Chapter 410 - Pei Family
Yi Bing, Huo Ling, Shi Jiu and Jiu Ye silently listened to the people's gossips while they ate in a noodle shop not far from the Pei mansion where the large crowd gathered, waiting for the officials to bring Pei Tingting's corpse out for further investigation.
"'mother's abuse'?" Jiu Ye caught the words.
Huo Ling glanced at him. Last night, after they have sorted out all the information they have gathered, Shi Jiu called Yi Bing and Huo Ling after Jiu Ye went to his room to rest, although he doesn't need it. Shi Jiu then told Yi Bing and Huo Ling about the past of them brothers, and Huo Ling apologized. He also promised Shi Jiu to properly apologize to Jiu Ye when there's a chance.
"Pei Tingting's mother is the only concubine of Pei Tingming, Li Hua." Shi Jiu spoke as he looked at the entrance of the Pei mansion where they passed through last night. "Li Hua is an orphan, and is working as a flower seller in a shop. Pei Tingming took a liking to her when he was younger, but with her background, she was taken in only as a concubine. Later, Pei Tingming married his official wife and they had Pei Tingyi. It was only after the main wife conceived Pei Tingyi did Li Hua conceived also a son, Pei Tingsong.." He explained.
He woke up earlier this morning and left to find some people to ask about the Pei family's situation. Because the Pei family is the wealthiest family in the Kunpeng County, their life is an open book.
"Such a pity!" Huo Ling said. "If Li Hua conceived a son earlier than the main wife, her son could have been established as the heir." He said.
Even though Li Hua is a concubine, but if the main wife couldn't conceive a son while she did, then even if she wouldn't become the main wife, but her son can become the heir. There is also another way for her son to become the heir even if the main wife conceived a son. And that is –
"This main wife, though, gave birth to a useless son." Shi Jiu spoke. "Her first son, and the expected heir, is Pei Tingyi. But, this son is too timid." Saying this, he glanced at his younger brother Jiu Ye who is silently eating on the side.
Jiu Ye who has been shot without a warning. "?" why are you looking at me? I'm not Pei Tingyi!
Shi Jiu retracted his gaze. "Pei Tingyi, although grew up filial, but his studies and skills are average." He continued. "On the other hand, Pei Tingsong who was born a month after Pei Tingyi was born, although his studies and skills also are average, but he is sociable compared to Pei Tingyi." He said and looked at Yi Bing and Huo Ling.
Yi Bing and Huo Ling understood. In ancient era, not only education and skills are your weapon, but also connections. You can trip down a general with just one dinner with an influential figure.
"Meanwhile, this second sone Pei Tinghe – " Shi Jiu spoke and frowned. " – is actually a social butterfly." He said.
"He's like Pei Tingsong." Huo Ling spoke.
"No." Shi Jiu spoke. "Although they are close." He smiled.
"How is Pei Tinghe different from Pei Tingsong?" Huo Ling asked.
"Because Pei Tinghe's social skills are all focused on one area – " Shi Jiu raised a finger. " – women." He said.
"…"
"Despicable." Jiu Ye muttered in disgust.
Yi Bing and Huo Ling understood Jiu Ye's hostility. It's because of his and Shi Jiu's father. Because of their father's philandering, he and Shi Jiu suffered, not to mention their mother.
Shi Jiu's expression turned ugly, but after a second it returned to normal. He also despised their biological father. "As for this Pei Tingting…" he said. "She's a vain woman." He told them. "She attaches great importance to her beauty. Although she's not a playgirl, but whichever man she fancied, she has to get them by hook or by crook." He explained.
"Why do you think she died?" Huo Ling asked.
If Pei Tingting is vain, she definitely wouldn't lose her head even if she had lost her heart to a man who rejected her. She wouldn't commit suicide, and instead make that man she fell in love with suffer pain much more than she suffered.
Shi Jiu naturally understood what Huo Ling is thinking. "If it isn't heartbreak, then…" he looked at Jiu Ye.
"Abuse from her mother?" Jiu Ye spoke.
