Chapter 924: Chapter 878: Finale (4) Searching for Mother

When the Three Judicial Departments and Jinyi Guard investigated the case, they probably used conventional thinking to speculate the motive of the murderer, which is why they couldn’t find any flaws.

Wen Wan, however, was different from them. Although she wasn’t overly superstitious, the events happening to her and Song Wei made her a bit more sensitive in this regard.

Wen Wan initially planned to investigate further, suspecting her own direction might be wrong.

However, that very night, another child murder occurred in the north of the city, executed in the exact same way as before, with the heart dug out.

Early the next day, Xie Zheng visited the Changning Marquis Mansion before heading to the Ministry of Justice to inform her of this.

Wen Wan broke into a cold sweat upon hearing the news, her fingers unconsciously tightened, and her brow deeply furrowed.

She decided not to keep it a secret anymore and wanted to tell Xie Zheng the suspect she had deduced, so he and his team could focus the investigation, but just as she was about to speak, an arrow suddenly flew over the courtyard wall at lightning speed, breaking through the window and "thud" hitting the pillar.

Xie Zheng was startled, and while retreating, he remembered to pull Wen Wan aside.

Attached to the tip of the arrow was a sheet of paper.

Wen Wan walked over to take down the arrow, and when she saw the contents of the paper, her hair stood on end.

Written there were the birth details of Jinbao.

Wen Wan vaguely remembered when Jinbao was born in Ningzhou, her mother-in-law had someone calculate, but she forgot what was calculated, only remembering Jinbao was of the Gold element in the Five Elements.

In an instant, Wen Wan’s heart sank to the bottom, even her breathing was slightly panting.

Xie Zheng noticed her abnormality and hastily asked, "Is someone threatening the Commandery Princess?"

Threatening?

Is it not a threat?

Wen Wan gave a bitter smile, then shook her head and said to Xie Zheng, "I know about the case you mentioned, you should go to the government office first, we’ll talk when you return."

Xie Zheng looked at her half-believingly, "Really, nothing’s wrong?"

"I’m just finding it hard to bear the thought of those children’s deaths." Wen Wan lowered her long lashes, trying to hide her emotions.

"Then I’ll go report to the government office, don’t think too much, I’ll quickly report the household registration matter."

"Xie Zheng." Wen Wan suddenly called him.

"What’s wrong?"

"Those are only my personal speculations, they can’t be accurate. If possible, can you not tell them yet? Otherwise, bringing the Ministry of Revenue into this might cause friction between them and the Three Judicial Departments, which isn’t good for the court."

Xie Zheng thought for a while, nodded, and said it was fine, so they wouldn’t report it for now.

...

After Xie Zheng left, Wen Wan no longer cared to write a letter; she called Wei Lin over and asked if he had seen any suspicious people loitering near the Marquis Mansion before.

Wei Lin shook his head, saying he hadn’t seen any.

It seemed it was done by a high-level archer; no wonder Wei Lin and the others hadn’t noticed.

Wen Wan took a deep breath and said to him, "Hurry to Ningzhou and notify the Song family to protect the children well, especially Jinbao."

Wei Lin was somewhat surprised that the Commandery Princess was still concerned about Ningzhou’s affairs, but then thought it was her own child, and even if she had divorced her husband, it was natural she’d be anxious about her son, so he nodded and withdrew.

Wen Wan looked at the paper crumpled in her palm, her face growing paler.

The person behind it wanted to warn her that if she had said those things to Xie Zheng, then the next one to be killed would be Jinbao.

Jinbao...

Thinking of that adorable son, Wen Wan couldn’t calm her mind anymore.

Waiting for Wei Lin to return during these days, Wen Wan was always in a state of anxiety, afraid to hear news that she couldn’t bear.

Zhao Xunyin noticed her recent lack of spirit and asked if she was ill, offering to let the household doctor check.

Wen Wan dared not speak the truth, only saying she was startled by the case, it was no big deal.

That day, Linglong came in holding a gold-embossed invitation, "Commandery Princess, this is a card sent from Prince Cheng Mansion. It says the Princely Heir will officially choose a concubine in three days, and the Princess Consort wants to invite you over to oversee."

...

Wei Lin arrived in Ningzhou to find that Song Wei and Jinbao have been "missing" for a long time.

"We are also searching for them." Song Yuanbao was somewhat displeased to hear Wei Lin was from Changning Marquis Mansion, "If you are really concerned, you can stay and help us search together, if not, I won’t force you to stay."

Wei Lin: "..."

He silently looked at his highly trusted brother Wei Qian beside him, then at himself, feeling the treatment difference was really big.

The search must proceed, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to report to the Commandery Princess, he immediately sent a pigeon-flying message to the Capital.

...

In an inn in the Capital, a duo sat eating.

"Daddy, are you really going to find mom?" The little fellow was gnawing on a chicken leg, his eyes dark and bright.

Song Wei glanced at him, "Aren’t you thinking of your mom?"

"Not at all." The little fellow pouted and said with a snort, "I’ve already decided I don’t want her."

Song Wei responded with an ’hmm’, "If you don’t want her, then we won’t look for her."

