Lanting

Kapitel 88

Li Zhen hurriedly stretched out her sleeve to cover a large bruise on her face, saying, "I accidentally fell off the bed."

Madam Li said with heartache, "This child has always been clumsy since he was little. All day long, he's covered in bruises here and there."

Madam Lu frowned and said, "I'll talk to Qingcheng tomorrow and see what kind of job we can assign to Zhen'er so he can get some experience. He's always so timid and hesitant; he doesn't act like a man at all."

Madam Li was overjoyed and said, "Eldest sister is right. Zhen'er, quickly thank your aunt."

Li Zhen came out and bowed to express her gratitude.

Madam Lu said, "Go find Physician Li and see if you can get some medicine."

"Yes, Aunt." Li Zhen then said to her mother, "I'll take my leave now."

Madam Li smiled and said, "Go ahead."

Li Zhen bowed and respectfully retreated until he reached the door before turning around. He was startled to see He Yunya, who was leaning against the carved door, staring coldly at him.

A captivating smile bloomed on He Yunya's exquisitely beautiful face. "Young Master Li's injuries don't look like they were from a bump; they look like he was beaten up by someone."

Li Zhen bent over and said, "Miss is right. I accidentally bumped into the bedpost when I fell off the bed."

He Yunya sighed softly, "Is that so? Young Master Li, you should quickly go find some medicine to apply to your face. It would be such a pity if someone as handsome as you were disfigured."

Li Zhen blushed, mumbled something under his breath, but ultimately didn't dare say it aloud. He carefully walked past her, and perhaps because he was too shy and nervous, he tripped and fell again. The maids serving outside burst into laughter. Inside the painted hall, Madam Li was too ashamed to speak; when would this foolish son ever amount to anything?

Madam Lu snorted, "Yun Ya, you little vixen, if you want to come in, then come in. Why are you standing by the door teasing my honest and simple nephew?"

He Yunya giggled, "Madam, your honest nephew is not honest at all! He was so mesmerized by my proud breasts that he tripped and fell so hard."

Madam Li's face flushed red.

Madam Lu laughed and scolded, "You little vixen, if you don't tease him, how will he look at you?"

He Yunya fluttered down to sit beside Madam Lu like a butterfly, reached out and put her arm around Madam Lu's neck, and said in a sweet voice, "Madam, the Lord of the Fortress, your good nephew Lu Qingfeng, the Grand Enforcer Cai Bo'an, and the Second Lord Lin Feng are about to arrive. I reckon they have already entered the gates of Yixin Garden by now."

Suddenly, He Yunya's eyes shifted and landed on Xu Lan, who seemed to have stepped out of thin air. Madam Lu noticed as well. She glanced at Xu Lan, her face darkening, and pushed He Yunya away. He Yunya, as if her bones had gone limp, leaned against the brocade pillow and picked up a jar of sweet plums from the lacquered table to eat. A report came from outside, "The Lord of the Fortress has arrived, as have the Grand Lord, the Second Lord, and the Chief Enforcer."

Lu Qingcheng, Qingfeng, Cai Bo'an, and Lin Feng entered with four burly warriors from Lu Family Fortress. After bowing to Madam Lu, Lu Qingcheng said, "Mother, I have come here because of the case of the murders of Tong Kang and Tong Lei."

Madam Lu raised an eyebrow, glanced at the commotion, and said calmly, "Have you caught the murderer?"

“The murderer is Xu Lan,” Qingfeng said.

Xu Yun was shocked upon hearing this. Madam Li stared in astonishment, and He Yunya swallowed the plum whole, pit and all. The moment she swallowed it, she was so frightened that she pounded her chest.

Madam Lu showed no surprise whatsoever. She asked, "Xu Lan, did you kill someone?"

Xu Lan replied coldly, "I have none."

Upon hearing this answer, Madam Lu smiled and looked at her son, saying, "Xu Lan said he didn't kill anyone. If he said he didn't kill anyone, then he didn't kill anyone. I believe him."

Lu Qingcheng said, "There is conclusive evidence to prove that the murderer is Xu Lan."

Over there, He Yunya was clutching her own neck with her two slender hands, blinking her bright, beautiful eyes, and innocently wondering whether she should spit out the sweet plum she had swallowed whole.

