Chapter 208: Testing
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Night fell, and the servants had all gone to sleep, but the hall of the He family was still brightly lit.
Second Madam He stood in the center of the room, with Cui Er, the maid who had accompanied her up the mountain today, by her side. He Yuanliang and his wife sat on one side, while He Rufei sat on a chair nearby, his gaze heavy as he scanned Second Madam He, deep in thought.
“Second Auntie, what did you say to Xiao Huaijin today at Yuhua Temple? Now that Xiao Huaijin has returned to the capital, the situation in the capital is disrupted again. Every move is crucial at this time. The Xiao family and our He family… are not on the same side,” He Rufei spoke after a while, his expression serious.
“I didn’t say anything at all,” Second Madam He replied softly, her gaze calm. “I just took a glance at his fiancée.”
Xiao Jue’s fiancée was He Yan—the name that the He family didn’t like to mention, as it reminded them of unpleasant events from the past.
He Rufei chuckled, “Second Auntie, what are you doing? Our cousin has already passed away. Even if they share the same name, do you really think that this He Yan is your deceased daughter?”
“I’ve told you before,” He Yuanliang, who had put away his usual smile, spoke with a grim expression, “stop mentioning He Yan. He Yan is already dead, it’s in the past. Don’t you dare bring harm to our entire family!”
Cui Er knelt on the ground, trembling. She had long been bought by Madam He and reported everything Second Madam He did to the Senior Madam. Even this time, she couldn’t follow Second Madam He up the mountain to offer vegetarian food and could only watch from a distance as Second Madam He talked to Xiao Jue. After returning to the mansion, she couldn’t wait to inform the Senior Madam, hoping for recognition and rewards.
But now, Cui Er regretted it. The secrets the He family spoke of did not exclude her… It was not because of trust, but because a dead person, even if aware of the secrets, was useless.
She never had a chance to leak any secrets.
“She’s already dead,” Second Madam He looked at him, a hint of anger appearing in her originally wooden eyes. “She can’t harm the He family. It’s the He family that harmed her!”
“What do you mean by this?” Senior Madam’s face turned cold, and her tone was very displeased. “Are you resenting us now? You knew the decision when it was made. Besides, it was for the sake of the entire He family!”
“What does it mean for the entire He family?” Second Madam He sneered. “Did I have the right to choose when the decision was made? She didn’t die for the entire He family; she died for your greed. You killed my daughter, and yet, there is no remorse in your hearts. She’s dead, and I just want to see my daughter again. Even if it’s the same name, even if it’s impossible, I still want to see my daughter!”
As she spoke, she became hysterical.
“Second brother,” He Yuansheng frowned slightly, “Is this how you usually manage your wife?”
He Yuanliang said indignantly, “She’s just a madwoman! I’ve said before that keeping her is a disaster!”
“Kill me then,” Second Madam He smiled bitterly, a desperate madness in her eyes. “Kill me, and you won’t fear the secrets being known. Kill me, and I can join my daughter underground. I want to see, even in heaven, how long can you, people who stole others’ destinies, enjoy your stolen wealth and glory? Even if I become a ghost, I will curse you every day underground. Everything you seek will come to nothing, and none of you will die a good death!”
This strange speech in the night sounded eerie. He Yuanliang angrily said, “She’s gone mad, completely mad!”
He Rufei’s gaze was cold, and he calmly spoke, “Second Auntie, don’t talk like this. Even if you go underground, cousin may not want to reunite with you—after all, you were one of the reasons she ended up on that path. You have no right to be her mother, and even in the afterlife, she may hold resentment against you.”
Second Madam He was stunned by his words. After a moment, tears welled up in her eyes, and she sobbed in pain.
“Don’t keep saying life and death Second Auntie. Haven’t you forgotten how sad second younger sister will be if you died?”
Second Madam He’s cries abruptly stopped. “Xinying… Xinying doesn’t know anything!”
“I understand that second little sister doesn’t know anything,” He Rufei smiled ambiguously. “Otherwise, she wouldn’t have survived until now and married Xu Zhiheng.”
“Second Aunt, it’s fine if you don’t want to talk. Whatever you said, I will find out tomorrow when I visit the Xu family. Second little sister will tell me everything.” He Rufei played with the ring on his finger. “But Second Aunt, you need to know, He Yan is already dead. However, you have more than one daughter. If you want to harm another daughter, you can do whatever you want.”
“I won’t… I won’t tell anyone,” Second Madam He knelt down with a thud, crawling in front of He Rufei. “Don’t hurt Xinying. She doesn’t know anything!”
He Rufei helped her up, smiling as he spoke, “Xinying is so obedient and sensible. How could I harm her? Second Aunt, don’t worry. I see that your illness is getting worse. It’s not suitable for you to go out. So, let’s publicly announce that you are bedridden due to illness and call a doctor to treat you.” He looked compassionate, “Second Aunt, take care of your health. After a while, all these matters will be over, and everything will be fine.”
