Wen Zimo caught a glimpse of Shen Cuiyu pausing and staring, so he also stopped and said with a gentle smile, "Does Master Shen also take an interest in these locust trees?"
There was a tender nostalgia in his tone. "These locust trees were planted by my own hands the year I met Jinghuai. I took one character from her name to commemorate that year. Every time I see these trees, I'm reminded of all the moments we've spent together over the years. Before I knew it, they've grown so tall with lush canopies..."
As he spoke, he turned to look at Li Jinghuai beside him and exchanged a smile with her. Love and tenderness were evident in every look and gesture.
Hearing this, Shen Cuiyu merely nodded slightly and said nothing more. But just as she was about to cross the courtyard, she looked back at the locust grove.
The group followed Wen Zimo and his wife through the cool courtyard and into the elegantly decorated front hall, then took their seats in turn.
Shen Cuiyu looked gently at Li Jinghuai sitting in the main seat. Her voice was soft and calm, exuding a reassuring power.
"Jinghuai, don't be afraid. I'll protect you. But... could you please tell me how your close friend Song Yanling passed away back then?"
The name "Yanling" seemed to carry a bone-chilling coldness. Li Jinghuai visibly trembled, and her face grew even paler.
She took a few deep breaths, as if trying to gather some courage, then slowly began to speak. Her voice was as faint as a distant dream.
"I first met Yanling when I was five. Our hometown was hit by a disaster, and my family and I fled to Linyu. We were on the verge of death on the way, but luckily we met Uncle Song's family. They generously helped us, and our two families became neighbors and were on very good terms ever since. Yanling... became my best friend."
"We grew up together, inseparable and sharing everything. I once naively thought that we would get married together, watch each other's children be born and grow up, and support each other until we were old and gray..."
As Li Jinghuai spoke, a genuine smile appeared in her eyes. It was as if she had returned to those carefree days in her boudoir, and the heavy gloom between her eyebrows seemed to fade a bit.
However, the next moment, her expression suddenly changed. Remembering some terrifying scene, her body began to tremble slightly uncontrollably, and her fingertips tightly grasped the corner of her clothes.
"Until... until the spring banquet two or three years ago. Yanling and I went out together. Who would have thought... on our way back, we would encounter villains! Our carriage was frightened and completely out of control. It rolled straight down the steep mountain path..." Her voice was filled with sobs, and her eyes were full of fear and pain. "At that critical moment, it was Yanling... She tightly protected me in her arms. I survived, but she... she..."
At this point, Li Jinghuai was sobbing uncontrollably. Everyone present felt a heavy heart. As expected, Song Yanling had died a violent death.
This kind of death was most likely to breed resentment and turn the deceased into a fierce ghost.
Li Jinghuai closed her eyes and recalled the bloody scene buried deep in her memory. Her voice was hoarse. "It was also on that day that I met Zimo. He rescued me from the broken carriage and comforted me when I was in a state of shock."
"After losing Yanling, I was not just sad. I was in so much pain that I didn't want to live. If it weren't for Zimo's care and comfort back then, I'm afraid I would have followed Yanling long ago," Li Jinghuai's words were filled with dependence and gratitude towards her husband. Then, she was overwhelmed by a huge sense of guilt. "Uncle Song never blamed me, but his hair turned completely white overnight... I can't express how regretful I feel..."
Hearing this, Wen Zimo also looked grief - stricken. He held his wife's hand, as if this could share some of her pain.
"How I wish it was me who died that day. If Yanling really wants a scapegoat, she could just tell me. I'm willing to die for her. But why now..." As Li Jinghuai spoke, she reached out and stroked her belly, and a gentle look of a new mother appeared in her eyes.
"Now that I'm pregnant, I have a family and people I care about... I don't want to, and I can't go to accompany Yanling for the time being..."
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhong Shengwan and Dongfang Xiao could see the shock in each other's eyes.
Given Li Jinghuai's physical condition, it was still uncertain whether she could even protect herself, yet she was pregnant?!
If this incident was not handled properly, it was very likely to result in the death of both the mother and the child! No wonder this mission was rated as a Class - A mission. It was really a tough one!
Shen Cuiyu's gaze fell on Li Jinghuai's still flat abdomen. The pregnancy should be in its early stage.
However, to her dismay, she couldn't sense any vibrant spiritual aura of a new life from there.
This was definitely an abnormal phenomenon.
A bad suspicion quietly crept into her mind. Shen Cuiyu frowned slightly and was just considering how to carefully inquire about it with Li Jinghuai when a sudden commotion came from outside the courtyard!
Among the noises were the panicked voices of the maids trying to stop someone.
"Madam! You can't go in! The master has ordered that there are honored guests in the hall today—!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw an old woman with disheveled hair stumbling into the front hall.
Her clothes were relatively neat, but her expression was extremely crazy. In particular, her cloudy eyes were wide open. When her gaze swept across the disciples of the Wanxiang Academy sitting in the hall, she suddenly burst out laughing!
"Here they come! Here they come again! A bunch of fools!" She danced about, her voice hoarse. "They're being played around! Hahaha!"
The moment Wen Zimo saw the old woman, his face changed drastically. He suddenly stood up, and all his previous gentleness disappeared. He roared angrily,
"Damn it! Who was supposed to take care of Madam? How could they let her come to the front hall and disturb the honored guests?!" His face was full of anger, and his imposing manner was terrifying. He was a completely different person from before.
Li Jinghuai seemed to be frightened by her husband's outburst, but she still endured her discomfort and stepped forward to try to calm him down.
But unexpectedly, the moment the old woman saw Li Jinghuai, her face changed greatly. She suddenly pounced on Li Jinghuai and shouted in panic,
"Why are you still here? Why are you still here?!"
"Get out! Get out of the Wen Mansion!!"
She roared at the top of her lungs. Her appearance was almost terrifying!
Li Jinghuai was in great pain from being grabbed. Her face turned even paler, and her eyes were filled with fear and grievance. Wen Zimo quickly stepped forward and angrily summoned more servants. They almost roughly dragged the struggling and shouting old woman out of the front hall.
After the chaos subsided, Shen Cuiyu's gaze lingered on the direction where the old woman disappeared for a long time. Her eyes were deep, as if she was lost in thought.
Wen Zimo took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. He turned around and apologized to everyone. He had managed to regain some of his previous modesty on his face. "Esteemed masters, I'm really sorry for disturbing you. That was my mother just now... She suffered a serious head injury in her early years, which has left her mentally confused. She often talks nonsense. Please don't take her crazy words seriously. I hope you can forgive her and don't mind!"