Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Guardian General Wang Ping’an said nothing.

She simply took the sword at her waist and set it down on the table.

With a sharp smack.

Everyone fell silent.

The corner of her mouth tugged faintly as she said in an even voice, “In the fourth year of Kaiyuan, my grandfather died on the battlefield… In the eighth year of Kaiyuan, my father and uncle were carried home wrapped in horsehide… In the eleventh year of Kaiyuan, my three elder brothers died defending our borders…”

“And never came back.”

She lifted her head and closed her eyes for a moment, then said, “Three years ago, I was appointed in a time of crisis. I cast aside everything that made me a woman and held the frontier to the death. Only then was the capital able to enjoy the prosperity it has today…”

“And yet I failed to protect my younger sister… the only blood kin I had left.”

At those words, every face in the room shifted with sympathy and emotion.

I sighed inwardly.

With things like this…

There would be no peaceful resolution after all.

Yuan Nanshan shuddered and said in a low voice, “General… if there is anything you want, please speak plainly.”

Wang Ping’an’s gaze fell on me. In a deep voice, she said, “Master Yu, though I have been stationed far away at the border, I have heard of your abilities. Lady Song praised you to me, saying your pronouncements are never wrong, and that you can know both past and future.”

“I want to know how my sister died!”

When she finished, her tone turned cold and chilling. “If the truth is not found today, all of you will be buried with her.”

Wang Ping’an had spent too many years on the battlefield.

Even without anger, she radiated a razor-sharp killing intent.

The hairs all over my body stood on end.

The daughter of the Minister of Personnel was so frightened she started crying.

Yuan Nanshan and I exchanged a glance.

We both saw the gravity in each other’s eyes.

It seemed we had no choice but to get to the bottom of Wang Ning’er’s death today.

Otherwise, General Wang would never let this go.

I took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said, “General, since this is an investigation, please have Second Miss Wang’s personal maids brought here.”

“As for the noble young ladies, their statements… should be taken separately.”

Four girls together made for an entire stage play.

Keeping them all in one place would only cause chaos.

Besides.

Some things could not be said in front of too many people.

Wang Ping’an’s gaze landed on my face like a flash of lightning.

“Very well. Everything will be as you say, Master Yu.”

After that, the noble young ladies were each sent to separate rooms.

Guards were assigned to watch over them.

Second Miss Wang’s two maids were also brought out.

Their eyes were red as they sobbed and said, “Miss was a very good person… These past few years, she guarded Duke Protector Mansion alone and managed everything inside and out. She was extremely capable.”

“Last year, when the national treasury was empty and the army was short on supplies, Miss even raised grain and cotton-padded coats for the soldiers… From then on, her good name spread far and wide…”

“She was kind to the servants and never put on airs…”

The two of them spoke for a while, all praise for Wang Ning’er’s capability and noble character.

After considering for a moment, I asked, “Did Second Miss Wang have someone she loved?”

Both maids shook their heads.

“No. Miss never had contact with any men outside the family.”

Wang Ping’an suddenly said, “If Ning’er had someone she loved, she should have told me in her letters.”

The sisters had been so close.

It seemed likely there had been no such person.

I nodded and said, “Tell me what happened on the day of the gathering.”

The younger maid wiped her tears and said, “Second Miss and Miss Song, Miss Lin, and the others were close friends. They would meet every so often… That day, at the Grand Tutor’s Mansion, Miss Song had sent out invitations, saying she was hosting a poetry gathering.”

“Every time there was a gathering, Miss didn’t want us serving too close by, so she would send us all to the front courtyard to chat with the other young maids…”

“When we went that day, there was nothing wrong with Miss. But on the way back… Miss’s complexion looked a little unwell…”

The maid cried, “After we returned to the mansion, Miss said she was tired and wanted to rest. She sent all of us out… Who would have thought she would hang herself…”