Chapter 284 I Want to Know the Truth
Li Nanke stared at Wei Yan in astonishment and disbelief.
"Lord Wei said that it was my second uncle, Li Yao, who ordered Chang Rui to set the fire?"
How could it be Li Yao?
She thought that Marquis Anping was planning to kill the entire family of four that night.
Wei Yan assumed that her shock stemmed from her inability to accept that her own second uncle wanted to burn her grandmother to death, and nodded with certainty.
"The one who asked the question was an old clerk I was used to; that young man was definitely not lying."
"I know this might be hard for you to accept, but..."
Before he could offer any words of comfort, Li Nanke shook his head and said first, "It's not hard to accept, it was just an accident. I thought the arsonist was Marquis Anping."
Wei Yan stopped mid-sentence and stared at her in astonishment.
Li Nanke smiled.
"Lord Wei, you probably don't know yet, but tonight my grandfather and the woman he was keeping outside, oh, who is also my second uncle Li Yao's biological mother, were arrested by the Imperial Guards."
These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky.
Not to mention Wei Yan, even the two veteran officials who were handling the case were almost speechless with astonishment.
Did the Marquis of Anping keep a woman outside the marriage?
The second son, Li Yao, was not the Marquis's biological son?
Has Marquis Anping been captured by the Imperial Guards?
The overwhelming amount of information they received ignited their inner gossip, leaving them momentarily unsure of which question to ask first.
Wei Yan reacted faster. Having handled so many cases over the years, he knew that keeping a mistress and using a concubine to impersonate the legitimate heir would not be something that would lead to the Imperial Guards arresting him.
"What is the reason the Imperial Guards arrested the Marquis?"
Li Nanke tilted his head and sighed.
“Grandfather secretly arranged for someone to infiltrate the Imperial Guard’s fireworks display team, intending to use fireworks soaked in kerosene to blow us up while we were watching the fireworks at Rainbow Bridge.”
Wei Yan gasped.
Fireworks doused with kerosene?
Rainbow Bridge?
No wonder he was captured by the Imperial Guards; if those fireworks had exploded, countless civilians would have been killed or injured.
Marquis Anping has gone mad!
For the sake of a woman and a son born out of wedlock, they actually went so far as to slaughter the entire family of the legitimate son!
Li Nanke glanced at the expression on Wei Yan's face and said, "That's why I thought it was Grandfather who sent people to set fire to kill Grandmother."
Wei Yan looked down at Li Nanke, and for a moment he couldn't find the right words to comfort the little girl.
What kind of nonsense is this during the Lunar New Year?
In the end, all I could say was, "Fortunately, New Year's Eve is over. In the new year, your family will get better and better."
Li Nanke looked up at him, smiling happily.
"Thank you, Lord Wei. I also believe that in the new year, my grandmother, father, and mother will get better and better."
Wei Yan understood the meaning behind her words, and a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes.
Although Li Nanke is a young girl, she is very perceptive when it comes to things.
No wonder Shen Cong looked at her with such admiration.
Wei Yan exchanged a few more polite words with Song Yi, then ordered the old official to escort Chang Rui away.
Although it was the Lunar New Year, the fire at the Marquis's residence was a major event, especially since the Marquis of Anping had been arrested by the Imperial Guards.
I'm afraid His Majesty will find out about this first thing tomorrow morning, so it seems I'll have to write reports and memorials tonight.
Being an official is truly a tough life.
Wei Yan was filled with emotion.
As the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, the fire at the Marquis of Anping's residence was finally extinguished.
The entire main courtyard was burned down, the houses collapsed, and the smell of burnt wood was everywhere.
Grandma Sun was burned alive inside.
The vegetables grown in the He family's courtyard were all burned down by the greenhouse.
Since it was New Year's Eve last night, Madam He thought about how hard the maids and servants around her had worked all year, so she ordered the kitchen to set up two tables of food and drink and sent all the maids and servants in the courtyard to the servants' quarters to have a meal.
