Chapter 110 - 109: The Lover Who Can’t See the Light (First Update)

Chapter 110: Chapter 109: The Lover Who Can’t See the Light (First Update)

These words had evidently been bottled up inside Nianxia for a long time, and now, like a long-suppressed volcano suddenly erupting, she shouted them out regardless of anything else.

Everyone couldn’t help but be a bit stunned.

However, Xiao Yi, Xiao He, and Zhao Jingming remained unfazed; such Yin Affairs were present in the backyard of every prominent family. They had grown up around these matters and were long bored with them.

Xinghua seemed to be frightened; usually timid and meek, Nianxia never dared to breathe heavily when bullied, so who could have imagined she’d be so terrifying when she exploded?

She couldn’t help but mutter, "I’ve been serving the Old Madam since I was young, and she gifted me this hairpin simply out of affection. Who knew Madam would be so petty..."

No one expected her to talk badly about her own mistress, and Nianxia was even more furious, almost crying, "Petty? If she were petty, how could she have tolerated you staying by her side causing trouble? The Old Madam never liked the Madam from the start, thinking that the Lord cared for her too much, neglecting her as a mother.

When she first sent you here and renamed you Xinghua, it was all to spite the Madam, always reminding her who the real mistress of Xinghua Inn was!

You think the Madam doesn’t know you’ve never been content since you were sent here, that you’re loyal elsewhere? Running to the Old Madam whenever you have the chance, everyone in the front inn knows your intentions! But the Madam has been generous, choosing to ignore it, turning a blind eye every day!

You think the Madam’s illness these days is for no reason? The doctor said it’s due to emotional upheaval, liver imbalance, and stress turning into fire causing her persistent sore throat and cough!"

Xinghua, feeling both unjust and guilty from being scolded, tried to retort several times but couldn’t find an opening to interject.

Finally, when Nianxia finished speaking, Wei Dadong’s voice, filled with incredulous sorrow, broke the silence, "Is this truly what Wan has thought all along? Why... why have you never told me? Wan has always been so gentle and tender in front of me, considerate and optimistic, even comforting me when I worried about inn matters..."

Nianxia looked at her Lord, biting her lip and choking back sobs, "The Madam said that the Lord has been troubled lately with the renovations of the inn, getting up before dawn to talk things over with the foremen, handling the front inn’s matters simultaneously, and ordered me not to burden you with these things.

But it’s unfair to the Madam! She’s done so much, managing household affairs daily, serving the Old Madam while constantly being bullied by the Old Madam and this shameless maid.

And now... now she died unjustly.

I ask you!"

Nianxia suddenly glared fiercely at Xinghua, gritting her teeth, "This morning, you were supposed to be by the Madam’s side, so where were you then? If you’d stayed by her side, how could anything have happened to her! Or... is her death related to you..."

"You can mess with food, but not with words!"

After holding back for a long time, Xinghua immediately responded in a flustered panic, "I... I went to the Old Madam’s this morning, she hasn’t been sleeping well lately and has a poor appetite, and since I’ve served her longer and know her preferences better, I thought to go help...

Who knew... who knew that when I came back from her place, all I found was a mess in the Lord’s room, and the Madam laid motionless on the bed!"

Others silently listened to their conversation. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi immediately called over a county government officer to find the Old Madam and verify the truth.

Xu Jing’s gaze swept over everyone present, then she calmly said, "Earlier, you mentioned dismissing many servants to save Silver Coin for the Xinghua Inn renovation. Currently, how many servants are in the house?"

Wei Dadong froze, looking inexplicably at Xu Jing, unable to comprehend why this question would come from this woman.

Wasn’t she merely a forensic doctor?

But seeing that no other officials found it amiss, he replied, "Not... not many left, only Nianxia and Xinghua are left beside me and Wan, my mother has two maids, Chunxiao and Dongwu, and there is a cook and a maid retained in the rear kitchen, along with two maidservants in the front yard, totaling eight people."

Xu Jing remarked meaningfully, "So, there’s not even a proper Protector left?"

Wei Dadong said, "We did have one previously, but later I realized it wasn’t really necessary. Our home and the front inn are connected, with only two corridors and a small courtyard in between, and the inn has its own Protectors.

Moreover, we have a few large dogs at the back door, which usually suffice for security."

Xiao Yi immediately grasped her meaning and said, "The murderer is a familiar person to the deceased, he must know your current situation at home, knowing that with fewer people around now, they can easily avoid detection and commit the crime unnoticed."

Wei Dadong was stunned, clenching his teeth, "So, the murderer is an outsider..."

"No, I was merely hypothesizing; the familiar person could be an outsider, or it could be someone from within this residence."

Xiao Yi calmly interrupted him, "In any case, the perpetrator clearly understands this household well, even knows that the two maids beside the deceased were not present this morning.

Based on this, I believe the killer is more likely someone from within the residence."

Wei Dadong and the two maids were all shocked at this assertion, watching as the impressive and handsome man suddenly turned to Nianxia, asking, "When did your mistress ask you to go fetch medicine this morning?"

Nianxia was startled, "The Madam said after dinner last night she still had a severe cough, so I advised her to get a couple more doses of medicine to help, but it was late then, and she, being considerate, feared it wasn’t safe for me to go out, so she said it could wait until tomorrow."

Xiao Yi nodded, "So, very few knew you’d be fetching medicine this morning."

"Correct!"

Nianxia quickly nodded with agitation, "Only Xinghua and the Lord knew!"

With that, she cast a look full of resentment at Xinghua.

Xinghua’s face paled at once, seemingly afraid of being suspected, she suddenly screamed, "You say only I and the Lord knew about it? Only us? Who knows if your Madam used this to gain sympathy from another man! Don’t forget, the Young Master Sang from Tongfu Inn was here last night too!

The rumors of your Madam and the Young Master from Tongfu Inn have spread throughout Jingning County! Why else would the Young Master keep coming to our Xinghua Inn, just to give us Silver Coin? Who knows if your Madam secretly met him last night and mentioned you fetching medicine today!

That being said, if the murderer is a familiar person to your Madam, doesn’t her illicit lover also fit the description?"

Nianxia froze, her face instantly reddening with anger, "You!"