Chapter One Hundred and Six: Brought Before the Magistrate

Of course, Lin Sangqian did not tell Lin Wenyan at once.

She understood very well that opening a coffin was a grave disrespect to the dead.

Especially in ancient times.

Even Lin Sangqian worried a little whether Zhao Lan'er would agree.

But now, this was the only way.

As long as they proved that poison had been found in Zhao Lan'er's mother's body, and then matched that against the timeline, Lady Gao would have no way to wriggle free.

Lin Sangqian and Lin Wenyan returned home and told Zhao Lan'er everything that had happened recently.

When they mentioned opening the coffin and examining the body, Zhao Lan'er's expression changed.

After a long while, she finally said, “I... let me think about it, all right? My head is a little muddled right now.”

Lin Wenyan grew anxious and was about to speak, but Lin Sangqian stopped him.

“Lan'er, there is no need to rush. Think it over first, then tell me.” Lin Sangqian said gently. “Whatever choice you make, I can understand.”

After all, Zhao Lan'er's mother had lived an unbearably bitter life.

And now they wanted to open her coffin.

So even if Zhao Lan'er objected, Lin Sangqian would not find it strange.

If that happened, she would have to think of another way.

Lin Sangqian had a headache.

Zhao Lan'er did not sleep a wink that night.

The next morning, just after Lin Sangqian woke up, she saw Zhao Lan'er with dark circles under her eyes.

Lin Sangqian: “...”

“Are you all right?” Lin Sangqian asked carefully.

“I’m fine.” Zhao Lan'er smiled. “Sangqian, I’ve thought it over. I agree to open the coffin and examine the body.”

“Really?” Lin Sangqian was somewhat surprised. She had not expected Zhao Lan'er to come around in just one night.

“Yes.” Zhao Lan'er nodded. “I thought about it. At first I felt that opening the coffin would disturb my mother’s spirit, but on second thought, if the murderer were allowed to remain free, then my mother’s spirit would truly be unable to rest in peace.”

She gave a bitter smile.

“If it is to catch the killer, I think my mother will not blame me.”

“Lan'er!” Lin Sangqian seized her hand in excitement. “I’m so glad you understand. Thank you!”

“Sangqian, what are you saying?” Zhao Lan'er’s eyes grew slightly wet. “It is I who should thank you... I truly don’t know what good deeds I performed in a past life to meet you in this one. You have already helped me so much. During this time, you’ve been running about to find evidence, spending both time and money. I really don’t know how I can ever repay you.”

“If you say that, you’re being too formal.” Lin Sangqian laughed. “Aren’t we already family? If you truly want to thank me, then from now on, put a little more heart into my business.”

“I will!” Zhao Lan'er nodded hastily. “Anything you need, I’ll do it.”

“Then today, what we need to do is...” Lin Sangqian’s eyes flickered. “Bring Lady Gao before the court.”

...

In court, Lady Gao flatly denied buying poison.

However, Lin Sangqian directly summoned the owner of the Xu family pharmacy and the young assistant. In open court, the assistant identified Lady Gao and stated plainly that it was indeed she who had bought arsenic at the Xu family pharmacy.

Because there was a ledger, even the time could be stated with complete clarity.

Only then did Lady Gao realize that matters had gone terribly wrong. She hurriedly insisted that she had truly bought the poison only to kill rats, and that Zhao Lan'er’s mother had taken her own life; it had nothing to do with her.

All of this had been within Lin Sangqian’s expectations.

So she immediately requested that the coffin be opened and the body examined, stating that she had already obtained the consent of the deceased’s daughter, Zhao Lan'er.

Naturally, Zhao Lan'er followed Lin Sangqian’s lead.

In the end, under Di Qing’s direction, several officers escorted Lin Sangqian, Zhao Lan'er, and a coroner to Zhao Lan'er's mother’s burial site.

At the Zhao residence.

After the officers came to take Lady Gao away, Xue Meier had been deeply uneasy.

Clutching her slightly rounded belly, she said tearfully to Zhao Xuwei, “Husband, do you think Lady Gao will confess?”

“No. She took so much silver from us.” Zhao Xuwei said darkly. “Besides, she isn’t that stupid. Even if someone did instruct her, if she confessed, she’d still have to suffer a stretch in prison.”

“But what if they find evidence?”

“The body’s already dead and buried. What evidence could there be?” Zhao Xuwei sneered. “I think it’s just that we’ve pushed that girl Lan'er too hard lately, so she has dragged this matter out and brought it before the court.”

“It’s all your fault. If only you had dealt with her sooner, wouldn’t that have solved everything? I told you back then, kill her together with that wretched woman, but you refused to listen!” Xue Meier complained.

Zhao Xuwei was silent for a moment, then said, “After all, she is my daughter. I may not especially like her, but...”

He could use Zhao Lan'er to cling to the powerful, and he did not even care much whether Zhao Lan'er lived or died. But to kill his own daughter, he still could not bring himself to do it.

“Hmph. A moment of softness has led to this outcome!”

“Nothing will happen,” Zhao Xuwei comforted her.

“Husband, I’m still a little scared. Why don’t we leave town for a while?” Xue Meier said, holding his hand. “Besides, we still have plenty of silver on us now. Enough to spend lavishly for several years!”

“But the tavern side...”

“So what if we close the tavern for a while?” Xue Meier said impatiently. “When some time has passed and nothing comes of it, we can come back!”

Seeing Zhao Xuwei still hesitating, Xue Meier said tearfully, “Even if you don’t think of me, shouldn’t you think of your son? If I’m this frightened every day, aren’t you afraid it will affect the child?”

“All right, I’ll listen to you.” Zhao Xuwei said with a headache. “Then let’s pack now. We don’t need to take much. You bring a couple of changes of clothes, and take all the jewelry.”

“Good!”

After the two finished packing, the coachman had already harnessed the horse-drawn carriage in the courtyard.

The coachman was none other than Lady Gao’s husband, but the affection between the couple had long since vanished. He also knew that Lady Gao had taken a young lover outside.

So although Lady Gao had now been taken away, he was not worried in the slightest. He only wanted to hurry and leave with Zhao Xuwei and the others.

“You go and bring the carriage to the gate first. We’ll be out shortly,” Zhao Xuwei said.

“Yes, sir.”

The coachman drove the carriage out, but then he suddenly noticed several burly men standing not far away.

From the looks of it, they were obviously not just passing by.

It looked as though they were blocking the road for them...

“Master! Madam!”

“What are you shouting for? Didn’t I say we’d be out in a moment?” Zhao Xuwei snapped, taking Xue Meier by the hand and walking out.

“Master, look over there...”

Zhao Xuwei followed the direction the coachman pointed and, upon seeing those stout men, his face stiffened as well.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

At that moment, Zhao Xuwei recognized the man at their head.

He had once wanted to bring Zhao Lan'er back, so he had hired several men to go cause trouble at the Lin residence.

And it was precisely that leading man who had beaten all the men he brought to the ground.

“Trying to run?” Lin Hongda sneered. “Not so easy!”