Shencheng
Gabriel and Hannah sat in the car as the butler followed the route provided by the attendant in the front seat, heading straight toward Bihe County.
The scenery slowly passed by outside the window. Gabriel turned to glance outside.
Even after twenty years, the surroundings looked almost the same as in his memory, the same as when that little girl used to bring him food every day.
The route Hannah gave was precise. The car drove all the way to the deep part of Bihe and stopped right in front of a large courtyard, drawing curious looks from some of the older villagers.
"This is the place, sir. The Xi family lived here twenty years ago. Miss Servant Lian also lived here."
Hannah stepped out after the butler opened the door and explained the situation to Gabriel.
Based on what she knew, Servant Lian was just a maid. She didn't understand how a simple servant girl could become Gabriel's beloved, but since he remembered her all these years, she couldn't treat Servant Lian like an ordinary maid.
So she always addressed her as Miss Servant Lian.
"After the Xi family left, the Zhang family bought this place. The people living here now are from the Zhang family."
The Zhang family had clearly been informed of Gabriel's visit. As soon as the car stopped, the closed front gate opened.
The Zhang family head hurried out with servants to greet them on their knees.
"Master Gabriel, Miss Hannah, welcome to our humble home. The ground is muddy, please come in and rest first."
The Zhangs were just rural landlords. They had never seen someone as high-ranking as Gabriel.
Even though Hannah had warned them in advance, the Zhang family head was still so nervous his voice trembled when facing Gabriel.
Gabriel stood at the gate, his black eyes slowly scanning the area. "The original house here, was it torn down?"
His tone revealed no emotion.
The Zhang family head hesitated, glanced at Hannah, then nervously replied, "Yes, yes, sir. The Xi family's old house was very run-down. They took all the good stuff and pawned it."
Only an empty shell was left, so I had it torn down and rebuilt on the same foundation. After he finished speaking, he looked at Gabriel anxiously.
Gabriel said nothing, just stepped into the house.
Hannah and the butler followed behind. The Zhang family head quickly caught up.
Inside the main hall, the Zhangs quickly served the best tea and tried to make small talk, though it was a bit awkward.
Hannah cut straight to the point and asked about the Xi family.
Once the topic turned to them, the Zhang family head relaxed a bit and began explaining what he remembered.
"Back then, the Xi family were rich landlords. But a plague broke out, and they lost a lot in business."
Even after selling off all their land, they couldn't recover. Creditors showed up every day, so they pawned everything they could and fled overnight.
Hannah asked softly, "Do you remember a maid named Servant Lian from the Xi family? What happened to her?"
"Yes, yes. Of course I remember."
He nodded quickly, looking at Hannah. "Servant Lian was a well-known maid in the Xi family."
She was very pretty. Many people in the village tried to buy her contract and make her a concubine. But the Xi master never agreed.
Some people said he wanted her for himself. That maybe she already belonged to him.
Clang
The sudden sound of a teacup startled the room. The Zhang family head stopped mid-sentence and looked up, frightened, at the butler who had set down the cup hard.
Then he glanced at Gabriel, who had been silent the whole time, and swallowed nervously.
Gabriel looked at him. "Continue."
The Zhang family head glanced at Gabriel's unreadable expression. Though nothing had happened yet, the room felt tense enough to suffocate him.
He looked at Hannah again. She gave him a gentle smile and spoke in a soft, calming voice.
"No need to be scared. Miss Servant Lian and our master once knew each other."
He came today to learn more about her. Just tell us what you know truthfully.
Realizing the situation, the Zhang family head now understood. Even though he couldn't believe a maid had such a connection to someone like Gabriel, he quickly regretted his earlier careless words and got ready to explain more carefully.
But before he could start, Gabriel interrupted. "Tell it exactly how it was back then."
The words he had planned stuck in his throat.
But could he really say it all, if that girl had a connection with this man?
