Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Residual Feelings of the Past

Generally, wealthy families would dig secret tunnels or hidden chambers in their homes to protect themselves and their families from bandits or enemies.

These tunnels could also be used to secretly transfer valuables.

Considering that Squire Lin’s residence was renovated from an old merchant’s house from the turbulent times, it was possible that this house also had a secret tunnel or chamber.

Otherwise, how could Mei Xing Er have vanished into thin air?

Realizing this, Li Nan Ke immediately asked Squire Lin, “Is there a secret chamber or tunnel in this room?”

As expected, Squire Lin nodded. “Of course there is.”

Squire Lin wasn’t stupid. After answering, he immediately understood and rushed to the corner of the bookshelf, pressing a hidden wooden peg.

Click!

With a crisp sound, a section of the bed lifted, revealing a tunnel with a wooden ladder leading down.

“Madam!”

Squire Lin rushed into the tunnel, but in his haste, he missed a step on the ladder and fell.

Leng Xinnan and the others quickly followed.

Fortunately, the drop wasn’t far, and although Squire Lin fell, he wasn’t seriously injured.

Li Nan Ke climbed down the ladder and heard a ‘whooshing’ sound, like an old fan turning.

When Squire Lin lit the wall lamp, he saw two bamboo fans installed in the corners of the secret chamber. There was probably a waterwheel outside, and through clever design, cold water was transported and stored in a tank, creating an artificial fan to circulate cool air.

But everyone’s attention was drawn to the woman lying on the ground.

It was Mei Xing Er!

She was lying on the cold ground, blood staining the side of her head, with more blood on the floor.

Although she was motionless, her chest was rising and falling, showing that she was still alive.

Li Nan Ke immediately deduced that Mei Xing Er had jumped directly from the tunnel entrance, hitting her head on the hard ground, which was why she was in this state.

Especially since she was under the influence of the anesthetic Drunken Immortal Peach, she had no strength to get up.

“Madam!”

Squire Lin held his unconscious wife, tears of joy streaming down his face.

As if sensing her husband’s presence, Mei Xing Er parted her dry lips, but couldn’t speak.

Tears flowed from the corners of her eyes.

Whether out of guilt or regret, no one knew.

Everyone helped to carry Mei Xing Er out of the tunnel.

Based on the information Li Nan Ke had gathered, Leng Xinnan gave an accurate analysis, “Mei Xing Er must have realized that she had been drugged with Drunken Immortal Peach and was about to go out for help when the Demonic Creature Old Qin arrived.”

“In a panic, she remembered this tunnel and hid inside. Because of the drug’s effects, she couldn’t land properly and accidentally hit her head, falling unconscious.”

“The Demonic Creature couldn’t find Mei Xing Er, so it trashed the room in frustration, which was heard by Xiang Er and the others, leading to the subsequent events.”

Li Nan Ke remained silent, staring at the beautiful woman lying on the bed, receiving medical attention.

After careful treatment, Mei Xing Er gradually regained consciousness.

She could even open her eyes and speak.

“Husband…”

Looking at the remorseful Squire Lin, the beautiful woman’s eyes were filled with shame, her weak voice carrying a hint of embarrassment.

Squire Lin tightly held his wife’s hand and said with tears, “It’s all my fault. I should have thought of this earlier. I’m incompetent. I failed to protect you, Madam. I failed…”

He started slapping himself.

Seeing this, Xiang Er quickly stepped forward to stop him and comfort him.

Everyone sighed inwardly.

Li Nan Ke signaled Xiang Er to take Squire Lin aside and then said to Mei Xing Er, “Before we talk, I have a small request. I hope Madam won’t refuse.”

“Just say it, officer,” Mei Xing Er said weakly, her eyes instinctively dodging his gaze.

Li Nan Ke said, “Could you please take off your clothes and let me have a look?”

The beautiful woman was stunned.

Squire Lin, who was wiping his tears, froze and then blushed, wanting to lash out. But Leng Xinnan’s cold stare silenced him.

Li Nan Ke smiled faintly. “Please do, Madam. I believe… you wouldn’t want anything to happen to your daughter, would you?”

A faint blush appeared on Mei Xing Er’s pale face. She clutched her clothes tightly, afraid that this handsome young man would rush over and tear them off.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to undress. Then answer me one question,” Li Nan Ke said, taking out a painting. “Madam, do you have a birthmark like this on your body?”

Mei Xing Er froze.

The familiar painting was like a bloody knife, piercing her heart.

