Kiyomi Tsuki and His Fox - Chapter 124
“Jian Yue took a kind of drug that makes people appear dead,” He Yunya explained. “This drug makes people look like they are dead, with no breathing, no heartbeat, and no pulse, and their bodies quickly become cold.”
The four blinked, closed their mouths briefly, then immediately opened them again like fools.
"But it only looks like it. Although the pulse is hard to feel and the heartbeat is almost inaudible, and it seems like there's no breathing, that's because it's too weak. But if you observe carefully, you should notice that although Jian Yue's face is pale and bloodless, it's not as bluish-black as someone who's been poisoned; although Jian Yue's body is very cold, his skin is still soft and elastic to the touch; and look at Jian Yue's eyes, observe his pupils—they're different from a dead person's." He Yunya smiled broadly and said, "So, Jian Yue isn't dead."
"Is...is this true?" Lu Qingcheng asked softly, tears streaming down his face. He was both surprised and scared, and he asked anxiously, "You're not lying to me. Jian Yue isn't dead. He hasn't left me."
Touched by his deep affection, He Yunya smiled peacefully and said gently yet firmly, "Yes, Lord of the Fortress, you can rest assured. Jian Yue is not dead. He has just fallen into a deep sleep that is like a suspended animation. Just wait three days, no, maybe just one day, and Jian Yue will wake up safely."
"Thank you." Lu Qingcheng said excitedly, "Thank you, Miss He. No matter who you are, I am very grateful to you. I will never forget your kindness. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely repay you."
The little sparrow was overjoyed and shed tears.
He Yunya smiled and subconsciously glanced at Qingfeng. Qingfeng was also looking at her, a joyful smile on his face, and his gaze was completely different. He Yunya blushed and turned her face away shyly.
Madam Lu witnessed all of this, and she was filled with anger, resentment, and hatred.
“By the way, since you say you want to repay me, I won’t stand on ceremony.” He Yunya’s mouth was as sharp as a knife. “Just as Madam said, I am a person of unknown origin. I came to your castle for someone.” As she said this, she glanced at Qingfeng, who was still looking at her. She said with a wicked yet charming tone, “Please promise me, Lord of the castle, that you will not expel me before I win this person’s heart.”
Lu Qingcheng asked curiously, "Miss He, whose heart do you wish to win?"
He Yunya's cheeks radiated a captivating beauty. Qingfeng couldn't help but be mesmerized. He Yunya suddenly straightened her face, "However, this poisoner is truly vicious. Lord of the Fortress, Young Master Qingfeng, you must not let him go no matter what."
Lu Qingcheng and Qingfeng looked at her. Madam Lu also squinted her phoenix eyes at her.
He Yunya said angrily, "If I hadn't encountered patients like this before, even I might not have been able to tell at a glance that Jian Yue had taken a drug to fake his death. If we just bury Jian Yue like this, just imagine what it would be like? When Jian Yue wakes up, he will find himself lying in the dark underground. He will definitely die again in despair, fear and hunger."
Not only were Lu Qingcheng and Qingfeng drenched in cold sweat from fear, but even Madam Lu's face turned deathly pale, paler than the snow outside. It was clear how vicious and perverse the poisoner was. Lu Qingcheng clenched her fists in anger, trembling with rage.
He Yunya said solemnly, "Please leave, everyone. I need to give Jianyue acupuncture."
Qingfeng said, "Cousin, please come to the living room to talk. I have something to report to you."
Madam Lu suddenly asked, "Has Xu Lan returned?"
Facing her, Qingfeng had to force herself to remain calm and composed. "Yes, he's back."
Madam Lu said coldly, "Listen to me carefully, I will absolutely not forgive this incident."
Lu Qingcheng's heart sank. Watching her mother leave the room, Lu Qingcheng asked anxiously, "What happened?"
Qingfeng said in a low voice, "Let's talk about it outside."
