Chapter 22

Fu Ling, timid as she was, unexpectedly became the first to speak up, which caught everyone off guard. Even more surprising was that the widespread rumors circulating among the masses were half-true.

Outwardly, Earl Zhongyuan’s residence appeared to uphold an illustrious lineage, steeped in traditional values. The Xue family, known for producing generations of scholars, had Xue Xianzhi as the Imperial Academy Grand Academician, instructing scholars across the nation. They constantly spoke of righteousness and morality, yet their children shamelessly committed such disgraceful deeds. Among the twenty or so people present, they gradually became mere bystanders to the spectacle.

Since it was a spectacle, who wouldn’t wish for it to become more dramatic? Still, despite their close ties with the Cui and Xue families, these high-ranking officials dared not openly display their voyeuristic curiosity. They maintained their composure and restrained themselves, but in the end, Fu Ling expressed what they had all been secretly thinking.

Even Fu Zhongming did not anticipate Fu Ling’s audacity. He immediately scolded her sternly, “Ling’er, mind your manners!”

Fu Ling appeared startled and hurriedly showed an expression of guilt and regret. The others exchanged glances, not daring to voice their opinions.

At this moment, Li Yue, sitting in the main seat, spoke with an innocent and naïve tone, “What Miss Fu said is reasonable. Since this is a public trial, the Longyi Guards should present all the evidence they’ve gathered. What exactly did you find in Quzhou? Let’s hear it!”

Li Yue, only sixteen years old, naturally lacked the comprehensive considerations of his elders. With his noble status, he didn’t need to concern himself with social etiquette. Having listened to the drama for some time, he found it thoroughly entertaining and now looked curiously at Xie Xinglan, waiting for him to continue.

On the other side, Cui Muzhi couldn’t help but interject, “Your Highness…”

Among those present, only Cui Muzhi and Lin Qian’s father and son had significant connections to Earl Zhongyuan’s residence, but Cui Muzhi’s words were clearly too late. Given that the matter was a murder case and with so many eyes watching, neither the Marquis of Changqing’s Residence nor the Lin family dared to show blatant favoritism.

Madam Lin’s despair deepened. Glancing around the hall, she saw her cousin Lin Shilang averting his gaze, making it clear that the Lin family had no intention of getting involved in this case. At this point, she could only direct her pleading gaze toward Xie Xinglan, the adopted son she once looked down on. With tears streaming down her face, she cried, “Envoy Xie, you’ve investigated so many hidden details, all to uncover the motive behind the murder of Wan’er and Xue Ming. But now I’ve confessed. What more will it take for you to let it go?”

Driven to the extreme of fear, she desperately tried to persuade Xie Xinglan, saying, “Wan’er was so young; she had no malice in her heart. She was just a girl infatuated with the wrong person, caught up in a fleeting obsession. You could say she wronged the Prince’s Residence she was engaged to; you could call her unvirtuous and deserving of scorn, but she never wronged anyone else. Now that she’s dead, must her bones be crushed and her ashes scattered?”

The first part of Madam Lin’s statement was indeed the reason for Xie Xinglan’s hesitation. His aim was to investigate the case, not to intrude on personal privacy. In the presence of so many people, perhaps it wasn’t necessary to be so ruthless. However, the subsequent words from Madam Lin completely erased any trace of hesitation in Xie Xinglan’s heart. How could she dare to claim that Cui Wan had no malice?

Xie Xinglan’s gaze turned cold as he responded, “Madam, your words are mistaken. The reason Cui Wan and Xue Ming were murdered was that their illicit relationship served merely as a prelude. Moreover, Cui Wan was not merely infatuated with the wrong person, as you suggest—”

“If it was just that, she should have stopped long ago in the past five years. If it was merely a momentary obsession…” Xie Xinglan sighed with a tinge of regret and continued sternly, “How could it have reached the point of pregnancy?”

“What?” Li Yue was the first to react, blurting out, “Pregnancy? Are you saying Miss Cui was with child?”

The hall erupted into chaos. Even Qin Ying drew in a sharp breath while Qin Zhang exclaimed in shock, “This… Could this be true?”

Madam Lin’s pleading expression instantly transformed into one of hatred. She glared at Xie Xinglan with bitter resentment, her teeth grinding audibly. Were it not for the fact that this was an official courtroom, she might have pounced on Xie Xinglan to tear him apart.

