After Shui Yiyao woke up, she was taken from the ICU to another private ward. After a few words, she felt sleepy again. After coaxing her to sleep, Ao Li left the ward.
He first went to the office to ask the doctor what was going on. After learning from the doctor that Shui Yiyao's condition had stabilized, he gave the hospital some instructions, asking them to notify him immediately if anything was wrong.
After explaining this and that, Ao Li, as the leader of the Sea Clan Alliance, went to the police to inquire about the progress of the case. Because the victim Shui Yiyao was a member of the Sea Clan, he had the highest authority to handle this matter.
Although there was no evidence left at the scene, the post-explosion site could be used to determine the substance that caused the explosion. It was a recently developed substance called "vapor fire," which smelled like gasoline and was highly explosive. It could be remotely controlled.
The police found out that the jade carvers from Xiaoshan State had "steam fire" and had been to Tieyu Pavilion.
According to the information provided by the jade carver Zhao Mingjue when they went to Tieyu Pavilion, they did have a "gasoline smell" on them.
However, there is no direct evidence to prove that they actually placed "gas fire" in Tieyu Pavilion.
Direct evidence?
Ao Li looked at the information provided by the police, said thank you and left.
If there was no direct evidence, he would go looking for it. He had plenty of ways to get them to confess.
·
The results of the investigation into the explosion case are out and the police have issued a notice of the results.
The explosion was indeed man-made, caused by a "gas ignition" incident. The culprit was Asai Toru, a jade carver from Oyama Province, whose motive was to destroy the Tieyu Pavilion workshop.
The evidence was the "gasoline fire" stain on his clothes, his visit to Tieyu Pavilion that day, and the "gasoline fire" purchase records. Combined with witness testimony, the evidence was irrefutable. Furthermore, Asai Tou himself wrote a confession, admitting to the crime.
According to Chinese law, if an explosion causes serious injury to others or major damage to public property, the offender shall be sentenced to more than ten years in prison.
After the case was settled, when the police went to arrest Asai Tou in accordance with the law, they found that he had been sent to the hospital by his companions. It was said that he accidentally fell from the rooftop of their embassy and broke both legs. He is still in the ICU and it depends on his fate whether he will wake up or not.
As far as the police know, Asai Tu's injuries are exactly the same as Shui Yiyao's. There is even a wound on the same location on the forehead that requires eight stitches.
It's hard to say it's a coincidence, it seems like retaliation.
Shui Yiyao was still lying in bed, so it was impossible for her to retaliate. That left only one person, Ao Li. But when they asked Ao Dong, he simply told them indifferently that Qian Jingtu was vicious and had done so many evil things that he must be getting his comeuppance. They couldn't get any other information out of him.
They could not explain the reason, but strangely, the Oyama Kingdom did not pursue the matter.
But this was too bizarre, and this bizarre incident was later taken over by the Special Investigation Bureau, and they no longer had the authority to investigate further.
·
The Special Investigation Bureau visited Ao Li in Shui Yiyao's ward in the hospital.
When they went there, Ao Li was peeling an apple for his sweetheart.
Shui Yiyao was lying in bed, looking much better, completely different from her previous sick appearance. As she ate an apple, she said, "These apples are so crisp. I can get a couple more boxes to take home and eat."
Ao Li replied while peeling the fruit: "It was sent by the girl from the Bai family. I'll ask her to give me two more boxes later."
"Mr. Ao, Mr. Shui."
After entering the ward, Officer Ye greeted the two of them. Just as he was about to ask more about Shui Yiyao's condition, he was interrupted by Ao Li.
Ao Li's hands kept moving. He peeled the last piece of skin, cut the apple into six small pieces with three cuts, and placed them on the fruit plate. He looked up at the person who came and said, "Officer Ye."
They were all old acquaintances, so Ao Li recognized him as soon as he saw him.
Ao Li didn't wait for him to speak before asking, "Officer Ye, has the business agreement with the Sea Clan been settled?"
Officer Ye was stunned. The Hai Clan business agreement had already been finalized, so why was Chief Ao asking this? Could there be some new agreement that he didn't know about?
"this……"
Ao Li stood up and wiped his hands with the towel beside him. He put them on the table and said calmly, "Let's talk outside. We won't disturb... my wife's rest."
