Chapter 182
Lin Qingyang, burdened with heavy thoughts, went to the Liu Residence alone to pay respects to his mother first. At the same time, he sought out Nanny Ding to inquire about the changes in the relationship between his mother and Marquis An Nan after obtaining the Guanyin painting. He learned that initially, his mother had placed the Guanyin painting in Marquis An Nan’s study, and at that time, their relationship was still good. However, shortly after the incident at the prince’s residence, Marquis An Nan returned the Guanyin painting to his mother for praying.
Feeling the anger building up, Lin Qingyang recalled how, during their move, Marquis An Nan had instructed his mother to bring the Guanyin painting and how he had urged her to worship Guanyin. It was hard for him not to believe that Marquis An Nan knew from the beginning that the Guanyin painting was poisonous. Thus, not only did he let his mother’s health deteriorate gradually until her demise, but he also intended to use the Guanyin painting to end his life.
Is this really something that a husband and father could do? It’s even more terrifying than framing his father-in-law’s family.
Lin Qingyang felt heavy-hearted. When he returned home, it happened to be time for breakfast. Seeing Chu Lishu in the flower hall, Lin Qingyang’s mood stabilized a lot.
Chu Lishu noticed Lin Qingyang’s obvious change in expression, furrowed his brows slightly, and approached, saying, “Did you not sleep well last night? Are you still concerned about Marquis An Nan’s affairs?”
Lin Qingyang sat down, gesturing for others to leave, and Mu Huichun was also at the dining table. He suddenly didn’t know if this was a situation he should avoid, but seeing his senior brother and Lin Qingyang completely ignoring him and starting to talk, he obediently continued eating.
“Do you think father might have known early on that there was poison in the painting, and he wanted to use it to kill mother?” Lin Qingyang suddenly spoke.
Chu Lishu’s expression changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, “It’s highly possible.”
Upon hearing Chu Lishu’s confirmation, Lin Qingyang suddenly realized, “You’ve suspected this for a while, haven’t you?”
Chu Lishu shook his head, “Observing his consistent attitude towards you all, if he knew the painting was poisoned, he would not have prevented everything from happening.”
Lin Qingyang’s expression became even more unpleasant. Indeed… Chu Lishu was the most adept at understanding human nature. If he said so, it could be considered almost certain.
“Do you want to know the truth? We’ll be entering the palace tomorrow. If you want answers, we need to act today,” Chu Lishu suddenly spoke.
Lin Qingyang was momentarily stunned, instinctively nodding. If he continued to confirm things through speculation, he would feel uneasy inside.
He wanted to know if Marquis An Nan was truly such a ruthless person. This way, even if the Liu family killed Marquis An Nan in the future, Lin Qingyang wouldn’t have to bear any moral burden.
Chu Lishu nodded, “Alright, we can make him reveal the truth himself.”
Lin Qingyang looked at Chu Lishu in astonishment, “Do you have a plan?”
Chu Lishu looked towards Mu Huichun, who was listening to gossip.
Mu Huichun was engrossed in the gossip but suddenly noticed his senior brother looking at him. He quickly swallowed the bun in his mouth and said, “Senior brother, I haven’t tested that medicine yet.”
“Perfect, use him for the experiment,” Chu Lishu said casually, then turned to Lin Qingyang and said, “Call Cousin Liu and Uncle to join us. We can address what they want to know as well. It’s like killing two birds with one stone.”
That evening, the four of them arrived at Marquis An Nan’s study and coincidentally found Lishi conversing with Marquis An Nan.
Lishi was persuading Marquis An Nan to take a concubine and have more offspring. Marquis An Nan had no objections and allowed Lishi to make the selection, but the final decision would be made after he returned to the capital.
Seizing this opportunity, Liu Xiaowei stealthily entered the study, poisoned Marquis An Nan’s tea, and then returned to the rooftop.
“Will it really work?” Liu Jingchen seemed to have some doubts, as the efficacy of such a poison was incredible.
Lin Qingyang also found it quite miraculous. When Mu Huichun explained the effects of the drug, Lin Qingyang was left dumbfounded.
