They teleport right outside the Cheng family residence and make their presence known. Wei Ying had been in two minds, opting for just turning up inside somewhere, but Lan Zhan said he didn't want to be responsible for Hao Bai having a coronary by accident, so this is the safest option.
The servant takes them inside but this time, they're led into the inner chambers, past many elaborately decorated rooms and hallways to an out-of-the-way corridor. In this nook, there's only a single door that has been crudely axed, the lock so damaged that it cannot be fixed again. Whatever splinters might have fallen have been cleaned away.
Hui Gai, where are you? Wei Ying asks through their mental connection.
Right here, PengYou. We disappeared when you did, just to ascertain their sincerity.
What did you find out? Wei Ying is eager to know.
Your Hao Bai really had no idea, Hui Gai says quietly.
The servant knocks on the door in an unintentional mockery of the gesture, because they can see Hao Bai and Cheng Daiyu inside, sitting at a desk. There are stacks of papers piled next to each of them, and more papers in the trunks at one side.
Hao Bai looks up when they enter.
"You came back." Her voice is soft, disbelieving.
"Yes. Did you think we weren't going to?" Wei Ying asks her.
"I thought I had pissed you off for good," Huaisang says from behind the bookcase. He comes out with his trademark fan in one hand and an old book in his other.
"I said we are friends," Wei Ying replies.
Huaisang nods and then gestures for them to also sit down at the table.
"What have you discovered?" Lan Zhan asks them. It is a respectful question aimed at Hao Bai.
Wei Ying looks around. The room and its modest lack of superfluous things reminds him of the Jingshi, before he went to live there. Everything in its place and a place for everything vibes. Other than this table that they're all sitting around, the bookcase, the few trunks in the corner and the mats they're sitting on, nothing else is here. There are no personal items, no vases with flowers, no shawl or blanket to huddle under if Cheng Maoji had gotten cold.
It is an impersonal space erected for the sole purpose of working. No distractions.
"I'm afraid my grandson is right in his speculation. My husband had a job that he directly reported to the Emperor for. We're searching through these papers but we don't know what we're looking for. Nearly every single paper has a royal seal, and is either signed by my husband or the Emperor." Hao Bai passes one such missive to Wei Ying and Lan Zhan to see.
There's an official square seal at the bottom of the writing, characters that their Emperor had chosen for his own sigils at the start of his reign.
This one is to do with increasing army patrols in certain areas.
"The thing is, this might be important, and it might not be. This is like a puzzle, and maybe we have to put all the pieces together in order for it to make sense. By itself, it's just a request that was granted, but it could be connected to something else." He hands it back to them.
Cheng Daiyu puts it in a specific pile.
"How are you sorting through these?" Lan Zhan asks her.
She blushes an alarming shade of red and looks at her grandmother for help in explaining.
Wei Ying bites his lip at Lan Zhan's face; his expression is one of someone trying their utmost not to roll their eyes.
"For now, we have three piles. The ones signed by our Gracious Emperor, the ones signed by my husband, and a miscellaneous pile. Then we can truly start looking at them, sorting through them by the dates on each one." Hao Bai replies. She DOES roll her eyes at her granddaughter's antics.
"That way, we might be able to establish a pattern or a chain of events which may be recorded here, something that can explain why my grandfather was murdered." Huaisang adds, looking scarily determined.
"It's a big job," Wei Ying gestures at the trunks they haven't even opened yet.
"Many hands make light work," Hao Bai replies and shoves a stack of missives towards them.
Huaisang snickers behind his fan.
***************
They take a break for lunch.
Rich brothy noodles and dumplings, a spicy stew of meat and vegetables, and an unusual dessert are quickly consumed. Lan Zhan picks at his food and Wei Ying passes him most of his rice.
All of them are anxious to get back into their work, wanting to find the proverbial needle in the haystack.
"Have you heard anything from the Emperor yet, Popo?" Wei Ying asks her, after pouring fresh tea for everyone.
It was the only thing keeping him awake, and he knew the others appreciated it as well.
"No, nothing yet. The truth is, he may never answer. And so the real question is, how long will we wait for him?" Hao Bai puts her paper down. "We've been petitioning our Gracious Emperor for the past three months. I need answers about my husband's death, that last meeting and what exactly happened. All of my letters have gone unanswered and ignored."
"That's strange, though." Wei Ying rubs at his nose.
"I put it down to the Emperor being too busy with running the country than being able to attend to such a small matter in his eyes." Hao Bai blinks back tears. "But it matters to me. To us."
Cheng Daiyu looks at her, reaching over to entwine their fingers together.
"Well, I get that. Of course our Gracious Emperor is busy...except that this was his friend. Cheng Maoji might have been a covert operative for him, but this was still someone who shared meals with him, as well as information. It doesn't make sense, is all I'm saying."
"Well, this time around, A-Sang worded it for me. Usually, I begin the letter by introducing myself and then explaining about my husband. This time, A-Sang suggested we stick to pertinent facts only. So we said we found a coin that belongs to our Gracious Emperor, and we want to show it to him."
"Sticking to the point," Wei Ying grins at his friend. "I like it."
"We also signed it in your names," Huaisang says, hiding behind his fan.
Wei Ying snickers. "You never know, he might be a fan of the Fabulous Hanguang-Jun and his loyal sidekick, the Yiling Laozu."
Muted laughter echoes around the room, until it is interrupted by a single knock on the door.
A male servant enters with a tray upon which a red and gold scroll rests, tied with yellow silk.
"A royal messenger just delivered this, Cheng Furen." He bows and bends closer so that Hao Bai can take it.
The wax seal very clearly shows the royal seal of the Emperor. It seems that this is the answer they've all been waiting for.
YOU ARE READING
WangXian Forever Book 10
Roman d'amourWei Ying and Lan Zhan must step up to the new challenge that awaits them when they find something that was given to them in secret. What is it, and why is it so dangerous? They embark on a new adventure to find out.
