Go ahead and pretend.

Chapter Title: 049 Keep Pretending

The solemn and silent mourning hall suddenly erupted into chaos, as noisy and bustling as a marketplace. The doors were flung open, and a horde of people, seemingly appearing from nowhere, surged into the rear chamber where the coffin was kept.

At the forefront stood Wang Suzhi, who had just left not moments ago. “What’s all this noise?” she demanded. “There’s only one master in the back hall right now. What could possibly be causing any disturbance? If there’s any sound, it must be chanting for the departed… Master, what are you doing?”

Fang Rulai was half-crouched beside the coffin, her head and hands directed toward its interior—a scene that was now fully exposed to everyone. Wang Suzhi was the first to voice her suspicion.

Fang Rulai, naturally, did not respond.

“Master? Are you feeling unwell?” Wang Suzhi feigned concern as she drew closer, the rest following suit, pressing forward.

One tall, long-necked person was the first to notice something amiss inside the coffin. “Madam, one of the lion heads fell off!”

Lion heads? In such a place, the only possible lion heads would be the pair of white jade lions placed in the coffin as part of the funeral rites. Everyone had seen them when they came to pay their respects.

Recalling the crisp sound earlier, the crowd immediately erupted.

“Why would the lion’s head fall off? A perfectly intact white jade lion wouldn’t just lose its head on its own!”

“Are you stupid? With that jade ruyi right there, who would touch the jade lions instead of the ruyi?”

“I think you’re the fool! Someone must’ve tried to take the jade ruyi, but it slipped, hit the lion’s head, and since the lion’s jade isn’t as fine as the ruyi’s, the head broke off!”

“Ohhh,” everyone drew out the sound, as if they’d seen it with their own eyes, concluding with absolute certainty: the penniless little monk, tempted by riches, intended to steal the jade ruyi, but for some reason it slipped and struck the lion’s head, making enough noise to attract their attention.

“Impossible!” Wang Suzhi shrieked, her protest exaggerated. “The master was specially sent by the Shengjing authorities to escort the deceased—a virtuous monk! How could he possibly do such a disgraceful thing? There must be some misunderstanding. Look, he’s still unconscious!”

“Unconscious? Who can say if it’s real or fake? Maybe the little monk, seeing his plan exposed, is only pretending to be unconscious to get away with it.”

“You!” Wang Suzhi gave an incredulous look. “You didn’t see it yourself—don’t make wild accusations!”

“Wild accusations? If you want to know whether I’m making it up, check for yourself!”

“Right, let’s check!” came a chorus of agreement.

Wang Suzhi appeared to give a reluctant order. “Someone, help the master up.”

Two burly men, who had been waiting nearby, stepped forward and lifted Fang Rulai from either side. Out of sight of the crowd, their hands squeezed hard.

All the crowd saw was Fang Rulai, hoisted up, letting out a long sigh and opening her eyes as if by herself. “What’s happening? Why does my head hurt so much?”

Someone in the crowd, not bothering to lower his voice, taunted, “Pretending, still pretending!”

Wang Suzhi’s face took on a conflicted expression, torn between belief and doubt. “Master, can you explain why you were leaning over the coffin and why the jade lion’s head is broken?”

Fang Rulai looked in the direction of the voice, her gaze unfocused. “Ah, Benefactor Wang? Didn’t you just leave? When did you come back? And these people—why are they here? Benefactor Wang, please ask them to leave. Noise is strictly forbidden during rites for the departed.”

“See? The next step in pretending—clearing the room. I bet the third is refusing to admit anything and trying to muddle through.” Another cold voice sounded, and the rest silently agreed.

“Master, please answer my question directly!” Wang Suzhi’s voice suddenly rose, like someone whose trust was stretched to the breaking point.

“Benefactor Wang, what’s wrong? What do you need me to answer? Could you repeat it? My head hurts so much—I didn’t hear a word you said.” Fang Rulai rubbed her head, looking genuinely confused.

This only convinced everyone further: dodging the issue? Absolute pretense!

Even Wang Suzhi had to shake her head repeatedly, expressing her disappointment. “Master Rulai, calling you a benefactor to our Zhao family would not be an exaggeration. But why have you betrayed our trust? Do you know, we keep our mourning private precisely to prevent ill-intentioned people from targeting Ke’s coffin! Yet you, taking advantage of the funeral rites, tried to steal our treasures. Fortunately, my younger uncle’s spirit protected us, causing you to slip and break the lion, making noise and exposing your plot. Master Rulai, how can you face my Zhao family?”

Her words, both reasoned and emotional, accompanied by a pained expression, were enough to convince any outsider that this monk was a false one, cloaked in charity but rotten inside.

The crowd’s accusations grew louder and more self-righteous.

“Madam, what’s the point arguing with him? Tie him up and take him to the magistrate!”

