Chapter 171: Thank You! (Please give me a monthly ticket)

Thank you! (Please give me a monthly ticket)

Since so many incidents occurred at Chen Wangfu, the Duchess of Qi State and Mo Yujue, Yin Fengxiang and others naturally couldn't stay long. Moreover, they had originally come to see Nie Jinxuan, and now that Nie Jinxuan is safe, they relaxed and then left one after another.

Back in her room, Nie Jinxuan didn't idle; she immediately ordered Xiao Xiu and Shui Yun to pack their belongings, then headed straight for Nie Residence.

Previously she couldn't leave Chen Wangfu because she feared alerting the people scheming with the ledger. Now that such events have happened at Chen Wangfu, staying would only raise suspicion. In addition, Nie Jinxuan was truly angry, so she took this chance to go home for a few days.

What Nie Jinxuan didn't expect was that just after exiting Chen Wangfu, she was stopped by someone—and that person was none other than the son of the Eastern Tomb's richest man, Chief of the Capital Pei Yaoguang!

Upon meeting, Pei Yaoguang wasted no words and stated his purpose—there's a case in the city, the Coroner of the Capital Office is useless and can't determine the cause, Meng Xian went out of town on business and hasn't returned, so…╮(╯_╰)╭ he came to find you!

Pei Yaoguang's words were blunt and carried a hint of entitlement. Hearing that, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but laugh. After a moment's thought, realizing there was nothing much to do back at the residence, she nodded.

Thus, without waiting to return to Nie Residence, Nie Jinxuan followed Pei Yaoguang straight to the scene.

……

This time the incident involved a scholarly family in the city. The deceased was the second wife's daughter‑in‑law. When Nie Jinxuan arrived, she saw the corpse lying motionless on the bed.

Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan said nothing, glanced around, then stepped forward and gave the body a preliminary examination, discovering that the dead had no external injuries.

At that moment, Pei Yaoguang, from behind, whispered,

"There are no wounds on the corpse; we've already checked. The mother‑in‑law said they were fine at dinner last night, but this morning when we went to check, the person was already dead."

Pei Yaoguang's expression was calm, but upon hearing this, Nie Jinxuan lifted her gaze and looked at him.

"Isn't that normal? Sudden death isn't that rare."

Nie Jinxuan smiled, but as soon as she finished speaking, Pei Yaoguang instantly glanced up at her.

"Are you joking with me? Sudden death? Nonsense! There must be something wrong! If there's nothing wrong, why did I summon you?"

Like last time, Pei Yaoguang's face showed determination. Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan raised an eyebrow.

"So Lord Pei is sure I'd come… but aren't you overconfident? Don't forget, I'm not your subordinate."

"So I, the Chief, didn't personally come to invite you? Is that not enough?"

"If Lord Pei invites personally, must I accept?"

Unable to hold back a retort, Nie Jinxuan said, and hearing that, Pei Yaoguang was startled. Then Nie Jinxuan stopped the chatter and said directly,

"Alright, let's go out. I'm about to start work."

Refocusing on the corpse, Nie Jinxuan's expression tightened and became serious. Seeing this, Pei Yaoguang, who was about to speak, shut his mouth, raised his hand, and led the Yamen Runners out of the room.

Time passed; after only an hour, Nie Jinxuan emerged from the room, Pei Yaoguang stepped forward, and at that moment Nie Jinxuan simply removed her sheepskin gloves, handed them to a nearby Yamen Runner, and whispered,

"Lord Pei, you guessed right. The victim was murdered. The reason there are no wounds is that the wound is on the crown of the head… Specifically, the killer drove a red‑hot iron nail into the victim's Baihui point on the top of the head, so the wound didn't bleed and was hidden by hair, which is why the Coroner missed the cause. Given the victim showed no struggle, the killer must have first given the victim some soporific drug."

Nie Jinxuan spoke calmly, but her words made Pei Yaoguang and the Yamen Runners shiver. After finishing, she lifted her eyes, glanced at Pei Yaoguang, and suddenly asked,

"By the way, Lord Pei just mentioned the victim's mother‑in‑law; what about the victim's husband?"

