Su Zhouyue said without betraying anything, "Uncle Zhao, change course. Take us to General Dingyuan's residence."
"Yes, madam."
Meeting Tong Aning's surprised gaze, Su Zhouyue said, "General Dingyuan's eldest daughter-in-law was my childhood playmate. I'm going to visit her."
Tong Aning believed her and even asked, "Mother, shouldn't we bring some gifts, then?"
Su Zhouyue glanced at Tong Fengye. This time, he caught on quickly and said at once, "I'll buy them."
Uncle Zhao stopped the carriage, and Su Zhouyue instructed Tong Fengye, "Buy some fine tonics. I remember there's a shop near Jingzhao Prefecture."
Tong Fengye nodded. "Understood, Mother."
Watching Tong Fengye walk away, Tong Aning asked in confusion, "Mother, isn't Jingzhao Prefecture a little too far away to go shopping?"
Su Zhouyue took her hand. "Don't worry. Your third brother is quick on his feet. Besides, since they're gifts, we should give the best."
"That's true."
Tong Aning lowered the carriage curtain.
When the two entered General Dingyuan's residence, tables had already been set up in the courtyard. It looked as though they were about to begin.
Su Zhouyue examined the monks one by one. Perhaps because Tong Aning had called them lecherous monks, she suddenly felt that these men of the cloth lacked any air of noble righteousness. There was even a hint of greed between their brows.
"Zhouyue, what brings you here?"
General Dingyuan's wife came forward to greet her. Su Zhouyue said, "I went home to visit my parents today. Remembering Yashi's illness, I thought I'd stop by to see her. Is she any better?"
The general's wife shook her head. Her face was sorrowful, as though she truly worried about her eldest daughter-in-law. "No. Poor Yashi lost both her parents as a child. We've sought out so many physicians lately, even every imperial physician at the Imperial Medical Academy in the palace, but nothing has helped. The general and I were at our wits' end, so we thought we'd invite these masters to try."
It seemed she did not know these monks were lechers. Su Zhouyue comforted her. "She'll get better."
The general's wife nodded. "I hope so."
Su Zhouyue asked, "Where did you invite these masters from?"
Thinking Su Zhouyue also wanted blessings bestowed upon her household, the general's wife concealed nothing and called for Xiu'er.
Yuan Xiu had been speaking with the masters. At her call, he came to her side. The general's wife said, "This is the lady of Marquis Yongning's Residence."
Yuan Xiu said, "Greetings, madam."
"Tell her where you invited these masters from."
"From Quiet Heart Temple outside the city."
Yuan Xiu tugged at the general's wife, and she followed him aside.
Though they spoke quietly, Su Zhouyue practiced martial arts and still heard a good deal.
She said softly, "These people say this place is unsuitable for summoning her soul. They want to take Yashi back to Quiet Heart Temple."
Tong Aning nodded and murmured, "Isn't that just abduction?"
[Quiet Heart Temple is a den of lecherous monks. They don't just perform rituals; people can pray for children there, too. Many ladies come back pregnant after praying for children, little knowing they've been drugged and the temple's monks have taken advantage of them.]
Su Zhouyue's expression darkened.
She had thought Quiet Heart Temple sounded familiar just now. Hearing Tong Aning mention praying for children brought it all back.
Last year, a lady had gone to Quiet Heart Temple to pray for a child. After returning, she had conceived as she wished, but when she gave birth, the child turned out not to be her husband's.
In his fury, her husband had actually drowned both mother and child in a pond.
For committing such an outrage against Heaven's laws, the husband had later been dealt with by Jingzhao Prefecture. The noblewomen had discussed it endlessly, and even Su Zhouyue had heard about it several times.
No one had suspected Quiet Heart Temple. They had all said the lady had used praying for a child as a pretext to conduct an affair inside the temple.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
The general's wife suddenly stiffened, leaving Yuan Xiu utterly puzzled.
Gripping Yuan Xiu's arm, she said firmly, "No. We cannot take Yashi to Quiet Heart Temple. Either summon her soul here in our residence, or, if they can't, I'll find another expert."
"Mother, what are you doing? No one is more capable than the masters of Quiet Heart Temple. I'll stay with Sister-in-law the entire time."
The general's wife still shook her head. "No."
"Mother..."
"I said no, and I mean no!"
The general's wife spoke sharply. If Quiet Heart Temple truly was as that voice described, she would never push Yashi into that den of tigers and wolves!
Her shout drew Su Zhouyue's and Tong Aning's attention.
The general's wife stepped forward to apologize and told a senior maidservant to take Yashi back. "Masters, please leave."
She had thought this would keep Yashi from falling into their hands, but then Tong Aning sighed.
[It's no use. Xixi said this was Yuan Xiu's idea. In the dead of night, he'll still take Yashi to Quiet Heart Temple.]
The general's wife staggered, staring in disbelief at Yuan Xiu as he came to steady her.
Yuan Xiu asked, puzzled, "Mother, what's gotten into you today?"
Ever since her eldest son had disappeared, her second son had held everything together, both inside and outside the household. When Yashi had gone mad, he had also spared no effort in seeking physicians and renowned medicines, treating his elder sister-in-law with the utmost respect. How could he do such a thing?
