After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 772 The Truth
Wu Ke didn't wake up until three days later.

By this time his high fever had subsided, and fortunately there were no serious sequelae. However, when he just woke up, he felt sore all over and had no strength at all. It was already his limit that he could answer a few sentences clearly, and he soon fell asleep again.

He was fed a bowl of rice porridge every morning and evening, which Wu Qiong personally forced him to eat. While he was eating, he was not very clear-headed.

However, although Wu Ke had a serious illness, he was able to wake up, was conscious, able to eat and sleep, and his medicine could be taken smoothly and was effective, so he was no longer in danger, and what followed was just a slow recuperation process.

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo and her mother-in-law left behind a few old maids, and added four tall and strong guards to Wu Ke's courtyard, and then the whole family retreated. Wu Qiong officially moved into her cousin's courtyard with her luggage. Although the courtyard was not big, it had two entrances, so it was no problem for a few more female relatives to live there. Wu Qiong moved in, so it would be convenient for her to take care of her cousin.

Now, this small courtyard is home to the housekeeper and male and female servants who were assigned to Wu Ke by the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion in the early years. Wu Qiong does not have to worry about the household chores, but the housekeeper is very knowledgeable about the rules and will ask her for instructions on everything and let her make the decision, treating her like the aunt in charge of household affairs.

Wu Qiong had been looking forward to living in the "Wu family" house for a while before getting married, so as to experience what it was like to have her own home. Although her marriage has not yet been settled, her long-cherished wish has been fulfilled in disguise. She moved into the "Wu family" house and became the master of the house, no longer living under someone else's roof.

But when she saw her cousin lying so weak on the hospital bed, she would rather her wish never come true.

When no one else was around, she sent away the maids and servants, and lowered her voice to ask Wu Ke, "How did brother fall into the lotus pond? Did he really fall into the water by accident?"

This is the answer Wu Ke gave. He insisted that he was walking around to get some fresh air to get rid of the alcohol smell, and happened to come to the edge of the lotus pond. When he looked up to admire the moonlight, his feet slipped and he accidentally fell into the pond. He thought the pond was frozen and he would just fall on the ice, but he never expected that the ice was too thin to support his body and broke into pieces, causing him to fall into the water.

There were no two figures sneaking away from the scene, and he had no intention of admiring the lotus flowers or koi.

That night, although the moon in the sky was not full, the weather was clear and the moonlight was like a hook. The literati who stayed at the banquet even wrote poems about the moon. It seemed reasonable for Wu Ke to enjoy the moon beside the withered lotus pond.

He insisted on saying this, and the host family and the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion had no other evidence, so they had no choice but to accept this statement.

The host politely sent a generous gift to apologize. After all, they did not take good care of the distinguished guest who came to the banquet. They did not send someone to follow Wu Ke and guide him, and they did not take protective measures beside the lotus pond, which caused him to fall into the pond. But many people know that this family will probably not send invitations to Wu Ke again when they have literary banquets in the future. Although Wu Ke was not wronged, he walked around without the host's consent when he was a guest, and the host had to take the blame when something happened. Even the most hospitable host would feel resentful.

Jin Jiashu had advised Wu Ke privately: "Is this really just an accident? You have never been such a disrespectful person. Even if you went to the Zhenguo Mansion, you would not walk around casually. How could you be rude in the home of a friend you just met? Did someone invite you to the lotus pond? If there were really no two sneaky people, why would others mention it for no reason? It can't be a made-up lie, right? Even if they happened to pass by and people saw them and misunderstood them, it actually has nothing to do with your falling into the water. There is no need to hide afterwards, right? Take the initiative to stand up and explain your innocence openly. Who would suspect them for no reason? If they don't show up, they must be guilty! If you don't say it, are you intentionally protecting someone?"

Wu Ke said, "Don't ask about this. There really is no conspiracy. It was all my fault. I was careless after drinking and caused so many people to worry about me. Now that things have finally passed, why bother to get to the bottom of it?"

Seeing that he had a look of "I have a secret, but I won't tell it", Jin Jiashu didn't force him to speak, but told Haitang about it. Haitang wrote to Wu Qiong again, raising all kinds of suspicious points. How could Wu Qiong not be frightened?
If her cousin really fell into the water by accident, it would be fine. But now it seems that there is a secret unknown to outsiders. How can she not ask? What if the enemy of the Wu family wants to harm the orphan of the Wu family and will attack her cousin in the future? She only has this one direct relative left!
Wu Qiong grabbed Wu Ke and insisted on asking for clarification. But Wu Ke refused to answer. When pressed hard, she could not help but get angry: "I said no, then no! Why are you so worried?! There are so many things at home, aren't they enough for you to worry about?! I, the head of the family, didn't say anything, but you are meddling in other people's business! If you really have nothing to do, go back to your room and embroider your flowers! You're going to get married next year, and you haven't even started embroidering your wedding dress yet?!"

Wu Qiong's face flushed, and she immediately burst into tears: "How can this be considered meddling in other people's business?! My brother and I are the only ones left in the Wu family! What should I do if something happens to you?! If I wasn't worried that you would be murdered again in the future, why would I worry about this?!"

Wu Qiong burst into tears at Wu Ke, who was embarrassed by her scolding and felt a little guilty. He actually knew that he was the one who made trouble today and shouldn't have offended his cousin who cared about him.

Helpless, he could only whisper the truth: "I don't want to make it public... I really fell into the water by accident, and no one pushed me. But... someone did come to me at that time and asked me to talk by the lotus pond... They were descendants of my grandfather's former students... They were not those who returned to Beijing after being reinstated. Their fathers and grandfathers had died on the way to exile, and they were not as lucky as Teacher Xie, Teacher Cao and Teacher Lu. Over the years, these descendants have also suffered a lot in their hometown. Although they have been rehabilitated now, they have wasted their time and failed the imperial examinations... Although they had heard that we were in Chang'an a long time ago, they did not come for us, but only to find old acquaintances of their fathers and grandfathers and wanted to ask for advice. Seeing me so leisurely drinking and socializing with others, and taking care of everything from food, clothing, housing and transportation, it is inevitable that they feel resentful..."

Wu Qiong was startled and was about to speak, but was stopped by Wu Ke: "Sister, don't say more. What happened back then... When I was a child, I heard my father say that grandfather had no choice but to not rescue these disciples for the sake of the overall situation, but the Wu family was not really beyond rescue. Even if we couldn't act openly, it would be good to help them privately. But grandfather completely ignored it and let them suffer... They spent most of their lives on the frontier. Those who are alive still have hope of recovery, but those who are dead have nothing. Our Wu family has never done anything for them, so when the Sun family harmed our family later, there was no one to speak well of our family. This is because... Grandfather acted unkindly first, he had lost his morality, and it chilled people's hearts."

The Wu family felt sorry for those old people who were implicated. Now the descendants of the victims said a few angry words to him, but what did it matter? He deserved it. Who told him that he was the only orphan of the Wu family?

Falling into the water was indeed an accident, but if he told the truth, who knows if the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion would embarrass the two scholars? Would it affect their future? Why bother? Covering up for them once was the only thing Wu Ke could do for them...

(End of this chapter)