Chapter 153: Midnight Entanglement

Midnight Entanglement

Like Yin Fengzhan, Mo Yujue was also a serious man. But compared to Yin Fengzhan's icy frost and imposing manner, Mo Yujue gave people more of a sense of stability and firmness, as well as an indescribable sense of righteousness.

This was Mo Yujue, a man as firm as a high mountain pine. At this moment, his expression was unusually serious, and after he finished speaking, his gaze sank, and he looked directly at Nie Jinxuan.

At this time, hearing his words, the people present were stunned, then looked at each other, and then they heard Zuo Wei speak first:

"Wha, what? Missing? How is that possible?"

The court exiles the families of criminal officials, and there are special people to guard them. And thinking back then, the Jin family members who were exiled, except for some women and children who had no power to truss a chicken, were scholars who couldn't carry anything. If they wanted to escape, it was impossible. After all, if someone escaped, it would certainly be reported. But until now, the court side had never heard of such news. So, at this time, hearing Mo Yujue say this, Zuo Wei was the first to express that he couldn't understand.

At the same time, not only Zuo Wei, but Prince Rui Yin Fengxiang beside him also frowned.

"Yes, Mo Shiwei. Although I don't know much about the court situation over the years, I have heard some things about exile... So, how is this possible? If someone went missing, how could there be no news in the capital?"

Yin Fengzhan was very confused, but as soon as his words fell, he saw Mo Yujue's eyes sink, and then he said in a low voice:

"Actually, the facts are more than that... More than two years ago, after the Jin Qi case broke out, the Emperor ordered Jin Qi and several of Jin Qi's sons to be beheaded, then raided their home, and exiled their clansmen together. At that time, there were seventy-eight Jin clansmen exiled. But on the way to exile, twenty-five died one after another. When they arrived at the wild land of Nanjiao, only fifty-three were left."

"And the matter didn't end there. Later, in the more than two years of exile in Nanjiao, the remaining fifty-three Jin family members also died one after another, either from illness or accidents. So half a year ago, the remaining fifty-three also died."

"What? You mean, the Jin family members are all dead?"

Mo Yujue's low voice was filled with indescribable solemnity. Hearing this, Zuo Wei couldn't help but jump up and shout. But upon hearing this, Mo Yujue looked at him.

"Yes."

Mo Yujue nodded slightly, and then continued:

"The Lord is right, the Jin family members are considered dead. And originally, when I heard this news, I was also shocked, and then I had people collect the information of those dead Jin family members. But I found that among the twenty-three Jin family members who died on the road, one's death was very strange, and this person was Jin Jingwen."

"Jin Jingwen? Who is she?"

"Jin Qi's youngest daughter, Jin Jingyuan's younger sister!"

Mo Yujue said word by word, and hearing this, the people present couldn't help but frown, and at this time, they heard Nie Jinxuan, who had been silent, say:

"Then why does Mo Gongzi feel that this Jin Jingwen's death is strange?"

"Because among these dead Jin family members, all of them have corpse records. That is to say, how those people died and where the corpses were found are all recorded. Of course, although the records are not comprehensive, or rather written very simply, everyone has them. But only this Jin Jingwen, it only says that she escaped during the exile, and then the next day, torn and broken clothes were found in the forest, so the guards at that time thought that Jin Jingwen had encountered wild beasts while escaping at night and was eaten by them."

"However, according to the people I sent to investigate in detail, more than two years ago, someone saw a girl in a village near where Jin Jingwen escaped. And according to that person's description, both her age and appearance were very similar to Jin Jingwen."

Looking at Nie Jinxuan, Mo Yujue told his investigation. It turned out that from the beginning, Mo Yujue had started to investigate the Jin family members, but because the place of exile was very far from the capital, it took a lot of time, so he only got this news until now.

"Mm, if this is the case, then it is really very suspicious... By the way, has Mo Gongzi found Jin Jingwen's whereabouts?"

"No. I only found out that she walked towards the capital, but there was no news after that... So I suspect that Jin Jingwen must have disguised herself later, which is why I couldn't find her whereabouts."

"How old was Jin Jingwen back then?"

"Fifteen years old. So if it were now, she should be seventeen."

Mo Yujue still said with a serious face. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan narrowed her eyes.

"In this way, Jin Jingwen is very likely to have the possibility of committing the crime... After all, a good family ended up like this, and revenge is inevitable! However, I always feel that this matter is a bit strange..."

"Uh... what does the Third Young Lady mean by that? Is there anything strange?"

