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墨書 Inktalez
Qin Yaru held a rice cake in her hand, stuffing it into her mouth piece by piece, while Xiu was coaxing Da Lang to eat steamed egg custard.
The egg custard was one thing, but the strangely flavored goat milk made the child break out in a cold sweat.
Da Lang wore a bitter expression but didn’t dare to struggle at all—his aunt was much more formidable than his mother. If he dared to run away, the treatment he would receive would surely be even more 'harsh' than now.
Although Xiu was only thirteen years old, she was well taken care of and had clearly not suffered much at the Brothel Management Office. Her body had begun to develop, and she possessed a certain youthful charm. She resembled Qin Yaru quite a bit, about seventy to eighty percent alike. Watching her sister play joyfully with her son, Qin Yaru couldn’t help but reminisce about many years ago when she was still young, feeling a bit sentimental.
Her good mood lasted until noon.
"What is it?" Qin Yaru's voice was very soft. The Lady-in-Waiting in front of her trembled her lips, wanting to speak but unable to find the words. She reached out to stop any further comments and turned her head to tuck Da Lang’s thin blanket more securely around him. After the morning's commotion, she wanted him to take a nap.
Wancui lowered her head, her face somewhat pale, and there was a hint of panic in her expression.
Zhan Yu was dead!
That skilled martial artist, gentle and elegant, with a handsome demeanor comparable to that of a god—Zhan Yu was actually dead.
Qin Yaru didn’t know what to feel inside. She wasn’t particularly close to Zhan Yu; their connection was mainly due to Bai Yunsheng.
Although she had also saved Zhan Yu, he was different from Bai Yunsheng. He was an introverted person who wouldn’t become too familiar with a young woman even if he owed her his life.
But he was a good person, kind-hearted and warm-hearted. When Qin Yaru arrived in Kaifeng, he had taken good care of her. Compared to Bai Yunsheng's methods, his care was more subtle and considerate; he would never make anyone feel uncomfortable or troubled.
Qin Yaru sat dazedly in her chair, feeling an emptiness in her heart. Not only had Zhan Yu died, but his death was also quite disgraceful—he had died on the bed of Ouyang Yue's Lady-in-Waiting, Cui'er, who also died after being insulted and committing suicide by biting her tongue.
Rumors are spreading everywhere that Zhan Yu, the Zhan Commander, insulted a Lady-in-Waiting at the Brothel Management Office, leading her to take her own life in despair. He himself also met an untimely end, which is seen as punishment.
Gao Feng and Qin Wenyuan arrived together, both looking grim. It was clear to anyone that something was amiss; the two had died without a sound. The old woman on night watch outside heard nothing at all. The Lady-in-Waiting was not dead; surely she would have cried out. Moreover, it is absurd to think that Zhan Yu would go to the Brothel Management Office to insult a Lady-in-Waiting.
Zhan Yu is so young, handsome, and of high status. Whenever he goes out into the streets, he is often showered with fruits by charming ladies. Compared to Pang Yuanying, he is much more upright and likable. In all of Kaifeng City, any girl of noble birth who knows him would praise his character even if she were not infatuated with him.
The Official was furious; Zhan Yu was his trusted confidant, and they had always shared a good relationship. The Official was inherently soft-hearted, showing compassion even towards palace maids and eunuchs, let alone his beloved subordinate. However, despite his rage and demands for Kaifeng Prefecture to investigate thoroughly and uncover the truth, they were utterly helpless and found not a single clue.
Everyone at the Brothel Management Office, including the Courtesans, stated that Zhan Yu had come that afternoon to see Ouyang Yue regarding some matters. At that time, Ouyang Yue was teaching dance and asked him to wait in a guest room. It was only two hours later that Ouyang Yue returned to find him dead.
"It’s impossible! Zhan Yu's martial arts skills are unmatched in all of Kaifeng; only a few can compare. Don’t be fooled by my own skills; I could only block a few dozen moves against him. Who in Kaifeng could kill him within two hours without anyone noticing?"
Even if there were an exceptional master, it would be impossible for them to fight without causing a commotion. Gao Feng could never believe that someone could incapacitate Zhan Yu without him being able to fight back.
Looking at his own hands, Gao Feng's face turned pale but showed no other emotion. However, Qin Yaru could tell he felt guilty.
Gao Feng had witnessed two young recruits die at the hands of enemies before. Both had been carefully selected through rigorous screening and were among the best of the best. Gao Feng had high hopes for them and nurtured them with care, wishing they would one day become outstanding members of the team. Losing them suddenly before they had fully matured caused a heart-wrenching pain and deep regret that only those who have truly experienced it could understand.
At that time, he sat pale on the training camp bench, mumbling incoherently.
"He must have discovered something; otherwise, those people wouldn’t dare commit such a grave offense by killing someone trusted by the Official."
Qin Yaru did not know what Gao Feng had asked Zhan Yu to investigate that led to his death but guessed it must be related to the Qin Family and possibly involved Xiangyang Wang or the Pang Family. She felt a mix of emotions inside her—only a heavy discomfort remained.
Especially the cause of Zhan Yu's death could not be determined; there were no toxins in the body, no injuries on the skin, and the autopsy only stated it was sudden death. Sudden death? How could a healthy, skilled young man suddenly die for no reason?
Zhan Yu was different from others; even though Qin Yaru wanted to conduct the autopsy personally, Official would not agree. Even Gao Feng found it difficult to intervene.
While Gao Feng was trying hard to investigate what Zhan Yu had discovered, he received news that Bai Yunsheng, who had rushed back from another location, had fallen ill.
He caused a scene at the Brothel Management Office, setting fire to a large part of it, which frightened Ouyang Yue into hiding in the palace overnight. Official reprimanded him, but deep down, Official was soft-hearted and knew that Bai Yunsheng and Zhan Yu were sworn brothers. Despite their apparent enmity over the years, if Zhan Yu had truly died, the first person to be heartbroken would undoubtedly be Bai Yunsheng.
That time, Bai Yunsheng got into serious trouble and made the Empress Dowager sick with anger. Official promised strict punishment but ultimately let Zhan Yu arrest him, likely with the intention of protecting him rather than genuinely wanting to make things difficult for Bai Yunsheng.
Considering all these circumstances, Official did not punish him severely; he only required him to compensate for the damages to the Brothel Management Office. Later, upon seeing that Bai Yunsheng had fallen ill, he even took money from his own pocket to help him out.
With Bai Yunsheng sick, Qin Yaru, as a doctor, had to visit him. Upon seeing him, she felt a pang of sadness.
This young man was only in his twenties; after just over a month apart, his once shiny black hair had turned gray, with some silver strands visible. He had lost all his vitality.
He was once the most spirited young man!
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