“Someone—,” he instructed the guards outside to come in, “take Second Madam to the courtyard. She will rest in seclusion from today onwards and not see anyone.”
Second Madam He was pulled out of the hall. The dispute with He Rufei had drained all her strength. No one else in the room spoke. After Second Madam He left, He Yuansheng frowned, “Is this really okay? I always feel that keeping her will eventually lead to trouble.”
He Rufei glanced at He Yuansheng, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. This man had no talent in officialdom and only held a position due to He Yuansheng’s connections. Despite that, the inherent weaknesses and selfishness in his character were not diminished. When it came to his wife and daughter, as long as it involved his interests, he could ruthlessly take action, but he hesitated to make the final decision. Compared to him, He Yuansheng was much more decisive.
“Don’t worry, Second Uncle,” He Rufei smiled lightly. “With Xinying around, Second Aunt will know her boundaries. Besides, considering Second Aunt’s deteriorating condition, it’s not suitable for her to go out. Therefore, it’s better to be cautious at this critical juncture in the He family.”
“Rufei,” the senior Madam asked anxiously, “what should we do now? If Xiao Huaijin really knows something, won’t all our efforts be in vain?”
When He Yan was still alive, He Rufei would discuss the family matters with He Yuansheng and his wife, but after He Yan’s death, He Rufei took charge of all the decisions in the He family. In the eyes of the He family members, the biggest danger had disappeared with He Yan’s death, and all that awaited the He family was endless wealth and glory. However, due to Xiao Huaijin’s involvement, the situation had changed, and the supposed security now appeared to have many loopholes, making it difficult for people to feel completely at ease.
“I will visit the Xu family tomorrow,” He Rufei squinted his eyes. “Second Aunt has kept the secrets for so many years, and with Second sister by her side, even if she talks to Xiao Huaijin, she won’t reveal too much. However, I’m more concerned about Xu Zhiheng.”
“Xu Zhiheng?” He Yuansheng asked, “What about him?”
“He’s useless, a coward, and not worth much,” He Rufei said with disdain. “This person always talks big, but when it comes to facing problems, he’s immediately frightened. That day at the palace banquet, he was almost exposed just because he saw someone with the same name and surname. He doesn’t realize that a dead person cannot come back to life; it’s clear that someone is instructing this from behind, aiming to make us confused.”
He remained calm, but Xu Zhiheng might not be. If Xu Zhiheng couldn’t withstand the intimidation and made a mistake while feeling dizzy, he would be the one to disclose all the secrets, implicating the entire He family.
If not for the fear of acting recklessly and alerting the enemy, He Rufei was more inclined to silence Xu Zhiheng than Second Madam He. Because, to some extent, Xu Zhiheng was privy to more secrets than Second Madam He.
Even if it was to boost morale, he needed to see Xu Zhiheng as soon as possible.
“That’s it then.” He Rufei stood up, rubbed his temples, feeling the impact of the recent unexpected events. When he walked past the maid named Cui Er, he seemed to sense something. Lowering his head for a glance, he found her kneeling low, shivering, exposing a section of her white neck, appearing exceptionally fragile.
“What should we do with this maid?” He Yuanliang asked.
He Rufei glanced sympathetically at Cui Er, then coldly stepped over her. “Kill her.”
A girl’s scream echoed in the room.
…
The next day, He Yan went to the Xu family.
When she arrived, coincidentally, she saw a He family carriage stopping at the entrance of the Xu mansion, and He Rufei disembarking from the carriage. The Xu family servants familiarly welcomed him inside, and He Yan stood in the corner across the street, half of her body concealed in the shadows, her eyes veiled with disdain.
In the eyes of outsiders, He Rufei was probably visiting his younger sister. Only He Yan knew that she had seen He Xinying yesterday, and He Rufei rushing here today was not just about personal matters; it likely involved important inquiries. Her appearance had probably flustered He Rufei to some extent.
Staying here would serve no purpose. She turned around and walked towards the teahouse where she had agreed to meet Fuwang.
At the He residence, upon seeing He Rufei, Xu Zhiheng, as if seeing a savior, pulled him into the study, closed the door, and urgently asked, “How is it? Did you find out anything about that woman named He Yan, and what is her background? Why did she come?”
He Rufei looked at him disdainfully. “Not seeing you for a few days, and you are so frightened you don’t even dare to leave the house?”
“You don’t know… don’t know…” Xu Zhiheng was somewhat distressed. “The way she behaved that day, talking as the Marquis Wuan, her expressions and actions were so much like He Yan. Moreover, her gaze, I always felt it’s not that simple. Even though there can’t be a resurrection from the dead in this world, she must know something. She came for us!”
