Chapter 230: Plastic Sisters

In the astonished gazes of the crowd, Lord Ling said slowly, "You really shouldn't doubt it; Miss Ye, at that training ground in the East Suburb, I have personally gone to see."

Everyone wore expressions of surprise.

So Ye Qingran really did train subordinates there!

At this moment, seeing a slightly sarcastic smile tug at Lord Ling's mouth corner, he said, "Only frogs at the bottom of a well, short‑sighted people, would think that training subordinates requires one to be a cultivator. Miss Ye may lack a Spiritual Root, but that does not prevent her from training her subordinates. Her unique methods of training and the astonishing results earn my deep admiration!"

This…

If earlier it was merely surprise, now it is shock.

Lord Ling actually praised Ye Qingran's skill in training subordinates in public? One must know, he was once a Grand General who once dominated the scene, producing countless outstanding officers.

Few people earn his approval!

The people who just now despised Ye Qingran flushed with shame and were speechless.

Lord Ling is a senior statesman of the court, with brilliant war merits; his words carry great weight, and even the current His Majesty holds him in high regard.

When he says he personally visited Ye Qingran's training ground in the East Suburb, it is certainly not a lie.

Meng Qian and Meng Yuan were both stunned.

Could it be that Ye Qingran went to the East Suburb truly because of training subordinates?

"What about the third point? Why did you go boating on Qingshan Lake, and on the same day as my sister?"

Ye Qingran looked rather helpless.

Could she say it was because she wanted to act with Wuhen for the National Master to see, and that's why she went to Qingshan Lake?

Saying that would get her killed by the National Master!

Ye Qingran's gaze shifted, landing on the seated National Master, and she shamelessly said, "The reason I went to Qingshan Lake that day was because the National Master was…"

The National Master was also there?

The crowd was shocked again.

Especially Meng Yuan and Meng Qian, who did not know that the National Master was also boating on Qingshan Lake that day.

Meng Yuan asked, "May I ask the National Master, is what Ye Qingran said true?"

The National Master nodded with a not‑so‑good expression.

This woman truly spouts nonsense.

Just now she said she went to Qingshan Lake because he was there, and with her deliberately displayed shyness, she made everyone think she went out of affection for him.

But he understood perfectly that this woman was merely pulling Wuhen (who is himself) to act in front of the National Master (who is also himself)!

The purpose of the act was still to make him give up on her!

What a malicious woman!

If he hadn't taken on the guise of Wuhen, he would have been completely duped by her long ago!

…

The National Master really went to Qingshan Lake!

Could it be that Ye Qingran went to Qingshan Lake truly because of the National Master?

"Ye Qingran, the National Master and Meng Yao appeared on the same day at Qingshan Lake, perhaps merely by coincidence, but you? You are highly likely to have plotted for a long time! Knowing the National Master was also there, you deliberately used him as a shield, the purpose being to cover up your fact of murdering Meng Yao at Qingshan Lake that day!" Zhao Yan sneered.

What?

Ye Qingran murdered Meng Yao at Qingshan Lake?

This matter, aside from the Meng family, is known by only a handful of people. It is not surprising that Zhao Yan, who is close to Meng Yao, knows.

"Ye Qingran, you actually murdered Meng Yao at Qingshan Lake; you are truly despicable!" Mu Qingrou squinted, accusing sharply.

"Ye Qingran, how could you do this! So you had previously attempted to murder Meng Yao, and this time you finally succeeded; I am truly desperate about you, how could I have a sister like you?" Ye Huanhuan's face was full of anguish, her eyes filled with deep disappointment.

…

Many people began to criticize Ye Qingran one after another.

"Zhao Yan, in your view, everything I do is premeditated, right? May I ask why you are so certain that I am the murderer? Could it be… you know something?"

Zhao Yan's heart gave a sudden thump.

What does Ye Qingran's remark mean?

Could it be…

A flash of panic briefly crossed Zhao Yan's eyes, but she concealed it well.

No, Ye Qingran could not possibly know that Meng Yao was killed by her and Ye Huanhuan; they executed it flawlessly…

Seeing her that way, Ye Qingran twitched the corner of her mouth and said softly, "Then you and Meng Yao used to be close; could it also have been premeditated?"

"Ye Qingran, stop spewing blood! I and Meng Yao have been longtime friends; don't insult the bond between us!" Zhao Yan, as if her tail had been stepped on, instantly flared up.

"I was merely suspecting; why are you so agitated? Those who don't know might think you are guilty of theft!" Ye Qingran scoffed.

The listeners took it to heart.

Meng Qian furrowed her brows, her gaze at Zhao Yan flickering slightly. She then turned to Ye Qingran, asking softly, "My sister fell into the water that day, wasn't it because of you?"

Ye Qingran laughed, "What does my sister's drowning have to do with me?"

The nanny who was with my sister that day said she saw a dark silhouette rush toward my sister on the deck's edge, and in panic she fell into the water. Dare you say that dark silhouette wasn't you or your doing?

Ye Qingran was simply speechless.

Such a matter can all be blamed on her?

She retorted, "Why don't you ask that nanny of your sister, who rescued your sister back then?"

Meng Qian was startled; how could she know someone rescued her sister?

Zhao Yan's expression changed.

She had heard from Meng Yao that after she fell into the water that day, someone rescued her—a very formidable woman. Very few people know about Meng Yao's drowning, let alone that someone saved her…

Could it be that the rescuer that day was truly Ye Qingran?

"Could it be you?" Meng Qian asked, somewhat incredulous.

Ye Qingran nodded.

Zhao Yan's face tightened, then she sneered, "Ye Qingran, you are truly shameless. You killed Meng Yao, yet you stand here, brazenly claiming to be her savior; I've never seen anyone as thick‑skinned and shameless as you!"

"Zhao Yan, you keep saying I'm the murderer of Meng Yao, which makes me curious—why are you so certain?"

A flash of panic flickered in Zhao Yan's eyes.

She retorted slyly, "Isn't that obvious?"

Ye Qingran nodded and slowly said, "Miss Meng, before your sister disappeared, did she have any contact with anyone?"

Meng Qian stared at her and replied, "Zhao Yan."

Hearing her own name, Zhao Yan felt a chill on her scalp; she instinctively glanced at Ye Huanhuan, who, barely visible, shook her head at her.

Zhao Yan suddenly lifted her chin and said, "Ye Qingran, what are you doing? Investigating? I did indeed have contact with Meng Yao before; it was because we hadn't seen each other for a long time, and we arranged to meet and catch up. Is there a problem?"

"If it was merely a simple reunion, there's no issue, but Meng Yao seems to have run into trouble right after meeting you, doesn't she?"

Zhao Yan felt her heartbeat accelerate dramatically.

Meng Yao was indeed kidnapped on her way back after meeting her…

"When Meng Yao was kidnapped, we had already separated; she was taken in front of Zhen Guo Gong Fu, so what does that have to do with me?"

Zhao Yan concluded that, based on this alone, the Meng Family would never suspect her.

"Ye Qingran, I don't know why you suspect Zhao Yan; she was close with my sister, she couldn't have harmed my sister!"

Ye Huanhuan rolled her eyes and added, "Yes, Zhao Yan and Meng Yao have been close since childhood, as close as sisters; this is well known. Whoever you suspect, you cannot suspect her!"

Ye Qingran's lips curled into a sarcastic smile; she turned her face to look at Ye Huanhuan, and as the stare made her scalp tingle, she said, "Being as close as sisters doesn't preclude betrayal or murder? I heard from Ye Sisi that she was imprisoned before, and it was to take your place!"

Those words were like a bomb, exploding throughout Yuhua Yuan.