Yun Shuyue held onto the plate tightly, refusing to let go. "You just ate meat buns this morning. If you eat any more, you'll complain of a stomachache again tonight."
Tiedan clung to the edge of the plate, tilting his head back to argue, "I recited three passages today, and the teacher even praised me!"
Murong Xue, who was peeling an orange to the side, laughed upon hearing this, "There's a reward for reciting texts, alright, give him one."
Don't spoil him.
Yun Shuyue pouted.
Standing at the door, Lady Wang first noticed the crumbs around the child's mouth, then his clean, thick cotton-padded coat, and the lacquer box he was holding slowly tightening in his hand.
Tiedan looked up and saw her, swallowed the pastry, didn't call out, but just snuggled closer to Yun Shuyue.
Lady Wang placed the box on the table, forcing a smile, and said, "Son, I brought you some snacks and new clothes. See if you like them."
Tiedan stared at the box for a moment, then asked softly, "Are there chicken legs inside? If not, gold will do."
Lady Wang's face stiffened.
Murong Xue couldn't help but cough, turning her head slightly.
Su Yao came in from outside, carrying several shop deeds in her hand. Seeing Lady Wang's embarrassed expression, she naturally took over the conversation. " Tiedan has had a good appetite lately, so Madam Wang doesn't need to worry. The Wang family kitchen sets aside meat for him every day."
Lady Wang stared at Tiedan, her voice softening, "I know you're doing well in the Prince's mansion, but your father and I..."
Yun Zhengze remained silent.
He stood under the eaves, holding the wooden donkey, his gaze fixed on Tiedan.
Gu Moran came from the direction of the warm pavilion, wearing a fox fur coat, and walked slowly.
" Lord Yun."
Yun Zhengze snapped out of his daze and immediately cupped his hands in greeting, "Your Highness."
Gu Moran glanced at the main hall. Su Yao had already had the charcoal refilled. Murong Xue took out a wooden whistle to tease Tiedan. Yun Shuyue sat very close to Lady Wang, her eyes never leaving Tiedan.
"Your wife rarely comes to visit, so let her spend more time talking to the children."
Gu Moran turned to Yun Zhengze: "I have some old documents about the canal transport that I would like to ask Lord Yun about. Shall we talk in the study?"
"Good."
After the study door was closed, Uncle Fu personally stood guard outside.
As soon as Yun Zhengze sat down, Shen Ling'er came out from the side room and pushed a medical record in front of him.
" Lord Yun, something terrible has happened!"
The paper was covered with dense writing of the medicinal properties, symptoms, and dosage, but the last few words stood out starkly.
Internal organ deficiency and toxin accumulation.
Yun Zhengze's hand remained hovering above the page, not touching it immediately.
What does this mean?
Gu Moran sighed.
"This is a long story, but I'll make it short."
"You only know that three years ago, your Yue'er found the abandoned Tiedan. But... do you know that Tiedan was kidnapped six years ago and kept as a drug test slave for three years? He was abandoned when he was almost dead?"
"Your Highness... what are you saying?"
"Now, the medical record before you is Tiedan's."
Yun Zhengze's face turned deathly pale.
Shen Ling'er sighed as well, "I examined her again last night, and it's indeed the case."
Yun Zhengze raised his eyes, his voice tense. "He doesn't look lively and energetic, like an ordinary child?"
"It looks fine from the outside; after all, she's still young."
Shen Ling'er placed a small porcelain bottle next to the medical record. "The reason he was able to withstand the sleeping potion when Zhao Wuxu kidnapped him that day is because of this."
Yun Zhengze's face darkened.
Shen Ling'er continued.
"Those impurities enter the spleen and stomach, damaging the liver and kidneys. You might not see it when they're young, but as they get older, symptoms like chills and fever, coughing, wheezing, and night terrors will gradually appear."
The wooden donkey in Yun Zhengze's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".
