Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 199 Dispute
Liu Qingguang's eyes dodged: "I have been hiding near the study, trying to find a chance to sneak in and have a good talk with my father."

Si Buping stared at him, his eyes full of scrutiny.

"How long have you been hiding near the study?"

"I sneaked into the governor's mansion in the evening. In order to find my father, I wandered around the mansion for a long time. On the way, I met these two people." When Liu Qingguang said this, he raised his hand and pointed at Yan Ciwan and Xiao Wang.

Si Buping took the opportunity to look at the two of them.

Yan Ciwan said that Liu Qingguang was right and they had indeed met before.

Si Buping turned to look at Liu Qingguang and motioned for him to continue.

Liu Qingguang whispered, "The governor's mansion is too big. I couldn't find my father after searching for a long time. Then I saw Uncle Feng. I knew he was a servant of my father, so I quietly followed Uncle Feng and found his study. Uncle Feng probably stayed in the study for a cup of tea. When he came out, I quietly approached the study, knocked on the door and called my father, hoping that he would open the door to see me, but my father didn't open the door. He...he also told me to get out."

Having said this, he lowered his head, clenched his hands into fists, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged, as if he was trying hard to suppress the anger and unwillingness in his heart.

Xie Li took the opportunity to ask, "Because the envoy treated you badly and refused to accept you as his son, you became hateful and broke into the study and killed him!"

"I didn't!" Liu Qingguang suddenly raised his head, revealing his dissatisfied red bloodshot eyes, with a strong sense of resentment in his eyes. "I am indeed a little angry, but I never thought of killing him. No matter what, he is my father, and I will never kill my father!"

Si Buping stared into his eyes. From Si Buping's expression, it seemed that he did not really believe what Liu Qingguang said.

But Si Buping did not reveal his suspicion, and continued to ask: "So you have been guarding near the study since then?"

"My father refused to see me, but I was unwilling to give up. My mother was still waiting to see him one last time. I found a secluded place near the study and hid there, thinking I would give it one last try. If my father still refused to see me, I would give up."

Si Buping asked: "Can anyone prove that everything you said is true?"

Liu Qingguang's face gradually turned pale: "I have been acting alone since I sneaked into the mansion. No one can testify for me."

Xie Li snorted: "In that case, you are still the most suspicious person!"

Liu Qingguang was very unconvinced. He clenched his fists and retorted loudly.

"I'm not the only one without witnesses. Don't you have no witnesses either? And they were all in their own rooms when my father was murdered, and no one can testify for them! If there is any suspicion, you are also very suspicious!"

Xie Li immediately shut his mouth and Xie Chusong also lowered his head.

Only Yan Ciwan and Xiao Wang spoke up to defend themselves.

"We have witnesses."

Everyone looked at them.

Xiao Wang explained slowly, "Around the first watch, A Feng came to Yongchun Court to find me. He said that the envoy wanted to see me and asked me to go to the study immediately. But because of some things that happened later, I couldn't go to the study. After that, Ning Ci and I stayed in Yongchun Court. You can ask A Feng about this matter. He can prove it for us."

Xie Li immediately ordered someone to find Afeng.

Ah Feng was so traumatized by seeing his master being murdered that he was completely horrified.

Xie Li asked, "Why did the envoy ask you to go and invite Xiao Liulang in the middle of the night?"

Ah Feng shook his head to indicate that he didn't know: "Since the envoy didn't tell me, I didn't dare to ask any more questions."

"Are you sure you arrived at Yongchunyuan during the first watch?"

Ah Feng nodded and gave an affirmative answer: "Yes, at that time the clappers had just sounded, and it was just the first watch." "Did you see Xiao Liulang in Yongchun Courtyard?"

Afeng nodded again.

Xie Li asked, "Why didn't you take Xiao Liulang to the study room after that?"

A Feng looked at Xiao Wang, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Xie Li glanced at Xiao Wang, then said to A Feng, "You have been working beside the envoy for so many years, and the envoy has always been kind to you. I believe you don't want the envoy to die in obscurity. If you have any clues, you must tell them, and don't hide anything, so as not to delay the investigation and arrest of the murderer."

Ah Feng hesitated for a long time before saying, "I have no clues. I did see Xiao Liulang in Yongchun Courtyard during the first watch. When I left Yongchun Courtyard again, it was almost the third watch. At that time, Xiao Liulang was still in Yongchun Courtyard. The envoy was murdered during the second watch. Xiao Liulang cannot be the murderer."

Xie Li pressed on, "Even if Xiao Liulang is not a suspect, what about Ning Ci? Did you see her in person before you left Yongchunyuan?"

Afeng shook his head to indicate no.

Xie Li's eyes lit up, thinking he had found a flaw in Yan Ciwan's alibi.

However, the next moment he heard Xiao Wang say.

"Although you didn't see Ning Ci, she talked to you."

Ah Feng nodded immediately: "Yes, I recognize Madam Ning's voice. The person who was talking to me at that time must be her."

Yan Ciwan's flaws disappeared in an instant, and Xie Li was greatly disappointed.

Si Buping narrowed his eyes, his gaze lingering on Yan Ciwan and Xiao Wang, his eyes full of deep meaning. But because they were still investigating the case, private matters had to be discussed later, and Si Buping's gaze shifted again to Xie Li, Xie Chusong, and Liu Qingguang.

"None of you three have an alibi, do you?"

Xie Chusong pursed her lips and whispered, "I worked as a maid for half a night and have basically finished embroidering the shoes. Can I use that as proof?"

Si Buping gave a direct answer: "No."

Xie Chusong lowered his head in disappointment.

Xie Li stared at her profile and couldn't help asking, "You had a huge argument with the envoy in the study this evening. Did you kill the envoy in a rage?"

Xie Chusong suddenly raised his head, looked at Xie Li with wide eyes, his face full of disbelief.

"Uncle, how can you doubt me like that? I had a few arguments with Aye today, but it was far from murder!"

Xie Li pressed further: "Tell me, why are you and the envoy arguing so much?"

Xie Chusong pursed his lips, his face full of resistance, obviously not wanting to mention this matter.

She whispered, "This is a family affair between Aye and me. It is not convenient to tell outsiders. If you insist on concluding that I am the murderer, I can't resist. Anyway, Aye is gone now. I am an orphan with no one to rely on. Even if I am wronged by you, I have no place to seek justice."

The more she spoke, the sadder she became, and she couldn't help but cry again.

Xie Li frowned: "Why are you crying again? I was just raising reasonable suspicions, but I didn't say that you must have killed the envoy."

Xie Chusong wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with an embroidered handkerchief and said to Xie Li.

"Since my uncle can doubt me, I can also doubt my uncle. Last night I saw my uncle talking to Aye. Although I couldn't hear what you were saying because we were far away, Aye looked very angry. He reprimanded you very harshly. You behaved very obediently at the time, but after Aye left, your expression became very angry. You actually hated Aye in your heart!"