Chapter 91 — Piercing Through (Pink Vote 750 Bonus Update)
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
Dou Yan could not see through Ji Yong.
But while the yamen runners were sweating over the tally of the dead and the examination of the wounded, Ji Yong leaned in and asked her in a low voice, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"What?" Dou Chushi did not catch on at once.
While they waited for the authorities to arrive, they had already settled on what to tell outsiders. Dou Huaide and Wu Shan insisted that Dou Yan leave first, that they would handle whatever came. But Dou Yan feared something might go wrong and drag Chen Lanxu and the others into it, so she wanted to stay at the scene until the officials had finished writing up their report of the investigation.
Judging by what had befallen Pang Kunbai's attendants, Chen Lanxu and the others had certainly gone easy on Pang Kunbai.
Pang Kunbai was not going to die!
If the Wang family did not step forward for Pang Kunbai, what should she do? If they did step forward for him, what then? Though her trips to the farmstead could be traced, they followed no fixed schedule. According to Suxin, Grandmother was perfectly well; the so-called sudden coma had been nothing but a lie to lure her off the estate. Who had leaked her whereabouts? Was Du An involved in this? Did Wang Shuying know of the Pang family's plans?
Did Fifth Uncle have the strength now to tear off all pretense with Wang Xingyi?
If Fifth Uncle chose to keep enduring in silence, what could she do to maximize her gains? And if Fifth Uncle could stand against Wang Xingyi, what would happen then?
Dou Yan's mind was a tangle of a thousand threads, and Ji Yong's sudden question caught her off guard.
Ji Yong winked at her and said with pointed meaning, "I said, you were pretending not to recognize Pang Kunbai on purpose, weren't you?"
So that was what he wanted to ask!
Dou Yan did not so much as blink. Her face grave, she said, "He and I are connected by marriage. Had I recognized him, I would have shown him some forbearance no matter what. How could I have beaten a man to death with a single blow?"
"Is that so?" Ji Yong smiled, his expression plainly reading "I don't believe you," and looked her up and down, his gaze as bright as summer sunlight, as if it could illuminate her every hair and pore. Had Dou Yan not lived two lives, she would surely have faltered long ago. Even so, she felt the unease of a thorn pricking her back.
Some things, even when both parties have seen them with their own eyes, become evidence against you once spoken aloud.
Dou Yan resolved to play deaf and dumb.
Yet Ji Yong's manner turned gentle and modest.
Dou Yan was startled, then heard Wu Shan's concerned voice behind her: "Fourth Sister, why are you standing in the courtyard? The night is deep and the dew heavy. You had better rest in the carriage for a while. You need not worry about today's business; Twelfth Brother and I—" He paused, and added, "—and Jianming will handle it properly."
"It was a bit stuffy in the carriage, so I came out for some air." Dou Yan turned around and saw that though Wu Shan was speaking to her, his gaze rested on Ji Yong, and deep in his eyes flickered a shadow of profound wariness.
Was he wary of Ji Yong too?
As Dou Yan pondered this, she saw Ji Yong's attendants escorting a small sedan chair hurriedly toward them.
"The physician must have arrived," Ji Yong said with a smile, standing where he was without moving.
Wu Shan thought for a moment, then went to meet them with a trace of resignation.
Wu Shan is still too young after all!
Dou Yan sighed inwardly and climbed into the carriage.
Sujuan asked anxiously, "Will Guardian Chen and the others be all right?"