Chapter 17 "You seem to be my eldest niece."
Twenty years ago, Sheng Peirong and Cheng Zhaoqian's infant daughter mysteriously disappeared.
Fearing a repeat of the tragedy of the shipping magnate's son being kidnapped and murdered, Sheng Wenchang immediately blocked the news and forbade anyone from calling the police.
The Sheng family secretly investigated, and all the clues pointed directly to the driver, Huang Ashui, who had suddenly disappeared.
When they arrived at the dilapidated house in Huang Daxian Village, Huang Ashui had already been burned to a crisp. In the fire, Sheng Wenchang retrieved two pieces of evidence: a jade pendant he had personally placed on his granddaughter's head on her one-month celebration, and half a charred baby shoe upper, its delicate patterns embroidered by Sheng's second wife, Qin Lizhu, to please her stepdaughter. Infants' bones have different water content than adults'; not even a complete body could be found, the remains already fused with the tin bed.
When asked about the fire, the residents of the housing estate remained tight-lipped, and the matter was left unresolved. It wasn't until years later, when someone, after drinking, revealed the truth: the driver, who had returned home drunk that day, was muttering to himself—
This time we're really going to be rich!
“The reason why the villagers dare not mention the fire is because of the problem of illegal construction. The residents have illegally installed electrical wires. Once the police get involved in the investigation, it will affect more than just Huang Ashui.”
"So, the driver didn't kidnap the child at all."
"Letting a dead person take the blame for twenty years?"
What He Jia'er unearthed at the nightclub may well be this long-buried truth.
"Is it possible that all of this was more than just a case from the very beginning?"
“The driver ‘kidnapping’ case, the fireplace skeleton case, Chen Chaosheng’s poisoning… On the surface, they seem completely unrelated, but they also seem to be connected.”
Zeng Yongshan, holding her coffee cup, interjected, "This is much more exciting than the fabricated inheritance disputes on TV. He Jiaer, Chen Chaosheng, Sheng Peishan... this family feud... who's next?"
“You love watching TV so much.” Uncle Li rolled up a newspaper and tapped her on the head. “If you weren’t working at the police station, you could submit your materials to the TVB acting training class and learn screenwriting theory.”
...
Tomorrow is the deadline for reading Sheng Wenchang's will 100 days from now.
Although Sheng Peishan has not yet been granted bail, the police made an exception and allowed her to go home, of course, under full-armor escort.
In fact, in the interrogation room, Miss Sheng remained elegant, quiet, and even composed, but her eyes were dull and lifeless.
Every conversation she had with her lawyer was monitored. Sheng Peishan seemed unconcerned about being convicted; from beginning to end, she only confessed to two things.
First, Sheng Peirong's illness must be treated, regardless of the cost.
Second, provide a safe and secure place for it.
Zhu Qing couldn't understand it.
Sheng Peishan tacitly acknowledged her connection with He Jiaer, but she remained unwilling to reveal the truth. What was she hiding?
Since she is waiting for the police to find evidence to convict her, the outcome will be the same whether she is responsible for one or two deaths. So why did she resolutely deny killing Chen Chaosheng when asked?
...
Countless mysteries are lurking in the shadows.
Police escorted Sheng Peishan to the Sheng family home in Mid-Levels under tight security, with no room for complacency.
The time for reading the will had not yet arrived. The lawyer stood quietly to the side, his expression solemn, clutching the sealed document bag tightly in his hand.
Sitting in her wheelchair, Sheng Peishan tilted her head and asked Aunt Liu, "Where's my little brother?"
"The go-kart that my second son-in-law ordered for him before he passed away was delivered today, and the young master was just test driving it in the backyard."
An eerie calm enveloped the entire Sheng family hall, with police officers scattered throughout, everyone on edge.
Zhu Qing and Liang Qikai stood on one side of the sofa, their eyes scanning every detail in the room.
On the coffee table are the teacups that Sheng Peishan and Sheng Fang usually use.
The aroma of black tea wafted from the second young lady's cup.
