"Master."
"Father."
Jian Zhang was around forty, dressed in the purple official robes of the Principal Third Rank. His beard was neatly trimmed, his build imposing-a handsome middle-aged man through and through.
He had just left court and had not yet had time to return to the Ministry of Justice Office when a servant from home summoned him back.
On the way home, he had already learned about Madam Zhou swapping the daughters, but that was only Jian Ruonan's side of the story. He still needed to send someone to investigate.
The moment Jian Zhang entered the courtyard, his gaze locked onto Jian Ruonan.
This little girl looked so much like Min in her youth.
Even if she resembled Min, that did not necessarily mean she was Min's daughter.
Having served in the Ministry of Justice for years, Jian Zhang knew better than to jump to conclusions without solid evidence.
[No wonder all those concubines fight over my father every day. So he's this handsome!]
[You know what? You really have to hand it to him. Apart from his terrible eye for people, that face is simply flawless!]
Jian Zhang: ??!!
Who was that? Who was speaking?!
Had some Wulin master appeared in his household? Someone who could send their voice straight into his head?!
His gaze swept over everyone present. Their mouths were all shut, and they were all familiar faces. None of them looked remotely like a Wulin master.
Based on what the voice had said, Jian Zhang narrowed it down to Jian Ruonan.
Could these be Jian Ruonan's thoughts?!
As a high-ranking court official of the Principal Third Rank, Jian Zhang had weathered great winds and waves. Even upon suddenly hearing someone's thoughts, his expression remained perfectly calm.
[Ah, the more I look at my father, the handsomer he gets. He just grows more charming with every glance.]
Jian Zhang's heart gave a jolt.
Over his years investigating cases in the Ministry of Justice, he had encountered plenty of bizarre incidents. Once he realized these really were Jian Ruonan's thoughts, he cast her a mild glance.
Everything in this world has a cause and an effect. Heaven must have granted me the ability to read minds because it intends to entrust me with a great responsibility.
Jian Zhang stroked his beard. His daughter had clearly inherited his excellent taste.
[Handsome, sure, but neither his brain nor his eyes work properly. Instead of loving my mother, his dignified, virtuous, flower-beautiful lawful wife, he dotes on a two-faced fake innocent like Wei?!]
[A handsome man without a working brain is an absolute disaster!]
Jian Zhang: "..."
He looked at Min, Jian Xilu, and Jian Chuxue. Their expressions were normal; they did not seem able to hear those thoughts.
As expected, I alone am Heaven's chosen one.
"What are you all arguing about?" Jian Zhang stood at the entrance to Westglow Garden. He had heard the commotion in the courtyard from far away.
The people at the courtyard entrance parted, revealing Wei lying on the ground.
[Ah, my father's back. Wei's about to start her performance!]
[If I'm not mistaken, she'll definitely clutch her belly and howl in pain.]
[Ready, one, two, three-howl-]
No sooner had Jian Ruonan's thought ended than Wei began groaning on the ground. "My belly! My belly hurts so much! Ah-"
The timing was impeccable.
Min: "..."
Why did I feel like laughing on such a serious occasion?
Jian Xilu: Pfft-
Jian Zhang: "..."
Wei had been lying on the ground, but the instant she saw Jian Zhang, her eyes brimmed with tears.
She laboriously propped half her body up on one elbow, her eyelashes trembling and tears swirling in her eyes. As she looked at Jian Zhang, her lips quivered, as though she had suffered the greatest injustice under heaven.
[Wei's acting is incredible. She holds the tears in her eyes while she speaks, and they only fall once she finishes!]
[A prime candidate for a Qiong Yao heroine!]
[What a performance. I'd give her a big fat 666 on the spot.]
What was Qiong Yao?
Jian Zhang did not know what Qiong Yao was, but Wei had indeed only begun shedding tears after she finished speaking.
When ordinary people cried, their noses ran too. When Wei cried, she resembled a delicate little white flower in the wind.
