Huang Ningmeng picked up the chess pieces with a smile, "Thank you for the favor."

Du Chenyan smiled and helped pick up the chess pieces, showing no displeasure even though he had lost.

“It is said that one’s chess skills reflect one’s character. I did not hold back at all in this game, and you were not angry at all after losing. On the contrary, you were calm and composed, which shows that you have a steady character and a broad mind.” Huang Ningmeng put the chess pieces back into the chess box.

"Miss Huang is too kind," Du Chenyan said, feeling somewhat embarrassed by her compliment.

Huang Ningmeng stood up and looked at the large expanse of sky above the bamboo forest. "It's almost dawn, I should go back."

“Miss Huang, there’s something I should tell you.” Du Chenyan was clearly struggling, but he was still prepared to say it. “You should be prepared.”

"Go ahead and say it." Huang Ningmeng had already noticed that he had something on his mind. He had been rather absent-minded all night, and his smiles were somewhat perfunctory.

"Brother Jiang is dead."

"Hmm?" Huang Ningmeng raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“When I arrived, he had already sunk into the pond, and the murderer had already escaped,” Du Chenyan said.

"You even played a game of chess with me, but then ignored him. Why?" Huang Ningmeng's expression turned slightly cold.

"Miss Huang, please don't misunderstand, I have no suspicion that you did it."

Huang Ningmeng's expression softened a bit. "Continue."

“I have retrieved Brother Jiang’s body and placed it in this bamboo forest, but I haven’t figured out how to find the murderer yet,” Du Chenyan said in a deep voice.

Huang Ningmeng reached out and patted his shoulder. "I know he was your good friend. You're sad because he's dead."

"Miss Huang, you... don't you feel anything?" Du Chenyan was a little surprised by her reaction. Even if she didn't like Jiang Sheng, she shouldn't be so calm.

If it weren't for what happened last night, Huang Ningmeng might have felt a bit regretful, but now, it's a miracle she's not even smiling.

"How should I feel?" Huang Ningmeng asked with a smile. "Didn't Young Master Du notice that Jiang Sheng's face is unusually swollen?"

"This..." Du Chenyan had seen it, of course, but he assumed it was the murderer who did it, so he didn't ask.

"I hit him," Huang Ningmeng said without any hesitation.

Du Chenyan frowned slightly; things seemed to be more complicated than he had imagined.

Apart from the injuries on his face, there was no evidence to prove that anyone pushed Jiang Sheng into the pond.

Now that Ms. Huang says she slapped Jiang Sheng, doesn't all the evidence point to...?

“I hit him, but I didn’t push him. Jiang Sheng was rude to me before he died, so I slapped him and cursed back. There was one time when I almost made him fall into the pond, but I pulled him back. Although my hands are a bit weak, my strength is not comparable to that of ordinary people.” Huang Ningmeng explained what happened last night.

“Miss Huang, of course I believe you, but Brother Jiang spoke rudely to you?” Du Chenyan’s brows furrowed more deeply. In his memory, Brother Jiang was a man of courtesy and never cursed anyone.

"Your Brother Jiang is doing very well, humph!" Huang Ningmeng was furious when she recalled Jiang Sheng's insults to her last night. However, since he was dead, she couldn't keep bringing it up.

Seeing that she was no longer as calm as usual, Du Chenyan became curious about what Jiang Sheng had said to her.

He was delayed by some official business last night and didn't know they had already come out. He only came out after vaguely hearing Jiang Sheng's screams.

Then all that was seen was Jiang Sheng's corpse.

He fished him out and placed him in the bamboo grove. Remembering that Huang Ningmeng and the abbot had played chess here yesterday, he walked over.

To everyone's surprise, Huang Ningmeng was there.

At first, he also wondered why Huang Ningmeng was there. Moreover, she seemed so absent-minded while playing chess, which made him guess at a result he really didn't want to face—Huang Ningmeng had killed Jiang Sheng.

But after playing chess with her, he gave up the idea.

Huang Ningmeng is definitely not the kind of person who would use despicable means. Her family background, her personality, and her strategies mean that she would never use such vile methods to harm someone.

“Miss Huang, when a person dies, it’s like a lamp going out. This revenge can be considered a form of retribution.”

Huang Ningmeng laughed and said, "Du Chenyan, you underestimate me. I always settle scores on the spot. I slapped him and cursed back last night, so we're even now."

Du Chenyan nodded. He admired Huang Ningmeng for living such a carefree and unrestrained life.

"Now, when I think of what he said, I still feel angry, but I will never hate him again." Huang Ningmeng lifted her foot and walked outside.

Seeing that she wasn't heading out, Du Chenyan followed her. "Miss Huang, where are you going?"

“Go see Jiang Sheng’s body. I won’t allow anyone to smear me,” Huang Ningmeng said.

Du Chenyan was truly convinced by her this time.

As dawn broke, Du Chenyan led Huang Ning to the place where Jiang Sheng's body was kept.

After a night, Jiang Sheng's body was completely swollen.

Huang Ningmeng walked over, squatted down next to Jiang Sheng, and observed him carefully.

Jiang Sheng's hair was wet and messy, her face was so swollen that the original handprint shape was not visible, her stomach was very bloated, and her skin looked like it had been soaked in water. She had indeed died from drowning.

"Master, why bother investigating? I can tell you the truth," the ring said. Its master hadn't spoken to it in a long time. *Sobbing* What use was it then? *Sob sob*

"You can only tell me, but you can't tell anyone else. What's the point if only I know?" Huang Ningmeng asked in her mind.

"Well, Master, let me give you a hint: there's a surprise by the pond."

Even if the ring hadn't said anything, Huang Ningmeng would have gone to the pond sooner or later; it was just a matter of time. Since it had said so, it was best to go sooner rather than later. If the evidence had been destroyed, that would be bad.

Huang Ningmeng called Du Chenyan back to the pond.

It was already daylight. The pond was covered in mud, and the marks from the lack of rain last night were still clearly visible.

As soon as the two arrived here, they saw a very messy scratch on the ground.

This scratch is man-made, just like a lame person.

The lame person? It's obvious who it is.

Huang Ningmeng sneered; Hongyan was even more ruthless than she had imagined.

"Miss Huang, what's wrong?" Du Chenyan noticed that something was wrong with her expression.

Huang Ningmeng shook her head and said to him, "Don't touch the scratches on the ground. If possible, please send your people over immediately to protect the scene. Also, report it to the authorities."

Du Chenyan was both amused and exasperated. Seeing her serious expression, he couldn't resist teasing her, "Miss Huang, I am an official, have you forgotten?"

“You’re a witness. Besides, your jurisdiction isn’t here, so you don’t have that right.” Huang Ningmeng rolled her eyes at him. Was he kidding? This was his brother, yet he acted as if nothing had happened to him.

I don't know who it was, but they couldn't sleep in the middle of the night and saw her playing chess, so they immediately appeared.

"Alright." Du Chenyan didn't disagree. He leaped up and used his lightness skill to fly into Yuanjue Temple.

Huang Ningmeng continued searching for clues by the pond. Since Xiao Jie had mentioned a 'surprise,' it definitely wasn't this.

Suddenly, she saw a handkerchief floating on the pond.