Chapter 534 Sinner
Meng Qingyin returned to the usual spot and patiently waited for Jiao Ling'er.
The wait was so boring that she remembered Jiaojiao's words.
What illness does Jiaojiao's maternal grandfather have? Will he become very young after taking the medicine?
Surely he didn't eat some kind of magic pill that makes him young again?
The moment the thought popped into her head, Meng Qingyin found it amusing.
If there truly were an elixir that could reverse aging, then there wouldn't be so many elderly merfolk seen in sacrificial ceremonies.
Even though the years cannot hide her beauty, Jiao Ze's mother is no longer young. If there really is an elixir of immortality, it would probably be used by those in power first.
Perhaps it was because her grandfather's condition improved after taking the medicine that Jiaojiao felt he had become younger.
It is well known that children do not lie, but they will say whatever comes to mind.
With the arrival of Jiao Ling'er, Meng Qingyin quickly put the matter out of her mind.
"Yinyin, let me tell you something..." Jiao Ling'er said with a look of eagerness to share, "I asked my dad, and he said that criminals cannot leave the place of imprisonment because there are restrictions placed on them!"
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingyin unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
From this perspective, neither Jiaojiao nor her family are criminals, since they are free to leave that courtyard.
However, there is another possibility: the courtyard she saw was not actually a place of imprisonment.
But she searched for a long time and found only that one courtyard. If that courtyard wasn't the place of imprisonment, then where was the place of imprisonment?
Seeing Meng Qingyin lost in thought, Jiao Ling'er scolded her somewhat displeasedly, "Yinyin, don't daydream! Listen to me quickly!"
Meng Qingyin gave her an apologetic smile: "Sorry, go ahead and say it, I'm listening."
Jiao Ling'er then continued, satisfied, "I originally thought the place of imprisonment would be a dark cell, but it turns out it's not. It's a courtyard! It used to be the home of a criminal. He committed a serious crime and was imprisoned here. His neighbors felt it was bad luck and moved away one after another, so it became a deserted place."
I see.
It seems that the courtyard was indeed a place of imprisonment.
However, the fact that Jiaojiao and her mother could freely enter and leave the courtyard, while the criminals could not leave, indicates that they were not criminals.
Who could be the perpetrator?
Is it Jiaojiao's maternal grandfather?
Or perhaps Jiaojiao's other relatives?
The news brought by Jiao Ling'er made the whole matter even more confusing.
Jiao Ling'er: "Weren'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 struck Meng Qingyin like a blow to the head.
She never imagined this was possible.
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 the place of imprisonment.
unless……
Jiao Ruxue is a relative of the sinner, so the restriction has no effect on 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 exactly is that criminal?
"Ling'er, are criminals allowed to participate in sacrificial ceremonies?" Something flashed through Meng Qingyin's mind, and she grabbed Jiao Ling'er's hand to ask.
Jiao Ling'er shook her head: "No, criminals will be imprisoned for life in a place of confinement after being tried, and they will never be able to leave until they die."
Meng Qingyin: "Wouldn't that mean the sinners wouldn't be able to receive the blessings of their ancestors? Wouldn't they slowly die?"
Jiao Ling'er sneered: "The sinner was imprisoned because he committed an unforgivable crime. It was only because the former leader was lenient that he was spared death. He is naturally not qualified to receive the ancestor's blessing. Being able to die in repentance is a fitting punishment for his sins."
Meng Qingyin looked at her and said, "Why do I feel like you're a little different from before?"
Just now, Jiao Ling'er only had a vague understanding of the matter of the criminals, but now she seems to know something.
Jiao Ling'er explained, "My father told me a lot about what happened back then. That criminal instigated a couple to rebel! Fortunately, his plot was exposed by the former leader, which prevented a major disaster."
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 over three hundred years, right? My father was still very young back then."
Meng Qingyin was surprised. More than three hundred years? How long do the merfolk live?
"If an adult merman is never blessed by his ancestors, how long can he live at most?" Meng Qingyin asked.
Jiao Ling'er: "If they are not blessed by their ancestors, the Jiao Pearl will gradually lose its vitality, and the Jiao Clan will become weaker day by day, generally not living more than three years. Of course, this is also related to the physical condition of the Jiao Clan. Some Jiao Clan members may be able to last a few more years, but definitely not more than ten years."
“Ten years…” Meng Qingyin’s eyes flashed. “But more than three hundred years have passed since the rebellion.”
Jiao Ling'er was taken aback, then belatedly realized, "That's right, so much time has passed, the criminals must be dead long ago, it's impossible for them to still be alive! That means the place of imprisonment is now empty. But what about the ghost I saw that time?"
Meng Qingyin's guess was pretty much right.
Jiaojiao's maternal grandfather was that criminal!
He used some unknown means to live for so many years without receiving the blessings of his ancestors.
Perhaps it's related to the medication he's taking.
It's not surprising that someone imprisoned for hundreds of years and forced to survive on medication might do something extreme.
Could Jiao Ruxue, who mysteriously disappeared three years ago, be connected to this matter? Who exactly is she?
...
Jiao Nian'en then found Jiao Er, a frustrated and unsuccessful merman witch doctor.
Jiao Er was studying medicine in the courtyard when he heard Jiao Nianen explain his purpose. Without thinking, he refused: "Your uncle was kind to me back then, and I have already repaid him over the years. Don't come looking for me again. If other merfolk see me, 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, and 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 word that Jiao Ze lost the Jiao Pearl, and I promise I won't implicate you in anything else! If it weren't for my special status, I wouldn't want to trouble you with this matter."
Jiao Er remained unmoved. "Spread it? If I spread such news, the former leader will definitely trace it back to me, and then I'll be implicated by you!"
Although he devoted himself to the research of secret medicines and stayed out of worldly affairs, it doesn't mean he was stupid.
The former leader was ruthless and decisive; if she found out he would definitely not have a good end, he would want to live a few more years.
Jiao Nian'en was speechless. Seeing Jiao Er's resolute attitude, she knew she couldn't persuade him: "I was presumptuous. Just pretend I didn't say anything today. I'll be going now, Uncle Jiao Er."
She had practically watched him grow up, and Jiao Er couldn't bear it any longer, so she reminded him, "Your uncle... you shouldn't get involved in his affairs, or he'll only hurt you and Jiao Jiao sooner or later."
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