CHAPTER 238: CHAPTER 235: UNBEARABLE

Xie Liangchen looked at the Second Steward and did not respond for a long time.

The Second Steward said, "Miss Xie, do you not trust me?"

Xie Liangchen said calmly, "Since you are willing to help, why not take her directly to the government office?"

The Second Steward pressed her lips together, "I’m not sure I can make that embroideress speak up. Previously, Ms. Jin and I didn’t get along, and that embroideress might think I’m using her against Ms. Jin. Also... if you’re not willing to go, I wouldn’t dare."

Xie Liangchen did not expect the Second Steward to say this.

The Second Steward said, "There’s no doubt about Ms. Jin’s greed, but to suddenly cause such trouble without reason, I think someone might be instigating her from behind - someone who holds a grudge against you. I’m not clear on the depths of this."

The Second Steward looked hesitant, as if isolated and helpless, wanting to do something but filled with anxiety, "I’ll go in and persuade that embroideress first. If she’s still unwilling, you can come in too, and speak as the aggrieved party alongside, which will surely increase our odds."

Xie Liangchen looked at the Second Steward, "If the embroideress is unwilling to testify, then it’s like you’re doing me a favor, isn’t it?"

The Second Steward appeared awkward, tightly clutching a handkerchief, "The embroidery workshop doesn’t earn much as it is, and if the government office punishes us, it might have to shut down.

I see that business is bustling here for Miss, and naturally, I have personal motives for wanting to establish a connection. Frankly, by myself, I don’t have the courage - Ms. Jin, she’s... you’ve seen her, I’m no match for her. If she finds out, I might be coerced into silence before the government can even find out."

Xie Liangchen remained silent.

The Second Steward tentatively asked, "Before going to find that embroideress, I also want to ask if there is anyone Miss Xie might know—preferably someone in the government office—otherwise this matter won’t be easy to clear up.

Even if I don’t say it, you must have noticed it too; despite the solid evidence, there’s no conclusion, and Ms. Jin isn’t flustered at all after returning. She tells others that no matter how much evidence there is, she isn’t afraid and will surely win."

Next to them, Mrs. Ge listened carefully to the Second Steward’s words. They had long guessed someone was behind this, and now perhaps through the Second Steward, they could uncover that person.

Xie Liangchen fell into deep thought.

Mrs. Ge glanced at Miss Chen, somehow feeling she was different from usual, somewhat unfathomable, familiar in her demeanor, somewhat resembling... someone.

Xie Liangchen did not answer the Second Steward, "Then what do you think should be done?"

The Second Steward said, "We should first test the embroideress’s attitude, preferably without alerting others, to avoid startling the snake."

Xie Liangchen nodded.

The Second Steward continued, "Once the embroideress is willing to testify, you can inform the government, thus revealing everything in one go."

What the Second Steward said made sense; indeed, they should first probe for the truth since their target was not the embroidery workshop and shop but the one pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Until that person is removed, the trouble won’t truly be resolved.

Xie Liangchen looked outside, "When do you plan to leave?"

The Second Steward replied, "The embroideress lives outside the city; shall we set off early tomorrow morning?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, "Alright, then early morning tomorrow, we’ll meet at the city gate."

The Second Steward agreed, standing up, "Then I’ll head back first, lest Ms. Jin gets suspicious if she can’t find me."

Liu Erniang saw the Second Steward out.

Mrs. Ge said, "Liangchen, this is a good thing, isn’t it? With the evidence and witnesses present at the time, let’s see how those people will deny it. That embroidery shop mentioned involving government officials; what should we do? Should we send word to General Song and ask him to act on our behalf?"

Xie Liangchen picked up her tea to drink.

Mrs. Ge finally couldn’t hold back, stepped forward two paces, "Good girl, what are you thinking about? Why do you seem not like yourself? Just like... just like... that General Song, as if no one can understand you."

Xie Liangchen had just taken a sip of her tea and couldn’t help but choke on it when she heard those words.

Mrs. Ge hurriedly reached out to pat Xie Liangchen’s back, "Why did you choke?"

Xie Liangchen finally caught her breath and looked at Mrs. Ge, "Auntie, don’t worry, I’ll have someone send a message to General Song. You just need to oversee the warehouse... there’s still a lot of goods to be sent over after this matter is settled."

Mrs. Ge sighed, "I can’t help much, as long as you’re clear in your mind."

