Geschichte über einen Ehemanndiebstahl

Kapitel 98

Duan Chen hesitated for a moment, pursed his lips, and said softly, "Li Lingke is a man who never speaks seriously. I can't understand what he says, but I've already told him that I like you, and no one, including him, has the right to interfere."

Upon hearing the words "I love you," Zhan Yun felt a surge of warmth in her heart. Before Duan Chen could finish speaking, she had already kissed him. Their lips lingered softly, their tongues gently entwined, he wanted nothing more than to devour her whole, yet he held back with tenderness and restraint, refraining from any excessive passion. After a long, loving kiss, he pressed his forehead against hers and whispered, "This case is over. Come back to Suzhou with me, okay?"

Duan Chen didn't know how to breathe properly, and each time she foolishly let him ravage her mouth. Now she was panting heavily, her eyes were misty, and she didn't realize what Zhan Yun was asking. She just hummed softly.

Zhan Yun took her question as an agreement and gently kissed her forehead with a smile: "Okay! It's a promise, you can't go back on your word."

Duan Chen looked up at him: "Hmm?"

Zhan Yun smiled innocently, her lips curving upwards: "Come back to Suzhou with me and meet my family."

Duan Chen suddenly realized what was happening, her phoenix eyes widening in disbelief. This person was actually taking advantage of her misfortune and deceiving her?!

Zhan Yun smiled and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear: "I've mentioned you to my dad before. There aren't many people in my family, just my dad, my older brother, and my sister-in-law. They're all really eager to meet you..."

Duan Chen finally snapped out of her daze, slapped the man's chest with her fan, and turned to leave. A hint of annoyance flickered in her eyes. This man had actually used the same tactics he used on others on her, and she had foolishly fallen for it!

Zhan Yun closed the door behind her, then followed her downstairs with a smile. Once on the street, he took two steps forward to walk alongside her, glancing at her sideways as he asked, "Are you angry?"

Duan Chen's lips were still a little red, but now he pursed his lips slightly and turned his face to the other side, not looking at anyone.

Zhan Yun sighed softly, feigning some difficulty, and said, "My father has been depressed ever since my mother passed away. When I mentioned you to him, he was overjoyed throughout the entire first month of the lunar year, insisting that I invite you to visit the manor..."

Duan Chen glanced at him sideways and glared at him. "Around the first month of the lunar calendar?"

Seeing her phoenix eyes slightly tilted and her rosy lips pouting coquettishly, Zhan Yun's crescent-shaped eyes revealed deep affection: "At that time, I just told them that I had met such a friend. I like her very much, so I will not marry another woman."

Duan Chen blushed at his blunt words and turned his gaze away from him.

Zhan Yun maintained a slight smile as he walked, occasionally teasing Duan Chen with a few words, but he didn't mention returning to Suzhou again. He knew that although Duan Chen was intelligent, she was also very honest, and if he brought it up, she would definitely take it to heart. Although he was anxious, he couldn't push her too hard.

Upon reaching the gate, they encountered Zhao Ting and Zhou Yufei walking towards them. The four of them then entered the government office together. Once inside the backyard, they found Zuo Xin and Xiao Changqing already sitting at the stone table in the center, drinking tea. Seeing them return, the two quickly waved. As the weather was getting warmer, they sat in the courtyard, drinking tea and sharing their findings with the others.

Zuo Xin and Xiao Changqing went to the small hut in the backyard of the distillery. According to others, the body was discovered before dawn the previous day. The deceased was lying face up in a chair, his clothes wide open. Candles were still lit in the room, and an unopened jar of wine sat on the table. The deceased was skilled with two knives, but the knives were still lying neatly by the bedside.

Zhao Ting and Zhou Yufei went to the Lu residence. Since the deceased was the first victim, most of the items in the boudoir had been moved, and the blood-stained bedding had been burned, leaving very few clues. However, according to the personal maidservant serving nearby, there was bloodstains not only on the bed, but also on the floor, the table, and even by the window. The jewelry box in front of the dressing mirror had been opened, and a pair of red coral earrings were missing.