Once the drug was consumed, a person’s self-control and psychological defenses would collapse. The individual would become uncontrollable, much like being drunk. They would dare to speak any candid truth. Adding a bit of guidance and questioning at this point would be equivalent to straightforwardly answering and resolving any doubts.
Mu Huichun’s special concoction: Truth serum at its finest!
Lin Qingyang felt like it was akin to the “Truth Pill” that he need a hundred points to exchange in his system Exchange Shop – a pill that compelled people to answer truthfully. It seemed like having Mu Huichun around saved him quite a lot of points.
“If it doesn’t work, we’ll have to resort to scaring him first,” Lin Qingyang said. Once the person was sufficiently frightened, they could administer the Truth Pill from the system for the same effect.
“Am I scary?” Suddenly, Chu Lishu, who was beside them, spoke, “You haven’t dared to look at me since a while ago. Are you repelled by me?”
Lin Qingyang felt a wave of nervousness but mustered a forced smile, saying, “No, not at all! You’re not scary at all. Only those with guilty consciences would think too much and scare themselves.”
Liu Jingchen glanced over, holding back a laugh, “Lishu has sacrificed so much for us. How could Qingyang possibly be repelled? Besides, Nanny Ding even dressed him up to resemble Concubine Liu. My aunt used to be a renowned beauty, known for her simple and elegant charm. Gentle as water, pure as jade, how could she be scary? She’s not a real female ghost.”
Liu Xiaowei couldn’t help but twitch the corners of his mouth, unable to look directly at Chu Lishu.
Meanwhile, Chu Lishu, lying next to Lin Qingyang, was disguised as Concubine Liu in her most common attire before her death. He wore a flowing white gauze robe that floated around him like an immortal, and his long, ink-black hair cascaded behind him. Only a few strands of hair were adorned with simple white ribbons as decoration. His face was lightly made up, exuding an air of elegance and transcendence. In stark contrast to the previous red bridal attire, he now looked like Lin Qingyang’s twin sister. If he truly existed, he would undoubtedly be a goddess reincarnated, a beauty that one could only admire from afar. Any claim of being the most beautiful woman in the world would pale in comparison.
Adding to this allure was the teardrop-shaped beauty mark under his eye. With dark eyes casting a sidelong glance, a pure aura of desire overwhelmed Lin Qingyang, leaving his heart pounding irregularly.
Lin Qingyang was already disoriented whenever he faced Chu Lishu. Now, confronted with Chu Lishu in female attire, he felt utterly powerless and even more confused.
Suppressing his inner lecherous thoughts, he feared that if he looked too much, the cross-dressed Chu Lishu might become his dream lover. How could he then appreciate the beauty of other women in the future? It was strange; was he the only one swayed by beauty? Why were Cousin Liu and Uncle unaffected, remaining so calm and even making jokes?
On the other side, Chu Lishu observed Lin Qingyang’s wandering gaze and felt a bit bored. He wondered why he had subjected himself to this humiliation.
Here, it was necessary to have a figure to induce Marquis An Nan to reveal the truth. Originally, they thought of impersonating some of the deceased elders from the Liu family, but unfortunately, Liu Jingchen and Liu Xiaowei were not exactly imposing figures, lacking the majestic and imposing appearance of the male members of the Liu family. After much consideration, they thought of Concubine Liu.
Upon hearing this proposal, Lin Qingyang, for some unknown reason, immediately looked at Chu Lishu. Dressing up as a woman…
Although Lin Qingyang quickly averted his gaze, it caught the attention of Liu Jingchen. Seeking help from Chu Lishu, whose figure was slender and graceful and not too tall, wearing a white dress might just work visually. Lin Qingyang thought Chu Lishu would refuse, given the embarrassment of the previous cross-dressing experience. However, to his surprise, Chu Lishu was willing to make the sacrifice.
They immediately summoned Nanny Ding to assist with the transformation. Initially, it was meant to be a casual portrayal of a female ghost, but Nanny Ding, perhaps finding joy in the task, became more meticulous, especially when dressing up Chu Lishu with his beautiful face. Eventually, they found themselves face-to-face with a stunning beauty.