Officer Ye nodded: "Okay, let's talk outside."
Ao Li walked in front, leading Officer Ye out and closing the door. Before leaving, he looked at Shui Yiyao lying on the hospital bed and said, "I'll be back soon."
Shui Yiyao took another apple from the fruit plate and ate it while looking out the door thoughtfully.
Officer Ye was taken out by Dean Ao before she could say a few words. Is there anything she can't listen to?
Outside the door, Ao Li took Officer Ye to the end of the corridor. There was no one there.
Officer Ye looked at Ao Li, wondering how to start. He had just received news that Asai Tu was dead, having died. This matter involved human life, so he needed to get to the bottom of it. Furthermore, Asai Tu had fallen from the rooftop of the Koyama Embassy.
Ao Li didn't wait for Officer Ye to ask before he took the initiative to speak: "As for the matter of the Asai Massacre, I have already handed it over to Xiaoshan Country. The matter has come to an end, so there is no need to worry about it anymore."
Officer Ye: "..." That's not allowed. Although the Sea Clan is a highly autonomous region, Ao Li does have the qualifications, but - "Chief Ao, since this matter has begun, we must also have an explanation and write a file."
"As I should." Ao Li nodded and began to confess, "I was the one who did it. This matter has been settled among the human race, but in my Sea Clan, it's a different matter. I, Ao Li, have always upheld the principle of tooth for tooth. He must repay the injury my wife suffered. I didn't ask for more than I deserved. He couldn't withstand the same injury. It's just his bad luck."
Officer Ye wanted to say something, but swallowed it back. Chief Ao spoke with confidence and seemed calm, but the murderous aura was almost overflowing.
Officer Ye considered it for a moment and said, "Since the Sea Clan and the Small Mountain Country have already made some handovers, we will not interfere." They had heard that Ao Li had used some ruthless methods to govern the Sea Clan in his early years, but ever since their special office started dealing with Ao Li, this man has always been quite reasonable, even a gentleman. He has never had any difficulty in handing over affairs, and he has always been thorough and comprehensive in his work. Their special office said that the rumors were false.
Now it seems that the sea people are so safe under his rule, there must be some way.
This Asai Tu is truly blind. He dares to provoke the Sea Tribe even if he has a few lives left. That place is a barbaric land where "the clan leader's authority is above all else" is written into law. Furthermore, Ao Li said that a handover had already taken place with the Xiaoshan Kingdom, so it must have happened. Since the Xiaoshan Kingdom isn't pursuing the matter, that must mean they've reached a consensus.
However, Asai Toru deserved such an outcome for his heinous act of deliberately causing the explosion.
·
After seeing off Officer Ye, Ao Li returned to the ward. He adjusted his clothes and expression outside the door before going in.
"I'm back." As usual, his expression was natural.
Shui Yiyao bit off a piece of apple in her hand and looked out the door: "Officer Ye wanted to talk to you about the explosion, right?"
Just as she finished eating, she reached for her fork towards the fruit plate and picked up the last piece of apple: "I saved this for you, come here quickly."
Ao Li paused in front of the door, and only stepped forward when he saw Shui Yiyao holding an apple on a fork and handing it to her.
He walked to the bed and took the apple and fork: "Why do you ask?"
Shui Yiyao: "You guys are acting so mysterious, but I'm not stupid. What's going on? What did you get involved in? Did you attract the Special Branch? Murder and arson? A personal vendetta?"
Ao Li cleared his throat and thought for a moment, unable to find an argument to refute these two words. He sat down and ate his apple while changing the subject: "The case has already been sentenced. The sentence is thirteen years in prison."
Shui Yiyao nodded: "Oh. I know that."
The police came to inquire about the case several times, and later Ao Li and Xiao Jiangluo were the ones who received her. When the case results came out, she was notified. Many relatives and friends also came to see her and told her about this matter.
But this has nothing to do with the Special Office coming to look for Ao Li, right?
The Special Office came to the ward, so it must be related to her. The most recent incident was the bombing case, and Ao Li had deliberately spoken up to get them out of the way. It was probably related to her, and he didn't want her to know. She didn't believe Ao Li hadn't secretly done something to Asai Tu.
