Chapter 638 - 355: Heaven Protects the Good
Chapter 638: Chapter 355: Heaven Protects the Good
"It’s not Miss Pei, it’s..."
Fang Hongxiu glanced at Han Ruixuan and stopped speaking.
Han Ruixuan offered a bitter smile, suggesting they return to the Government Office to discuss the matter further. If they hadn’t gone to visit Elder Master Xiao at noon, they might have still been able to seek out Pei Guanli of the Mountain Race. If they went now, the people at the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion would likely kick them out.
Chen Yunfan guessed the two were hiding something, so he didn’t press the issue. He silently thought, "This matter is too bizarre... perhaps I’ll have to ask Brother Yi to step in."
A chilly rain pattered down.
Outside the Xiao family’s residence, a continuous stream of carriages and horses came and went. A few days ago, the visitors had been from the various families within the Shu State Prefecture City; lately, it was mostly Noble families from the neighboring counties and towns, such as the Fu Family of Guangyuan County and the Lin Family of Guang’an County.
Whether intentionally or not, Elder Master Xiao had let some news slip, prompting all these people to come paying their respects. There were so many carriages that Chen Yi and Xiao Wan’er had to wait for a while before their own could enter the front courtyard.
Xiao Wan’er was still somewhat shaken.
The earlier scene had truly affected her. It wasn’t just Ma Shuhan’s murder and Xu Jitong’s suicide; it was how quickly everything had happened. One moment, Ma Shuhan was targeting Chen Yi, publicly grading his Annual Examination as Fifth Class. The next, Tang Zixing from the Inspectorate Office sent men to take Ma Shuhan away.
But before Ma Shuhan could even reach the Inspectorate Office, he was beheaded right in the middle of the street. And the person who assassinated him was a Fifth-Grade Official of the Inspectorate Office.
Although Xiao Wan’er had been frail and sickly since childhood, accustomed to the fickleness of human nature, and had even survived the ordeal of being kidnapped by Du Cang, she had never experienced anything as convoluted as today’s events.
Chen Yi naturally noticed Xiao Wan’er’s distraction. While keeping an eye on the commotion outside the carriage, he patted her hand and comforted her. "Eldest Sister, don’t overthink it. The people from the Government Office are all here today, as is the Governor, Lord Yang. I’m sure they’ll get to the bottom of this."
Feeling the warmth on the back of her hand, Xiao Wan’er slightly raised her eyes to look at him. She didn’t pull away as she usually would.
"Do you think the world changes too fast?" she asked. "Even though Academic Administrator Ma was biased, for him to die so suddenly..."
Looking at Chen Yi’s gentle smile, she hesitated before adding, "If I were to end up like that... Qingzhou, I..."
Before Xiao Wan’er could finish, Chen Yi reached out and pinched her lips together. Her eyes instantly widened, her melancholy shifting to surprise.
"Eldest Sister, don’t say such ominous things.
"Besides, you are nothing like Ma Shuhan.
"His crimes were unforgivable. If he hadn’t died outside the examination hall, he would have died in the Government Office."
Chen Yi paused. Applying a little more pressure, he squeezed Xiao Wan’er’s lips into a pout. Meeting her bashful gaze, he chuckled. "Heaven helps the good. Eldest Sister, you will certainly live a long and healthy life."
As he spoke, he tapped Xiao Wan’er’s palm a few times, tracing out a few words: "I will handle everything."
Enduring the ticklish sensation in her palm, Xiao Wan’er managed to decipher the words. She offered a soft "Mhm" and lowered her head.
Yet, a trace of sorrow still lingered in her heart. Nun Jingci had once told her that even while bathed in Wumeng Mountain’s Yang Fire, it would be incredibly difficult for her to live past twenty-five. That left her with less than four years.
Chen Yi, however, wasn’t thinking that far ahead. His Great Success in the Medical Dao wasn’t enough to completely cure Xiao Wan’er, but once his Medical Dao reached Perfection, there might be a way. And if he still couldn’t, he would simply achieve another breakthrough.
Xie Tingyun watched the carriages outside the mansion’s gates while eavesdropping on the conversation behind her. She nudged Shen Huatang with her elbow. When Shen Huatang turned her head, Xie Tingyun winked playfully and mouthed, "The Second Son-in-law and the Eldest Miss..."
Shen Huatang turned away expressionlessly. "Boring."
Feeling snubbed, Xie Tingyun took her frustration out on someone else, shouting at the top of her lungs, "Steward Lu, the Eldest Miss and the Second Son-in-law haven’t had lunch yet!"
Xiao Wan’er gently chided her, "Tingyun, it won’t hurt us to wait a little longer."
"Miss, the cold dampness of the rain is bad for your health."
"Well..."
Fortunately, Lu Guan had already heard them from outside the gates. He hastily ordered the servants to move the other carriages aside and hurried forward to welcome them, ushering them into the mansion first.
After stepping down from the carriage, Chen Yi and Xiao Wan’er walked across the front courtyard under a shared umbrella. The passing guests stopped to bow in greeting when they saw them. Xiao Wan’er recognized a few of them and returned the greetings with a faint smile, taking the opportunity to introduce Chen Yi.
"You are Mr. Qingzhou? Your reputation precedes you."
"An honor to meet you..."
Having frequently assisted Xiao Wan’er in receiving guests in the past, Chen Yi was well-practiced, and he could maintain appearances well enough.
They stopped frequently along the way. As they bypassed the middle courtyard, they saw Wang Lixing pushing Xiao Xuanshuo toward them.
The two of them bowed. "Second Uncle."
Xiao Xuanshuo nodded calmly. Noting their expressions, he asked, "Did something happen outside the examination hall?"
Xiao Wan’er hesitated slightly.
Chen Yi smoothly nodded. "Ma Shuhan was assassinated. The people from the Government Office are investigating."
Xiao Xuanshuo had naturally already heard the news. He looked at Chen Yi and asked, "I heard your essay provoked Ma Shuhan?"
"Yes."
"So be it. Ma Shuhan was always a fame-seeker. If he hadn’t died today, there’s no telling how many scholars he would have poisoned in the future."
Chen Yi smiled and nodded. "You’re right, Second Uncle."
He had expected Xiao Xuanshuo to reprimand him, but surprisingly, he offered words of comfort instead.
Oblivious to Chen Yi’s thoughts, Xiao Xuanshuo exchanged a few more pleasantries before saying, "In a few days, my father plans to host a banquet for the various guests at the mansion. Qingzhou, you should attend and help entertain them."
Chen Yi was slightly stunned, taken aback. "Me?"
Xiao Xuanshuo nodded, gesturing for Wang Lixing to push him onward. "Father specifically requested your presence. If you don’t wish to, you don’t have to show your face."
Chen Yi replied that he wouldn’t dare refuse, watching them leave.
Why would Elder Master Xiao ask him to help entertain the guests at his banquet?