Find the flaw
Xu Lanxin followed behind Madam Li and didn't see her do anything particularly unusual along the way.
He simply went to each of the halls to offer his prayers, exchanged a few ordinary words with the Taoist priests, and then had to turn back because of the child's cries.
Xu Lanxin quickly left and waited at the Spirit Palace.
Madam Li's face was not looking good; she had a cold and sinister air about her, and her eyes were filled with venom.
"Madam Cen, if there's nothing else, please return."
Upon her return, Madam Li bowed coldly to Lan Xin, her tone slightly chilly, but when she looked up again, all her emotions had vanished.
The group returned to the Li residence, and Xu Lanxin returned to her lodgings somewhat disappointed.
Cen Yan, who was sitting on the couch reading a book, heard the noise and looked up.
Lan Xin met his gaze, and her restless heart seemed to have found a place to rest.
She rushed over, grabbed his lean waist, and buried her face in his chest.
The familiar scent of agarwood brought her peace of mind.
The man didn't speak. He put down the book in his hand, wrapped one arm around her slender waist, and stroked her dark hair with the other.
The gentle rubbing of his cheek against her forehead reminded her of the chubby orange cat she used to have, which would always come and rub against her.
Lanxin was somewhat moved, so she pulled his neck and kissed him, mimicking his kiss in the same way.
She gently pecked at his lips, parting them to playfully tease him.
Perhaps due to poor technique, Cen Yan took the initiative and deepened the kiss.
Her slender waist was tightened, and the kisses became more and more urgent. Cen Yan kept taking what he wanted, and Xu Lanxin felt like she couldn't breathe.
She struggled slightly and gently tapped his chest, but this little bit of force had no effect on him.
Xu Lanxin bit him angrily, and perhaps sensing her displeasure, Cen Yan slowly restrained himself and gave her a gentle kiss.
She was able to catch her breath for a while.
Cen Yan released her, lifted her chin, and swayed it from side to side.
"I didn't expect my kitten to have such sharp claws."
Lan Xin glared at him and punched him.
Instead, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms, rendering her unable to move. Laughter came from above her head, and even her chest was shaking.
With the mindset of "If I can't get rid of you, I'll bite you back," Xu Lanxin took advantage of his grip on her wrist, stretched out her claws, and scratched him.
"Don't move. Do you want to spend your wedding night here?"
His voice was hoarse, filled with deep emotion.
Lan Xin belatedly realized that the heat source on her body was getting hotter and hotter, and the burning sensation penetrated under her skin.
The heat made her pores shrink, and she dared not move.
"Zijin, you said that Madam Li clearly seems suspicious, so why can't we find a breakthrough?"
No rush.
Lan Xin suddenly thought of something and looked up at him: "Did you get anything out of Magistrate Li? Is he acting strangely?"
"This man is cunning and opportunistic, aiming to subtly inquire about the powerful figures in the capital. He claimed ignorance of Dong'er's matter, but judging from his eyes, he did not seem to be lying."
"Then we should start with Madam Li."
The candlelight flickered, the flames dancing in the night, casting a halo of light on the two people and creating a silhouette on the wall.
The two talked so late that they fell asleep in that position.
In the early morning, Lan Xin opened her eyes to see a magnified handsome face, with playful fingers dancing on his face.
Before I could finish playing, I was grabbed by a pair of iron clamps.
A knocking sound rang out on the door.
It's a bluefish.
"Madam, Madam Li has gone out again, but she is alone today."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry and follow them."
As she spoke, Lanxin hurriedly tried to get off the bed, but was pulled into the arms of the person behind her.
"Don't rush. Let Qingyun go with them today. If you go too, wouldn't it be too obvious?"
Lan Xin turned to look at him, gazing into his eyes thoughtfully.
"Okay, let's go out and have some fun today. We're here on our honeymoon."
"good."
Cen Yan kissed her fingers, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes. He had been here for several days and hadn't yet taken her out to play properly.
Perhaps because it was market day, the streets of the small county town were quite lively.
Lanxin saw someone painting on the street and went over to ask if they could paint a picture for her and Cen Yan.
I miss modern instant cameras so much.
"Want to buy a painting?"
Lan Xin shook her head and looked at the person who was painting.
"Excuse me, could you draw a portrait of us?"
The man stopped writing and looked over, his face expressionless.
“Of course,” he said, pointing to the low stool beside him.
"Madam and young master, please sit down. I will grind the ink for you."
Xu Lanxin, whose back ached from sitting, felt like she was torturing herself.
The moment she received the portrait, she wanted to open her head and wondered why someone would be so foolish as to seek out a painter in ancient times.
"how?"
Cen Yan, noticing her micro-expressions, took the portrait and admired it, a smile playing on his lips.
"good."
"good?"
Xu Lanxin's lips twitched. It was quite good. It was painted using ancient techniques and had an ancient charm.
The two were walking along, looking at the painting, when they were bumped into by a little beggar.
Lanxin quickly helped him up, but before she could even speak to him, the child immediately ran away.
Are you injured?
Cen Yan nervously looked him up and down.
"Pfft," Lan Xin couldn't help but laugh at his expression.
"Zijin, I'm fine, don't be nervous. How much strength can a little kid have?"
Lan Xin patted herself all over and spun around in place.
"See? It's true!" Lan Xin suddenly froze, looking down at the scene:
"Zijin, my purse is missing."
Seeing that he was about to chase after her, Lanxin stopped him:
"Stop chasing it, there are only a few candies inside anyway."