Ao Li was silent for a long while before he said, "It's not important."
He didn't want Yu Yu to know about this. After all, his methods were indeed not very clean. Although he always acted like a decent person in front of Yu Yu, he had done many cruel things when he had no choice, and many of them were not allowed to be seen in public.
Yuyu is different from him. She has always been clean. He doesn't want Yuyu to know about his past.
Seeing him like this, Shui Yiyao vaguely guessed something. After some thought, she asked, "What do you think of you in the eyes of us mermaids?"
Ao Li was puzzled, but he still answered according to his own understanding: "The Dragon Clan leader who cares about the Sea Clan."
Shui Yiyao nodded: "Yes, there is more."
Ao Li thought for a while longer this time, and then said, "Strong strength. Helping those in need."
Shui Yiyao laughed. "It seems you have a pretty accurate understanding of yourself, though there are still some minor deviations. For example, I heard the Great Elder say that you are cruel and brutal. When someone in your clan disobeyed you, you ate them without a word."
Ao Li's expression was a little stiff.
Shui Yiyao: "Also, your stories about cannibalism have spread throughout all the major tribes in the seabed, including details about which part of the body you ate first, and whether you swallowed it directly or chewed it before swallowing."
"Everyone also said that the Jiao Clan leader grew up eating humans and only loved to eat human hearts and livers."
Ao Li's face darkened: "Nonsense."
"The Great Elder even used it to scare me and told me to stay away from you."
After hearing this, Ao Li's eyes froze for a moment, and after a while he asked, "Then you..."
Seeing his hesitant expression, Shui Yiyao knew that she had guessed right. Ao Li hid the truth from her and didn't dare to tell her because he cared about his gentlemanly image.
"Let me ask you first, what did you do to Asai Tu?"
Ao Li looked at her and said calmly, "I sent him from the embassy rooftop to the first floor."
"Send?" Shui Yiyao looked up at him after hearing the word, "How did you send it?"
Ao Li did not answer, but Shui Yiyao could guess it almost exactly.
Shui Yiyao looked at the apple that Ao Li took but didn't eat, and then looked into his eyes. She didn't know what he was thinking, and his expression remained unchanged.
Shui Yiyao smiled and said, "Ao Yuan, have I ever told you... before, a long time ago, when I was sick and hospitalized, no one ever sat by my bed and peeled an apple for me?"
"You are the first and only one."
She was raised by her grandfather, who never mentioned her parents. She even wondered if he'd picked her up from a trash can. He was very kind to her, teaching her jade carving and moral principles. But he didn't teach her anything more nuanced.
"My grandfather passed away early. After that, no one ever said I was good at drinking strong or weak tea, and no one reminded me not to stay up late at night."
Shui Yiyao seemed to be recalling that time, her voice was low, soft and slow.
Ao Li had never heard Shui Yiyao say this before. He only vaguely knew that, having mastered such a fine craft at such a young age, she couldn't have a very happy life. After all, nothing in this world comes for free. She still made this mention lightly. But for a girl like that, it was obvious that life wouldn't be easy.
Shui Yiyao raised her eyes and said, "I don't want to talk about these things, and I haven't mentioned them to anyone. It's too hypocritical. Everyone goes through this in life, and everyone has their own difficulties."
"You have your difficulties, I know." Shui Yiyao leaned back, her tone relaxed: "If you don't want to talk about it, then don't talk about it. I just want to tell you that you don't have to be too concerned about being an idol. I know you."
Some things should be done. There is no need to hide them just for her, and there is no need to bear anything alone.
I know yours.
Ao Li looked at her, his Adam's apple moving. Yes, he had long known that his sweetheart was not only his sweetheart, but also his confidant.
Ao Li took a bite of the apple in his hand. It was sweet and delicious.
After he finished eating, he said, "I tricked Asai Tu into getting the same injuries as you. He went to the emergency room but couldn't be saved."
Shui Yiyao was stunned by what she heard, then nodded: "I understand."
Ao Li continued to wait, waiting for Shui Yiyao to say that he was cruel and excessive. But Shui Yiyao said nothing more.
"Are there any more apples?" Shui Yiyao asked for another apple. She turned her head to see Ao Li, who seemed to be waiting for something. She raised an eyebrow: "?"