The tea was brewed with a touch of dried jasmine flowers, giving it a milder taste and a subtle fragrance compared to regular tea. Zhou Yufei recounted the clues he had found, while Xiao Changqing winked at Duan Chen, finally remarking with a smile, "Little Duan, this jasmine tea gets better with every sip..."

Duan Chen was already somewhat uncomfortable because of the time he had spent with Zhan Yun at the inn, and now, after being teased by Xiao Changqing, he couldn't help but blush slightly. He glanced at Xiao Changqing with a hint of anger in his phoenix eyes, unsure of what to say. He thought of using tea to cover it up, but then felt that would be even more inappropriate, so he could only hold his tea and turn his head away in silence.

The others were somewhat confused, not understanding why a cup of tea could make the usually aloof Duan Chen feel both embarrassed and ashamed. Zhou Yufei raised an eyebrow, took a sip of tea, and looked at Duan Chen again: "It's alright. The flavor is a bit weak. I personally prefer it with peach blossoms." As she spoke, she blinked her peach blossom eyes.

Xiao Changqing was enjoying his tea when he heard this and almost spat it out. He then coughed repeatedly, patting his chest. Zuo Xin patted his back to help, but Xiao Changqing was choking so much that tears were almost coming out of his eyes. He pointed angrily at Zhou Yufei with a trembling finger and said, "No, you're not allowed to like peach blossoms!"

Duan Chen curled his lips into a smile, his clear, cold phoenix eyes reflecting a faint smile. He turned his gaze back to Xiao Changqing, then looked at the still puzzled crowd: "This person has made his move for three consecutive days, and today is the fourth day. We should try to take some precautions."

Author's Note: There will be an update this Saturday at 9 AM. Thank you for your understanding and support.

For those looking forward to Ranran being tortured, and for those wanting to see the male lead in the next chapter, don't miss the new chapter this weekend!

In addition, this chapter can be considered a disguised marriage proposal. Are there any readers who want to share in the joy and send me a long review?

I'm not forcing anyone to do this, I'm just saying it out loud. Love you all! ╭(╯3╰)╮

87

Chapter Four: Chaos • Everyone with Their Own Thoughts...

While these were supposedly preventative measures, they weren't necessarily very effective. After all, the only thing these three cases had in common was that everyone's heart was ripped out while they were still alive. Aside from that, there was absolutely no connection in terms of gender, identity, or family background. Therefore, Duan Chen and the others couldn't deduce the killer's next target; even narrowing down the possibilities was difficult.

Lord Cao knew this case would be difficult, so he had his registrar write over a dozen notices and post them throughout the streets of Bianjing. He also had several constables patrol the city, banging gongs to remind residents to lock their doors and windows at night and not to be alone in a house. Furthermore, he increased the number of patrols throughout the city after sunset.

Furthermore, the ingredients of the medicine sent to the Imperial Medical Academy for research a few days ago have been determined. It is a poisonous herb native to the Liao Kingdom, with an effect similar to that of the poisonous herb *Upas tree*. Over the past half-month, a corresponding antidote has been developed. In addition, regarding the previous theft of the secret list, several high-ranking officials were unjustly killed. The court has taken action, and secret talks with the Liao Kingdom are underway.

In the evening, everyone returned to the Prince's Mansion from the government office. Zuo Xin received a letter from the Jinghu General Hall, saying that he was busy with many matters and should return home as soon as possible. Xiao Changqing was in high spirits because of the case, and Zuo Xin also wanted to wait until the case was over before leaving. Therefore, he made an agreement with the second leader of the Thunderbolt Hall in the letter that he would stay for no more than half a month before setting off from Bianjing.

As soon as Duan Chen entered the hall, Zhou Qianbo quickly greeted him with a smile: "You're back? I heard that Xue Luo, you were helping that good-for-nothing solve a case again today? Are you tired? Come, have a cup of tea..."

