Chapter 390: The Day Liu Quan Died
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
On the return journey from the tomb-sweeping, Mo’er sat outside the carriage with Lu Ying, willingly giving up the space to the clingy engaged couple. Huangfu Lingyao couldn’t have asked for more.
He now had a chance to be alone with his soon-to-be wife.
“Wife,” he casually asked, “why is it only you who came for the tomb – sweeping?”
Liu Shimei replied, “My brother died young, and the elders naturally couldn’t come to sweep the tomb. The others weren’t particularly close to him, so they paid their respects at the ancestral hall. That’s about it. When I go back later, I’ll be staying overnight with my brother tonight.”
It was a habit the original host had insisted on for five years.
Every year on April 24th, the original host would stay the night in the ancestral hall. She hadn’t let Mo’er come along, insisting on spending the night quietly by herself.
Now that the original host was gone and there was a new master, Liu Shimei felt it was necessary to continue this tradition. She was using someone else’s body and enjoying the benefits of their extended family, so it was only right to spend a night every year in memory of her deceased brother.
“Oh, should I accompany you then?” Huangfu Lingyao said, but he knew in his heart that it wouldn’t be possible.
Alas, the relationship between unmarried couples was inherently delicate!
If it weren’t for his pretending to be foolish and insane, even this little interaction wouldn’t have been possible.
Sure enough, Liu Shimai smiled at him, took his hand, and said, “No need. Every year, I spend one night alone with my brother. It’s just once a year. As for you, go back to the Royal Residence and get a good night’s sleep. Mr. Zhong is watching over me in the shadows, so I’ll be fine.”
“Oh, alright.”
The silly puppy continued to act extremely obedient in front of his wife, but he thought to himself, ‘It’s all because of Ninth Liang’s bad idea that we attracted someone as skilled as Zhong Lang! I can’t even secretly stay by my wife’s side. As soon as I come, Zhong Lang will find out, and I won’t dare to come!’
It was already the next afternoon when they returned to the Grand Chancellor’s Residence. Liu Shimai instructed Lu Ying to take Huangfu Lingyao back to the Royal Residence.
Huangfu Lingyao did not refuse. After bidding a reluctant farewell to his wife, he returned to King Dun Yu’s Residence. He called Li Xin over, using the excuse that he wanted to sleep early.
“Why did Master come back so early? Wasn’t he supposed to build a relationship with the future princess?” Li Xin thought that his master, having gone out today, wouldn’t return until the evening.
Huangfu Lingyao gave him a cold look and asked, “Last time I had you investigate my wife’s matter, did you find anything unusual about Liu Quan?”
Li Xin did not understand why he suddenly brought this up, but considering that today was Liu Quan’s memorial day, it did not seem strange.
After thinking for a moment, he replied, “On this day five years ago, Young Master Liu made an appointment with someone to go to the Eastern Suburb Horse Racing Field for a horse race. There were no issues throughout the day. It was only after returning to the Imperial Capital that the incident occurred.”
“The main streets of the inner city don’t allow galloping horses. After entering the city gates, Young Master Liu took his horse to Western Mountain Villa to buy something.”
“After coming out, the horse somehow got startled. In order to prevent the frightened horse from running into the crowd and causing harm, Young Master Liu mounted the horse to try and control it. But, as everyone knows, he not only failed to control the horse but also fell from its back. The spooked horse trampled him in the chest, and that’s how… He didn’t even make it back to the Grand Chancellor’s Residence; he had already passed away!”
“It’s been quite a while, and even if someone schemed, all evidence would have been erased. We can’t find out the specific reasons anytime soon.”
Listening to Li Xin’s account of the incident, Huangfu Lingyao remained silent throughout.. Li Xin then asked, “Master, why are you suddenly concerned about this matter?”