Chapter Ninety-Four: A Glimmer of Light

Madam Shen led the two to a quiet secluded courtyard and sent the servants away. Seeing a slight moisture at the corner of Madam Shen’s eyes, Ji Changge hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Madam Shen, could you please tell us in detail what happened five years ago when Shen Ying was harmed?”

Madam Shen nodded. “Very well. For my husband and me, five years felt like just five days. Our daughter’s tragic death haunts our dreams every night. Every day, we long to catch the culprit and seek justice for her. Alas, after five years, our daughter still cannot rest in peace.”

“Rest assured, Madam Shen. I am reopening the investigation into this case and will do my utmost to bring justice to Shen Ying,” Ji Changge said firmly.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Madam Shen began recounting the scenes that had tormented her day and night, impossible to shake: “Five years ago, on Mid-Autumn Festival, our household hosted a grand banquet with many guests. My husband and I were busy attending to them. Then, the maid Lian’er came running in tears, saying Miss Ying was missing. We hurried to her room but found no sign of her. My husband immediately ordered the servants to search everywhere. Since our daughter had an eccentric personality, we thought she might be playing a prank—she had staged fake disappearances before, and the servants always found her. But this time, no matter how we searched, she was nowhere to be found.”

Wen Jing pondered silently. Shen Ying’s nature was the exact opposite of He Yunxiu’s—one fiery and passionate, the other gentle and serene. Yet, there must be something they shared. If only they could find that common thread, the culprit would surely be revealed.

“The guests joined in the search, but by dawn, she was still missing. We were frantic. Early the next morning, we reported it to the Shuntian Prefecture, but that inept official Cao Tai dismissed it, assuming she had just wandered off for fun. Enraged, my husband went to the Court of Justice to report the case to Magistrate Liang, who took it seriously and dispatched people to scour the city for three whole days...” Madam Shen suddenly choked up and could say no more.

Wen Jing stepped forward and gently took Madam Shen’s hand, unsure how to comfort her; one who has not suffered such pain cannot truly understand it. Even the kindest words cannot ease it.

Madam Shen squeezed Wen Jing’s hand back, composed herself, and continued: “On the fifth day after Mid-Autumn Festival, Magistrate Liang personally came to inform us that a body had been found in the street. We were asked to identify if it was Ying. From his expression, we knew it must be our daughter... When we went to the Court of Justice, it was indeed Ying. My husband fainted on the spot...”

Her sobs broke free, tears falling onto her garment. Wen Jing took out a handkerchief and handed it to her.

Ji Changge thought this aligned closely with the case files and continued, “Madam, was Shen Ying betrothed at the time?”

Madam Shen shook her head. “Many came to propose, but Father rejected them all. In his heart, no one was worthy of our daughter. Perhaps he did not want to marry off his only daughter too soon.”

“Who did Shen Ying often associate with?” Ji Changge asked.

“Blame her father for spoiling her. She liked to wear men’s clothes and roam about wildly. Father scolded her many times not to be so conspicuous, but she ignored him. I don’t know who she truly spent time with, but she often mentioned a few names, saying they treated her well, like little sisters.”

“Madam, can you recall their names?” Ji Changge pressed.

“I can’t remember clearly. There was a Li Yuanchao and someone named Huang Jian something... The rest escape me,” Madam Shen frowned, searching her memory, but it was five years ago, and she had not paid much attention then.

“Think carefully—any other names?”

“Perhaps someone named Lu something...” Madam Shen added.

Ji Changge’s eyes brightened. “Could it be Lu Yi?”

Madam Shen considered briefly and shook her head. “Not Lu Yi.”

Disappointment flickered across Ji Changge and Wen Jing’s faces; they thought they had found a lead, only for it to break off again.

“Maybe it was... Lu Xun,” Madam Shen said.

“Are you sure it was Lu Xun?” Ji Changge asked gravely.

Madam Shen nodded.

***

“Who is Lu Xun?” Wen Jing asked, noticing Ji Changge’s expression shift—surely this Lu Xun was connected to the case.

“He is Lu Yi’s half-brother,” Ji Changge replied with intensity.

A glimmer of hope shone in Wen Jing’s eyes. Since Lu Xun and Lu Yi were brothers, Lu Yi likely knew the victim through him. The common link between the two cases had been found.

“Madam, please go check on Master Shen!” a servant came running hurriedly.

“What’s wrong with Master Shen?” Madam Shen asked, alarmed.

