Facing Xue Rui's question, Yu Shu told him everything about how Bi Qing and Qiu Biao deceived everyone and colluded with water bandits to rob the merchant ship after they boarded the ship. She only left out the part about Jing Chen and did not mention much about how she saved Xia Mingming.
Xue Rui felt a wave of shock in his heart when he heard this. He'd known since long ago that it wasn't easy for the two of them to leave their hometown and come all the way to the capital, yet he never expected that there would be such a dangerous story behind this. She'd actually almost been killed on the way and lost her life.
If she was not lucky enough to escape, how could she still sit in front of him and talk?
Xue Rui's face couldn't help but turn ugly. At this moment, his mood was complicated. He was interested in Yu Shu. He admired her magnanimity and liked her slyness. That day when they were engaged, he had the chance to marry this girl. However, because he pitied her life and knew that she did not like to be restrained, he followed her wish and let her go.
He thought that with her intelligence and ability, it would not be difficult for her to leave the Ji family and live a stable life with her brother. Who knew that she was ambitious and traveled all the way to Anling to study. That was how they met again in the capital.
He admitted that he approached her with the mentality of not wanting to let go of her even though he couldn't get her. Taking care of her was also intentional. Although there was a bit of sincerity in it, it was mostly because of his pride as a man. It wasn't that he didn't expect her to be moved.
He had originally enjoyed the process of her avoiding him, adapting to him, and finally having the intention to rely on him. He had even thought of using the restaurant as an excuse to keep her by his side. But now, after knowing how she had narrowly escaped death to come to the capital, how she had endured the danger of being killed, and how much hardship she had secretly swallowed, it was unknown to anyone. She did not tell anyone. He just realized —
The burden on her back was much heavier than he had imagined.
But he was taking pleasure in attracting a girl who lived a serious life like this and tempted her to rely on him.
If she knew what he was thinking when he treated her well, she would probably disdain him. Xue Rui laughed at himself and suddenly felt that he was a little hateful.
"… That's what happened." Yu Shu finished telling the story. Seeing that Xue Rui did not say a word, she continued, "They know that I am not dead, so they will definitely find me to silence me. Only by exposing their faces and bringing these evil people who murder for money to justice will I be able to return to safety. "
Bi Qing and Qiu Biao would definitely be punished for their crimes, and it would be hard for them to escape death. Only when the two of them were dead could she feel at ease. Only when she, a living witness who knew the truth, was dead could they feel at ease.
When she spoke these words, she looked at Xue Rui, and she was already prepared to be tactfully refused by him. After all, this matter wasn't an ordinary small favor, and it was related to murder, a murder case, and the slightest mistake would cause her to be covered in blood. There was no need for him to get involved with her.
Xue Rui sorted out his emotions. He did not take the initiative to make a decision for her like the previous few times. Instead, he asked, "What's your plan now?"
Yu Shu pondered and said, "I want to see the person who is in charge of the Thai Heng Chamber of Commerce. When the ship was killed, the Thai Heng Chamber of Commerce must have suffered a great loss. The owner of the Chamber of Commerce knows the true colors of Bi Qing and Qiu Biao. He will not tolerate them. In this way, they will have no backer and I will have an extra helper. It will be much easier to punish them. "
Xue Rui said, "The owner of this Tehen. I have a way to let you see him. The key is that there is no evidence now. How can you guarantee that the owner of the Chamber of Commerce will believe your words? I heard that this Bi Qing is sinister and good at pretending. Don't be bitten by them. "
Yu Shu saw his attitude. He did not hesitate to help. It would be a lie to say that she was not touched. She temporarily suppressed her gratitude and said seriously, "I need your help."
Xue Rui nodded, "Speak."
"Can you help me find out where the people from the Xia Jiang family are and whether they are still in the capital?" Yu Shu saw that Xue Rui didn't understand, so she explained. "That Xia Jiang Clan's Fourth Young Miss entered the capital with me. We escaped from the ship together, and she was almost killed as well. If the Xia Jiang Clan were to find out that this group of people entered the capital, they would probably not let them off."
Only now did Xue Rui know how Yu Shu knew Xia Jiangmin, and he was curious. "According to what you're saying, the Xia Jiang Clan probably wouldn't let this group of people off lightly. But why didn't I hear anything about the people from their clan that came from Jiangnan a while ago? No one went to the Ministry of Justice or the yamen to complain? "
Yu Shu frowned and thought of a possibility. She hesitantly said, "Maybe they don't want to make a big deal out of it."
For a family like the Xia Jiang family, it would not be good for the young miss to leave home and travel alone. If it was made big, it could ruin Xia Mingming's reputation.
Xue Rui thought it was very likely as Yu Shu said, but he still suggested, "Not necessarily. I will take you to the Xia Jiang family first and see what they say."
"I heard from the people on the street that Xia Jiangying's coffin has been taken away. Are the Xia Jiang family still in the capital?"
"They are still there," Xue Rui said, "The palace summoned Xia Jianglang a few days ago. They won't leave so quickly."
Yu Shu nodded, "Then let's go see them. If Xia Jiangmin points them out, things will be easier."