Originally, hearing Mo Yujue say this, Zuo Wei's first reaction was that the murderer was undoubtedly Jin Jingwen. But he didn't expect that at this moment, Nie Jinxuan would say that there was something strange about the matter. This made Zuo Wei feel surprised. At the same time, not only Zuo Wei, but Yin Fengxiang also blinked his eyes, which were as bright as stars, and looked at Nie Jinxuan.

"Yes, Third Young Lady, where do you feel it is strange? Could it be that you suspect that Jin Jingwen really died in the mouth of a wild beast back then, and the villager saw someone who just happened to look like Jin Jingwen?"

"That's not it. After all, the road of exile is extremely dangerous, and the places passed through are also remote, so in that kind of place, if it is said that it is a coincidence to meet someone like Jin Jingwen, it is still relatively rare. So for Jin Jingwen's escape and disappearance, I still agree with Mo Gongzi's view, that is to say, Jin Jingwen did design to escape back then. There is nothing to doubt about this..."

"But what I feel strange about is, if this series of bloody cases are all done by Jin Jingwen, why did she start with people who have a relationship with Jin Jingyuan? After all, Jin Jingwen is the young lady of the Jin family, and the Jin family suffered such a disaster. She fell from a first-rank official's daughter to a prisoner, and finally ended up with her family broken and dead. The one she should hate shouldn't be the likes of those who harmed Jin Jingyuan! But the officials who exposed the Jin Qi case back then, or the officials who investigated the case back then!"

"But from the beginning of the bloody case, the murderer first investigated the cause of Jin Jingyuan's death, and then started to kill the people who harmed Jin Jingyuan back then one by one. Isn't this very strange? Could it be that for Jin Jingwen, the lives of the whole Jin family are not as important as this brother Jin Jingyuan?"

Among the people present, Nie Jinxuan was the only woman. So perhaps the others didn't feel it, but as a woman, Nie Jinxuan was the first to feel the extraordinary nature of this.

Upon hearing this, the men in the room were stunned, then fell into deep thought, and then nodded.

"Mm, the Third Young Lady is right."

"Indeed, if this is the case, it is really strange."

"So, does the Third Young Lady feel that Jin Jingwen has no relationship with this case?"

Mo Yujue also felt that Nie Jinxuan's words were reasonable, but after nodding, he couldn't help but continue to ask. But then he saw Nie Jinxuan shake her head.

"That's not necessarily true. After all, no one will forget the hatred of exterminating the family. But from the point that the bloody case started with Jin Jingyuan, I feel that although Jin Jingwen is not the direct murderer, she should have participated... Even, just now I suddenly remembered someone..."

"Who?"

"Fake Biyao!"

Before Nie Jinxuan, Yin Fengzhan, who had been silent, answered Mo Yujue's question coldly. Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Yin Fengzhan, but at this time, Yin Fengzhan pursed his thin lips and didn't speak anymore.

Seeing him like this, Nie Jinxuan was so angry that she wanted to step forward and kick him to death. But then she calmed down and said slowly:

"Yes, it is that fake Biyao. After all, everyone should remember that the fake Biyao disguised herself as Concubine Tong, and then covered up the truth that Concubine Tong was already dead, until she finally committed suicide. Everything she did was very decisive. At the beginning, we suspected that the fake Biyao was threatened by the murderer, which is why she committed suicide. But now thinking about it, if the fake Biyao was Jin Jingwen, then without the murderer forcing her, I think Jin Jingwen would also be willing to die. Because she only had one wish, which was to hope the murderer would help her Jin family take revenge. And if the murderer promised her, then Jin Jingwen's suicide is not hard to understand."

If her own death could be exchanged for a real revenge, letting those who had harmed her clansmen die, then this deal was absolutely worth doing!

"Even, I now suspect that Jin Jingwen's escape back then was also instigated by the murderer in secret? After all, more than two years ago, Jin Jingwen was only a fifteen-year-old girl. Although her family suffered a great change, it was not so easy to escape on the road of exile, and under the surveillance of the guards. And Jin Jingwen didn't know martial arts, so she must have used some clever trick... And isn't this exactly what the real murderer of this series of bloody cases possesses!"

Nie Jinxuan's speculation was bold, but at the same time, it was by no means without basis. So after a short thought, everyone nodded again, and then Zuo Wei said:

"Mm, the Third Young Lady's words make sense. But if this is the case, then it is imaginable that Jin Jingwen could use her own life to help the real murderer commit the crime, so she must have absolutely trusted them. So I feel that the real murderer must have had some kind of connection with the Jin family before, otherwise Jin Jingwen wouldn't have done this."

