14 Interrogation
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Shen Qinglu lowered her head, staring at her own hand. It was her hand, yet somehow not hers. The person from three years ago was not her. And the one before her now was not the person in her heart.
“I don’t remember.”
“If you don’t remember, then forget it.”
Mu Lin was not only disappointed but also felt a subtle, inexplicable sense of relief. Their encounter three years ago, their chance meeting now—no matter how unwilling he was to read into people’s hearts, he couldn’t help but wonder. Now that Shen Qinglu said she didn’t recall that night, he had reason to believe that their meeting wasn’t premeditated.
At the same time, a faint sadness welled up inside him. That night, their conversation had been so delightful; he had never forgotten it, yet she seemed to have cast it aside.
At this moment, Yu Jingliang took out a large, heavy crossbow with great enthusiasm, eager to challenge Mu Lin and even asked Shen Qinglu to act as witness and judge.
The three of them gathered, and the courtyard instantly became lively.
Not far from the courtyard, behind a tree, Yu Qingxue watched with a gloomy expression.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Yu Liuzhu. At the moment of surprise came a flicker of joy.
“Tang’er, why have you come?”
“I came looking for Aunt.”
Though Yu Liuzhu had left earlier, she hadn’t gone to help Shen Linlang with the accounts as she claimed. Instead, she waited halfway to meet Yu Qingxue and followed her all the way.
“Thank you for what happened today, Aunt.”
Yu Qingxue was deeply moved and cautiously looked around. Seeing no one else nearby, her eyes filled with intense affection as she gazed at Yu Liuzhu.
“Tang’er, my kindness is only right. You are a daughter of the Yu family. I have no other hopes but to see you marry smoothly into the Hou household, living a life of wealth, health, and peace without worries.”
Yu Liuzhu remembered how kind she had been later, and hearing such words touched her deeply. She threw herself into her arms. “Aunt, you’ve suffered so much in this life. I truly hope you can live more freely and happily.”
She was surprised, delighted, and greedy for this rare moment of closeness.
Occasional laughter drifted from the other side, sounding unbearably harsh to her ears.
“Rest assured, just this once, I will never let Ali have the chance to see Young Master Mu again!”
“Aunt…” Yu Liuzhu was already in tears, as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances of her past life.
It turned out that those who truly cared for her protected her without expecting anything in return—Aunt was one, and there was another.
In this life, she vowed to repay Aunt and that other person.
*
Before Shen Linlang could approach, she saw the two girls embracing tightly and frowned.
Her daughter had always obeyed her, never meeting privately with her sister-in-law before. Now not only had they met, but they were so intimate. What on earth had happened?
“Tang’er? Qingxue?”
Her voice stirred the two who were holding each other.
Yu Qingxue immediately let go of Yu Liuzhu and hurried over, eager to explain. “Sister-in-law, Tang’er was wronged. It’s all my fault as her aunt. I didn’t teach Ali properly. Ali didn’t know manners or how to avoid suspicion, which caused Tang’er to be hurt and upset.”
Shen Linlang had already heard about what happened at Rui’an Residence, which explained her urgency to come.
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She looked at Yu Liuzhu’s tear-streaked face, heart aching.
At that moment, Yu Jingliang’s carefree laughter came from the courtyard. “A Lin, look, my Ali’s just starting out, and she only lost to you by three arrows. If she practices seriously, you might not be her match in the future.”
That second son! Truly unable to distinguish between close and distant.
Her expression darkened as she turned and entered the courtyard.
Mu Lin appeared to be competing with Shen Qinglu, the two standing close, while Yu Jingliang watched from the side.
Everyone froze upon seeing her.
Her sharp gaze first landed on Mu Lin, then Yu Jingliang, and finally Shen Qinglu. Unclear emotions churned in her eyes—was it reproach or suspicion?
Yu Liuzhu’s every need was attended to by her mother. Naturally, she recognized the clothes Shen Qinglu wore as the new outfit she had made for her daughter recently.
“Why are your clothes on your sister Ali?” she asked Yu Liuzhu, who had followed her.
She asked knowingly, not just questioning Yu Liuzhu but also silently accusing Shen Qinglu and making sure Mu Lin heard.
Yu Liuzhu recounted the earlier events without embellishment. Just Shen Qinglu’s words about liking her clothes and style were enough to make listeners speculate.
Shen Qinglu did not refute. Facing Shen Linlang’s doubtful gaze, she neither dodged nor avoided.
Shen Linlang was angry but, looking into her eyes, saw something deep and unsaid—an indescribable sorrow.
Enough.
Children don’t understand.
But do adults?
“Qingxue, Ali’s grown now. She is a young lady with a heart for beauty and adornment. As her mother, you should be more attentive and provide for her.”