Others would not listen to the words of a nobody, but as the young miss of the Xia Jiang family, she would not wrongly accuse a merchant she had no connection to.
Yu Shu discussed with Xue Rui for a while. The view inside the carriage gradually darkened and the sky outside became dark.
"Then let's do this. I will come pick you up tomorrow morning."
They agreed to meet the Xia Jiang family tomorrow. Yu Shu said goodbye to Xue Rui but did not thank him. She got off the carriage. Xue Rui sat alone in the carriage and raised his hand to wipe his face. He couldn't help but push aside the curtains and look outside. He found a slender but straight figure in the night. For the first time, he did not hope for her to turn back.
However, the figure stopped and turned around at the corner of the street. The young girl turned her head, and after a glance, her face became blurred in the night.
Xue Rui's chest tightened. He loosened his fingers and the window rolled down. He leaned against the wall of the carriage and clenched his fists on his knees.
***
"Sister, why did Brother Cao look for you?" After dinner, Yu Xiaoxiu pestered Yu Shu and asked.
Yu Shu did not intend to tell him about her encounter with Qiu Biao. She casually said, "Oh, he took a friend's horoscope and asked me to read his horoscope. Since I haven't been to Autumn Osmanthus Lane these few days, he came to my house."
Yu Xiaoxiu did not suspect anything. He leaned across the desk and said to Yu Shu, who was checking his homework, "Sister, why is Brother Cao in the capital?"
Yu Shu raised her eyelids, "Why didn't he tell you?"
He knew that she did not mention him to Xiaoxiu, so he did not know if she made him unhappy.
Yu Xiaoxiu gloomily said, "No, Brother Cao told me to ask you."
The corner of Yu Shu's mouth curled up. This meant that he was angry. It wasn't surprising. She was the one who was being unkind. When Yu Xiaoxiu entered the school, that person had been busy with everything and was even more diligent than she was. In the end, she didn't even mention him in front of Xiaoxiu. If it were her, she would also be unhappy and throw a tantrum.
"Do you know who suggested you to go to school? It was Brother Cao." Yu Shu looked at Yu Xiaoxiu's surprised face, as if he was not surprised enough. She said, "No, you should call him Brother Xue now. Your Brother Cao's surname is Xue, not Cao. Cao Zixin is his fake name. His real name is Xue Rui. He is the Eldest Young Master of the current government minister's family. Oh, yes, he is the Eldest Young Master Xue who wanted to marry the Ji family and almost took me as a concubine."
Yu Xiaoxiu's eyes widened little by little. He was completely dumbfounded. Yu Shu looked at his dumbfounded face and felt much better. She reached out and flicked his forehead.
Yu Xiaoxiu rubbed his forehead and closed his jaw. He stammered, "Then, then, then, you, you …"
Yu Xiaoxiu scratched his ears and cheeks. He wanted to ask a question, but he couldn't get a complete sentence out. Yu Shu looked at him anxiously and waved her hand, interrupting him. "Don't ask so many questions. Hurry up and wash your face and go to sleep."
Yu Xiaoxiu could only drag his feet and walk away reluctantly.
***
Xue Rui found out where Xia Jiang's family lived the night before. The next morning, he brought Yu Shu there. When they arrived at the door of a house, he asked her to get out of the car and waited outside.
Yu Shu reported her name at the door. The guard went inside to report. After waiting for the time it took to brew a cup of tea, a maidservant came out to receive her and lead her inside.
In order to avoid arousing suspicion, Xia Jiang's family did not have a mansion in the capital. This house was temporarily borrowed from someone else. Along the way, there was no one in the garden. It was cold and cheerless. Yu Shu was brought to a hall in the south. As soon as she went up the stairs, she saw an ink painting in the middle of the hall. There was a man wearing a green robe with large sleeves.
At first glance, this man looked to be around thirty years old. When she looked at him again, she felt that he should be older. Because of his handsome appearance, it did not show his age. However, his calm temperament was not something that a thirty year old could easily have.
This must be Xia Mingming's father, the second master of Xia Jiang's family, Xia Jiang's Helang.
Yu Shu looked around the room and did not see Xia Mingming. She then looked at Xia Jiang's Helang, who was calmly sitting on a chair. When he saw her enter the door, he did not move at all. She understood in her heart that this trip would not go smoothly.
When she looked at him, Xia Jiang's Helang also saw her clearly. Although he saw that she was dressed as a young man, he knew that she was a girl.
"Miss Yu, please come in and sit."
"Greetings, Sir Xia Jiang." Yu Shu walked in and thought for a moment before bowing. Then she found a chair and sat down. She didn't say any polite words and directly asked, "Why don't I see Fifth Miss?"
Xia Jiang's Helang said, "My daughter is not feeling well and is recuperating in her boudoir."
"Sick?" Yu Shu suddenly stood up with a worried expression, "Can I go see her?"
Xia Jiang's Helang's expression didn't change as he said, "She has a cold. Don't implicate others. Miss Yu, please sit."
Yu Shu sat back down and thought that it was fake that he was sick. He really didn't want her to see him.
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