Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Miss Song was different from County Lady Qixia.
The former was gentle and graceful; the latter, bright and dazzling.
She curtsied to me and said softly, “I have heard of Lord Yuan and Master Yu by reputation.”
“Please, do your best to persuade Sister Wang to let us go. I promise I won’t pursue the matter!”
“The Guardian General’s Residence is already subject to a great deal of criticism. If this incident isn’t handled properly, she’ll be in serious trouble.”
There was something rather strange about the way she said that.
It was as if she were standing on General Wang’s side-the kidnapper’s side.
I soothed her gently with a few words.
Then I asked Miss Song, one by one, the same questions I had asked County Lady Qixia.
The two of them gave exactly the same answers.
Was that truly how it had happened?
Or had they discussed their stories in advance?
After thinking for a moment, I said, “May I ask you something, Miss Song? From what you said, it sounds as though you were not only close friends with Second Miss Wang, but also once had a close relationship with the Guardian General?”
Yuan Nanshan had said Wang Ping’an was already twenty-four.
Miss Song, meanwhile, was only fifteen.
If they were bosom friends, the age gap seemed rather large.
Miss Song parted her lips and said, “The Song and Wang families have been friends for generations. Before Sister Wang went to the border, our households visited each other often.”
After saying that, she sighed softly.
“Sister Wang wasn’t like this before…”
“She was very good to me, very gentle. I don’t have an elder sister, so Sister Wang was like my own.”
“If all the men of the Wang family hadn’t died… she never would have become what she is now…”
I could not agree with that.
So I said solemnly, “General Wang serves the nation and the people. She is a heroine among women. In my view, there is nothing wrong with this change.”
“Now her only younger sister has died under unclear circumstances… Is she supposed to simply accept it with a smile?”
Everything Wang Ping’an had been through was far beyond what ordinary people could endure.
People were driven mad little by little.
Miss Song choked on her words.
With a sigh, she said no more.
The sun was directly overhead.
It was probably around noon.
General Wang clearly had no intention of serving lunch.
Before coming here, I had only eaten a sesame flatbread.
By now, I was starving.
Yuan Nanshan took an oiled paper packet from his robe and handed it to me.
“Osmanthus cakes. Have some to tide you over.”
He was surprisingly thoughtful.
I gave a small laugh. “Thank you, my lord.”
Yuan Nanshan said, “If you want to thank me, then tell me the secret of the Night-Luminous Pearl.”
I said seriously, “Once the truth is uncovered, this student will tell you everything honestly.”
“That’s more like it.”
After we finished the pastries, the next person we had to question was Lin Xianzhi, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel.
I heard that although Miss Lin was Minister Lin’s only daughter…
She was born of a concubine.
Minister Lin had a favored concubine in his household who had remained in favor for many years.
That concubine was Miss Lin’s mother.
Miss Lin was very beautiful, and even her voice was soft and gentle.
I asked her several questions.
Her answers were flawless.
For the most part, they matched County Lady Qixia’s account.
I nodded, then suddenly asked, “Among the few of you, who had the best relationship with Second Miss Wang?”
Miss Lin froze for a moment, then said, “Since the few of us were able to gather together, naturally we are all good sisters.”
I smiled. “Even ten fingers are not all the same length, let alone people. Miss Lin, there is no need to overthink it. I was only asking casually.”
Miss Lin covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said softly, “Ning’er and Qingfang… Their families have been friends for generations, and they have known each other since childhood. I cannot compare to that.”
What she meant was-Wang Ning’er and Song Qingfang were the closest.
I then asked, “Then who had the worst relationship with Miss Wang?”
“Relatively speaking, of course.”
Miss Lin’s expression changed slightly. Stammering, she said, “It’s normal for girls to have little quarrels now and then. Even blood sisters argue.”
Seeing that she was hemming and hawing, unwilling to speak, Yuan Nanshan sneered.
“Miss Lin, if you truly know something but insist on keeping your mouth shut, then I suggest you consider your current situation.”
“General Wang’s sword shows no mercy.”
Miss Lin was the one who had been frightened into tears on the spot earlier.
She was clearly very timid.
Hearing this, she bit her lip in distress, lowered her head, and said, “…If I must say…”
“Yu Chaoying… didn’t quite get along with Ning’er.”