He Rufei sat down in a chair in the room, indifferent. “Even if she came for us, it’s not an insurmountable problem.”
“What do you mean?” Xu Zhiheng asked.
“You suspected whether she is truly He Yan or not, right?” He Rufei said, “Then kill her again. Regardless of whether she is real or not, as long as she dies, it’s fine.”
“How is that possible?” Xu Zhiheng was shocked. “She is currently engaged to Xiao Huaijin. How dare we touch someone of Xiao Huaijin’s?”
Xu Zhiheng had not yet established a connection with Xu Xiang. For the Xu family, it was better to avoid conflicts with Xiao Huaijin if possible. He Rufei couldn’t tell Xu Zhiheng that Xiao Huaijin was already eyeing the He family due to Xu Xiang’s connection; otherwise, Xu Zhiheng, being a coward, might try to inform Xiao Huaijin to gain a slim chance of survival.
He Rufei said, “My people have investigated. The He family in Shuojing had an old grudge. Although the matter was resolved, due to Xiao Huaijin’s current involvement, no one would voluntarily bring it up. But the other party lost a son in the past, and there might be lingering resentment. I suspect that the death of the young master from the Fan family is somewhat related to He Yan. If someone killed He Yan…” He smiled faintly. “The people from the Fan family seeking revenge would be a natural reason.”
Xu Zhiheng listened with some interest but still had concerns. “If you do this, Xiao Huaijin might find out… He is General Fengyun.”
“I am also the Flying Phoenix General!” He Rufei suddenly exclaimed.
Xu Zhiheng was startled, but seeing the man in front of him with eyes filled with gloominess, it seemed like his previous words had touched a sore spot. Xu Zhiheng quickly corrected himself, “I didn’t mean that…”
“Forget it,” He Rufei impatiently waved his hand. “I will handle this matter. You just need to know about it. During this period, don’t do anything foolish to trouble me. I didn’t come here today solely for you. What about Xinying?”
“Why are you looking for my wife?” Xu Zhiheng asked.
“Yesterday, she went to the temple with her mother to pray. On the way, they encountered Xiao Huaijin and He Yan. I don’t know what they talked about,” He Rufei said.
With this statement, Xu Zhiheng immediately became nervous. “I’ll find her immediately!”
He Xinying was sunning books in the courtyard. Knowing that He Rufei had arrived and hearing him call her over, her first thought wasn’t joy but nervousness.
Xiao Liu asked her, “Madam, why does your expression look a bit off?”
He Xinying took a mirror to check and saw that her lips had turned pale. She asked Xiao Liu to bring her some rouge, applied it vigorously, took a deep breath, and then put on a smiling face before heading towards Xu Zhiheng’s study.
In the study, He Xinying called out, “Husband, elder brother.”
Xu Zhiheng hurriedly asked her to sit down.
“Elder brother happened to pass by the mansion today and came to see you,” Xu Zhiheng smiled, “Elder brother cares a lot about you.”
He Xinying graciously thanked him.
“I heard that you and Second Aunt went to Yuhua Temple to pray yesterday,” He Rufei looked at He Xinying, smiling, “Second Aunt’s health hasn’t been good lately, and praying has its benefits.”
He Xinying nodded, “Yes, seeing Mother’s complexion not good, I’m worried too.”
“Father has invited a renowned doctor to the mansion to take care of Second Aunt’s health. You don’t need to worry too much,” He Rufei reassured her. Then, changing the subject, he casually asked, “I heard that you two met General Fengyun and his fiancée at the temple yesterday?”
He Xinying’s heart tightened, but her face didn’t show it. She displayed a surprised expression, “I didn’t expect elder brother to know as well! When Mother and I saw them, we found it quite strange. Who would have thought that General Fengyun, such a cold and indifferent person, would also believe in Buddhism?”
“Believing in Buddhism has nothing to do with that,” He Rufei picked up a teacup, took a sip, and smiled, “What did you guys say?”
He didn’t ask, “did you talk,” but instead said, “What did you say?” It seemed like every move of theirs in the temple had already been known to someone, making He Xinying more nervous. She didn’t know what happened at the He mansion after her mother returned last night, but looking at He Rufei’s expression, it seemed like he knew everything.
However, He Xinying wasn’t entirely foolish. Hearing this, she sighed and looked somewhat sad, “Elder brother also knows that after my sister’s death, Mother has been sad deep down, even though she doesn’t show it on the surface. When she heard about the fiancée of Commander Xiao, who shares the same name and surname as my sister, she wanted to take a look.”
“Mother only asked one question, ‘Are you called He Yan?’ I was afraid of offending Commander Xiao, so before she could finish, I apologized to Commander Xiao and Miss He, then took her away.”
