Chapter 360: Half Each

“When Cao Xinyue arrived at Qinhuai Tower that day, it was a quarter past seven. She went to an upper room on the sixth floor. At a quarter before eight, Lin Youyang went to see her. When it was nine, Lin Youyang left. Before he left, he instructed the madam of Qinhuai Tower not to disturb Cao Xinyue’s rest.”

“But on the morning of the 16th of February, Fan Xuancao’s maid, Zi’er, saw Lin Zhixuan walking out of the guest room where Cao Xinyue was resting… By noon, Cao Xinyue was already dead. The cause of death was sudden death. Before she died, she had inhaled a large amount of smoke.”

Although Ji Zhao and Cao Xinyue did not know each other, at this moment, her heart ached for this seventeen-year-old girl.

“In other words, before Cao Xinyue died, she only saw the Lin father and son?” Ji Zhao narrowed her eyes and said in a deep voice, “The Lin father and son were the murderers? But Cao Xinyue and Lin Youyang were already engaged. Sooner or later, he could marry her and have her openly. Why did he…”

As if she suddenly thought of something, Ji Zhao’s eyes widened.

Could it be that the person who bullied Cao Xinyue was Lin Zhixuan?

Cao Xinyue was the Lin family’s unmarried daughter-in-law. No matter how crazy Lin Zhixuan was, he shouldn’t—

“Zhaozhao, some people are born beasts.” Sensing that her emotions were a little off, Shen Yao hurriedly held her hand and comforted her gently.

“If I want to punish the Lin father and son, I need to find evidence. Therefore, I thought of using myself as bait. I didn’t expect Lin Zhixuan to be so cunning. He deliberately set up an ambush.” Shen Yao sighed helplessly. “I was too careless and fell into his trap.”

Ever since Emperor Jingchen ascended the throne, Shen Yao, as the best knife in his hands, had already obtained the title of the Iron Blooded Grand Secretary.

Shen Yao was publicly acknowledged as a resourceful person, so he did not take the Lin father and son seriously at first. That was why he suffered such a huge loss.

“I carefully examined the wound on your chest just now.” Ji Zhao pretended to glare at him angrily and said fiercely, “It’s all thanks to the archer’s poor martial arts that the wound didn’t cut into your vital points.”

“The King of Hell also knows that I haven’t grown old with Zhaozhao yet. He can’t bear to take my life.”

“Nonsense!” Ji Zhao pinched his ear angrily, then asked, “What about Fan Xuancao? What’s going on?”

“Lin Zhixuan added a lot of kerosene to that pleasure boat. After careful consideration, I jumped into the canal. According to the original plan, someone would come to the designated place to pick me up, but for some reason, I suddenly lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was in Fan Xuancao’s private residence,” Shen Yao explained with a sincere gaze.

“I understand.” Ji Zhao nodded slightly, then rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Shen Yao, what should we do now to break this trap?”

“Respond to all changes by remaining unchanged,” Shen Yao said with a faint smile.

“But…”

“Zhaozhao, trust me.” Shen Yao stroked her palm and explained with a smile, “By the way, Zhaozhao, don’t spread the news of you looking for me. The Grand Administrator of Jinling, Du Minghai, is His Majesty’s subordinate. Zhaozhao, remember to send someone to inform Du Minghai about the disappearance of the courtesan of Qinhuai Tower, Liu Ruxuan.”

Ji Zhao thought about it seriously, then raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Qinhuai Tower?”

Cao Xinyue’s case happened in Qinhuai Tower, and everyone knew that Liu Ruxuan was Lin Zhixuan’s confidante.

If they followed this lead from Qinhuai Tower, they would definitely find the corresponding evidence.

“What about Brother Qin?”

“Don’t tell him about me for the time being,” Shen Yao lowered his eyes and said calmly.

Ji Zhao’s heart sank. “Shen Yao, do you think Brother Qin can’t be trusted?”

Shen Yao shook his head gently. “It’s not that I don’t trust Brother Qin, but this case involves some people from the Cao Gang. If Brother Qin interferes, I’m afraid he will act on impulse.”

“Alright.”

Mid-May, the sun in Jinling city was still warm.

In the Jiangnan area, the four seasons were like spring.

After recuperating for half a month, the wounds on Shen Yao’s body gradually healed.

“The Cao Gang is blocking the entrance of the Lin Residence every day. I heard that Lin Youyang has contracted the disease and was abandoned by Lin Zhixuan.” Ji Zhao said as she peeled an apple, “Unfortunately, we can’t find out about the Lin Residence. If we can find Lin Zhixuan’s weakness, we can treat the problem.”

“Jinling Grand Administrator Du Minghai was His Majesty’s trusted aide a few years ago. His Majesty realized that the corruption in Jiangnan was too rampant before he ascended the throne, so His Majesty arranged for Du Minghai to go to Jinling long ago.” Shen Yao smiled softly. “Before I came to Jinling, I had already met this Grand Administrator Du. Although the Lin residence is impenetrable, there are people who want to explore the scenery outside the wall.”

Ji Zhao understood what he meant and couldn’t help but take a bite of the apple. That crisp sound surprised Shen Yao. “So Zhaozhao didn’t peel this apple for me to eat?”

“Half each.” Ji Zhao smiled and handed him the intact side of the apple.

However, Shen Yao grabbed her wrist bit down on wear her bite mark on the apple was.

For some reason, Ji Zhao felt her ears burning.

“Ahem, in other words, Grand Administrator Du has already planted people in the Lin residence?”

“Mm.” Looking at her rosy cheeks, Shen Yao’s heart skipped a beat, and he silently curled his lips. “Zhaozhao, just wait. In a few days, Jinling City will undergo earth-shattering changes.”

Ji Zhao responded gloomily. She missed Kang’er a little.

Two days later, Lin Youyang actually beat the drums and called the officials on his father, Lin Zhixuan’s promiscuous behavior and how he bullied his daughter-in-law!

When this news was released, it shocked the entire Jinling city!

Even Ji Zhao was in a daze when she heard this news.

“Lin Zhixuan was promiscuous. Over the years, he had done countless things that were worse than forcing a good woman into prostitution. Now that Lin Youyang’s confession is out, the truth of Cao Xinyue’s death is gradually revealed.” Shen Yao sighed softly. “It’s a pity that we came too late.”

If they had arrived in Jinling earlier, perhaps those innocent lives would not have withered just like that.

“The son sues the father, and the people sue the officials. According to Great Jing law, the person suing needs to lie on the bed of nails. If it’s proven to be false, the person suing will be punished with firecrackers.” Ji Zhao lowered her eyes and asked curiously, “Lin Youyang has always been a debauchee who acts absurdly. Why would he suddenly have the courage to sue his father?”

“Even a good-for-nothing has his weakness..” Shen Yao gently held her hand and said with a smile, “If Zhaozhao wants to know the inside story, why don’t you accompany me to the Grand Administrator’s residence?”