Beside her, Cui Jin stood dumbfounded. At this stage, he couldn’t even muster his anger. His body swayed as he staggered two steps backward, collapsing into a chair as though his soul had been drained. “Preg… Pregnant?”

Xie Xinglan elaborated, “It is well known that four years ago, shortly after Cui Wan was betrothed to Prince Huaiyang’s Residence, she left the capital due to illness. It was publicly stated that the Madam took Cui Wan to Sanqing Mountain for treatment and prayers. That journey supposedly lasted six months, and everyone assumed they had indeed traveled there. However, investigations by the Longyi Guards revealed that they did not go to Sanqing Mountain but rather to Quzhou—”

“Madam Lin owned some properties in Quzhou. Madam took Cui Wan and stayed in a two-courtyard residence in Liu’er Alley, east of Quzhou City. For half a year, they remained secluded, attended only by trusted maids for their daily needs. However, in the twelfth lunar month of that year, an incident occurred in the residence—a cold night saw them urgently summoning three doctors from Quzhou City to the premises. Of these three doctors, two are still practicing medicine in Quzhou today. When the Longyi Guards found them, they were initially evasive, as the Madam had given them large sums of money to remain silent after the incident. On that night, they were called to the residence because Cui Wan was experiencing complications during childbirth and nearly hemorrhaged to death. To save Cui Wan’s life, Madam disregarded secrecy and summoned the three most skilled doctors in the city to the residence.”

“According to recollections from the two doctors, Madam originally intended for an experienced midwife to deliver Cui Wan’s child. However, things took a turn when it was found that the fetal position was abnormal and blood flow unstoppable. While the midwife could assist in childbirth, she could not treat such complications. Watching Cui Wan on the brink of death, Madam finally summoned the doctors. The three doctors managed to save Cui Wan’s life. One of them later visited the residence five times over a month and a half to treat Cui Wan, who had become physically frail and emaciated post-childbirth, narrowly recovering thanks to high-quality medication.”

Xie Xinglan concluded this part, then added: ‘By the end of the year, Madam brought Cui Wan back. It was then claimed that the Taoist priests from Sanqing Mountain had reviewed Cui Wan’s fate and advised against marriage before the age of nineteen. However, I deduce this was simply because childbirth had weakened Cui Wan physically. Marrying too soon might have exposed her condition to the people of the Prince’s Residence.'”

Cui Jin listened, feeling utterly crushed. Turning to Madam Lin, his voice trembled violently as he asked, “Madam, is what he said really true?”

At this point, Madam Lin no longer bothered to conceal the truth. She wiped her eyes and disregarded any semblance of decorum. “And if it is?”

Cui Jin’s face turned ashen, a sharp pain seemingly twisting his chest. He struggled to accept the revelation. Across from him, Xue Xianzhi and Xue Suqing were equally stunned. Xue Xianzhi couldn’t help but ask, “Cui Wan… was the child she gave birth to Xue Ming’s? Where is that child now?”

Madam Lin glanced coldly at Xue Xianzhi and sneered, “That kind of cursed spawn was born frail and sickly. It died within just a few days.”

Xue Xianzhi winced in pain upon hearing this. “What? Passed away? That was still my Xue family’s flesh and blood. Ming’er is already gone, and if the child had lived, he would at least have had a descendant…”

Madam Lin scoffed. “What right do you have to speak such nonsense? Xue Ming kept stringing Cui Wan with false promises and fake affection, making her unable to let go. Such a despicable and cowardly beast—heaven itself wouldn’t allow him to leave behind a legacy.”

Having lost all semblance of propriety, Madam Lin spared no mercy with her scolding, which left Xue Xianzhi on the verge of fainting. Yet she pressed on, “When Cui Wan discovered she was pregnant, she wanted to abort the child. But heaven turned a blind eye, and while she nearly lost her life, the child was not aborted. Left with no choice, I took her to Quzhou. We struggled for months, and the child only lived for a few days. My once vibrant daughter was also left gravely weakened. And yet, the root cause of all this suffering was Xue Ming, the charming and debonair heir of the Xue family…”

Madam Lin took a deep breath, tears streaming down her face again. “But Cui Wan—she believed Xue Ming would come and marry her. She refused to give up hope. What could I do? What could I, as her mother, do? My daughter was mistreated, and I couldn’t even confront anyone for justice. Four years—I’ve swallowed my pain and endured it. I thought she could quietly marry into Prince Huaiyang’s Residence. But now, with the wedding date approaching, she has been murdered…”

Xie Xinglan frowned slightly and asked, “Did the child truly pass away? The doctor in Quzhou mentioned that he had seen the infant when he visited the residence to treat Cui Wan.”