"He went away to teach elsewhere."

"Teach?"

"Yes, the victim's husband is a teacher. Because he has some talent, a family in Lin City hired him as a tutor."

"How long has he been gone?"

"A few months, I think. He said he'd be back after the New Year… What's the problem?"

Sensing that Nie Jinxuan's question was odd, Pei Yaoguang pressed further. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan first frowned, then sighed and whispered,

"The victim was pregnant, less than two months."

With Nie Jinxuan's help, the case that began in the morning was solved by noon.

It turned out that the victim, surnamed Cui, had been betrothed to the husband's family as a child, and later married into it. But Cui was never a docile person. During the year after moving in, she caused many troubles. The husband's family, a strict scholarly clan adhering to the principle of keeping family shame hidden, endured everything.

Moreover, because Cui constantly caused incidents, her relationship with her husband was poor. Eventually, the husband, in desperation, took a teaching job and left after the New Year. The family thought this would calm Cui, but instead, seeing her husband gone made her even more arrogant; she later got involved with a blacksmith's apprentice on the street and even became pregnant in secret!

At this point, the husband's family could no longer tolerate it, but fearing scandal, the mother‑in‑law clenched her teeth, resolved, and killed the wayward daughter‑in‑law, disguising it as a sudden death… only for Nie Jinxuan to uncover the truth!

The truth of the matter was deeply lamentable.

……

The case was solved, and Nie Jinxuan didn't stay long afterward. Yet just as she was about to leave, Pei Yaoguang suddenly called her back and asked softly,

"Are you okay?"

Pei Yaoguang asked casually, not even looking at Nie Jinxuan. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan was startled, then instantly understood and gave a faint smile.

"Hehe~, Lord Pei, didn't you already see it?"

Nie Jinxuan smiled brightly; hearing that, Pei Yaoguang instantly turned his gaze and gave her a glance.

"Hmph, women really are troublesome."

Nie Jinxuan didn't know whether Pei Yaoguang's remark was about herself or something else. Then, without further words, Pei Yaoguang turned around and swaggered off… but as he passed by, he whispered in a voice only the two could hear,

"If you need anything, find me!"

Leaving that line, Pei Yaoguang walked away. His back still exuded an over‑the‑top confidence, and after a brief daze, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but curl her lips in a smile.

Afterwards, Nie Jinxuan boarded a carriage back to the residence, but as soon as the carriage stopped at the gate of Nie Residence, Gu Hong was respectfully standing there!

Gu Hong arrived; it was obvious Yin Fengzhan had sent him. Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan frowned, and Gu Hong hurried forward,

"Third Miss, I, the humble servant, have been ordered by the Prince to invite Third Miss back to the residence."

Gu Hong was very respectful, but upon hearing this, Nie Jinxuan immediately said without hesitation,

"Gu Zongguan, I have no reason to return to Chen Wangfu."

"Third Miss, please don't be angry; the Prince said I must invite you back, saying there's an important matter to discuss."

"Important matter? What important matter?"

"I, the humble servant, do not know."

Gu Hong's attitude remained respectful, and after speaking, he looked up at Nie Jinxuan, then lowered his voice,

"But, in my opinion, it seems related to last night's events…"

Gu Hong was not someone who liked to talk, but at this moment, being able to speak to Nie Jinxuan like this already showed he was still relatively close to her. Upon hearing this, and seeing Gu Hong's lowered, respectful demeanor, the words Nie Jinxuan had on the tip of her tongue could not be spoken; she involuntarily pressed her lips and said.

All right, I understand. Since Manager Gu has come in person, I'll go over. Besides, I previously promised to help Xiao Lian, so I can't just leave it… Let's go.

Saying this, Nie Jinxuan mounted first, then the carriage turned and returned to Chen Wangfu.

……

When Nie Jinxuan returned to Chen Wangfu, it was already afternoon. After getting off the carriage, Gu Hong took her to the front hall, but upon entering, Nie Jinxuan's brow twitched involuntarily.

