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墨書 Inktalez
"Can you understand? Can you really understand?" Madam Ji murmured as she walked to the bones of Ji Yu, lowered her head, and held his hair against her face. "Husband, can you understand the girl? Or do you still resent her in your heart?"
"He certainly understands you!" Feeling the agitation of the object in her sleeve, Xing Ruyi approached Madam Ji. "Actually, over the years, Ji Zhanggui has always been by your side and Li Xiu Xian's side. He knows who harmed him and knows who the man you married is. While he hates the murderer who caused his family to fall apart, he can also see that the murderer treats you and your children well. As a husband, what he worries about most after death is his wife and children. If you are doing well, he can rest in peace."
"Though he may be at peace, he cannot rest! Ruyi, I know you are not seeking common people; please help my husband take revenge!" Strong hatred erupted from Madam Ji's eyes.
Xing Ruyi looked at her, feeling somewhat complicated.
"I'm sorry, Madam Ji! Murder cases need to be handled by the Yamen, and regarding what crime Lord Shen will be sentenced for, it also needs to be declared by the court officials. Xing Ruyi is just a shopkeeper; your request is not something a Fox Demon should do."
"But I can see that Constable Chang likes you!"
"Madam Ji misunderstands; the Fox Demon already has a husband. My relationship with Brother Chang is merely that of ordinary siblings!"
"Siblings? Siblings! Ha ha, where in this world is there such a pure sibling relationship!" Madam Ji shook her head and laughed maniacally. "Do you know what my relationship with Shen Yubai is?"
"That happens to be what the Fox Demon wants to ask you, madam."
"That was over thirty years ago. I was about eleven or twelve years old when I went out with my father. Before the flood, my family was relatively wealthy; we weren't from a high-ranking family but were well-off. My father was originally a scholar and had passed the imperial examinations, but during those chaotic times, he gave up on being an official and started a business. We had rice and silk, even iron mines. My father didn't want to become a wealthy merchant, and my mother didn't want him to neglect us for money. Moreover, the wealthier a man is, the more likely he is to be unfaithful. My father understood my mother's feelings, so his business was neither too good nor too bad; life went smoothly enough for us.
It was around Qingming Festival when my parents took me back to our hometown to sweep graves and enjoy spring outings. While resting at a pavilion ten miles away, we encountered Shen Yubai. At that time, he looked very disheveled—his clothes were tattered and his face was covered in scars. My parents couldn't bear it and asked him what happened. He said he was an orphan who had been beaten by other beggars while begging in the market; fearing for his life, he fled here. My parents only had me as their daughter and decided to take him as an adopted son because he looked decent and spoke reasonably well. I remember he glanced at me once before shaking his head in refusal; he only wanted to be an assistant and asked my parents for food. Seeing his strong spirit, my father agreed.
For the next two years, he followed my father to learn business. Since I spent most of my time indoors, we didn't meet often; I only knew that he was quite capable and learned business well. When I turned fifteen, I suddenly realized I hadn't seen him for a long time. After asking the steward, I found out that he had left a letter for my father and quietly departed. My father was angry but didn't make much of it; he just ordered everyone in the household never to mention this person again. I had no impression of him anyway, so his departure didn't affect my life.
Later on, our hometown suffered a great flood while my parents and I were at our villa in the suburbs; we couldn't escape in time and all fell into misfortune. Our family's business collapsed completely, with everything taken by those with ulterior motives. I then met my husband and began living an ordinary fisherman's life.
The next time I saw him was while accompanying my husband selling fish on the street. He looked very distinguished; both his appearance and demeanor were different from before. Of course, at that time I didn't recognize him, but he recognized me at first glance. Upon learning about my family's misfortune, he offered to help me, but I refused him. First of all, because his sudden departure back then made me feel that he was somewhat ungrateful; secondly, my life with my husband was very good—suddenly having a wealthy gentleman appear to help me would inevitably make my husband think too much about it. I asked him to keep our acquaintance a secret so we could live our own lives separately. But unexpectedly, he took advantage of difficult business conditions to sell the fish stall at a low price to my husband.
Even then, I didn't think much of it; I just thought perhaps he remembered my parents' kindness from back then. Later on when the fish stall became popular again, he reappeared and told me that leaving my family was just so he could strike out on his own first before returning home to marry me. At that time, I just smiled and told him that I had a husband; our relationship could barely be considered sibling-like."
"I didn't expect there to be so many twists and turns in this matter."
"Yes! These things, my husband doesn't know, and even Xiu Xian doesn't know. I don't want him to know, yet after all these years, he hasn't said a word."
Xing Ruyi opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but swallowed her words. She was worried that Madam Ji would steer the conversation back to her and Chang Tai. Indeed, it is rare to find a purely sibling relationship in this world, and she was well aware of Chang Tai's feelings for her. However, unlike Shen Yubai, Chang Tai was an upright person; everything he did was out in the open, and he would never engage in underhanded schemes. Moreover, a fox would not seek out common people, so he would never be foolishly harmed by anyone.
As she pondered this, Chang Tai and Shengzi had already returned. Behind them followed a man who appeared to be in his early forties. He was well-groomed and dressed in ordinary clothes that nonetheless exuded a hint of authority. As soon as he entered the room, his gaze fixed intently on Madam Ji, warmth evident in his eyes.
He opened his mouth as if to call out to Madam Ji but caught her glare filled with resentment and quickly said, "I was wrong!"
