NOVPUBThe moon cast dappled shadows as the wind rolled the clouds across the sky.
Shen Roujia didn’t care much about what had happened here, but at this moment, she found Hua Zui quite intriguing.
The more someone is obsessed with something, the more they tend to have an almost insane attachment to emotions.
Love can gradually become tainted.
Her bold guesses were continually being amplified in her mind.
However, Shen Roujia didn’t tell Gu Zhi, knowing that Gu Zhi still held a bias towards Hua Zui due to their relationship from the previous generation.
Coincidentally, the next day was a full moon night, the perfect time to test her theories.
Shen Roujia thought it through and spent the next day conducting various investigations around the mansion.
Although the information she gathered seemed trivial, it gave her a rough understanding of Hua Zui.
The maids and servants Hua Zui had taken in had been there for less than a year, and none had ever seen Hua Zui’s husband.
It was as if something was being hidden…
With this mindset, Shen Roujia looked at the smiling Hua Zui, and the contrast in her heart grew significantly.
She withdrew her gaze and began to repeatedly think over the information she had collected.
When the people in the qin room had dispersed, she approached Hua Zui.
“Lady Miao Yin, I have a question. Please answer truthfully.”
Hua Zui’s smile slowly faded, and a hint of panic appeared in her eyes.
“Go ahead.”
Shen Roujia smiled slightly, her voice gentle as she asked through the thin veil covering her face, “Besides you and your husband, who else knows this musical score?”
Hua Zui paused, clearly not expecting Shen Roujia to ask this question.
“There was one other person, but they are no longer alive.”
As soon as Shen Roujia heard this, she chuckled softly. It was just as she thought.
“Listening to this sound, I imagine you must have had recurrent nightmares, right?”
Hua Zui felt a chill at the back of her neck and hesitantly nodded. “Yes…”
Shen Roujia naturally reached out to touch the well-maintained konghou, as if she had suddenly validated something, her eyes darkening.
“You are clearly skilled with the pipa, yet you chose to learn an instrument you do not like.”
Hua Zui’s eyes showed a hint of panic as she forced a laugh.
“Why wouldn’t I like it… If I didn’t, why would my husband give it to me…”
Ignoring her evasive answer, Shen Roujia snorted and grabbed Hua Zui’s hand.
“You never gave up on the pipa, because… the old calluses on your hands don’t lie.”
Hua Zui’s eyes darted, her hand curling slightly.
The calluses in different positions clearly indicated varying degrees of wear.
Seeing Hua Zui’s tightly closed lips, Shen Roujia remained calm, slowly pointing to the konghou.
“This phoenix-head konghou is the hardest to maintain, but the wear and tear on its sound quality shows it’s been used for at least five years.”
“Also, the base and the upper material are different, suggesting it was added later.”
Hua Zui suddenly lifted her head, the hairpin in her bun trembling as she moved. “You…”
Shen Roujia took a step towards her, her voice cold and judgmental. “You think objects don’t speak, so you can deceive yourself? Sometimes, to live freely, one must remain clear-headed…”
Hua Zui’s eyes turned fierce, and the strands of hair at her temples trembled slightly. “No, it’s mine. It has always been mine!”
