Lu Yu met Afu's father, Wang Tian, secretly at the Shen residence in the afternoon.
Wang Tian's unexpected appearance at the Shen residence's blood-testing ceremony, speaking in favor of Shen Xuan, combined with his hostility towards Shen Xuan during the return visit, was too suspicious for Lu Yu to ignore.
The ability to change someone's attitude in such a short period and to speak so confidently in front of a crowd indicated that he must have known some significant secrets related to the matter.
"What business do you have with me, Miss Lu?" Wang Tian and Lu Yu met at the back gate of the Shen residence.
"Wang Tian, I know you were originally a dowry servant to Shen Xuan's father, yet you helped Zhao Liu frame Shen Xuan. Later, you publicly defended Shen Xuan. Wang Tian, what exactly are you up to?"
"I..." Wang Tian stammered, unable to speak.
"Or did you discover some other secret later?" Lu Yu didn't give Wang Tian time to fabricate a lie and quickly continued.
Upon hearing this, Wang Tian's eyes darted away, showing great panic, but he remained silent.
Wang Tian's reaction fully confirmed Lu Yu's suspicion.
"Now, there is an opportunity to avenge your young master. Whether you can seize it depends entirely on you." Lu Yu stared at the flustered Wang Tian, her gaze sharp.
Lu Yu did not miss the excited expression on Wang Tian's face upon hearing this news, and she formulated a plan.
"Tell me everything you know about Zhao Liu framing my father-in-law. I have a way to ensure Zhao Liu receives appropriate punishment and to clear my father-in-law's name."
What Lu Yu said was indeed very tempting. Wang Tian had the same idea that day when he overheard Zhao Liu and Shen Jia discussing their past schemes against his young master. However, he was powerless to act alone, so the matter had been delayed.
If what Lu Yu said could truly be achieved, he would have no regrets even if he died. He had wronged the young master and his child, and now he had to make amends.
"I was standing by the window and accidentally overheard what Zhao Liu said to Shen Jia. At that time, he said..."
After Wang Tian confessed everything he knew, Lu Yu could essentially deduce the entire course of events from his account.
"If the time comes to go to the county yamen, can you testify with what you've told me now?"
Lu Yu still asked, after all, according to Shen Xuan, Wang Tian's deed of sale was still in Zhao Liu's possession. With this deed, Wang Tian would have to remain in the Shen family for life.
If Wang Tian came forward to testify, how would he conduct himself upon returning to the Shen family? These were all things that needed to be considered. Therefore, even if Wang Tian refused now, Lu Yu would not force him, as people look out for themselves. It was only natural for Wang Tian to consider his own well-being.
In any case, knowing these things now was already a great help to her.
"I can, Miss Lu. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to atone." Wang Tian bowed deeply to Lu Yu, and when he looked up again, his eyes were filled with tears.
"Thank you for being willing to testify. Rest assured, I will guarantee your safety and ensure you are unharmed." Lu Yu bowed solemnly to Wang Tian, sincerely thanking him for being willing to come forward.
"I am merely atoning for the sins I committed back then. I have wronged the young master and his son; this is what I should do." Wang Tian sidestepped Lu Yu's bow, avoiding it, his tone filled with self-reproach.
This matter was, after all, between Shen Xuan and his father, and Lu Yu had no standing to accept Wang Tian's apology on their behalf. "Regardless, thank you for being willing to step forward. I'll be going back now, and you should return quickly so they don't become suspicious."
Watching Lu Yu's receding figure, Wang Tian finally couldn't help but shed tears.
Shen Xuan had endured his hatred for sixteen years, and he had even helped Zhao Liu harm him. Fortunately, Shen Xuan had found a good partner; otherwise, even if he died, his sins could not be atoned.
Because of this matter, Afu had also always hated him. He had indeed not cared about Afu back then. Fortunately, Shen Xuan was kind-hearted and did not implicate Afu even after knowing what he had done.
My life has been truly muddled!
Lu Yu did not return to her residence after leaving the Shen mansion but went directly to the county yamen.
"Your guess was correct. Zhao Ran did leave evidence of Zhao Liu hiring her to make medicine back then. The physical evidence is now mostly gathered. Have you found your witness?"
As soon as Lu Yu entered, she heard Zheng Yu deliver the good news from the hall, "The witness has been found. Everything is ready, only the opportune moment is needed. I will bring Xuan'er over tomorrow morning."
"Now that everything is resolved, you should go back and rest. Look at your dark circles, they're almost reaching your mouth." With the troublesome matters concluded, Zheng Yu was in the mood to joke with Lu Yu.
"Get lost!" Lu Yu playfully punched Zheng Yu's shoulder and retorted with a smile.
"Then I'll be going back. I won't delay you in seeing Young Master Gu!" Lu Yu turned to leave with a smile, not forgetting to tease Zheng Yu as she departed.
Lu Yu's guess was correct; Zheng Yu was indeed eager to see Gu Yi. She had been busy with these matters for the past few days and hadn't seen him for quite some time.
Zheng Yu stood up, returned to her residence to change her clothes, and prepared to go find Gu Yi.
Lu Yu also truly needed rest. Since the second day after she woke up, Lu Yu had been helping Zheng Yu at the county yamen, going to the medical clinic in the afternoon to make scar-reducing ointment, and at night, she secretly changed Shen Xuan's wrist dressing while he slept, without getting proper rest.
She knew that Shen Xuan always disliked the scar on his wrist and refused to let her see it, always wrapping it tightly with bandages.
However, it wasn't good to keep it completely covered all the time. So, every night, when Shen Xuan was fast asleep, Lu Yu would secretly untie the bandages and apply her specially made ointment.
"Looking for Yi'er?" Gu Yitong saw Zheng Yu standing at her door and recognized from her clothes that she was here to see Gu Yi.
Every time she came to see Yi'er, her clothes were dazzlingly bright and very conspicuous, making it hard not to notice her.
"Yes." Zheng Yu nodded honestly.
"Yi'er just returned from school and should be resting in his room. You can go in." Gu Yitong had completely accepted the matter between Zheng Yu and Gu Yi. It would be strange if Zheng Yu didn't come to see Gu Yi.
Hearing the knock on the door, Gu Yi thought Gu Yitong had come to call him for a meal. When he opened the door, he saw Zheng Yu standing there and was momentarily stunned.
"What? Stunned?" Zheng Yu waved her hand in front of Gu Yi, suppressing a smile.
Gu Yi came back to his senses, his face turning red. He stepped aside and said softly, "Come in."
"Is this... the scorched-tail zither?" Gu Yi turned and saw Zheng Yu untying the straps of her clothes and placing the zither on the table, asking in confusion.
"Yes, it's for you." Zheng Yu looked up at Gu Yi, her eyes gentle and doting.