Ao Li slowly took out an apple from the nearby locker and tried to speak casually: "Do you think it's too much?"
Shui Yiyao thought for a moment and said, "From the perspective of the sea people, there's nothing wrong with what you're doing."
Ao Li is the leader of the sea tribe. In the undersea world, where the legal system is imperfect, he must use drastic measures to manage the sea tribe. If he stands idly by this time, the troublemakers will be even more unscrupulous next time.
Ao Li sat back in his seat and began to peel an apple. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Well, what about your perspective?"
Shui Yiyao didn't hesitate this time: "I believe you."
She believed in his character and his motives, so she naturally wouldn't question him. Furthermore, if it was Ao Li who got into trouble this time, she wouldn't let it go either.
Ao Li lowered his head and finally smiled.
Shui Yiyao also smiled along with him, but quickly suppressed it. She looked at her legs, then raised her eyes to Ao Li: "I have a question for you too."
Ao Li looked at her.
Shui Yiyao: "At that time, I wrote something on the slate, but... I didn't leave a single word for you."
As she spoke, she pursed her lips and unconsciously clenched the blanket on her body: "Do you ever, ever, blame me?"
After hearing what she said, Ao Li was stunned for a moment, then reached out and touched her forehead.
"You know me, so how could I not know you?"
Others said she only left behind her jade carving skills. But others didn't know, he knew deep down that it was more than just jade carving skills. To her, it was her life. Not leaving him a single word didn't mean she didn't care about him. That blood-stained jade was enough.
After hearing this, Shui Yiyao smiled and said, "I knew it."
She knew Ao Li would understand her approach, so she didn't explain. As expected, he understood, and explanations were unnecessary.
Shui Yiyao looked at her legs and said, "My dear friend Ao, I'm almost healed. Is it time for me to be discharged from the hospital?"
The IV bottle and oxygen have been removed, the wound is healing, the hand is fine, but the legs need some time to recover, and I just need to go home and recuperate.
Ao Li: "No rush, just take some time to heal it."
Shui Yiyao: "My hands are itching. I can go back and rest them. The league will be starting soon."
As far as she knew, after this incident, two people in the jade carving team of Xiaoshan Kingdom were replaced at once: one was Asai Tu, the offender, and the other was Uehara Fumi, the team leader.
Uehara Kazami's strength is really strong, and it's a pity that he can't compare with him this time.
Originally, she was to be replaced, but her hand was fine so she applied to go on stage again. Moreover, the semi-finished products in their safe were still there, so they didn't have to start from scratch.
Ao Li nodded: "But you have to wear the mermaid silk robe."
The defensive ability of Jiao Xiao is first-class. If she wore Jiao Xiao this time, she would have fewer wounds on her body.
Shui Yiyao: "Of course."
Xiao Bei would visit her whenever he had time. The first time, he brought her mermaid silk dress and cried beside her bed, telling her to put it on.
Ao Li: "There's one more thing."
"Um?"
"Go get the certificate."
This was what they had agreed on. Shui Yiyao nodded: "When?"
"Now."
Now? Shui Yiyao was puzzled: "Don't we have to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to handle it?"
Ao Li turned around, took a box from the cabinet next to him, walked over to Shui Yiyao, and placed the box next to her hand: "Open it and take a look."
This is a red wooden box with golden patterns on it.
Shui Yiyao took a look and saw that the patterns on the box were dragons and phoenixes, with patterns of swallows and bluebirds next to them.
"What's this?"
"bride price."
Shui Yiyao paused and looked up at him: "Any betrothal gifts?"
"nature."
She unlocked the box and opened it.
When the box was opened, there was a piece of red paper on it with words written in gold powder.
She picked up the red paper. It was written in neat, elegant handwriting by Ao Li.
Ao Li, the 28th patriarch of the Jiao clan, is in love with Cheng Yu. Mr. Cheng Yu is a great jade carver. He fought for the country in his prime and has the aura of a general. However, Ao is not talented or virtuous. He has made no achievements in his thirties and is not as good as Cheng Yu. I dare not offend him.
At the same time, Ao Li in front of him spoke in a clear and tough voice.
