Chapter 124 Hiring a hitman to commit murder, how could such a person be a good person?

Amidst the flashing blades and piercing crossbow bolts, three assassins were killed on the spot in no time. The other two were tripped up and captured alive by fishing nets and chains specifically designed to deal with experts, their jaws dislocated to prevent them from committing suicide by poison.

Afterwards, Xiao Jingheng gave Changfeng a deep, resounding order;

"The interrogation must be thorough; I want to see the results first thing tomorrow morning."

"yes!"

An hour later, in the study.

Xiao Jingheng was reading a book when Changfeng strode in, a disdainful sneer on his face.

He respectfully placed a file on his desk.

"Sir, the results are in."

"Hmph! What a load of bull 'Gate of No Life,' I think we should just rename it 'Gate of Incompetence.' Those two guys were just dragged into the dungeon, and before our people could even show their real weapons, they were terrified when they saw the torture instruments hanging on the wall. They answered every question, just begging for a quick death."

Xiao Jingheng remained expressionless and quickly browsed through the files.

The record contained the assassin's confession: the buyer was a young woman whose voice was disguised, but whose accent was that of a native of Beijing. She wore a white veil during the transaction, making it impossible to recognize her face.

Seeing that Xiao Jingheng had finished reading, Changfeng took out another piece of paper from his pocket and carefully unfolded it:

“Sir, this is the most crucial point. One of the assassins recalled that during the transaction last night, a gust of wind lifted a corner of the woman's veil, and he happened to see a fresh scar on her left forehead. I have already had him describe the location and size in detail, and the painter has drawn it based on his description.”

Xiao Jingheng's gaze instantly locked onto the woman in the portrait, his eyes suddenly darkening.

...

The following day, at the Lin residence.

Lin Wan'er had just gotten up and was still doing her makeup when a maid rushed in, her voice trembling, and reported:

"Miss, something terrible has happened! Soldiers from the Jingzhao Prefecture have arrived and say they want to arrest Miss Qingdai..."

Qingdai was combing Lin Wan'er's hair when she heard this. The comb in her hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," and her already haggard face became even more bloodless...

With a thud, Qingdai knelt down, grabbed Lin Wan'er's leg, and pleaded in a shrill voice:

"Miss, please save me! I don't want to die, Miss!"

Looking at Qingdai's distraught state, Lin Wan'er's eyes flashed with a cold, knowing look.

The Jingzhao Prefecture came directly to arrest him; their objective was so clear. It seems the Wushengmen's operation had indeed failed.

She made a decision in her mind in an instant.

Lin Wan'er slowly turned around and personally helped Qingdai up. Her movements were gentle, but her tone carried an undeniable distance and pressure.

"Qingdai, how many years have you been with me?"

Qingdai choked up: "I have been by your side since I was six years old, Miss. Now it has been fourteen years."

"You've been by my side all these years, have I ever mistreated you in the slightest?" Lin Wan'er's words struck Qingdai's heart like a hammer blow.

"You live a life of luxury and elegance, no less than the daughters of ordinary families. Now that the Lin family and I are facing difficulties, it is time for you to repay us."

Qingdai paused in her weeping, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Lin Wan'er reached out and tidied her messy hair, as if she were handling an item that was about to be discarded.

"Go ahead, you should know what you should say and what you shouldn't say."

"Miss, this servant..." Qingdai still wanted to make a last-ditch effort.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything for your mother and brother. Your mother is getting old, and your brother is still young and needs money for his schooling, right?"

Qingdai's next words caught in her throat.

She knew that the young lady she had served for more than ten years, who appeared gentle and charming, like a rare orchid in a secluded valley, actually harbored a cold, ruthless, and deeply calculating heart!

She could even exploit her own grandfather and father, let alone a lowly maid like herself.

Qingdai closed her eyes, filled with despair, and two lines of clear tears silently slid down her cheeks.

Finally, she took two steps back, kowtowed to Lin Wan'er, and her voice was hoarse and hollow.