"Don’t worry," Xie Liangchen said, "I know what I’m doing. This case is nearing clarity; the person behind is exposing themselves, and we’ll surely catch them red-handed."

Mrs. Ge went out to handle affairs, and Xie Liangchen stood up and returned to her room, suddenly thinking of what Mrs. Ge said. She looked up at the bronze mirror on the table.

How could she look like Song Xian?

...

Liu Erniang had just seen off the Second Steward of the embroidery workshop and was about to return to the warehouse when she saw a beggar squatting not far away.

Liu Erniang walked over quickly. The beggar was dressed in rags, eyes wide as he looked at her, "Kind person, please have mercy... give me some food!"

Liu Erniang said, "Wait here, I’ll get some food for you."

The beggar quickly agreed.

Liu Erniang took two flatbreads from the kitchen and handed them to the beggar, who eagerly stuffed them into his mouth.

"Eat slowly," Liu Erniang said, passing him a bowl, "Have some water."

Watching the beggar finishing a flatbread, Liu Erniang asked, "Are you a refugee?"

The beggar nodded after swallowing the food in his mouth.

Liu Erniang continued, "Where is your family?"

"Dead," the beggar said, "Human traffickers wanted to sell me; I escaped halfway."

Liu Erniang asked, "Why not register with the government office?"

The beggar shook his head, "I’m too young to be registered in a household. Besides... the Xingzhou government office doesn’t settle refugees. They would send me to a wealthy family to be a servant... I don’t want to go."

Liu Erniang sighed long and hard, "It’s not easy being a refugee nowadays. If you’re hungry these days, come here, and I’ll give you food. When the warehouse needs workers, you can do some work, and the steward here is good. They’ll pay you silver coin for the work and provide meals."

The beggar didn’t expect Liu Erniang to help so much, and in a flustered moment, thanked her, "You are truly a kind person."

Liu Erniang said, "I’m no saint, I’m also a refugee, coming from far away to Daqi. The Chen Family Village took in my brother and me, taught us to pick herbs and make thread tassels. In my hometown, there has been war for years; countless people have been displaced, and they either die of illness or starvation."

Liu Erniang glanced at the beggar, who was listening to her intently, and continued, "You shouldn’t thank me; if you must thank someone, thank Chen Family Village.

This food is all from the Chen Family Village warehouse."

The beggar said, "If you take food out, won’t they say anything to you?"

Liu Erniang smiled, "No, they treat me like family."

Having said this, Liu Erniang was preparing to leave when someone came before her.

"From what you said, you seem to be from Dai State."

Liu Erniang looked up and saw a man in his thirties or forties.

"I’m from Xinzhou," Cui He continued, "I do some business, and heard there are thread tassels here, so I came to inquire. Don’t mind my prattling."

Dai State and Xinzhou both belong to Prince Guangyang’s territory.

Liu Erniang was a bit surprised; being from the same territory, she felt a certain closeness, as if there was a shared lineage.

Cui He said, "I fled here; so did you?"

Liu Erniang nodded, "Dai State is in chaos, and my family fled to Daqi to seek treatment for my father. Unfortunately, we encountered Liao people, and only my brother and I were rescued. My brother and I settled in Zhenzhou."

Cui He looked at Liu Erniang, "It seems you’re doing well in Zhenzhou."

Liu Erniang said, "I’ve met good people. The Chen Family Village makes excellent thread tassels, produced by several villages together. You should buy some to try."

Though they were people from the same territory, they were still strangers to each other. Liu Erniang bowed to Cui He and turned back to the warehouse.

Cui He looked at the Chen Family Village warehouse before him, then signaled to the beggar, who silently slipped away. The beggar was Cui He’s planted eyes, waiting here for a chance to talk to the woman.

Cui He had previously seen Xinzhou embroidery on Miss Xie, surely the work of this woman.

Cui He could tell that this woman was very grateful to Miss Xie for taking in people from their territory and keeping her close to manage the warehouse. Miss Xie was truly a commendable person.

But this person was about to be killed.

Even the death warrior would not escape death after killing someone.

Two lives.

Cui He felt the pressure on his chest, suffocating him. Now both lives were in his hands; what should he do?

Cui He walked into the courtyard.

Nanny Liu looked at him, "Tomorrow Xie Liangchen will leave the city, and you are to take the death warrior and ensure her life is taken."