"Eldest Master."
"Father."
Jian Zhang was around forty, dressed in the Purple Official Robe of a Principal Third Rank official. His beard was neatly trimmed, his build imposing-a handsome middle-aged man through and through.
He had just left court and had yet to return to the Ministry of Justice Office when a household servant summoned him home.
On the way, he had already learned about Madam Zhou switching the girls, 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 well that he could not jump to conclusions without solid evidence.
[No wonder all those concubines fight over my father every day. He's actually this handsome!]
[Well, would you look at that! Aside from his poor judgment, that face is simply unbeatable!]
Jian Zhang: ??!!
Who was it? Who was speaking?!
Was there some Wulin master in the household who could transmit their voice straight into his head?!
He swept his gaze around. Everyone present had their mouths shut, and they were all familiar faces. None 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 Principal Third Rank court official, Jian Zhang had weathered great winds and waves. Even upon suddenly hearing someone's thoughts, his expression remained unruffled.
[Ah, the more I look at my father, the more handsome he gets. He really grows on you.]
Jian Zhang's heart jolted.
After years of investigating cases in the Ministry of Justice, he had encountered plenty of bizarre incidents. Once he realized these truly were Jian Ruonan's thoughts, he gave her a calm glance.
Everything in the world had its causes and consequences. Heaven must have granted him the ability to read minds because it intended to entrust him with a great responsibility.
Jian Zhang stroked his beard. His daughter had inherited his fine taste.
[Handsome, sure, but he has neither brains nor judgment. Instead of loving my mother, his dignified, virtuous, flower-beautiful wife, he dotes on a scheming little fake innocent like Wei?!]
[A handsome man without brains is an absolute disaster!]
Jian Zhang: "..."
He looked at Min, Jian Xilu, and Jian Chuxue. Their expressions were normal; none seemed able to hear these thoughts.
Sure enough, he alone was 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 entrance parted, revealing Wei lying on the ground.
[Ah, my father's back. Wei's about to start her performance!]
[If I'm right, Wei will definitely clutch her belly and howl in pain.]
[Ready, one, two, three-howl!]
The instant Jian Ruonan's thought ended, Wei began moaning on the ground. "Oh, my belly! My belly hurts so much! Ah-!"
The timing was flawless.
Min: "..."
Why did she feel like laughing on such a serious occasion?
Jian Xilu: Pfft-
Jian Zhang: "..."
Wei had been lying on the ground, but the moment she saw Jian Zhang, her eyes filled with tears.
She struggled to prop herself halfway up on one elbow, her eyelashes trembling and tears pooling in her eyes. When she looked at Jian Zhang, her lips quivered as though she had suffered the greatest injustice in the world.
[Wei's acting is incredible. She holds the tears in her eyes while she speaks, and only lets them fall once she's finished!]
[A candidate for a Qiong Yao heroine!]
[What a performance. I'd give her a 666 in a heartbeat.]
What was Qiong Yao?
Jian Zhang did not understand what Qiong Yao was, but Wei really did wait until she finished speaking before shedding tears.
When ordinary people cried, their noses ran too. When Wei cried, she resembled a delicate little white flower trembling in the wind.
Jian Zhang had always adored this pitifully lovely manner of hers. Now that he knew it was all an act, he felt rather uncomfortable.
"What are you doing? Help her up!" Jian Zhang roared. Servants immediately hurried forward and carried Wei into the room in a flurry of hands.
"What exactly happened?" Once inside 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 exhaling more than she inhaled.
A young maid beside Wei stepped forward. "Eldest Master, this is what happened. Yesterday, Snowball ran into our courtyard. The concubine thought Snowball was adorable and fed the cat some pastries. Unexpectedly, Snowball felt unwell afterward. The concubine didn't think much of it, but when she got up this morning, she found Snowball dead."
[Pastries, my foot. She fed the cat rat poison! What a shame. Such an adorable Lion Cat, and I hadn't even had a chance to pet the poor thing.]
[Wei looks like a delicate flower, but her heart is truly vicious.]
[Wei's so venomous. How does my father dare sleep with her?!]
Min: "..." Well said.
But she and Jian Zhang were both so reserved. How had they produced such a blunt child?
She would have to teach her properly. Thinking these things was fine, but she must never say them outside. If she ran her mouth out there, she would not even know how she died.
Jian Xilu: "..." This younger sister was so amusing.
Jian Zhang: "..."
"Get to the point!"
The young maid jumped in fright and continued, "Early this morning, the concubine 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 punished her.
Jian Zhang fell silent inwardly. Snowball had been Min's favorite. The cat had been brought to Westglow Garden while still nursing, and Min had personally brushed the cat's fur and made toys.
With Snowball killed, Min would certainly punish someone.
Perhaps Min had already punished Wei.
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 the blame on someone else!]
[My mother didn't give her a hard time. The moment she knelt, Mother had two serving women lift her up and escort her out of the courtyard.]
Jian Zhang: "..."
"Did Madam punish the concubine?"
The young maid grew flustered. She glanced at Wei, stammering, unsure what to say.
Jian Zhang said, "Drag her out and sell her. She can't even explain things clearly. How is she supposed to serve her mistress?!"
Serving women immediately stepped forward and dragged the young maid away.
[Ooh, is this the authority of a Vice Minister of Justice?! 666666!]
[So decisive and ruthless!]
[With my father's ability, no wonder he'll become Minister of Justice someday.]
Jian Zhang: !!
Minister of Justice?! That meant joining the Grand Secretariat!!!
That was a position he did not dare dream of!
Jian Zhang currently served as Vice Minister of Justice on the right. In Great Xia, the left took precedence, so the vice minister on the left still ranked ahead of him. Besides, the current Minister of Justice was only in his fifties. There was no way it would be Jian Zhang's turn.
Jian Zhang looked at Jian Ruonan, wanting to hear how he would become Minister of Justice, and when.
If he became Minister of Justice, it would bring glory to his ancestors-an achievement unmatched in his family's history. The genealogy would be rewritten beginning with him.
[But my father, that blind bear, is a terrible judge of character. Only a few days after becoming Minister of Justice, he'll be...]
[Sigh... "Tragic" doesn't even begin to cover it!]
Jian Zhang: !!??
What tragedy would befall him?!
Tell me already?!!
[Huh? Why are you looking at me? Keep questioning her!]
Jian Zhang: ...
How can I keep questioning her when you haven't finished?!
Right, where was I?
Before you continue