Hearing this, He Rufei also sighed, but the scrutiny in his eyes made He Xinying’s back shiver. He stared at her and suddenly asked, “So, does that Marquis Wuan really resemble your sister much?”
Looking towards He Xinying, He Xinying’s palms gradually oozed sweat.
She was stunned for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, “Elder brother, why are you like this? It’s broad daylight; can you stop saying these scary things? Although I didn’t have much contact with my sister, from what I observed, that Marquis Wuan and my sister share no resemblance at all. My sister was reserved and polite, while Marquis Wuan has a lively personality. When she spoke to Commander Xiao, she wasn’t afraid at all. If it were my sister, she wouldn’t have been like that.”
He Rufei stared at her, as if trying to determine whether her words were true or false. Just when He Xinying felt that her smile was becoming a bit forced, He Rufei finally looked away and said, “Perhaps.”
The suddenly lifted pressure made He Xinying breathe a sigh of relief.
“I have other matters to attend to. Since I’ve seen you, I should leave now,” He Rufei stood up. As if remembering something, he looked back at He Xinying and said, “These days, things are not very peaceful outside. It’s best for you to stay in the mansion and not roam around outside.”
He Xinying hurriedly said, “I understand.”
He Rufei left, and Xu Zhiheng said, “I’ll escort Elder Brother.” They both left the study.
He Xinying sat alone in the room. After a while, she slowly reached out and touched her chest. Just now, there was a moment when she felt like her heart was about to stop. Even though Xu Zhiheng said He Rufei was just “passing by,” He Xinying knew very well that he came for her, for the events of yesterday. However, compared to Xiao Huaijin, He Rufei seemed to focus more on He Yan.
Why?
She dared not continue thinking, but had to speculate. The last words from He Rufei, though appearing as caring advice, gave He Xinying the intuition that it might not be easy for her to leave the mansion in the future.
Will she have to be secluded in this house forever? Involuntarily, He Xinying shivered. If she felt this way, her mother on the other side might be in a worse situation.
What should she do?
…
On the other side, after finishing her second cup of tea, Fuwang arrived.
As soon as he entered, he headed straight to He Yan’s room, saying, “Young Master, you’re finally here!” Fuwang had become smart too. He couldn’t run here every day; otherwise, the Xu family would be suspicious. But if he didn’t come, he might miss He Yan. So, he paid a bit of silver to the teahouse waiter to keep an eye out. If He Yan came, the waiter would inform Fuwang. That way, Fuwang could arrive quickly.
“I knew you were here, but I wanted to come earlier. However, there were important guests in the mansion today. I didn’t dare to leave my post without permission, so I had to wait until the guests left before sneaking over.”
He Yan knew he was referring to He Rufei but didn’t inquire further. Instead, he smiled and asked, “Little brother is in such a hurry to see me, it seems Qin Momo’s matter has made some progress.”
Fuwang cursed silently; this young master was indeed impolite, going straight to business without any pleasantries. Despite thinking this, he dared not say it out loud. Fuwang smiled, “There’s good news and bad news. Which one does the young master want to hear first?”
“Good news.”
“The good news is that Qin Momo is indeed alive. I’ve been diligently trying to find her whereabouts these days and got a bit of a clue. Although I can’t guarantee to find her, it’s certain that Qin Momo is still alive. There’s a high chance she’s staying with her lover outside the city. However, that lover is quite cunning, often changing locations. If the young master believes in me, give me another eight or nine days, and I’ll definitely find Qin Momo’s whereabouts.”
“Eight or nine days?” He Yan spoke slowly, “That seems a bit long.”
“No,” Fuwang’s face turned mournful, “I also need to make arrangements, run around a bit. This matter is crucial. The young master trusts me, but I can’t trust others. I’m afraid that if I mess up the job, I won’t be able to face the consequences.”
He Yan smiled and took out a silver ingot, placing it on the table.
Fuwang’s eyes brightened, and he picked the silver into his pocket, saying seriously, “As long as the young master needs it, I’m willing to go through fire and water to get the job done quickly.”
He Yan was too lazy to listen to his smooth talk and said, “What’s the bad news?”
Fuwang hesitated for a moment, looked around, and leaned in, speaking in a low voice, “The bad news is that someone in the Xu mansion is also investigating Qin Momo’s whereabouts.”
He Yan’s finger moved slightly, “Xu Zhiheng?”
Fuwang widened his eyes, “How did you know?” He anxiously continued, “Yes, it’s indeed Master Xu. When I was inquiring these days, I found that Master Xu is also trying to find out where Qin Momo is. But it’s also because of this, I can take advantage of their efforts and investigate smoothly without being discovered.”
“Young Master, if you really want to find Qin Momo, you have to see her before Master Xu finds her.”
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