“You should see for yourself—Master Shen is struggling to breathe!” the servant cried.

Madam Shen hurried after the servant, followed quickly by Ji Changge and Wen Jing.

“Ouch!” Wen Jing suddenly felt a sharp pain in her foot. Though not fully healed, she had injured her ankle again rushing along.

Without hesitation, Ji Changge scooped her up in his arms and hurried on. His touch was warm and gentle, carrying a faint feminine fragrance, unlike the first time he rescued Wen Qiniang three years ago on the Qixi Festival. Back then, her eyes were timid and shy, fearful even. Now, Wen Jing glared fiercely at him, no trace left of that earlier vulnerability.

“Put me down,” Wen Jing said coldly, though instinctively her hands clung tightly to Ji Changge’s waist. He walked briskly, knowing a stumble would be disastrous.

“Stop fussing. We’re going to save Master Shen’s life,” Ji Changge said earnestly.

“Stop fussing?” Wen Jing twitched at the corner of her eye but thought better of it. He had a point—if she walked slowly, Master Shen might pass away before they reached him.

Ji Changge quickened his pace, and in a few strides, they reached Master Shen’s chamber.

“Clear the way. Let the doctor see your master,” Ji Changge commanded.

The servants and maids quickly made space.

“Prepare for the worst,” someone whispered.

“Doctor Zhang, please save my husband!” Madam Shen begged.

“I am powerless. You must seek someone more skilled,” the doctor said, lifting his medical box and leaving.

Wen Jing approached the bed, checking Master Shen’s breath—weak and shallow—and felt his pulse, rapid and irregular. It was shock.

She raised the head and legs slightly to improve blood flow to the heart and brain, then pressed on his chest.

Madam Shen arrived beside them.

“Madam, take a breath and give Master Shen mouth-to-mouth resuscitation several times. It will save him,” Wen Jing instructed while continuing the chest compressions.

“What are you doing?” Madam Shen hesitated, confused.

“Giving him mouth-to-mouth breathing,” Ji Changge explained calmly, already accustomed to Wen Jing’s unconventional medical methods.

Madam Shen, after a moment, began following Ji Changge’s instructions.

“Pinch Master Shen’s nose to prevent air escape,” Wen Jing instructed.

Ji Changge complied.

After several minutes, Master Shen finally stirred, slowly opening his eyes. Seeing Ji Changge and Wen Jing, he grew agitated. “Get away from me!”

Ji Changge was taken aback, unsure why he was suddenly so angry.

“Old man, you can’t behave this way. You owe your life to this young lady and young master,” Madam Shen sobbed.

“Hmph, who asked them to save me? It’d be better to die than suffer living,” Master Shen said coldly, showing no gratitude. He closed his eyes tightly and turned his back on everyone.

“Master Shen, don’t you want to find your daughter’s killer?” Ji Changge asked directly.

Hearing this, Master Shen turned around in fury. “What use is wanting? Can you incompetent officials find the culprit?”

Ji Changge’s expression darkened slightly. No one had ever called him a “dog official” before. But seeing Master Shen’s grief over his daughter, he said nothing.

“After all these years... ha... what have you done? You’ve wasted your life and fortune, yet the real killer walks free. You only wrong innocent people to appease me. That’s how your Court of Justice works. I won’t believe you anymore. I will seek revenge in my own way. Please leave,” Master Shen suddenly commanded.

Wen Jing understood why Shen Ying’s case had become a cold case. If not for Master Shen’s stubbornness, there would have been more wrongful deaths.

“Master Shen, please trust us. We have new leads and believe we can bring Miss Shen justice. Refusing to cooperate only benefits the killer. May I ask—after all this time, have you found anything? Do you want your daughter to remain wronged beyond the grave?” Ji Changge spoke gently.

“Darling, let’s trust them once more. We’re old; who knows how long we have left? If we can’t catch the killer, how can we face our daughter in the afterlife?” Madam Shen sobbed.

Master Shen’s expression softened, and he forced a bitter smile. “You’re right. This old body of mine is useless.”

Seeing his concession, Madam Shen said, “If you have more questions, ask away.”

“Master Shen, where is Miss Shen’s body buried? If possible, we’d like to examine it,” Wen Jing asked.

Madam Shen and Master Shen exchanged glances. “Ying’s body has never been buried.”

Ji Changge and Wen Jing were shocked; this was unexpected. After five years, Shen Ying’s body still lay unburied. Yet, for them, this was good news.

(To be continued...)