Chapter 15: Good Wife
“Alright.” Shang Wan subconsciously replied, then realized something was off.
As husband and wife, Lu Chengjing would definitely recognize the original host’s handwriting. This copy she made was not identical, to say the least—it was completely unrelated. Could Lu Chengjing not recognize it?
Noticing she had given herself away, Shang Wan tried to explain, “That, I…”
“Don’t use your left hand to write next time.” Lu Chengjing lowered his gaze to stare at the words on the paper. “After we get out, I’ll write you a calligraphy copybook. Practice by copying it.”
Hm?
Shang Wan blinked her eyes. She hadn’t even made up any excuses yet, and this was already glossed over?
She feigned embarrassment. “I accidentally bumped my right wrist. It hurts to hold the brush, so I had to use my left hand. I didn’t expect you to see through it. You’re really impressive.”
Lu Chengjing glanced at her, thinking to himself that the right hand which hurt when holding the brush was steady enough when holding the oil lamp—not even a flicker.
However, exposing it would still require him to find a way to cover for her, which wasn’t worth it.
Finally waiting for Lu Chengjing to finish reading the letter, Shang Wan couldn’t ask directly what was written on it, so she beat around the bush.
“Do you think the matter in the letter is related to Tian Sheng poisoning Li Wen Hua?”
Lu Chengjing impassively threw the question back. “What do you think?”
“I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking you.” Shang Wan kicked the ball back. “You’re a Xiucai Scholar. Surely you know, right?”
This provocation tactic was used too clumsily.
His gaze swept over the soft bedding on his body, and Lu Chengjing’s eyes darkened slightly. In the end, he still relented first.
“Tian Sheng sent people to make arrangements in the capital city and is expected to be promoted to county magistrate of Ying County. Before the imperial court issues the transfer order, they will send someone to investigate secretly. If Tian Sheng’s reputation is damaged, even if he spends more silver, the promotion will fall through.”
Shang Wan frowned as she listened. What did this have to do with Tian Sheng poisoning Li Wen Hua?
She said, “I don’t understand. Explain in more detail.”
The former Shang Wan cared about face and wouldn’t ask so bluntly even if she didn’t understand. Lu Chengjing silently noted another difference.
He spoke slowly, “Once, Li Wen Hua drank too much at a banquet and revealed that Tian Sheng has a strange habit.”
He paused briefly and, under Shang Wan’s urging gaze, lowly uttered three words: “Likes married women.”
Shang Wan: Tsk tsk, the gossip was worth it.
Lu Chengjing continued his analysis. “According to you, Tian Sheng was involved with Li Can’s wife Zhang Shi. At this critical moment for his promotion, he poisoned Li Wen Hua, perhaps because Li Wen Hua knew about his affair with Zhang Shi.”
If Li Wen Hua exposed the matter, Tian Sheng wouldn’t just fail to get promoted—whether he could keep his current position would be in jeopardy.
Shang Wan put herself in Li Wen Hua’s shoes. Learning that his daughter-in-law was involved with his subordinate, she would beat that subordinate to death.
Promotion? Bah, she’d send that disgusting thing straight to the King of Hell with one knife.
If she put herself in Tian Sheng’s shoes, she would also act against Li Wen Hua, but she wouldn’t use someone else’s hands—after all, the more people who knew, the greater the risk.
“We have two witnesses in hand now. When Niu Baoqing wakes up, I’ll take him and Geng Hao to the county yamen together to accuse Tian Sheng and get you out.” Shang Wan set down the oil lamp and blew it out.
The light immediately faded, and the prison cell returned to dimness.
Lu Chengjing glanced at the oil lamp emitting a wisp of blue smoke and shook his head. “No. The new county magistrate hasn’t arrived yet. All affairs at the yamen are currently managed by Tian Sheng on his behalf. Going to the county yamen to accuse him would be like sheep entering the tiger’s mouth.”
“Then find another official.” Shang Wan rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “How about the prefect?”
Dongning County was within Qingyang Prefecture, and the prefect was surnamed An.