"I'm fortunate to have Yuyu's favor and I'm willing to spend the rest of my life with you. I'm now offering you a clan invitation. The blue bird ties my heart to you, and the red beans convey my affection. I hope you, Chengyu, will not abandon me and allow me to spend my life with you."
The words on the red paper and what Ao Li said matched word for word.
Shui Yiyao blushed. This was too much. She felt embarrassed.
She picked up the red paper and found a whole set of jewelry under the box.
Hairpins, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings.
One pair each.
The Jiao people prefer black, and the color of their jewelry is almost always black, supplemented by rubies and gold pearls, which looks noble and dignified.
Ao Li: "This is a betrothal gift passed down from our ancestors to the clan leader's wife."
Shui Yiyao picked up the ring first. The ring was pure black with a golden dragon-shaped pattern and a red and blue sapphire inlaid on it.
The red and blue sapphires were conjoined, known as "mandarin duck gems," and the dark patterns were inlaid with gold thread. But she couldn't tell what material the ring was made of.
Ao Li said, "Only this ring was forged by me. It was made from the dragon horn that I shed when I was an adult."
Shui Yiyao: "You polished it yourself? I have pretty good taste then."
I picked it out at first sight.
No wonder she couldn't tell what it was made of, it turned out to be dragon horn.
Shui Yiyao took out the ring and put it on her ring finger.
She raised her hand and looked at it: "It fits."
This ring has a pure black base and a restrained color. It is inlaid with a gem of appropriate size, with rich color and noble luxury.
Ao Li took out a ring from his arms. The ring was the same as the one on Shui Yiyao's hand, but it was a little bigger and was a men's ring.
He handed the ring to Shui Yiyao: "Madam, help me put it on."
Shui Yiyao looked at him, raised her eyebrows in surprise, then looked at the ring again, nodded and smiled: "You are quite particular about rituals."
She took the ring: "Left hand."
After a moment, a black ring inlaid with red and blue sapphires appeared on the ring finger of Ao Li's left hand.
The size is right and the style is luxurious.
Shui Yiyao touched the necklace around her neck, gently pulled it off, and handed it to Ao Li.
"dowry."
Ao Li looked at the necklace. It was a red rope with a dark golden bead tied underneath.
It's the mermaid's tears.
Shui Yiyao: "No one from my family taught me the process of getting a marriage certificate. I just saw it on TV. Why don't you accept it? Do you think it's too little?"
This is the Mermaid's Tears she bought last month. I was busy and didn't have time to sell it, so I just hung it around my neck. It looks pretty good too.
Ao Li took the mermaid tear and immediately hung it around his neck.
"Mermaid tears are worth a thousand gold. How can you think they are too little?"
·
Feeling that her injuries were almost healed, Shui Yiyao couldn't wait to be discharged from the hospital.
He went back in a wheelchair.
The small workshop of Tieyu Pavilion was moved to Ao Li's villa. After this incident, security was given more attention. There were many people guarding inside and outside the villa, including security guards arranged by the higher-ups and bodyguards arranged by Ao Li.
Shui Yiyao returned to work and sat at her workstation on the first day in the workshop.
Several people from the workshop visited her during her hospitalization and brought her gifts. They knew Shui Yiyao would return to work sooner or later, but they didn't expect her to return so soon.
It's only been a few days, less than a month.
Lu Jiayu felt a little distressed. Seeing Shui Yiyao greet everyone in the studio, she acted as if nothing had happened. She pushed her wheelchair straight to her workstation and began to check various tools. She walked over to her wheelchair and said, "Why don't you rest it for a few more days?"
Before Shui Yiyao could answer, Lu Jiayu looked at Ao Li and said, "Director Ao, why are you being discharged so soon? It's not convenient to use a wheelchair."
Ao Li just smiled at Shui Yiyao and helped her count the tools.
"Dean Ao has no control over my work." Shui Yiyao smiled and looked at Lu Jiayu while opening her toolbox. "I don't need to use my legs to work, so this wheelchair is pretty good. I don't have to walk anymore."
Zhao Mingjue also came up and frowned at her legs. "At worst, we old guys are there to support you. You won't miss the game."
The elder also came over and said, "I applied for subsidies and vacation for you from the higher-ups, and your vacation isn't even up yet. Why are you back so soon?"
