Taking the Princess as My Wife - Chapter 4

Jiang Shaojia spoke with a faint, mocking smile, “Flowers nourished by human lives are indeed beautiful to behold.”

The evening market was just beginning to grow lively, but Liu Ruheng was in no mood for strolling. She merely purchased some pastries to bring home.

Upon first receiving the news, Liu Ruheng’s immediate thought was to inform Jiang Shaojia. She herself lacked the strength to even truss a chicken; facing those trained martial artists, she would certainly stand no chance.

However, it was only today that Liu Ruhang realized with a start: she had no idea how to actually find Jiang Shaojia.

Their previous two meetings had occurred either because Jiang Shaojia sent a formal visiting card or because they had made an agreement in person.

Liu Ruheng let out a soft sigh, suddenly remembering Goudan at home. The girl was young and clever, perfectly suited for delivering a visiting card.

After returning home, Liu Ruheng distributed the pastries. When she mentioned the matter of delivering the card to Goudan, the girl responded with high spirits and immediate excitement.

Only Liu’s mother remarked casually, “It’s a bit unpleasant to call such a bright and clever little girl ‘Goudan’ (Dog Egg).”

Sister-in-law Li looked thoughtful, echoed the sentiment with a few smiles, and continued her work.

Liu Ruheng returned to her study, tidied the cluttered desk, and with great care, selected a blank sheet of floral-patterned stationery.

She would write a visiting card now and have it sent to the Princess’s Manor, arranging to meet and talk in detail with the Princess on her next day of rest.

The matter regarding the Left Chancellor was of great importance and should not be written on the stationery. With many eyes and ears around, if it were noticed by someone with ill intentions, it would become a liability.

As she set down the final stroke, a “thump, thump” of knocking came from outside the study. Liu Ruheng rose and opened the door to find Sister-in-law Li leading Goudan. Her expression softened as she asked, “What is the matter?”

Sister-in-law Li gave a bashful smile, looking somewhat apprehensive. “As you know, both my husband and I are illiterate. I wonder if you would be willing to bestow a name upon this child.”

Liu Ruheng had no objection to this. She pondered for a moment before saying, “How about Li Anyu? Taking the ‘Yu’ (to give) for the sake of ‘Anning’ (peace). May she live a peaceful and smooth life hereafter.”

“Thank you, Master, for granting the name!”

The next morning, before heading out, Liu Ruheng handed the sealed envelope to Li Anyu, instructing her to take it to the Princess’s Manor and announce Liu’s name.

Liu Ruheng traveled on foot. The house she currently rented had been recommended by a former classmate; the rent was inexpensive, but it was quite a distance from the Court of Judicial Review (Dali Si). Walking took nearly the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn.

Because of this, Liu Ruheng had to wake up an hour early every day for her shift, which felt even more exhausting than her years of bitter study.

After another busy morning, while Liu Ruheng was eating lunch, a follower of Vice Minister Lu (Lu Shaoqing) suddenly appeared before her.

The youth was not old but possessed a steady demeanor. After bowing to Liu Ruhang, he said, “Lord Liu, the Vice Minister requests your immediate presence.”

Liu Ruheng swallowed her mouthful of rice and said helplessly, “Lead the way then. Why the great rush?”

The follower explained, “A major case has occurred. The Vice Minister wants you to come along to record the depositions.”

As they walked, the follower briefed Liu Ruheng on the general situation of the case.

The Marchioness of Yuchang had hosted a flower-viewing banquet today. After the guests finished their midday meal, she led them to the garden to admire the flowers. During the tour, a young lady discovered the skeletal remains of a child. The nobles reported it to the authorities on the spot.

Liu Ruheng understood. She silently quickened her pace. As they reached the gates of the Court of Judicial Review, the follower asked, “My Lord, the Vice Minister is taking you with him. Where is your horse? I will have it delivered to your residence after we depart.”

Liu Ruheng gave a couple of dry coughs. “I didn’t ride a horse here. No need to trouble yourself.”

The follower looked startled for a moment before saying, “If I have offended you, please forgive me, My Lord.” Pointing nearby, he added, “That is the Vice Minister’s carriage.”

Liu Ruheng sighed softly and boarded the carriage under the follower’s gaze. The desire to purchase a horse grew even stronger in her mind.

Vice Minister Lu had been an official for many years, yet he lived very frugally. The carriage felt somewhat cramped with two people inside. After greeting Lu, Liu Ruheng asked, “Sir, is there anything I should pay particular attention to later?”

Although Cheng Xuehai had taught her all the standard procedures, the requirements for each case varied. Generally, it was best to follow the superior’s instructions, so she asked just to be safe.

Vice Minister Lu’s expression was troubled. He let out a long sigh and said helplessly, “Just stay behind me and record the witness testimonies properly.”

Before long, they arrived at the entrance of an alley where bailiffs were already standing guard.

One bailiff, seeing Vice Minister Lu, bowed and said, “Sir, Assistant Minister Qiu has already arrived.”

Lu nodded slightly, turned to tell Liu Ruhang to “keep up,” and headed inside.

This was Liu Ruheng’s first time at the Marquis’s Manor.

The residence featured carved beams and painted rafters, appearing magnificent and golden. Bronze bells hung from the upturned corners of the eaves, looking both ancient and elegant.

