Chapter 342

This is no small matter.

This ghost is probably not a minor ghost, but an insider.

Just thinking that such a person might be lurking nearby is truly vexing.

Du Shanü had never encountered such a thing before, so she naturally turned to her own Afang for advice:

The first letter was given to Xuan Feixing; if one says he's unreliable in his work, he's been gone for nearly four months, and all those later letters—how could they have vanished without a trace while he was absent?

Therefore, this matter should have nothing to do with Xuan Feixing.

But if it were someone else in the government office, she still couldn't recall a few names even now......

Surely it can't be that she just finished handling affairs in Cang Cheng and now something else has come up, right?

Du Shanü had been idle for several months, completely in the dark, and could hardly be sure of anything.

Chen Weifang, meanwhile, was calm and composed, her eyes lowered as if in thought:

This is no trivial matter; even though Xuan Feixing is absent, we must investigate thoroughly!

We don't yet know the situation in Cang Cheng on our side, but we can start by checking those nearby! Speaking of which, Wise Lord, do you still remember who you each gave the letters to back then?

If you remember who you gave the letters to originally, we just need to find those people and ask them one by one how they sent the letters...... Barring any surprises, we should quickly uncover something.

Every word, every sentence, heartfelt and soothing.

To be frank, Du Shanü's reliance on Chen Weifang is not without reason.

Du Shanü felt a little more at ease, straightened her posture slightly, and while letting the doctor take her pulse, she said:

I can still recognize them, I just can't recall their names; if you point them out and have them walk past me one by one, I'll roughly know who they are.

Chen Weifang nodded in agreement, her gaze shifting, and seeing the Wise Lord's side the simple-minded yet cautious former Young Emperor, she smiled again:

When the Yu County Magistrate earlier sent word of the disappearance, people were truly frightened out of their wits...... Fortunately, the noble person is unharmed.

Cang Cheng and Zhoufu are separated by several cities, over a hundred li; you must have endured a hard journey to come all this way, right?

Chen Weifang is striking in appearance, gentle in temperament; her every frown and smile are like a reflection of flowers in water.

Ordinary people, when subjected to such probing and questioning, would not only admit to everything they shouldn't, but might even end up wrongly accusing two others just to go along.

However, Yu Baobao clearly wasn't buying it; upon hearing Chen Weifang's question, she didn't know what to do with her hands and feet.

Still okay, still alive......

Du Shanü looked this way and that, slapped her forehead, and then remembered something——

Yu Baobao has always been like this.

When serving as a subject, one fears the ruler; when acting as ruler, one fears the subjects.

If I recall correctly, Yu Baobao had mentioned before that seeing Chen Weifang's back gave her the chills……

These two really shouldn't be left together.

It both wastes Afang's goodwill in asking and makes Yu Baobao even more uncomfortable.

The doctor felt the pulse several times, then finally withdrew their hand; Du Shanü took the opportunity to raise her hand and, smiling, patted Yu Baobao's wronged little head:

「(*^-^)p(*╯^╰)」

Yu Baobao, you've worked hard on the journey; how about you go take a nice, fragrant bath first?

After you finish washing and rest a bit, your Wife Master should be able to get to the bottom of who stole our letters; then I'll come keep you company properly.

Yu Baobao immediately nodded like she was pounding garlic, but thinking of something, she didn't rush off; instead she grabbed the doctor and asked a series of questions:

Doctor, how are my Wife Master and the child doing now?

I brought some wild peaches; can the Wife Master eat them? If not, what other taboos are there……

This doctor is one of the manor physicians Chen Weifang prepared for Du Shanü after she became pregnant.

The doctor had never seen Yu Baobao before, so hearing them address Du Shanü as Wife Master clearly surprised them.

But the good thing is, anyone who can serve as a manor physician isn't one to blab.

The doctor with a steady countenance quickly continued:

Indeed, it was indeed due to fright earlier, but there's nothing serious; a dose or two of herbal decoction should calm it.

As for dietary restrictions, the later the month, the more there are; I can't explain them all in a moment. Why don't you come with me for a bit, and I'll write out the prescription and give you a list……

Yu Baobao wouldn't refuse that.

They happily got off the arhat chair and followed for a few steps.

But after only two or three steps, they seemed to remember something, turned back, thump-thump-thump ran back to Du Shanü's side, lightly pecked the Wife Master on the mouth, and walked away looking back every step.

Passing through the hall, Chen Weifang clasped their long sleeves in a bow, covered their face and lowered their head in respect……

Such humility in posture and reverence in expression are rarely seen in ages.

Therefore, not only the two departing persons, but even Du Shanü didn't notice at first; as they passed each other, Chen Weifang, though appearing deferential, did not retreat a step, remaining firmly in place.

Du Shanü muttered with a hint of complaint, clicking her tongue in wonder:

Afang, your heart is surely too biased.

I've been your Wise Lord for so long, yet you treat me with less than half the respect you show Yu Baobao——

Not performing the great rites is forgivable!

Even to this day, you still occasionally knock her on the head!

As your Wise Lord, she only enjoys glory outside; inside the home she truly has no standing at all!

Faced with the Wise Lord's complaint, Chen Weifang didn't take it too seriously, merely smiling good-naturedly and smoothing the wrinkles of their robe:

The heavenly household above; although the Young Emperor has lost his throne, he is still the master and we are servants...... we must maintain some decorum.

Du Shanü frowned at the mention of master and servant, but helplessly, her Afang switched topics so quickly that before she could react, Chen Weifang smoothly shifted the conversation:

Wise Lord, I'll go call Chinu back and, meanwhile, gather all the manor's manpower to facilitate investigating the breach of trust.

Du Shanü was indeed distracted, nodded and agreed:

Good, go quickly.

Chen Weifang lowered her eyes, quickly retreating beneath the corridor.

Under the eaves, fallen blossoms swirled before the courtyard, winding around the corridor.

Today, despite all the goodness, there is nothing that can outweigh the addition of an eyesore 'toy'.

Chinu stood silent in the shadow of the corner, not knowing how long she had been standing.

Chen Weifang's expression did not change, not even shifting her head for a moment, as she walked straight past Chinu and went out.

As the two brushed past each other, Chinu's hesitant whisper finally reached Chen Weifang's ears:

"...... He has returned, he has returned, I cannot compare to him, I cannot compare to his......"

The Wife Master also knows about the lost letter; what should we do?

She is very clever; this matter probably cannot be concealed from her, and she hates being deceived the most......

Chen Weifang's steps paused; without turning back, she once again leisurely began to tidy her already wrinkle-free robe sleeves.

Chinu could not see his expression, but could hear the nonchalance in his words:

"Chinu, bring forth some of the ambition and domineering spirit you had when you were the chief; do not put on this affected, knowing-your-death-yet-unwilling-to-face-it behavior, which only makes people feel disgusted."

Remember, there is no such thing as 'we'. From beginning to end, it is clearly only I who did this—having me here, what do you have to fear?

Chinu gave no reply, and Chen Weifang also said nothing more.

He walked a few more steps outward, then stopped again.

Chinu heard his voice from his back as he spoke:

Dead is just dead.

People like us, even when death is imminent, do not repent; in fact, it is not a bad thing.

"If the Wise Lord wants to kill me, you need not foolishly keep me; you should think more about your child——

That child's days are still long, and they await you, their father, to plan a bit for them; not the matter of 'comparing or not', one must strive to contend."

?? No-prize guessing——

? Will Afang be severely punished?