"How is this possible?" Cui Xixin's face was pale and his expression was one of fear. "Is, is she really dead? How did she die? "
The bailiff once again placed his hand under the woman's nose and carefully examined her neck. With great difficulty, he said, "She … she was strangled to death by young master Chu."
Chu Ping sluggishly sat on the ground and continued to mutter to himself, "It wasn't me, it wasn't me … I told you, I told you that if she couldn't take it anymore, she could just pat the bed, pat the bed and I would stop …"
"Chu Ping, quickly, put on your clothes and come with us!" Cui Xixin finally came back to his senses. He looked at Chu Ping and said anxiously. He then instructed the constable, "Go and open the window at the back. You two, stand guard here. Don't let anyone in!"
Their original plan was to use the matter of Chu Ping visiting a prostitute to make the Chu family owe them a small favor. Who would've thought that a life would be lost? This favor was too great. Not only could the Chu family not bear it, they couldn't pay it back either!
He looked at Chu Ping, who was still in a daze, and solemnly said, "Remember, the person who killed Lady Shuangshuang was the criminal of the imperial court who jumped out of the window. When that villain wanted to hurt you, it was fortunate that the bailiffs from the capital governor's office arrived in time …"
Seeing that Chu Ping was still sitting there and muttering to himself, Cui Xixin fiercely slapped his face and angrily said, "Did you hear me clearly?!"
Chu Ping's mouth was overflowing with blood as he raised his head to look at him. His eyes gradually regained their clarity and he nodded, "I … I heard it clearly."
Cui Xixin walked out and closed the door. He said to the two bailiffs at the door, "Watch this place, no one is allowed to enter or leave."
The beautiful woman walked over and worriedly asked, "Young master Cui, inside …"
"Shut up!" Cui Xixin coldly looked at her and said, "Have everyone go downstairs. I suspect that there is a criminal of the imperial court among them. If they are found, your Wonderful Sound Pavilion will not be able to escape responsibility!"
The beautiful woman's face paled, "Criminal of the imperial court?"
… …
In the Cui Clan, Cui Qingming sat in the main hall, leisurely drinking tea. When he saw Cui Xixin rushing in from outside, he stood up and frowned, "What's wrong? Did you not succeed? Didn't you already use a thousand silver taels to bribe that girl?"
Cui Xixin swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said with a trembling voice, "It's done …"
"Since it's done, why are you panicking?"
"But, but that woman was killed by Chu Ping!"
"What?!"
Cui Qingming suddenly stood up. The teacup fell to the ground with a clang and shattered. He looked at Cui Xixin and asked in disbelief, "That, that woman is dead?"
"Father, don't worry. For the time being, no more people know about this. I've already sent people to control that place." Cui Xixin looked at him and said anxiously, "Father, what should we do now?"
If they were only acting in secret, a few lives were nothing to them. However, the problem was that today's matter was specially arranged by them. Those bailiffs had caused such a huge commotion, it was impossible for them to easily cover it up …
"What about the capital governor's residence?"
Cui Xixin immediately said, "I haven't sent anyone to inform them yet."
"Send someone to tell Lord Ceng to slow down his actions."
"What about you, father?"
"Get someone to prepare a carriage. I want to go to the Chu family immediately."
…
In the Chu family, a middle-aged man looked at Cui Qingming and said, "Brother Cui, why have you come to the Chu family so late at night? Father is already asleep. If there's anything, we can talk about it tomorrow."
Cui Qingming took a deep breath and said, "Brother Chu, time is of the essence. I don't have time to explain to you now. If there's any delay, nephew Chu Ping will probably be in big trouble."
Upon hearing his son's name, the middle-aged man immediately asked, "What big trouble?"
Cui Qingming said in a low voice, "It concerns nephew Chu Ping's life, and even more so, the Chu family's reputation."
The middle-aged man's expression changed drastically. He immediately said, "Brother Cui, please sit here for a moment. I'll immediately invite father over."
Cui Qingming didn't sit for long before he saw Grand Tutor Chu draped in a thick cloak and supported by someone.
He hurriedly got up and said respectfully, "Greetings, Lord Grand Tutor."
The old man waved his hand and asked, "Just what happened? Speak."
Cui Qingming hesitated for a moment, then said, "Tonight, Xi Xin and nephew Chu Ping went to the Fine Sound Pavilion to listen to music. A woman in the pavilion revealed her feelings to Chu Ping. It's hard for young people to be a little impatient. Coincidentally, the constables of the capital governor's residence were searching for a criminal of the imperial court, and they accidentally ran into the two of them having sex …"
The middle-aged man's expression relaxed slightly. If it was just this, it wouldn't be too serious. It was just a normal affair between a man and a woman, and it didn't count as visiting prostitutes. Even if it did, although it would damage the Chu family's reputation, it wouldn't be so serious that it would endanger their lives.