"This servant...understands."

"Miss Xie... I thank you for your kindness over the years. I bid you farewell."

This bow severed the bond between master and servant, and also acknowledged his fate as a discarded pawn.

Seeing that she was so 'sensible', Lin Wan'er slowly got up and calmly straightened her clothes.

“Let’s go. I’ll go to the yamen with you. You’re my maid, and even if you’ve committed a terrible crime, I, your mistress, should be there. Besides…”

You injured someone in a moment of panic while trying to protect my innocence; how can I let you face this alone?

After saying that, Lin Wan'er took the lead and stepped out of the threshold.

Outside, Lin's mother rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing Lin Wan'er about to leave, she was filled with worry.

"Wan'er, what happened? Why are the soldiers outside arresting Qingdai? You..."

"Mother!" Lin Wan'er interrupted her mother, curtsied, "I will have to trouble you to arrange the annulment of the engagement as soon as possible."

Lin's mother was shocked, her eyes widening: "Announcing the engagement!"

"Wan'er! Wasn't it said that Li Mo still had a chance to wake up? Now that the Lin family is proposing to annul the engagement, how are you going to face yourself in the future?"

The Lin family, a family of scholars and farmers, has always placed great importance on the reputation of its children. How can a daughter who has been jilted find a satisfactory husband in the future?

Wouldn't that ruin my whole life?

"Time is of the essence. I'll explain to my mother when my daughter gets back."

After saying that, she glanced at Qingdai, signaling her to follow, and in the blink of an eye, she was out of the courtyard.

In the end, in court, Qingdai confessed to accidentally killing Li Mo, and emphasized that she had no choice but to kill him in order to protect Lin Wan'er's innocence.

Faced with this statement, Li's mother was certainly agitated and dissatisfied.

"Nonsense!" Mother Li's eyes were filled with boundless hatred.

"It is clearly you who are vicious and arrogant, looking down on my family's social standing, unwilling to marry into my family, and unable to openly break off the engagement, that's why you resorted to such a vicious scheme, instructing your personal maid to kill my son, and then fabricating such nonsense in an attempt to escape unscathed and ruin my son's reputation. Although my son has some spoiled habits, he is by no means such a shameless person who forces women into marriage!"

"Madam Li, please be careful with your words!"

Just then, Mr. and Mrs. Lin received the news and rushed to the courtroom.

Neither of them looked well. Lin's father bowed to Prefect Pang Zheng and the Li couple, saying:

"Ladies and gentlemen, my daughter has been well-versed in the 'Precepts for Women' and the 'Rules for Women' since she was a child. She values ​​her reputation the most. If it weren't for your son's misconduct that day, which damaged my daughter's reputation, why would we be in this situation?"

Would my daughter sacrifice her innocence to frame your son?

Lin's mother was also wiping away tears, claiming that her daughter had suffered a tremendous injustice.

Upon hearing this, Li's mother was furious but laughed instead: "What a fine way to be well-versed in 'Admonitions for Women' and 'Rules for Women'! What a way to value reputation! Lord Lin, how could someone who would hire someone to kill and silence a witness be a good person?"

"That's ridiculous. Do you think everyone is blind?"

Lin's mother's expression changed. "Hiring a hitman was clearly the work of Qingdai alone. She must have been afraid of being exposed, so she took the risk. What does it have to do with my daughter! Qingdai, tell me, isn't that right?"

Qingdai's body stiffened, and she numbly kowtowed; "It was all...it was all done by me alone. I felt sorry for Miss being humiliated and resented Young Master Li, so I...taken it upon myself to hire assassins. Miss has nothing to do with this. Miss...knows nothing."

Taking the opportunity, Li's mother retorted, "Nonsense! Even if you were sold, you, a mere maid, couldn't raise that much money. Where would you get the money to hire someone to kill someone? Besides, how could a maid like you possibly have connections with such a江湖 (jianghu) organization?"

"Lord Lin, even if you want to exonerate your daughter, you should come up with a decent excuse."