Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 115

As soon as Luo Wu finished speaking, several disciples carried Zhao Yan into the hall. The disciples released her and shoved her hard, causing Zhao Yan to kneel on the ground. Her face was already pale, streaked with tears, and her eyes were filled with fear. Her frail body trembled slightly, making her look utterly pitiful.

Upon seeing Luo Wu and Jiang Ji, she became even more terrified and dared not look up again.

When Wei Ying saw Zhao Yan, she felt disgust as usual. But at this moment, she also felt an inexplicable worry.

"Zhao Yan, this department asks you, did you visit Lieying Zhang Jiyuan last night?" Jiang Ji asked.

Zhao Yan bit her lip and remained silent.

"Speak!" Luo Wu shouted.

Zhao Yan trembled and began to speak, "This servant...did indeed seek out Lord Lieying..." She raised her head and shouted, "I did everything! I poisoned him, and I killed Lord Lieying! It has nothing to do with Madam and Young Master!"

"Hmph! So eager to protect your master? You are indeed a loyal maid..." Jiang Ji said, "However, even if Lie Ying was poisoned with the 'soft bone powder,' with your abilities, you couldn't possibly kill him! Tell me! Who ordered you to do this! And for whom were you relaying a message to Lie Ying?!"

Zhao Yan glanced at Wei Ying and remained silent.

"If you are willing to reveal the mastermind, this department will spare your life," Jiang Ji said, looking down at her.

Zhao Yan remained silent, refusing to speak despite everyone's threats and inducements.

Suddenly, a maid rushed over, knelt down, and said, "Lord Qiying, Lord Zhengying, Sister Yan'er did not kill anyone. Last night, Sister Yan'er was embroidering with her sisters!"

Zhao Yan was utterly astonished and said, "Qi'er...you..."

“Sister…” The maid looked at Zhao Yan, her eyes welling up with tears, “Sister Yan’er, I can’t watch you be wronged. Even if the Madam has been incredibly kind to you, you can’t…”

As the maid spoke, she began to cry.

Zhao Yan also shed tears, choking back sobs and remaining silent.

For a moment, the hall was filled with a desolate atmosphere, and many people frowned and sighed repeatedly.

Wei Ying grew increasingly bewildered. Everything unfolding before him left him completely clueless, unable to distinguish friend from foe. Who was the murderer? Who had wronged whom? What... had happened...?

Jiang Ji sighed and said, "Zhao Yan, I understand your eagerness to repay your kindness... but now, even if you take the blame, you can't save anyone! Tell me, who is the murderer!"

Zhao Yan remained silent for a long time, then said in a trembling voice, "...Madam...Madam only loved her son dearly and did not intend to harm anyone...This servant...This servant did not know that the young master would resort to such a vicious act..."

Upon hearing these words, there was no commotion in the lobby; it was almost a foregone conclusion. Everyone took it for granted and accepted it.

"What else do you have to say!" Luo Wu looked at Wei Ying and shouted sternly.

Wei Ying loosened her grip, and the package of cartilage fell to the ground, scattering powder that gently rose into the air.

"Take it down." Jiang Ji waved his hand.

The disciples on either side, upon receiving the order, stepped forward and bound Wei Ying. Wei Ying did not resist; her eyes were filled with only confusion.

"Wait...he..." Wei Qi stepped forward, about to say something, but stumbled and fell to the ground. Everyone in the hall rushed forward to help him up.

“Yingyang, a life for a life! Hero's Fortress cannot tolerate such a vicious beast! Say no more!” Jiang Ji spoke up, “You are still injured, go back and rest. Leave this to us…”

Wei Qi wanted to say something, but after hesitating for a long time, he finally fell silent.

As Wei Ying was being helped out, she glanced at Zhao Yan subconsciously as they passed by.

Her expression remained sorrowful, tears glistening on her cheeks. However, her eyes held a cold, disdainful gaze, tinged with a terrifying indifference.

...

Beyond cure [Part 1]

Such a major event occurred in Hero's Fortress in just a few days, shocking and enraging the clansmen.

Lady Xi was originally a concubine from a brothel. When the lord of the fortress insisted on making her his legal wife, it was met with unanimous opposition from the clan. The issue of succession then became a major point of contention. Now, the concubine's son, in his quest to seize the lord's position, poisoned the son of the legal wife. After the conspiracy was exposed, he then poisoned and killed Zhang Jiyuan, the leader of the Three Heroes. Such a claim is hard to disbelieve.

Since the death of the fortress lord, important matters at Hero's Fortress have been handled by the three heroes. Now, the two heroes are convinced that Wei Ying is the murderer, and even if there are doubts, no one dares to say anything more. Wei Ying and Lady Xi have been imprisoned, pending further discussion among the clan members before their fate is decided.