Sun's mother refused to go, wanting to stay and talk with He's mother.
With no one guarding the yard, Chang Rui seized the opportunity, sprinkled pine resin, and set it on fire.
Li Mu stood amidst the ruins, his expression somber.
Song Yi came to find him, knowing he was upset, and gently held his hand.
“Grandma Sun stayed with her mother-in-law her whole life and never married. Let’s build her a cenotaph.”
Li Mu nodded silently.
Song Yi: "I've asked Aunt Tao to bring people to clean up here. My mother-in-law has woken up and wants to see you."
It's almost dawn, and you still have to go to the palace to pay your respects. Let's go.
Li Mu followed Song Yi back to Fanghua Courtyard.
He Shi leaned against the bed, her face ashen and tears streaming down her face, as if all her energy had been drained away.
She had already learned from Song Yi that Sun's mother had been burned to death.
Seeing Li Mu approach, she forced herself to sit up and tightly grasped Li Mu's hand.
His eyes were wide open, and his voice trembled violently.
"Who started the fire? Ayi and Ke'er won't say, you tell them!"
"I need to know the truth! Don't hide it from me."
He's unusually stern tone made Li Mu hesitate.
He wondered if his mother could bear the thought of Li Yao being the mastermind behind the arson.
Even though Li Yao wasn't close to her, his mother had genuinely loved him.
When He saw that Li Mu did not speak, her pupils contracted slightly, then she closed her eyes and tears slid down her cheeks.
After a moment, he opened his eyes again, his voice was two degrees more steady than before.
"Tell me, is it Li Yongfeng or Li Yao that I can handle?"
Li Mu suddenly looked up and met He Shi's reddened and stubborn eyes, and finally told the truth.
"It's Li Yao!"
He closed her eyes tightly, her cheeks trembling, but she couldn't hold back any longer.
puff!
He spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed limply.
"Mother!"
Li Mu grabbed He Shi and was terrified to see that her eyes were closed and her face was deathly pale.
"Quick, call a doctor!"
Fortunately, Song Yi was worried about He Shi's condition last night, so she gave the doctor extra money and asked him to stay at the Marquis's residence for one night.
The doctor arrived quickly and, after examining the woman, said, "The lady was greatly distressed and vomited blood due to excessive grief."
There's nothing seriously wrong, but you need to recuperate carefully for a period of time. During this time, you must avoid any further stimulation.
Song Yi sent Zilan to go with the doctor to get the medicine.
Looking at the unconscious He Shi on the bed, Song Yi's eyes reddened.
He whispered, "My mother-in-law still doesn't know that Li Yao isn't her biological son. Should we just tell her the truth?"
Li Mu shook his head, looking haggard and his voice hoarse from not having slept all night.
"We still don't know where the child my mother gave birth to was sent by Marquis Anping, but based on my understanding of him, that child is most likely in grave danger."
I would rather my mother hate Li Yao than know that her own child had been murdered long ago.
It takes mental strength to hate someone, but if a mother learns that her child is gone, she will be overwhelmed with grief and even more traumatized.
Song Yi sighed deeply, gazing at the light appearing on the horizon.
She murmured, "It's dawn."
Li Mu stood up, his gaze more resolute than ever before.
"I'll go to my study, and then go directly to the palace to pay my respects."
Song Yi knew what he was going to do and nodded silently.
"Don't worry, Ke'er and I are here at home."
Daylight broke, and the first day of the new year arrived as promised.
The emperor received the homage of civil and military officials in the Daqing Hall.
On the first day of the lunar new year, the officials naturally spoke auspicious words.
As soon as he heard the auspicious words, Li Mu stepped forward, knelt down, and presented a memorial.
"Your subject Li Mu requests to sever his father-son relationship with his father, Li Yongfeng."
These words immediately stirred up a storm in the hall.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