"Yes, that's the truth, but what kind of connection it is is not clear yet, so it still needs to be investigated... By the way, Mo Gongzi, among the seven who died, can you find out what relationship they had with the Jin family or Jin Jingyuan?"

"No."

"None at all?"

"Yes."

Affirming again, Mo Yujue looked at Nie Jinxuan and said:

"Wang Erqiang is a famous hooligan in the city. His uncle is a sixth-rank official in the current court, so he relied on his uncle's name to flirt everywhere. But this Wang Erqiang is not a stupid person. After all, this is the capital, under the feet of the Emperor, so his uncle's sixth-rank official position is really not much. Therefore, although Wang Erqiang is dissolute on weekdays, he is very sensible and generally won't provoke characters he can't afford to provoke."

"And Zhao Liang is even simpler. Just a teacher, he was very kind and gentle, his family was poor, and on the day of the incident, it is said that he went out of the city to visit an old friend, but he never returned... However, that Zhao Liang was already suffering from a serious illness, and according to his family, he wouldn't live much longer..."

"Wouldn't live much longer? What does that mean?"

"I heard he had a serious case of diabetes."

Diabetes is what is now called diabetes. So, at this moment, when Nie Jinxuan heard Mo Yujue say this, she was stunned, but then she pursed her lips.

In fact, when Nie Jinxuan performed the autopsy on Zhao Liang back then, she found that Zhao Liang's physical condition was very bad. It's just that the tools in her hand were scarce, and many laboratory tests couldn't be done, so Nie Jinxuan couldn't draw any specific conclusions, so she didn't say much.

And now, hearing Mo Yujue say that Zhao Liang had diabetes, Nie Jinxuan recalled that according to the situation during Zhao Liang's autopsy, it should be consistent.

But now, the background of Wang Erqiang and Zhao Liang has been investigated, and they really have no relationship with Jin Jingyuan. But if there is no relationship at all, why would the murderer kill these two people? After all, although the murderer of this case is cruel, they shouldn't be someone who does evil everywhere, and even every person the murderer killed has some specific connection... And to take a step back, even if the hooligan Wang Erqiang deserved to die, why would the innocent and upright Zhao Liang be killed?

Wait... Mo Yujue just said that Zhao Liang went out of the city to visit an old friend that day. Could it be that Zhao Liang accidentally saw something he shouldn't have seen outside the city? So he was silenced by the murderer?!

Instantly, Nie Jinxuan thought of this, and then turned to ask:

"By the way, Mo Gongzi, just now Mo Gongzi said that Zhao Liang went out of the city to visit an old friend. Did Mo Gongzi find out who Zhao Liang went to visit?"

"A reclusive scholar named Chu Zheng outside the city. But on the day Zhao Liang went, Chu Zheng happened to be out, so he didn't meet Zhao Liang! And about that Chu Zheng, I have also investigated in detail, there is no problem."

As if knowing what Nie Jinxuan was going to ask, Mo Yujue told the whole story. His obsidian-like eyes were fixed on her. But at this time, Nie Jinxuan's mind was full of the case, so after looking at Mo Yujue for a while, her eyes flashed.

"Then did Mo Gongzi confirm if there was anything special on the way to Chu Zheng's house?"

"Anything special?"

"Yes! For example, houses, courtyards, and the like."

"Uh... I didn't investigate this."

"It's best to investigate."

"Good."

Mo Yujue nodded, and then Nie Jinxuan told Mo Yujue some details. At the same time, Zuo Wei and Yin Fengxiang also said a few words from time to time, but only Yin Fengzhan, who was sitting next to Nie Jinxuan, pursed his lips and didn't speak, but his deep and enchanting, but now increasingly intimidating eyes, were staring tightly at Nie Jinxuan and Mo Yujue, occasionally revealing cold light...

Nie Jinxuan and Mo Yujue explained, and then Nie Jinxuan changed the subject to Jin Qi's case. Upon hearing this, everyone focused their attention, and after expressing their opinions, they decided to start from three aspects: first, investigate the officials who reviewed the case back then, second, read the files, and third, re-collect evidence.

The case from more than two years ago, although not too long ago, Jin Qi was a first-rank official back then and was the Minister of Revenue, the head of the Six Ministries. So although it caused a great shock at the time, it was very confidential when investigated. And it was a case handled directly by the imperial envoy appointed by Emperor Shuncheng, so even Zuo Wei, who was the Minister of Punishments, didn't know, let alone others.

So for everyone, Jin Qi's case was completely unfamiliar. And such a brand-new challenge made the people present feel solemn, but at the same time, it also revealed a trace of excitement.