The wooden donkey rolled to Gu Moran's feet, making a short, sharp wooden creak.
Who did it? Is there a solution?
Shen Ling'er did not answer.
Gu Moran bent down to pick up the wooden donkey, brushed off the dust, and put it back on the corner of the table.
Yang Tie from Cypress Village.
Yun Zhengze stared at him, his back slowly straightening.
Gu Moran pushed the yellowed ledger over. " Lord Yun take a look at this first."
The cover of the ledger read "Timber Loss," the characters frayed by moisture, but the margins were well preserved.
Yun Zhengze flipped through a few pages, his gaze growing increasingly somber.
He still remembered the handwriting.
He went to great lengths to marry her back then.
On this account.
The departure times of Yang Tie's timber convoy corresponded almost exactly to the dates the girl's disappearance was reported.
He turned to the last page and saw several unusual expenses related to carriages and horses.
The timber truck always weighs more than the invoice.
The porters' fees were always higher than usual.
There are monthly repair costs for the train carriages.
Yun Zhengze had previously investigated the Grand Canal transport system and was most skilled at reviewing these kinds of accounts.
He stared at those lines of text, remaining motionless for a long time.
Gu Moran said, "Ten years ago, Madam Shen also discovered these things."
Yun Zhengze pressed his fingers on the paper, wrinkling the corners.
"My wife..."
Gu Moran patted him on the shoulder.
She discovered that Yang Tie had used the Yun Clan's car fleet to transport people.
"We discovered that someone in the government was covering for Yang Tie."
So, she died.
The only sound in the study was the crackling of the charcoal fire.
Yun Zhengze slowly raised his head, his eyes gleaming with dark circles.
"She clearly died of illness..."
Shen Ling'er pushed another medical record over.
She had been taking calming tea for a long time before she died.
"A slow-acting poison has been added to the tea; it's colorless and tasteless. Initial consumption will only cause weakness, palpitations, and poor appetite."
"As time goes on, people will become increasingly weak, and doctors will mostly just assume it's due to overwork."
Yun Zhengze's throat bobbed. Ever since he entered the study today, every word he had heard had been like a bolt from the blue.
Gu Moran looked at him. "We also found an old account at the paper horse shop."
"On the day of Madam Shen's burial, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office only recorded three carriages."
"The paper horse shop's books actually show that they hired eight chariots."
"The bill for the other five vehicles was paid by a man surnamed Yang."
Yun Zhengze put down his teacup, and tea spilled onto the back of his hand, but he didn't wipe it off.
Why did Yang Tie steal my son?
Gu Moran's tone was flat. "Because he needs a child with an extremely yang destiny, Tiedan happens to be that. Perhaps he also wants to control those in your household who are conspiring with him."
"Originally, Tiedan was a card that could make that person obey forever."
As for why they abandoned the animal after three years, we still don't know.
"You mean, those in our household who conspired with him..."
Yun Zhengze recalled Lady Wang's words back then, saying that she would take good care of the mistress and would send her calming tea every day. He also remembered Lady Wang's insomnia and nightmares over the years, crying until she couldn't breathe while clutching an old handkerchief.
He suddenly felt nauseous and gagged, gripping the edge of the table.
Shen Ling'er immediately pushed a glass of warm water over to her.
Yun Zhengze did not answer.
He stared at the last sentence on the medical record, "The original prescription is needed for detoxification," and his voice was extremely dry. "Arrest Yang Tie."
Gu Moran leaned back in his chair. " Lord Yun leads his men to arrest him, I will not stop him."
"But Yang Tie might not hand over what he has so readily, and besides, we're still missing a link in the chain of evidence."
Yun Zhengze's eyelid twitched.
Gu Moran picked up the tea and handed it to him.
" Tiedan's life is in your hands."
"Lord Yun knows better than I do who to ask and how to ask them."
Yun Zhengze took the teacup, his palms tingling.
He abruptly stood up, pushed open the study door, and strode out.