abcnovels
Chapter 660: Truth Surfacing
Chapter 660: Truth Surfacing
Chapter 660: Truth Surfacing
Translator: Henyee Translations | Editor: Henyee Translations
Everyone stared at the empty rooftop, afraid to make a sound.
Lu Lizhang was so furious that he almost fainted.
It was Lu Yici’s painful howl that broke the silence. “Father, kill me! It’s too painful. Kill me! Let me die!”
Lu Yice’s bloodlust episodes were akin to being pierced by countless needles,
the pain reaching deep into his marrow.
“Lu Yichen!!!” Lu Lizhang roared with rage and helplessness, as if the pain inflicted on him was no less than what Lu Yice endured, “Bring Lu Yichen back to me!”
The guard obeyed. “Yes, my lord.”
The butler approached cautiously, suggesting, “My lord, it’s said that Chu Qingzhi’s medical skills are unparalleled. Perhaps she could check the young master?”
“Do you believe that a teenage girl possesses such medical prowess?”
The butler, lacking confidence, replied, “My lord, it wouldn’t hurt to try.
After a long silence, Lu Lizhang decided, “Go and invite her. If she can cure
Yice, whatever she wants, I will grant.”
The butler bowed, “Yes, my lord.”
Meanwhile, Chu Qingzhi was assisting with a birth at the Yun family, a wealthy and influential household in the capital, related by marriage to the Zhou family.
The butler brought his men and barged into the Yun family’s house. He came outside the delivery room and ordered, “Chu Qingzhi, His Lordship wants to see you. Please come with us immediately.”
The pregnant woman was at the critical moment of giving birth, and Chu
Qingzhi could not leave.
“I’ll handle this,” Chu Qingning stepped out, boldly stating, “Even if the Emperor himself were here, he would have to wait!”
The butler’s face darkened. The lord was already disappointed in him. If he couldn’t bring her back immediately, he would probably be abandoned by the lord. “If Chu Qingzhi doesn’t come with us, you won’t be able to bear the consequences…”
“Whatever the consequences, you’ll have to wait. Otherwise, leave now. Anger my sister, and no one gets any help,” Chu Qingning faced the guards, feigning courage despite feeling intimidated.
The butler stared hard at Chu Qingning and ordered, “Take Chu Qingzhi with
us!”
The members of the Yun Family stood around. They were angry but did not dare to say anything. The other party was a lord. Their family could not compete with him at all. They could only watch as the butler and the guards did whatever they wanted.
Chu Qingningblocked the doorway, “You dare!”
Chu Qingzhi emerged from the birthing room, calmly warning, 111 give you one chance to leave the Yun residence. I will overlook this intrusion. Otherwise,
I refuse to visit your lord.”
The butler, feeling as if a heavy stone weighed on his heart, couldn’t defy her firm stance and, after a struggle, retreated from the Yun residence.
Chu Qingzhi and Chu Qingning continued with the delivery until the evening when the mother safely gave birth.
Chu Qingzhi preferred to let nature take its course during childbirth, intervening only in life-threatening situations, which is why the process took longer.
The butler and guards waited at the Yun residence’s gate, their anxiety mounting as the sun set, fearing the consequences of their failure.
When Chu Qingzhi and Chu Qingning finally emerged, the butlereward hurriedly approached, “Miss Chu Qingzhi, please, our young master needs your assistance.”
When Chu Qingning saw how servile the butler was, she felt satisfied. Who asked you to be so unreasonable? In the end, you would have to obediently tuck your tail between your legs and beg her!
Chu Qingzhi responded coolly to the butler, “Go back first. I have some matters to attend to. I’ll come to examine your young master after I’ve dealt with them.”
Seeing Chu Qingzhi deliberately making things difficult, the butler was internally furious but dared not show it, feeling extremely frustrated, “Miss Chu, our young master’s life is hanging by a thread. We really can’t wait any longer.”
“Then find someone more capable,” Chu Qingzhi replied before walking away.
The butler hurriedly followed, “Miss Chu, I apologize for any offense earlier, but I’m really worried about our young master. Please, could you show some compassion?”
Chu Qingzhi ignored the butler and continued walking.
At that moment, Ren Buqing, accompanied by several officers, approached from the other end of the street and greeted, “Miss Chu, may I have a word?”
Chu Qingzhi nodded. “Let’s go.”
The steward watched as Chu Qingzhi went with Ren Buqing to a nearby teahouse, and decided to follow, knowing he had to secure Chu Qingzhi’s help today or face Lord Zhang’s wrath back at the mansion.
Once inside the teahouse, they settled at a window-side table, and the server brought over tea and snacks.
Ren Buqing got straight to the point, “Miss Chu, based on the incense you mentioned, after a day’s investigation, we’ve identified five suspects.” He hesitated before adding, “Among them…”
Chu Qingzhi urged, “Just say it.”
Ren Buqing pressed his lips together before revealing, “People from the Ning family are involved.”
Chu Qingzhi frowned, “Which members of the Ning family?”
Ren Buqing slowly explained, “Second Master Ning and Third Master Ning. They have a minor condition that the Dutou incense can alleviate. Originally, First Master Ning also used this incense, but he’s no longer alive, leaving only them in the Ning household using it.”
Were the Ning family members involved?
“Have you figured out what happened with Zhou Youyuan and Xu Youshang at the mine?”
“Yes,” Ren Buqing replied. “The biggest clue is that according to their coworkers, both men mentioned before leaving the mine, ‘As long as things go smoothly, we won’t have to worry for the rest of our lives.”‘
Chu Qingzhi thought about it. Could it be Second Master Ning or Third Master Ning? Or could it be that the two of them went to find Zhou Youyuan and Xu Youchang to pry off a huge rock on the hillside and smash First Master Ning and Madam to death?
The boulder needed to hit the carriage precisely, or it would be meaningless. All of this required very strong skills. Working in the mine, didn’t they have just the right expertise?
Previously, Chu Qingzhi hadn’t linked the two cases, but now that she did, everything seemed to fit.
The scenario likely unfolded as follows: a year ago, Second or Third Master Ning, or both, conspired to have miners Zhou Youyuan and Xu Youshang dislodge a boulder during heavy rain to kill First Master Ning and Madam.
They did not expect that there would be another witness, Xu Hehua. Seeing that Xu Hehua had told them that she had seen someone in the rain, they were afraid that the matter would be exposed. Hence, they disguised themselves as a mysterious person and bribed Zhang Guangsheng, Zheng Er, and Xu San, who were short of money, to kill Zhou Youyuan and Xu Youchang to silence them.
Chu Qingzhi asked, “Did you guys look for Second Master Ning and Third Master Ning?”
Ren Buqing said, “Not yet. The Ning family has a special relationship with you. You’ve helped me so much, so I want to ask for your opinion before making a plan.”
Chu Qingzhi’s eyes darkened. “Go and arrest them according to the rules.