Therefore, everyone discussed it again, and after Nie Jinxuan repeatedly urged them not to make it public, everyone left.

After a busy day, Nie Jinxuan could finally rest. So after everyone left, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but sit slumped in her chair. And then, without Nie Jinxuan's instruction, Shui Yun immediately had people prepare hot water.

At this time, looking at the busy and agile Shui Yun, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but think of Xiao Xiu and asked slowly:

"Shui Yun, do you know where Xiao Xiu is locked up?"

"Reporting to the Third Young Lady, this servant doesn't know."

"Is it that you don't know, or you know but won't say, or you dare not say?"

"This servant dare not say."

Unexpectedly, this Shui Yun was telling the truth. So hearing this, Nie Jinxuan was stunned, but then smiled.

"Forget it, I won't make things difficult for you... However, help me pass a message, don't let Xiao Xiu suffer any grievances."

"Yes, this servant knows."

Although they had only been in contact for a day, Nie Jinxuan could see that Shui Yun was by no means an ordinary maid. So hearing her answer, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but look at her carefully, but in the end, Nie Jinxuan didn't say anything.

Then, after a while, the hot water was ready, and Nie Jinxuan got up, walked behind the screen, took off her dress, and walked into the bathtub...

"Shui Yun, the wound on my back seems to have split open a bit today, help me take a look."

"Yes."

Respectfully responding, after Shui Yun served Nie Jinxuan to sit in the bathtub, she came behind Nie Jinxuan, gently lifted the gauze, and sure enough, she saw that the wound that had already scabbed over had split open a large gap, and traces of blood had already seeped out.

The hideous wound, split open again, looked particularly terrifying under the dim candlelight. But at this time, Shui Yun was still calm, and after carefully checking the wound, she said slowly:

"Young Lady, please wait a moment, the wound has split open, this servant will get some medicine to re-apply it for you."

"Mm."

Nie Jinxuan was not a delicate woman. Although she felt a lot of pain in her back, she didn't make a sound. So at this time, Shui Yun, who was standing behind, couldn't help but look at her, then turned to get the ointment. Then, after a while, she came back and started to prepare...

At this time, Nie Jinxuan leaned her body forward comfortably on the edge of the bathtub, revealing her bare and delicate back, and then closed her eyes, and her mind couldn't help but start thinking about the case.

The room was extremely quiet. Only the crackling sound of the flickering candlelight could be heard. After a while, Shui Yun was ready, but just as Shui Yun was about to wipe the wound on Nie Jinxuan's back with a clean cloth dipped in strong liquor, her eyes flashed, and she turned her head abruptly.

At this time, Shui Yun was tense. But just as she turned her head, she was stunned.

It turned out that the person who had walked into the room quietly and bypassed the screen was Yin Fengzhan.

At this time, seeing Yin Fengzhan walk over silently, Shui Yun was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly made a move to salute. But just at this moment, she saw Yin Fengzhan wave his hand.

Seeing this, Shui Yun stopped her movements. At this time, Yin Fengzhan glanced at the little woman who was still leaning on the bathtub and lost in thought, then gave Shui Yun a look. Shui Yun immediately understood and stood up quietly, then retreated silently.

Shui Yun left silently. After Shui Yun left, Yin Fengzhan walked to the bathtub, glanced at the things prepared on the side, and then looked at the hideous wound on her white back. Yin Fengzhan frowned, but then bent down, took the cloth that had been dipped in strong liquor, and slowly touched her skin...

Yin Fengzhan's movements were very light and slow, and the cool feeling of the strong liquor touching her skin made Nie Jinxuan gasp. At this time, Yin Fengzhan turned to look at her, and after seeing her close her eyes comfortably again, he slowly and gradually touched the hideous wound.

Instantly, the split wound was stained with the stimulation of the strong liquor, which made Nie Jinxuan tense her body, but she still didn't say anything.

Her back was very painful, but Nie Jinxuan bit her teeth tightly. At this time, feeling her reaction, Yin Fengzhan paused, but then he lightened and slowed his movements again, helping her wipe the wound one by one.

Yin Fengzhan's gentleness was obvious. After enduring the initial pain, after he took his hand away, Nie Jinxuan breathed a sigh of relief and said slowly:

"It's hard for you, but don't be afraid, just apply the medicine, I'm fine."

At this time, Nie Jinxuan still thought the person behind her was Shui Yun, but after she finished speaking, she didn't hear any sound for a long time. Nie Jinxuan blinked her eyes, then turned her body, but the moment she saw the other person clearly, Nie Jinxuan widened her eyes... ===== CHAPTER 154 =====