Wanjin Lady

Chapter 392 Burning the bridge across the river
"She opened the Red Mansion, so I'll open the Red Mansion; she can make milk tea, so I'll pay a fortune to hire her cook! She opened the first restaurant in Bozhou City that catered to young ladies, so I'll open the second!"

Jia leaned forward, approaching the elder lady.

The pupils were distorted, flashing with madness.

"Sister, you have to help me. You have to help me."

The elder lady's eyes twitched, and she felt that Jia was becoming increasingly frantic. She leaned back a half inch to escape Jia's trembling gaze and said in a cold voice, "I help you? How?"

"Big sister has the money." Jia's icy hand covered the elder lady's wrist. The elder lady felt as if this person was trying to drag her into the abyss. The smile on her face was sinister, as innocent and evil as a child's. "If big sister won't help me, I will tell Cheng Yunzhang about the fraud case... You coaxed Cheng Yuehua while deceiving Cheng Yunzhang. You knew that Cheng Yunzhang would be acquitted the next day, but you still sent Yuehua to the Yan Mansion in a sedan chair overnight!"

The night wind blew in, making the warm curtains in the corridor flap.

The light in the candlestick by the window suddenly went out.

Half of Jia's face was hidden in the shameful darkness. Her voice was filled with laughter, as if an evil ghost had crawled out of the darkness and wrapped around the elder lady's neck.

next moment.

The bloody mouth opened wide.

Bite her neck!

"If Cheng Yunzhang knew that you had used his name to trade Cheng Yuehua's happiness for the rest of her life for this imperial wine plaque...what would he do?"

"And back then... on the road to exile... his elder brother wasn't killed by soldiers because he went into the mountains to collect herbs, but because of you!"

The elder lady's pupils shrank!
Night wind.

Suddenly!

The elder lady's eyes gleamed fiercely like a hungry wolf. The candlelight flickered, then dimmed, but eventually returned to calm. "How much silver do you want? I'll give it to you. As long as you can bear it!"

Jia sneered, her eyes unable to conceal the mockery, "I can bear any amount that big sister gives me."

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Just after dusk, the sound of clappers rang out, and the streets of Bozhou City began to light up one after another. The clothing store in the south city was still open when, not long after, a small, understated carriage with green curtains pulled up, and a woman, wearing a veil that covered her upper body, entered.

When Concubine Chun went up to the second floor, she saw Wen Wan standing by the window. The young lady was dressed in a plain white dress, her hair tied up with a jade hairpin. The moonlight fell on her body, gently gilding her. The maid beside her immediately retreated to the corner of the second floor to keep watch.

"As soon as she returned to Bozhou yesterday, Jia immediately went to see the elder lady. The two of them talked for a long time before returning. After returning home, Jia hired a new accountant and invited help from her family. She didn't even notice that I was out."

Aunt Chun told Wen Wan the information she had just obtained. When she looked up, she saw that the man had a calm expression and seemed unmoved.

Somehow, Aunt Chun was a little afraid of her.

Everyone says that Miss Wen is good at dancing and is a considerate person, but Aunt Chun thinks that this girl... is a little evil.

"Thank you, Aunt Chun." Wen Wan gestured for her to take a seat and personally served her tea. "How is the investigation going on with Sixth Master's case, Aunt Chun?"

A twisted look of hatred crossed Aunt Chun's face. "Perhaps your guess is right! The Yuan family owns several private residences in Bozhou, used as resting places on their way to buy things. Last summer, Yuan Qi stayed at the villa in Lan County for two days. I asked someone to investigate, and the old man who looks after the villa said someone came to see Yuan Qi that night. The two of them chatted for a long time by the door. The person didn't come in, and Yuan Qi even burned a piece of clothing."

This is really strange.

“The old man said…it sounded like Yuan Jing’s voice, but he hadn’t seen him and couldn’t be sure.” “Lan County?” Wen Wan calmly pushed her teacup away. “That place isn’t far from Ping County! If you’re on horseback, you can get there in two or three days. But…is Fifth Master really so heartless as to harm his own brothers?”

