It was unclear whether Jiao Nian'en had heeded his warning; judging from her expression, she wouldn't turn back until she was badly hurt.

Jiao Er shook his head and sighed.

The incident that year caused a great uproar and was known to everyone. It ended with the Jiao Lang couple committing suicide to atone for their sins and Jiao Si being imprisoned for life.

But why should the grudges and grievances of the previous generation involve the next?

Jiao Si's obsession runs too deep, and in the end, it will harm both herself and others. It's just a pity for Nian En and Jiao Jiao.

Jiao Er continued to pound the medicine with his head down. He seemed to sense something and looked up at the courtyard gate.

A mermaid with light golden hair was peering inside from the doorway.

Jiao Er frowned. Although this place was not a place of imprisonment, it was in a remote location, and coupled with his bad reputation, very few merfolk would come here.

The occasional unfamiliar faces you see are also there because they got lost.

He pointed and said, "Lost? Just keep walking in that direction and you'll get out of here."

"Uncle Mermaid, I've come here specifically to visit you," the light golden-haired merman said.

...

Half an hour ago, Meng Qingyin decided to start investigating the matter by focusing on Jiaojiao's maternal grandfather.

She asked Jiao Ling'er, "Is there a secret medicine that can alleviate the side effects of not being blessed, thereby prolonging life?"

Jiao Ling'er shook her head repeatedly: "How could there be such a medicine? There isn't."

Meng Qingyin didn't believe it was true.

If it weren't for taking this medicine, how could Jiaojiao's maternal grandfather have survived to this day for over three hundred years without blessings?

“However…” Jiao Ling’er suddenly lowered her voice, “My father just mentioned a witch doctor, I think his name is Jiao Er. It’s said that he’s obsessed with researching all sorts of strange and wonderful medicines. Maybe he has some?”

Meng Qingyin immediately pressed, "The witch doctor? Where does he live?"

Jiao Ling'er shook her head: "I don't know. Dad just mentioned it briefly, with a mysterious expression, and I didn't ask for details. Things are unpredictable. Maybe that witch doctor is no longer around. After all, I've never heard of such a witch doctor since I was a child. We usually go to Doctor Jiao Lin when we're sick."

After a moment's thought, Meng Qingyin made a decision: "I want to go find that witch doctor."

Jiao Ling'er asked, puzzled, "Why are you looking for him?"

Meng Qingyin's gaze deepened: "Perhaps if I find him, the questions in my heart will be answered."

Jiao Ling'er: "Okay, then I'll help you find it."

This matter is far-reaching and involves criminals. Meng Qingyin didn't want to involve Jiao Ling'er, so she said, "I'll go find her myself. Ling'er, could you help me find Jiao Ruxue? I really can't bear to disappoint my friend."

Jiao Ling'er, without any suspicion, readily agreed: "That works too."

The two parted ways and went their separate ways.

Meng Qingyin returned to that remote place.

The fact that the witch doctor named Jiao Er was not known to the ordinary merfolk indicates that he lived in a remote place and was difficult to find.

And this was the only place she could think of.

Moreover, since Jiaojiao's maternal grandfather was imprisoned in the courtyard and unable to go out, the only people who could get medicine for him were his family members.

She remembered that Jiaojiao had mentioned that her mother had gone out to get medicine for her grandfather that day.

In other words, Jiaojiao's mother was the one who got the medicine for Jiaojiao's grandfather, and it was this kind of secret medicine, so she must have done it discreetly. When I first met her, she was probably on her way to get the medicine, or she had already gotten it.

That's why Jiaojiao's mother was so nervous when she saw her, and immediately swam away.

And the place where they met wasn't far from here.

Following her memory, Meng Qingyin arrived at the location and began searching the surrounding area carefully.

Whether it was good luck or not, she found a small courtyard full of medicinal herbs, where a mermaid was pounding medicine.

A thought struck her, and she guessed that this was the witch doctor Jiao'er. She quickly swam to the door.

...

After Meng Qingyin explained her purpose, Jiao Er calmly stood up and looked at her with a probing gaze: "Who are you? What do you want with me?"

“My name is Jiao Yinyin,” Meng Qingyin said, already quite familiar with her new name. “I am here on the orders of the leader to confirm some things with you.”

She wasn't asking about anything ordinary, so Jiao Er naturally wouldn't tell her the truth. In that case, she had no choice but to use someone else's name to make a big deal out of it.

Jiao'er's expression suddenly turned somewhat unpleasant. "What does the leader want to ask me?"

Meng Qingyin said with a profound expression, "The leader already knows about the things you've been doing behind the scenes."

She wanted Jiao Er to tell her the truth herself.

Jiao Er looked wary, but forced herself to remain calm: "I don't understand what you're saying. I've been well-behaved all these years and haven't done anything shameful."

The fact that he provided the secret medicine to Jiao Si must not be exposed; he must not admit it.

Jiaoze certainly doesn't have any substantial evidence, otherwise he would have arrested him long ago instead of sending an innocent young girl to extract information.

That's right, as long as he stubbornly refuses to admit it, there's nothing Jiaoze can do about it.

Meng Qingyin's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Jiao Er emphasized that he was law-abiding and well-behaved. If he were truly law-abiding, he wouldn't have made such a point. He must have done something "disorderly".

So she narrowed her eyes and feigned displeasure in her tone: "Jiao Er, the leader has given you a chance to confess. Are you sure you're going to be so ungrateful?"

Mermaid gritted her teeth and denied it: "I really don't understand what you're talking about. Just say what you have to say. Don't accuse me of things that aren't true."

Meng Qingyin thought to herself, "You're still so stubborn, why won't you say anything?"

Her original intention was to get Jiao Er to reveal the inside story of the secret medicine herself, which might lead to more information that she didn't know.

But Jiao Er was clearly uncooperative, so she could only hint at the matter of Jiao Jiao's maternal grandfather. Although she might miss a lot of information, there was no better way at the moment.

If she doesn't produce any "evidence," Jiao Er will become more and more confident, and then she won't be able to extract any useful information.

"Grandpa Mermaid!" A clear voice rang out, interrupting Meng Qingyin's words.

Meng Qingyin turned around and saw that it was Jiaojiao.

Jiaojiao was also surprised to see her: "Sister? What are you doing here?"

"I have something to say to your Grandpa Jiao'er." Meng Qingyin glanced at Jiao'er and said meaningfully, "Jiaojiao, what brings you here to see Grandpa?"

Jiaojiao's face showed urgency, "Mom's head is injured and bleeding. I'll ask Grandpa for medicine to stop the bleeding."

Meng Qingyin patted her head and gave Jiao Er a meaningful look, "Jiao Jiao is such a good child."

When Sharon Ear saw how familiar the two were, his body froze completely.

Jiao Yinyin is a person sent by Jiaoze, so why does she know Jiaojiao?

Could it be that she... has already obtained leverage over him from Jiao Si? Otherwise, he cannot explain why Jiao Yinyin and Jiao Jiao are so familiar with each other.

Jiao Er's face immediately turned ashen.