Chapter 32: Interrogation

As the wind blew, the copper bells hanging on the corners of the waterside pavilion jingled. Ning Yin spun the lychee pit between his fingers, looking at Yu Lingxi, who was holding the brush in a daze, and raised an eyebrow after a moment, “Miss doesn’t like it?”

Could this be a question of liking or not? Anyone would need some time to react when receiving a brush made of hair.

“Not that I don’t like it, just curious,” Yu Lingxi held the intricately carved lacquer brush, with her fair fingertips contrasting with the vivid red, and squinted at him, “If next time, I praise your eyes as beautiful?”

“If Miss likes, I can pluck out my eyes and give them to Miss; it’s not impossible,” Ning Yin actually thought about it seriously for a moment and then calmly said, “It’s just that Miss is kind, and dealing with eyeballs might be troublesome, can’t scare Miss.”

“No need,” Yu Lingxi quickly stopped this dangerous topic, “Hair can grow back after cutting, but if you lose your eyes, hands, or feet, it would be incomplete. Things on a person’s body look best when they are alive.”

Just as she was saying this, she suddenly heard Ning Yin chuckle lowly, “Oh, it turns out Miss likes to use living things.”

Thanks to him, Yu Lingxi felt a sudden dryness on her cheeks when she heard the word “use.” She furrowed her brows and helplessly said, “What I mean is, take care of your own body.”

This time, Ning Yin didn’t laugh. His dark eyes gazed at her eyelashes for a long time, and it was unclear if he had listened.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, “Miss, can you use this brush to write a few words?”

On the small table beside, paper and ink had already been prepared. However, using Ning Yin’s beautiful hair to dip into the ink felt somewhat unbearable.

Yu Lingxi settled her mind, used clear water to moisten the brush, and asked, “What do you want me to write?”

Ning Yin, with his right hand behind his back and the apricot-white ribbon-wound left hand, calmly ground the inkstick into a strip, recalling the scene from yesterday. He said, “Red cheeks deep like lychees, musk navel fragrant to the full.”

The brush paused, leaving a small ink tail on the rice paper.

“This brush is very resilient, suitable for bold and unrestrained cursive writing, not suitable for writing this sentence,” Yu Lingxi pretended not to understand his intentions and wrote a sentence from the “Book of Changes”: “A gentleman hides his talent in his body, waiting for the right time to act.”

“A gentleman” refers to a person with both good character and talent, also the son of a monarch. Hiding and not revealing, waiting for the right time. Ning Yin considered himself clever but couldn’t figure out the layered meaning behind what Yu Lingxi wrote.

His ink-grinding movements slowed down, and he smiled ambiguously, “Miss’s words are too high for me.”

“My judgment is very accurate, I won’t misjudge a person,” Yu Lingxi replied.

Yu Lingxi dried the ink on the paper, handed the written words to Ning Yin, and smiled sincerely, “Thank you for the brush; it works well.”

Ning Yin lowered his eyes, slowly raised his hand, and grasped the other end of the rice paper. The bold and unrestrained handwriting on the paper seemed like a brand in his eyes.

A gentle breeze ruffled the spring water in the pond, and willow leaves rustled. Ning Yin’s eyes darkened slightly as he looked towards the moon gate behind the rockery, a plain-colored hem fluttering by.

Zhao Yuming returned after a short absence.

She had intended to indirectly address the current situation of the Extreme Bliss Incense on Yu Lingxi, but unexpectedly witnessed a scene in the waterside pavilion. In the moment when the black-clad youth tilted his head slightly, she was startled and hastily turned to leave.

It wasn’t until she passed through the corner gate of the General’s Mansion that she stopped with lingering fear. After a brief surprise, a deep sense of jealousy surged within her.

The young man in the waterside pavilion was partially obscured by the gallery pillar, and she couldn’t see his face clearly. From his attire, he seemed to be a guard or something similar. Yu Lingxi’s every expression, every smile, showed a deep sense of closeness and trust towards him. She didn’t seem to observe the boundaries between men and women.

Thinking again about what she heard from Zhao Xu, the medicinal effects of the Extreme Bliss Incense…

Zhao Yuming covered her injured face, a dark sense of satisfaction rising within her. Ever since she came to the Yu Mansion three years ago to celebrate the birthday, she couldn’t forget Xue Erlang. She knew her father was just a mediocre seventh-rank official with a humble background and no reliable relatives to support them. She could only bury her feelings deep in her heart.

But gradually, these feelings twisted and expanded in the daily jealousy and self-deprecation, distorting her into something unrecognizable. 

Yu Lingxi, having fallen under the influence of the Extreme Bliss Incense, couldn’t possibly be untouched. How could she be cleaner than herself? Why could Xue Erlang accept her but not herself?

Having lost her virginity to the Crown Prince was a favor, while Yu Lingxi losing hers to a lowly servant was a disgrace.

