"Yes, it seems they didn't kill them all. Some children and women were spared. I heard that the Gao family was drenched in blood, and the smell of blood still lingers in the house."
"I wonder which martial arts sect did this. It's so brutal. Even if Gao Wancheng is guilty, the others in the mansion are innocent."
"What do you know? This is called eliminating the root of the problem. How do you know that the people who died in the mansion weren't Gao Wancheng's confidants? If they were to make a comeback with Gao Wancheng in the future, they would be the ones to harm us ordinary people."
"I heard that the Zhong family's affair was also framed by Gao Wancheng. In fact, it was Gao Wancheng, not a member of the Zhong family, who was the one who colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country. I heard some time ago that Lord Zhao wanted to exonerate the Zhong family, and the court has already agreed."
"We can't interfere with their affairs, let's get back to our work."
They got busy and didn't notice Fang Qing's changed expression.
Fang Qing was absent-minded all day. She returned home in a daze and heard from the steward at dinner time that Zhao Shi'an had stayed in the palace for some business and would not return until very late.
Fang Qing ate dinner by herself and went back to her room to wait for Zhao Shi'an.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she hadn't turned a page of the book in her hand for almost fifteen minutes. In front of her was a light screen, and she was communicating with Xiaodou.
Fang Qing only came back to her senses when she heard the maids talking outside.
Then the curtain was lifted, and familiar footsteps entered the room.
"Qing'er?"
Zhao Shi'an glanced into the inner room.
Why are you sleeping so early today?
Fang Qing didn't speak, but heard Zhao Shi'an outside arranging for someone to fetch water for washing up.
A short while later, Zhao Shi'an came in. Fang Qing's gaze was fixed on the book, and she didn't look at him.
Zhao Shi'an noticed that Fang Qing was acting strangely.
"Qing'er?"
Fang Qing then put down her book and asked, "You're back so late, is there any news from Gao Wancheng?"
"Not yet. We've been keeping an eye on Gao Ren these past few days, and we should have results soon."
Zhao Shi'an sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over to kiss Fang Qing.
"Is Qing'er unhappy?"
Fang Qing unconsciously gripped the book in her hand.
"I heard some things about the Gao family today."
"The Gao family is gone, what did you hear?"
Zhao Shi'an smiled, unaware of what Fang Qing was about to say.
"I heard that the Gao family was wiped out, with countless deaths and injuries. Was it your Fengyulou that did it?"
Fang Qing stared intently at Zhao Shi'an, trying to discern the expression in his eyes.
Zhao Shi'an was also visibly taken aback, and the smile in his eyes faded slightly.
"Who told you that?"
"Tell me, is this true or not?"
Zhao Shi'an pursed his lips slightly.
He did not directly answer Fang Qing's question.
Fang Qing already had a pretty good answer.
"It was your people who did it; you wiped out the entire Gao family."
Zhao Shi'an had imagined this day coming.
He had prepared his words long ago, but when the moment actually came, he didn't dare to speak.
Fang Qing looked at Zhao Shi'an.
"I want to know, under what circumstances did you make the cruel decision to wipe out your entire family?"
Fang Qing's expression and tone remained calm, as if she were asking a perfectly normal, everyday question.
Zhao Shi'an's heart was pounding wildly, enveloped by boundless panic.
"Qing'er, I..."
He knew how to explain himself, but he couldn't hide his cruel nature.
Fang Qing might think he's a heartless demon.
If Fang Qing no longer likes him as much as before.
Countless thoughts surrounded him, and he felt his body temperature slowly decreasing.
Fang Qing took in his appearance and then looked away.
"I've thought about it all day, and the only thing I can think of is that you did this for me."
"The timing of the Gao family's massacre coincides with the time when my parents were kidnapped by the Gao family. I guess the Gao family wanted to use my parents to threaten you. I happened to be in An County at that time, so the Gao family must have used me to threaten you as well. And then you made this decision in a fit of anger, right?"
Zhao Shi'an hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"You know what kind of people the Gao family are. If someone falls into their hands, they won't have a good life. I was blinded by greed..."
Fang Qing stared at him, feeling a pang of unease.
Not long ago, she confirmed with Xiaodou again what Zhao Shi'an had done.
As for why Zhao Shi'an's villain value didn't change, Xiao Dou actually told her that the change in villain value was based on comparing Zhao Shi'an's behavior in his previous life to determine the level.
In other words, the massacre of the entire family is nothing compared to what Zhao Shi'an did in his previous life.
She only dreamed of the scene when Zhao Shi'an was murdered and the image of people being displaced by war.
What other things did Zhao Shi'an do?
Fang Qing couldn't imagine it.
That might have been a completely unfamiliar Zhao Shi'an to her.
Ruthless and inhumane?
Furthermore, Xiaodou clearly knew about Zhao Shi'an's massacre of the Gao family, but he had kept it from her for so long.
Xiao Dou, her partner, kept it a secret from her, and Zhao Shi'an, her husband, also kept it a secret from her.
Xiaodou can understand; it's afraid that if she knows this side of Zhao Shi'an, she'll be frightened and leave him, causing Zhao Shi'an to turn into a villain like in the previous life.
But what about Zhao Shi'an?
He didn't want her to know either.
Fang Qing had the illusion that she had been doing useless work all these years.
She consistently guided Zhao Shi'an onto the right path, taking pride in having saved the villain and prevented the world from suffering.
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