The Hidden Depths (Part 1)
Yu Luoying glared at the Phoenix Wing Hairpin in her hand, trembling with rage.
"Ruo Ma! Summon the Second Madam to examine this!" she ordered without hesitation.
"Madam, please wait!" Di Yun quickly interjected.
"Why?" Yu Luoying asked, confused.
"There might be more to this than meets the eye," Di Yun said, meeting her gaze and speaking slowly.
"You mean... it wasn't Yuzhong who stole it? Could it be... no, impossible..." Yu Luoying suddenly seemed to grasp something, her face turning pale as her voice quivered.
In the past, Su Caiyun had been her rival in love. Outwardly harmonious but inwardly wary, the two had only reconciled three years ago after Lian Zheng's dalliance with a courtesan named Lu Qiaoqiao. Since then, they had grown close, like sisters. But human hearts are unpredictable. Could Su really be harboring resentment?
Yu Luoying took a deep breath, trying to banish the unsettling suspicion.
Lian Heng, too, felt conflicted.
Her stepmother, the gentle and kind Second Madam, who treated her like her own daughter, who had quietly endured years of solitude—could she truly have such a venomous heart? Could she really have colluded with Yuzhong to stir up trouble?
"Mother, don't overthink it. There's no way Second Madam gave it to her," Lian Heng said, trying to steady herself as she comforted her mother.
"Sometimes, those involved can't see clearly. As an outsider, I can only follow the evidence. May I speak with Yuzhong?" Di Yun asked, looking at Yu Luoying.
In the woodshed, Yuzhong sat quietly on a pile of firewood.
Though she had been confined for less than a day and a night, her appearance had grown visibly haggard.
Yu Luoying ordered the lock removed, allowing Di Yun to enter while she and her daughter stood by the window outside.
Di Yun bent down and whispered a few words to Yuzhong. Her eyes widened in shock, her expression panicked, and she shouted in agitation, "Impossible! Impossible!"
Di Yun pulled a small paper packet from his coat, opened it, and held it out to her. "Do you recognize this?"
Yuzhong stared at it in horror, her face drained of color. Then she lowered her head in despair, unable to speak.
"I found this by the small hole near the garden wall. Believe it or not, that's up to you. But if you refuse to tell the truth in court, you won't escape death." Di Yun put the packet away and turned to leave.
Yuzhong bit her lip, her gaze vacant, utterly shaken.
Di Yun paused briefly. Seeing that she remained silent, he left the woodshed without another word.
"Where is this small hole by the wall?" Lian Heng quickly asked.
"At the back of the garden, hidden by plants. Normally, it's not noticeable. I discovered it from outside the wall," Di Yun replied.
"So, this small hole was a secret passage for exchanging items and messages?" Lian Heng speculated.
"Exactly. Behind the garden is a quiet alley, rarely traveled. Placing something through the hole would attract no attention. Furthermore, the alley leads directly to the Tianyu Elegant Pavilion."
Yu Luoying was bewildered. "What does this have to do with that recently opened teahouse?"
Di Yun didn't answer directly but said, "I'd like to meet the Second Madam."
Su Caiyun and Yu Luoying both resided on the second floor of Yingze Tower, in rooms on opposite ends of the hallway.
Opening the Second Madam's door, they found the room empty. Di Yun rummaged around and eventually retrieved a large ring of keys from beneath the bed.
"These are the household keys, aren't they? Why are they here?" Yu Luoying asked, surprised.
"She must have her reasons," Di Yun replied nonchalantly.
Just then, Xiaofeng, a maid helping to dry clothes, came upstairs to report, "Second Madam just went out. She said she'd be back in the time it takes to burn a stick of incense."
"Oh?" Di Yun lowered his gaze thoughtfully. "If I'm not mistaken, she's at the Tianyu Elegant Pavilion."
"What could she possibly be doing there? And what have you uncovered?"
"Most people only know of Manager Zhou at the Tianyu Elegant Pavilion but are unaware of its true owner. This mysterious individual doesn't reside in this county, so almost no one knows his surname is Mo."
"Mo?" Lian Heng suddenly had a revelation. "Mo Xiaotian? Wang Zisheng's cousin, Mo Xiaotian?"
Di Yun glanced at her approvingly. "Smart. My investigation shows that Mo Xiaotian owns two large ships and often engages in overseas trade. Among his goods are banned items, including narcotics and... poison. The items Second Madam purchased earlier today were intercepted by me. She likely believes her delivery was delayed."
"So, Second Madam knows Mo Xiaotian, and Yuzhong wears earrings brought back by him... Could Yuzhong be working for Second Madam all along?" The truth was becoming clearer, yet Lian Heng grew more apprehensive.
Yu Luoying turned pale, weakly protesting, "This is all just conjecture. Perhaps Caiyun merely went out shopping."
Di Yun gave her a look filled with pity and said softly, "When I first met you on Yong'an Alley, I thought you were shrewd and formidable. But in truth, you're far too kind-hearted. For the sake of proving my aunt's innocence, I've conducted extensive investigations. Initially, I couldn't piece it all together. But today, seeing Yuzhong's reaction, the poison, and that ring of keys, everything has become clear. When this matter reaches the court, I'll lay out all the facts and restore my aunt's reputation."
At the county office, Di Yun struck the drum to formally lodge his complaint.
Poor Lian Zheng was abruptly summoned from the teahouse, where he had been negotiating a business deal, to appear in court.
Su Caiyun was already present. Her gentle face was now full of indignation, and her round eyes burned with anger as she exclaimed, "Injustice! This is outrageous! Why am I being accused just because Yuzhong stole my Phoenix Wing Hairpin?"
Magistrate Han Wenqing ignored her protests. With a stern expression, he pounded his gavel and announced, "This matter involves poison and human lives. It is no mere household squabble!"
Lian Zheng cast a distressed glance at Di Yun, feeling both embarrassed and anxious. He silently hoped the young man would quickly clarify the situation.
Han Wenqing asked, "Di Yun, you claim your aunt, Madam Lu, was wronged. However, witnesses saw her wielding a knife against the first wife, and poison identical to that used on the first wife was found in her room. How do you explain this?"
Di Yun replied solemnly, "Your Excellency, the recent turmoil at the Lian household stems from someone acting out of selfishness, enlisting accomplices, and setting traps!"
He fixed his gaze on Su Caiyun, who looked both aggrieved and bewildered.
Most of those present were skeptical of Di Yun's claims, except for Yuzhong, who sat slumped in defeat, as though the proceedings no longer concerned her.
Di Yun continued, "Second Madam Su initially harbored no malice. Over the years, she lived harmoniously with the first wife. However, when my aunt, Madam Lu, entered the household, she found herself neither respected as the first wife nor cherished as my aunt. Resentment grew. Outwardly, she played the role of the dutiful concubine, earning the first wife's trust. In secret, she plotted to eliminate both the third and first wives, intending to take control herself. This was a daunting task, so she required an accomplice—Yuzhong, whom she painstakingly arranged to be planted in the household."
At this, Di Yun paused, locking eyes with Yuzhong.
"But Yuzhong was a gift from Wang Zisheng. How could you be certain of this connection?" Lian Zheng defended Su Caiyun.
"Please allow me to explain in detail," Di Yun said, unfazed. He then recounted the meetings between Su Caiyun and Mo Xiaotian and how they orchestrated Yuzhong's entry into the household as part of their broader conspiracy.
The courtroom buzzed with murmurs as the intricate plot unfolded.