Yu Qingxue protested, “Sister-in-law, you don’t know. This child is truly troublesome. No matter how much I teach her, she won’t listen.”
“The more you say and teach, the more she will eventually listen.”
“It’s my fault. Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I’ll watch her every day and won’t let her run wild or embarrass us again.”
Shen Qinglu remained silent, her face bewildered and confused, as if she didn’t understand a word of their conversation, not defending herself in the slightest.
Wronged or not, others spoke for her, defending her cause.
Neither Yu Jingliang nor Mu Lin could bear to listen further.
“Miss Ali didn’t run wild nor embarrass anyone. Madam, you may be exaggerating.”
Yu Qingxue and Su Qihe had divorced and should no longer be called Madam Su. Calling her Madam Yu conflicted with Shen Linlang’s title, so Mu Lin simply used “Madam” to refer to her.
“Young Master Mu, you have an engagement with Tang’er…”
Before Yu Qingxue could finish, he interrupted, “A lady’s reputation is paramount. Madam, please be cautious with your words.”
His words clearly denied the engagement between the two families. To Yu Qingxue, it was a thunderclap on a clear day.
“Young Master Mu, you…”
“Qingxue, Young Master Mu is right. A lady’s reputation is important. Some matters not yet clear should not be made public,” Shen Linlang interjected, her expression unreadable.
Realizing her loss of composure, she felt awkward and looked at Yu Liuzhu with pity, yet when turning to Shen Qinglu, there was a subtle resentment.
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Shen Linlang then said to Mu Lin, “A Lin, sorry for the embarrassment. Things are a bit chaotic at home, so I won’t keep you.”
Mu Lin, of course, felt it was best to leave and took his leave.
After walking some distance, he did not forget to look back anxiously toward Shen Qinglu.
Yu Liuzhu could not ignore him and took in every move he made.
Married once, even if there were grievances and hatred, one could never truly let go. When he completely ignored her, when his eyes were filled with someone else, Yu Liuzhu still cared, still felt anger, even vented on others.
Like Shen Qinglu, like Yu Jingliang.
Yu Jingliang spoke without restraint, bluntly saying, “Aunt, I brought Ali here, Grandmother knows it too. How can you say she ran wild?”
“Second Brother, how can you speak to Aunt like that?” Yu Liuzhu was full of displeasure and immediately found an outlet.
She had been neglected by Mu Lin, suffered grievances in the Mu household, and out of face had not told her family at first. But her second brother was close with Mu Lin and a frequent guest at the Hou residence. He knew everything about her situation yet did nothing to help, even advising her to be content.
“Over the years, how hard Aunt’s life has been, don’t we know? Ali is different from ordinary children, the hardest to teach and care for. Who can understand her suffering? Second Brother, what kind of heart have you made? How can you be so cold and heartless?”
“A mother should raise and care for her own child, isn’t that right? Ask yourself, has your mother ever had a single complaint about you growing up?”
Shen Linlang did not expect Yu Jingliang to say such words. Her brow furrowed deeper—partly because her son was defending Shen Qinglu, partly because she empathized as a mother, and partly because of the grievance in his tone.
“Second Brother, Ali is your aunt’s own daughter. Would she mistreat her own flesh and blood? You…”
“Just because she’s blood means she will be loved?” Yu Jingliang shouted.
Shen Linlang’s face paled. She opened her mouth but could not utter a single word.
Yu Jingliang smiled bitterly, but his expression darkened. “Ali is sensible and well-behaved. I want to ask Aunt, where exactly did she embarrass herself? What mother would speak of her daughter so unfairly? Aunt, are you truly her real mother?”
Hearing this, Yu Qingxue’s expression changed dramatically.
“Second Brother, I didn’t expect you to think this way of me… It’s my bad luck, my fault. Ali, look at the trouble you’ve caused everyone, making them argue over you. Can’t you behave? Don’t make things hard for me or others. I beg you, come back home with me.”
Her voice was full of sorrow and grievance.
Shen Qinglu remained unmoved, instead looking at Yu Jingliang without a word, tears streaming down her face in long strings.
Seeing this, Yu Jingliang’s heart ached. He pulled her behind him and said firmly, “I promised Grandmother I would return Ali home just as she is.”
She looked at the young man standing before her, feeling dazed.
Once upon a time, there had always been someone who stood by her no matter what happened—shielding her from suffering, worry, loneliness, and having nowhere to turn.
To be reborn as a person again was not a matter of time passing or a temporary separation, but a final farewell.
“Ali, don’t be sad.” Yu Jingliang gently comforted upon seeing the watery glint in her eyes.
She raised her head, letting the tears fall, first looking seriously at Yu Jingliang, then glancing forward, casting a sharp look at Yu Qingxue, Shen Linlang, and Yu Liuzhu.
Sad?
These people are not worthy!