Volume One, Chapter 20: If You Want to Enter the Lady’s Embroidered Chamber, You’ll Have to Step Over Me!

“Do not search the residence! What the eldest young master says is quite reasonable. I kindly ask Lord Chen to have a seat in the mansion for a while,” Qin Weishu finally spoke up. In the previous life, Wen Yunmu had little contact with the Qin family and only thought this stepmother was cold and strict, seemingly never smiling, always composed to the point that even her hair was perfectly arranged.

Now, Wen Yunmu somewhat admired Qin Weishu—not only for her meticulous scheming but also for her rare temperament and composure. In such unfavorable circumstances, Qin Weishu acted like an outsider. If Wen Yunmu didn’t know the relationships involved, she might have thought this was merely the mistress dealing with troubles caused by concubines.

“Is your maid going with us?” Ye Chuiyun asked at the door, seemingly addressing Wen Yunmu but actually expecting Chen Lin to answer.

“Your Highness, this case is rather complicated. Without solid evidence, we must send Lady Zhao and Fifth Miss back to the mansion,” Chen Lin whispered to the secretary. “A carriage has been arranged; they will travel together.”

“No need to trouble Lord Chen. There’s a carriage at my residence as well. Secretary, please lead the way to fetch them,” Wen Yunmu said with a smile to smooth things over. Just then, Ye Chuiyun impatiently urged from the door, “Hurry up.”

No one dared to delay any further and hurried to fetch Lady Zhao and Fifth Miss.

“Was the murder at the guild hall arranged by Your Highness?” Wen Yunmu asked Ye Chuiyun, who was sitting across with eyes closed, resting.

“Yes. To control Chen Lin, he must first be drawn into the scheme,” Ye Chuiyun replied coldly. “Sister Mu, you’re still inexperienced. If it were your brother, everything would have been done thoroughly.”

“But that guild hall woman’s life was lost—”

“She didn’t have much time left anyway. For the sake of her children, she risked her life to earn some money for their future. If you can’t live with your conscience, stop making a fuss,” Ye Chuiyun narrowed his eyes, his expression icy.

Wen Yunmu felt her thoughts pierced and whispered, “Would my brother do the same?”

“Neither your brother nor I are kind-hearted people,” Ye Chuiyun said, passing her a small hand warmer. “I have a little conscience left for you. It’s cold tonight; don’t catch a chill.”

Taking the hand warmer, Wen Yunmu felt her second life’s naivety painfully clear. If she continued hesitating like this, she wouldn’t even escape Qin Weishu’s grasp, let alone exact revenge.

“Why did Chen Lin betray us?”

“I borrowed someone from the imperial hospital—Doctor He. Why I had him follow the autopsy, what role he played, and how he influenced Chen Lin, you figure that out yourself.”

What could be explained in a few words, she was asked to think through herself. Wen Yunmu knew this was not to trouble her but rather Ye Chuiyun’s way of teaching.

“Your Highness, why teach me all this?”

Ye Chuiyun opened his eyes, lifting the curtain to gaze out. It was night; few people hurried along the street. Among them, who were enemies? Who were companions?

“Your brother and I also have times when we can’t act alone,” Ye Chuiyun said, lowering the curtain. “We’ve arrived.”

The Imperial Consort had no family backing, and so Ye Chuiyun had no external family support either. From the previous life until now, the Ye family had been Wen Yunmu’s strongest pillar. Her father and brother were her staunchest allies. There was clearly a plan among them, but Wen Yunmu was unaware of the details.

By teaching her this, Ye Chuiyun gently opened a door to deeper secrets. But having the door opened meant nothing if she lacked the ability to walk through it.

“I will learn well, Your Highness.”

“Good. I believe you can.”

The act had to be complete. In Peilan’s cabinet, poison and silver notes were found. The old coroner fiddled with jars and soon reported, “My lord, it’s the same kind.”

With evidence before him, Chen Lin had no grounds to deny. He held the silver note—five hundred taels, a considerable sum—and glanced at Qin Weishu, feigning ignorance before ordering the evidence collected.

Wen Yunmu saw clearly: Qin Weishu and Chen Lin were indeed allies.

Peilan, a mere servant, could not have exactly five hundred taels saved up. It must have been payment from someone else—the true mastermind. Chen Lin had solved countless cases and would not overlook this. His silence and concealment meant he did not want to investigate further.

“Wait a moment, sir,” Wen Yunmu pressed the silver note. “Five hundred taels—that’s a price on my Fifth Sister’s life. I implore—”

“Xu Qing,” Qin Weishu took the silver note from Wen Yunmu and handed it to the secretary of the Jingzhao Prefecture. “Since the culprit is caught, there’s no need to trouble Lord Chen further. Family matters are best settled within the family.”

