Chapter Seven: The Murder Case

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Meng Qing immediately instructed a servant to fetch paper and pen to write a letter, then told the servant to leave the city and seek out Master Yingjue at the temple. Jiang Nian quickly agreed, then left behind a formula to soothe allergic reactions.

Jiang Nian said, "After Lord Wei finishes his reassignment, he will return to the capital for his post. We will see each other again soon in the city. If there’s anything uncertain, Madam can come to me anytime."

"With your words, I feel completely at ease!"

As she was about to leave, Jiang Nian requested an audience with Lord Wei, claiming to be a witness to a murder case. Meng Qing was surprised but did not inquire further; instead, she took Jiang Nian to meet her husband.

After a private conversation with Lord Wei, Jiang Nian returned to the Jiang residence. As soon as she stepped down from the carriage, the matriarch sent someone to summon her.

Clearly, Second Aunt had complained against her before the grandmother.

However, Jiang Nian was untroubled and instructed Qing’er: “Go invite Grandmother, Father, and Second Uncle to the council hall in the front courtyard. Just say there is a guest coming to the residence.”

Qing’er sensed something significant was about to happen and nervously replied, “Yes, I’ll go immediately.”

Chen, worried for her daughter, was the first to arrive. “Nian’er, what are you planning?”

Jiang Nian gently squeezed her hand. “Mother, don’t worry. Just watch quietly from the side.”

Soon, everyone assembled in the front courtyard council hall, but the supposed “guest” was nowhere to be seen; only Jiang Nian stood alone in the hall.

Second Aunt spoke with a sharp tone, “Look at this, just helping the Wei family a little and now she’s summoning the elders!”

The matriarch’s face was full of displeasure. “What exactly are you up to? Where is this guest?”

Jiang Ping, trying to maintain the image of a kind father, did not reprimand her, but Second Uncle was less polite. “Big brother, look at her temper. If she goes to the capital, won’t she just cause trouble for the Jiang family?”

Jiang Ping frowned slightly. Jiang Nian chuckled softly, “Second Uncle, don’t get so worked up. You’ll have your turn to be excited soon!”

Second Uncle was about to lose his temper when a messenger reported that Lord Wei, Governor of Luzhou, had arrived.

Everyone was surprised—could this guest be him?

Jiang Ping was a Second-Rank Deputy Minister of Personnel with considerable authority, so he was not intimidated by a provincial governor.

But Wei Lanzhou had an impeccable reputation, and his father-in-law was the Premier of the Cabinet, so he could not be underestimated. They quickly went to greet him.

After polite exchanges, Wei Lanzhou spoke frankly: “To be honest, I am here today on business regarding a certain case.”

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Jiang Ping was somewhat surprised. His gaze shifted past Wei Lanzhou to an elderly couple standing behind him, but he had no impression of them and invited Wei Lanzhou inside.

All eyes in the Jiang family fell on Wei Lanzhou—except Second Aunt’s, which were fixed on the elderly couple!

She suddenly staggered backward, hitting the table corner and causing a clatter of tea cups and saucers.

The matriarch’s gaze instantly turned cold.

Second Aunt’s face drained of color. “Your daughter-in-law will withdraw…”

Jiang Nian’s tone was calm but firm. “Second Aunt, please wait.”

Second Aunt looked at Jiang Nian with a mocking gleam in her eyes. Suddenly recalling Jiang Nian’s earlier words, “I bet Second Aunt won’t make it to the capital,” a cold sweat broke out along her spine.

“What are you trying to do? So young, always playing tricks and pretending. Do you really think no one can teach you a lesson?”

Jiang Nian was used to Second Aunt’s obstinacy and smirked, “Second Aunt, you’re in such a hurry to leave—are you feeling guilty?”

Everyone grew suspicious at her words and turned their attention to the elderly couple.

Though simply dressed, the two did not look like ordinary commoners. Especially the older gentleman, who wore a blue robe and appeared to be a scholar.

Jiang Nian politely asked, “Do you two know my Second Aunt?”

The pair of middle-aged elders looked at Second Aunt Qi with eyes as sharp as knives!

The older woman’s eyes were bloodshot with rage.

The middle-aged scholar spoke: “I am Yuan Yi. We were neighbors of the Qi family. Some years ago, the Qi family’s caravan was ambushed and the patriarch killed. I urged my wife to take extra care of the Qi mother and daughter. Soon after, my son said he had privately pledged himself to Miss Qi. Though angry, I arranged their engagement.”

“However, just after the engagement was set, the Qi family reneged. Later, we learned that the Jiang family intended to marry Miss Qi into their household. Hoping she could support her maternal family, we swallowed our pride and kept her past a secret.”

“Three years ago, my son suddenly received a letter from an old friend, unnamed. He went to meet this person but refused to say who it was afterward. After two months of meetings, one day his body was found in the bamboo grove behind Jishan Temple…”

Second Uncle’s face darkened upon hearing “three years ago,” and grew livid at the mention of Jishan Temple.

Qi had been pregnant with Lin Ge three years ago and often went to Jishan Temple to pray for a child before conceiving.

So this was the way she sought a child?

Yuan Yi’s gaze was like a blade piercing Second Aunt. “Not only did she marry into the Jiang family with a tarnished reputation, after years of barrenness she seduced my son and, upon becoming pregnant, murdered him to cover it up!”

“No! That’s not true!”

Second Aunt screamed miserably. She clutched the table, trembling uncontrollably.

“I didn’t kill him! There was no secret engagement! You’re slandering me! Master, don’t believe him! I’m innocent—I don’t even know him!”

Second Uncle glared, veins bulging on his forehead.

“I remember now! The night of our wedding, I was drunk. The next morning, you pulled out a blood-stained handkerchief. You lied to me! So before marrying me, you were already with another man? Cheating with an old lover and bearing his child?!”

“No!” Second Aunt shook her head frantically. “They’re defaming me! They have no proof!”

At the mention of proof, the matriarch immediately thought of her only grandson.

Her eyes scrutinized Yuan Yi’s face for a long moment before turning deathly pale.

“Send someone to bring that wretched child here!”

Second Aunt nearly lost her mind. “No, Grandmother! Lin Ge is a Jiang family child—he belongs to the Jiang family!”

But when the servants brought out Xie Jinglin, everyone fell into stunned silence.

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