pertwk Chapter 73: The Old Case of Ink Marks
Chapter 73: The Old Case of Ink Marks
"Zhao Kun?" Lin Yan's eyes flashed.
"It is indeed the current Chief Zhao." Old Zhou nodded. "Zhao Kun was picked up from the battlefield by Deputy Chief Wu, who raised him single-handedly, taught him his skills, and promoted him to the Demon Suppression Division. But the relationship between these two master and disciple... was not as harmonious as outsiders perceived. Deputy Chief Wu had a violent temper and would often beat and scold Zhao Kun. Zhao Kun appeared respectful on the surface, but he probably harbored resentment for a long time. Later... later Deputy Chief Wu died suddenly, and at that time there were rumors that Liu Qiqi and Zhao Kun conspired to poison Wu Tiankui."
Lin Yan was shocked. This was completely different from the conclusion of "sudden onset of a serious illness" in the case file!
"But these are all just rumors, not to be taken seriously." Old Zhou changed the subject. "After Deputy Chief Wu died, Zhao Kun did take good care of Liu Qiqi. Not long after, he took her out of the Wu residence and bought her a house outside, keeping her as a mistress. Although they weren't formally married, many people in the branch knew that Liu Qiqi was Zhao Kun's woman. At that time, Zhao Kun's future was bright, and his willingness to settle his former master's wife in this way... well, or rather, his former master's wife, in the eyes of outsiders, can be considered as showing old affection."
He paused, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "But this 'old affection' didn't last more than a few years. In the twenty-first year of the Hongguang reign, Zhao Kun became involved with a retired official from the capital. That official had a daughter, whose appearance was said to be... well, not very good, but her family background was illustrious. In order to secure this marriage, Zhao Kun abandoned Liu Qiqi without hesitation."
"Abandoned it?" Lin Yan pressed.
"He abandoned her." Old Zhou said with certainty, "He cut off her supplies and stopped all contact. Liu Qiqi was naturally unwilling to give up. She made a scene several times and even threatened to kill herself. I heard she said she would expose all of Zhao Kun's 'shameful deeds.' But Zhao Kun was determined at that time. Not only did he ignore her, but his newlywed fiancée, after learning about this, actually brought people to his door and beat up Liu Qiqi...scratched her face."
Old Zhou's eyes flashed with pity as he recounted the story: "A woman, disfigured and abandoned... Zhao Kun, fearing a tragedy, ordered her to be forcibly sent back to her hometown, Liujiazhuang. After that... there was no further news. Some say she drowned herself, others say she eked out a living in the countryside. In short, she vanished from everyone's sight."
Liujiazhuang?
Lin Yan quickly calculated in his mind. A woman who might have been involved in the poisoning of Wu Tiankui (even if she was an accomplice), knew Zhao Kun's early secrets, harbored a deep hatred for Zhao Kun, and had suffered terrible injuries herself, was hiding her identity in a remote rural area... What she held in her heart might be the key to uncovering the truth behind Mo Laogui's death, and even Wu Tiankui's sudden death back then!
"Does Elder Zhou know the exact location of Liu Family Village? Who else is still in Liu Qiqi's family?" Lin Yan pressed, his tone serious.
Old Zhou gave Lin Yan a deep look. His usually cloudy eyes suddenly became clearer and sharper, carrying a solemnity as if he had made a decision and placed a bet. He went back to his room and pulled out a private notebook from under his bed. The notebook had worn edges that were shiny, the paper was dark yellow, and it was roughly bound with needle and thread. He carefully turned a few pages and pointed to a line of writing: "Liu Family Village is located due west of Qingzhou Prefecture. Go about fifty li outside the city along the main road, and you will see an old locust tree that takes three people to encircle. There is a fork in the road under the tree that leads north. It is a desolate mountain path. Go about twenty li further, and you will find it deep in the mountain valley. I heard Liu Qiqi's family mention it back then. She also had an older brother and a younger brother. They were both honest and hardworking farmers. Their names... I jotted them down back then. They are here."
He pushed the book in front of Lin Yan and pointed to two names whose ink had already blurred.
Lin Yan carefully noted it down and bowed solemnly to Old Zhou: "Thank you for your frankness, Old Zhou. I will remember the profound meaning behind it."