Jinbao saw his serious demeanor, waited a long time without seeing him speak, became anxious, yet being a proud little one, wouldn’t admit directly, so he bowed his head and tugged at the dress he wore, "If we’re going to look, why make me into a little sister? I’m clearly a little brother."

Song Wei grabbed his greasy hand, wiping it with a cloth, and said gently, "Wear the dress, and you’ll find your mom."

Upon hearing this, the little fellow seemed deflated, yet somewhat unwilling, after a while he asked, "What if you find her, and she refuses to come home with you?"

"Then maybe it’s because you didn’t wear the dress properly."

"..."

After the meal, Song Wei took his son outside.

Today, the little fellow changed into a fine cotton dress, with two little braids tied on his head, and wore velvet flowers. As soon as they walked out of the inn, they attracted the surprised attention of two women, "Oh, this little girl is really pretty."

Jinbao snorted.

The father and son walked to Prince Cheng Mansion.

Jinbao looked at the solemn vermilion gate of the mansion, then at Song Wei, "Daddy, is mom inside?"

Song Wei shook off his daze and replied, "Perhaps."

"Then why did she not go to grandma’s house? Did mom abandon you and marry someone else?"

Song Wei moved his gaze towards the side gate, "Let’s go."

Unwillingly, Jinbao followed behind him.

Upon reaching the side gate, several little servants at Prince Cheng Mansion saw Jinbao, and their eyes lit up, "Little Flower, come let big brother hug you."

Yesterday, Song Wei came to apply as a Scripture Lecturer at Prince Cheng Mansion and had already "utilized" Jinbao to build good relationships with the people inside and outside.

When Princess Cheng saw Jinbao, who was disguised as "Little Flower," she only wished he was her own child.

Jinbao was hugged and kissed by several sleazy little servants, his heart filled with disgust, rolling his eyes at the new name his dad chose for him, wishing to cry.

One of the little servants saw Song Wei still standing aside and hurriedly greeted him with a smile, "Mr. Wen is here?"

Song Wei nodded lightly.

When he came to apply, he disguised himself, saying his surname was Wen, his mother’s illness led to her passing, his wife was missing, compelled by circumstances, he brought his little daughter to the mansion to find a job and make a living.

Initially, entering Prince Cheng Mansion was not easy, the steward would naturally check his household registration and background, but Jinbao dressed too beautifully in a girl’s outfit, even though wearing the cotton clothes not even the mansion’s servants would wear, Princess Cheng couldn’t let go once she took a glance. Plus, Song Wei passed Prince Cheng’s examination, lecturing the Four Books and Five Classics well, thus many complex procedures were waived, directly allowing him to come today.

The Hanlin Academy has Imperial Tutors specifically for reading books to the Emperor, Prince Cheng Mansion emulated this because the Princely Heir Zhao Shuo spent years reclusive, neither studying in the Study Room alongside other Imperial Family nor joining scholars at the Imperial College, but instead invited tutors to teach at home.

Listening to one tutor’s lecturing for years, Zhao Shuo found it boring, and recently had Prince Cheng recruit a tutor capable of teaching the Four Books and Five Classics.

For unknown reasons, Prince Cheng didn’t target contemporary scholars but aimed for folks around town, thus allowing Song Wei to be hired smoothly.

At present, several servants stayed outside the side gate, one went in to report.

Princess Cheng learned that Mr. Wen had come, and couldn’t help but picture the pretty little girl’s fair and tender face, she had only Zhao Shuo as a son this lifetime, no daughters under her knee, thus an inexplicable fondness for "Little Flower."

Having someone lead Song Wei to the Princely Heir, Princess Cheng personally took Jinbao to her courtyard, saying there’s good food.

The mammy by Princess Cheng’s side looked worried.

The mansion has strict rules, when have they let someone of such unclear origin inside?

She frowned, glancing at the "little girl" sitting on the armchair with her legs hanging, casually picked up a piece of soft cake, "Little Flower, where did you come from? Answer correctly, this cake is yours."

In fact, Jinbao had eaten better pastries, but he had to cooperate with his dad to act poor, thus could only pretend to drool with his eyes glowing, raising his head, his big eyes moist, "I asked daddy, he said I came from mommy’s belly."

Mammy: "..."

Princess Cheng couldn’t help but laugh, giving mammy a scolding look, "Stop teasing her, little girls are shy, you’ll make her cry and I can’t pacify her."

Mammy had to hand the cake to Jinbao.

Jinbao placed it on the side table without eating.

Mammy frowned again, "Why aren’t you eating?"

Jinbao’s voice was soft, sounding like a little sister, "I’ve never had such delicious pastries, I want to take them back and share with daddy."

Inside he snorted, who knows if it’s poisoned.

...

When Wei Lin sent back the message, Wen Wan was fretting over whether to go to Prince Cheng Mansion.

Upon seeing the note saying Song Wei and Jinbao went missing together, Wen Wan thought of the tragic conditions the other found children were in when discovered, only feeling the sky falling, heart aching with unbearable pain, her complexion paler than ever.

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