Chapter 24
When Jian Xinyi turned around, she saw Du Le standing behind her with a serious expression, which was very different from her usual self.
"Manru's death has something to do with you, right?"
Du Le said nothing, but raised her eyebrows slightly. The setting sun gently caressed her shoulders, outlining her figure in soft light.
Jian Xinyi lowered her eyes. Perhaps she should have figured out everything in this matter long ago.
Dule did not have time to commit the crime, but perhaps the perpetrator was not him at all, but one of her relatives, such as her father.
And it is obvious that this father is not doing this entirely for his daughter, he just happens to have an outstanding daughter.
"The boss told me this was the only way to catch the murderer. I had no reason not to cooperate, even if I knew who the murderer was."
Dule held Jian Xinyi's hand tightly, tears flashing in his eyes. "If you want to go to the theater, I won't stop you. But can you please not talk about him and me? I can give you anything you want."
Jian Xinyi looked at her sad face and didn't dare to say anything. It was not her turn to decide on all these matters.
"You can talk to the boss yourself, maybe there will be a chance of recovery."
Jian Xinyi forced herself to stand up and gave her the choice of this matter.
No matter what happened, Jian Xinyi hoped that she could be responsible, whether for the dead or for herself.
The sky gradually darkened, and people were coming and going on the street. No one paid attention to the little girl Jian Xinyi. She quietly slipped into the gate of Huichun Hall, thinking of taking some golden medicine back to apply on herself.
"Xiaoyu, why are you injured?"
"Aunt Ting." Jian Xinyi smiled awkwardly. She didn't want to disturb Doctor Zhang, but it seemed that there was no use.
"The wound is still bleeding. Your father will be worried about you again if you continue like this."
Aunt Ting slowly peeled off the bandage, but Jane Xinyi still grimaced in pain.
"Okay, Lao Zhang, hurry up and bring the medicine up."
The overwhelming pain spread throughout her body, and Jian Xinyi remembered that this was ancient times when anesthetics were not yet fully popular.
"Okay, don't get it wet for three days, and remember to come back and change the medicine."
Jian Xinyi covered her shoulders, tried to refuse from Aunt Ting, and finally paid for the medicine.
Just as I reached the entrance of the alley, I found Qian Yuan leaning against the alley wall, staring at the medicine bottle in his hand in a daze.
The soft bright moon gently caressed his hair. Although he was a proud young man, he was as gentle as a god under the bright moonlight.
Jian Xinyi was startled, and her wound hurt. "Why are you here?"
Qian Yuan raised his eyebrows and stood up gently. "I discussed the case with the class owner earlier. Later, Du Le came over and told us that it was she who slipped the note in the class owner's room. She accidentally witnessed the old housekeeper groping Manru. It was because of her active participation in this plan that the murderer was brought to justice."
Listening to this play that was comparable to Shakespeare's life, Jian Xinyi couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Did she tell you that herself?"
When Qian Yuan heard Jian Xinyi's question, he began to think about it, stroking his chin back and forth with his fingers, as if recalling something.
"Well, we compared the handwriting and it's the same. There should be no problem. The old housekeeper also admitted it." Qian Yuan crossed his arms and looked into the distance, with a smug look on his face. "Originally, this trick was discussed by the troupe owner and me. Since the murderer is targeting the actress, let her suffer. Then we can catch them all in one fell swoop."
"Your method of investigating the case is really brilliant." Jian Xinyi ridiculed casually. She wanted to tell him the relationship between the housekeeper and Du Le, but then she thought that the evidence had probably been destroyed by the housekeeper and there wouldn't be much left, so this was the only way for the time being.
Her one-sided statement is not reliable, and speaking it out will only cause more trouble.
As soon as Jian Xinyi fell silent, the air around her also became quiet. The winter night was particularly quiet, and even Qian Yuan's breathing could be heard clearly.
The two people's breathing happened to be staggered, and white breath rose and fell, disappearing into the inky black night.
After a while, Qian Yuan spoke first, quickly stuffing the medicine bottle into Jian Xinyi's hands, "Take the medicine. It's my fault for involving you in this matter. I didn't expect that person to hurt you too."
"Thank you."
Jian Xinyi took the small bottle of potion from his hand, but suddenly thought of the money she owed him and the hand warmer, so she withdrew her hand and said, "No, I can't accept this for nothing."
"Take it, consider it my apology."
After a while of pulling and struggling, the boy's slender fingers tightly wrapped around her hand. His already hot palm seemed even hotter in the winter night, warming Jane Xinyi's palm and even the bottle.
Jian Xinyi had no choice but to put the bottle away and didn't say anything more.
The real murderer in this case has been arrested. As for the deeper secrets behind the truth, perhaps no one will delve into it.
Whether the Wanhua Pavilion is a scene of thousands of flowers blooming or a scene of thousands of flowers mourning together, it is just a play.
Back in the bedroom, Jian Xinyi stared at the drawing in front of her in a daze. Just as she was about to pick up the pen, the wound on her shoulder felt a pain.
Okay, now it's her turn to cry.