Old Zhou hurriedly rose to return the greeting, repeatedly saying, "I dare not accept such praise! Lord Lin has been working tirelessly on official business, investigating old cases and bringing clarity to the truth. I should speak frankly and without reservation." He paused, lowering his voice even further, with a hint of caution, "If you really intend to go to Liu Family Village... please be extremely careful. It's a remote place, and Chief Zhao... may not be entirely at ease there."
Lin Yan nodded: "I understand."
Having obtained the crucial clue, Lin Yan casually flipped through a few other files and put them back in their place. Then, he picked out a few relatively neat old files from the table and said to Old Zhou, "Old Zhou, I'd like to take these old files out to borrow them and study them carefully. Is that alright?"
Old Zhou glanced at it only once and immediately nodded, saying, "If Lord Lin wants to borrow it, of course there's no problem."
Lin Yan wrapped the files in a clean blue cloth, tucked it under his arm, thanked Old Zhou again, and then turned to leave the document room.
***
Lin Yan went to Zhou Yan's study first.
Inside the study, Zhou Yan was reviewing official documents. Seeing Lin Yan enter, he put down his vermilion pen and looked at Lin Yan's face: "How's the investigation going?"
Lin Yan bowed and reported the highlights of his findings in the document room that day. He emphasized the similarities between Wu Tiankui's sudden death and the poisoning deaths of Mo Laogui and others, as well as the rumors revealed by Old Zhou about Wu Tiankui, his concubine Liu Qiqi, and the complicated relationship between Zhao Kun.
"My lord," Lin Yan concluded, "in my humble opinion, the poison that Mo Laogui and the others were poisoned by is very likely the same rare and complex herbal poison that Wu Tiankui was poisoned by fifteen years ago. The method of poisoning is so unique, and its recurrence after fifteen years is no coincidence. If it is indeed the work of the same person, then finding Liu Qiqi, who may have been involved in the case back then and who harbors resentment towards Zhao Kun, might be able to uncover the key clues."
After listening, Zhou Yan pondered for a long time. The sandalwood incense in the study made his face appear even more serene and profound. After a while, he slowly spoke, his voice filled with obvious approval: "Lin Yan, your insight and tenacity in investigation are truly rare. To be able to find such a connection from old files and to discern possible directions amidst rumors... very good."
He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the deepening twilight in the courtyard outside. "Liu Qiqi... if she truly knows the inside story of what happened back then, as Zhou Yunqi said, and hates Zhao Kun to the bone, she is indeed a clue worth investigating. However," he turned around, his gaze sharp as he looked at Lin Yan, "Zhao Kun is cautious and ruthless. If Liu Qiqi really has something on him, he might not be comfortable letting her live peacefully in the countryside. When you go to Liu Family Village, you must be careful. Not only should you be wary of any spies Zhao Kun might have planted, but you must also be wary of Liu Qiqi herself—a woman who has experienced such a tumultuous life is unpredictable."
"Understood, Your Excellency," Lin Yan replied solemnly. "I will act with utmost care."
Zhou Yan nodded and then asked, "When do you plan to set off?"
"We'll set off first thing tomorrow morning," Lin Yan replied. "We still need to make some preparations today."
"Hmm." Zhou Yan sat back down at his desk. "As for manpower, you can choose for yourself. Just let me know if you need any assistance. This matter... should be handled as soon as possible."
"Thank you, sir." Lin Yan bowed and took his leave. As he reached the door, he seemed to remember something and turned back, saying, "Sir, I just found a few ordinary official documents in the document room that Lord Su Yuanshan had reviewed years ago. I was thinking that Miss Su might be willing to see his calligraphy to ease her longing. I wonder if... I could deliver them to her on my way?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan smiled gently: "Qingyao must be feeling quite bored at home lately. If you're so kind, why don't you send her over? She and Zhilan are in the warm pavilion in the back garden; you can go there yourself."
"Thank you, sir." Lin Yan bowed again before leaving the study.
