Chapter 193: Seeking The Truth
The next morning, Lu Su found Gan Ning again, and this time Jiang Wan was also there.
“A major incident occurred in Jiangdong. The Marquis of Wu’s Palace had the Witchcraft Curse Incident. Bu Lianshi was demoted to the cold palace and committed suicide out of guilt that very night. Bu Zhi was also implicated and demoted to County Commandant of Lingyang County.”
Gan Ning truly felt some regret in his heart. He had seen Bu Lianshi; such a beautiful woman had died—it was too regrettable.
Jiang Wan said indifferently, “I’m afraid things are not that simple!”
Lu Su nodded. “Indeed, it’s not simple, but it’s also not complicated. It can be explained in one sentence: Sun Quan is purging Sun Ben’s faction.”
Gan Ning laughed. “As I expected. Tell me more details!”
“Bu Zhi ranks first on the list of Sun Ben’s faction members, but he has high prestige in Jiangdong, so it was not easy to take him down directly. Sun Quan used an indirect method, targeting Bu Lianshi to trigger the Witchcraft Curse Incident. Bu Lianshi was charged with suicide out of guilt, and Bu Zhi could no longer turn things around.
Sun Quan also wanted Bu Zhi to die in an accident, but Bu Zhi refused to accept the persecution and fled from Jiangdong. These are all things Bu Zhi himself said. This subordinate believes they are highly credible. Of course, this subordinate will still have the officials stationed in Jiangdong verify the matter.”
“What is Bu Zhi’s attitude? Is Chaisang his midway stop or his final destination?” Gan Ning pointed out the key point.
“He wishes to pledge loyalty to the General!”
Gan Ning nodded. “Last night, I was considering how to place Bu Zhi. Later, I thought of the distinction between government affairs and practical affairs—one formulates rules, the other executes them. I am considering setting up six departments under the Chief Clerk to handle the formulation of systems and rules, and various offices under the Sima to handle rule execution and various practical affairs. This way, policy and execution can be separated.”
Lu Su laughed. “So the General wants Bu Zhi to take the position of Sima?”
Gan Ning smiled at Jiang Wan. “You choose first, Gongyan! Do you want to be Chief Clerk or Sima?”
Jiang Wan smiled faintly. “I’ll take Chief Clerk!”
Gan Ning nodded and said to Lu Su, “This afternoon, I’ll have a good talk with Bu Zhi!”
In the afternoon, Gan Ning received Bu Zhi. The two had a very pleasant conversation, and Gan Ning immediately appointed Bu Zhi as Sima of the General’s Mansion.
Bu Zhi then proposed that he wanted to conduct field inspections below for two months before formally taking office.
Gan Ning could understand Bu Zhi’s difficulties. Taking office in Chaisang right after leaving Jiangdong would invite criticism from many people. Taking office after cooling off for two months would avoid so much trouble.
Gan Ning gladly agreed and immediately appointed Bu Zhi as Inspector to conduct on-site investigations everywhere.
……
At nightfall, Gan Ning paced back and forth in the study, considering the matter of Bu Zhi.
At this time, the door opened, and Da Qiao entered with a cup of ginseng tea. During this period, it had been Xu Wei serving Gan Ning, but Da Qiao occasionally came to Gan Ning’s study as well.
Da Qiao was already showing signs of pregnancy, with a slight bump in her abdomen, but she was in good spirits, her face radiant. However, she was also very careful, fearing any mishap that might affect the fetus.
Although Gan Ning still shared a room with Da Qiao, the two no longer shared a bed. Gan Ning was worried he might accidentally press on the child in Da Qiao’s belly, so he placed a soft couch in the room and slept on it at night.
Da Qiao placed the ginseng tea on the desk and smiled. “I was thinking my husband could sleep in the study. Sleeping on the floor is too hard on you.”
Gan Ning thought about it and agreed. His wife needed to get up at night and required care. If he slept in the room, the maidservants couldn’t enter, and he slept deeply, so she would have to get up by herself. The room was dark at night—what if she fell?
Gan Ning nodded. “Have two personal maidservants sleep in your room! Let them take care of you, one on night watch for half the night. I’ll double their pay.”