"What do you know about Li Hua?" Yi Bing asked.
"She's an orphan, and her parents died from sickness. She also has no siblings, and she is working in a flower shop owned by her a friend of her parents." Shi Jiu answered. "As for her personality… the shop owner said she is diligent and gentle." He looked at them. "Of course, she might be faking it since she has to bow down under one's eaves, and that she only exposed herself after she married into the Pei family, or after she gave birth." He speculated.
They fell silent.
"So, which is it?" Jiu Ye asked. "We could've known more if her soul was still around…" he sighed. "Ah." He muttered when he suddenly realized something.
Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shi Jiu also noticed something. They all looked at each other, their expressions looked complicated as they voiced out the thought that flashed in their heads. "… did we see her soul?" they asked as they stared at each other.
"This isn't right…" Shi Jiu spoke as his grasp on his cup tightened. "We have seen Pei Tinghe's soul. But, we didn't see Pei Tingting's soul?" he asked.
"… when did Pei Tinghe die?" Huo Ling suddenly asked.
Silence. They all froze as they realized another thing. "That's right… when did Pei Tinghe die?" Shi Jiu asked as he looked at them.
Yi Bing frowned. "We only know that he went missing, then died. But, exactly when did he die…" his eyes narrowed.
"How does this world work?" Huo Ling muttered. "This is so confusing…" he frowned.
"… senior Huo. You're treating this as an online game…" Jiu Ye sighed.
Nobody spoke for a while as they deeply pondered.
"… nobody told us when did Pei Tinghe died." Huo Ling spoke. "But, even if no one knows, but nobody also told us where did Pei Tinghe's real corpse was found." He said.
"Because we still haven't asked that." Yi Bing spoke.
"Ah." They muttered.
That's right. They planned this to ask only yesterday afternoon and the night of the same day, they found out about the early curfew. So, they didn't have the chance to ask anyone about Pei Tinghe's death and corpse.
"I forgot to ask this…" Shi Jiu scratched his head.
"Don't worry. It's still early. There's still time." Yi Bing spoke as he sipped his drink. It's just seven in the morning.
"I'll go ask the resident I asked this morning." Shi Jiu spoke and was about to rise from his seat when Yi Bing stopped him. "What?" he asked.
"Don't ask the same person twice." Yi Bing said.
"Why?" Shi Jiu asked.
"They may lie in the second time." Yi Bing answered. "Ask another person and ask them with the same question." He told him.
Although puzzled, but Shi Jiu still nodded. "How about the matter of Pei Tinghe's time of death and his real corpse?" he asked.
"Huo Ling and Jiu Ye will ask." Yi Bing answered.
"And you?"
"I'll go to the land beyond the river." Yi Bing answered.
"… why does this sound ominous1?"
Shi Jiu asked in a low voice.
Yi Bing didn't answer. He was about to continue drinking when he noticed Huo Ling's gaze on him. "Hm?" he muttered. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"You're going alone?" Huo Ling asked.
"Yes." Yi Bing nodded.
"But…" Huo Ling muttered.
Yi Bing stared at Huo Ling's expression. "The reason why I want Shi Jiu to ask the same question but to another person is because I want to know the truthfulness of the people here." He explained.
Huo Ling started.
"You think they are lying?" Shi Jiu asked.
"Not necessarily." Yi Bing answered.
"Then…"
"But, they may be hiding some truths." Yi Bing spoke.
They fell silent. Indeed, this point is crucial. The 'rule' that they are following has just many suspicious points.
Yi Bing turned to Huo Ling. "The reason why I want you to accompany Jiu Ye is not only to protect him, but also for him to not be deceived by the people." He said.
Jiu Ye blushed when he heard what Yi Bing said. But, Yi Bing is telling the truth. Huo Ling has more social awareness than him, added to the fact that he is introverted. He sighed.
"Also – " Yi Bing continued and leaned towards Huo Ling.
Huo Ling's eyes widened.
" – you want to apologize to Jiu Ye, right? I also want to, too, so can I trouble you to pass my regard?"
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