Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 29 Absconding in fear of crime

Wei Lansheng opened his mouth and asked a series of questions.

"Why did the two of them disappear together, and only Chao Erniang came back in the end? Is Chao Erniang's injury related to this? Why did your Chao family hide this matter?"

Chao Yuanzhi pressed harder on the fingers holding the letter and asked back sternly.

"Are you doubting me?"

Wei Lansheng lowered his head and said solemnly.

"I dare not. I am only following orders to investigate the case. If the imperial officer does not want to answer, he can choose to remain silent. However, the envoy is extremely concerned about this case. Tomorrow, the envoy will personally inquire about the matter, and the Grand Councilor should also be present at the hearing."

Chao Yuanzhi's expression suddenly became even uglier.

Because Wei Lansheng had the order from Governor Qi in his hand, no one in the palace dared to stop him. Wei Lansheng personally led people to search Tingfeng Courtyard carefully from inside to outside, and finally found a small and exquisite blue sachet from the corner of the bed.

There is a white gardenia embroidered on the surface of the sachet, with a small word "Lin" next to it.

Among the nine girls who were murdered, there happened to be one named Lin Lin.

Wei Lansheng took the sachet and went to find Chao Yuanzhi, saying in a deep voice.

"I have already questioned Lin Lin's family. She was carrying this sachet on the day she was murdered. When her body was found, the sachet was missing. But now, it has appeared in Chaolu's boudoir. Why is this?"

Chao Yuanzhi never expected that he could actually find the victim's belongings from Tingfeng Courtyard.

He immediately ordered someone to call Liu and asked him what was going on.

Liu had never seen this sachet before, so she had to ask Luhua.

"You were the one who cleaned up the house in Tingfeng Courtyard today. Didn't you see this sachet?"

Luhua shook her head vigorously: "No, when I made the bed today, there was nothing on it. I don't know where it came from."

Wei Lansheng wanted to take Zhaolu to the government office, but was told that Zhaolu was not at home at all. He suspected that Zhaolu was absconding for fear of crime, and prepared to issue a wanted order to search the whole city for Zhaolu.

This matter was strongly opposed by Chao Yuanzhi.

Chaolu is his daughter. Once Chaolu is wanted, everyone in the city will know that he has a wanted criminal daughter. This will not only ruin the reputation of the Chao family, but will also seriously affect his career.

But Wei Lansheng had the order from the governor of Qi, and Chao Yuanzhi was unable to suppress him with his official position. In the end, he could only tell him about Chao Lu's fake death.

"Second Mother is no longer at home. The person who has been living in Tingfeng Courtyard recently is actually Ning Ci. I asked her to pretend to be Second Mother, but I didn't expect that she would be involved with the serial rape and murder murderer. If I had known that she was such a person, I would have immediately sent her to the government office and would definitely not have been so kind as to let her recuperate at home."

By the end, Chao Yuanzhi was regretting his decision, his face full of annoyance.

Wei Lansheng had long had doubts about the morning dew he saw during the day. After listening to what Chao Yuanzhi said, his doubts were answered and he immediately asked further questions.

"Where are you going to quit?"

"She ran away a long time ago. It must be because you suddenly came to her house in broad daylight. She had something to hide and was afraid that you would discover her crime, so she fled quietly. The sachet must have been dropped by her accidentally."

Chao Yuanzhi concluded the matter in just a few words, pushing all the blame onto Ning Ci and clearing himself and the Chao family of all blame.

Liu wanted to speak to defend Ning Ci, but was interrupted by Chao Yuanzhi before she could even open her mouth.

"Go back to Tingfeng Courtyard and take a look. Ning Ci suddenly ran away. I wonder if he stole anything from our house?"

"Ning Ci is not that kind of person..."

Chao Yuanzhi frowned: "You have only known her for a few days. People's hearts are hidden in their stomachs. How do you know what kind of person she is? If she really has a clear conscience, why would she run away? The reason she ran away must be that she has something to hide. Don't be soft-hearted, get down quickly!"

Liu knew that Ning Ci was not fleeing for fear of crime, but if she told the truth, she would be actively exposing Ning Ci's whereabouts.

She could only shut up and leave in silence.

(End of this chapter)