He looked toward Hannah again. She was about to speak when the butler stepped forward and said,
"Just tell the truth. That's what the master wants."
The more accurate your information, the more grateful he'll be.
The Zhang family head swallowed hard, then nodded slowly and chose his words carefully.
"Servant Lian was bought by the Xi madam from a broker when she was very young. She was a sweet girl and had a decent life at first."
But as she grew up and became prettier, she attracted too much attention.
The Xi madam got jealous and started treating her badly, letting others bully her too.
When the Xi family was about to go bankrupt, they sold her off as a concubine to a widower.
That man had a terrible reputation. After she married him, people said she never had a good day.
He died later, and she caught the plague and passed away too.
When he finished, he watched Gabriel's face carefully and said with regret, "What a pity. She was beautiful and kind."
If only we had known she had a connection to you, sir, no one would've dared treat her like that.
He told everything he remembered. It matched what Hannah had said earlier.
Gabriel sat silently, eyes half-closed, expression unreadable.
The room went quiet again, but the tension in the air felt even heavier than before.
The Zhang family head couldn't take it anymore and looked toward Hannah for help.
She turned to Gabriel, hesitated, then leaned slightly toward him and gently said,
"Sir, we also found Miss Servant Lian's grave."
Would you like to go see it?
Gabriel didn't move. After a moment, he slowly stood up.
Hannah's lips curved slightly as she rose and walked beside him.
As she led the way, her expression turned sorrowful as she softly added,
"Sir, you've thought about Miss Servant Lian for almost twenty years. No matter how you knew each other, your feelings alone should bring her peace."
If she could see you now, she would surely be grateful.
Now that you've come, please try to let it go.
Her tone was full of deep emotion, and her eyes looked at him tenderly.
She believed Gabriel understood what she meant.
From the moment she learned he had someone in his heart, she went from jealousy to acceptance.
She hoped that once he saw Servant Lian's grave, he could let go of the past and give her a place in his heart.
She didn't ask for much. Just a space in his heart.
She believed that if she could get that, she'd be able to win over the rest with time.
The butler noticed the look in her eyes and frowned slightly.
...
Servant Lian's grave was on the back hill behind the Zhang family's house. It was hidden and overgrown.
Grass nearly buried the whole site. It wasn't easy to spot.
The butler had the area cleared. Then he placed incense and offerings in front of the grave.
Gabriel stood in front of the low, broken grave, eyes lowered, face unreadable.
The Zhang family head and the butler stood behind him.
Hannah stood to his side, about to speak again when Gabriel raised his hand to stop her.
The butler stepped forward and blocked her, bowing.
"Miss Hannah, the master wants to be alone with the departed. Please rest with the Zhang family head."
Hannah looked past him at Gabriel, smiled gently, and nodded.
"Alright. If he needs anything, just call me."
The butler nodded. "Yes."
She gave Gabriel one last look, then turned and walked away with the Zhang family head.
She wasn't in a hurry.
She had patience.
...
After she left, the butler's polite smile vanished. He waved his hand, and a servant brought a chair.
Gabriel sat down, still staring at the grave.
"What did you find?"
The butler came forward with a report.
"There was a plague here ten years ago, but it wasn't serious."
No signs of infection at Miss Servant Lian's old home.
Gabriel tapped the armrest of his chair.
"Check the grave."
"Yes, sir."
A servant with forensic tools arrived and began examining the grave.
After a while, the examination was done.
The forensic servant bowed.
"Sir, this grave doesn't show signs of plague. No medicinal herbs were buried to prevent disease either."
If Miss Servant Lian died from illness, this grave is suspicious.
Gabriel looked at the fresh earth beside the grave.
"Dig it up."
The butler and the forensic servant hesitated.
"But if this really is…"
Gabriel stared at the grave.
"I have to know how she died."
"She shouldn't be buried here."
They looked at each other, then bowed.
"Yes, sir."
Half an hour later
As they continued digging and examining, the butler's expression grew more complicated.