Chen Lin said nothing, a slight smile on his lips. The Jingzhao Prefecture need not delve deeper. Peilan’s guilt was acknowledged by all; he could close the case without burden. As for the mastermind, that was the Wen family’s affair. Qin Weishu and Wen Xuqing alike belonged to the same ship; unless Chen Lin stirred trouble, they would keep their family disgrace hidden.

“Since the matter is settled, I shall take my leave,” Chen Lin said, bidding farewell.

Ye Chuiyun suddenly leaned close to Wen Yunmu’s ear, his nose almost brushing her cheek. She instinctively tried to pull away but was caught by his quick hand on her shoulder. She dared not move, standing stiff as a board, enveloped by his heavy scent of aged wood.

Her ears burned fiercely, as if on fire.

“Go out with me, then come back and arrange things quickly,” Ye Chuiyun whispered. Seeing her dazed, he chuckled. “It’s time, stop daydreaming.”

“Wen Xuqing!” The name broke the intimate moment like a spell, causing Wen Yunmu’s heart to race and her spirit to revive. She straightened her robe and said, “Your Highness, I will send you out.” Wen Yunmu led the way, with Qin Weishu and others following to see Ye Chuiyun and Chen Lin out. Naturally, Ye Chuiyun went first. After a few steps, he turned back. “Xuqing, come with me. There’s something to discuss.”

“Oh, all right.”

Qin Weishu watched them leave and grasped Madam Feng’s hand tightly. “Have someone follow the eldest young master and find out where he goes. Seal all the mansion’s gates. No one is allowed in or out.”

“Madam, this is—”

“Search the residence!”

Madam Feng gasped, covering her mouth. “Madam, under what authority do we search the residence?”

“Say the Prefect fears there’s hidden evidence in the mansion and wants to search all rooms except the servants’ quarters. No need to search the courtyards of the brothers and sisters, just light torches. We’re searching for Wen Yunmu. Hurry!”

“Yes.”

Qin Weishu sent Madam Feng to handle it and summoned a maid to support her, almost running toward Wen Yunmu’s courtyard.

In her heart stirred a small doubt. Prince Ye Chuiyun and Wen Xuqing were usually close, never openly affectionate but certainly intimate. Today, however, they seemed deliberately distant. Even after several days apart, Wen Xuqing appeared unusually thin.

Curiously, Ye Chuiyun seemed more like he was dealing with Wen Yunmu.

“Hurry! Has the sedan chair arrived?”

Qin Weishu released the maid’s hand and quickened her pace. From the main gate to Wen Yunmu’s courtyard took about the time of burning one incense stick. If Wen Xuqing truly left the mansion today as she suspected, he couldn’t outrun her.

“Madam, the sedan chair is here.”

“Run! All of you, run faster!”

“Yes.”

Wen Yunmu’s courtyard was named “Yi Feng Pavilion” by the Marquis of Wen himself, signifying grand openness and closure. Even the plaque’s characters were written with bold, vigorous strokes.

Before, the residents were timid and meek, clashing with the name. But in recent months, they had regained spirit, standing beneath the plaque with renewed vigor, like soldiers ready for battle.

Chunrong and Nurse Liu stood blocking the gate.

“What time is it? The young lady is already asleep. You barged in at will—have you forgotten the servants’ rules?”

“We are acting on Madam’s orders.”

“Where are they? Show me! You can’t just claim orders!”

“You lowly servant, how dare you block Madam’s people? Come on, push them aside!”

“How dare you invade Second Miss’s courtyard? When the Marquis and young master return, how many lives will you owe?”

Qin Weishu stepped down from the sedan chair, pushing the servants blocking her way. The crowd parted instantly. She strode forward and slapped Nurse Liu hard across the face.

“What do you think you are? How dare you block people?”

Nurse Liu immediately fell to the ground, crying out loudly. “Madam, I am the young lady’s wet nurse. I do not hit the face when reprimanding. What wrong did I do to deserve this?”

“Madam Feng, take her out,” Qin Weishu lifted her skirt and glanced coldly. Chunrong hesitated but stepped back. Seeing Qin Weishu herself present and backed by some, Madam Feng and others stopped arguing and roughly dragged the woman away.

Inside the courtyard, large chairs were quickly brought out, torches blazed. Strong, burly maids stood on either side. Before the embroidery tower of the Second Miss stood Xia Wei, trembling yet forcing calm.

“Open the door,” Qin Weishu said, sitting down and holding a tea cup, her voice ringing out.

Xia Wei suddenly shuddered and pressed herself against the door.

“If you want to enter the young lady’s embroidery tower, you’ll have to step over me!”