A Jiu was stunned upon hearing this.
She recalled Grandpa Lizheng saying that his father-in-law was a blacksmith, and the set of knives was personally forged by him at great cost.
His son was a cook, so these knives were for him.
Moreover, Qian Shi owned a shop’s worth of worldly influence; she truly shouldn't have fallen to the point of having no food after her husband and father-in-law died.
"Qian Shi, did she really not explain anything?" A Jiu confirmed again.
"No, she only said she knew nothing."
Tuoba Yan replied truthfully, then suddenly lowered his voice and whispered in A Jiu's ear, "Sister A Jiu, this Qian Shi is hiding many secrets. The county magistrate said that this warm illness has become too serious, and the Prince himself is overseeing it. If there's any mistake, his official hat is at stake. Therefore, this matter must be investigated thoroughly."
A Jiu fell into thought, subconsciously glancing at Hui'er, who was hiding behind her.
"Sister Jiu'er, I know you are kind-hearted, so what Little Yan Yan can do is help you keep this maidservant Hui'er."
A Jiu felt grateful, realizing Tuoba Yan understood her so well.
"Then... how long will it take for her to return?" A Jiu took Hui'er's small hand and clasped it.
"Sister Jiu'er, it depends on the outcome. If she has indeed hidden some earth-shattering secret, the possibility of her returning is slim."
This was the first time Tuoba Yan had spoken so seriously and earnestly to Sister Jiu'er.
Perhaps it was because he saw how frail she looked when he picked her up at Nanzhou County, or perhaps he felt that this plague had exhausted his sister. Hence, he treated this case with utmost care.
"No... my mother didn't break the law." Hui'er pouted, tears streaming down her face.
She suddenly threw off A Jiu's hand and ran towards the village entrance.
A Jiu followed closely, "Hui'er!"
Tuoba Yan followed closely behind.
When they caught up, Hui'er was leaning against the carriage, desperately banging on the door, "Mother, Mother, if you leave, what will happen to Hui'er?"
The guards by the carriage drew their swords, "What wild girl is this?"
"Don't be rash." Tuoba Yan arrived in time.
Only then did the men sheath their swords and retreat to the side with cupped fists.
"Mother, why aren't you speaking? If you just explain to the official, you can stay with Hui'er. Mother... I'm so scared."
Hui'er's slender body trembled as she cried.
A Jiu could hear sobbing from inside the carriage, but it was suppressed as if they dared not cry loudly.
"Mother... Mother!"
Hui'er's desperate cries went unanswered from within.
"Sister Jiu'er, what should we do?" Tuoba Yan saw the worry on A Jiu's face.
"I don't know either," A Jiu spoke her true feelings.
Suddenly, the carriage door was pushed open, and the gaunt woman rushed out and hugged Hui'er tightly.
"Mother, Hui'er knew you wouldn't abandon me alone." Hui'er cried even harder.
The interrogation on the other side had concluded. Those who had eaten meat were taken away, and those who hadn't had their meat burned on the spot.
The county magistrate, followed by guards, walked towards them step by step.
Qian Shi's skeletal face, streaked with tears, suddenly looked up and knelt with a thud:
"County Magistrate, I'll tell you, I'll tell you everything. I ate my husband's flesh."
The moment these words were spoken, A Jiu's pupils widened.
Everyone present was dumbfounded.
"Ah?"
"My heavens."
Hui'er beside her suddenly stopped crying, as if petrified, and slowly detached herself from her mother's embrace, backing away step by step in a daze.
"Impossible. I have already investigated Qian Shi's ancestors. They lived as blacksmiths in recent generations and were merchants in the bustling city of Nanming. How could they have fallen to the point of eating your husband's flesh?
Moreover, how did Qian Youjin contract such a warm illness?"
A Jiu couldn't catch her breath for a long time.
Did she not want to say it, or was she unable to? Or was she afraid of scaring Hui'er and didn't want everyone to know her secret?
As soon as the county magistrate finished speaking, Qian Shi slightly raised her eyes to look at A Jiu. What was initially filled with gratitude now suddenly lowered, as if she had no face to meet her.
"Speak quickly, or I will take both you and your daughter back for questioning immediately. At that time, you won't be the only one to suffer."
The county magistrate was an old hand; he could tell at a glance that the soft spot of this shrew was her child.