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墨書 Inktalez
I looked at him in surprise. "You? Why?"
"I told you, I would help you," Murong Huan said, "and I have some matters to attend to in the capital as well."
I hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded in agreement.
Having an ally like Murong Huan was an unexpected blessing for me.
Thus, six months after leaving Nan Zhang, I set out on the road back to the capital once more.
This time, I was no longer the weak woman who had been forced to leave.
I returned with a determination for revenge.
I was going to reclaim everything that was rightfully mine!
Upon returning to the capital, I did not go directly to the Shen Residence.
Murong Huan had a residence outside the city that he lent me for my stay.
"Zhi Yi," he handed me a cup of hot tea, "before you take action, we need more information."
"I will send someone to investigate the situation at the Shen Residence and the the Ji Family; you should rest here for now."
I took the teacup, my fingers trembling slightly.
"I can't wait any longer."
"Impulsiveness will only lead to failure," Murong Huan pressed down on my shoulder. "Trust me."
I nodded, forcing myself to calm down.
Three days later, Murong Huan brought detailed intelligence.
Ji Hanzhou had been secretly involved with Shen Ruoqing for quite some time.
Their relationship seemed quite close, and they appeared to have an engagement.
As for me, Half-Sister, although I was nominally the young mistress of the the Ji Family, I was often neglected.
There were even rumors that I had lost my sanity and was constantly paranoid.
"As for your inheritance," Murong Huan said, "most of it has been transferred away by Ji Hanzhou."
"But there is a will stating that your father left all his assets to your Half-Sister."
"A will?" I scoffed. "How could my father possibly leave his estate to her? This is clearly a forgery!"
"Exactly," Murong Huan nodded. "But the question is, how do we prove that this will is forged?"
I pondered for a moment and suddenly thought of someone.
"I remember my father had a trusted aide named Li Zheng; he was his steward."
"If anyone knows the truth, it must be him."
"Li Zheng?" A glimmer of light flashed in Murong Huan's eyes. "I will find him."
Two days later, Murong Huan indeed brought good news.
Li Zheng was still alive and willing to meet with me.
The meeting place was a secluded teahouse outside the city.
I arrived an hour early, changed into coarse cloth clothing, and donned a straw hat.
The teahouse was shrouded in swirling smoke, with small groups of patrons engaged in hushed conversations. I chose a corner seat, my back to the entrance, my hand resting on the dagger hidden in my sleeve. It was given to me by Murong Huan, who warned that the capital was fraught with danger unlike Nan Zhang.
“Miss?” A familiar voice called from behind me. I turned around and could hardly recognize the person before me. The once sprightly steward had now hunched over into an old man.
“Uncle Li!” I couldn't help but stand up.
“Lower your voice,” he said, nervously glancing around. “This place isn’t safe.”
We moved to a more secluded corner. “Miss, you’ve finally returned!” Li Zheng exclaimed, gripping my hand excitedly. “If Master were here, he would surely be pleased.”
“Uncle Li,” I choked out, “my father…”
“Miss, Master was murdered!” Li Zheng lowered his voice, anger glistening in his eyes. My heart sank; although I had suspected it, hearing the confirmation felt like a thunderclap.
“Who did it? Was it Ji Hanzhou or my Half-Sister?”
Li Zheng looked around to ensure no one was eavesdropping before saying, “It was your Half-Sister, Lin Mochou.”
“During Master’s coma, she came every day to administer medicine.”
“I had my doubts and secretly asked a doctor to examine it; there were traces of arsenic in the medicine.”
“But the evidence was insufficient and no one could testify for me, so I had to keep a low profile.”
“What about the will?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“It’s fake!” Li Zheng declared emphatically. “I saw Master’s real will with my own eyes; it clearly stated that all of the Shen family’s assets were to be left to you.”
“The fake will was forged by Lin Mochou and Ji Hanzhou, who even pressured me to sign as a witness.”
“I refused and nearly lost my life because of them.”
My heart ached as I fought back tears. “Uncle Li, where is the real will?”
Li Zheng offered a bitter smile. “Master had foreseen this; the real will is hidden in a secret compartment in the study.”
“Only you know how to open it.”
A thought struck me as I remembered the secret my father had taught me in my childhood. Behind the painting of Pines and Cranes in the center of the study lay a compartment known only to us father and daughter.
“I understand,” I took a deep breath. “Uncle Li, I need your help with something.”
“Miss, just say the word; I would go through fire and water for you!”
Three days later, astonishing news spread throughout the capital—“The daughter of Master Shen has returned, seeking to reclaim her heritage.” The entrance of the Shen Residence was crowded with onlookers. I stood at the back of the crowd, gazing at what was once my home.
The heartbeat thundered in my chest, and sweat trickled from my palms. Lin Mochou's face was as pale as a ghost, while Ji Hanzhou's expression was dark as water.
"Absurd!" Ji Hanzhou said sharply. "Shen Zhi Yi has long since run away from home, eloping with some wild man. How dare she return to claim her heritage?"
As soon as his words fell, the sound of a gong echoed from afar.
"Make way! The imperial decree is here!"
The crowd parted automatically to create a path. I exchanged a glance with Murong Huan, who had a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.
"The imperial decree has arrived—" the official announced loudly.
Everyone knelt down, but Ji Hanzhou's lips curled in disdain.
"It is hereby decreed that Shen Zhi Yi, the only daughter of Master Shen, is of legitimate bloodline and should inherit the family estate. She is to return to Shen Residence immediately and restore her identity. Thus it is decreed!"
Ji Hanzhou's expression froze instantly.
I stepped out of the crowd, facing the astonished gazes of those around me.
"Sister, long time no see."
Lin Mochou looked as if she had seen a ghost, her lips trembling. "Zhi Yi, you... have returned?"
"I've come back to inherit my father's legacy and to investigate the cause of his death."
A flicker of panic flashed in Ji Hanzhou's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Zhi Yi, Uncle Shen clearly passed away due to illness."
I stared directly into his eyes. "Then why did my father write to tell me that he suspected he was poisoned before he died?"
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
"Master Shen was poisoned?" someone whispered.
"Oh my, this is going to turn into a scandal!"
"Enough!" Ji Hanzhou's face turned ashen. "How dare you slander your sister and me?"
"I have already handed my father's letter over to the Court of Judicial Review."
It was a lie, but seeing the fear in Ji Hanzhou's eyes told me that this arrow had hit its mark.
I strode confidently into Shen Residence, leaving behind their panicked expressions.
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