The old woman in blue clothes hung her head and followed Li Ying slowly out of the gate of the Censor's Mansion. She looked up at the bright sun and found it unbearably glaring.
Li Ying settled her in the side room of her own residence. Granny Sun was diligent. Before long, she had tidied up the room until the windows were bright and the floors were clean. Then she brought out a thick quilt for the old woman.
Before going out, Granny Sun had cooked a pot of warm tangerine peel and red bean soup. By now, the beans were already soft and bursting. She casually rolled some small glutinous rice balls and cooked them, then drizzled some osmanthus flower syrup brewed in autumn. This gentle sweet soup didn't take up much of one's appetite, but it was sweet and comforting, making one feel at ease both physically and mentally.
The old woman in blue sipped the sweet soup slowly, then let out a long breath.
"Senior, may I ask how I should address you?" Li Ying asked humbly.
The old woman in blue put down the white porcelain bowl and let out a soft snort.
"You don't even know my name but still dare to get involved in this mess. Do you know that what you did today has completely offended the Censor? You're quite a bold girl."
Although her words sounded cold, Li Ying could clearly detect a hint of concern.
"The writing is like the person. I've seen your handwriting. Every stroke seems delicate but actually contains a strong and forceful power, with its own unique charm. I'm sorry, Senior, but I haven't been able to find out your name. However, I've understood your character and all your hardships."
She added, "Senior, don't worry. Since I've taken the initiative to take on this hot potato, I must have already prepared myself. Even if the Tea Tax Censor doesn't come to me, I will surely expose all her crimes to the world!"
She spoke with such certainty that the old woman in blue sized her up from head to toe. After a long while, she finally let out a sneer.
"You're such a little girl, but you sure have a big mouth."
"Just call me Granny Ling. Since you've seen my handwriting, I suppose you've already found my ledger in the side room."
She spoke straightforwardly, so Li Ying didn't try to hide it anymore. She calmly took out the stack of rough paper from her bosom and placed it on the table.
"Senior Ling, may I ask if you once wrote a farewell letter on behalf of someone before the Censor's wife got married and sent it to the Ge Family Tea House?"
This was such a minor and old - fashioned matter that Li Ying thought Granny Ling might not remember it immediately. However, she had a good memory. She just frowned and thought for a moment, then nodded calmly and said, "Yes, it's true."
Ruyi had already been ordered to invite Master Ge and Aunt Lan over. Although they had already heard from Li Ying about the tragic misunderstanding from the past, they were still deeply shaken when they really heard the truth.
"I remember this very clearly. At that time, the Censor's wife was still an unmarried young lady. I served her father by taking care of his writing utensils and was quite favored."
"One day, she came to me crying and said that while playing outside, she had accidentally met a young man she really liked and wanted to be with him forever. She heard that the young man already had a sweetheart and they had set a wedding date, so she begged me to write a letter for her."
At that time, although Granny Ling thought it was inappropriate, she couldn't resist the Censor's wife's persistent pleading.
Moreover, the Censor's wife swore that if she couldn't marry this ideal husband, she would rather shave her head and become a nun.
Just as the Censor's wife had expected, Master Ge and Aunt Lan indeed drifted apart because of that forged letter.
But the Salt Tax Censor was so arrogant. How could he allow an ordinary small tea merchant to become his son - in - law?
That's why there was the mysterious murder of the old tea master later, and then the Censor's wife quickly got engaged to the Tea Tax Censor.
Aunt Lan was so angry that she laughed instead when she heard Granny Ling's calm confession.
"Humph, what a deep - seated love! It turns out that all the hardships Master Ge and I have suffered over the years, almost never seeing each other again, were all caused by you!"
Granny Ling said indifferently, "Everyone acts in their own self - interest. Back then, I also had my own selfish motives. I really owe you. But now, I've reaped what I've sown. I've suffered retribution and lived a lonely life. None of my wishes have come true. If you still feel aggrieved, just scold and beat me to vent your anger."
She closed her eyes and really looked like someone who was willing to accept any punishment without resistance.
Aunt Lan gritted her teeth in hatred. But when she saw the red and festering frostbites all over Granny Ling's hands and feet, she finally put down her hands, spat at her angrily, and then didn't say another word.
Li Ying frowned and asked, "Senior Ling, what about these secret codes on the papers..."
Granny Ling gently stroked the stack of rough paper with her shriveled hands like old tree bark and said indifferently, "They're just some scribbles I did in my spare time. They're not very important. You can burn them if you want."
But Li Ying had already guessed that these secret codes must be extremely important. Seeing that Granny Ling gritted her teeth and refused to say another word no matter what, she also guessed that forcing her to talk would be useless. It was better to stop while she was ahead.
She told Ruyi to take good care of Granny Ling, and then personally comforted Aunt Lan. After that, she sat down in the courtyard with Lu Xunguang.
"If I'm not wrong, Granny Ling must know many unspeakable secrets of the Censor's Mansion. Lu, what do you think we should do?"
Although she had used the power of the Minister of Rites to bring this crucial witness out of the pit of fire, it was obvious that Granny Ling was only briefly moved by her words about a "free life". After calming down, she returned to her tight - lipped state.
She didn't know what kind of "iron weights" the Censor's Mansion had fed her to make her such a loyal servant with a very tight mouth.
Li Ying couldn't figure out where her heart knot was, and for the first time in her life, she felt a little helpless.
Lu Xunguang picked up the tea cup in his hand and drank it all in one gulp. Then he calmly took out another file from his bosom.
"Previously, I thought that the person who was good at imitating handwriting must be a man, so I searched everywhere but couldn't find him. Now that we know where Granny Ling is, it's much easier to investigate."
When Li Ying took the file and looked at it, she couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise. Then she nodded in understanding.
So that's why. No wonder Granny Ling was so devoted even after being imprisoned for so many years.
Back then, she was not just a favored maid beside the Salt Tax Censor!
She clearly had an old affair with the Salt Tax Censor!
This love story, in essence, was just a common tale of a chambermaid whose body was taken by her master through coercion and who was then given a lot of sweet talk. She naively thought that she could be with her lover forever, but her affection was wasted.
"It seems that Granny Ling is really a person with deep feelings. Even though she was driven out of the mansion as a dowry slave and suffered so many years of grievances, she still refuses to take back her whole - hearted affection." Li Ying shrugged helplessly.
She had already expected that Granny Ling would be a tough nut to crack.
But this inflexible and love - struck person was really a headache.
"Aying, can I stay in the guest room tonight?"
She was still thinking about the countermeasure when she suddenly heard Lu Xunguang's random words. She couldn't help but be slightly stunned.
Stay overnight? What was this man talking about?