Now, Lin Qingyang regretted his decision and felt like crying.
Soon, Lishi left, Marquis An Nan drank the tea, and after a while, they witnessed Marquis An Nan coming out, supporting his forehead and walking unsteadily.
Liu Xiaowei used a thin rope to suspend Chu Lishu and descended gracefully. Within the visible range, there was now a white-clad woman drifting in the dark night.
Naturally, this sight startled Marquis An Nan.
“Who goes there!”
“Wuwuwu… Sister… Where is sister? Brother-in-law… where is my sister?” Suddenly, a white figure appeared with its back to Marquis An Nan, crying softly where the shadows of the lanterns intersected.
“Who are you?! How did you break in!” Marquis An Nan felt a chilling breeze, and the mention of sister and brother-in-law made him uneasy. It seemed like only one person would call them that.
As Marquis An Nan attempted to approach, a sudden gust of wind blew in his face as if striking him from a distance. Startled, he immediately stopped in his tracks. When he looked again, he found the woman staring fixedly at him. Before he could react, she turned her head away, facing the other direction.
However, Marquis An Nan was certain of one thing – he saw a teardrop-shaped beauty mark. That was…
“Concubine… Concubine Liu!”
On the rooftop, Lin Qingyang and Liu Jingchen exchanged glances. The first step was considered a success.
“Brother-in-law, tell me, how did I die?”
Marquis An Nan, already mentally unstable from the fright, combined with the effect of the truth serum, had a brain that felt numb. The door was open, allowing anyone to extract information from within.
“You were killed by the Emperor. The Guanyin painting was poisoned, and you died from the poison.”
“How do you know? Don’t try to deceive me!”
“Before you died, you gave the painting to the County Princess, but she gave it to me, causing me to fall ill once. I realized my condition was the same as yours when you first got sick. I felt something was amiss, but I couldn’t let the Emperor know that I had discovered the truth. So, I could only put the painting away.”
“You’re lying! You clearly gave it to my sister. You wanted to harm her, right? And you’re the one who harmed the Liu family, aren’t you?”
“I… I had no choice! It was the Emperor… the Emperor hinted that he wanted control over the military, and he wanted trouble for the Liu family. He even provided me with evidence, everything was his idea. If I didn’t comply, it would jeopardize our Marquis’s residence. Besides… I’ve always disliked the County Princess. She thinks she’s superior just because she’s the County Princess, always suppressing me. I’ve endured it for years. Originally, marrying her was to revive the family. Since the prince’s residence was doomed, and the Emperor was willing to favor me, it offered a better path. Why should I compromise before the County Princess?”
“Once the prince’s residence faced trouble, the County Princess became a sinner. It would greatly impact the future development of our Marquis’s residence’s descendants. If it weren’t for the Emperor suddenly showing mercy to her, I would have divorced her long ago. Since I can’t divorce her, I can only let her die from illness. With the Guanyin painting as evidence, it’s all legitimate. The Emperor, feeling guilty, won’t pursue it. I’m standing by her side, not taking concubines, caring for her. I can still maintain a good reputation. None of this is my fault; it’s the circumstances forcing my hand. So, you can’t blame me! If you want to blame someone, blame your father for being a crude martial artist, not knowing when to relinquish power.”
Hearing these outrageous words, everyone present, except for Chu Lishu, was on the verge of losing their temper. This man was too despicable!
“So, you harmed my family, and now you’re using the Guanyin painting to harm my sister? Brother-in-law, you have a truly malicious heart. Up to now, you still haven’t given Lin Qingyang the position of heir. Are you planning to harm Lin Qingyang too?”
