Transmigrated into the Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Prime Minister - Chapter 53

In the Study

“Sister Yu, this is the shoe print we traced on the back hill that day.” Qi Zhenshu took out a piece of paper from her bosom and handed it to Zhuo Yu.

Based on her years of experience as a constable, Zhuo Yu only glanced at it after unfolding it and immediately saw a clue. She stated with certainty, “This person has an issue with their left foot.”

Qi Zhenshu nodded, she had guessed the same.

The two shoe prints looked similar at first glance, but a closer examination revealed that the left print was shallower than the right.

“These past two days we visited the remaining villages in the county,” Zhuo Yu carefully folded the paper and placed it on the desk, frowning as she said, “But we haven’t found any other village graveyards that have been dug up.”

It wasn’t done by professional tomb raiders, and it hadn’t happened in any other village.

Combining these two conditions, Zhuo Yu speculated that either the person who dug the grave was a petty thief acting on impulse, or they had a specific reason for coming to dig up the grave.

Based on the traces left on the back hill on New Year’s Eve and the act of even picking up a single copper coin, Zhuo Yu believed this was the work of a group of petty thieves specifically after money.

However, if this matter was related to the fall of the Village Head Lu, then it wasn’t as simple as stealing treasures from the grave.

Generally speaking, digging a grave is either for wealth or for revenge and venting anger.

Zhuo Yu had just started to clarify some of the threads when she heard Qi Zhenshu analyze, “Perhaps they were looking for something in Father’s grave?”

“Looking for something?” Zhuo Yu thought carefully for a moment, then abruptly looked up and directly at her, realizing, “You, you mean there’s something suspicious about Uncle’s death?”

Lu Huacheng was the steward of the winery when he was alive. He was introduced to the steward of the Guangfu Restaurant in Qingzhou. The restaurant ordered three thousand jin of rice wine from the Lu family’s winery. Because of the large order, Lu Huacheng specially made a trip to Qingzhou himself, but was robbed by bandits on the way back.

After learning of Lu Huacheng’s death, it was Zhuo Yu who accompanied Qi Zhenshu to Qingzhou to identify the body. At the time, Qi Zhenshu had raised a question.

Lu Huacheng took a boat to Qingzhou, so why did he change to the land route on his return?

Traveling between Qingzhou and Binhe County by land or by water took about the same amount of time, but the water route was more convenient, quicker, and relatively safer than the land route.

Most people traveling between the two places would usually choose the water route first.

At that time, the two of them had even stayed in Qingzhou for an extra day to investigate Lu Huacheng’s whereabouts before he left Qingzhou, but they didn’t find anything unusual.

Qi Zhenshu’s delicate brows were slightly furrowed, “If all these matters are connected, then Father’s death must have a hidden story.”

“What could be in that grave?” Zhuo Yu really couldn’t understand.

Other than the remains and burial items, what could be in the grave that was related to Lu Huacheng’s death?

And there was another aspect that didn’t make sense: if they were specifically looking for something in Lu Huacheng’s grave, why did they disturb the other graves?

Was it to confuse the public and conceal the real purpose behind it?

Qi Zhenshu also shook her head in confusion.

“Are there any anomalies at home?” Zhuo Yu pondered for a moment and asked, “Has anything strange happened recently?”

If they were truly looking for something, shouldn’t they start with Lu Huacheng’s house?

There was one strange thing.

Hearing her question, Lu Sheng immediately came to Qi Zhenshu’s mind.

The strangest thing was Lu Sheng’s change.

However, she couldn’t tell Zhuo Yu about this, and Qi Zhenshu didn’t think Lu Sheng was related to Lu Huacheng’s death.

“I’ll go back to Lu’er Village tomorrow to take a look,” Qi Zhenshu thought for a moment and said.

They had moved to the county for almost a month and hadn’t returned to their home in Lu’er Village yet.

“I’ll go with you tomorrow.”

While the two were talking, they heard the sounds of children playing outside.

In the courtyard, Zhuo You was playing a chasing game with Tangtang, and the Lu sisters, Lu Zheng and Lu Sheng, walked out of the kitchen with their sleeves rolled up.

Zhuo You saw her mother come out and changed direction to run toward her, happily calling, “Mom, Mom, quickly hug me.”

“Didn’t I just instruct you not to run around wildly with your sister? How could you forget so quickly?” Lu Zheng picked her up, scolding her with a smile, but was busy pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat, “Look at all this sweat on your head.”

