The atmosphere inside the main room was somber.
Aside from admitting his mistake, Luo said little else.
Wang had hoped she could offer some rebuttal, but instead, she was so angry that she clutched her chest and almost fainted.
Liu Hui, on the other hand, had a gloomy expression and remained silent.
As a result, Luo was imprisoned, and the mansion announced to the public that she had suddenly fallen seriously ill.
It's obvious that her fate will be certain death.
No household can tolerate a woman who has lost her chastity and virtue.
Qingying frowned as she watched the woman being dragged away, her expression blank.
After leaving the main room, Qingying pondered the matter all the way, and finally, just before reaching the courtyard gate, she asked Liu Chengfeng, "May I see that assassin?"
Liu Chengfeng asked in bewilderment, "Why would a young lady like you want to see such filthy people?"
"I feel this matter is not simple. Didn't you find it strange, brother, when you saw how aunt looked just now?"
"What's so strange about that? She's been caught red-handed doing something wrong, what face does she have to argue back?"
Qingying frowned, looked at him, and asked seriously, "Brother, are you so sure that you caught them in bed together? Or did you witness them doing something illicit?"
"I..." Liu Chengfeng was speechless when he met her expression.
Qingying understood that Luo Shi only confessed after he captured the so-called assassin. Because a maid had witnessed the man injuring someone the night before and mistook him for an assassin, shouting for help, and Liu Chengfeng only arrived later, he had no chance to witness the struggle between the two.
Her courtyard was closest to the west courtyard, so it wasn't surprising that the man passed by her bedroom when he fled. What she couldn't understand was that Luo Shi was always a shrewd person, so how could she be so stupid as to steal someone in her own courtyard? And it was also strange that she took all the blame without any explanation.
After hearing her words, Liu Chengfeng also sensed something was amiss. Since it concerned the reputation of the General's Mansion, he thought for a moment and then said, "It's not impossible to take you to see him, but you must cover your face and not let any outsider see your appearance."
Qingying reluctantly agreed.
She wasn't one to meddle in other people's business, but she was touched by the fact that Luo had been so generous in sending her tonics and expensive medicinal herbs during her illness, which were being delivered to her bedroom in a steady stream.
She wanted to help her this time in return for her kindness.
Qingying returned to her room and disguised herself, tying her long hair up high, wearing simple clothes, putting on a face mask, and then using a fine brush to add some small spots under her eyes so that no one would recognize her. Only then did she go out.
Liu Chengfeng was already waiting outside. Seeing her current appearance, he nodded in satisfaction. "Let's go."
"Have you decided what identity you will use to meet that assassin?"
He couldn't keep mentioning the term "adulterer" in front of his sister, so he could only use "assassin" instead.
Qingying said, "The strategist beside you."
"oh?"
"Brother, you'll be in charge of asking the questions, and I'll just watch from the side. I want to see if he's lying."
"Okay." He smiled indulgently and said, "Shushu has really grown up."
They arrived at the woodshed, where guards stood at the door, greeting them respectfully one by one.
Liu Chengfeng had the guards open the door, and then led Qingying inside.
The woodshed was small, with tall piles of firewood on both sides, leaving only a small open space in the middle. At this moment, a man covered in wounds was curled up on the ground, his hands and feet chained together.
Seeing someone come in, he struggled to lift one eyelid, while the other eyelid was so swollen that it could only be barely opened into a small slit.
Seeing the terrible state of the scene, Qingying couldn't help but frown. "Wasn't the beating a bit too harsh?"
Liu Chengfeng said, "We won't be able to pry his mouth open unless we hit him hard enough."
He learned from Liu Yu the methods of torture used to capture prisoners of war in the military camp, and he was ruthless in his methods.
Oh well, we've already fought.
Qingying touched her nose and stepped aside.
Liu Chengfeng had a chair brought over and sat down. He held a long whip in his hand. The slender whip was covered with small barbs and was stained with blood that could not be cleaned off. One lash would tear the skin open.
Then, staring at the person on the ground, he said coldly, "I ask you, why did you break into the General's mansion at night?"
The man said weakly, "As I said, it was the Second Madam who sent me."
Why did she call you here?
“We grew up together. If her father hadn’t been greedy for fame and fortune and married her off to that cripple, she would be my wife now.”
Qingying stared intently at him, not missing a single detail.
The reason Liu Chengfeng agreed to her request was because she had developed a skill to see through people's hearts. Ironically, this skill was taught to her by her mistress, her biological mother.
Liu Chengfeng then asked, "What benefits did the Second Madam give you that made you willing to risk sneaking into the General's Mansion?"
The man said, "She didn't give me anything in return; it was just because we loved each other."
Qingying couldn't listen anymore and waved her hand, saying, "Brother, quickly send someone to find Doctor Qin to treat his injuries. I'm afraid he'll die if we keep talking."
Liu Chengfeng looked over, puzzled.
She continued, "It's not too late to torture him after his injuries have healed a bit; we shouldn't kill him right away."
Liu Chengfeng smiled and ordered someone to stuff a large piece of cloth into the man's mouth to prevent him from biting his tongue and committing suicide.
Afterwards, the brother and sister left the woodshed.
"How is it?" Liu Chengfeng asked her.
Qingying pursed her lips and said, "I'm not sure if he's telling the truth, but his explanation was full of perfunctory responses, as if he had rehearsed it countless times before you even asked him a question."
"Brother, I would like to trouble you to go to the Luo family in person and investigate the man's identity. Find out if Aunt had a lover before she married into the Liu family, and also find out what the man does, his family background, and his recent social interactions... In short, investigate everything thoroughly."
Liu Chengfeng raised an eyebrow and said, "You overestimate me. How could I possibly investigate these matters on my own?"
"Yes, it's quite difficult for you to investigate on your own, so I found you a helper."
When Liu Chengfeng saw Wei Huaixu waiting outside the General's Mansion, his eyes widened in surprise. "Your Highness... Crown Prince, what brings you here?"
Wei Huaixu stood by the door with his hands behind his back, his posture still upright, and his smile was like a spring breeze. "I have been entrusted by someone to help Young Master Liu investigate the case."
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