Chapter 14: Curiosity

By this time, Wen Rugui had already gone to court. Wen Rusheng had arrived only to find nothing, so he inquired with the servants about the location of the yamen and rushed over to wait.

When Wen Rugui returned to the yamen, he was informed by a subordinate that his clan brother had come looking for him.

Wen Rugui was a man who cared deeply about his reputation. While he did not truly hold Wen Rusheng in high regard, he cherished his standing in their hometown and was unwilling to give anyone cause to say he looked down upon his poorer kin.

"Is there an urgent matter that requires you to seek me out, Eighth Brother?" Wen Rugui asked politely.

Wen Rusheng glanced left and right, hesitating to speak.

Wen Rugui knit his brows.

Seeing his cousin's pale face and his reluctance to speak in front of outsiders, the matter was likely significant.

He dismissed the others and said softly, "There are no outsiders now. You may speak freely, Eighth Brother."

Wen Rusheng glanced toward the door, asking uncertainly, "No one will overhear, will they?"

"Rest assured, Eighth Brother, they won't."

Only then did Wen Rusheng feel at ease. He lowered his voice and said, "Tenth Brother, your youngest daughter is a monster!"

"What?" Wen Rugui thought he had misheard.

"I said... your youngest daughter is a man-eating monster!"

Certain that he had not misheard, Wen Rugui's expression instantly darkened. "Eighth Brother, have you not woken up yet?"

"I didn't sleep at all last night!" Seeing that Wen Rugui did not believe him, Wen Rusheng grew anxious and began gesturing wildly. "I saw it with my own eyes! Your youngest daughter was eating a finger—a human finger!"

Wen Rugui's expression grew even worse. "If you are feeling unwell, Eighth Brother, I can send you to see a physician, but you must not speak nonsense."

Wen Rusheng stood up abruptly, his face flushed with urgency. "Tenth Brother, I am truly not lying to you! I saw it in the garden when I returned last night!"

"What were you doing in the garden in the middle of the night?" Wen Rugui's tone was cold; clearly, Wen Rusheng's explanation had greatly incensed him.

"I came back from drinking last night to check on Feng'er, and I saw a shadow flickering in his room. But there was no one in there. Worried, I went out to look, and that's when I saw your youngest daughter in the garden eating a human finger—"

Wen Rugui could endure no more and slammed his hand on the table. "Eighth Brother, you were clearly intoxicated and seeing things. Now you are even talking in your sleep!"

"Tenth Brother, why won't you believe me?" Wen Rusheng was on the verge of tears from frustration.

He did not dare confront a monster, but Tenth Brother was the monster's father; surely he could subdue her?

"Believe what? Believe that the daughter of a dignified Vice Minister is a man-eating monster?" Wen Rugui's face was ashen, unable to maintain his mask of gentleness any longer.

Never mind that such words were absurd and outrageous—even if it were true, it could not be allowed to be known!

At this moment, Wen Rugui was utterly fed up with this clan brother.

To think that a man who had spent most of his life in such a remote place would end up believing in gods and ghosts like an ignorant woman.

Believing in such things had nothing to do with him, but once it was dragged onto his head, it became intolerable.

"I swear I wasn't seeing things, otherwise, may heaven strike me down with lightning!"

Seeing him so adamant, Wen Rugui felt a mixture of anger and disgust. He said indifferently, "It just so happens I don't have much on my hands. I will go back with you to take a look."

Wen Rusheng breathed a massive sigh of relief.

The two rushed back to the Wen residence. Just as they stepped off the carriage, they saw a young man walking toward the manor accompanied by a servant.

Seeing the two of them, the young man cupped his hands in greeting. "Father, Tenth Uncle."

Wen Rugui frowned and shot a glance at Wen Rusheng.

Wen Rusheng looked shocked, pointing at the youth. "Feng'er, you... you are alright?"

Wen Feng showed a look of shame. "Your son did not return last night and caused you worry."

"Where did you go?" In his shock, Wen Rusheng completely forgot they were outside the main gates and asked loudly.