“Mom~” Tangtang saw her sister being picked up and anxiously grabbed Lu Sheng’s leg, wanting a hug.

“Like a little monkey.”

Lu Sheng bent her brows, picked her up, and also took out the handkerchief from her bosom to wipe her sweat.

A gentle breeze blew across the plum tree branches, the petals danced in the wind, gracefully fluttering down. The women beneath the tree were beautiful and gentle, smiling softly as they looked sideways. The children in their arms were even more innocent and lively, stretching out their little hands to catch the scattered blossoms, laughing joyfully.

This scene fell upon the eyes of the two people inside the house, and the light frowns on their brows quietly eased, and their eyes unconsciously filled with a warm, soft glow.

Seeing Qi Zhenshu’s expression, Zhuo Yu smiled lightly and sighed with emotion, “Ah Sheng’s personality has changed quite a bit recently.”

“Mhm,” Qi Zhenshu responded faintly.

The person has changed, so how could the personality remain the same?

Qi Zhenshu’s face was calm and unruffled, but Zhuo Yu had been a constable for many years. The instant she spoke, she keenly caught the flash of brightness in her eyes.

“Have you been getting along well with Ah Sheng recently?”

Qi Zhenshu turned her gaze to look at Zhuo Yu, her eyes paused for a moment, and she said softly, “It’s alright.”

“Hearing your tone, it doesn’t sound like ‘alright’.” Zhuo Yu got up, took the teapot from the desk, poured tea for herself and Qi Zhenshu, and then asked, “Did something happen?”

Zhuo Yu originally didn’t want to interfere too much with their private matters, but thinking of her wife who doted on her sister, she decided to ask.

If the two of them got along well, Lu Zheng would worry less.

Qi Zhenshu thought for a moment, carefully choosing her words, and asked, “Sister Yu, how did you know your feelings for Eldest Sister?”

Ever since returning from Qinzhou, Qi Zhenshu had noticed the abnormality in her emotions and had a faint suspicion.

After finishing her studies every day, she would consult the family’s books, hoping to find some evidence to confirm her deductions.

The books mentioned, ‘A fair lady, a fine match for a gentleman.’

But she and Lu Sheng were already married.

The books mentioned, ‘One day without seeing you is like three autumns.’

But she and Lu Sheng had never been separated.

Only the phrase, ‘Holding hands and growing old together,’ was something Qi Zhenshu agreed with, but for people who were already married, holding hands and growing old was a matter of course.

After searching through everything, she couldn’t find a single passage in the books that resonated with her current state of mind.

Upon hearing Qi Zhenshu’s question, Zhuo Yu was also startled. She turned her eyes and saw the person who was usually so calm and composed, had a flush rising to her face when asking this question.

Tsk tsk, even a person as clever as her finds it hard to pass the test of love.

It was rare that she actually had a chance to teach Qi Zhenshu something.

Zhuo Yu took a sip of tea, lightly cleared her throat, and spoke with the tone of an experienced person.

“The simplest way to know if you like someone is that you feel happy when you see her.”

Saying this, Zhuo Yu paused and looked at Qi Zhenshu. Qi Zhenshu’s eyes were serious, and she nodded her head gently.

“No matter what you’re doing, you’ll think of her from time to time.”

“Seeing her happy makes you feel cheerful too.”

“When she’s sad, you want to cheer her up.”

“When you see something she likes, you’ll think about getting it for her.”

One hour later.

North Street.

‘Is it normal to feel uneasy when I see her being too intimate with others?’

‘Haha, you’re jealous.’

‘Regardless of anything else, this point alone confirms that you like her.’

Crack.

The lamp wick burned, making a soft sound, which pulled Qi Zhenshu back to the present.

The hand holding the book paused slightly, and Qi Zhenshu sighed inwardly, closing the Spring and Autumn Annals.

She had been sitting at the desk for a long time but hadn’t absorbed a single word.

Getting up and walking around the screen, Qi Zhenshu had just approached the bedroom when she heard pleasant laughter coming from inside.

Interspersed with the laughter was the faint sound of running water. Qi Zhenshu paused her steps, glanced at the small door on the north side, turned around, and sat down at a small table nearby, pouring herself a cup of tea.

The north side of the east bedroom had a small room, which was specifically used as a washroom.

After a while, the sound of water inside gradually subsided.

“Oh no, it fell into the water.” A young voice full of annoyance came from the washroom.

“It’s okay, little one…” A soft female voice was low, and Qi Zhenshu couldn’t hear the rest of what she said.

In a moment, Tangtang walked out of the washroom hugging a cloth tiger.