“Yes, a thief who’d even steal from the dead should be sent to the county official for immediate execution!”

“Amitabha,” Fang Rulai looked at the two strongmen who had gripped her arms and never let go, and spoke coldly, “I have not stolen anything.”

Unfortunately, the crowd, caught up in righteous anger, was unmoved. Someone retorted, “Of course you didn’t succeed! Because we caught you!”

Fang Rulai glanced at the speaker, but addressed Wang Suzhi. “Benefactor Wang, do you not believe I had no intention to steal?”

Wang Suzhi’s tears flowed. “Master, how can I believe you?”

She bent to pick up the broken jade lion. “When I left, the white jade lions were intact. After I left, only you were here. When we returned, the lion’s head was broken, and you were leaning over the coffin with your hand inside. How do you explain these facts?”

Fang Rulai replied, expressionless, “I’ve explained. I don’t know why, but I fainted from a sudden headache. When I awoke, you were all here.”

Wang Suzhi wiped her tears, her grief and indignation deepening. “So the master claims ignorance?”

“Of course.”

“You’re lying!” Wang Suzhi clenched her fist and pressed toward Fang Rulai. “From the strange sound to our entering, the time was very short. There’s only one door to this hall; everyone can attest that no one left. That means the only one who could’ve made the sound was you, master. Will you still not admit it?”

The two stood a step apart, their gazes locked.

Through what seemed the pain of betrayal in Wang Suzhi’s eyes, Fang Rulai clearly saw the triumph she could no longer conceal.

Of course she was triumphant! With both witnesses and evidence, it didn’t matter whether this monk admitted it or not. As soon as she gave the order to call the authorities, this outsider, who dared approach the Zhao family, would soon be thrown in jail. And once in jail, she’d wager her son’s life—the monk would not survive the night.

With these thoughts, Wang Suzhi’s gaze grew steadier. She was waiting for the first sign of weakness on Fang Rulai’s face—then she could slap the “guilty conscience” label on her and, naturally, give the order to report to the officials and have her escorted away.

But Wang Suzhi waited and waited. Fang Rulai did not respond, nor did her eyes waver in their gaze.

Such calm, deep, and yet compassionate eyes—Wang Suzhi stared into them and suddenly felt as if they pressed upon her like a towering mountain. She involuntarily looked away and took a deep breath. At the same time, Fang Rulai’s voice, as cold as the wind atop a mountain, sounded in her ear.

“I wish to see Madam Lin.”

Wang Suzhi’s heart clenched at these words. Though she was confident her scheme had left no trace, she still preferred not to alarm her sharp-witted mother-in-law.

She quickly raised her head and spat her reply, “After such disgraceful conduct, how dare you ask to see my mother? Are you hoping to plead for mercy?”

Fang Rulai noted her growing panic and said only, “Please bring Madam Lin out.”

“Impossible! My mother is old and has just suffered the loss of her son. I absolutely cannot let her be hurt by this vile incident.” Wang Suzhi promptly refused and waved her hand. “You two, escort this wicked monk to the authorities at once.” She could wait no longer; the longer the night, the more she feared unforeseen consequences. She wanted to take advantage of the current situation and have Fang Rulai sent to the officials immediately.

“Yes.” The two strongmen responded, tightening their grip until Fang Rulai’s feet left the ground. They intended to use their brute strength to carry her straight to the magistrate.

But though they exerted themselves and lifted Fang Rulai, and even stepped forward, Fang Rulai remained in place. Looking back, they saw she was gripping the corners of the coffin with both hands so tightly that their efforts failed to budge her.

Try harder? They dared not—if they accidentally broke the coffin, they'd be in trouble.

Hesitating, Fang Rulai seized the chance and shouted, “Wang Suzhi, your family’s matriarch is still here. If I am, as you claim, a fake monk and a thief, how can you take such an important matter upon yourself without informing her?”

She rattled off the words rapidly, then slapped the coffin lid with a thunderous crack.

“Wang Suzhi, do you even respect the matriarch?”

Startled, Wang Suzhi was about to retort, but before she could speak, a familiar voice sounded from outside the door behind her.

“Who’s calling for these old bones?”

Madam Lin appeared at the doorway, supported by her second daughter-in-law, Xu Chunhua.

Thanks to dear zengfengzhu and c Banxia / Ruyan for the encouragement with flowers! Mwah~

By the way, does anyone remember when Qingye mentioned she started writing because she got tired of chasing dramas? Well, recently Qingye’s passion for dramas has rekindled!

First, Sherlock is updating again, with that deliciously ambiguous vibe that’s so delightfully refreshing; second, the shamelessly brazen Star You is also airing enthusiastically! The forbidden genre male lead and the quirky goddess female lead—every moment revives Qingye’s girlish heart!

Let me extend my deepest respect to the writers of these two dramas! Also: I really want to hug the writers’ legs~

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