Madam Lin’s tearful eyes narrowed, her expression turning sinister. “Such a cursed spawn— even if it had survived, I wouldn’t have allowed it to remain in this world. It was simply born into the wrong circumstances. Even alive, it would only have been an illegitimate calamity. It was better off returning to the cycle of reincarnation early.”

Her tone was sharp and ruthless, leaving no room for doubt. After speaking, she turned and demanded, “Xie Xinglan, who exactly killed my daughter? She suffered so much and was so close to escaping her past. Who took her life?”

The intense drama left everyone present utterly shocked. But ultimately, the goal today was to uncover the true culprit of the murder. At this point, the Second Prince, Li Kun, asked, “Envoy Xie, you just mentioned that the illicit relationship between Cui Wan and Xue Ming was merely a prelude to the case. Then what truly caused this tragedy? Who is the murderer?”

Xie Xinglan’s expression grew serious. “It was the malicious intent of Cui Wan and Xue Ming.”

Li Kun was puzzled. “Their malicious intent?”

Xie Xinglan’s voice turned cold as he began to explain from the start, “Cui Wan and Xue Ming had been engaged in a clandestine relationship for some time. They were usually cautious and kept it well-concealed. However, over the years, there were bound to be traces that surfaced. Those who interacted with them frequently might have noticed some clues, but out of politeness, no one delved deeper or reported it. They themselves believed they had hidden it perfectly…”

“Two years ago, Princess Chaohua hosted a banquet on Lingyan Lake, which many people, including most of those present here, attended. During that banquet, Cui Wan and Xue Ming had an argument. By coincidence, their dispute was overheard by someone, and, unfortunately, they noticed the eavesdropper. Fearing that this individual might expose their illicit relationship, they initially took no action. However, during the subsequent Hairpin Banquet, they devised a scheme targeting the innocent young woman, thereby ruining her life completely.”

“Cui Wan and Xue Ming’s plot involved the same method of destroying someone’s reputation. Despite their lack of shame and moral deficiency, they used similar tactics to frame an innocent victim. That young woman suffered greatly, with her younger sister being the only one to care for her. Watching someone like Cui Wan still being envied for her upcoming marriage, the sister’s hatred grew deeper. After being promised a future marriage far away, she finally took revenge on the two culprits who had harmed her sister.”

Xie Xinglan turned his gaze. “Am I correct, Fu Ling?”

The hall fell into sudden silence. Fu Ling stared at Xie Xinglan, stunned, while Qin Zhang reacted with shock. “What? Fu Ling? Are you saying the murderer of Cui Wan and Xue Ming was Fu Ling?”

Fu Zhongming was initially slow to react, but now he was horrified. “Envoy Xie, how is that possible? How could it be Ling’er? Are you saying the sister you mentioned was my daughter, Fu Zhen?”

Fu Ling’s eyes immediately reddened, and she looked helplessly at everyone. “What? You’re saying I’m the murderer of Wan’er and Xue Ming? That’s impossible—I’m powerless, how could I kill anyone? And why bring my sister into this mess for no reason?”

She revealed a trace of frustration. “Two years ago, my sister was indeed involved in an incident, which some may still remember. Although she made mistakes back then, those rumors were slanderous. I don’t want my sister to be dragged into this baseless gossip again. Envoy Xie, have you truly investigated this thoroughly?”

Naturally blessed with delicate beauty, Fu Ling appeared even more pitiable, with tears glistening in her eyes. Xie Xinglan, however, maintained a cold expression as he questioned her, “Two years ago, regarding the matter between your elder sister and Du Ziqin from Marquis Dingbei’s residence—you are well aware of it, aren’t you? And you also know that she was falsely accused?”