They really thought that Shui Yiyao should take this time to have a good rest, but they didn't expect that she would come back, even in a wheelchair.
Shui Yiyao smiled and said, "I've been in the hospital for so long, I've had enough. If Ao Li hadn't dragged me back, I would have come back two days ago."
Then she instructed Ao Li, "Please help me press the red button on the left. Yes, that one."
"And give me that piece of golden jade. I'll warm up my hands first."
Ao Li gave Shui Yiyao everything she needed, and finally handed her a mask: "Put it on."
·
After two days of warming up, Shui Yiyao continued the live broadcast.
"Friends, I'm back."
Shui Yiyao was very surprised. In the past half month, she had never been to the live broadcast room, but there were still quite a few people squatting in the room.
-Yuyu! You finally started live streaming.
-Wife!
-I've been waiting for you, knowing you would come back.
-How's Yuyu recovering? Last time I saw your Weibo, you said you were fine.
-Why don’t you take a break? It’s not even a month.
Shui Yiyao: "Thank you for your concern, I'm fine now."
At first, her camera was only facing the workbench, and most of the comments were concerned about her health, so she turned the camera to her face and smiled at the camera: "Look, I'm fine."
-Is that a scar on your forehead?
-But Yuyu looks much better now.
-In a wheelchair.
-I read the report, and it said Yuyu's leg...
"It's okay. I just can't move my legs for now. It will be fine." Shui Yiyao said this and looked at her face on the screen again. The scar on her forehead was indeed quite obvious. Even though it was covered by her hair, the stitches were still visible. "I don't rely on my looks to make a living anyway."
-She is beautiful even with a scar, it’s just on the side and doesn’t affect her appearance.
-There is another kind of beauty, that is, the beauty of imperfection.
-What is incomplete? That is the beauty that has gone through vicissitudes of life. Anyway, I love it.
-Yuyu’s clothes are so beautiful too!
-Is this a new model from a certain brand? I don't think I've seen it before.
- I can't even tell what it's made of. It looks more like it's custom-made. It must be super expensive.
-This dress seems to be grown on Yu Yu's body, it sets off her perfectly and even makes the scar on her face less noticeable.
Looking at the fans flattering her, Shui Yiyao smiled and made a heart shape with her hands towards them in front of the camera.
"Thank you."
But she really doesn't care about the scar on her face. She only cares about her hands. As long as her hands are still there, everything else is not a problem.
Do they really think this dress is beautiful? This is a mermaid silk dress, I wonder if it can be sold for money...
Soon, the number one name on Shui Yiyao’s gift list lit up, and he was online.
Then a bright reminder came out - [Ao Li has entered the live broadcast room].
[Ao Li: Good morning, Madam.]
-? ? ?
-Ma'am? Did something happen that I didn't catch?
-When did this happen!
-Look at Yuyu's ring finger! Is that a wedding ring?
-Oh shit, I just realized it’s the ring finger!
"Good morning, Mr. Ao." Shui Yiyao looked at the question marks flashing across the screen, and then saw everyone talking about the ring finger. She didn't know how to answer. Could she just tell people that they got the certificate secretly?
In the end, she only asked Ao Li: "Mr. Ao, do you have nothing to do and come to watch my live broadcast?"
[Ao Li: Work is about to start. I wanted to see you. Let's try our luck.] Shui Yiyao cleared her throat, pretending she didn't see such blunt words. She also ignored the barrage of "hit" comments and turned the camera directly to the workbench.
"Work."
·
There was not much time left before the league season, and Shui Yiyao worked hard after returning to work. Finally, she carved a complete and satisfactory work before the game.
The competition was held in Yudu City.
Jade carving competitions are generally divided into two types. One is to directly submit the work and score it based on the quality of the work. After all, the production cycle of a good jade carving product is particularly long, so direct submission is generally based on the quality of the finished product.
The second type is on-site production, which is a greater test of the jade carver's skills. Generally, it is impossible to do too delicate work due to limited time. Everyone will try their best to do the best within the specified time.
The two countries' leagues adopt two parallel systems.
Submit the finished product first and get the score, then have another competition on site and get the score again.
Add the two parts together and determine the winner based on the total score.
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