Indeed, at that moment the front hall was full of people. Han Luoxue, Qin Yuxia, and Bai Meilan were either sobbing or sitting glumly to one side; Yin Fengxuan was also there, and upon seeing Nie Jinxuan arrive, he glared at her, while Yin Fengzhan sat upright in the chief seat, his expression stern.

Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan, who had just entered, said nothing, glanced over, and directly took a seat at the edge.

In the vast front hall, not a sound was made; no one spoke. The eerie air made it hard to breathe. Finally, after an unknown time, Yin Fengxuan was the first to break the silence, raising his voice.

"Nobody's speaking? Fine, if no one will speak, then I will!"

Yin Fengxuan's voice was loud, his words revealing obvious anger. As he spoke, his gaze shifted and he fixed his eyes on Nie Jinxuan sitting in the far corner.

"Nie Jinxuan, I ask you—what exactly do you intend to do? Must you watch my fourth brother's residence fall into chaos before you'll be satisfied?"

Yin Fengxuan's aura was overbearing. But upon hearing this, Nie Jinxuan merely raised her eyebrows and glanced at him.

"So what if it is? So what if it isn't?"

"You… you admit it?"

As for Yin Fengxuan, Nie Jinxuan considered the face of Yin Fengzhan and Zhang Guifei, so she would not let him lose too much face. Moreover, Nie Jinxuan knew in her heart that Yin Fengxuan was not a monstrous evildoer; although they were at odds, he was simply overly innocent, but that innocence, taken to an extreme, became sheer foolishness, to the point where one could not tell who was human and who was demon… and such a person had already exhausted all of Nie Jinxuan's patience.

At this moment, seeing Yin Fengxuan glare at Nie Jinxuan with widened eyes, Yin Fengzhan had already changed his expression, but just as he was about to speak, Nie Jinxuan instantly glared at him.

That glance was fierce; Yin Fengzhan involuntarily furrowed his brows, but seeing Nie Jinxuan still glaring at him, he finally had to shut his mouth and remain silent.

Seeing Yin Fengzhan now obedient, Nie Jinxuan's eyes flashed as she looked toward Yin Fengxuan.

"Whether I admit it or not… Prince Gong, does it concern you?"

At this moment, Nie Jinxuan's mouth curled with a mocking smile. After speaking, without waiting for Yin Fengxuan to reply, she spoke again.

"Prince Gong, I still say the same thing: this is Chen Wangfu, not your Gong Wangfu. If you're dissatisfied with me, Nie Jinxuan, you may close your eyes—no one is forcing you to look! But please think before you speak; don't utter more ridiculous remarks!"

"What? You… you…"

Nie Jinxuan's words were sharp; hearing them, Yin Fengxuan was so angry he could hardly speak… only after a long while did he finally draw a breath and then leap up from his seat.

"Fine, this is not Gong Wangfu. But it is my fourth brother's residence, and you, this woman, have already been divorced—what right do you have to still live here? What did you say before? The emperor said, 'Good!' Then we won't argue about staying or not; let's talk about last night's incident…"

"Last night the Ningxiang Yuan fire—I admit someone had me lure the fourth brother out deliberately. I was wrong, I know, I apologize. But you aren't dead, are there? Grievances have heads and debts have collectors; you should go after whoever set the fire, why make the fourth brother drive everyone out? You're demanding lives—do you only feel at ease if all the women in the fourth brother's rear courtyard are dead? Nie Jinxuan, you truly have a vicious heart!"

Having poured out the words pent up in his chest, Yin Fengxuan immediately turned to look at Yin Fengzhan and then spoke loudly.

"Fourth brother, I'm sorry—yesterday was my fault. I shouldn't have listened to others' instigation, asking you to go out drinking with me, which was also part of the plan. But fourth brother, believe me—I truly didn't know what she intended to do; she only said she wanted to give Nie Jinxuan this woman a little color, never imagining it would be such a vicious act of arson! Even if I had known, even though I dislike Nie Jinxuan, I wouldn't have helped a tiger… The person who instigated me yesterday was Qin Yuxia; she said Nie Jinxuan's residence in the Wangfu harmed the fourth brother's reputation and was scheming, so I agreed to help and lure the fourth brother away."