Fu Ling, puzzled, replied, “Of course I know my sister was falsely accused. The jade pendant she lost that day at the Hairpin Banquet was a keepsake from our late mother. Later, Du Ziqin picked it up, which caused a misunderstanding. If there’s anyone to blame, it’s Du Ziqin. Afterward, my sister returned to the clan’s estate, leaving the matter unresolved. But how does that incident relate to the case at hand?”

Xie Xinglan responded, “If it were merely a misunderstanding, that would be one thing. But what if Fu Zhen’s jade pendant was deliberately handed to Du Ziqin by someone intending to ruin her reputation? Could you still remain so indifferent?”

Fu Ling was so shocked that she covered her mouth. “What? Did others deliberately orchestrate my sister’s situation? Was it Wan’er and Xue Ming?”

She was both shocked and furious. “So my sister accidentally overheard their argument, and then they maliciously framed her, ruining her reputation and forcing her to leave the capital?”

Seeing Xie Xinglan remain silent, she turned to look at Fu Zhongming. “Father, my sister was deliberately wronged…”

Only at this moment did Fu Zhongming realize there was such a hidden truth. However, compared to Fu Zhen being framed, Xie Xinglan’s accusations were more urgent. He said helplessly, “This happened two years ago. When it all came out, Zhen’er did tell us that everything was a misunderstanding and that she had been wronged. However, we assumed it was Du Ziqin’s lack of integrity. We never expected this kind of truth to come to light. But after so much time has passed, we don’t want to pursue it further.”

He looked deeply at Fu Ling and, upon meeting her tearful eyes, added, “Zhen’er suffered from this injustice. Both Ling’er and I were very upset, but we were only angry with Du Ziqin. How could this involve the Cui and Xue families? As for claiming Ling’er is the murderer, that’s utterly impossible. On the night Xue Ming was killed, Ling’er returned home visibly shocked and distressed, requiring a doctor’s care throughout the night.”

Xie Xinglan had anticipated this response. He raised his hand, instructing a guard to present some evidence to Li Kun and his companion.

“That night, Fu Ling returned home in shock and indeed called for a doctor. I questioned her close maids, Mo’er and Huan’er. They said that when Fu Ling returned that night, she felt unwell and drank calming soup before lying in bed. The night was already deep, and Fu Ling, not wanting to disturb you and Madam Fu, only allowed the people in her courtyard to take care of her. Before lying down, she extinguished the lights and even instructed that no one was allowed to enter her room until the doctor arrived. At that time, an old maid was guarding outside and heard noises from inside the room. When the doctor finally came, the two maids went in first before calling the doctor inside.”

Fu Zhongming said, “What’s unusual about that? Ling’er has always been considerate, and it’s normal for her not to disturb us. She doesn’t like lights when she sleeps—it’s hard for her to fall asleep if there’s even a glimmer of light. What’s strange about that?”

Xie Xinglan replied coldly, “She may not be unusual, but what’s strange are the two maids who went out to find the doctor.”

“When they went out that night, both maids wore hooded cloaks. They first went south to Miao Xin Hall, but it was closed. Then, they headed north to He Ren Clinic. When I initially had the two recount their journey that night, their testimonies were eerily identical—”

Fu Zhongming interjected, “They traveled together along the same route; of course, their accounts would be identical.”

Xie Xinglan raised his eyebrows coldly. “Indeed, but their accounts were completely different when I asked them about passing by Baiyue Pavilion. Baiyue Pavilion, a drinking establishment on Guangping Street, was playing a performance that night. Mo’er said the song being performed was a segment of ‘The Lament of Xiangfei,’ and Huan’er said the same. However, when asked what instrument they heard, Mo’er said it was a yaoqin, while Huan’er claimed it was a xiqin.”

“The sounds of a yaoqin and a xiqin are vastly different. Ordinarily, ‘The Lament of Xiangfei’ is accompanied by a xiqin, but Baiyue Pavilion had altered the arrangement to use a yaoqin instead. Mo’er’s account is correct, as she indeed passed by Baiyue Pavilion that night. However, Huan’er’s testimony reveals that she did not go to Baiyue Pavilion at all.”

The maids named Mo’er and Huan’er were waiting outside. Upon hearing this statement, the maid Huan’er turned pale. Xie Xinglan continued, “Yesterday, when I visited the Fu family, I questioned each of them over fifty times. This question was just one among many, and I doubt they expected this inconsistency to arise here.”

