Chapter 402: Chapter 403: Bad Omen

A woman with disheveled hair and a grimy face looked up and stared at them. In an instant, she lunged toward them with incredible speed.

If not for the wooden bars in front of her, she likely would have thrown herself right at Ancient Wen Heng.

Even so, Ancient Wen Heng couldn’t help but take two steps back. The stench coming from her was more than he could bear.

"You’re finally here," Xiao Wanyu said, her eyes fixed on Ancient Wen Heng. She didn’t seem to care that others were present and blurted out, "Why can’t you just accept me? If we could have been together from the very beginning, why would I have needed to take a life?"

Ancient Wen Heng replied, "Please, watch your words. I am not familiar with you. Why are you so lost in your own delusions?"

Xiao Wanyu retorted, "But you are the cause of all this! Ever since I first saw you at the government office that day, I knew I could never get you out of my mind."

"It’s laughable, really. My father, who always prided himself on his judgment of character, was completely wrong about you."

"He’s probably regretting it right now. If he hadn’t stopped me from making a move back then, the one in your rear courtyard, Mrs. Gu, would be me."

Ancient Wen Heng clenched his fists. He finally understood. It wasn’t that this person before him hadn’t thought about acting against them; she just never found the right opportunity.

He thought about how weak he had been a few years ago. If Prefect Xiao had decided to act back then, he and Qianqian might not have escaped their schemes.

At the thought of this possibility, Ancient Wen Heng’s eyes reddened. He ground out through clenched teeth, "Shameless."

"Hah! So what? I only hate that fate was not on my side! If it weren’t for those refugees, my father wouldn’t have been condemned. Later, he refused to stir up more trouble just to protect himself. Otherwise, I would never have fallen to this state."

Ancient Wen Heng turned to Gao Ning. "Mr. Gao, I have come and seen her. May I take my leave now?"

’It’s such a waste of time that I could be spending with my beautiful wife and young children, all for this madwoman.’

"Please. Thank you for your time today, Mr. Gu." Gao Ning had overheard some of it and was also astonished by the truth. ’For a man who wouldn’t give her a second glance, this Ms. Xiao has truly harmed a great many people.’

"You can’t leave!" Xiao Wanyu slammed her hands against the doorframe. "Ancient Wen Heng, you can’t be so heartless! I’ve done so much for you. Can’t you spare me a single glance?"

Ancient Wen Heng thought of how she had planned to harm Qianqian. A cruel smile touched his lips. "In your current state, I doubt even the beggars at the gate would spare you a glance. What makes you think I would be willing to dirty my own eyes?"

’If it weren’t for Mr. Gao’s sake, he would have found even the thought of it disgusting. Why else would he have made a special trip here?’

Since Gao Ning wasn’t stopping him from leaving, Ancient Wen Heng had no desire to breathe another mouthful of this filthy air. He strode back the way he came. No matter how many shouts came from behind him, he didn’t pause for a second.

"How could this be..." Xiao Wanyu’s body went limp, and she slid to the ground, leaning against the bars. "I plotted so much, and it was all for you. In the end, he just finds me disgusting to look at."

Gao Ning had no patience to listen to her muttering. "Ms. Xiao, I have fulfilled your request. I now expect you to keep your word. Otherwise, you will find out the consequences of deceiving me."

He didn’t wait for Xiao Wanyu’s answer. Seeing she was still lost in her own dazed thoughts, Gao Ning didn’t linger. He flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.

When he reached the entrance, he saw the prison chief and a government official. "Send in some paper and a brush later. Let that Ms. Xiao write everything down properly."

"Yes, sir."

"Yes, sir."

...

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When Ancient Wen Heng returned to his residence, he still felt covered in bad luck. He immediately summoned the housekeeper, planning to wash up in the outer courtyard first.

Housekeeper Fu quickly ordered the servants to prepare everything, then turned to Ancient Wen Heng and said, "Master, the escort agency delivered a few letters today. Would you like to take a look at them first?"

Ancient Wen Heng knew the letters left in the outer courtyard were his personal mail. "Bring them over for me to see."

He casually opened them. It seemed the housekeeper had already put them in order. The first was a letter from Zhou Shixiong, who said he had reached the border. Only after driving back several groups of bandits did he have the free time to write back.

The letter was filled with routine greetings, but he didn’t forget to mention that if Wenheng ran into any trouble, he should go directly to the Chengen Marquis Mansion, where the housekeeper would help arrange things for him.

The second letter was somewhat unexpected. It was from Liu Wenping, whom he hadn’t contacted in a long time.

Since Liu Wenping passed the examinations to become an Advanced Scholar and was appointed an official, Wenheng only knew that he had been sent to a small county on the frontier. They hadn’t been in touch since, so receiving a letter from him today was a surprise.

He scanned the letter, ten lines at a glance. It started with pleasantries, repeatedly thanking him for his hospitality back in Shangjing and reminiscing about their former camaraderie as fellow students.

The second half was full of complaints. With no connections, he had arrived in a new place as a County Magistrate, only to find that not only were his subordinates disobedient, but the local gentry and officials also paid him no mind.

Although the letter seemed to say nothing, it also seemed to say everything.

Sighing, Ancient Wen Heng folded the letter and set it aside.

The third letter was from Deng Yuanhang. The fellow had barely managed to pass the exams to become a scholar, and his wife had also given birth to a big, healthy boy. He wrote this time mainly to show off to him.

Reading the familiar tone in the letter, Ancient Wen Heng finally relaxed a little.

Just as he was wondering whether he should reply today, the housekeeper came over to inform him that his bath was ready.

Ancient Wen Heng certainly wasn’t going to make himself suffer. He decided to get himself cleaned up first and would find time to reply to each letter later.

* * *

「Gaoling Village」

After swaying in the carriage for two days and two nights, Li Cuicui finally arrived in Fu County on the third day.

While the leader of the escort and his men stopped to rest, she and Fourth took their leave of the escort agency. Then, she drove the carriage at a leisurely pace back to Gaoling Village.

The road from the county seat to Gaoling Village was now wide and smooth. There were more carriages traveling back and forth, so many people just gave her a curious glance before returning to their work.

Someone drove the carriage to Li Cuicui’s house, and Granny Song, hearing the sound, opened the door to welcome them.

"Old Madam, I heard the commotion and guessed it was you." Granny Song had been left to watch the house by herself during Li Cuicui’s absence.

As for the servants sent over by her other sons, they had been temporarily transferred to help at the tofu workshop.

The moment Li Cuicui arrived in the familiar place, her mood relaxed. Seeing Granny Song, who had always been her companion, she felt a special warmth.

"I’m back. I’ve been out and about, and even though the outside world is wonderful in a thousand ways, I still missed my own little courtyard."

Hearing Li Cuicui’s sigh of contentment, Gu Yuanshui couldn’t help but purse his lips. "Mother, you really don’t know how to enjoy your good fortune. How can this little farmhouse courtyard compare to the residence of an official family?"

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