The young master's cup contains a mixed fruit punch, a common treat at children's parties, with colorful straws, a small paper umbrella, and animal-shaped cookies.
Upon seeing the police arrive suddenly, Butler Cui instructed the servants, "The tea has gone cold; take it away and replace it with a fresh pot."
Sheng Peishan raised her hand: "No need to retreat..."
With a "smash," Butler Cui's hand trembled, and the cup tipped over, spilling tea all over the coffee table and carpet: "Look how clumsy I am."
He quickly gathered up the teacup and the mixed fruit punch, then carried the tray back to the kitchen.
Zhu Qing watched this scene, her brows furrowing slightly.
The fragmented clues in my mind suddenly connected.
"What's the point of changing the feng shui? Heaven is unfair."
"The servants in the Sheng family must have a clean background. Not only can they not date, but their family relationships must be investigated for three generations."
"He Jiaer, Chen Chaosheng, Sheng Peishan... In this feud among the wealthy, who will be next?"
When the driver from twenty years ago was mentioned, both Lao Zhao and Sister Ping looked disdainful, while only Butler Cui remained neutral, saying that the young man was down-to-earth and hardworking.
If I remember correctly, Huang Ashui appeared when Sheng Wenchang's car broke down.
That's too much of a coincidence.
Zhu Qing stared at Butler Cui's retreating figure.
What is the relationship between Huang Ashui and Steward Cui?
Will the hastily collected tea and drinks exhibit the same toxicological effects as those in Chen Chaosheng's wine glass?
"Zhu Qing." Liang Qikai noticed Zhu Qing's pause and nudged her with his elbow. "What's wrong?"
Upon hearing his voice, Butler Cui abruptly stopped, his body swaying, causing the cups on the tray to collide and make a crisp sound.
The old butler's unusual behavior, along with all the hidden suspicions, brought Zhu Qing to a sudden realization.
At the same time, the plot of a book suddenly flooded her mind.
She is a minor female supporting character in a novel, occupying a very small portion of the original plot.
At the beginning of the story, she, who was aloof, was saved, healed and warmed by the original male protagonist... Later, at a critical moment in carrying out a mission, she sacrificed herself to protect the original male protagonist and became the white moonlight that he missed for a lifetime.
In the silence, Butler Cui slowly turned around and met Zhu Qing's gaze.
The maid carrying a fruit platter passed by and accidentally bumped into Butler Cui's shoulder.
The tray in her hand tilted, and the fruit knife slipped to the ground with a "clatter".
Time seemed to stand still as Butler Cui stared intently in Sheng Peishan's direction.
This was his last chance... Decades of suppressed anger turned into desperate madness as he bent down and picked up the knife.
Almost immediately, to avoid the original plot, Zhu Qing kicked the original male lead away, yelling, "Watch out!"
When Liang Qikai was kicked away, he stumbled and looked somewhat embarrassed and bewildered, but he quickly recovered. Just as Butler Cui grabbed the knife and rushed towards Sheng Peishan, he pushed aside the single mahogany chair, and the fruit knife instantly pierced into the leather back of the chair.
Haozai and Zeng Yongshan quickly looked at Butler Cui, their eyes changing, and they gripped the pistol at their waist with one hand.
"Don't move! Hands up!"
The servants were thrown into chaos. Sheng Peishan covered her mouth in terror, her knuckles turning white. The other police officers worked together seamlessly, some staying to protect the second young lady, while the rest quickly dispersed to surround Butler Cui.
Butler Cui stiffened and slowly raised his hand.
The relationship between Sheng Peishan and He Jiaer, the mystery of the fireplace skeleton case, Chen Chaosheng's death, the identity of the driver from twenty years ago... the answers are about to be revealed, and they are standing at the moment closest to the truth.
When the chaos finally subsided, a booming sound came from somewhere.
Originally, the young master of the Sheng family had already broken up with Zhu Qing again.
But as an elder, can he hold a grudge against a younger person?
Shengfang, driving a tiny go-kart, acted like a spoiled young master, drifting and blocking Zhu Qing's way, coldly scrutinizing her.
"You seem to be my eldest niece."
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