Madam Ji snorted coldly. "Xiu Xian, take off your outer robe and help your father collect his remains."
Li Xiu Xian glanced at his adoptive father and asked, "Did you really cause my father's death?"
Shen Yubai struggled to speak, his throat moving for a long moment before finally uttering a single word: "Yes!"
In the case of the White Fox, the murderer confessed on the spot while the victim's family collected the remains; thus, all that remained was to take the killer to the yamen.
"I never truly wanted to kill him! You have to believe me; I really didn't mean it. That day I went to find him; I only wanted to help improve the fishery business. You were pregnant and had a child; I couldn't bear to see you suffer. Although you are not of noble birth, you are still the eldest sister; how could you live such a hard life with a fisherman? But he rejected me. Looking at the knife he was using to kill fish, I suddenly lost my mind. I thought that if he died, I could take care of you. I didn't mind your child because that child is yours and mine; I would treat him well as my own. You have seen what I've done over these years; I am sincere! I know I am a murderer, and you won't forgive me; that's why you've been avoiding me and treating me coldly all these years. But I also know you have feelings for me; otherwise, you would have reported me long ago, wouldn't you?"
"You think too much. The reason I didn't report it is because of Xiu Xian; he still needs to study and go to school."
"And later? Xiu Xian became the top scholar and took up an official position; why didn't you report it then? Why didn't you let them arrest me, the murderer?"
"That was—because of Xiu Xian's reputation. I didn't want others to know that the person who raised him is the one who killed his biological father. I didn’t want others looking at him with strange eyes or affecting his career and future!"
"No! That's not true! I know you still have feelings for me. I killed someone; I killed Xiu Er's father. I am guilty; I deserve to die, but I do not regret it! At least we spent twenty years together; at least you were once Shen Yubai's wife."
"Don't do this anymore! Lord Chang, please take this murderer away!"
"On the day of execution, will you come to see me?" Shen Yubai asked stubbornly.
"No!" Madam Ji replied decisively. "However, I will have Xiu Xian help collect your body; after all, you have taken care of him for twenty years!"
"That's enough! That's more than enough!" Shen Yubai smiled, his expression also one of satisfaction.
Twenty years ago, the case of the missing fishery High Heat and the missing carp finally revealed its truth White Fox, but there was still one thing that needed Xing Ruyi's assistance.
In Ruyi Rouge, Madam Ji sat with a blank expression, just like when she first arrived. Li Xiu Xian stood obediently by his mother's side, occasionally glancing at her with a hint of worry in his eyes.
"Ruyi, can I see my father with my mother?" Li Xiu Xian finally couldn't hold back and asked the question that had been weighing on his mind.
"It’s not me; it’s Manager Ji who wants to see you both. His time is running out. After today, he will have less than five days left. After five days, he will be gone," Xing Ruyi said as she took out a snow-white Porcelain Bottle and handed it to Li Xiu Xian. "This contains cow tears; just apply it to your eyes, and you will be able to see the person you want to see. However, people have Three Souls and Seven Spirits, and Manager Ji only has one soul left. Therefore, I have also burned Rhinoceros Horn, which will give you more time together. Remember, once the Rhinoceros Horn burns out, your time together will also be over."
"Thank you, Ruyi!"
"You're welcome; I just did what I could do. The remaining time is for you three as a family! Remember, time is short; say what needs to be said, and let go of what doesn’t need to be said; let it fade away with time."
With that, Xing Ruyi exited the room and gently closed the door behind her.
The fox stood in the courtyard, a slight smile on its lips like the warm sun in autumn. Dressed in white, it moved gracefully with the wind, dazzling enough to make one unable to look away. Xing Ruyi lowered her head, pretending not to notice the fox, yet her steps gradually moved toward him. Then, the fox opened its arms, and Xing Ruyi proudly laughed as she nestled into his embrace.
"Not looking anymore?"
"Not looking anymore; it's someone else's family matter; why should I pry?"
"I thought you liked it!"
"I prefer this handsome, slightly reserved fox in front of me!"
The fox was momentarily taken aback, smiling even more brightly.
"Actually, Ji Zhanggui is quite unfortunate. He thought that by being attached to Madam Ji's jade bracelet, he could stay with her for twenty years. Little did he know he was betrayed, and that bracelet ended up in Shen Yubai's hands, hidden away for seven years. After seven years, although the bracelet returned to Madam Ji, her conflicted feelings led her to hide it again. So for these twenty years, his soul has been almost sealed in darkness, even worse than the underworld."
"Yes, not only that, but in the end, he ends up with a fate of losing his soul and having nothing!" The fox sighed lightly.
Xing Ruyi looked up at the tightly closed doors and windows and said, "But such an ending was also his own choice!"
"It was his own choice, so even if he regrets it, he can't blame anyone else!" The fox tapped Xing Ruyi's nose with a finger: "Just like you, you are my choice, so even if I regret it, it's too late!"
"Hmph!" Xing Ruyi snorted softly, "It's too late; there's no room for regret now, my fox Husband!"
As soon as Xing Ruyi finished speaking, the tightly closed door opened, and Li Xiuxian helped Mother out. The mother and son bowed gently to Xing Ruyi and left without saying anything.
Months later, Xing Ruyi encountered Madam Ji again by the desolate Luoyang River in winter. A simple house stood there, next to a newly built grave. On the tombstone were the names of Madam Ji and Ji Zhanggui side by side, signed by Li Xiuxian.
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