Chapter 197: Chapter 197: A Gentleman of Integrity

Night fell, and the lanterns were lit.

Lou Shixun sent for Wang Tingyue. It turned out the Governor of Yuyang had come to the posthouse in person to escort Lou Shixun to a welcome banquet.

The Governor of Yuyang was from a Commoner Clan, whom the Lou Family utterly despised. Lou Shixun had no desire to dine with him, but the long night at the posthouse was proving tedious. Besides, he figured that with Yuyang being so far from Jinye, no one would find out and mock him for it. So, he decided to ask Wang Tingyue to accompany him.

Liang Wan’s mission in Pingzhou was highly secretive. She hadn’t even told Wang Tingyue the truth.

Exhausted from days of travel, she had only just washed off the grime and changed into clean clothes, still in her disguise as a male attendant.

As a Maid, she couldn’t afford to be conspicuous. The less attention she attracted, the better.

Liang Wan’s room was right next to Wang Tingyue’s.

She looked into the mirror at a sallow, unremarkable face. She had added some blemishes to her cheeks, making herself look quite ugly.

Wang Tingyue looked at her and frowned, seeming to want to say something but holding his tongue.

Remembering how Lou Shixun had mocked Wang Tingyue, Liang Wan couldn’t help but smile. She turned to look at him.

"Why haven’t you gone yet?"

On this trip to Pingzhou, Wang Tingyue had to obey Lou Shixun’s every command. It wouldn’t look good for him to make excuses the first time his superior summoned him to a social engagement.

Liang Wan knew what he was worried about. She stood up. "With this disguise, no one will recognize me. Go on, don’t worry."

When she heard that Lu Huai’s body had arrived in Yuyang, Liang Wan became determined to investigate in secret. Finding clues aside, she felt she had to go, if only to pay her respects for old times’ sake.

Lu Huai had been good to her when he was alive.

What’s more, the matter of the blood letter was full of inconsistencies. Liang Wan wanted to verify something.

Wang Tingyue fell silent for only a moment before agreeing.

’He really has changed,’ Liang Wan thought.

He used to lecture her, but now... it felt as if he would agree even if she announced she was going to draw a blade and kill someone.

But that was all he did—agree.

Wang Tingyue left. Liang Wan went with his attendant to the banks of the Cheng River. Lu Huai’s body was being transported by water, which was not only more convenient but also helped avoid public notice, especially since the weather was growing warm.

Her companion was Xiao Wu, a quiet young man. He looked inexperienced, but his martial skills were impressive. Rumor had it that Wang Tingyue had found him among a pile of bodies while serving in the army. Ever since, Xiao Wu had followed him with unwavering loyalty.

In her past life, there had been no Xiao Wu.

’Having someone so loyal around is a good thing.’

A boat was moored by the bank, its lanterns swaying. Figures paced back and forth on deck.

They hid in the shadows of the trees.

Liang Wan took out some knockout powder she had prepared earlier, handing it to him with a quiet instruction. "Be sure to cover your mouth and nose when you use this."

Under the heavy cover of night, a flicker of surprise crossed Xiao Wu’s bright eyes.

Liang Wan just smiled.

Xiao Wu knew her true identity. He likely hadn’t expected her to be so experienced with this sort of clandestine work.

After his initial surprise, Xiao Wu nodded, then darted toward the riverbank where two boats, one large and one small, were moored.

Liang Wan peeked out from behind a tree, watching.

Since they were only transporting a corpse, the security wasn’t tight.

Normally, those who died in service to the country were buried nearby. It was exceedingly rare for someone like Lu Huai to be transported all the way back to Jinye.

Lu Huai was a true scholar-general.

Liang Wan sighed as she stood beneath the tree. ’I would rather he had died in battle, not...’

When she looked up again, she saw Xiao Wu at the boat’s stern, waving her over.

Liang Wan covered her face with a black veil and crept quietly toward the stern, keeping low.

Two soldiers at the stern were slumped on the deck, apparently having succumbed to exhaustion and fallen asleep.

’Xiao Wu is very thorough.’

The coffin rested at the stern under a simple awning that sheltered it from the elements.

On the larger boat nearby, officers and soldiers were drinking. Their resentful voices carried across the water, punctuated by a constant stream of vulgar curses.

