Chapter 25 Full of Lies

Before her eyes, Li Jin's expression was one of radiant smiles, but Granny Liu in front of him felt a cold sweat break out all over her body.

Jin Shu, who had been standing behind Li Jin for a long time, thought she had misheard when she heard him say that he wanted to dig it out to take a look.

But when they saw Granny Liu's reaction, their mouths, which had been half-open in surprise, obediently closed.

She had to admire Li Jin; she just couldn't understand how he could read people's expressions and guide the question step by step to this completely unrelated place, and actually ask such a strange question.

The old woman in front of us, Granny Liu, was basically the person who had the closest contact with the deceased Miss Lian in Xiaolin Village. When her husband passed away, Miss Lian had no one to turn to for help, so besides asking Granny Liu for help with the burial, she probably couldn't find anyone else.

Logically and emotionally, she should have been able to figure out where the girl's husband was buried.

But when Li Jin asked the question, she hesitated and stammered, pondering for a long time. Given her behavior, it was hard to believe there wasn't something strange going on.

This woman in her fifties, at the end of March, around the time of the Spring Equinox, had fine beads of sweat on her forehead in her own room.

After an unknown amount of time, when the tea in front of Li Jin had become lukewarm, she stammered and shook her head: "Oh dear... sir, I'm old, I really can't remember where I am..."

Her bewildered expression practically screamed "I'm lying."

Upon hearing this, Li Jin calmly took a sip of tea, smiled, stood up, and nodded in farewell: "Old man, I've asked all the questions I needed to ask. I'm sorry to have bothered you. Farewell."

Seeing Li Jin about to leave, Granny Liu hesitated for a moment, then quickly chased after him, saying, "Sir, please wait!"

In the courtyard, under the midday sun, Li Jin turned to look at Granny Liu who had chased after him, and asked obsequiously, "May I ask which sir you are from? You've had a long journey to our Xiaolin Village, where are you resting? I have a famous painting here, but this old woman doesn't recognize its value, and it's a waste for me to leave it here. How about I give it to you, sir?"

Seeing her impure motives, Li Jin chuckled and said, "Farewell."

After saying that, he left without looking back.

When it comes to judging people, Li Jin has always trusted his own judgment.

This old woman, Liu, is full of lies; the truth of the matter is probably completely different from what she says.

There are many good people in the world, and few filthy souls, but when you encounter one, you can always accurately detect the petty aura emanating from within.

And this Granny Liu is one of them.

On the way back, Li Jin glanced at Zhou Zheng in the woods: "Did you get the information I gave you?"

Zhou Zheng looked troubled and shook his head awkwardly: "That kid is very spoiled and won't listen to reason. He insisted that I exchange this personal sword with him."

This was entirely expected.

Li Jin said with a smile, "In his eyes, your first strike of the Six Doors is probably not worth much money."

These words truly startled Zhou Zheng. His gaze swept over Li Jin and Jin Shu's faces, and he said incredulously, "This knife costs several hundred taels of silver!"

“That’s not what I meant.” Jin Shu laughed and raised her hand to cover the corner of her mouth. “That old lady Liu is not short of money. She has a translucent green jade bracelet on her wrist, and her house is full of pearls and gemstones. Even the teacups she drinks tea from are Tang-style glazed porcelain, and they are top-quality ones.”

She clicked her tongue repeatedly and shook her head: "In total, it might be higher than the price of the meal the sect leader ripped off me for."

Li Jin paused, then turned to look at her: "I paid 8 percent interest, sir, please don't complain about losing money."

Listening to their back-and-forth conversation, Zhou Zheng was truly bewildered. He turned around and looked back again, half believing and half doubting.

As far as the eye could see, there were indeed mud walls and broken fences. The whole house was teetering on the brink of collapse, as if it would fall apart in the event of a storm.

Seeing his disbelief, Li Jin teased, "Lord Zhou, she's richer than you. The new tea she serves to guests is the finest pre-Qingming Longjing; even I can't bear to drink it myself."

How did a woman in her fifties, who made a living by farming, acquire such wealth that far exceeded her capabilities? This question lingered in everyone's minds.

While Zhou Zheng was still reeling from the shock of the pre-Qingming Longjing tea, Jin Shu and Li Jin strolled leisurely toward the county government office in Xiaolin Village, one after the other.

“She seems to frequently entertain important guests,” Jin Shu said. “It’s strange, surely she didn’t get those customers by selling her homegrown vegetables.”

"That's not all the strange stuff," Li Jin said, closing his fan. "I ask you, did you hear any cries for help just now?"

He stopped and stood in the woods, turning back to point in the direction of Granny Liu's yard: "Before we came, I had Yunfei shout 'Help!' a few times after we entered the house. Did any of you hear it?"

Zhou Zheng and Jin Shu looked at each other and shook their heads: "No."

“Neither did I.” He continued walking, saying as he went, “Although the two courtyards are not far apart, the trees are dense and the roads are winding, making it very difficult to hear. It’s no wonder she couldn’t hear anything. Even if she could hear something, at this distance, an old woman like her wouldn’t have arrived just in time to find a crime scene that had just been set up. Instead, she would have likely run into the murderer head-on. Yet she said she didn’t see a single person and was quite certain that the victim had already stopped breathing.”

Li Jin tapped his palm with his black fan, saying, "It's as if she deliberately timed it so she could just come and take a quick look."

The case has now deviated from its original trajectory, as if the girl's death is linked to a huge mystery.

The layers of mystery before him ignited Li Jin's intense desire to uncover the truth. He enjoyed the process of unraveling the mystery and eagerly awaited the moment when the clouds would part and the sun would shine through.

This immense sense of accomplishment has propelled him forward for many years, driving him toward the truth.

Back at the county office, Li Jin took off his outer robe and tossed it to Jin Shu, who looked astonished. He then raised his arms and did some chest-expanding exercises, saying without turning his head, "Come on, let's have a go."

Just as Jin Shu was confused, Zhou Zheng, who was standing next to her, responded with "Yes."

He knew this man too well.

Back when he was a warrior on the battlefield, he was fiercely competitive and passionate about all kinds of challenges. Even after leaving the capital and taking off his uniform, he still retained the spirit of a passionate war god at heart.

Now that he has encountered this enigmatic puzzle that gets his blood pumping, it is perfectly reasonable for him to want to stretch his muscles and get some exercise.

Jin Shu, however, was not as calm as Zhou Zheng.

Holding Li Jin's outer robe, she watched as he casually borrowed a Tang sword from a nearby constable, twirled it a few times in his hand, and then faced Zhou Zheng, assuming a stance ready to strike.

In an instant, a cold glint flashed, sword energy swift as the wind, and his figure was fierce and domineering.

Have you not seen the mighty army with its golden spears and iron horses, their momentum like a rainbow? Have you not seen the dragons roaring and the sky being summoned by the dancing swords?

Jin Shu stood there, stunned, staring blankly at the white-clad man before her.

This was actually Prince Jing, Li Jin, who had been following her all along, always with a faint smile on his face, elegantly drinking tea, and looking like a carefree, dissolute young master.

Then, she recalled that when she was still in Dingzhou, Liu Cheng'an had said that Prince Jing, Li Jin, was originally a war god who galloped across the battlefield, but for some reason, he relinquished his military power and returned to the capital to become a leisurely prince.

She looked at the pale gold casual clothes in her hand, her brows furrowing slightly, unable to fathom their mystery.