"Son—"

Wen Rugui calmly interrupted Wen Feng. "Eighth Brother, if you have questions for Feng'er, ask them once we are inside the manor. The yamen cannot be left unattended; I shall head back first."

"Tenth Brother, Tenth Brother—"

Seeing Wen Rugui board the carriage without looking back, Wen Feng looked puzzled. "Father, what is wrong with Tenth Uncle?"

In his impression, Tenth Uncle was a very kind person.

"Where on earth did you go last night?" Wen Rusheng snapped, angry.

Wen Feng hurriedly pulled Wen Rusheng toward the interior. "Father, let's go inside to talk."

As the father and son entered the manor and walked a few steps, they saw Lady Lin walking toward them with her two daughters.

Wen Rusheng came to a sudden halt, his gaze uncontrollably falling upon Wen Hao's face.

Wen Hao pursed her lips and smiled.

Wen Rusheng shuddered and hurriedly withdrew his gaze.

"Eighth Brother and Feng'er went out together, I see," Lady Lin greeted them with a smile.

Lady Lin was a simple person. In her eyes, this was her husband's clan brother; regardless of whether he was rich or poor, since he had come, he should be treated well so as not to make him feel slighted.

Wen Rusheng couldn't help but steal glances at Wen Hao, but he didn't dare; in Lady Lin's eyes, it looked like he was winking and making faces.

Lady Lin showed concern. "Eighth Brother's eyes seem to be twitching. Should we invite a physician to take a look?"

"No need, no need." Wen Rusheng declined hurriedly, almost fleeing back to his quarters.

"Father, you were a bit strange today. Did something happen?"

Wen Rusheng's face was dark. "Why didn't you come home last night?"

"I was drinking with friends and accidentally drank too much. A friend let me stay the night."

"Then why didn't you send a servant back to deliver a message?"

Wen Feng glanced at the nervous servant. "Tingfeng stayed behind to look after me. Otherwise, I would have had to trouble my friend's servants, which would have been quite embarrassing."

"Feng'er, you must not make friends with such bad company—"

"He is a young master from the Minister's manor."

"That's good, that's good. But last night—"

"What happened last night?"

"Nothing..." Wen Rusheng swallowed the words he wanted to say.

Could it really be that his eyes were playing tricks on him?

***

Inside a spacious and luxurious carriage, Lady Lin pulled open a drawer fixed to the carriage wall, revealing it was filled to the brim with candied fruits. She invited her two daughters to eat.

Wen Chan said with a mix of laughter and tears, "Mother, we will be at Grandmother's house in less than fifteen minutes."

"Once we arrive at your grandmother's, you won't be able to eat them." Lady Lin casually picked up a candied date and popped it into her mouth. "The physician said that since your grandmother is getting older, she should eat less sweets, yet she simply cannot control her appetite..."

Listening to her mother nag about her grandmother, Wen Hao and Wen Chan exchanged a look, both feeling complicated emotions.

These peaceful and carefree days were soon to be shattered.

Wen Hao had just eaten her third plum when they arrived at the General's Manor.

The mother and daughters descended from the carriage one after another. Wen Chan and Wen Hao flanked Lady Lin, supporting her as they walked inside.

Lady Lin suddenly paused, pointing toward the direction of the Prince Jing's Manor and saying curiously, "I wonder what distinguished guest is visiting. Prince Jing's Manor has actually opened its main gates."

Wen Hao followed her gaze, a sense of doubt rising in her heart.

In her past life, when her mother had brought her and her eldest sister back to their maternal home, they had not encountered any distinguished guests at Prince Jing's Manor.

The incidents involving her grandmother and mother were imminent; she had repeatedly recalled everything that had happened during this period.

"Fangfei, go and find out who has come to Prince Jing's Manor."

Hearing Lady Lin's command, the corner of Wen Chan's mouth twitched slightly. "Mother, there's no need to snoop, is there?"

Could her mother not change this hobby of hers?

"It's no trouble to find out, and it will save me from being curious all day."

Wen Chan looked at Wen Hao helplessly.

Wen Hao smiled. "I am a little curious as well."

Wen Chan: "..."