Xiao Wu glanced at her but saw that she remained completely unfazed.

’The war has dragged on for so long. It’s only natural for them to complain.’

Even before they drew near, the putrid stench of decay assaulted them, sharp and choking.

Frowning, Xiao Wu carefully pushed open the coffin lid. Liang Wan covered her nose and moved closer.

By the light of the moon, the man in the coffin was a horrifying sight. The body was already badly decomposed. Even though he had been dressed in fresh clothes, it was still possible to see that he had suffered numerous arrow and blade wounds. It was a gruesome death.

A lump formed in Liang Wan’s throat. She turned her face away as tears welled in her eyes.

She still remembered him so clearly, the way he looked when he left. To think that after a year apart, their reunion would be one between the living and the dead.

The once brilliant and dashing General was now nothing more than a withered, decaying corpse.

Helplessness and grief washed over her in waves, threatening to drown her.

A dull ache throbbed in her chest.

Xiao Wu watched her, stunned. "Lady?"

Liang Wan choked back a sob and wiped away her tears. "Mmm," she murmured, then lowered her gaze, took a sachet from her sleeve, and carefully tucked it into his robes.

A gentleman of integrity should carry orchids.

Only then did Liang Wan move to inspect his hands. Sure enough, there was a cut on his right index finger.

According to Lu Huai’s adjutant, Lu Huai had written the blood letter in his final moments. The letter was only discovered by chance when his body was brought back and his clothes were being changed.

If that were true, the cut on his finger should have been made before he died. But—

Xiao Wu asked, puzzled, "Lady, why are you staring at it for so long?"

Liang Wan looked at him. "A person who writes a blood letter in their dying moments must be driven by extreme grief, indignation, or defiance. But this wound... it’s too clean, too precise..."

Xiao Wu leaned in for a closer look, his expression a mixture of comprehension and confusion.

Liang Wan pointed. "Look here. Even though the body has begun to decompose, you can still see the wound clearly. On a living person, the skin around a cut like this would have retracted. But this wound... it was clearly inflicted after death. It’s pale and bloodless."

Just as she was speaking, they heard a rustling sound. Xiao Wu hurriedly pushed the coffin lid back into place. Liang Wan was about to hide when a hand clamped over her mouth.

A wide, warm palm rested gently over her lips.

A low voice whispered in her ear, "Don’t be afraid. It’s me."

’Wang Tingyue.’

Liang Wan froze, then nodded.

Wang Tingyue released her and stepped to the side. He glanced toward the larger boat. "We should leave this place first."

Liang Wan agreed. She walked to the coffin, knelt, and bowed three times.

’This would be the last time she saw Lu Huai in this life.’

「By the riverbank.」

Liang Wan crouched down and scooped up some water to wash her hands.

Wang Tingyue stood to one side, his gaze fixed on her slender back. Every time he saw her, he would watch her quietly, but no matter how he looked, he could no longer find a trace of the pampered delicacy she once possessed.

When had she vanished? The little girl from his memories, the one who chattered like a little bird the moment she saw him, who clung to him and pleaded with him, calling him ’Brother’?

Having known the girl she used to be made seeing the woman she had become feel like a heavy stone was crushing his chest, leaving him breathless and in pain.

Even the deep darkness of night could not conceal the pain in his eyes.

In the Dali Temple Prison... every word she had spoken was a knife twisting in his heart. She had cast aside her pride, her dignity, all to save his life. He had wanted to die then.

It wasn’t until he held the writ of pardon in his hand that he realized just how terribly wrong he had been.

She was enduring such humiliation, bearing such heavy burdens to stay alive, and still she worried for his safety. And he? He had been consumed with a desire for death.

’How pathetic. How laughable.’

His former self—a foolish, clumsy boy. What right did he ever have to think that just because he was close to her, he could ask her to wait for him?

Wang Tingyue pulled himself from his memories with a bitter smile.

He once resented her for changing. Now, he only hated himself for changing too late.

He sighed softly, then took a handkerchief from his robes and offered it to her. "Did you find anything?"

Liang Wan took the handkerchief and wiped her hands. She rose and looked at him, her voice flat. "The blood letter is a fake."

Wang Tingyue paused. "What’s your plan?"

Liang Wan said, "Tomorrow, I will go to Pingzhou ahead of schedule."

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