The dungeon at Hero's Fortress was originally used to imprison the most vicious bandits in the martial arts world. Wei Ying never imagined that she would one day step into this dungeon herself. When she was brought into the dungeon, Madam Xi was already inside.

She knelt on the ground, leaning against the railing, her face still wet with tears, looking haggard. But her expression was calm, and the sorrow in her eyes had faded.

When Wei Ying saw her, he wanted to speak, but saw Madam tide glance at him, remain silent, and turn her head away.

Wei Ying felt a tightness in his throat, and could no longer speak. He was pushed into the cell, staggering a few steps. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked to Madam Xi's side, knelt down, and began, "Mother..."

Lady Xi lowered her eyelashes, and Wei Ying saw only crystal-clear tears, like broken pearls, falling onto the back of her fair hand. At that moment, he truly understood many things.

“Mother, we’ve been wronged, we’ll be alright…” he said, gently comforting her.

Lady Xi sighed softly, her voice trembling with tears, "So be it..."

Upon hearing this, Wei Ying was puzzled, "Mother..."

"What good will it do to clear your name?" Lady Xi looked up at him. "Will you strive to become the lord of Hero's Fortress? Can you abandon your two brothers?"

"Mother, at this point, why do you still want me to be the fortress lord! Is this position that important to you?!" Wei Ying raised her voice without realizing it.

Lady tide reached out and slapped him hard across the face, shouting with all her might, "Beast!"

Wei Ying was stunned by the blow.

"Do you think I fought for the position of lord of the fortress for my own sake? Everything I did was for you!" Lady tide shouted.

Wei Ying frowned and said, "I have never wanted to be the lord of the fortress!"

"Then what can you do?"

A gentle, soothing voice drifted quietly from outside the cell.

Upon hearing the sound, Wei Ying turned her head sharply.

Zhao Yan stood outside the prison, smiling quietly.

Wei Ying stood up and rushed over, angrily shouting, "It's you! What are you up to! Why did you poison me..." He was so enraged that he unconsciously channeled his inner energy, and a sharp pain shot through his chest. To prevent him from escaping, Jiang Ji had sealed his meridians; the obstruction of his breathing naturally caused the pain. He frowned and gritted his teeth, unable to say anything more.

Zhao Yan laughed, "Look at him, even the usually aloof Third Young Master can look so pathetic today..."

"..." Wei Ying endured the pain and glared at her.

"Yan'er..." Madam tide rose, staggered to Zhao Yan's side, and spoke in a trembling voice, "Yan'er, why..."

Zhao Yan looked at her and said, "Madam, do you still remember how much you did to help Prince Wenxi ascend to the throne?"

Lady Xi remained silent.

Zhao Yan began, "I can't even remember... But no matter what we do, he can never rise to the top. Isn't that right?" She turned to look at Wei Ying, her voice tinged with contempt, "No matter what we do, in his eyes, it's all despicable, shameless, filthy, and vulgar. He never gets his hands dirty, never does a single bad thing... He always stays in a clean place..." She sneered, "I've had enough of this kind of life!" Her eyes sharpened, piercing Wei Ying, "Why?! Why should I be the one you mock?! Wei Ying, let me tell you, everything you have today is thanks to me! I can lift you up, and I can bring you down!"

Wei Ying chuckled, "Zhao Yan, do you really think you're that capable? You're just a lowly maid! Don't overestimate yourself!"

Zhao Yan's expression was cold, and she spoke without the slightest politeness, "Wei Ying! Everyone here can call me a servant girl, but you alone cannot! Disregarding your parents' expectations and acting willfully is unfilial. Betraying Lie Ying's assistance and causing his death is unjust. Trusting treacherous people and being framed is unwise. How dare you, such an unfilial, unjust, and unwise person, lecture me!"

Wei Ying calmed herself and said restrainedly, "Zhao Yan! You're the one who poisoned my elder brother and harmed Lieying! You've committed many injustices, and now you want to pin it on me?!"

Zhao Yan's face was cold. "Third Young Master, I've already told you, haven't I? I wasn't the one who poisoned your elder brother... Unfortunately, you didn't believe me."

Wei Ying asked, puzzled, "Not you?"

Zhao Yan laughed. "Madam, I told you long ago, there are some things you shouldn't keep from the young master." She looked at Wei Ying, her tone utterly contemptuous. "Your elder brother wasn't driven out by you, Madam. He volunteered to take charge of the Xiangyang branch. And what he did at the Xiangyang branch is completely unknown to Hero's Fortress. In my humble opinion, this is probably a strategic retreat, a way to bide one's time. I'm not afraid to tell you, he poisoned himself. He also killed Lie Ying. You treat him as an elder brother, but in his eyes, you're nothing more than a scapegoat to be slaughtered!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Wei Ying was shocked, but she couldn't help but retort.

Zhao Yan laughed happily, "I'm talking nonsense?"

