1314: A Thousand Peonies Bloom
Investigations

“Uhuk... Uhuk...” Han Ji coughed as he choked on the wine.

“Han Ji, don't you want to stop drinking?” shuwan asked with attention.

“I'll stop, but not for now. Maybe later, until I am unconscious,” said Han Ji resigned. “I've been friends with arak. He became the cure of this pain I was suffering from. Although temporarily, at least this can make me a little calm,” continued Han Ji with a soft look while continuing to chug the wine.

Shuwan's brain was still thinking hard. He was trying to find the right thing to say to Han Ji.

“You're so young, Han Ji. Is your whole life you're just gonna be like this?” ask Shuwan.

“Shu’er, to be honest, I'm getting tired of this life. Wanting me to go as far as possible so as not to feel the pain of this life,” Han Ji answered Shuwan with tears melting on his cheeks.

She cried? What a rare sight for a man. His heart wound might have been gaping for too long. He lived with his family, but for him there was no family. Shuwan nodded after seeing Han Ji cry. His gaze returned to the wine glass on the table.

“Then, are you going to just give up?” Shuwan asked again. “It feels in vain that the gods created you if you give up like this,” ketus Shuwan tries to resurrect Han Ji.

Han Ji bowed lethargic, his mouth silent a thousand languages. His heavily drunk condition made him like a man who was almost as cute.

“I still want to be recognized by both my parents. I still want to be considered there by them. But it feels, whatever I do, it still doesn't change their view of me. After all, this family was also sinful for having slandered the Wu family,” Han Ji's emotions suddenly exploded. He unconsciously said the thing he had been hiding so well.

Shuwan's eyes widened, he gasped at Han Ji's words. Did he say it himself? It seems like a green light to continue the investigation. Inner Shuwan.

“Blaming the Wu family? Why did your family do it?” shuwan asked trying to get some other information. He sipped wine in his glass, waiting for Han Ji's answer. Sweet. Is this an effect because it has not been drinking for long? Inner Shuwan after tasting the wine in his glass.

“It... This is because they are my family's trade rivals. In recent years their efforts have been so successful, the father has become afraid of being rivaled to force him to commit this act of dishonor. Moreover, the father and mother of the Feng is no longer here,” said Han Ji in his drunk condition.

“Don't if it was discovered it could harm your own family?” Shuwan asked again.

“Hah.. What can I do? It was all Dad's plan. In this residence, no one dared to oppose him,” Han Ji short. “Dad used his connections to work with several government officials just to get rid of one by one the members of the Wu family,” Han Ji continued.

Without wasting any time, Shuwan continued his investigation, “Then, what evidence did your father use to frame the Wu family?”

Han Ji's head began to lean against the back of the chair, but he was still serving Shuwan who was in front of him at this time. “It... Dad made a fake document to frame him. The documents, stored in his secret room in this residence,” Han Ji explained until finally he fell asleep because he was really drunk.

Asleep already? Shuwan waved his right hand in front of Han Ji's face. The investigation went pretty well. Mercifully. Now just think of a way to find that secret room, and find other evidence.

Meanwhile, at the doorstep, Shuwan's three friends are still faithfully waiting. Suddenly a young man similar to Han Ji came over to them.

“Sorry, is my brother still inside?” ask the young man.

“True, he's inside. Right now, he is having a drink with our teacher,” Yu Hao responded. “Your face is a little similar to Young Master Han Ji, are you..” Yu Hao said disconnected.

“True. I am Liu Yuwen, Han Ji's younger brother. Because of some business, I was out of town. Today I just returned, and want to see my brother,” explained Yuwen.

“Ah... Apparently so. Then please enter,” Yu Hao allows Yuwen to enter.

Yuwen simply replied with a smile. He went into the study, and found his brother asleep because he was drunk. Shuwan welcomes himself there.

“Aih's... My brother is very difficult to change, huh?” Yuwen patted his head looking at his brother's condition. “She must have made things difficult for you huh, Miss?” Yuwen asked Shuwan.

He looks similar to Han Ji. She must be his sister. “Shu’er, you can call me teacher Shu’er. He just needed a friend to drink, and I agreed to accompany him. So, this was not his fault,” Shuwan explained his condition back then.

“Because his own teacher said so, then I will not blame him. From a long time ago, he was like this. I tried to get close to him, but he always refused me. In fact, we are brothers, but it feels even like a stranger.” Yuwen's countenance instantly changed after saying so. It looked like there was sadness in him.

“You can call me Yuwen,” she replied as she introduced herself. “I understand that. I also feel sorry for him who keeps trying so hard to be recognized by our family. My parents saw my brother as a failure. For this reason, they no longer care what they do. When I was a kid, I used to see him cry. However, as I approached her, she immediately wiped away her tears and said that she was fine,” Yuwen told a little story of her past.

Shuwan smiled, he said, “I am just a stranger who happened to get a chance to teach here. There is no right for me to interfere in your family's personal matters. I'm just hoping, that you as his sister can give him a little affection so that he has a reason to stay alive.”

“I... I will keep trying to improve my relationship with him,” Yuwen said optimistically.

“Because the day is getting late, me and my bodyguard resigned. Tomorrow, I must return to teach again,” Shuwan saluted.

Yuwen nodded, “Alright, then go ahead. Let me take care of my brother,”.

“Good, Sir,” Shuwan walks past Yuwen. He quickly got out of there and found his three friends who were waiting for him.

“Finally you're out too,” said Jiao happily.

“Sorry it has kept you waiting a long time. Then let's go home now. My eyes are getting sleepy,” Shuwan.

The three of them went home together, along the same road as usual.

Arriving at home, Zhang directly asked a question to Shuwan, “Shuwan, Han Ji did nothing to you ‘kan?”

Shuwan shook his head, “You take it easy. He is actually a pretty good young man,” Shuwan replied.

“Good? Viewed in terms of mana?” Zhang asked again out of curiosity. Such a man considered good? Are Shuwan's eyes short-sighted? Zhang's mind seemed to be in disbelief.

Shuwan laughs, “Of course from the part invisible to others.” Shuwan's words suddenly cause misunderstandings to Zhang, Jiao, and Yu Hao.

“B-invisible parts? Don't-don't you mean is...” Zhang did not continue his words.

Shuwan let out a long sigh, “That's not what you guys imagined. Han Ji was a fragile young man of his heart, due to the lack of attention from his own parents. This side that I saw earlier as long as he accompanied her to drink,” Shuwan explained straightening the misunderstanding between them.

Now it was Zhang's turn to sigh, as if the weight of his mind had been lifted. I think he's playing with Han Ji inside. Thank goodness it was just my useless trash mind. Inner Zhang who felt ridiculous.

“Oh, yes. Didn't you get any leads on the rebellion?” asked Yu Hao curiously.

“Sure I got it. But, I'll tell you tomorrow with Feng. I'm so tired today. My eyes are sleepy, I need a break now,” Shuwan yawns after he finishes saying it.

“Can't you say it now?” pinta Yu Hao's.

“I stick to my stance. I am a typical lazy person who tells stories repeatedly, loh.” Shuwan.

“Already, already... Let's just end it today. Tomorrow we just talk about it with Feng. Then please rest everyone, tomorrow wake up early,” Zhang exclaimed to his friends.

***

Meanwhile at Liu's residence.

Liu Yuwen was still accompanying her brother, Han Ji, who was drunk after drinking with Shuwan.

“Son, fight to stay alive. Although father and mother no longer give you the warmth of family, but you still have me, your little sister. I will take care of you, as much as possible,” Yuwen said as he held his sleeping brother's hand.