Meng Qingyin returned to the old place and waited patiently for Jiao Ling'er.
The process of waiting for others was really boring, and she remembered Jiaojiao's words again.
What disease did Jiaojiao's grandpa have? Will he become younger after taking the medicine?
Could it be that he took a magic pill that could make him rejuvenate?
When this thought came to her mind, Meng Qingyin herself found it funny.
If there really is an elixir that can rejuvenate people, we wouldn't see so many elderly mermaids at sacrificial ceremonies.
Even Samezawa's mother, although time cannot hide her beauty, she is indeed no longer young. If there really is an elixir, I'm afraid the person in power will use it first, right?
Maybe it was because Jiaojiao's grandfather's condition improved after taking the medicine, so Jiaojiao felt that he had become younger.
As we all know, children cannot lie, but they can make up stories.
With the arrival of Jiao Ling'er, Meng Qingyin quickly put this matter behind her.
"Yinyin, let me tell you..." Jiao Ling'er's face was full of desire to share, "I asked my father, and he said that criminals cannot leave the place of imprisonment. There are restrictions on prisoners there!"
Hearing this, Meng Qingyin breathed a sigh of relief unconsciously.
From this point of view, Jiaojiao and her family are not criminals, after all, they can leave the courtyard freely.
But there is another possibility, that the courtyard she saw was not the real place of imprisonment.
But she searched for a long time and only found that courtyard. If that courtyard was not the place of imprisonment, then where was the place of imprisonment?
Seeing Meng Qingyin distracted, Jiao Ling'er scolded her with some dissatisfaction: "Yinyin, stop distracting yourself! Hurry up and listen to me!"
Meng Qingyin gave her an apologetic smile: "Sorry, go ahead, I'm listening."
Only then did Jiao Ling'er continue to speak contentedly, "I originally thought that the place of imprisonment was a dark prison cell, but I didn't expect it to be a courtyard! It used to be the home of a criminal who committed a serious crime and was imprisoned there. His neighbors thought it was unlucky and moved away one after another, so the place became deserted."
I see.
It seems that the courtyard is indeed a place of imprisonment.
But Jiaojiao and her mother can enter and leave the courtyard freely, while the criminals cannot leave the courtyard, which means they are not criminals.
Who could the culprit be?
Jiaojiao’s grandpa?
Or are they Jiaojiao's other relatives?
The news brought by Jiao Ling'er made the whole thing even more confusing.
Jiao Ling'er: "Aren't you looking for Jiao Ruxue? Why are you suddenly interested in the place of imprisonment? Do you suspect she is a criminal?"
These words hit Meng Qingyin like a blow to the head.
She had never considered this possibility.
Is Jiao Ruxue a criminal?
After a moment, she shook her head again. If Jiao Ruxue was a criminal, she would not be able to leave her prison.
unless……
Jiao Ruxue is the relative of the criminal, so the ban is ineffective against her.
Jiao Ruxue is a relative of the criminal, and Jiaojiao's mother is also a relative of the criminal. Is there any connection between the two of them?
Who is the criminal?
"Ling'er, are criminals allowed to participate in the sacrificial ceremony?" Something flashed through Meng Qingyin's mind, and she grabbed Jiao Ling'er's hand and asked.
Jiao Ling'er shook her head: "No, the criminals will be imprisoned for life after being tried, and they cannot leave until they die."
Meng Qingyin: "Willn't the sinner then be unable to receive the blessing of the ancestors? Won't he slowly die?"
Jiao Ling'er snorted coldly: "The criminal was imprisoned because he committed an unforgivable crime. It was the former leader's mercy that spared his life. Naturally, he is no longer qualified to receive the blessing of the ancestors. He can die in repentance, which is what he deserves."
Meng Qingyin looked at her, "Why do I feel that you are different from before?"
Just now, Jiao Ling'er only had a vague idea about the criminal's affairs, how come she seems to know something now?
Jiao Ling'er explained, "My father told me a lot about what happened back then. The criminal had instigated a couple to rebel! Fortunately, his plot was discovered by the former leader, so no disaster was caused."
Meng Qingyin pondered for a moment and asked, "How many years have passed since the rebellion?"
Jiao Ling'er scratched her head. "It must have been more than three hundred years, right? My father was still very young back then."
Meng Qingyin was shocked. Three hundred years? How long is the lifespan of the mermaids?
"If an adult mermaid has never been blessed by his ancestors, how long can he live at most?" Meng Qingyin asked.
Jiao Ling'er: "Without the blessing of the ancestors, the mermaid pearls will gradually lose their vitality, and the mermaids will become increasingly weak, generally surviving no more than three years. Of course, this is also related to the mermaids' physical fitness. Some mermaids may be able to hold on for a few more years, but it will definitely not exceed ten years."
"Ten years..." Meng Qingyin's eyes flashed, "But it's been more than three hundred years since the rebellion."
Jiao Ling'er was stunned for a moment, then realized belatedly: "Yes, it's been so long, the criminal must have died long ago and couldn't be alive! In other words, the prison is now empty. But what about the ghost I saw that time?"
Meng Qingyin's guess was almost correct.
Grandpa Jiaojiao is the criminal!
He didn't know what means he had used to live for so many years without receiving the blessings of his ancestors.
Maybe it has something to do with the medicine he takes.
It is not surprising that a person who has been imprisoned for hundreds of years and can only survive by relying on drugs would do something extreme.
Could Jiao Ruxue, who has been mysteriously missing for three years, be connected to this incident? Who is she?
…
Jiao Nian'en found Jiao Er again, a frustrated witch doctor of the Jiao tribe.
Jiao Er was researching medicine in the yard. After hearing Jiao Nian'en's intention, he refused without a second thought: "Your uncle was kind to me in the past, and I have repaid him with what I have done over the years. Don't come to me again in the future. If other mermaids see us, I will be implicated by you sooner or later."
Although he didn't know what the uncle and nephew were plotting, he could foresee that it was definitely not a good thing, so he didn't want to get involved.
Jiao Nian'en pleaded, "Uncle Jiao'er, you're the only one I can rely on. Just spread the news that Jiaoze lost the Jiao Pearl, and I promise not to implicate you with anything else! If it weren't for my special status, I wouldn't want to trouble you with this matter."
Jiao Er was unmoved. "Spread it? If I spread this news, the former leader will definitely find out about me. Then I will be implicated by you!"
Although he is absorbed in researching secret medicine and doesn't care about worldly affairs, it doesn't mean he is stupid.
The former leader was ruthless and decisive, and she knew that he would definitely not have a good ending, so he still wanted to live a few more years.
Jiao Nian'en was speechless. Seeing Jiao Er's firm attitude, he knew that he could not convince him. "I was abrupt. Just pretend I never said anything today. I'll be leaving now, Uncle Jiao Er."
She was the one who grew up under his care. Jiao Er couldn't bear it after all, so he reminded her, "Your uncle...you'd better not get involved in his affairs. It will hurt you and Jiao Jiao sooner or later."
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