The two spent the whole day playing before returning to the Li residence.
Qingyun was already waiting outside the door.
"Sir, Madam."
Qingyun stepped forward, bowed, and then entered the house before continuing:
"Today, Madam Li went to the White Lotus Temple and offered incense and prayed for blessings like ordinary believers. I did not find anything unusual. Afterwards, she had a vegetarian meal and returned to her residence, and did not come out again."
After exchanging a glance, Lan Xin and Cen Yan spoke first: "Could it be that we've gone in the wrong direction? Or are we overthinking things?"
"No rush,"
Cen Yan gave her a roasted chestnut, then looked at Qingyun:
"Keep following her."
Xu Lanxin rubbed her forehead, her lips pouting so much they could hold a teapot.
For two consecutive days, Madam Li stayed indoors, unable to find anything of substance.
Just as Lanxin felt there was no need to linger here any longer, Madam Li took the mentally challenged child out.
Address: Yufeng Temple.
"If nothing unusual happens this time, let's leave."
"good."
Qingyun finally brought the news at noon.
"My subordinate followed her into a guest room in the west courtyard of the Taoist temple. A Taoist priest gave her a talisman and said, 'This is the last one.' Then Madam Li gave him a box full of gold bars."
"Keep following."
Lan Xin looked at Cen Yan with a puzzled expression: "Are talismans really that valuable? A box of gold."
Cen Yan smiled faintly, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to her.
"Have a sip of tea to soothe your nerves, and maybe the truth will come out soon."
At dawn, there was a knock on the door of Lanxin and her husband's room, which startled them.
It's Qingyun.
When Qingyun entered this time, he was carrying a large box. The box was covered in mud and blood was seeping from the corners.
Lanxin had a bad feeling and a chill ran down her spine.
"Sir, at the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), two porters carried a box into Madam Li's room through the back door. I kept watch, and an hour later, they carried the box out again, and I followed them."
They followed them all the way to the mass grave, and only dug it out after they buried the box and left.
After Qingyun finished speaking, he glanced at Xu Lanxin and continued, "Madam, would you like to leave for a moment? I'm afraid it might frighten you."
"It's alright."
Cen Yan spoke up for her, and the two smiled at each other.
"Open."
When the box was opened, Lan Xin was still somewhat shocked; the child's corpse was headless.
A clean cut on his neck, a bloody mess, his clothes stained red with blood.
After the initial shock, Lan Xin's pupils suddenly contracted, and she squatted down, her gaze falling on the small hand stained with blood.
"Zijin, do you still remember the little beggar who bumped into me a couple of days ago?"
Xu Lanxin remained motionless, her voice choked with emotion, even sounding like she was about to cry.
Cen Yan's eyes were cold as he helped her up and held her in his arms.
"It was him?"
"When I helped him up, I saw a black mole on the web of his right hand."
Cen Yan looked at the box and saw a headless child lying inside. There was indeed a black mole on the web of the right hand.
“Zijin, there must be evidence left in Madam Li’s room.”
"Qingyun, go and take a look."
After Qingyun left, Lanxin looked at Cen Yan: "Zijin, why don't we catch her red-handed right away?"
"We are currently at Magistrate Li's residence. If we rashly arrest someone, it might backfire if he and his wife were to collude."
"Then we're like turtles in a jar."
Cen Yan chuckled softly, and Lan Xin pouted and punched him lightly.
The next day, Qingyun returned.
They failed to get into Madam Li's room, and she hasn't left the room yet; Qingyu is currently guarding it.
"Why don't I trick her into coming out?"
“No,” Cen Yan said expressionlessly.
"Don't worry, Qingyu is with me. If anything seems wrong, have her take me away immediately."
Cen Yan couldn't persuade her otherwise, so she had to agree.
Lan Xin did not go directly to Madam Li, but instead had a maid deliver a note to her.
I'm sure she'll come out after seeing this.
Xu Lanxin hadn't waited long at the pavilion in the middle of the lake when she saw Madam Li rushing over in a hurry, her face cold and gloomy.
As they got closer, the sinister look in their eyes became completely apparent.
"Madam Cen, what does the note mean?"
Madam Li's tone was unpleasant, as if she were suppressing something, and even carrying a hint of murderous intent.
"Madam Li, don't you understand? The Buddhist beads your young master took that day weren't his, were they?"
Lanxin calmly picked up a pastry but didn't take a bite.
"I know a woman who is looking for her son, and she recognized the Buddhist prayer beads as her son's. Isn't that a coincidence?"
Lan Xin stood up and walked up to her, staring into her eyes with a cold smile on her lips.
"Madam Li, have you seen a child named Dong'er?"
"I don't know who Madam Cen is referring to. I have never seen or heard of her. Besides, anyone can wear Buddhist prayer beads."
Xu Lanxin turned around and sat down, pouring herself a cup of tea.
"Does Madam Li know a beggar with a black mole on the web of his right hand? If not, why did you take his body out of your room and throw it into the mass grave?"
Lan Xin looked at her coldly and pressed her for answers.
Suddenly, a flash of silver light appeared, and a sharp dagger came toward her, its tip gleaming coldly.
With a sudden pull, she was carried away from the stone bench by the bluefish.
The dagger scraped across the stone table with a "crunch," sparking a few flecks.
When she turned around again, Madam Li was already pinned to the stone table by Qingyu.
With a "thud," the dagger was knocked to the ground by the bluefish.
"stop."
An anxious voice came over.
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