Zhou Yufei rubbed his forehead and stepped forward to block his father's overly solicitous advances, saying in a low voice, "Dad, can you please stop making things worse? Also, please stop calling him by that name. I've already told you, just call him Duan Chen..."

Zhou Qianbo looked at him with a mixture of pity and anger, shoving aside her unfilial son who was standing between her and Duan Chen. She then smiled and handed him the teacup, saying, "Duan Chen, come here, this tea won't taste good if it gets cold..."

Duan Chen could only accept the teacup with both hands, saying softly, "Uncle, please don't be so polite. Please sit down. We can do it ourselves."

The Seventh Prince had been watching them with a half-smile, gently sniffing a pear as he ate it. Seeing the crowd gathered at the doorway, he said slowly, "Old Zhou, you're so old, don't always hang around with the young people and make them uncomfortable..."

Zhou Qianbo's face stiffened. She turned around and glared at Zhao Rui with a fierce but weak expression, then smiled at Duan Chen before strolling back to her seat. Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. Zhou Yufei took the teacup from Duan Chen, gave her a wry smile, and her charming eyes revealed a hint of helplessness. Her gaze towards the other two, however, held a deep and sincere pleading tone—Zhao Ting, stop glaring! Xingzhi, stop smiling! I was wrong, I really know I was wrong!

Zhou Yufei felt as if a dark cloud had descended upon him. He shuffled along, each step heavier than the last, until he found a chair and sat down. His fingers trembled slightly as he took a teacup from a maid beside him, pondering in silence when he should really have a proper talk with the old man. This can't be done like this!

Regardless of his own true feelings for Duan Chen, given the complicated entanglements between Zhan Yun, Zhao Ting, and her, it was neither morally nor logically appropriate for him to get involved. He recalled how he had playfully teased and cuddled her in Hangzhou, ultimately forcing her to break his wrist and refusing to speak a single word to him…

As Zhou Yufei lowered his eyes and sipped his tea, a somewhat enigmatic smile crept across his face. Recalling the past, he understood better than anyone else present that Duan Chen's dislike for him was far more than ordinary… To remain calm and composed in his presence was a rare quality in a woman. His own half-joking, half-serious remarks, though unintentional, had deeply wounded her. Teasing her in the fabric shop about her solemn expression as if she were selling herself to bury her father, coldly pressuring her to choose between Zhao Ting and Zhan Yun in the bustling street—at the time, he seemed utterly innocent. But after learning Duan Chen's true identity, he now appeared…incredibly irritating!

Even the usually composed and capable Zhou Gongzi felt a little lost for a moment. This person, this past—sometimes he truly didn't know how to face Duan Chen… According to tradition, he was originally her fiancé, a perfect match in terms of social standing, the only person she could rely on in this world after the upheaval in her family's fortunes. But because of her father's helpless actions back then, he had become the second person she should resent in this world.

The first was the high and mighty Emperor himself. Everyone present, from the esteemed Seventh Prince to the powerful Prime Minister, was powerless against the instigator. And the Zhou family was the shameless villain who followed closely behind. No matter how helpless or remorseful they felt, they couldn't change the fact that his father had refused to help and kicked him when he was down. And he, though completely unaware of the matter, found his identity incredibly awkward when facing Duan Chen because of his Zhou surname.

"Yiran." Zhao Tingwei's cold voice came from beside him. Zhou Yufei suddenly looked up and saw that everyone was staring at him.

Looking somewhat bewildered, Zhou touched his cheek, then a slightly irritating smile instantly appeared on his face: "What are you all looking at?"

Xiao Changqing scoffed, then said crisply, "Xiao Duan called you twice just now, and you ignored him. I'm telling you, Lord Zhou, this is your case. Can't you be a little more serious at this crucial moment?"

Zhou Yufei quickly glanced at Duan Chen, only to see the other man nod slightly at her: "I want to go to the Lu residence again tomorrow morning."

Zhao Ting put down his teacup, his dark eyes fixed intently on the man: "Have you thought of something?"