The city lord stood up and paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back.
After a while, she said to Tan Tang:
“Go and contact Magistrate Cheng. Make sure to thoroughly investigate Nian Tongshou’s background. As for Nian Tongshou, you can express goodwill, but be mindful of the boundaries!”
“Aunt, I understand. I’ve been in officialdom for so many years, don’t you still trust me?”
The city lord: …
Can I trust you?
…
Chenxiang Academy.
At this time, Nian Jiaojiao requested leave from Madam Yin to investigate the Xu family’s affairs in Shanshui Town.
“Taking leave again?”
Madam Yin frowned, her wrinkles deepening.
Nian Jiaojiao felt a bit embarrassed.
In her previous life, she never missed a class, but in this life, she often skipped.
Madam Yin looked at Nian Jiaojiao for a moment, then said meaningfully:
“Nian Tongshou, you are indeed the most talented student I have taught in so many years, but sometimes, talent doesn’t represent everything.”
Nian Jiaojiao felt ashamed.
Madam Yin had always taught her with great care, but she had disappointed her.
At this moment, Madam Gao rushed in:
“Where is Nian Jiaojiao!”
Initially, Madam Gao was very happy that her fellow classmate, Scholar Xu, had recommended a talented person to her. However, before she could have Nian Jiaojiao formally study under her, the academy sent her on a study tour to Qingzhou.
She had only returned to the academy the day before yesterday.
Entering the room, Madam Gao immediately saw a somewhat unfamiliar woman talking with Madam Yin. She began looking around the room:
“Where is Nian Jiaojiao? I heard from the students that she is here!”
Madam Yin’s face darkened.
This shameless old woman, despite her age, was still so reckless.
Madam Yin pointed at Nian Jiaojiao and said:
“The person you are looking for is right here?”
Madam Gao stopped in her tracks, took a few steps back, and looked at Nian Jiaojiao in surprise:
“Nian Jiaojiao?”
Nian Jiaojiao gave a wry smile and nodded.
Madam Gao scratched her head, seemingly unable to comprehend, but then she shook her head:
“None of that matters! Why are you still at the academy!”
“Madam Gao, what do you mean?”
“Last night I received a letter from a fellow student in Shanshui Town saying that your Gao Zhang’s family… is gone!”
Upon hearing this, Nian Jiaojiao pursed her lips and remained silent.
Madam Yin then realized she had misunderstood her. She was not a stubborn person, and looking at Nian Jiaojiao, she spoke with apology:
“Since that is the case, I approve your leave. Come find me to cancel it after you have settled your affairs.”
Nian Jiaojiao bowed to her in thanks.
…
Two days later.
Nian Jiaojiao, riding alone on horseback, arrived at Shanshui Town.
Of course, the journey was not entirely peaceful.
She encountered three waves of mountain bandits attempting to rob her, but she dealt with them quickly.
Outside the Xu residence.
The Xu residence was now just a pile of ruins. Although several days had passed, a strong smell of charcoal could still be detected.
The surrounding neighbors seemed to avoid the area, walking away when they passed by.
Nian Jiaojiao sighed.
It seemed impossible to find any clues here.
She then went directly to the county yamen.
The yamen runner guarding the gate no longer recognized her. Nian Jiaojiao cupped her hands towards the runner and said:
“Excuse me, Officer, please relay a message. Nian Jiaojiao requests an audience with Magistrate Cheng.”
Nian Jiaojiao?
Nian Tongshou?
The yamen runner sized up Nian Jiaojiao:
“Nian Tongshou doesn’t look like you. Where do you think this is?”
Even trying to deceive people at the yamen.
Are the common people this bold now?
Nian Jiaojiao helplessly took out her identification token from her懷 and handed it over.
The yamen runner took the token, and said with doubt:
“I’ve seen Nian Tongshou before. Your appearance doesn’t match.”
Nian Jiaojiao blinked her eyes innocently:
“I’m still growing! A girl changes dramatically between eighteen!”
The yamen runner’s mouth twitched.
A girl changes dramatically between eighteen? Is there such a saying?
She didn’t understand the world of scholars…
So, she still turned and went inside to relay the message.
…
Upon reaching the small garden of the county yamen, Magistrate Cheng warmly approached Nian Jiaojiao and said:
“Jiaojiao, why have you returned from Fengcheng?”
Seeing that Magistrate Cheng was still in his official attire, Nian Jiaojiao knew he was likely busy with official duties, so she said:
“I apologize, have I interrupted your work? I came today because I have something I want to ask you.”
Magistrate Cheng looked at her and gestured towards the yamen buildings:
“Come, let’s go to the side hall to talk!”
Side hall.
“Magistrate Cheng, I’ll get straight to the point. I’ve come to ask about the Xu family’s affairs.”
The Xu family?
Magistrate Cheng was taken aback.
Then he remembered.
That’s right!
Didn’t this Nian Tongshou marry a young master from the Xu family?
How could he have forgotten!
However, Magistrate Cheng’s gaze towards Nian Jiaojiao was filled with admiration.
Indeed, there is no harm without comparison.
Compared to Quan Yi, who married the eldest son of the Xu family, Nian Jiaojiao, who came to him proactively, seemed all the more precious.
Magistrate Cheng’s gaze towards Nian Jiaojiao became increasingly gentle.
Men should marry women like this who take responsibility!
Nian Jiaojiao felt a little uneasy under his gaze and whispered:
“Magistrate Cheng? Magistrate Cheng!”
Magistrate Cheng came back to his senses, smiled at Nian Jiaojiao, and then said:
“Since you came all this way, I will tell you. However, what I tell you today must not be spread, otherwise, disaster may befall you.”
Hearing this, Nian Jiaojiao straightened her back and listened intently.
It turned out that the person who killed Madam Xu was the Black Lotus Cult of the Great Yue Dynasty.
Those killed by the Black Lotus Cult would have a black lotus flower appear on their backs a few days after death.
This was an evil cult.
It had not been active for nearly a hundred years.
For some reason, they had appeared in Shanshui Town this time.
Another special characteristic of the Black Lotus Cult was:
All members of the Black Lotus Cult were men.
Without exception!
They harbored extreme hatred for women, and their doctrine was to overthrow the rule of the Great Yue Dynasty and establish the Great Sun Dynasty, where men were supreme.
In the history of the Great Yue, they had once massacred thousands of women, an event known as the “Black Lotus Rebellion.”
Of course, these events were not recorded in ordinary historical texts like “History of Great Yue.”
Upon hearing this, Nian Jiaojiao also felt the complexity and difficulty of the matter.
The remnants of the Black Lotus Cult were still around, meaning that even the vast Great Yue Dynasty could not eradicate them completely.
However, the most pressing matter now was…
“Magistrate Cheng, among the bodies of these people, was Xu Yuchuan’s father?” Nian Jiaojiao inquired.
Magistrate Cheng shook his head without hesitation.
Seeing him shake his head, Nian Jiaojiao felt a glimmer of hope. However, what he said next made her heart pound again.
“The Xu family’s bodies were so disfigured by the fire that no one could recognize anyone. Apart from the head of the Xu family, we still don’t know who exactly was killed.”
For some reason, Scholar Xu’s body was burned to charcoal, but his face was unharmed, with only some ash on it.
What could this signify?
This was something that had puzzled Magistrate Cheng and the yamen runners for some time.
Upon hearing this, Nian Jiaojiao’s heart stirred.
………………
Please help me look at the previous chapter, author, asking for clarification.
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