Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 68

The private room was silent.
After a long while—
Shen Tangning furrowed her brows, her gaze shifting across the table. “You mean… Jin Xiu was killed to silence her?”
Liu Yifu’s face darkened. He nodded gravely. “If I had escorted her home that night, perhaps this tragedy wouldn’t have happened.”
Sensing his guilt, Shen Tangning hesitated briefly before speaking. “My lord mustn’t blame himself. Since the killers had already marked her, even if they failed once, they would simply wait until she was alone again.”
In truth, it had little to do with Liu Yifu.
Jin Xiu had served Pingting closely, and knew her better than anyone. For the mastermind, killing her to erase loose ends was only natural.
They simply hadn’t considered this angle before.
Liu Yifu’s expression grew heavier. “But the fact remains—she died right after coming to see me. I cannot be sure if it was because of what she gave me…”
Shen Tangning couldn’t help her curiosity. “Would my lord be willing to tell me what it was that she handed you?”
He looked up. “A dance dress and a mask. I’ve already had sketches made and sent men to trace their origins.”
A dress and a mask?
They hardly sounded unusual.
Seeing her doubt, Liu Yifu took out two sheets of paper from his robe. “Like this.”
Shen Tangning unfolded them. Her brows pinched. “The design of this gown… it is unique.”
“You’re a woman, more familiar with such things. Have you seen this style before?”
She thought carefully. “I know most fashions in Yanjing, and I have never seen such a dance dress here.”
But… something about it tugged at her memory.
Her eyes widened as a scene resurfaced.
An assassin!
Yes—in a palace banquet long ago, an assassin had disguised herself as a dancer. She had worn this very style of gown.
At the height of her enchanting performance, she had suddenly drawn a dagger and lunged at His Majesty!
The Third Prince had stepped forward, taking the blow in His Majesty’s stead. The assassination failed.
Yet what chilled everyone’s blood was that the assassin, with her dying breath, claimed the Crown Prince had ordered her.
Before anyone could seize her, she bit down on poison hidden in her tongue and died on the spot—leaving no proof either way.
It was obvious to the clear-eyed that this was a frame-up. But His Majesty, consumed by fury, would hear no defense.
Coupled with the decline of the Xie clan at the time, this incident became the final spark that led to the Crown Prince’s deposition.
Shen Tangning’s fingers tightened. Her eyes turned cold as ice.
“Miss Shen?” Liu Yifu noticed her strange look, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “Did you think of something?”
She drew a deep breath, schooling her emotions. “I only thought—since Pingting cherished that dress so dearly, it must have been gifted by someone very important to her.”
Enlightenment flashed in Liu Yifu’s gaze. “You mean… her lover?”
“Precisely. My lord could investigate along this line. Even if they kept their dealings hidden, there must have been times when they met face-to-face.”
Shen Tangning’s lips curved slightly. “If he wanted Pingting to work for him, to let herself be used willingly, he had to pay a price. For a woman like her, money meant nothing. Only emotions could bind her.”
Liu Yifu followed her reasoning, nodding slowly. “Then they may have appeared together in public more than once.”
“Exactly. And to capture her heart, he must have possessed his own advantages—appearance, talent, wealth. More importantly, he needed enough power to conceal it all without a trace.”
Her gaze sharpened. “That narrows the field considerably.”
“I’ll pursue it,” Liu Yifu said, voice low.
Then, as his eyes lingered on her, a strange feeling stirred.
It almost seemed like… she was deliberately guiding him.
But when he met her clear, luminous eyes head-on, his throat tightened, the words dying unspoken.
“And what does my lord intend for Jin Xiu’s case?”
Liu Yifu’s face sank. “When her body was found, all valuables had been taken. The Prefecture labelled it as a robbery-turned-murder, and intend to close it by pinning it on some random thug.”
His voice betrayed his anger.
At the time, he had argued with Magistrate Liu. “How can this be ordinary robbery? It is clearly tied to Pingting’s case! Doesn’t Lord Liu think this conclusion too hasty?”
Magistrate Liu had merely smiled mildly, his tone detached. “Lord Liu, Pingting’s case is already closed. That means this matter ends here as well. Our priority now is the corruption case. His Majesty demands answers.”
Liu Yifu had sneered. “And what of Jin Xiu? Should she die in vain?”
Magistrate Liu’s placid smile had remained. “This is Yanjing, my lord. Here, even when a stone falls from the sky, it only strikes the heads of the highborn. No one will care about the truth of a servant girl’s death.”
The words were heartless—but true.
If not for Pingting’s fame, no one would have bothered over the death of a courtesan either.
Even the Minister of Justice himself had discreetly urged Liu Yifu not to waste time on meaningless cases.
Seeing his silence, Shen Tangning understood. After a moment, she spoke gently. “My lord… the world is not black and white. To be too sensitive is to punish yourself.”
Those who were prone to self-reflection always suffered more.
“Then should I look away?” Liu Yifu’s voice hardened. He shot to his feet, each word sharp as a blade. “No. That only lets criminals run rampant. I will bring her killer to justice!”
Just as he had promised Jin Xiu—he would see that Pingting could rest in peace.
Shen Tangning did not mock his “naïveté.” Instead, she smiled faintly. “My lord’s heart is noble. It is I who was shallow.”
As he left, Liu Yifu looked back once more. “Even if the culprit does not know you were at Chunfeng Brothel that night, caution would be wise. Should you encounter trouble, come to me.”
Outside, Chi Yan leaned against the wall. Hearing the door open, he turned lazily, lips quirking. “Oh? Lord Liu is leaving already? Didn’t eat enough? Stay a bit longer, I’ll bring out more.”
This meeting had been arranged under the pretense of thanking Liu Yifu for clearing his name.
Liu Yifu inclined his head politely. “Thank you for the hospitality. I still have duties to attend. Farewell.”
“Take care, my lord.” Chi Yan straightened, casting a glance around before strolling back inside.
“All done talking?”
Shen Tangning looked up, her smile warm. “Thank you, husband, for standing guard.”
Chi Yan clicked his tongue. His wife, chatting happily with another man, while he waited outside like a doorman—truly, one of a kind.
“Not hard work. Just a hard life.”
Shen Tangning: “……”