Chapter 70 The Authorities
The people from Dali Temple and Wannian County temporarily ruled that Zheng Raoan's death was an accident. Shang Nanliu was also persuaded to leave. Qiandeng washed his hands by the pool in the courtyard and prepared to leave.
"No matter how many complicated clues there are, based on the decisive evidence we currently possess, there can only be one truth. Perhaps we can finally close this case."
Ling Tianshui looked at her hands immersed in the water and was a little surprised: "The county lady wants to close the case as soon as possible?"
"Well, Shangluo has been missing for a few days. As the saying goes, if he's alive, I'd like to see him. If he's dead, I'd like to see his body. I... feel particularly scared when I think of this sentence..." Qiandeng nodded, looking in the direction where Shangnan left, and his voice seemed hesitant.
"Ling Tianshui, it was me who originally allowed all the candidates to live in the palace in order to uncover the truth. But now, troubles are raging in the backyard. Yu Guangling and Shi Jingning have already died, and now Shangluo's whereabouts are unknown. I am the one who put these innocent candidates in danger..."
"You took them in after the war out of good intentions."
Ling Tianshui could see the suppressed fear in her eyes. The Gaoguo Princess case was secondary, but if something happened in Shangluo, she would probably live with self-blame for the rest of her life.
"Don't take the blame on yourself. The guilty party is the murderer lurking among the candidates. What you should do is to gradually get closer to the truth and uncover the murderer, rather than letting unexpected events throw you off balance."
Qian Deng closed his eyes, forced himself to steady his disordered breathing, and calmed himself down: "The Princess's Mansion has revealed its true intentions. We don't have time to hesitate any longer."
She relayed Xue Xiyang's words to Ling Tianshui. When he heard him say, "We've discovered that Princess Lingling has disobeyed the court and colluded with foreign nations. Princess, don't miss the opportunity to bring her down," Ling Tianshui's eyes glared. "This isn't a matter of the speed of the investigation. They predicted before Mingjiu that this case wouldn't end there. Mingjiu's most likely choice is to return to the palace, and you will definitely help him plan and clear his name."
"I never imagined there was such a capable person hiding in the palace's backyard. He set up traps step by step to lure us into his trap. From the Singing Eagle to the imperial court, he had us all manipulated. He even saw through our intentions with just a few clues and prepared a fatal strike."
Ling Tianshui tapped his fingers on the table, thinking of the moment when Xue Xiyang held Qiandeng in his arms.
Even though he had already let go of his grudge with her, that scene still made him feel deeply uncomfortable. "How could such a cautious and meticulous person behind the scenes make such a mistake, allowing a woman from the Imperial Music Bureau to overhear their plan? Furthermore, one of the county lord's fiancés is Xue Xiyang, the Imperial Music Minister, who has close ties with the Imperial Music Bureau. I think there might be something else going on."
Qian Deng held up two wet fingers. "Two possibilities. First, Xue Xiyang is lying. He's the one colluding with the Princess's Mansion to lure us into this scheme. Second, they're deliberately letting the news leak out to make us act rashly. This is also part of their plan."
Ling Tianshui had no objection and only asked, "Then how does the county lord plan to respond?"
"I'm not going to fight them. I'll just wait for them to come to me," Qian Deng said without hesitation. "It's not easy to sneak into the princess's mansion, and bringing Shangluo back is even harder. What if they simply make the letter and Shangluo disappear in order to eliminate the evidence? Wouldn't we be helpless and regretful?"
Ling Tianshui raised an eyebrow: "So, the county lady intends to take advantage of the situation?"
Despite the pressing situation, Qian Deng smiled cheerfully: "Mr. Ling, isn't this just like someone offering you a pillow when you're sleepy?"
This faint smile made Ling Tianshui feel an indescribable emotion in his heart.
Even though she was facing a murder case that shocked the government and the public, and even though the mystery was still thick, she was fearless. She was no longer the girl who was immersed in the grief of losing her mother, nor was she the weak girl four years ago.
She grew up through hardships and was quickly reborn. Even when the court and fate brought huge storms to her, she had learned how to protect herself and fight back head-on.
