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墨書 Inktalez
In the backyard of Li Siniang's home, a male skeleton was indeed unearthed. The Coroner confirmed that it matched the description of Ji Yu, who went missing twenty years ago. Based on the characteristics of the body, it appeared that he had been stabbed to death, as the fatal wound was deep and had pierced through the abdomen, leaving scratches on the ribs. At the burial site, the victim's clothing, hair, and even the murder weapon used that day were discovered.
Due to the involvement of Si Niang, Xing Ruyi did not want to make this matter public, so Chang Tai's excavation was conducted in secrecy. Besides Chang Tai, Shengzi, and the Coroner from the Yamen, Xing Ruyi also specially asked Si Niang to summon Li Xiu Xian and her son.
When Li Xiu Xian's mother saw the skeleton, tears immediately streamed down her face. Ji Yu was born into a fishing family and had relied on fishing for a living, spending years drifting on the river, casting nets and pulling them in. The joints of his hands were different from those of common people. Such details might not concern Xing Ruyi, but as a wife, Li Xiu Xian's mother was very aware of them. Moreover, that murder weapon had been in Ji Yu's hands every day to support their family; how could she not be familiar with it?
"Should I address you as Madam Shen, Madam Li, or Madam Ji?" Xing Ruyi bent down to help the grief-stricken mother of Li Xiu Xian to her feet. "Please accept my condolences; what is most important now is to find the murderer of Ji Zhanggui."
"When we first met, he called me Miss Li. Later when we got married, he called me 'girl.' He always said that since I was older than him, I was both his wife and his younger sister. Afterward, when we opened the fish restaurant, people called him Ji Zhanggui and referred to me as Ji Yu's wife. He once said that when our child was born, I would become someone’s mother. He never named our child because he hadn’t attended school and couldn’t read many characters. He wanted to wait for a good day to invite a teacher from school to give our child a bright name that sounded scholarly.
I always laughed at him; it’s just a name after all. No matter how well a teacher names it, it can’t compare to a father’s intentions. He also said that when the fish restaurant business improved a bit more, he would buy me a spacious courtyard and find a maid to serve me so I could experience what it felt like to be a lady. In truth, he didn’t know that before the flood, my maternal family was quite wealthy; we had a three-entry courtyard with not only maids but also nursemaids serving me. But I didn’t think those days were particularly good; I liked being with him even if we were poor and tired because my heart felt fulfilled.
I always thought he abandoned me. For so many years, his life or death has been unknown; he wouldn’t even send me any news. I harbored resentment and hatred in my heart. But now I realize how wrong I was—how absurdly wrong! He lay here alone for twenty years while I married someone else.”
“Mother, this isn’t your fault; if anyone should be blamed, it should be that wicked person who killed Father!” Li Xiu Xian also reddened his eyes as he gently comforted his devastated mother.
As a son, Li Xiu Xian had also complained and hated his father at times. He resented Ji Yu for abandoning them and hated his father for making his mother suffer for so many years. But now seeing his father’s bones buried deep underground, all his complaints and hatred transformed into regret and self-reproach in an instant.
“Madam Ji, Li Xiu Xian is right; none of this is your fault. The blame lies solely with that murderous fiend who not only harmed Boss Ji but also set fire to the entire fish restaurant. You didn’t stop waiting for him; it’s just that life became too difficult—you had to think about your child’s future. Rest assured, Boss Ji never blamed you.”
“How could he not blame me? How could he? The man I married is the murderer who killed him!” Madam Ji suddenly pounded her chest and cried out loudly.
Xing Ruyi froze! Li Xiu Xian froze! Everyone present froze!
“That day while I was shopping, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my heart; I sensed something terrible was about to happen. So I put down what I was buying and hurried back to the fish restaurant. The fire was raging; there were people everywhere trying to put it out. I felt anxious inside but seemed to know that Xiuxian's father was gone because my heart hurt so much—it felt empty as if I had lost something.
They said this fire might have been an accident; I believed it but also didn’t believe it. How could my family’s fish restaurant catch fire out of nowhere? Xiuxian's father was such a careful person; moreover, at that time of day, the restaurant hadn’t even opened yet—how could such a big fire start?
But then they claimed they saw Xiuxian's father leave with a package before the fire broke out; he must have taken all our money and eloped with another woman. After High Heat extinguished, people from the Government Office found neither money nor his remains; thus privately I believed it too. I would rather believe he eloped with someone than accept that he abandoned me—I would rather believe he is still alive.”
Madam Ji was inconsolable; her once neat hair was now disheveled, making her look even older than before.
“Madam Ji, please accept my condolences!” Xing Ruyi offered her a cup of water and gestured for Li Xiu Xian to help his mother drink it. After all, she was elderly and had gone through such turmoil; her body might not withstand it. But Madam Ji waved her hand and pushed the bowl of water away.
She said, "I'm fine! Now that Li Xiuxian has grown up, I've lived enough! Knowing that I can find him and that he is right there in the Fish Tavern, I have let go of all my worries."
Xing Ruyi understood the implication in her words and realized that Madam Ji was likely feeling desperate. Secretly, she drew a strand of Eerie Aura to protect her heart.
"Madam Ji, what you just said—that the person you married is the one who killed Ji Zhanggui—what's going on? This concerns lives; you can't speak carelessly."
"That's right, Mother! Although Xian'er can tell that you don't like Adoptive Father and have been indifferent to him all these years, he is still my father who raised me for over ten years. You can't just say anything!"
Madam Ji opened her eyes and smiled, but the smile was strange—three parts bitter and seven parts mocking.