“Madam, you’re an intelligent woman. You know how to answer this, right?”

Li Nan Ke tossed the painting onto the woman.

Mei Xing Er stared blankly for a while, her eyes sweeping over everyone in the room before finally settling on her husband. She closed her eyes as if resigned to her fate and said softly, “Yes.”

“So, the woman who was in love with He Qing Yu back then was you, right?”

“Yes.”

“And Lin Jiao Yue is his and your daughter, right?”

“…”

This time, the woman didn’t answer but remained silent for a long time.

It wasn’t until she bit her lip until it bled that she seemed to gather all her strength and squeeze out a single word from her throat.

“Yes.”

Thud!

A man in the room collapsed onto the ground, his face a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief.

Who else could it be but Squire Lin?

Li Nan Ke clapped his hands and said, “Very well. Now, I can have a good talk with you and reveal the whole truth.”

He asked everyone unrelated to the case to leave the room and even thoughtfully found a blanket to cover Mei Xing Er.

“Let’s unravel this grand play step by step, according to the timeline.”

“A month ago, the Lin family had a joyous occasion. The youngest son of Prince Anping, Bai Bu Ai, while traveling and relaxing in Dongqi County, happened to meet Miss Lin Jiao Yue and fell in love at first sight. He even vowed to marry her.

So, Lin Jiao Yue was promised to be the Little Princess and was about to fly up a branch and become a phoenix.

For a young woman who had always aspired to rise above others, this was absolutely the most important and greatest opportunity of her life. She would never let this chance slip away.

I can even assert that the Little Prince’s encounter with her was a chance deliberately created by Lin Jiao Yue.

From the first meeting, a stunning glance, leaving a deep impression. Then, closing her door to him, playing hard to get… This series of tricks, although cliché, was very effective.

At least, the Little Prince was hooked.”

Silence filled the room, only Li Nan Ke’s clear voice echoing as everyone listened attentively.

Mei Xing Er clutched the painting her former lover had made for her, her eyes fixed on her husband, filled with regret and remorse.

Feeling thirsty, Li Nan Ke asked Xiang Er to pour him some tea and continued,

“Logically, everything was going smoothly. Miss Lin just needed to wait for the good news. Even if the Little Prince broke his promise, she could still continue to be a wealthy young miss.

However, everything changed half a month ago.

Half a month ago, Squire Lin took his family to the Dustless Temple to offer incense, accompanied by Wan Ying Ying and Wen Jin Er.

No one could have imagined that this incense offering would change everyone’s fate.

While Madam Lin was alone in the meditation room, her former lover, He Qing Yu, suddenly appeared and started questioning her, asking if Lin Jiao Yue was their daughter.

And this argument was overheard by Lin Jiao Yue and the others next door.

Clearly, Madam Lin admitted it.

She admitted that Lin Jiao Yue was her child with He Qing Yu, shattering Miss Lin’s dream of becoming a princess.

Why was it shattered?

First, He Qing Yu was just a poor scholar, far from the Lin family’s wealthy status. Second, and most importantly, He Qing Yu had a criminal record due to the examination cheating scandal.

Even if Prince Anping didn’t care much for his youngest son, for the sake of appearances, he would never allow a family with such a ‘stain’ to marry into his family and become a target of gossip!”

Li Nan Ke looked at the pale Mei Xing Er and asked slowly, “Madam Lin, am I right?”

A faint, bitter smile appeared on Mei Xing Er’s lips, but she remained silent.

Just as Li Nan Ke was about to continue, Mei Xing Er spoke softly, “Back then, Qing Yu and I were in love and promised to marry each other. But because of our different social statuses, we kept our relationship a secret, waiting for Qing Yu to achieve fame before he could redeem me.

But then, due to the examination cheating scandal, his future was ruined.

Devastated, he became depressed and, not wanting to delay my future, resolutely broke up with me. He even lied to me, saying that he was going to marry someone else.

In anger, I impulsively married Squire Lin.

Later, I learned that Qing Yu didn’t marry anyone else. But it was too late; our fate had ended.

What Qing Yu didn’t know was that I was already pregnant at that time…”

Tears streamed down Mei Xing Er’s face, her shoulders trembling.

Squire Lin stared blankly at his wife of over ten years.

He looked as if he had lost his soul.

The familiar figure now seemed incredibly strange.

Perhaps he hadn’t expected that finding his wife would also bring him such a huge ‘surprise.’

“Let’s continue then,” Li Nan Ke said, taking a sip of tea to moisten his throat.

