Chapter 91 — Piercing Through (Pink Vote 750 Bonus Update)

Dou Yan could not see through Ji Yong.

But while the yamen runners were sweating over the tally of the dead and the examination of the wounded, Ji Yong leaned in and asked her in a low voice, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

"What?" Dou Chushi did not catch on at once.

While they waited for the authorities to arrive, they had already settled on what to tell outsiders. Dou Huaide and Wu Shan insisted that Dou Yan leave first, that they would handle whatever came. But Dou Yan feared something might go wrong and drag Chen Lanxu and the others into it, so she wanted to stay at the scene until the officials had finished writing up their report of the investigation.

Judging by what had befallen Pang Kunbai's attendants, Chen Lanxu and the others had certainly gone easy on Pang Kunbai.

Pang Kunbai was not going to die!

If the Wang family did not step forward for Pang Kunbai, what should she do? If they did step forward for him, what then? Though her trips to the farmstead could be traced, they followed no fixed schedule. According to Suxin, Grandmother was perfectly well; the so-called sudden coma had been nothing but a lie to lure her off the estate. Who had leaked her whereabouts? Was Du An involved in this? Did Wang Shuying know of the Pang family's plans?

Did Fifth Uncle have the strength now to tear off all pretense with Wang Xingyi?

If Fifth Uncle chose to keep enduring in silence, what could she do to maximize her gains? And if Fifth Uncle could stand against Wang Xingyi, what would happen then?

Dou Yan's mind was a tangle of a thousand threads, and Ji Yong's sudden question caught her off guard.

Ji Yong winked at her and said with pointed meaning, "I said, you were pretending not to recognize Pang Kunbai on purpose, weren't you?"

So that was what he wanted to ask!

Dou Yan did not so much as blink. Her face grave, she said, "He and I are connected by marriage. Had I recognized him, I would have shown him some forbearance no matter what. How could I have beaten a man to death with a single blow?"

"Is that so?" Ji Yong smiled, his expression plainly reading "I don't believe you," and looked her up and down, his gaze as bright as summer sunlight, as if it could illuminate her every hair and pore. Had Dou Yan not lived two lives, she would surely have faltered long ago. Even so, she felt the unease of a thorn pricking her back.

Some things, even when both parties have seen them with their own eyes, become evidence against you once spoken aloud.

Dou Yan resolved to play deaf and dumb.

Yet Ji Yong's manner turned gentle and modest.

Dou Yan was startled, then heard Wu Shan's concerned voice behind her: "Fourth Sister, why are you standing in the courtyard? The night is deep and the dew heavy. You had better rest in the carriage for a while. You need not worry about today's business; Twelfth Brother and I—" He paused, and added, "—and Jianming will handle it properly."

"It was a bit stuffy in the carriage, so I came out for some air." Dou Yan turned around and saw that though Wu Shan was speaking to her, his gaze rested on Ji Yong, and deep in his eyes flickered a shadow of profound wariness.

Was he wary of Ji Yong too?

As Dou Yan pondered this, she saw Ji Yong's attendants escorting a small sedan chair hurriedly toward them.

"The physician must have arrived," Ji Yong said with a smile, standing where he was without moving.

Wu Shan thought for a moment, then went to meet them with a trace of resignation.

Wu Shan is still too young after all!

Dou Yan sighed inwardly and climbed into the carriage.

Sujuan asked anxiously, "Will Guardian Chen and the others be all right?"

"What could happen to them?" Before Dou Yan could answer, Suxin was already smiling. "Brother Chen and the others went to Tan Family Village in Lingshou County to offer birthday congratulations to the father of the Tan juren. It grew late, so they took a shortcut, and happened to see someone being robbed, and lent a hand. Is drawing a sword to help a stranger a crime now?"

"It's my fault," Sujuan murmured, looking ashamed.

"What fault is there to speak of?" Suxin smiled and took Sujuan's arm. "That was for the benefit of outsiders. At home, we sisters can say whatever we please."

Sujuan lowered her head in embarrassment and drew closer to Suxin.

In her past life, Sujuan had been just as honest, which was why Dou Yan had put her in charge of the clothes, jewelry, trunks, and storerooms in her own rooms.

In this life there was Suxin. It seemed she had gained someone capable of managing the inner household.

In the future she would have fewer worries.

Dou Yan smiled in satisfaction and asked Suxin in a low voice just who Uncle Duan was.

Suxin smiled and said, "Uncle Duan, whose given name is Gongyi, serves as a guard at the Lang residence together with Brother Chen. But Brother Chen is an ordinary guard, while Uncle Duan is the leader of them, and his skills are formidable."

"And what about that Tan juren?"

The excuse of offering birthday congratulations to the Tan juren's father had come from Duan Bing.

"The Tan juren of Tan Family Village in Lingshou County is named Qilin, styled Yunshen. Because his name sounds like 'qilin,' the mythical beast, and because he is powerfully built and openhearted in temper, people have given him the nickname 'Sitting Dragon,'" Suxin said. "The Tan family has lived in Lingshou for generations, and it is said that every son of the house is skilled in martial arts. In the last years of the previous dynasty, banditry ran rampant in Zhending, yet those who dared to rob the Tan family never came back. Tan Family Village was famous then, and men of the jianghu passing through Zhending all had to present their calling cards there. Later, when the realm was at peace, the village's name gradually faded, and only some of the old-school boxers of Zhending Prefecture still know of it. Uncle Duan's ancestors are said to have come from Tan Family Village, and every New Year's Day he goes there to pay his respects. This time, when the old master of the Tan family celebrated his birthday, he too received an invitation."

Dou Yan listened, dazed.

Tan Family Village was plainly a great clan a hundred years old, passing down its martial arts from generation to generation.

She was a native of Zhending, yet she had never heard of it.

It was clear that there was much a reborn person might not know.

Dou Yan thought of Ji Yong.

Just what would he encounter in the days to come?

A clamor rose outside the carriage.

Suxin lifted the curtain a crack.

"Miss," she said, her expression strange, "Uncle Chen has come over with the Dou Juan guards, escorting the Third Master and the Third Young Master..."

Dou Yan smiled faintly.

She might be wealthy, but her yearly allowance was only a thousand taels of silver. Never mind ten thousand taels in cash—she did not even have ten thousand taels in silver drafts, much less could Chen Yanzhou, that sham accountant, produce such a sum.

She did not trust the Dou Juan men, so she had sent Sulang and others to demand the ten-thousand-tael reward from Chen Yanzhou.

It was both a warning to Chen Yanzhou and a test of his resourcefulness and ability to get things done.

Now her third uncle and third cousin had appeared here, which at least confirmed one thing: the ten-thousand-tael reward was settled.

"Where is Fourth Sister? Where is Fourth Sister?"

Amid the clamor and din, her third cousin's voice rang out with particular shrillness.

Suxin drew back the carriage curtain: "Third Young Master Xiu, our miss is here!"

Dou Xiuchang came running, his body—fattened year after year—jiggling as he moved.