Fu Zhongming remained composed, looking toward Fu Ling, who still maintained an innocent expression. Xie Xinglan then declared, “Summon the witnesses!”

A guard quickly brought the two individuals inside. One was a man dressed in coarse cloth, over thirty years old, with a dark complexion. The other was an elderly man, over fifty, with white hair and beard. Xie Xinglan excused them from formalities and said, “Speak.”

The first man introduced himself, “I am Huang Zhi, a night watchman from Mingde Alley. On the seventh night, around the hour of Chou (roughly 1-3 AM), I saw a young woman wearing a cloak hurriedly walking down Tianshui Street. It was late at night, and seeing a young woman rushing alone, I wanted to approach and ask if she needed help. But as soon as I spoke, she seemed startled and ran even faster.”

“I thought to myself that it was late, and as a man, I might have frightened her. So, I didn’t pursue her. I remember clearly that her cloak was raven-black, and she was heading alone toward Changshui Street.”

After he finished, the elderly man spoke, “I am Fu Qichang, a resident doctor at He Ren Clinic. On the seventh night, around the third quarter of the hour of Chou (roughly 2:30 AM), the Fu family’s maid, Mo’er, came to the clinic, saying her mistress had fallen ill from fright and needed me to visit for treatment. I took my medical kit and followed her to the Fu residence. There were two maids accompanying me. Throughout the journey, only Mo’er spoke, while the other maid, hooded and silent, kept her head down. I found this odd and glanced at her twice, noticing a dark red stain on her embroidered shoes that resembled blood. However, I didn’t think much of it at the time.”

“When we arrived at the Fu residence and entered the courtyard of the mistress, the two maids went in first to report. Shortly after, I was invited inside. What surprised me was that Mo’er seemed normal, but the other maid had completely changed her attire from head to toe. Later, while diagnosing the Fu family’s mistress through the curtain, I noticed a bright red mark on her palm, as if she had been gripping something tightly and it had rubbed against her skin.”

At this point, Li Yue, seated at the head, couldn’t hold back and exclaimed, “They switched places! The silent maid was actually the murderer, Fu Ling. They went out at night wearing hooded cloaks to conceal their identities. One went to commit murder, while the other pretended to fetch the doctor. They later met at He Ren Hall, while the other maid remained in Fu Ling’s room the entire time! The red mark seen during the diagnosis was left by the murderer during the act.”

After Li Yue finished speaking, Madam Lin’s eyes reddened, and she said, “So it was you, it was you who harmed Wan’er!”

At this moment, Lin Yaowen, the Vice Minister of Revenue, spoke from the side, “So, the watchman initially only saw Mo’er alone. That day on Tianshui Street, heading towards Changshui Street was precisely on the route from Miao Xin Hall to He Ren Clinic. At that time, she had not yet met up with Fu Ling, so she was alone. After returning to the mansion, Mo’er told Huan’er about what she saw on the way to prepare in case someone from the authorities came to inquire. But when the Longyi Guards interrogated them separately, they lied, and their flaws became evident—”

At this point, Lin Yaowen’s partiality became apparent. After his words, even a fool could deduce the tricks Fu Ling had played. Xue Xianzhi caught his breath and still found it unbelievable, “You truly killed Ming’er for your sister?”

Everyone turned to Fu Ling. Cui Jin and Lin’s gazes were as if they could kill, but Fu Ling, panicked, said, “What is this? Are you trying to pin the crime on me? Mo’er and Huan’er went out to seek a doctor and briefly split up to find another doctor. That day Huan’er was also feeling unwell, so she didn’t speak. How does that mean it was me who went out to commit murder?”

Fu Ling cried, “I’m just a weak woman, let alone murder; I don’t even dare to walk alone at night. How could you accuse me so unjustly? Apart from these baseless speculations, what other evidence do you have? And saying that I killed Wan’er—on that night, I was in the artificial rock cave with Shuyue. Although we weren’t together the entire time, we could hear each other’s voices the whole time. Unless I could be in two places at once, how could I be talking with Shuyue while killing Wan’er?”

She cried so innocently and pitifully that even though there had been witnesses testifying to her contradictions, seeing her this way still stirred compassion in people. Qin Zhang was the first to speak, “Yes, if Fu Ling is the culprit, how could she have killed Wan’er?”

Minister of Personnel Jian Qiming glanced at Wu Shuyue and asked, “Miss Wu, is what Fu Ling described about that night true?”

