Could Chapter 121 be the work of someone known to the victim?
Xiao Jingheng's eyes flickered slightly. Instead of answering her question directly, he turned his gaze back to Qingdai, who was standing to the side.
His tone carried an all-knowing insight.
"The murderer did indeed stab Li Mo in the lower back, a vital spot."
As he finished speaking, he clearly saw Qingdai's shoulders tremble almost imperceptibly.
Then, speaking slowly and deliberately, his gaze fixed on the master and servant, he said, "However, it is probably because the murderer lacked strength, or because it was his first time committing a crime and he was flustered, that the tip of the knife did not penetrate completely deep."
"It was fortunate that Li Mo was not destined to die. He still had a breath left and was soon discovered by passersby and sent to the clinic in time."
"Although his life is not in danger, he has not yet woken up. I have sent someone to Medicine King Valley to invite a reclusive physician to treat him. I believe that Young Master Li will soon be out of danger and wake up. At that time, the real murderer will have nowhere to hide!"
As the last sentence fell, Qingdai's face was beyond pale; it was completely bloodless.
She buried her head tightly and bit her lower lip hard to barely keep from exclaiming in shock.
Although Lin Wan'er tried her best to remain calm, her palms were already ice-cold, her nails digging deeply into her palms, and a chill spread directly from her tailbone to her spine, and then to her entire scalp.
Damn it!
Li Mo is still alive! Xiao Jingheng even wants to bring in a renowned doctor to save him, if he wakes up...
Lin Wan'er forced herself to calm down, telling herself she had to hold on, and forced a relieved smile onto her face.
"Really? It's truly a blessing from heaven... Young Master Li is a lucky man, it's good that he's alright."
Xiao Jingheng took in her momentary loss of composure, a glint of malice flashing in his eyes.
He suddenly changed the subject, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of inquiry:
"However... judging from Miss Lin's expression, she doesn't seem very happy; on the contrary, she seems somewhat disappointed?"
Lin Wan'er's heart skipped a beat, and her smile froze instantly.
"Your Highness is too kind! I was simply overjoyed and lost my composure for a moment. I am overjoyed that Young Master Li is safe and sound; how could I be disappointed?"
"Is that so? That's good then."
Xiao Jingheng's gaze swept over Qingdai, who was still trembling like a leaf, and his tone seemed to carry an invisible pressure.
"Since Miss Lin is not involved in this matter, please do as you please. However, things have been rather unsettled in the capital recently, and Miss Lin's maid seems to have been frightened. It would be best for her to stay at home and rest, and not to move around unnecessarily, lest... any further accidents occur."
Lin Wan'er curtsied again and quickly left the Jingzhao Prefecture with Qingdai.
-
The Marquis's Residence, Lanxing Garden.
When Xiao Jingxuan returned from the capital, he was furious. He paced back and forth in the room, cursing Li Mo's ancestors for eighteen generations.
Xiao Lingxi was worried when she learned that her second brother was involved in a murder case, so she quickly brought Su Xiaoyu to inquire about the situation.
"What else could it be?" Xiao Jingxuan paused, his tone both angry and aggrieved.
"It must be that Li Mo was heartbroken and got drunk, which is why he showed up there looking so pathetic. I was just unlucky to run into him, so I punched him a couple of times to vent my anger. Who knew that some damned bastard would stab him in the back and then pin this murderous accusation on me!"
Don't let me find out which bastard did this. If I catch him, I'll skin him alive!
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingxi frowned even more deeply.
"So, Li Mo was killed after you left, Second Brother?"
"That's right."
"But who would be so bold? And why would they appear precisely after you left?"
Upon hearing the whole story, Su Xiaoyu couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"Second Young Master, if what you say is true, that Young Master Li was stabbed in the back and then framed you, does that mean that when you had the conflict with him, the assailant was very likely nearby? Or even... watching the scene?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingxi immediately felt that Su Xiaoyu's suspicions were quite reasonable.
"Yes, Second Brother, think about it carefully again. Besides Young Master Zhao and Young Master Sun, were there any other suspicious people around at the time? Or... have you offended anyone recently that would lead them to frame you in this way?"
Xiao Jingxuan thought for a moment, then scratched his hair in frustration.
“It was already dark, and the alley was secluded. Besides the three of us, I didn’t notice anyone else. How could those two possibly harm me?”
"As for offending people... I've been burying myself in my studies lately, preparing for the autumn imperial examinations, and I've hardly even left the house. How could I possibly offend anyone? Even if there are some disagreements in the circle, at most they just engage in cockfighting and dog-fighting, arguing over who's better. Who the hell would kill someone or frame someone over something like that? That doesn't make sense!"
Just as the group was puzzled and at a stalemate, footsteps came from outside the courtyard.
Xiao Jingheng walked in with a calm expression.
He had obviously just returned from the capital.
"Big brother!"
Xiao Jingxuan seemed to have found a pillar of support and immediately went to greet him, "How is it? Has the Jingzhao Prefecture found any new clues? Who exactly is trying to frame me?"
Xiao Jingheng walked to the table and sat down. Su Xiaoyu quickly went over and poured him a cup of hot tea.
He took a sip, glanced at the group, and slowly said, "It's unknown for now, but Li Mo was with Lin Wan'er before the incident."
"Lin Wan'er!" Xiao Jingxuan slapped his thigh and exclaimed in surprise!
"Could it be that I guessed right? That bastard Li Mo really did get humiliated and wronged by Lin Wan'er, which is why he came out to drown his sorrows in alcohol! And he's acting like his parents have died!"
"But... who killed him and then framed me?"
And the other party even has a grudge against me!
Suddenly, as if he had just thought of something, Xiao Jingxuan's eyes widened.
"I understand, brother!"
All eyes immediately focused on him.
"It must have been done by Li Mo's love rival!"
The others looked at him with puzzled expressions.
Xiao Jingxuan began to analyze: "Think about it, Lin Wan'er is the most talented woman in the capital and the most beautiful woman in the capital. There are at least eighty or a hundred people who admire her. But Li Mo, relying on his engagement to Lin Wan'er, has blocked the way of countless people and made countless enemies!"
"It must have been some crazy guy who's obsessed with Lin Wan'er who took the opportunity to sabotage Li Mo, eliminating his rival and framing me for this mess—killing two birds with one stone!"
The more he explained, the more reasonable it seemed to him, waving his arms: "Yes! That must be it!"
However, Xiao Lingxi poured cold water on his enthusiasm: "Second brother, isn't your scope too broad? The people who admire Lin Wan'er could line up from the palace gate to the south of the city. How are we supposed to investigate that?"
Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate, feeling that the clues had gone cold again, Su Xiaoyu, who had been standing quietly behind Xiao Lingxi, frowning and deep in thought, spoke with some uncertainty:
"The Second Young Master's speculation makes some sense, but there is a key point of doubt. I think that although Young Master Li has been drinking, he is still a man and not weak as a chicken."
Moreover, I heard that he was stabbed in the back... This means that when the murderer struck, Young Master Li... was very likely completely unprepared.
"Could this person be... someone he knows, or even... an acquaintance? Someone who struck him suddenly when he wasn't paying attention?"
"Was it committed by someone you know?" Xiao Lingxi and Xiao Jingxuan asked in unison.
Su Xiaoyu's words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up waves in everyone's hearts!
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