Su Pei’er was stunned.

’I thought the case would be under review for some time. How could it have been closed so quickly?’

As if sensing her confusion, the guard on duty lowered his voice and explained, "Lord Han Tong died suddenly of a heart attack. With him dead, the case is naturally closed."

Su Pei’er was deeply shaken. ’Han Tong is dead!?’

She unconsciously tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand. "Th-Then... Mr. Han..."

The guard glanced around.

"He’s gone mad."

With the father dead and the son mad, what was the point of investigating further?

In an instant, a flurry of thoughts raced through Su Pei’er’s mind.

’How could Han Tong have died so suddenly? What did he say before he died? And Han Yao... they said he’d gone mad, but was he truly mad?’

’Just like that time he pretended to faint...’

Her thoughts spinning, Su Pei’er swayed and started to fall, but Dong’er quickly caught and supported her.

"Miss! Are you all right?"

She looked for all the world like someone who had just heard devastating news and was completely overcome.

Su Pei’er managed to steady herself, her lips pale as she slowly shook her head.

"I-I’m fine..."

As she spoke, crystalline tears fell silently.

Su Pei’er was only Han Yao’s concubine, and one from a brothel at that. Normally, she wouldn’t have been worth such polite treatment; they could have just delivered the news and kicked her out.

But since Ye Chutang had previously sent Ye Yunfeng specifically to deliver medicine to her, they showed Su Pei’er a little more respect.

The Han Family father and son were notorious criminals, but Su Pei’er had only entered the household a few months ago and had no connection to their schemes.

Besides, if it hadn’t been for Ye Chutang, she would have already drowned herself in the lake, let alone ever stepped foot in the Han residence.

All in all, she was a person of bitter fate.

Su Pei’er forced herself to pull it together, wiped her tears, and curtsied to the guard.

"Please, wait a moment. I will just pack my things and leave."

The guard nodded. They could afford her that much time.

Su Pei’er turned and scanned the room.

In truth, there wasn’t much for them to pack. She had nothing when she was carried into the Han residence, and now that she was leaving, she had gained nothing but a body full of injuries.

Dong’er still hadn’t recovered from the shock. She looked at Su Pei’er blankly. "...Miss, what are we going to do now?"

Returning to Chunfeng Lou was out of the question, but if they left here, where could they go?

Su Pei’er took a soft breath and reached into her sleeve to touch the purse hidden there. Her frantic, uneasy heart surprisingly began to calm.

She said softly,

"To Shiluan City."

...

"Han Yao went mad?"

Hearing this news, Ye Chutang paused, the brush in her hand stilling.

The servant who had come to report was practically beaming. "Isn’t that right! You have no idea, the news is all over the Capital City! They say that when he found out his own father was dead, he was so overwrought that he went mad on the spot! Not only did he bite several prison guards, but he also smashed his own head until it was bloody!"

It made sense. He had risked everything in a desperate struggle, all to save his father’s life. But now his father was dead, and all his efforts had been for nothing.

Anyone in his shoes would have broken down.

"Everyone’s saying the Han Family father and son did too many evil deeds and are now facing their retribution!"

Ye Chutang wasn’t actually very interested in this. Someone else would be far more concerned than she was.

"Has there been any movement from Fengling Lane?"

The servant hesitated for a moment.

"Their doors have been shut for the past two days. We haven’t heard any disturbances."

Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so."

’So composed. Does he think things have finally taken a turn for the better for Ye Heng this time?’