After navigating several winding corridors, Liu Ruheng and Lu finally reached the garden.

Upon entering, both men simultaneously heard the sound of a woman sobbing. Before they could get closer, an official dressed in crimson robes strode toward them.

“Vice Minister Lu, and this is…”

Liu Ruheng stepped forward half a pace and bowed. “This humble official is Liu Ruheng, the Registrar of the Court of Judicial Review. Greetings, Lord Qiu.”

Assistant Minister Qiu nodded slightly. His expression was grim as he said to Lu, “A total of eleven sets of remains have been unearthed so far. We must trouble the coroners of the Court of Judicial Review to inspect the scene together.”

Eleven sets of remains…

Liu Ruheng’s brow furrowed. She followed Lu and Qiu into the garden.

The noble daughters and ladies invited to the banquet were currently waiting in the manor’s drawing room; at this moment, only bailiffs and coroners were in the garden.

Liu Ruheng scanned the surroundings. Aside from the areas already dug up, other spots were still a vibrant mass of flowers.

A bailiff stepped forward to describe the specifics to Vice Minister Lu.

The ages of the discovered remains did not vary greatly: eight were young girls, and three were children around five years old.

Some remains were quite old, showing only stark white bone, while others—though covered in dirt and slightly decayed—could still be faintly recognized for how they looked in life.

There were no obvious ornaments on the bodies. The coroners’ preliminary analysis suggested that most of these people had met their deaths through external force.

Liu Ruheng wrote and sketched in her small portable notebook with a charcoal pen, looking troubled.

The suspect could not yet be determined, but whoever could quietly suppress so many lives for so many years must have significant influence within the Marquis’s Manor.

Excluding the eldest son of the first branch (who was away studying), the eldest son of the second branch, and the still-young fifth son, everyone else was a suspect.

The rest would have to wait for the coroner’s examination. Lu said to Qiu, “Before the coroner’s results are out, why don’t we question the person who first discovered the remains?”

Assistant Minister Qiu agreed.

He had intended this from the start, which was why the relevant people had been kept at the manor.

As the sun grew stronger, Liu Ruheng surveyed the garden. She noticed that, aside from the excavated area, there was another spot that looked unusual.

Near the corner of the garden wall, a cluster of flowers bloomed with extraordinary brilliance. Behind the bushes, one could faintly see a small hole just large enough for one person to pass through.

Liu Ruheng looked closely; near that small hole, something was glinting with fragmented light.

“Vice Minister,” Liu Ruheng walked quickly to Lu’s side and whispered, “That area over there seems suspicious.”

Following the direction of Liu Ruheng’s finger, the Vice Minister immediately realized something was wrong. They had been searching around the remains and had overlooked the perimeter.

He gave Liu Ruheng an appreciative glance, summoned a bailiff, whispered a few words to him, and then said to Liu, “You are quite bold and observant.”

Liu Ruheng gave a bashful smile.

Just then, the people sent by Assistant Minister Qiu returned with five women. Liu Ruhang’s eyes widened in disbelief.

The five women introduced by Qiu were Princess Huaqing and her female official, the Marchioness of Yuchang, the Second Madam of the Yuchang Manor, and the second miss of the Liu Censor’s household.

The person who discovered the remains was Miss Liu; the one who reported it was Princess Huaqing; and those hosting the banquet were the Marchioness and the Second Madam.

The moment Liu Ruheng looked up, her gaze collided with Jiang Shaojia’s. Jiang was dressed in a pomegranate-red long skirt, her dark hair pinned up; even the several exquisite and magnificent hairpins served only as her foils.

The vivid color suited her well.

Hearing Miss Liu’s sobbing, Liu Ruheng snapped back to reality and averted her gaze.

So the crying she had heard earlier at the garden entrance had been Miss Liu.

After Lu bowed to Princess Huaqing, he asked Miss Liu, “Miss Liu, do you remember the scene when you discovered the remains?”

Miss Liu looked up at the Vice Minister and nodded timidly. She sobbed, “At that time, a vicious dog lunged toward my elder sister by blood, which frightened us all. After the dog injured her, I was stunned. For some reason, the dog started pawing at the flower bed, and I… I saw a hand.”

Miss Liu’s speech was somewhat rambling, clearly due to the significant shock she had received. Liu Ruhang noticed that there were indeed traces of dirt on her skirt.

Seeing Miss Liu becoming increasingly agitated, Lu sighed softly. He kept his tone as gentle as possible: “It is all over now. Please go with Xiao Qing to the drawing room to rest. I ask the Marchioness to send someone to lead the way.”

The Marchioness nodded in agreement.

As soon as Lu finished speaking, a silent woman stepped forward. She said nothing, bowed respectfully to Lu, and followed Miss Liu to the drawing room at a modest distance.

“Marchioness of Yuchang, I must ask you to explain the origin of these remains.”

The Marchioness’s brow was tightly furrowed. Seeing the gazes of Lu and Qiu shift to her, she forced a faint smile and bowed to the group. “Lords, as for why these remains are buried in the manor’s garden, no one in my household is aware.”

After a long hesitation, she added, “If we had known there were remains here, I certainly would not have hosted a flower-viewing banquet again.”

“Flowers nourished by human lives are indeed beautiful to behold,” Jiang Shaojia said with a faint, mocking smile.

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