Сhарter 123: New Disсоvеrу 2
"It wаs Boss Xu whо аsked me tо bring you а mеssаgе. Тhе husband of thе lady involved in the currеnt сasе is namеd Сhеn Shоujie. Не indееd рartiсipated in thе invеstigatiоn of Chen Нuo'e's сase bасk thеn аnd wаs рrоmoted bесausе оf it, rising frоm a сountу mаgistrate in Shаnхi to bеcome thе magistrate оf Wаnniаn Cоunty.
Baсk thеn, Сhen Нuо'е's murdеr lосatiоns vаried. Sinсe thе crimes wеre соmmittеd in Shanхi, hе wаs fоrtunate enоugh to be involved in the invеstigation. But unfоrtunatelу, evеr sinсe Сhen Huo'e was brought to justice, he has become incoherent, only shouting mad phrases like 'Moth, moth, fire!' and can no longer speak complete sentences."
After listening to Jiang Langxing's explanation, Zhu Yan furrowed her brows, connecting all the clues together and summarizing in one sentence, "It seems there were signs even before the previous case occurred, but everyone overlooked them."
"Do you have any leads on the culprit?" Jiang Langxing then asked. After all, this case was handled by the Unrighteous Agents. If Zhu Yan could help them solve it, it would be another great achievement.
Zhu Yan frowned again, thinking through and organizing all the clues. After a long while, she shook her head. "No."
Hearing her response, Jiang Langxing seemed somewhat disappointed but still offered comfort. "Hall Leader's Wife, there's no need to be too anxious. The truth will always come to light eventually. If you become too immersed in it, it might affect your life. Please take good care of your health."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yan glanced at Jiang Langxing. "I'm younger than you. If anyone should be tired, it's probably you all more than me. So, the ones who should take care of their health are you, not me."
Jiang Langxing was left speechless. There was a deeper meaning in his words, but Zhu Yan hadn't picked up on it.
After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Langxing spoke again. "I... I have some matters to attend to at the Unrighteous Agents' office, so I won't stay any longer. If Hall Leader's Wife happens to see Lord Lu, please send her my regards. Tell her... tell her I've missed her these past days and that she should take good care of her health."
Hearing this, Zhu Yan finally understood. No wonder Jiang Langxing had told her to take care of her health—he was actually concerned about Lu Chuichui and had only incidentally extended the concern to her.
Zhu Yan let out a light, helpless chuckle. "You should say those words to her yourself. I don't have time to pass them on for you. Besides, some words carry one meaning when they come from your mouth and another when they come from mine. You've hinted at her so many times, and she still doesn't understand. If I were to say it, would she understand?"
"..." Jiang Langxing was left speechless by Zhu Yan's sharp tongue.
Zhu Yan wasn't wrong. Lu Chuichui was also quite clever, but she had become muddled in matters like this.
It frustrated him greatly, yet he had no solution.
"Alright," Jiang Langxing conceded helplessly. After responding, he bowed to Zhu Yan. "Then I won't trouble Hall Leader's Wife with this matter. But since Hall Leader's Wife is close to Lord Lu, I hope you can put in a good word for me in her ear from time to time, so that Lord Lu might take some notice of me."
Hearing this, Zhu Yan smiled. "Don't worry, I can certainly help with such a small favor."
After thanking Zhu Yan, Jiang Langxing turned and left. Zhu Yan returned to her study and began organizing the case once more.
She connected all the suspicious points, pondering them over and over, but still couldn't find any leads regarding the culprit.
It was truly strange.At this thought, a possibility suddenly occurred to Zhu Yan. If Madam Tang was connected to this case, then with Madam Tang exposed, the other party should have kept a lower profile. Yet they were still committing crimes so brazenly—what was their intention?
Could it be that they simply wanted to prove this case had nothing to do with Madam Tang?
The headache from overthinking made Zhu Yan rub her temples. She picked up the teacup beside her and took a sip.
Shen Du had not yet returned, and she had no idea where he had gone. With countless doubts swirling in her heart but no one to confide in, she was truly at a loss.
Just then, hurried footsteps approached. Zhu Yan turned and saw Shen Du’s face darker than the bottom of a pot.
Zhu Yan was taken aback and quickly stepped forward to ask, “What’s wrong? You look terrible. Did you find some new clues?”
Her words, all about the case, displeased Shen Du.
“Is there nothing else in your mind besides the case?” Shen Du retorted.
Zhu Yan was confused. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t you see what time it is? Why haven’t you started cooking?”
“…”
Zhu Yan was completely bewildered. Didn’t the Shen residence have cooks? Why did she need to cook personally?
Moreover, after the last time she cooked, Shen Du had said her culinary skills were no match for the cooks. If so, why was he asking her to enter the kitchen again?
Thinking this, Zhu Yan felt Shen Du was being unreasonable. Just as she was about to argue, another figure came bouncing in.
Yun Que looked delighted, as if something joyful had happened to her.
She was about to approach Shen Du when she seemed to notice Zhu Yan by surprise. “What are you doing here?”
Yun Que’s attitude inexplicably angered Zhu Yan. “Why can’t I be here?”
“Aren’t you a coroner? Shouldn’t you be investigating the case? This is the Shen residence, the Great Pavilion Commander’s place.”
Hearing Yun Que’s words, Zhu Yan was even more speechless. So, Yun Que still saw her only as a coroner.
No wonder her attitude was so poor—she clearly didn’t understand Zhu Yan’s identity.
Shen Du stood by without offering any explanation, only giving Zhu Yan a meaningful look.
Zhu Yan straightened her posture, ready to explain, when Jing Lin suddenly spoke up from the side. “This is the Hall Leader’s Wife. You should watch your tone in the future. If you upset the Madam, you could be thrown out of the Shen residence at any time.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Que was stunned.
Surprise and disbelief filled her expression. “You… you’re the White King of Hell’s wife?”
“Is there a problem?” Zhu Yan retorted, her tone firm and dignified, fully embodying the demeanor of a lady of the house.
Yun Que was momentarily at a loss for words, while Shen Du lowered his head and smiled.
For some reason, seeing Zhu Yan assert her identity like this gave him a sense of relief.
Or perhaps… satisfaction.
This woman had always been strong-willed, but at critical moments, she still relied on her status to assert herself. This made Shen Du feel a sense of responsibility, as befitting a husband.
“No, no, no problem,” Yun Que stammered after a long pause.
She truly hadn’t expected that this female coroner would be Shen Du’s wife.Whenever she thought back on her actions over the past few days, she wished she could crawl into a hole and hide. Having clung to Lord Shen like that in front of the Hall Leader's Wife, she feared her days ahead would be difficult.
Yun Que was on the verge of tears, just about to explain her recent behavior, when Zhu Yan suddenly spoke up. "You don't need to be afraid or feel guilty about this. Although I am the Hall Leader's Wife now, I soon won't be. When we married, we made an agreement to separate after three months. It won't be many days now."
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