At this point, Wu Shuyue was also unsure and hesitated, saying, “It’s true. That night, we could hear each other calling out, so we weren’t particularly afraid…”

Xie Xinglan then said, “You dared to separate from Wu Shuyue and explore the rock garden at night, so how could you be someone afraid to walk alone at night? Coming from a family of military generals, Wu Shuyue naturally has courage, and yours is no less than hers. When you murdered Cui Wan, you precisely used her as a cover, but that aspect cannot be demonstrated to everyone yet.”

As Xie Xinglan spoke, he involuntarily glanced at Qin Ying. Seeing that she had no intention of speaking, he continued, “The rock garden built by Huang Ting has a hidden mechanism unknown to others. Fu Ling used that feature to have Wu Shuyue provide her with an alibi. All of this was possible because, taking advantage of her father being a ceremonial official, she had obtained the blueprint of Huang Ting’s rock garden early on.”

Qin Ying had already demonstrated the mechanism to Xie Xinglan earlier, so he had no concerns about his explanation being unclear. Having observed for a while now, Qin Ying was genuinely amazed at Fu Ling’s intelligence and acting skills. At this point, her innocent and pitiful demeanor was so convincing that even Qin Ying felt pity.

Qin Ying felt a sinking weight in her heart. Based on her experience, Fu Ling was the type of suspect with a performative personality that was extremely hard to crack. Unless her psychological weakness was discovered, there was no way she would confess before noon.

As she thought this, Qin Ying suddenly saw Bai Yuan peeking in from the doorway. Their eyes met, and Bai Yuan excitedly waved at her. Feeling a slight stir in her heart, Qin Ying quietly informed Qin Zhang and walked out.

Everyone’s attention was fixed on Xie Xinglan and Fu Ling. The case had nothing to do with her, so no one bothered to stop her. Xie Xinglan noticed her leaving and unconsciously found his focus momentarily distracted.

Seeing he didn’t continue, Fu Ling immediately said, “What on earth is Envoy Xie talking about? I’ve heard of the name Huang Ting, but what blueprints and hidden mechanisms inside the rock garden—this is all unknown to me. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve entered the rock garden at the Earls’s residence. Only because it’s inside the residence did I not feel afraid, and moreover…”

With a decisive tone, she countered, “My sister may have been falsely accused and ruined her reputation, but first, I don’t know the truth, and second, she’s now living well in the ancestral land. Why would I kill someone over an old incident like this?”

She smiled bitterly, adding, “I’m about to be engaged myself. I have a bright future ahead of me—why would I stain my hands with blood? I also know nothing about the scandal involving Xue Ming and Cui Wan. Even my sister never mentioned the strange occurrences at the banquet on the ship.”

Xie Xinglan’s gaze sharpened. “Is your sister doing well in the ancestral land? If so, why have you never exchanged letters? Even the servants in your residence know nothing of her current situation.”

Fu Ling maintained a calm appearance. “My sister married a scholar in our hometown. While their life is not as luxurious as marrying a nobleman in the capital, their marriage is harmonious, and my sister is content. The lack of correspondence is merely due to the long distance and the inconvenience it causes.”

Xie Xinglan turned to Fu Zhongming. “Lord Fu, is what Fu Ling said true?”

Fu Zhongming’s expression was far less relaxed than Fu Ling’s, but he nodded. “It’s true. Zhen’er is living quite well in the ancestral land. The servants in the household are unaware simply because… after that incident years ago, her reputation was tarnished, and we have avoided discussing it out of concern.”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Fu Ling shrugged, her demeanor composed and at ease. It seemed the more attention she attracted, the more unflustered she became. She even displayed a look of relief. “See, I have no reason to kill for my sister. She and her husband share a deep bond—”

“What deep bond?”

Fu Ling’s cheerful words were abruptly interrupted. Qin Ying entered the hall with a heavy expression. She moved silently, but when she arrived, her gaze was like a blade—sharp and icy. She fixed her eyes on Fu Ling and said, “Did you arrange a ghost marriage for her?”

Her chilling words left everyone stunned. Xie Xinglan asked, “What do you mean?”

Qin Ying took a deep breath and said, “They are lying. Fu Zhen never returned to the ancestral land. She died two years ago on the night of the Qixi Festival.”