Mi esposa se sube al muro

Capítulo 26

Chapter Thirty-Four

Xu Shirong saw him looking at her with a relaxed expression, showing no surprise whatsoever, as if he had known she was hiding inside all along. She was somewhat surprised, but only paused for a moment before lowering her gaze and walking past him. After taking only five or six steps, she suddenly heard the person behind her call out, "Madam, please wait."

Xu Shirong hesitated for a moment, then ignored him and continued walking forward.

"Would you be interested in knowing who murdered the Observer?"

Xu Jinrong did not step forward, but only said this.

Xu Shirong took two more steps, then stopped, turned to Xu Jinrong, and said indifferently, "Who killed him has nothing to do with me?"

Xu Jinrong stepped forward and stopped three or four steps away from her before looking at her and saying, "It has nothing to do with Madam. But I'm afraid it might not be the case with Lord Yang."

"What use is it for Lord Xu to tell me about this man's affairs?" Xu Shirong met his gaze.

Xu Jinrong was taken aback, then smiled and said, "I was just offering a friendly reminder. Tongzhou Prefecture is a dangerous place, and Lord Yang is new here, so it would be best to be cautious."

Xu Shirong nodded and said, "Thank you for the reminder."

"Madam, you are a woman, how could you be so unafraid of such a gruesome and charred corpse? How could you examine it and know what happened just now?" Xu Jinrong asked suddenly as she turned to leave.

Xu Shirong paused for a moment before raising his eyes and carefully examining them. He said, "Judging from what you just said, Lord Xu, you seem to know who is behind the plot to assassinate the Inspector. If so, why were you silent just now?"

Xu Jinrong was somewhat surprised to see that she not only avoided his question but also put him in a difficult position. After pondering for a moment, he said, "That coachman is definitely not going to make it. With him taking the blame, we can explain things to the higher authorities, and Lord Lu will be fine. Why should I go to all this trouble and muddy the waters of the Tongzhou government office?"

Xu Shirong smiled faintly and said, "You are indeed a wise man, sir. My husband is young and impetuous, and I don't know how many stumbles he will have to go through before he can reach your level of understanding. I have learned a lot." After saying that, he curtsied and turned to leave.

Xu Jinrong watched her retreating figure, her skirt swaying slightly, until she finally disappeared around the corner of the covered walkway.

Her demeanor and speech clearly indicate that she is a lady from a prominent family.

Suddenly, he recalled the pair of delicate, slender hands that had lightly held a round fan when they had met by chance in the bamboo pavilion in the garden the day before.

How could such hands so calmly sift through a pile of rubble to examine the skull of a charred corpse?

She was right when she said he knew who was behind it all. Even though he hadn't noticed the two people's suspicious behavior the day before and hadn't secretly followed them to the rockery in the Lu family garden and overheard their conversation, and even though Inspector Huang had died in an accident last night, he could still vaguely guess who had done it.

The inspector was sent by the emperor to supervise the salt and iron taxes, and Supervisor Cao was the first to be investigated. How could the mess of accounts in Tongzhou Prefecture be concealed? The problem lay with the inspector's insatiable greed; his reach grew longer and his appetite increased, and he knew no bounds. When people are pushed to the limit, they will naturally resort to desperate measures.

The two men he saw that day were, of course, a groom and a trusted aide to Supervisor Cao. Supervisor Cao alone probably wouldn't have the audacity to plot against the Imperial Inspector, who had come on the Emperor's orders. It was possible that Prefect Lin was secretly instructing him. This would eliminate a potential threat and provide an opportune moment to suppress Magistrate Lu, with whom he had some disagreements. It was a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

Although he knew there would definitely be a fire at the Lu residence that night, it didn't concern him, so he didn't bother. Knowing secrets he shouldn't know might bring disaster to ordinary people, but for him, it was simply another bargaining chip. So he came to the Lu residence early this morning, and as expected, the Inspector was already a charred corpse, and Magistrate Lu had also been implicated. Everything was developing according to his previous plan, until he saw Yang Huan and remembered what had happened with Xu Dahu.

Xu Dahu was merely his cousin, a descendant of the Xu family, and his arrogant and unrestrained nature meant his death was of little concern to him. He had only sent his steward previously out of politeness and a desire to test the waters. Unexpectedly, the newly appointed magistrate was ruthless, not only killing someone but also accepting bribes, all while maintaining a smooth narrative, leaving him with a hidden loss. This made him more cautious. In the past few months, he had received reports from Qingmen County that Magistrate Yang had solved numerous murder cases and was quite popular with the people. However, his wife was rather strange, unlike the typical woman from an official's family. Not only did she identify the remains of the crippled man buried outside the city for several years, but she also personally went down into the pit to inspect the body of Li Shi when it was exhumed, without batting an eye. It was also said that Magistrate Yang's actions suggested he was nothing more than a debauched man who relied on his father's influence. It was speculated that his reputation as a "righteous official" was likely due to his wife's help.