She raised her hand, pointed at the guards inside the cell, and sneered, "See these guards? I've been spouting nonsense for so long, yet not a single person has questioned me. Do you think that's why?"

Wei Ying looked up and saw that everyone in the dungeon was standing calmly at their posts, ignoring everything and everyone else.

"Hehe, with Lie Ying dead, all the guards here have been replaced. There's no place for you in Hero's Fortress now," Zhao Yan said.

Wei Ying's mind was in turmoil. The events of the past few days had connected, and he couldn't help but believe these words. He remained silent, the mournful sobs of Madam Xi piercing his heart.

“You hate me, you want revenge, I accept that. But what about my mother? My mother treated you well, why did you even harm her!” Wei Ying shouted.

Zhao Yan's voice was icy, "You've treated me well... Didn't you say it yourself? I'm just a lowly maid. The lady has always valued you the most! Back then, when she sent me to Jiyu Manor to make Mo Yun leave Hero's Fortress, wasn't that already very clear? It was only a matter of time before she abandoned me!"

Lady Xi looked up, tears welling in her eyes, and shook her head, "Yan'er..."

Zhao Yan sneered, "Madam, don't blame me. Blame yourself for being a woman. Women are destined to be abandoned. Look, haven't I always been abandoned too..." She pointed at Wei Ying, "By the way, speaking of which, it wasn't me who abandoned you first. It was the Third Young Master who abandoned you from the very beginning."

After she finished speaking, she laughed heartily. The laughter was extremely jarring in the dungeon.

Wei Ying was in turmoil, feeling both angry and ashamed. Reflecting on the past, he suddenly realized how naive and pathetic he had been. However, at this moment, he could not show weakness; if he did, he would lose everything.

"Zhao Yan, don't be so smug! Do you think you can get away unscathed?!" Wei Ying said through gritted teeth.

Zhao Yan stopped laughing and said calmly, "The cycle of karma is inescapable. This servant is destined to go to hell, but those who have wronged me will suffer a hundred times more than I have."

As she finished speaking, someone chuckled softly and spoke up.

"Miss Zhao, well said."

Wei Qi walked slowly over, and along the way, the guards bowed respectfully. He reached the prison gate and said with a smile, "Madam, Third Brother, I'm sorry to have troubled you both."

Lady Xi subconsciously shrank back a little, but Wei Ying stood there, staring blankly at Wei Qi.

"Big brother..." Wei Ying hesitated and asked, "What she said, could it be..."

“What she said is, of course, false,” Wei Qi replied.

Wei Ying didn't understand what he meant.

"How could I possibly commit such a heinous act as murdering Lieying?" Wei Qi shook his head. "Wasn't it you who killed him, Third Brother?"

In an instant, Wei Ying had no more doubts; everything was revealed in an incredibly cruel way.

“That’s not all,” Wei Qi said. “Xi Yi came from a brothel and was of questionable character. She secretly had an affair with Hall Master Fang, conspired to steal the fortress’s secret treasures, and even poisoned everyone in the fortress. Unfortunately, she was discovered, so she pinned all the blame on Hall Master Fang and killed him to silence him. The Three Heroes had long suspected this, and now, during the martial arts competition, Xi Yi used the same trick again, but Lie Ying saw through her. So she let her son commit the crime and kill the witness. After the matter was exposed, the mother and son both committed suicide in the dungeon out of guilt.”

Lady Xi's face had lost all color, and she shouted in a hoarse voice, "You're making false accusations!"

Wei Qi smiled, but his voice was as cold as ice. "As for evidence, the packet of bone-softening powder you used is exactly the same as the one used by Hall Master Fang back then. Such a coincidence is bound to raise suspicion. Sigh, if that's really the case, is my third brother really surnamed Wei?"

At that moment, Wei Ying suddenly understood something. Master Fang, the Nether Thunder Palm, the Nine Emperors' Divine Artifact, the Divine Firmament Sect, Master Xi Yuan, the Soft Bone Powder… Before Zhang Jiyuan was murdered, he had also mentioned that Wei Qi had switched allegiance to the Divine Firmament Sect…

He could no longer restrain himself and cried out in pain, "Could it be that you ordered Hall Master Fang to do this?!"

Wei Qi scoffed, "I don't understand what you're saying, Wenxi."

Wei Ying felt a sharp pain in his heart, and tears welled up uncontrollably in his eyes. His voice was hoarse, weak, and desolate, "If you want the position of fortress lord, I'll give it to you. Why do these things? Brother... you're a member of Hero's Fortress..."

"Shut up!" Wei Qi coldly shouted. "Give it up? How laughable! The position of fortress lord was originally mine!" He gave a sinister smile. "You're nothing but a stray dog. You might as well obediently 'commit suicide out of guilt'!"

After he finished speaking, he waved his hand, and the guards on both sides stepped forward, opened the cell door, and prepared to take action.