raised an eyebrow in surprise. This young lady could remain so calm upon hearing the name of the Mingjing Division?

"No need. Go to the Zhao Manor. Our Master is there."

A Chan followed a group of Mingjing Division guards out of her home, still not comprehending. Lady Xiao Lin, dead?

She felt a strong sense of unreality. Just a few days ago, they had celebrated the Flower Festival together. How could she be dead just like that?

Since the Mingjing Division was involved, Lady Xiao Lin's death must be suspicious. But she wondered, who had harmed her?

A Chan followed the Mingjing Division guards to the Zhao Manor. The gates of the Zhao Manor were wide open. The gatekeeper was nowhere to be found, and the pair of red lanterns hanging at the entrance were unlit. Walking further in, she didn't encounter a single maid or servant.

It wasn't until she entered the main courtyard that she saw it was brightly lit. Almost all the masters and servants of the Zhao family were gathered there.

Standing in the courtyard were her uncle, Zhao Ming, whom she hadn't had a chance to meet on her previous visits, and the Zhao siblings.

Zhao Ming had ordinary features, and his son and daughter bore a resemblance to him. He possessed a scholarly and refined aura. Compared to his children, who were cowering beside him, he appeared much calmer.

Mama Sun and Lady Xiao Lin's personal maids were also present. Mama Sun's hands and clothes seemed to be covered in a lot of blood, and her eyes were swollen.

Besides the Zhao family, the rest were all from the Mingjing Division.

Zhao Ming spotted A Chan as soon as she was brought there, but he didn't approach to speak. Everyone was waiting patiently.

After less than half a quarter of an hour, several people emerged from the main room. Their shoes left bloody footprints on the steps.

The person at the front was tall and slender, wearing a bright red official robe, with a saber at his waist, his left hand resting on the hilt. It was Bai Xiuming.

The two men behind Bai Xiuming were carrying a large jar, its opening sealed with a paper seal bearing an official stamp.

It was unclear what was inside, but it seemed to be alive, as it was constantly pounding against the walls of the jar.