Chapter Forty-Seven: Sorrow and Joy
Upon hearing Qingfeng's announcement, people felt both sorrow and joy. He Zhiqiang, however, showed no joy, his face blank with confusion. Who exactly was his sister? He was increasingly unable to understand her. Lu Qingcheng summoned the Grand Enforcer, five lords, and two chief stewards to the living room for a meeting. The others returned to their posts, continuing with their duties.
Qingfeng said, "I went to Jingyue Nunnery last night."
Lu Qingcheng asked, "What are you going to Jingyue Nunnery for?"
"This is my personal matter, so there's no need to discuss it further." Qingfeng nimbly skipped over the question. "At Jingyue Nunnery, I met Xu Lan."
Lu Qingcheng then asked, "Didn't Xu Lan follow you? What was he doing at Jingyue Nunnery?"
"These are purely my personal matters, please don't ask any more questions, cousin," Qingfeng refused to answer.
Everyone stared at him, saying nothing.
Qingfeng continued, "When my younger brother returned, Xu Lan accompanied him all the way."
“If that’s the case, Xu Lan is cleared of suspicion, and it also proves Luo Yuting’s lie.” Cai Bo’an’s face flashed with anger as he cursed, “That beast is truly unrepentant. I will interrogate him again immediately.”
"Enforcer, don't be hasty," Qingfeng said calmly. "Have you figured out who the real culprit is?"
Cai Bo'an's heart skipped a beat, and he pressed for an answer: "The Grand Lord already knows?"
"Cousin, Chief Enforcer, and Chief Supervisor Su and Chief Supervisor Zhou, have you considered why this murderer wanted to assassinate Lin Feng and Chief Enforcer Cai? If I hadn't gone out, this person might very well have tried to assassinate me as well?"
Everyone was looking at him.
"Does my cousin still remember the time Luo Yuting caused such a scene at the peony garden?"
Lu Qingcheng frowned and said, "I really can't figure out what this has to do with Luo Yuting causing trouble in the peony garden?"
“That day, there were you, Jian Yue, me, Zhong He, the Chief Enforcer, Lin Feng, Supervisor Su, Supervisor Zhou, and also Zhou Jie and Li Zhen.” Qingfeng reminded, “We received a report from Fang Runmin that Zhong Wan’an committed suicide by poisoning himself in prison. Cousin, have you forgotten? The case we discussed about the Tong Kang brothers?”
Cai Bo'an slapped his thigh suddenly, "I remember now. At that time, the lord ordered his subordinates to investigate the case of the Tong Kang brothers thoroughly. The lord also ordered Qingfeng and Lin Feng to assist me."
Lu Qingcheng was deep in thought.
Su Haibo couldn't help but ask, "Does the Chief Enforcer mean that this assassination attempt and the last one were carried out by the same person?"
“Very likely,” Cai Bo’an said.
"It's not just very likely, it's certain. I once said that the murderer could very well be one of us." A cold smile appeared on Qingfeng's lips. "Think about it, who were the people present at the time?"
Everyone was looking at him.
“First, I can remove my cousin, Jian Yue, the Grand Enforcer, Lin Feng, and Zhong He from the list. I trust the character of Supervisor Su. Supervisor Zhou is a scholar, and Zhou Jie is pure of heart, so it couldn’t have been him. Luo Yuting and Zhang Sanlin don’t have that ability.” Qingfeng said coldly, “Finally, there’s Li Zhen.”
“That’s impossible,” Su Haibo was the first to object. “Although Li Zhen is a bit gloomy and doesn’t talk much, he is very serious and meticulous in his work, and he can also endure hardship. He is a diligent and ambitious young man. Besides, Li Zhen doesn’t know martial arts, so how could he assassinate the Second Lord and the Grand Enforcer?”
“After receiving the reports from Liu Xicheng and He Zhiqiang, I’ve been thinking about this issue. I’ve pondered it for a long time, and after receiving confirmation from Xu Lan, I’m even more certain of my thoughts.” Qingfeng said, “Cousin, you can invite Xu Lan in for questioning.”
Lu Qingcheng nodded and said, "Please invite Xu Lan."
Not long after, Xu Lan was invited in by Zhang Zhichun. Lu Qingcheng excused him from bowing and immediately invited him to sit down and talk.