The charcoal brazier was burning in the room, so the temperature wasn’t too cold, but the little one was only wearing an inner garment, which was still a bit thin.

The little one was first startled when she saw Qi Zhenshu, then happily toddled her little legs and ran toward her.

“Mother, Auntie’s clothes, clothes fell into the water.” The little one looked at her expectantly, “Mother, quickly help Auntie find another one.”

So her clothes fell into the water.

“An inner garment? Or trousers?” Qi Zhenshu put down her cup, took the outer robe from the side, and put it on her daughter.

“The inner garment and the little doudou [bodice/undershirt] both fell into the water.” The little one tugged at her own clothes and then pulled at the little red dudou underneath, saying.

Qi Zhenshu’s eyes paused for a moment. She carried her onto the bed and said, “You sit on the bed, Mother will go get one for Auntie.”

Lu Sheng lived in the east wing, so her clothes were also kept there. Qi Zhenshu took an oil lamp to the main hall and went out.

Lighting the lamp in the east wing, Qi Zhenshu found Lu Sheng’s wardrobe.

The clothes inside the closet were neatly folded, and she quickly found an inner garment. Looking up at the upper shelf, a row of silk undergarments was hanging there.

Goose yellow, pink, bright red, light green, light blue, ivory white—the colors were varied, and the embroidered patterns were all different: chrysanthemums, pomegranates, peaches, twin lotus flowers, butterfly lovers, mandarin ducks playing in water.

When the cabinet was first made, Qi Zhenshu noticed that Lu Sheng had specifically asked the carpenters to install a row of small hooks. She had thought it strange then, but now that she saw its use, she was somewhat enlightened.

This person had specifically installed a row of hooks, she hadn’t expected it was for hanging undergarments.

Looking at these colorful undergarments, a wave of heat rose on Qi Zhenshu’s face. She lightly rubbed the back of her hand with her thumb and reached out to take the first goose-yellow undergarment embroidered with twin lotus flowers.

A few days ago when Lu Sheng was sick, Qi Zhenshu had washed her undergarments for her. At that time, she was preoccupied with making sure to finish washing the clothes and watching the medicine pot, and didn’t have any extra thoughts for anything else.

Now, holding this undergarment in her hand, Qi Zhenshu had a strange feeling.

It seemed that the material of Lu Sheng’s undergarments was much softer and smoother than her own.

Lowering her eyes, she wrapped the undergarment inside the inner garment, and Qi Zhenshu raised her hand to close the cabinet door.

Returning to the bedroom, the little one happily ran down from the bed and reached for the clothes in her hand.

Qi Zhenshu raised an eyebrow and glanced at the wooden door of the washroom, handing her the clothes, and instructed faintly, “Be careful not to drop them again.”

Inside the washroom, Lu Sheng took the clothes from the little one and smiled, stroking her head, “Thank you, little one.”

She smiled bitterly in her heart; surely Elder Sister didn’t have Zhuo You when she used this move?

This move isn’t working, so she can only move on to the next one.

Thank you to all my darlings for your support. Please collect the author’s profile and follow the pre-order!

Upcoming novel The Deceptive Princess Synopsis:

The youngest sister of the Empress of Liang, Princess Chu, is a woman of exceptional beauty and peerless grace, the most desired woman by all the noble ladies in the capital.

However, this highly sought-after beauty forcibly married a street performer, going so far as to defy the Empress’s will and insisting on establishing this woman as her official Princess Consort.

Di Qi is outwardly a street acrobat, but in reality, she is the chief disciple of the Shadowless Sect (a thievery organization).

In order to steal a treasure from the Prince Chu’s Residence, she disguised herself in various identities and infiltrated the premises to survey the layout. However, after one time when she was disguised as a street acrobat, she was directly forcefully taken into the residence by Prince Chu, Si Younin.

Di Qi decided to use this opportunity, outwardly flattering the Prince while secretly investigating the whereabouts of the treasure. However, after months of searching, she made no progress.

“My love, how do you like this Eastern Pearl from Songlin River?”

“My love, do you like this azure gold gemstone from Beiwan in the Western Regions?”

“My love, this is the jade pendant my mother left me, and now I’m giving it to you.”

“My love, the baby will be…”

“My love…”

There was no clue about the treasure, but in Si Younin’s constant use of “My love,” Di Qi accidentally turned her pretense into reality, becoming a Princess Consort in name and fact.

One person approached with false intentions, the other had planned it all along.

Who exactly was trapping whom?

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