"I initially only suspected it, but after seeing your father's corpse recently, I confirmed it. The one who caused my family to fall apart was indeed him!"
"Who is he?" Xing Ruyi pressed for more information and exchanged glances with Chang Tai and Shengzi.
"His surname is Shen, and his name is Shen Yubai. He is the one who sold us the Fish Tavern!"
"It really is him!" Xing Ruyi sighed lightly but was not surprised. "Brother Chang, please go take a trip. Since Madam Ji and Li Xiuxian are here, I believe Shen Yubai must be somewhere in Luoyang City. Although he is a murderer, he must have feelings for Madam Ji. Otherwise, he wouldn't have waited for her for so many years and treated the victim's son—Li Xiuxian—as his own."
"My Adoptive Father really is in Luoyang City?" Li Xiuxian shook his head. "Although Adoptive Father knows that Mother and I have returned, he has been doing business in the south and cannot get away."
"Do not call him Adoptive Father again!" Madam Ji suddenly became fierce, turning around and slapping Li Xiuxian hard across the face. "That man is your father's murderer; how can you recognize a thief as your father? From now on, you will change your surname to Ji. You are your father's son and should carry his surname!"
Li Xiuxian looked at his mother with grievance, covering his face as he softly replied, "Yes, Mother!"
Xing Ruyi shook her head, feeling quite sympathetic towards Li Xiuxian. After all, recognizing a thief as a father was not something he could control. However, given the current situation, she did not want to argue with Madam Ji. It was better to leave their family matters for them to handle themselves.
"Don't worry; Master Shen will definitely be here. Twenty years ago, he personally killed your Biological Father here. Regardless of the reasons behind it, this place must hold a deep emotional significance for him. He must have strong feelings for your mother; otherwise, he wouldn't risk being discovered with the corpse and reporting it to the authorities by staying here secretly watching over her. Your mother has been restless these days because of your Biological Father and even went back home with you to seek the truth. Do you think Master Shen could just sit at home peacefully?"
"But—" Li Xiuxian hesitated but seemed to come to some realization as he glanced at his mother from the corner of his eye and fell silent.
"The Fish Tavern is high heat; Madam Ji has nothing but carries a child. Even if the neighbors around are friendly and helpful, it would be difficult to make ends meet. After all, those kind-hearted neighbors are mostly poor themselves. In your mother's previous account, although she mentioned living on the streets and experiencing life in a Ruined Temple, she did not encounter any special circumstances. A beautiful young woman could manage to get through those days without anyone secretly protecting her; do you think that's possible?"
"That's right! Ruyi is correct. During those days, he was indeed secretly protecting us mother and son!" Madam Ji slightly raised her head, her eyes tightly closed. From the slightly swollen part of her cheeks, it could be inferred that at this moment, she was clenching her teeth in anger.
"On the day of the fire, I saw him in the crowd. At that time, I didn't think much of it, as this Fish Tavern originally belonged to him. Now that it was on fire, it was only natural for him to come and take a look. Later, when the High Heat was extinguished, I crazily rushed in, wanting to find Li Xiuxian's father and to locate something to keep as a memento. But amidst the chaos, there was nothing left. I fainted several times from sorrow; although kind neighbors looked after me, the one who ultimately provided me with money to get by was him.
He helped me rent an inn and arranged for a maid to take care of me. But as a newly widowed woman with my husband’s whereabouts unknown, how could I accept care from a man? So, I quietly left. I knew he had been sending people to protect me in secret, but what could I do at that time? I was just a weak woman, like you, Ruyi. I had nothing but was still carrying a child. I could die, but my unborn child could not because he was my husband's only bloodline. So, I pretended not to know and quietly enjoyed everything.
When he returned to Jiangnan, I followed him back!
He arranged for me to stay in another courtyard and provided maids and servants to look after me, which I accepted!
He wanted Li Xiuxian to recognize him as his adoptive father and even hired a tutor for Li Xiuxian, enrolling him in the best academy. I agreed! I admit I had selfish motives; I cherished his thoroughness while also wanting to fulfill my husband's past Wish. He hoped our child would be educated enough to become a Top Scholar and serve in government. If my husband were alive, we wouldn't have to rely on others; but since he is gone, as a weak Woman, how could I achieve anything without depending on others?
Yet I also felt guilty. So when Li Xiuxian turned seven, I agreed to become his stepmother. At that time, I genuinely wanted to compensate him and repay his kindness. But not long after we married, he gave me that item. It was my mother's heirloom; there was only one pair of them. My father had specially sought out the jade and craftsman for my mother when I was born. When I was about three or four years old, I broke one due to my mischief; my mother then gave me the remaining one as part of my dowry. Later on, when I became pregnant and needed to help at the Fish Tavern, fearing it might break, I entrusted it to Li Xiuxian's father for safekeeping. However, seven years later, that jade bracelet appeared in Shen Yubai's hands, which immediately raised my suspicions.
With such a large fire and no remains of Li Xiuxian's father left behind, everything that could burn or not burn in the Fish Tavern was gone. Even if that jade were still there, it couldn't have coincidentally ended up in his hands. Since then, I've started paying close attention to his every move and indeed discovered some suspicious activities. I vaguely suspected that Li Xiuxian's father's death was related to him, but without evidence, I couldn't confront him directly.
Moreover, at that time, Li Xiuxian was still studying; if I exposed everything, I wouldn't know how to face Li Xiuxian, his father or even the murderer himself. So I've endured all this while pretending those things didn't exist!"
"Although there are some things that are not quite right," Xing Ruyi said while struggling to find the right words but ultimately sighed lightly: "Madam's actions are understandable; it's human nature."
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