The old man looked at him with a sharp gaze. "You came here so late at night for this?"
Cui Qingming lowered his head and said in a low voice, "When the constables of the capital governor's residence went in, that woman … was dead."
A terrified expression appeared on the middle-aged man's face. The old man's body trembled, and he couldn't even hold his crutch steadily.
His beard trembled, and he struggled to stand. He repeatedly said, "This animal, this animal …"
Cui Qingming looked up and asked, "Xi Xin has already ordered people to temporarily suppress this matter. Now, the people of the capital governor's residence will most likely go over. Qingming came here in the middle of the night to ask Lord Grand Tutor how this matter should be handled …"
The old man trembled as he walked to a chair and sat down. After a long silence, he waved his hand dispiritedly and said, "This old man is not the capital governor's residence. There is no need to ask me about this matter."
A trace of anxiety appeared on the face of the middle-aged man beside him. He was about to speak when Cui Qingming suddenly said, "The criminal of the imperial court that the capital governor's residence captured was truly deranged. He hid in the Fine Sound Pavilion and not only used cruel methods to kill that young lady, but he also wanted to harm nephew Chu Ping. Fortunately, the constables arrived in time …"
The old man didn't reply. He used the chair to support himself as he stood up with difficulty. His murky gaze rested on Cui Qingming for a long time before he waved his hand and said, "This old man is tired …"
"Qingming is truly sorry to disturb Grand Tutor. Grand Tutor, please do not worry. This matter will definitely not involve nephew Chu Ping." Cui Qingming said this and bowed. "Grand Tutor, rest early. Qingming will return first."
The old man used his crutch to walk out the door. He shook off the middle-aged man's support and said in a hoarse voice, "When you return, have him kneel in the ancestral hall."
The middle-aged man's expression was complicated as he slowly nodded.
… …
"Fifth Master, I'm leaving."
The large man looked at the middle-aged man who had already taken off his clothes and went to bed. After saying this, he slowly retreated.
A woman wearing coarse clothing walked over with a warm stove in her hand. She said, "The master is afraid of the cold, so I brought an extra stove in."
The large man opened the door and said, "I'll help you put it in."
The woman smiled and shook her head. "No need. Your hands and feet are clumsy and your footsteps are heavy. The master has just fallen asleep and will be woken up by others. It's better if I go, you go rest."
The large man rubbed his head in embarrassment. "Then, then I'll go to sleep first."
The woman nodded. After the large man left, she walked into the room and placed the stove on the ground beside the bed.
She straightened her body and looked at the middle-aged man on the bed in the darkness. She sighed and said, "You don't need to be sad. Shuang 'er's body doesn't have many days left. Lian' er used to love her the most. To be able to do something for you before she goes to see Lian 'er, she must be very happy."
In the darkness, the middle-aged man lying on the bed suddenly opened his eyes.
He clenched his fists and tore the bedsheets. A suppressed, beast-like roar came from his throat. "There's a way, there must be another way. She, she doesn't need to do this, she doesn't need to do this …"
In the Wonderful Sound Pavilion, a bailiff once again turned his head to look at the bed. A puzzled expression appeared on his face. He pushed the person next to him and whispered, "Look, isn't she smiling?"
The bailiff turned his head to look and saw that the woman was already dead. Sure enough, there was a faint smile on her face. He walked over and covered her body with the bedsheet. He let out a long sigh.
"She's also a pitiful person …"
… …
Early in the morning, the large man pushed open the door and walked out. The cold wind blew against his face and made him shiver. He looked at the courtyard full of white in a daze and muttered, "Didn't it get warmer a few days ago? Why is it snowing again …"
He returned to his room and wrapped himself with another layer of clothing. Then, he walked out through the garden path and walked towards a courtyard.
He stopped halfway. In the depths of the garden, a plum blossom tree had quietly bloomed. It immediately added a few more decorations to the vast expanse of white in the garden.
In front of the plum blossom tree, a figure stood straight in the snowflakes that filled the sky.
"Fifth Lord, you came out so early today. Why didn't you open an umbrella?"
The large man walked over and carefully brushed away the snowflakes on the middle-aged man's shoulders and body. He saw that a thick layer of snow had also fallen on the middle-aged man's head. It was unknown how long he had been standing there …
He gently swept away the snowflakes on the middle-aged man's hair. However, there were a few places where the snowflakes couldn't be swept away no matter what.
The middle-aged man's movements became sluggish. He looked at the middle-aged man in a daze and a shocked expression appeared on his face. "Fifth, Fifth Lord, you …"
The middle-aged man turned his head to look at him. He revealed a smile and said, "This person, if you don't pay attention, you will grow old …"
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