“I… originally didn’t intend to. A tiger won’t eat its cubs. As long as he remains a playboy, the heir position can go to his younger brother. Even if the existence of the three siblings tarnishes the bloodline of our Marquis’s residence, I don’t mind keeping them. When the County Princess dies, I’ll make Ru Shi the legitimate wife, and everything will fall into place. But… Lin Qingyang suddenly showed talent, and Lin Qingxu encountered trouble, disrupting my plan. I did consider taking action against Lin Qingyang; after all, once he develops, he will eventually learn the truth about the prince’s residence. Our relationship has always been mediocre, I feared he might harm the Marquis’s residence. But just as I was about to act, he moved away with the County Princess. Later, he developed too quickly, and the Liu family returned. I couldn’t control the situation, so I could only bide my time, waiting for the death of the County Princess. Once I have another heir, then I can deal with him.”
Marquis An Nan confessed everything, seemingly lost in a trance, pouring out his heart and soul.
Chu Lishu listened indifferently. This was a complete confession. Mu Huichun’s medicine was indeed effective and could be useful in many situations in the future. Unfortunately, its production was slow, and the quantity was limited.
The other three, however, were infuriated to the point of spitting blood, ready to take action immediately.
Suddenly, Marquis An Nan snapped back to sobriety and sternly said, “What did I just say?! What are you, are you human or ghost, you…”
Everyone realized that the effects of the medicine had worn off, and it happened too quickly. However, all the necessary questions had been asked. With a forceful pull, Liu Xiaowei yanked Chu Lishu off the ground and forcefully tossed him to the other side of the rooftop, seemingly sending him straight to the heavens, drifting away.
Chu Lishu, lacking lightness skills, couldn’t stop himself after being thrown. However, he was immediately caught by Lin Qingyang, who gently embraced him. This soft collision, accompanied by the fragrance of rouge and powder, somehow extinguished Lin Qingyang’s erupting volcano of emotions. It seemed that Liu Xiaowei timed the toss well.
Below, there was the panicked and frantic shouting of Marquis An Nan. Suddenly, his neck stung, and he fainted.
Behind him, Liu Xiaowei had a face full of hostility. Seeing Liu Xiaowei about to strike, Lin Qingyang remained silent, but Liu Jingchen shouted, “Stop!”
Liu Xiaowei was then called back by Liu Jingchen.
“What are you doing!” Liu Xiaowei angrily demanded.
“This unscrupulous and unjust scoundrel, killing him outright would be letting him off too easily. The injustice suffered by the Liu family, Aunt’s years of suffering from illness, and Qingyang… it can’t just end like this,” Liu Jingchen said, looking at Lin Qingyang. Being targeted and plotted against by his own father, even harboring murderous intent, would garner sympathy from anyone.
Lin Qingyang, however, quickly released the warm and tender figure in his arms and said, “He should pay the price. I don’t care about his fate.”
The statement “I don’t care” clearly expressed Lin Qingyang’s attitude. A man like him deserved to die!
Chu Lishu adjusted his clothes and spoke, “I suggest you refrain from personally taking action, especially not through direct assassination. The aftermath could be troublesome. After all, you just returned, and Marquis An Nan is already dead. The Emperor may become suspicious.”
Liu Jingchen suppressed his murderous intent and asked, “Lishu, you have many ideas. What do you suggest?”
“What does he value the most? Make him lose that. The prestige of the Marquis’s residence, a good reputation, and his career path… It’s best if the Emperor personally takes action,” Chu Lishu said slowly, his tone calm, effectively stabilizing everyone’s emotions.
Chu Lishu didn’t directly reveal his plan but asked them to await arrangements. The uncle and nephew from the Liu family seemed to have subtly submitted.
“I understand. Whatever you say, we’ll follow through!” Liu Jingchen said, looking at Liu Xiaowei, who also nodded, saying, “This time, I’ll follow your lead!”
Chu Lishu looked at Lin Qingyang, and Lin Qingyang immediately pledged loyalty, “I’ve always followed your lead.” Although this situation was beyond the script, unpredictable, he trusted that Chu Lishu would make the most prudent arrangements.
Chu Lishu smiled faintly. Lin Qingyang immediately averted his gaze, covering his racing heart. He hurriedly went back to change his clothes.
As the four were about to leave, Lu Yi and Lu Shi suddenly approached, reporting information to Chu Lishu. They seemed to have something important to share.
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