“Lord An has an excellent reputation. Privately, the common people call him Little Qing Tian. If he is willing to rehear the case, he will surely investigate the poisoning to the bottom of it.” Lu Chengjing clearly knew more about officials than Shang Wan.
Shang Wan immediately decided. “We’ll go to him then.”
Lu Chengjing frowned. “But from the county town to the prefectural city, even by carriage it takes a full day. Niu Baoqing still has two knife wounds on his abdomen. The jolting of the carriage might…”
“You’re quite kind-hearted.” Shang Wan pursed her lips. “After he poisoned Li Wen Hua and framed you, landing you in prison with broken limbs, you’re not going to hold it against him?”
Lu Chengjing’s face gradually paled. After a long silence, he lowly said, “This isn’t the time to settle scores. Niu Baoqing is a witness. He must stay alive.”
Shang Wan nodded. As long as her family’s vase had his priorities straight, it was fine.
Niu Baoqing was indeed forced by Tian Sheng to poison the wine, but his family’s lives mattered—did that mean Li Wen Hua’s and Lu Chengjing’s lives didn’t?
People were selfish. If Lu Chengjing truly chose not to hold Niu Baoqing accountable, Shang Wan would have to consider divorcing her husband.
After all, the enemy of a saintly father was happiness, and those around him were truly quite miserable. She didn’t want to be implicated.
Shang Wan said, “If we can’t take Niu Baoqing to the prefectural city, how about inviting Lord An to the county yamen?”
Lu Chengjing looked up at her. He always felt that what this woman in front of him said wasn’t inviting, but robbing.
He said, “Lord An handles all matters in Qingyang Prefecture and is busy with official duties. Even if you go invite him, even if Lord An is willing to come, he would first need to arrange prefectural yamen affairs and bring escorts. It’s impossible to make the round trip in two days.”
Actually, he could wait to be escorted to the prefectural city in two days and then request Lord An to rehear the case.
But with Lord An’s reputation, if Tian Sheng was cautious, he wouldn’t give him a chance to speak in front of Lord An.
If he were Tian Sheng, to be safe, he’d simply go all the way—make him die of illness before being escorted to the prefectural city. He had always been frail, and with Tian Sheng having connections in the capital city, a little arrangement would cover it up.
After thinking it over, rehearing the case in Dongning County was the best option.
A dark glint flashed in Shang Wan’s eyes. “Two days is enough.”
“Abducting a court official is a capital crime punishable by extermination of the clan.” Lu Chengjing stared at her. “Don’t act recklessly.”
Shang Wan, who indeed wanted to rob someone: “…”
Unfortunately, the things in her space were all gone after the crossing. Otherwise, she could use the hallucinogen developed by the base against mutated beasts, feed a bit to that Lord An, and guarantee he’d come obediently to Dongning County.
She turned and leaned against the table. “Can’t invite him and can’t rob him. Do you have any good ideas?”
Lu Chengjing pondered for a moment and said, “There’s a purple bamboo flute in my study room. Take it and find Master Liao Kong, the abbot of Qingchi Temple. Tell him about this matter and ask for his help.”
He believed that with this woman’s skills in front of him, she could easily retrieve the purple bamboo flute from the Lu Family.
In fact, Shang Wan had already taken it.
Last night, she thought the purple bamboo flute was pretty and it didn’t take up space, so she casually tossed it into her space. Right now, it was still lying in the small wooden house with a pile of calligraphy and painting.
“Alright then. I’ll go to Qingchi Temple after daybreak.”
With everything said, Shang Wan prepared to take the bedding and leave, but her gaze swept over Lu Chengjing’s gaunt pale face and the sour-smelling thin quilt on the ground, and she immediately changed her mind.
It wasn’t bright out yet anyway, and the constables were still snoring. There was no rush.
“Lend me a spot.” She pushed Lu Chengjing inward. Under his surprised gaze, she pulled over a corner of the bedding to cover her waist and closed her eyes to sleep.
