The Self-cultivation of a Salted Fish Concubine

Chapter 186 The 4th Master is Gone

"I know. Sister Xie is worried that I'll take all the blame for Ping An's suicide on myself? And live in self-blame every day?"

Xie Run said softly, "Indeed, there are some."

"You tried to persuade her, and then she committed suicide. What others think and say is secondary."

"The most frightening thing is that you get stuck in a rut."

That was why Xie Run came this trip, in order to test King Jing's feelings, and he was also afraid that Concubine Lu would not understand and become depressed.

Concubine Lu smiled bitterly and said, "Master Xie, you don't understand... People like us, who have been struggling at the bottom for more than ten years, may have a bit of kindness in our hearts, but in fact, we are the most selfish."

"I feel bad for her, but I feel even worse for myself. How could I let myself be depressed for the rest of my life just because of Ping An?"

Concubine Lu said frankly: "Ping An will not commit suicide because of a few words from me. She died for Concubine An!"

"If she had really listened to me, she should have lived well and sought a chance of survival. She sought death... I felt bad, and I hated her blind loyalty even more."

"Even if it's really my fault, I will convince myself that I'm not wrong and live a good life from now on..."

After listening to this, Xie Run said, "It's actually quite good that you think this way."

The tears that Concubine Lu had been holding back for a long time suddenly burst out.

She covered her face and cried, "Sometimes I really hate myself for being useless."

"If I have to be selfish, I'll be selfish to the end. But I can't help but feel sorry for her. Thinking of our sisterly love in the past, she also took so much care of me... Now she died so tragically, with no one to collect her body. I feel uneasy!"

Concubine Lu cried and pounded the bed, "Why is she so stubborn?!"

"Concubine An is not worth it!"

"Just because Concubine An gave her father three taels of silver to treat his illness, she sold her life?!"

"For these three ounces of silver, you've endured injustice and humiliation for the first half of your life. Now, even after your death, you can't even clear your name and have no place to be buried... Is your life really that worthless?!"

"No matter how much the debt is, you have endured humiliation and hardship for Concubine An over the years, and it is time to pay it back!"

Concubine Lu couldn't understand!

I don’t agree either!

Xie Run sighed and looked at her for a long time before he said to the two maids, "You two should stay with your master."

"If you need anything, just send someone to Chunshanyuan to ask."

The kingfisher said nervously, "Thank you, Master. Don't worry about my master. That's just her temper."

"It's actually a good thing to cry now."

"She's let out her anger. She'll be all right tomorrow. She might even come to your yard and ask for tea."

Concubine Lu, who was crying bitterly because of the pain, said: "..."

After leaving Qingfeng Courtyard, Xie Run was not in a good mood.

My chest felt heavy, as if something was pressing on it.

When Taotao was murdered, she was angry and thought about revenge, so she gritted her teeth and insisted on finding out the real murderer.

As the investigation continues, more and more lives are lost, but the real culprit is still not found.

She did not feel sorry for Yuezhi's death.

But Ping An's death... made her feel very heavy.

Who in the palace doesn't know that Ping An was wrongly accused?!

But the evidence is on her, she can't explain it clearly, she can't defend herself, and it has no weight, so she must die!

No, maybe she can survive for a while.

Just to avoid implicating Concubine An and to prove his innocence, Ping An ended his life early.

Xie Runming knew who the real murderer was, but without evidence, she could not punish the real murderer and could only watch Ping An die in vain.

Back in the yard, Xie Run was silent for a long time.

Since she became a concubine, Chunshanyuan continued to expand outward, and even the Qingzhuyuan where Concubine Li lived before was demolished and rebuilt.

People in the mansion were all envious when they came and went.

Now her yard has a plum forest, a bamboo forest, a rockery garden...and beautiful buildings are everywhere.

Although she seems to be honored and favored, if one day she finds herself in a situation like Ping An where she has no way to defend herself, will King Jing trust her?

At this moment, Xie Run shuddered.

She felt like she was walking barefoot on an icy peak, and every step was filled with fear, as if she was facing an abyss.

She doesn't harm others, but she will never sit and wait for others to harm her.

Wan Linlang and Fang Yuaner...we can't let them get away with it cleanly.

The next day, Xie Run woke up a little late and let the maid help him wash and dress.

Suddenly, a maid came in from the corridor, braving the wind and snow, and said with a gloomy face, "Master... the fourth young master is gone."

Xie Run's hands suddenly lost strength and the jade hairpin he was holding fell to the ground.

Xiao Shu quickly squatted down, picked up the jade hairpin, and wiped it a few times. "Luckily, there was a blanket on the ground, so the jade hairpin was not broken and there were no marks left."

This jade hairpin is precious, it would be painful if it fell!

Xie Run closed his eyes heavily.

When he opened his eyes again, the loneliness was gone and there was a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"Can you please repeat what you just said?"

The little girl said anxiously, "Early this morning, Concubine An's court sent a message to the main court saying that the fourth young master has a high fever that won't go away."

"Mother Li thought it over again and again and sent a sign to the palace to request the imperial physician. Who knew that before the imperial physician arrived at the palace, the fourth young master had passed away."

Xie Run took a deep breath and said, "The prince and princess have entered the palace today and I'm afraid they won't be back for a while."

"Concubine Fang in the mansion is under house arrest..."

As the concubine of Prince Jing's mansion, Xie Run couldn't play dumb and hide in the yard at this time.

Xie Run asked, "How's Concubine An doing?"

The little girl said, "I heard that Concubine An seems to have gone crazy. She is holding the Fourth Young Master's body and won't let go. She is crying and laughing, and keeps talking nonsense..."

Xie Run immediately stood up and pushed Dan Tao's hand away, "No need to dress up, go ask Chun Juan to arrange someone, and we will go directly to An Shiqi's courtyard."

Dan Tao has always been cautious, and now she asked anxiously: "Master, will you get into trouble if you go to see Concubine An now?"

Xie Run said calmly: "I will be in trouble if I don't go!"

No matter what image she presents in front of King Jing, she has to deal with things now!

To King Jing, I appointed you as my concubine, but when my son died of illness, you hid in the yard and pretended to be ignorant. That is a huge sin!

No matter how important a woman is, she is not as important as her offspring.

Xie Run hurried to Concubine An's yard, and without saying a word, ordered people to separate the irrational Concubine An and the lifeless Fourth Young Master.

Dan Tao scolded many maids before she said to Xie Run, "It turns out that Ping An is in charge of this courtyard."

"After Ping'an was taken to the dungeon, Concubine An was weak and couldn't control him at all. The subordinates didn't obey orders, and chaos broke out... Now, investigating the Fourth Young Master's affairs will probably not be easy."

"We'll check it no matter how easy it is!" Xie Run said to Xiao Shu, "Tell all the maids and servants in the yard to stay in their rooms and not go out."

"Wait until the prince and princess return, and then interrogate them one by one!"

"If you find anyone acting strangely, just tie them up and bring them here for questioning. No need for nonsense!"