Earlier, when he saw Yang Huan speak up in defense of Magistrate Lu, he had a sudden thought and provoked him to test the waters. When he heard Yang Huan say he would dismiss everyone and examine the body alone, he became suspicious. So, while Prefect Lin and the others waited outside the hall, he peeked into the hall and was shocked to see the woman he had encountered twice in the past few days—Yang Huan's wife—appearing beside the charred corpse, rummaging through it and whispering something in his ear. He immediately understood what was going on and, fearing being seen, retreated. When he entered with Prefect Lin and his entourage, they indeed saw only Yang Huan again. His eyes glanced towards the screen in the corner, and he saw a fleeting glimpse of her lotus-colored skirt before disappearing without a trace.

Yang Huan, having only spoken halfway, excused himself to urinate and went behind the screen. He knew perfectly well what was going on, but didn't expose him. In the end, seeing how insightful and detailed Yang Huan's words were, and how he had indeed revealed the truth behind the envoy's death, he felt a certain admiration. Of course, this admiration wasn't for the speaker, but for the person currently hidden behind the screen. After everyone had dispersed, his curiosity stirred, and he found himself, almost as if possessed, at the very back, waiting for the woman to emerge.

A beautiful woman.

He went over the name he had heard from Madam Lu yesterday in his mind and suddenly found it quite interesting.

So far, he only knows her given name, that she is Yang Huan's wife, and that she calls Madam Lu "Auntie." Other than that, he knows nothing.

This woman named Jiaoniang is indeed quite interesting.

***

Yang Huan didn't return to his room until evening, seemingly still immersed in the day's excitement. Although he didn't smell of alcohol, once he started talking, he became incredibly talkative. Xu Shirong initially patiently agreed to a few things, but later ignored him, leaving Yang Huan to talk to himself.

"Jiaoniang, how do you know so many things?"

Yang Huan suddenly rolled over and got up from the bench, went to Xu Shirong's bedside, sat down on the edge of the bed, and looked at her and asked.

The two of them are now getting used to sharing a room, so Xu Shirong leaned against a pile of pillows without drawing the curtains.

"You asked me that before. Besides, it's such a simple thing; anyone with a brain can figure it out with a little thought."

Xu Shirong yawned and said lazily.

Yang Huan thought for a moment, but couldn't quite remember, so he leaned closer and asked, "What did you tell me before?"

Xu Shirong rolled her eyes at him and muttered "brainless." Yang Huan scratched his head, his eyes darting around, and chuckled, saying, "Seriously, your uncle praised me endlessly today, even better than he would his own son."

Xu Shirong hummed in agreement and turned over to face inwards. She felt a cool breeze behind her, and when she turned around, she saw Yang Huan holding the fan from beside her pillow, vigorously fanning her.

"Jiao Niang, your uncle said that he will personally write a letter to Lord Zhang of Huainan's canal transport department tomorrow, requesting that the court approve the construction of the sea dike."

Hearing this, Xu Shirong felt a surge of joy. Just as she was about to say something, Yang Huan said, "In that case, do you think my father will definitely know about my affair?"

Xu Shirong turned around and glanced at him sideways. Seeing his expectant look, she wanted to say something sarcastic, but then she remembered the words he had repeatedly muttered when he climbed into her bed drunk that night. Her heart softened, and she couldn't bring herself to say anything sarcastic. She just hummed in response.

"Hehe, this is mostly thanks to you, my wife. But then again, your husband's success brings honor to you as his wife. If your husband gets promoted, you can also be granted some kind of imperial title. Don't you think so, my dear wife?"

While fanning herself, Yang Huan carefully coaxed Xu Shirong, moving closer to her. Startled by her sudden movement, he quickly darted away, faster than a rabbit.

Xu Shirong sat up and said seriously, "Yang Huan, if you want to be an official, then be an official. If I can, I will do my best to help you. There is only one thing you must know: I help you not to gain face, nor to earn an imperial title, but simply to do what I believe is right."

Yang Huan was taken aback, then quickly replied with a grin, "Yes, yes, Madam is right. Not only Madam, but I, as an official, must also act in this way. When I leave office, I will make the people of Qingmen County weep and wail, refusing to let me go, so that my teachings will not have been in vain!"

Seeing him grinning and seemingly about to come closer, Xu Shirong stretched and tossed his pillow aside, saying, "Auntie was frightened today and is bedridden. I've been taking care of her all day and am a little tired, so I'm going to sleep. You can go now."

Yang Huan hurriedly said, "Let me loosen up your muscles. You served me last time, and I haven't served you back yet."

Xu Shirong burst out laughing: "With those hands of yours, you'd be better off using them to dig in the ground. I don't have that kind of luck." As she spoke, she kept urging him on.

Yang Huan looked distressed and pleaded, "Jiaoniang, my dear Jiaoniang, look at me... I..."