Jian Zhang had always adored this heart-rendingly pitiful manner of hers. After learning it was all an act, however, he felt rather uncomfortable.
"What are you doing? Help her up already!" Jian Zhang roared. Servants immediately stepped forward and carried Wei into the room in a flurry of hands and feet.
"What exactly happened?" After entering the main room, Jian Zhang sat in the Sandalwood Grand Tutor's Chair at the head of the room and looked at the assembled serving women.
Wei lay on the Arhat Bed, both hands cradling her lower abdomen, looking as though she was breathing out far more than she was breathing in.
A young maid beside Wei stepped forward. "Master, this is what happened. Yesterday, Snowball came into our courtyard. Concubine Wei thought Snowball was adorable and fed the cat some pastries. Unexpectedly, Snowball felt unwell afterward. Concubine Wei didn't think much of it, but when she got up this morning, she discovered Snowball was dead."
[Pastries, my foot. She fed the cat rat poison. What a shame-such an adorable Lion Cat, and I never even got a chance to pet the poor thing.]
[Wei looks like a delicate flower, but her heart is truly vicious.]
[With Wei that venomous, how does my father dare sleep with her?!]
Min: "..." Well said.
But Jian Zhang and I were both so reserved. How had we produced such a blunt daughter?
I must teach her properly. Thinking these things was fine, but she must never say them outside. If she ran her mouth in public, she wouldn't even know what killed her.
Jian Xilu: "..." This little sister is so amusing.
Jian Zhang: "..."
"Get to the point!"
The young maid jumped in fright, then continued, "Early this morning, Concubine Wei came here to kneel before Madam and beg forgiveness over Snowball..."
Wei had instructed her to be deliberately vague if the master questioned her, leaving things unclear so he would mistakenly believe Madam had already punished her.
Jian Zhang fell silent inwardly. Snowball had been Min's favorite. The cat had been brought to Westglow Garden while still a nursing kitten, and Min had personally brushed the cat's fur and even made toys.
With Snowball killed, Min would certainly punish someone.
Perhaps Wei had already been punished by Min.
How could someone so delicate endure punishment?
A trace of tenderness entered Jian Zhang's gaze as he looked at Wei.
[Don't go pinning false blame on anyone!]
[My mother didn't give her any trouble. The moment she knelt, my mother had two serving women haul her up and escort her out of the courtyard.]
Jian Zhang: "..."
"Did Madam punish Concubine Wei?"
The young maid grew flustered. She glanced at Wei, stammering and unsure what to say.
Jian Zhang said, "Drag her out and sell her. If she can't even speak clearly, how is she supposed to serve her mistress?!"
A serving woman immediately stepped forward and dragged the young maid away.
[Oh, is this the might of a Vice Minister of Justice?! 666666!]
[Ruthless and decisive!]
[With my father's abilities, no wonder he'll become Minister of Justice someday.]
Jian Zhang: !!
Minister of Justice?! That meant joining the cabinet!!!
That was a post he did not dare dream of!
Jian Zhang's current position was Vice Minister of Justice on the right. In Great Xia, the left took precedence, so the left vice minister still ranked ahead of him. Moreover, the current Minister of Justice was only in his fifties. His turn should never come.
Jian Zhang looked at Jian Ruonan, wanting to hear how he became Minister of Justice, and when.
If he became Minister of Justice, that would bring glory to his ancestors-an achievement unmatched in his family's history. Starting with him, the family genealogy would be rewritten.
[But my father, that blind bear, is a terrible judge of people. Just a few days after becoming Minister of Justice, he gets...]
[Sigh... "Tragic" doesn't even begin to cover it!]
Jian Zhang: !!??
What tragedy befell me?!
Tell me already?!!
[Huh? Why are you looking at me? Keep asking questions!]
Jian Zhang: ...
How am I supposed to keep asking questions when you haven't finished?!
Right, where was I with the questioning?
Before you continue