As Chi Yan walked along the road, Liu Yifu's words floated through his mind, and he still felt as light as if he were walking on clouds.
Liu Yifu said, "Pingting is skilled in making incense. I had Physician Zhang examine the sachet she always carries. The sachet and the styrax incense are fine on their own."
He changed the subject, his tone suddenly turning somber, "But using the two together can make a person lose their mind for a short period of time and be manipulated by others."
He had noticed that Chunfenglou also mostly used styrax.
Pingting used this method to extract a large number of shocking secrets from the officials who came here for entertainment. She recorded these secrets in a book and hid them in a black box.
The key was a gold hairpin she wore in her hair.
Chi Yan suddenly realized: "No wonder! That's why I felt so dizzy. There really was something wrong with that incense!"
So, Pingting knew so many secrets, knew her days were numbered, and had no choice but to commit suicide?
"But why would she put on such a show, deliberately framing me?"
Liu Yi gave him a deep look: "I suspect someone forced her to do this. Young Master Chi, you might want to think carefully about whether you have unintentionally made enemies with anyone?"
Chi Yan racked his brains but still couldn't figure it out. He had done plenty of things to amuse himself, but he had never done anything truly heinous. Why would the other party hate him so much?
A guess suddenly flashed through his mind—
No, perhaps the other party's goal was never him in the first place.
Instead, it was Shen Tangning.
Thinking about it this way, it makes sense. Shen Tangning's ruthless behavior makes her more likely to be hated than him!
Thinking of this, Chi Yan felt a sense of relief for some reason. At least the other party was after him. If it were Shen Tangning who was in danger, he didn't know if he would have been able to rescue her.
Having cleared his name, Chi Yan was quite pleased. He could finally take a proper bath and have a meal. After spending so many days in jail, he felt like he was almost pickled!
Back at the entrance of the Chi residence, looking at the tightly closed gate, a hint of hesitation appeared in his eyes. It was already late at night, and it wouldn't be good to wake people up and disturb their sleep.
Besides, it's not something to be proud of.
He touched his nose, still intending to follow the old rule and climb over the wall to get in!
Just as Chi Yan was about to reach the corner of the wall, the door suddenly opened, and he was startled.
Ba Liang cautiously peeked out from inside, and upon seeing Chi Yan, his face lit up with joy: "Second Young Master! The Second Young Master is back!"
Chi Yan's eyes widened, and he was about to tell him to stop shouting, but it was too late.
Before long, Shen Tangning helped Madam Chi Er to come gracefully, with Master Chi Er following beside her.
She glanced at the pond at the door and said with a smile in a low voice, "Mother didn't believe me, but look, my husband is back now."
Madam Chi was overjoyed, tears welling in her eyes as she hurried forward to greet him: "You brat, you finally decided to come back!"
Chi Yan raised an eyebrow, her tone nonchalant: "Mother, the way you're saying this makes it sound like I don't want to come back! It's not like I own the Jingzhao Prefecture; I can't just come and go as I please."
"..." Madam Chi choked, and the previously sentimental atmosphere vanished instantly. She was so angry that her teeth itched. "You brat, still so unreliable!"
Master Chi looked relieved and patted Chi Yan on the shoulder: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"
After several days of gloomy weather, I can finally relax.
Chi Yan felt a pang of sadness, but feigned disgust with a slight upturn of her lips: "Stop being so sentimental in the middle of the night. Do you have anything to eat or drink? Look how thin your son has become!"
"..."
I really didn't notice.
Shen Tangning smiled slightly: "Husband, please wait."
She called to him just before he was about to enter the room.
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