Da Qiao hurriedly explained, “Husband, I didn’t mean to disdain you.”
Before she could finish, Gan Ning gently held her and smiled. “With someone to care for you at night when you get up, I can rest easy. Don’t worry about me. When I march and fight, I sleep directly on the grass!”
Da Qiao actually had her own reasons for wanting her husband to sleep in the study—she wanted to create an opportunity for Xu Wei.
At this time, Da Qiao saw the words ‘Bu Zhi appointed as Sima’ written on the desk. She felt a bit puzzled and asked, “This Bu Zhi is Bu Lianshi’s uncle, right?”
“Yes, he was persecuted by the Marquis of Wu and came to seek refuge with me.”
“What about Bu Lianshi?” Da Qiao asked urgently.
She and Bu Lianshi had talked heart-to-heart for a long time. The two women liked each other and felt a mutual appreciation.
Gan Ning sighed softly. “Bu Lianshi was framed by someone and has already passed away in resentment.”
“Ah!” Da Qiao covered her mouth, her eyes showing grief. “How could Bu Lianshi…”
Gan Ning quickly comforted her. “Don’t be too sad; it will harm your health and affect the child. Everyone has their own fate; heaven arranges everything. Don’t be too sad.”
“Bu Lianshi was so kind—who could bear to harm her? It must be Xu Fen; no one else but her.”
Gan Ning also knew that Xu Fen was Sun Quan’s main wife and was said to be a jealous woman who had bullied Xu Wei since childhood, taking all the good things for herself, leaving Xu Wei with only her leftovers.
“Why Xu Fen?”
“Bu Lianshi told me that if she were ever framed one day, it would surely be Xu Fen. Her heart was as clear as a mirror.”
Gan Ning pondered for a long time, then opened the door and said to Sang Zhi hidden in the darkness, “Go invite Miss Xu!”
Sang Zhi flashed away. Soon, Xu Wei hurried over. She thought Gan Lang wanted her to brew tea, but upon entering, she found Older Sister was also there.
Da Qiao smiled. “Yun Qing, you haven’t slept yet?”
“No! I was still reading.”
Gan Ning went straight to the point. “You’re familiar with Bu Lianshi, right?”
Xu Wei thought for a moment. “I’ve met her, but we’re not very close. She’s a few years older than me. Every time I went to the Marquis of Wu’s Palace, I was looking for Shang Xiang.”
“If she passed away, would you be very sad?”
“Older Sister Bu died—that’s truly a pity!”
From Xu Wei’s expression, it was clear she felt some regret but was not grief-stricken, indicating their relationship was indeed ordinary.
“Has Xu Fen been involved with witchcraft?” Gan Ning asked again.
Xu Wei was stunned. “Gan Lang, why ask this?”
Gan Ning thought for a moment and decided to tell her frankly. “Bu Lianshi was falsely accused of using witchcraft. I want to know the truth.”
Xu Wei lowered her head in recollection for a moment. “My grandmother was very devoted to witchcraft. The family often held various witchcraft activities, and we all had contact with it, but I don’t like it. I prefer Daoist arts.”
Gan Ning asked again, “Did your grandmother know any powerful witchcraft masters?”
“Of course. There’s a witch named Zhuang Xiaoshi who often came to see my grandmother.”
“Zhuang Xiaoshi?”
“Yes! She’s a witch by Taihu Lake in Wu County, about the same age as my grandmother. When I was very young, she was a frequent guest at the Xu Residence, even without needing announcement.”
Gan Ning roughly understood who the real mastermind behind the Witchcraft Curse Incident was. Sun Quan had merely exploited it.
“I understand. Go rest!”
Xu Wei bowed to Gan Ning and Da Qiao, then withdrew. As she reached the door, Da Qiao smiled. “Yun Qing, don’t forget to bring hot water for Husband to wash his feet!”
Xu Wei blushed. “I know!”
She hurried off. Gan Ning smiled and asked, “Having her wash my feet—what does that mean?”
“I know many women in this residence want to wash your feet, so I can’t give them any opportunity.”
With that, Da Qiao gave her husband a charming smile and returned to her room.