Head bowed, Yin Fengxuan laid out yesterday's truth. As his words fell, the originally sobbing Qin Yuxia instantly turned deathly pale, then trembled all over and knelt to the ground.

"Your Highness, your lordship, spare me… I, I am merely… I am merely…"

Earlier Xiao Lian had found Nie Jinxuan and told her the facts. Although Nie Jinxuan had promised to help her, so Qin Yuxia felt reassured. But Qin Yuxia never expected that, at this juncture, Yin Fengxuan would publicly reveal the matter—clearly aiming to take her life! Now, even if Nie Jinxuan were willing to let her off, Yin Fengzhan's side…

In an instant, Qin Yuxia trembled all over with fear, then involuntarily turned her head toward Nie Jinxuan and pleaded.

"Third, Third Miss, save me… save me… I, I set the fire… but, but I truly didn't mean to take your life… really not me… sob sob…"

The formerly arrogant Qin Yuxia finally burst into tears from fright. Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan glanced at her, then turned her gaze to Shui Yun behind her and said.

"Shui Yun, help Miss Qin up."

"Yes."

Responding respectfully, Shui Yun stepped forward, regardless of how grim Yin Fengxuan's face looked, and helped Qin Yuxia to her feet. Once Qin Yuxia stood, Nie Jinxuan's eyes flashed, and she again fixed her gaze on Yin Fengxuan.

"Prince Gong, what you say is indeed pleasant to hear. Yes, I, Nie Jinxuan, have a hard life—I'm not dead. And precisely because I'm not dead, you think I should shut my mouth and stay silent, right?"

"Furthermore, it's true that Qin Yuxia intended to harm me, but in this mantis-catching-the-cicada, the oriole behind—someone took advantage of the fire to loot, aiming to kill two birds with one stone—has Prince Gong even known of this?!"

"Prince Gong knows nothing, yet here he bluntly labels me, Nie Jinxuan, as vicious… Prince Gong, you are truly an interesting person—interesting to the point that even those outside who want my life aren't this openly righteous, yet you, Prince Gong, speak so self-righteously! So I finally advise Prince Gong: think before you speak, don't let people think the ornament on your neck is just a decoration."

Nie Jinxuan spoke each word deliberately; after finishing, she rose straight away and walked to Yin Fengxuan's front.

"Therefore, Prince Gong, you have already spoken the truth you know; thus there is nothing for you here—you may leave."

"You…"

After being shouted down by Nie Jinxuan, Yin Fengxuan trembled all over with anger. Wanting to retort but not knowing what to say, he finally glared fiercely at Nie Jinxuan and strode off, not even greeting Yin Fengzhan.

……

Yin Fengxuan left in anger. From beginning to end, Yin Fengzhan uttered not a word. After Yin Fengxuan departed, Nie Jinxuan also turned back to her seat, sat properly, and lowered her eyes in silence.

In a moment, the vast front hall grew quiet again, and then the ever-silent Yin Fengzhan suddenly spoke in a low voice.

"All of you, leave."

Yin Fengzhan's voice was so low it could hardly be lower; hearing it, those present dared not stay, and all filed out. After the crowd had left, Nie Jinxuan also rose, but all that could be heard was Yin Fengzhan saying again.

"You stay."

At those words, Nie Jinxuan halted her steps, but her face was overcast; she stood there without turning her head, then raised her eyebrows.

"What do you want? Does Prince Chen still have any business?"

Nie Jinxuan was somewhat displeased, but after a long while with no sound from Yin Fengzhan, she involuntarily turned her head to see what was happening—just then, someone suddenly embraced her from behind.

"Thank you!"

Second chapter uploaded, another to come~! (Monthly tickets, monthly tickets, if you have them, cast them~).