"Oh." Aunt Chun sneered, "That mother and son... they're ruthless, cruel, and treacherous, and they're also incredibly skilled at disguising themselves. I've suppressed Jia, keeping her from raising her head. How could they not hate me?"

"But... Sixth Master's body was found in Ping County after all..."

"Yes. I sent people to investigate along the way from Lan County to Ping County, and someone finally saw him returning to the dock not far from Ping County."

Wen Wan's expression faltered slightly, and she smiled calmly, "The area around the dock... is the territory of the Cao Gang. Speaking of which, I do know a big brother, known as Gang Leader Liu..."

Aunt Chun's face flickered with gratitude, as if she had found a hint of warmth from this seemingly cold young woman. "We've already found him. We've also asked around. People at the docks said... they haven't seen Liu Lang."

The corners of Wenwan's lips curled up slightly.

Yes.

Not to mention that the pier is dozens of miles away from Ping County, just take the case of Gang Leader Liu. After being provoked by Wen Wan, he was afraid that others would link Yuan Jing's death to him, so he would naturally take good care of the aftermath.

Aunt Chun could only come back empty-handed.

Wen Wan comforted her, "Sixth Master's death was suspicious, so we have to investigate it slowly. Even if it was Fifth Master who did it, he's dead now, so he's redeemed himself. But if it wasn't Fifth Master, then we have plenty of time to wait it out."

New clues to Yuan Jing's death were found. After all the trouble along the way, Aunt Chun looked increasingly thinner, frail and pitiful.

"I've taken Jia away from Bozhou for a month, as you requested. Today, I see your Red Mansion business is thriving." Aunt Chun's heart was pounding, a hint of anticipation lingering in her. "You said my son had seen you before he died... What did he tell you? Did he mention the murderer?"

Wenwan's hand gently covered Aunt Chun's hand.

The young lady spoke in a calm and steady voice, instantly calming Aunt Chun's anxious mood.

"At that time, Master Yuan Liu said he was going to raise money to buy my winery. Before he left... he told me... not to sell it to anyone else. He said he wanted to use it to turn his life around, to make his family look up to him, and to make his aunt proud, so that he wouldn't have to endure Jia's bullying anymore."

Aunt Chun burst into tears and said in a hoarse voice, "Why should I need him to consider all this for me? He's just a child! What does he know about business?"

"Look at you..." Wen Wan fumbled around in her sleeves, "I'll go find you a handkerchief."

Hongmei immediately handed the robe to Wen Wan, but was suddenly grabbed by Wen Wan's wrist.

When she raised her eyes, the girl's eyes seemed to flash with a faint cold light in the dim light.

"Think of a way to let Jia know that Concubine Chun is with me."

Jia rushed to the elder lady's place overnight, and the two of them must have been discussing a strategy to deal with her.

We have to let Jia and Concubine Chun continue to fight.

She only has time for her own growth.

Turning around, the young lady's face was even more miserable. She took Aunt Chun's hand and tried to comfort her, "Sixth Master is a filial son. If he were still alive... Alas! Speaking of which, Aunt Chun and I are both people with miserable fates. You lost your son in middle age, and I lost my wife at a young age. Aunt Chun, I'll have the maid order a banquet. Let's go to the private room and eat and chat slowly."

Aunt Chun ran away secretly, and she was Wen Wan's spy, so she shouldn't have had such close contact with Wen Wan. But Wen Wan's words touched her heart, and she felt that someone finally felt the same pain in her heart, and she felt unprecedented warmth from her.

Eating a simple meal in a private room and talking about their inner pain, isn't this a kind of relief for these two miserable people?
She also wanted to hear more about Liu Lang's experience in Ping County!
Wen Wan and Aunt Chun had a heart-to-heart talk at the table. After a few drinks, she finally sent Aunt Chun away before returning home.