The Eunuch Has A Wife - Chapter 27

“Hmm?”

Wei Ziwan’s gaze paused: “You do look alike, much more so than that Bai Luo.” She had noticed this some time ago.

In terms of appearance, Bai Zhi resembled the Bai family far more than the second young lady, Bai Luo. Bai Luo didn’t look like Bai Li at all, whereas this fake eunuch from the cold palace seemed more like a true member of the Bai family.

“Did you know? I look even more like my uncle.” Bai Zhi’s expression darkened, feeling as though she were lost in a fog. The more she saw, the less she understood.

She wanted to ask, to talk to someone, but in the end, she could only confide in this troublemaker. It seemed that only by doing so could her mind feel somewhat clearer.

The two of them were like rootless duckweeds, adrift and alone. They weren’t close, nor did they trust each other, yet they tacitly leaned on one another, if only because neither had any family.

Family?

Bai Zhi looked at the person before her. This troublemaker was just like her—but soon, that would no longer be the case. It seemed she had found her own family, though she couldn’t tell if it was a blessing or a curse.

As for Wei Ziwan, her country had fallen, and her home was gone. She was only nineteen, and everything in her life was beyond her control.

Wei Ziwan, unaware of Bai Zhi’s inner turmoil, continued to smile at her: “So you’ve met your uncle? Looking alike is a good thing. It means you’re family.”

Even if they looked alike, there was no need for such an expression. Why did she look as if she’d seen a ghost?

Bai Zhi’s face was pale, almost blending into the snow-blue robe she wore.

She had met him, but she was only her adoptive father’s foster daughter, not a bl00d relative.

So why did her adoptive father look nothing like his own brother, while she bore such a striking resemblance to the Bai family, as if she were truly one of them—and a bl00d relative at that?

“Can’t figure it out?” Wei Ziwan noticed her furrowed brows and wondered what there was to ponder.

“Yes, I can’t figure it out.” Bai Zhi frowned, her voice calm.

Wei Ziwan chuckled softly: “If you can’t figure it out, don’t waste your energy. You’ll know when the time comes.”

Bai Zhi snorted inwardly. This was exactly what her uncle had said.

But the troublemaker had a point. If she couldn’t understand, there was no use wasting her energy. She would find out eventually. She had patience. Staying calm was all she needed to do.

Having lived a second life, wasn’t this how she had always gotten by? Staying calm, not panicking—sooner or later, everything would become clear.

“Uncle has found a teacher for us, a Mr. Qiu, to teach us about farming.”

Wei Ziwan raised an eyebrow: “That’s good. Tomorrow morning, we’ll go get the seeds and ask Mr. Qiu to teach us how to plant them.”

Having someone to teach them was better than fumbling in the dark on their own.

Bai Zhi nodded. There was so little they could do or knew how to do, so for now, they needed to stay calm and steady. They could worry about the future later.

The next morning, after instructing Auntie Chen, they went to the accounts office after breakfast, only to be told that Manager Lu wasn’t there.

“Manager Lu came by earlier and said the two young ladies should go to his quarters to collect the seeds.”

The servant led them to Manager Lu’s courtyard, greeting people along the way. Soon, they arrived at the courtyard gate. He stopped and said, “Young ladies, we’re here. Manager Lu is inside. I have other tasks to attend to, so I’ll return to the accounts office now.”

With that, he bowed and left at a leisurely pace.

Bai Zhi stopped and looked at Wei Ziwan.

Something felt off. Why did they need to go to Manager Lu’s quarters to collect the seeds? What was Manager Lu’s intention?

“I’ll go in alone.” Bai Zhi said. If something was wrong, it would be better to have someone outside to help.

Wei Ziwan glanced at the servant’s retreating figure and frowned. “Be careful. If you’re not out in half a quarter, I’ll come in after you.”

Bai Zhi nodded and stepped into the courtyard.