Zhao Yuming clenched her fingers slowly and said to the maid beside her, “Hongzhu, let’s go to the Xue Mansion.”

“Miss, haven’t you given up?” The maid looked troubled, “Xue Erlang won’t see you. You’ve visited him several times, and he didn’t even let you in. Besides, you are about to enter the palace, he will be even more cautious.”

Zhao Yuming paused her steps, unwillingly said, “Then inquire about it; when will Young Master Xue leave today? Go outside and intercept him.”

Seeing the maid hesitating, she urged, “There won’t be another chance tomorrow. Go quickly!”

No matter what method, she must tell Xue Cen what she saw with her own eyes, making him give up on marrying Yu Lingxi.

In the side room, the scent of the beast stove lingered. Yu Lingxi cleaned the red plum-patterned brush, carefully dried it with cotton cloth, and then placed it on the brush stand to air dry.

As her fingertip brushed over the intricate lacquer patterns, she couldn’t help but chuckle. The whimsical ideas of the little madman were truly beyond reason. Parents give life to their children, and even loving couples would only cut a strand of hair to exchange during their wedding. But how did he come up with using hair to make a brush?

While smiling, Yu Xinyi pushed the door open and entered. Yu Lingxi retracted her hand, concealing her actions. Yu Xinyi didn’t notice her subtle movement. She casually placed a knife on the table, rubbed her neck, and said, “I just saw Zhao Yuming sneaking out from the side gate. Did she do anything to you?”

“Zhao Yuming?”

Wasn’t she supposed to have left long ago?

Thinking of something, Yu Lingxi snorted, “It doesn’t matter. Those things she thinks she can use against me are just empty words; they can’t harm me at all.”

Only someone with a dirty heart would see everyone as dirty. While she was thinking, there suddenly came a commotion from the front yard.

“Sister, what’s happening outside?” Yu Lingxi asked.

“Oh, it’s Yu Huanchen returning from the palace. It’s said that there’s a sudden wind disaster in the four counties of Luozhou, damaging thousands of acres of fields and affecting tens of thousands of people.”

Yu Xinyi said, “The emperor ordered Yu Huanchen as a General to escort relief supplies and funds, and he’s leaving tonight.”

“So fast?”

“The disaster is urgent, and setting off in the middle of the night is common.”

Although she heard silently, Yu Lingxi still felt that something was not right. Transporting relief supplies was such a trivial matter; why would someone from the general’s mansion be involved?

At the end of this very hour, just as the sky darkened, Yu Huanchen had already organized the horses for departure. Holding a gauze lamp, Yu Lingxi stood on the steps, pondered for a moment, and advised Yu Huanchen, who was in armor, “Be careful in the matter of disaster relief, brother, and hope you handle it with care.”

Yu Huanchen wrapped the reins around his hand, smiled confidently, and said, “If I can’t handle such trivial matters, it would be unworthy of my identity as the young general of the Yu family. Don’t worry, sister, I’ll be back!”

After saying this, he looked at Yu Xinyi, who was standing beside him with folded arms, and her face became stern as he sternly said, “Yu Xinyi, take good care of mother and sister!”

“No need for your concern.”

Yu Xinyi said disdainfully, “Get going, don’t delay.”

Yu Huanchen raised the reins, led the Yu family’s army’s confidants, and headed towards the city gate.

Torches snaked along, disappearing into the night.

…

The wind blew all night, and raindrops fell on the empty steps.

Behind the corner door of the roof, Ning Yin stepped over the vigilant guards of the Yu Mansion, stepping on the thick layer of fallen red leaves.

A peddler came towards him, carrying a cargo box and shaking a tambourine in his hand, hawking his wares. When he saw Ning Yin, he hurriedly stepped forward and greeted him, “Lord, would you like to buy some candy?”

Ning Yin stopped, glanced at the colorful fruits and sugar grains in the cargo box, and casually asked, “Do you have licorice candy?”

“Yes, yes.” The peddler quickly took out a piece of oiled paper and scooped out a spoonful of licorice candy for him.

“Under the orders of His Highness, I have created a sensation in the market, and the impeachment of the Crown Prince’s immoral behavior by the Imperial Censorate is imminent, just waiting for the right time.”

The peddler’s hands didn’t stop moving as he reported in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “Also, the people from the General’s Mansion are secretly investigating His Highness’s past. I’m afraid that if the Yu family finds out that His Highness was at their mansion, they might take action…”

“No need.” Ning Yin took out a few copper coins and placed them in the drawer of the vendor’s box, with a calm expression. “Let them investigate.”

Now, let’s see if Yu Huanchen has the authority to investigate his background when he returns alive. After all, that pig on Ning Tan’s side may not have the ability, but he surely holds a grudge.

“Help me check the licorice candy.” Ning Yin smiled.