Perhaps, perhaps there was something wrong with that voice. Why had she believed it?
But misgivings had already taken root in her heart. She could not let Yashi go to Quiet Heart Temple again.
"I'm feeling a little unwell. I'll return to my room. You needn't accompany me inside. Go attend to our guests."
"Yes."
After watching the general's wife enter her room, Yuan Xiu turned and strode over to Su Zhouyue and Tong Aning, looking apologetic. "My mother is feeling a little unwell."
"It's quite all right."
Tong Aning, meanwhile, was studying Yuan Xiu.
[Xixi, he looks quite like a good person.]
[Of course! Otherwise, how could he have kept the fact that he killed his elder brother hidden?]
Even Su Zhouyue could no longer remain composed. He had actually killed his elder brother, too?
This Yuan Xiu was truly ruthless. Su Zhouyue pulled Tong Aning back a little.
The general's wife rushed out from the inner room and seized Yuan Xiu by the collar, nearly fainting.
"Mother, I'd better fetch a physician to examine you. You can't go on like this."
Meeting her son's concerned gaze, the general's wife became uncertain again.
"Mother, I'm back."
Tong Fengye came to Su Zhouyue and Tong Aning with the gifts. Behind him were Xue Lin, Sichen, and several men from Jingzhao Prefecture.
The masters from Quiet Heart Temple who had just left were being held under guard.
Tong Aning asked, "Why is the heir here?"
Tong Fengye played dumb. "I don't know. Perhaps he's here to investigate a case."
"Oh, I see."
Tong Aning greeted Xue Lin, only to watch his expression suddenly turn cold, as though he stood amid ice and snow. It was rather frightening.
Sichen stepped forward. Holding his sword, he lowered his brows and said, "Yuan Xiu, these monks have confessed. They say you invited them here to abduct your elder sister-in-law. Do you admit it?"
Yuan Xiu was still all smiles. "Why should I? I just drove these masters away. It's only natural that they resent me."
[He's actually still smiling. How creepy. Was he smiling when he killed his elder brother, too?]
Xue Lin raised a brow. "So you killed your elder brother because he resented you?"
Those words seemed to strike Yuan Xiu's fatal weak point. His face flushed with anger. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
The general's wife also murmured, "Yes, yes. My lord, could there be some misunderstanding?"
Her eldest and second sons were brothers born of the same mother.
She was unwilling to believe such a thing.
[Sigh. The general's wife is pitiful, too.]
Xue Lin casually pointed to a monk. "He told me."
Xue Lin's voice grew colder. "He told me that after killing your elder brother at Quiet Heart Temple, you buried him in its rear courtyard, and he saw the whole thing."
Yuan Xiu glared. "You sold me out?"
The general's wife's legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed. Su Zhouyue caught her.
Xue Lin said, "Then it seems to be true."
Xue Lin waved a hand, and Sichen twisted Yuan Xiu's arms behind his back.
Only now did Yuan Xiu understand. He stared venomously at Xue Lin. "You bluffed me?"
Xue Lin remained utterly calm. "All's fair in war."
"You actually bluffed me." His face contorted as he began to struggle violently.
Xue Lin said, "Take him away."
The general's wife said in a trembling voice, "My lord, I have something to ask him."
"Please go ahead, madam."
Supported by Su Zhouyue, the general's wife walked up to Yuan Xiu and asked hoarsely, "Why did you kill your elder brother?"
"Mother," Yuan Xiu sobbed, tears streaming down his face. "I didn't want to, either. It was an accident. Mother, my brother and I were so close. Killing him broke my heart, too. Mother, I'm so scared. Mother, tell Father he must save me, please. It was an accident."
Yuan Xiu put on a pitiful act, utterly different from the man he had been moments before.
[If I didn't know the truth, I'd be fooled, too.]
[What accident? He did it on purpose. He said his sister-in-law loved him and told his elder brother to give her to him, to let the two lovers be together. His elder brother called him a madman who disregarded all human morality, and he actually struck him dead with a shovel. Afraid his brother wasn't completely dead, he struck him again.]
"Beast! You beast!"
The general's wife screamed shrilly and slapped Yuan Xiu twice. "You beast, you beast!"
After saying this, she looked utterly bereft. "Why? Your father and I have never mistreated you, and your elder brother treated you so well. Why?"
[Some people are simply born rotten. There's nothing to be done.]
As Xue Lin prepared to escort the prisoners back to the prefectural office, Tong Aning called him back.
Xue Lin told Sichen to go ahead, then walked over to Tong Aning. "Miss Tong, what is it?"
Tong Aning told Xue Lin that Quiet Heart Temple was a den of lecherous monks, then added quietly, "I don't know whether there are still any deceived ladies at Quiet Heart Temple. If there are, could you be a little careful when investigating, my lord?"
Xue Lin was taller than her. When she finished speaking, she tilted her head up to look at him, her eyes shining.
Xue Lin nodded. "All right."
Tong Aning's eyes curved in a smile. "You're truly a good man, my lord."
Xue Lin said, "Don't be too quick to praise me, Miss Tong. There's something I may need you and Madam Su to help me with."