"Okay, I will do my best to cooperate with the county lady."
After archiving the crime scene in Zheng's house, Qiandeng returned to the palace.
When the doorman, Uncle Da, saw her, he quickly reported, "County Lady, a distinguished guest has just arrived. Since you are not here, Aunt Xuanji has personally accompanied her to the backyard to visit."
Qiandeng asked wearily, "Who is this distinguished guest?"
"She is Minister Cui's wife."
When Qian Deng heard that it was Cui Fufeng's mother coming, he was stunned. He hurriedly handed all the things to Ling Tianshui and went back to the house to wash and put on makeup.
Looking at her hurried and nervous appearance, Ling Tianshui felt a little unhappy, and recalled the day when Cui Fufeng confronted him and expressed his intention to officially be on the list of the county lord's husband.
He shook the file to drive away the unfamiliar discomfort in his heart.
Cui Fufeng, the next head of the Cui family in Boling, was injured at her hands. How could she be calm and unburdened?
Besides, what does all this have to do with him?
In any case, it is absolutely impossible for the Cui family of Boling to marry into the Changhua Palace.
As long as Cui Fufeng is not among the candidates, he is 100% sure that Meng Lanxi will be the final winner.
Anyway, he entered her backyard to fulfill his promise to help Meng Lanxi, for the stability of the northwest and the future of the Shuofang Army.
Even though he had some strange feelings in his heart, in front of the big things he should and had to do, whether it was Bai Qiandeng, love and marriage, or a beautiful future, they were not worth mentioning.
Qiandeng quickly tidied herself up and rushed to the backyard with her maid.
Inside the bamboo hall, Aunt Xuanji was sitting with Madam Cui in front of Cui Fufeng's couch.
The maids and servants of the Cui family were waiting quietly outside the Jinzhu Hall. The aristocratic family had strict rules and no one was moving around or making any noise.
Qiandeng entered and greeted them: "Madam Cui, I am sorry for not welcoming you from afar. I hope you will forgive me."
Mrs. Cui's eyes were red, and she was obviously worried about her son's illness. "You are too polite, County Lady. I was worried about Fufeng's injury, so I asked the imperial physician to come. Since you are away for a while, I asked the aunt in the mansion to bring me in. I hope you can understand my feelings as a mother."
"Madam, you are too kind." Seeing her red and swollen eyes, Qiandeng felt guilty and sad. His throat was choked for a moment and he couldn't say the rest of the words.
Doctor Xue, the most famous doctor in the capital specializing in external injuries, took Cui Fufeng's pulse. He explained casually, "My wound is fine. It's just a superficial wound, just a superficial one."
Of course, he would not tell them that if he had not dodged in time and the county lady had not withdrawn her hand quickly, the Hundred Refined Blade would have pierced his heart.
Mrs. Cui naturally would not listen to him. She only asked Doctor Xue to take his pulse, untie his clothes and bandages, and examine his wounds.
When her son's clothes were untied, Mrs. Cui saw that his chest had a new wound from this year layered on top of an old wound from last year. She could no longer hold back her tears and they burst out.
Doctor Xue examined it carefully, frowned, and asked, "I wonder how this wound was caused? It doesn't look like it was caused by an ordinary weapon."
Cui Fufeng said, "I was stabbed by an iron axe while chasing down a criminal."
Qiandeng stood aside silently, feeling even more guilty.
Doctor Xue examined the wound and said, "This wound medicine is indeed top-notch. It looks like it came from my senior brother Liao's family."
Cui Fufeng nodded. "This is the medicine that the county lady asked Doctor Liao for immediately after I was injured last night. Doctor Liao prepared it for me early this morning and sent it to me."
Madam Cui sighed softly, raised her hand to stroke his burning forehead, and looked back at Qian Deng: "I am relieved to receive your concern."
"In that case, I'll prescribe a few doses of anti-inflammatory and tissue-stimulating decoctions for Master Cui. The wound is narrow and has not hit any vital parts. As long as the fever subsides, it will heal within ten days or half a month."
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