Jian Xinyi held back her tears, preventing them from dripping onto the painting.
It’s not that she doesn’t want to paint, it’s just that something has delayed her.
Although tears welled up in Jian Xinyi's eyes, the smile on her face never faded. She happily put the drawings away in order.
Taking advantage of the bright moonlight, he gently looked at the exquisite medicine bottle.
She carefully pulled out the stopper and took a curious look. Inside was a small, exquisite dark green bead, which sparkled charmingly in the candlelight.
Jian Xinyi took the small spatula used for applying color and took the bead off.
This thing is probably worth a lot of money.
She smiled foolishly, feeling that she had made a fortune. She took a deep breath and accidentally pulled the wound. She quickly removed the bandage and saw that there was indeed some blood.
I took new medicine, which was cool and refreshing, and I felt better.
She quickly put the green bead back, thinking that this must be God's punishment for her greed.
For several days, Jian Xinyi lived a peaceful life at home with everything provided for her. Occasionally, when Lao Lin went to print books, she would help him watch over some people in the bookstore.
There are usually not many people there, but there are some scholars who are preparing for exams. They don’t buy books, but just stand there and read.
Jian Xinyi remembered that when she went to the bookstore to read, she would sit in the coffee bar in the bookstore. The aroma of coffee would make her feel at ease.
But there shouldn't be much coffee for sale now.
But we can install a few seats, as we have to make money.
She told her father about this, and they hit it off immediately. Her father was responsible for finding a carpenter, and Jian Xinyi drew a simple schematic diagram.
I haven't held a pen for several days, and I'm not used to it, so my drawings are crooked.
Jian Xinyi had no choice but to endure the pain and barely managed to draw the shape of a bar.
The so-called bar is just a wooden table with some checkered rattan fence. It was drawn when she recalled that her parents took her to visit the place where the Jinshi examination was held.
Because her injuries had not yet fully healed, Lao Lin did not let him do any work. He was the only one who did the work of moving tables and contacting shops. For Jian Xinyi, a trip to Huichuntang was considered a long journey.
"Okay, you don't have to come here anymore."
Doctor Zhang looked at Jian Xinyi's thin body and couldn't help but sigh: "You and your daughter have suffered so much."
Jian Xinyi pretended to be a mature girl and sighed, "Life must go on."
"Fortunately, the wound healed quickly and left no scar."
Doctor Zhang put away the used medicine and gauze, turned around and went to the backyard of the pharmacy to get some cakes for Jian Xinyi.
Jian Xinyi's mouth was filled with sweet osmanthus cake, and she did not forget to flatter the emperor.
"Isn't this Doctor Zhang's miraculous healing?"
Doctor Zhang scoffed at Jian Xinyi's flattery, "Humph, your medicine tastes very strange. Don't be fooled by those who sell ancestral secret medicines in the market. They are all liars."
Jian Xinyi couldn't help laughing when she imagined Qian Yuan buying medicine at the market.
This is truly a scene that goes against our ancestors.
"Don't worry, he's definitely not a liar, but he may not be a good person either."
She said goodbye to Doctor Zhang and went straight to the bookstore.
As soon as we entered, Lao Lin stood by the counter and said, "Slow down, slow down, this is a new table I made."
The men who were moving the tables dropped them on the ground with a clang, without even a word of complaint. They glanced sideways at the skinny Old Lin and the half-grown child beside him, then turned and left.
“Oh, these people are really.”
Lao Lin took a rough cloth used for work, wiped the tables clean, and put them in order again.
Jian Xinyi then went in. The table was square, surrounded by rattan fences on three sides. The original small stools were upgraded to wooden chairs with backrests. It really looked like a coffee bar.
"Zhuiyu, your idea is really good."
Old Lin walked around the new table, looked at it three times, then picked up the coarse cloth and wiped it again. The dust flew to every corner of the bookstore under the sunlight, and the fragrance of new wood, old paper and ink lingered at Jian Xinyi's nose.
"With this table, we can charge him a penny for a cup of tea."
Old Lin was overjoyed. He hummed a little tune and walked behind the counter, then picked up the abacus and started counting.
"If I earn one cent from one, I earn four cents from four. That's a full 120 cents a month. I can pay it back in just one month."
Jian Xinyi quickly grasped the hidden message in the words, her expression instantly becoming serious as she asked, "Wait, what else?"
"Table money."
After saying this, Lao Lin realized that he was wrong and quickly changed his words, "No, it's not the table money."
"You're borrowing money again." Jian Xinyi sighed deeply. "It's not like we're broke, so why are you borrowing money again?"
Old Lin turned his back and sighed, "You really don't know how expensive food and oil are until you manage the household. The money you've spent on food these past few days while you were sick, the money you've spent on running the shop, and all sorts of other things—aren't these all places where money is needed?"
"Besides, I didn't have much before." Old Lin smacked his lips and spat, "If I make money this time, I will definitely return it."
Jian Xinyi looked at the person in front of her, but all that came to her mind was the image of the old butler begging for Dule.
Maybe it's wrong to hide it.
But if you don't hide it, it may not be right.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com