“When Miss Lin learned that she was He Qing Yu’s daughter, she must have been devastated. All her dreams and aspirations were shattered at that moment.

Fortunately, she had two good friends who were willing to keep this secret for her.

That’s why the monk Chang Ming saw the three of them making a vow in the hall.

Although Wan Ying Ying was arrogant, domineering, and harsh, and Wen Jin Er was vain, they truly considered Lin Jiao Yue a good friend and were willing to keep her secret.

But Lin Jiao Yue didn’t think so.

Could they keep the secret forever? Who could guarantee that these friends wouldn’t become enemies in the future?

At that time, the so-called secret would become a weapon!

In this world, there was only one kind of person who could keep a secret: a dead person!”

Li Nan Ke sighed, his heart heavy.

He truly didn’t want to believe that a young girl could be so cruel, but the facts were the facts.

Reality was often more fantastical than fiction.

When watching documentaries about juvenile delinquency, whether from abroad or within the country, it was hard not to wonder if some people were born with a demon hidden in their hearts.

The crimes they committed sent chills down one’s spine.

Whether shaped by their environment or personality… these people were born with the genes of ‘bad seeds.’

Li Nan Ke couldn’t judge Lin Jiao Yue.

But he knew one thing… this girl’s blood was definitely cold.

Calming himself, Li Nan Ke continued, “So Lin Jiao Yue devised her first plan: to kill her two friends.

For this plan, she took advantage of the existing conflicts between Wan Ying Ying and Wen Jin Er, deliberately instigating and provoking them. This made Wan Ying Ying even more convinced that Wen Jin Er wanted to steal the man she liked.

Don’t underestimate Lin Jiao Yue’s instigating methods. This girl is naturally gifted with a deceptive tongue. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to fool the entire yamen and the Night Patrol.

Finally, under her instigation, the opportunity arrived.

Wan Ying Ying decided to go to the Dustless Temple to offer incense and pray, planning to confront Wen Jin Er during their trip to Cuihong Mountain.

And Lin Jiao Yue wanted to seize this opportunity to get rid of her two friends!

She needed a scapegoat.

And that scapegoat was the Demonic Creature.

Especially considering that a Demonic Creature had recently appeared in Yun City, the closest city to Dongqi County, and hadn’t been caught by the Night Patrol yet.

With a precedent, no one would be suspicious.

Since the scapegoat was a Demonic Creature, she had to make it appear. So she had Madam Lin persuade He Qing Yu to impersonate the Demonic Creature.

Of course, He Qing Yu would agree. After all, this was his daughter’s request, coupled with the plea from Mei Xing Er, his former lover. He had no reason to refuse.

But Lin Jiao Yue had a hidden motive.

She didn’t tell her mother and He Qing Yu that she was going to kill her two friends on Cuihong Mountain. Instead, she deceived them with other excuses. After all, this was murder, and no one would take the risk.

Otherwise, He Qing Yu wouldn’t have climbed over the wall of the Lin residence that night to find Mei Xing Er, and he wouldn’t have gone to the White Cloud Restaurant to drink in frustration.

He Qing Yu wanted to go to the Lin residence to confront them because he knew he had been deceived!

And according to the clues provided by Xiang Er, after He Qing Yu was driven out of the Lin residence, Mei Xing Er and Miss Lin had an argument. It’s not hard to guess that Mei Xing Er was angry at her daughter for committing murder.”

As Li Nan Ke analyzed the events, the puzzling doubts that had lingered in everyone’s minds were finally cleared.

Everyone looked at Mei Xing Er with complex emotions.

It was truly unfortunate to have such a daughter.

Mei Xing Er also understood that the truth could no longer be concealed. She said with a bitter smile, “That’s right. At that time, Yue Er only said that she wanted to stage a ‘rescue’ scene to make Miss Wan and Miss Wen grateful for her life-saving grace and keep her secret forever.

But she originally planned to have me impersonate the Demonic Creature and scare them. However, I was afraid that my husband would become suspicious if I left, as I rarely go out. So I asked Qing Yu to do it.

Qing Yu had already promised me that he wouldn’t reveal Yue Er’s identity. He understood that it would harm both me and Yue Er.

Perhaps out of guilt towards me and our daughter, he didn’t think too much and agreed to the plan, wanting to do something for his daughter.

But neither Qing Yu nor I expected that Yue Er would actually…”

Tears streamed down Mei Xing Er’s face, and she choked with sobs, unable to speak.

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