***
Behind the main residence lies a hidden paradise. Passing through the hanging flower moon gate, one enters an exquisite garden. Artificial hills are delicately crafted, and the pond is shallow and clear, with several koi carp leisurely swaying their tails. Chrysanthemums in the garden are in full bloom, their pale yellow, light purple, and snow-white blossoms stretching gracefully under the autumn sun. Following the winding cobblestone path, one arrives at a row of pink-walled, black-tiled side rooms, with silk palace lanterns hanging from the eaves swaying gently in the breeze.
In the warm pavilion of the east wing, Su Qingyao was playing chess with Zhou Yan's only daughter, Zhou Zhilan. The black and white pieces crisscrossed the board, the battle raging. Zhou Zhilan and Su Qingyao were about the same age, had known each other since childhood, and were like sisters. She was gentle and beautiful, with a soft temperament, which complemented Su Qingyao's cool and quiet demeanor. Since Su Qingyao moved into the Zhou residence, the two had spent their days together, reading and practicing calligraphy, playing the zither and chess, or appreciating flowers and tea, and thus never felt lonely.
But... Su Qingyao, holding her son's hand, would occasionally pause slightly, her gaze involuntarily drifting towards the window. Her heart always felt as if a piece was missing, leaving an empty void.
She wore a pale white jacket embroidered with lotus blossoms, paired with a matching pleated skirt. Her long, dark hair was loosely tied in a casual bun, adorned with a simple silver hairpin. Though simple, the outfit accentuated her fair skin and exquisite features. Yet, a faint, lingering melancholy always shrouded her eyes, like the misty mountains of Jiangnan—beautiful, yet shrouded in an impenetrable fog.
Zhou Zhilan, being perceptive, had already noticed Su Qingyao's recent absent-mindedness. She placed a piece on the board and asked softly, "Sister Qingyao, are you thinking of Lord Lin again?"
Su Qingyao's cheeks flushed slightly, and she scolded, "Zhilan, don't talk nonsense."
Zhou Zhilan smiled and said, "I'm not talking nonsense. These past two days, Sister has been distracted while playing chess, and often stares out the window while reading... If she's not thinking about Lord Lin, then who is she thinking about?"
Su Qingyao was even more embarrassed when her secret was exposed. She lowered her head, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the warm jade chess piece, and whispered, "He... he is busy with official duties, how could I disturb him so casually?"
"No matter how busy he is, he should at least come to see his sister." Zhou Zhilan felt indignant for her friend. "He hasn't come even once since his sister returned to the manor. It's outrageous."
Just then, a series of hurried yet light footsteps came from the corridor, followed by the maid Xiaohe's deliberately raised, joyful voice: "Miss! Miss! Lord Lin is here! He's waiting in the small flower hall at the front, saying he's on the orders of the head steward to bring you some things!"
Su Qingyao trembled, and the chess piece in her hand landed on the chessboard with a "thud." She abruptly raised her head, and in that instant, it was as if starlight had suddenly fallen into her autumn-water-like eyes. The light sorrow and vexation that had shrouded her brows for days vanished in an instant, like a thin mist blown away by a gentle breeze. Her heart pounded twice, the sound so loud that she could hear it clearly herself.
"He...is here?" Her voice trembled slightly, a tremor she herself didn't even notice. She quickly cleared her throat, trying to regain her usual cool composure. "Do you know...what brings him here?"
Xiaohe had already lifted the curtain and entered, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "She said she found some old case files that Master Su had reviewed back then in the document room, and thought that Miss might be willing to see the writings of her ancestors, so she sent them over. The head of the department also agreed."
Old files? Those reviewed by my father?
Su Qingyao felt a sudden warmth in her heart, as if a warm spring was gently flowing through her. He... he still cared. Under the guise of delivering old files, he fulfilled the proper etiquette, and... he also considered her feelings.
"Quickly, quickly invite Lord Lin... to the small flower hall for tea, I... I'll be right there." She said hurriedly, bowing her head to quickly straighten her dress and then raising her hand to smooth her hair.
Zhou Zhilan covered her mouth and chuckled softly, "Sister, go ahead, we can play this chess game another day."
Su Qingyao's cheeks flushed even more, and she gave Zhou Zhilan a reproachful look, but couldn't hide the gleam in her eyes. She composed herself, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled, trying to tone down the overly bright light on her face and return to her usual calm and composed demeanor. But her steps were involuntarily much lighter than usual, almost as if she were running while lifting her skirt.