Wei Ziwan listened from outside. The door opened, Bai Zhi went in, and she wondered what Manager Lu would say, how long he would talk… how long!

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried, chaotic footsteps.

In just a few breaths, the person who had just entered came running out in a panic.

“What’s wrong?”

Bai Zhi’s face was pale with shock. She tried to speak but coughed a few times from running too fast before saying, “Manager Lu has hanged himself.”

“What?” Wei Ziwan was stunned, then rushed inside. “Quick, let’s save him.”

Bai Zhi grabbed her sleeve: “He’s already dead. It’s too late.”

Wei Ziwan stopped in her tracks, her face blank.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with complexity and anger. Something was wrong. Someone was deliberately framing them.

And using such a cruel and clumsy method at that.

After a moment, Bai Zhi calmed down and said, “From start to finish, I was the only one who went in. You stayed outside the whole time and only went to call for help after I told you to.”

Whether it was a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair, they couldn’t both fall into the trap.

Wei Ziwan hesitated, then quickly analyzed the situation: “We went to the accounts office this morning and were led here by the servant. Many people saw us. Manager Lu must have died before we arrived. Now, you go back inside and check the scene. I’ll go call for help and look for that servant.”

That servant was definitely suspicious.

Bai Zhi nodded: “Go. I’ll wait for you inside.”

Wei Ziwan turned to leave but stopped after a few steps. “Are you scared?”

“No.” Bai Zhi forced a smile. She had seen dead people before, more than once. Those women who had been banished to the cold palace—some resigned themselves to a lingering existence, some refused to accept their fate and struggled for a while before giving up, and some died, mostly by hanging themselves.

But Manager Lu might not have killed himself.

“That’s an ugly smile. Don’t be scared, husband. I’ll be back soon.” Wei Ziwan said, then immediately started shouting as she ran, “Help! Someone’s dead!”

Bai Zhi watched her go and couldn’t help but smile again. This troublemaker…

She turned back, her expression darkening, and re-entered Manager Lu’s room.

Soon, Bai Li arrived with a group of people.

He waved his hand, signaling everyone to stay outside the courtyard, then walked in alone after a moment’s thought.

Bai Zhi stood at the door and called out to him as he entered: “Elder Brother.” Wei Ziwan hadn’t come with him—she must have gone to look for that servant.

“What happened?” Bai Li asked.

“When I came in, he was already like this. Nothing in the room has been touched.” Bai Zhi stepped aside, and the two walked in together.

As soon as they entered, they saw Manager Lu hanging from the central beam. Bai Li instinctively moved to take him down but stopped.

He turned to Bai Zhi: “Let’s wait for the coroner. Why did you come here?”

Bai Zhi explained how they had come to find Manager Lu that morning.

Bai Li immediately sensed something was wrong. He frowned: “Where’s the servant who brought you here?”

“He didn’t return to the accounts office. He’s probably gone.”

Wei Ziwan arrived late, still catching her breath, clearly having hurried.

Bai Li’s frown deepened. These people were truly troublesome. Should he inform his father before making any decisions?

Just then, two more people entered.

A woman in a light blue dress rushed in, wailing: “Father! Father, what’s wrong? Young Master, please save my father!”

This was Manager Lu’s daughter, Lu Qu’er.

No one in the room spoke. The coroner stepped forward, examined the body, and said, “There’s no saving him.”

The atmosphere in the room grew heavier. Lu Qu’er trembled and collapsed to the ground: “No, my father can’t be dead…”

She sobbed a few times, then suddenly stood up, her eyes bloodshot as she glared at Bai Zhi and Wei Ziwan: “You’re the two young ladies from the capital.”

Bai Zhi felt a strange unease, a bad premonition. She had just nodded and was about to respond when Lu Qu’er’s eyes filled with hatred: “It must be you. You must have killed my father. I’ll fight you!”

Lu Qu’er lunged at Wei Ziwan, who was closer. Bai Zhi instinctively stepped in to block her.