A fierce glint of disgust flashed in Qingfeng's long, beautiful eyes. "There are four reasons. First, the murderer's silhouette, build, and swordsmanship all resemble Xu Lan. Second, according to the Grand Enforcement Bureau's investigation, Xu Lan disappeared within an hour before and after Tong Lei's murder. Third, according to the Grand Enforcement Bureau's investigation, the black gold arrow that the murderer left in Tong Kang's room, as well as the arrow that killed Tong Lei and Hu'er, belonged to Xu Lan. Fourth, Xu Lan had a motive for murder. Both Tong Kang and Tong Lei had flirted with Miss Xu. Tong Lei had tried to obtain Miss Xu through despicable means, and Tong Kang, in order to obtain Miss Xu, even used his power to coerce Xu Lan and her brother. This is also why Xu Lan and her brother came to this fortress with Madam Lu."

Madam Lu gave a nonchalant "ah" and said nothing more.

“The Lord of the Fortress once fought with the murderer. I ordered someone to investigate whether Xu Lan was with Madam during the time when Tong Lei was killed and the Lord of the Fortress and Jian Yue were capturing the murderer. The investigation revealed that Xu Lan quietly left when the Lord of the Fortress helped Madam into the inner hall, and returned about half an hour later. Also, Runmin confirmed that the black gold arrow used by the murderer did indeed belong to Xu Lan. Runmin sneaked into Xu Lan's room and found Xu Lan's golden bow lying on the ground, and the black gold arrow in the quiver was exactly the same as the black gold arrow used by the murderer.” Cai Bo'an took the black gold arrow handed to him by Fang Runmin and presented it to Madam Lu.

Madam Lu sneered, "Xu Lan, you really are foolish. It's one thing to kill someone, but to let others easily find fault with you is another."

Xu Lan said expressionlessly, "I did not kill anyone. The killer was someone who resembled me, but I failed to capture him. His martial arts and swordsmanship are superior to mine."

Lin Feng shouted, "Murder is murder, don't try to deny it."

Xu Lan coldly closed his eyes, ignoring him completely.

Lin Feng was furious and almost lost control, grabbing the person. Lu Qingcheng raised her hand to stop him, saying, "Mother, please hand Xu Lan over to me."

"No!" Xu Yun rushed out and exclaimed excitedly, "Lord of the Fortress, my brother said he didn't kill anyone, and he didn't kill anyone. My brother would never lie."

"Nonsense." Lin Feng said in a booming voice, "The evidence is conclusive now, nothing we say will make a difference. Guards!"

Madam Lu said calmly, "I'd like to see who dares to take anyone from here."

Lin Feng immediately looked at Lu Qingcheng, as did Qingfeng and Cai Bo'an. Lu Qingcheng stared at her mother, "Mother, I'll say it again, hand Xu Lan over to me. Otherwise, if things get violent and you get hurt, please don't blame your son for being unfilial."

Madam Lu's face suddenly turned ashen.

Chapter Thirty-Five: The Murderer

Just then, a report came from outside, "Madam Tong has arrived." Before the words were even finished, a haggard Madam Tong rolled into the hall like a lump of flesh riding a whirlwind, followed by her husband, Zhong Wan'an. As soon as Madam Li saw her second sister and her husband, she immediately turned her face away, looking elsewhere with a complex and unfathomable light in her eyes.

A cold, mocking glint appeared in Madam Lu's phoenix eyes. "What a lively scene today." Madam Tong's swollen eyes, like meat buns, glared viciously at Xu Lan, as if she were about to pounce and bite. Madam Lu asked curiously, "Second Sister, why did you suddenly barge in without even a greeting? What are you staring at my subordinates for?"

"Elder sister, at a time like this, who are you trying to fool by putting on airs?" Madam Tong exuded an aura of hatred, and her voice trembled with grief and indignation.

Madam Lu was completely bewildered and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"Big sister, why did you kill my son?" Tears streamed down Madam Tong's face as she screamed, "Why?"

Xu Yun exclaimed in surprise, "Madam Tong, where did you hear that? My brother didn't kill anyone."

Lu Qingcheng looked at his mother, wanting to see how she would handle the situation.

Madam Lu suddenly smiled, "Where did you hear this rumor?"