“Alright.” The vendor smiled and handed over the wrapped licorice candy. “Safe travels, sir.”

Ning Yin carried the candy behind him, ascended the steps amid the fading tambourine sounds, and headed towards the waterside pavilion.

Sure enough, Yu Lingxi was practicing calligraphy there.

The wind stirred the hem of her light crimson skirt, resembling scattered morning glow. As if knowing they would meet, she deliberately didn’t bring any maids to serve her.

So, Ning Yin walked over, reached out to grind the ink for her leisurely.

His posture was leisurely, not naturally suited for serving others. Rather than saying he was grinding ink, it seemed more like he was amusing himself.

“Where did you go? Hutao said you weren’t in the canopy room.”

Yu Lingxi glanced at his long and slender fingers, the dark ink contrasting with her fair skin, giving a kind of cold jade-like texture. She always felt that Ning Yin’s hands were suitable for interlocking fingers with someone…

Realizing she was reminiscing about something, Yu Lingxi’s heart tightened, and she quickly shook off the chaotic thoughts in her mind.

“Bought some candy.” Ning Yin wiped his hands, placed the just-bought licorice candy on the stone table, and pushed it towards Yu Lingxi.

Then, with a slight pause, lowering his gaze, he prolonged his tone, “Miss, the brush you’re using is not the one I gave you.”

Following his gaze, Yu Lingxi looked at the bamboo brush in her hand. Pretending not to detect the chill in his tone, she said, “Your brush is too beautiful; I can’t bear to use it.”

Yu Lingxi didn’t have the habit of writing with hair, so she carefully kept the beautifully crafted red brush that Ning Yin made for her in her room.

She had already planned that once Ning Yin gained power, if he didn’t acknowledge their past relationship, she would show him that brush. It would be a comfortable and prosperous future in exchange.

“Miss, what are you scheming? Your eyes are rolling around.”

Ning Yin seemed to see through her absent-mindedness and chuckled lightly. Yu Lingxi gathered her wandering thoughts, putting aside the brush.

“Wei Qi, I have something to ask you.”

She pursed her lips, as if contemplating for a long time before softly saying, “If… I mean, if, someone served you for two years and suddenly died, how would you handle her?”

This idea had been in her mind since yesterday.

When Ning Yin mentioned that he didn’t like Zhao Yuming’s face yesterday, Yu Lingxi vaguely guessed why the Ning Yin of her previous life used a cane to scar Zhao Yuming’s face after her death. So she wondered if the doubts and resentment from her previous life could be answered through Ning Yin in this life.

Ning Yin raised an eyebrow slightly, seeming curious about why she would ask such a question.

However, his tone remained indifferent, lightly drifting, “If she’s dead, bury her in a pit, that’s it.”

He didn’t know why he answered such a boring hypothetical question. Perhaps it was because Yu Lingxi’s eyes were too serious and earnest at the moment.

“What if there isn’t even a pit?” Yu Lingxi asked again.

Her intuition told her that Ning Yin’s next answer might be the key.

Ning Yin thought for a moment, picked up a candy from the table, and said, “Then, she’s an insignificant person, not worth my trouble.”

Hearing this, Yu Lingxi’s breath was stuck in her heart.

The matter that had been bothering her for so long seemed to be dismissed by Ning Yin with a cold and indifferent “insignificant person, not worth my trouble.”

Because she wasn’t worth the trouble, he let her corpse lie in a dark secret room, denying even the chance to rest in peace?

Getting the answer was more frustrating than not getting an answer at all.

Yu Lingxi stared at him, grabbed the licorice candy from his hand, and said, “I won’t give it to you.”

Ning Yin was taken aback.

Looking at his empty palm, he clicked his tongue, “So fierce.”

Yu Lingxi thought that so much time had passed, and the true culprit behind her poisoning would soon be revealed. She shouldn’t mind the days when she became a lonely ghost…

But hearing Ning Yin’s answer directly from his own mouth still felt bitter.

Strange, she used to be very open-minded, why was she so affected now?

Seeing her sitting silently without saying anything, the chill in Ning Yin’s eyes finally dissipated and turned into a bit of confusion. He stared at Yu Lingxi’s slightly trembling eyelashes for a long time, then peeled a candy and handed it to her.

He blinked very slowly and called, “Miss?”

The fragrant licorice candy was pinched between his fingertips, and Yu Lingxi wrinkled her nose, feeling uninterested. The sins committed by the big lunatic in the past, what does it matter to the current little lunatic?

She glanced at Ning Yin, didn’t say anything, but saw Hutao running over in a hurry, breaking the silence, “Miss…”

Seeing that Ning Yin was present, Hutao hesitated.

Yu Lingxi adjusted her emotions, gestured to her, “Speak directly, what’s the matter?”

“Miss, something happened at the Zhao Mansion.”

Hutao lowered her voice, “The Second Miss is dead.”

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