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墨書 Inktalez
"Me?"
Zhao Dong stared at me as if he were foolish, as though he didn't recognize me, or perhaps he simply couldn't comprehend my straightforward question.
Was his feeling at that moment similar to the shock I experienced when I heard Mother Zhao say, "You're not the only child," back then?
Yes, I had a daughter at that time and was pregnant with another child. Mother Zhao feared that if I gave birth to a boy, it would threaten Bai Zhi's position in the family.
She wanted Zhao Dong to deal with the child in my womb.
When I was heartbroken, she said expressionlessly, "You're not the only child."
"Are you lying to me? Is this land deed fake?"
Zhao Dong suddenly realized.
"Yes, I was just deceiving you."
He couldn't believe it, staring at me blankly, unable to react for a long while.
"Are you really lying to me?"
"Yes, I've answered you with certainty."
"You lied to me? Why would you lie to me? Do you know what this land deed means to me? Because you said there was this land deed, I dared to borrow money everywhere. Now I'm buried in debt; without the deed, I have nothing!"
He tried to sit up and lunge at me, seemingly wanting to strangle me, but he had no strength at all and couldn't get up.
I looked at him coldly.
"Why do you ask me why? Then let me ask you why you wanted to kill my child! Why did you promise to love me for a lifetime but secretly have an affair with a courtesan and even brought her home? Right in front of me, slapping my face—Zhao Dong, this outcome is of your own making."
"You? You know everything? How do you know? When did you find out? You wicked woman! You did this on purpose!"
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.
The knocking grew louder.
"Yamen! Open the door!"
"Yamen? What does Yamen want?" Zhao Dong was taken aback, his brow furrowing weakly. He was so drained that even frowning seemed to take all his strength. His earlier low growl directed at me had nearly exhausted him.
It seemed he had forgotten what he had done, or perhaps he believed his actions were so flawless that Yamen would never come for him.
I remained silent and stood up to leave the inner chamber, intending to open the door. I didn't want Yamen's people to wait too long.
Mother Zhao was outside, not hearing our conversation. She clutched the doorknob like a frightened mouse.
Thinking it was a creditor made her anxious, but hearing it was Yamen made her even more fearful.
"Wan'er, why would Yamen's people come here? Do they know Zhao Dong has been beaten? Yamen wouldn't come for no reason; could it be about the creditors?" she murmured anxiously.
Her face was etched with terror. Even though she felt confident about her previous actions, she couldn't help but doubt if something had gone wrong.
I walked over, my hand just touching the doorknob when she exclaimed, "Don't open the door, Wan'er! Don't open it!"
I feigned ignorance.
"What’s wrong? It’s Yamen."
I pushed her aside and opened the door.
Three officials in uniforms stood outside. "We have been assigned to investigate the case of Bai Zhi's death. Someone reported that she was murdered."
"Murder? That can't be! She didn't offend anyone, and she had no money. Why would someone kill her? There must be a reason for murder, right? Besides, she fell into the river; my son Zhao Dong saw it with his own eyes. He isn't afraid of water, but by the time he found someone to rescue her, it was too late. Who has nothing better to do than report such a false case and disturb Bai Zhi's peace?"
"Yes, it must be that my son owes someone money and offended them. Someone is trying to frame our family."
"Calm down, sir. We will not wrongfully accuse anyone, but we also won't let any scoundrel who takes lives go unpunished. We need to question you all individually, so please answer truthfully."
They then proceeded to question Mother Zhao and Zhao Dong separately, and they both vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
They were unaware of what evidence the officials had, but I knew very well.
After Bai Zhi hit Mother Zhao, the three of them pretended nothing had happened, acting as if everything was fine.
Mother Zhao and Zhao Dong were not pushovers; they found the bandit who had attacked Mother Zhao and paid him to lure Bai Zhi out at night.
Feeling guilty, Bai Zhi made up an excuse about going out to burn paper offerings and even went to the town less than a mile from the Zhao residence to buy some.
Zhao Dong followed her to the riverside. Under the cover of darkness and with no one around, he pushed her in.
Then he pretended to call for help, and it took a long time before anyone managed to fish Bai Zhi out of the water.
All of this was witnessed by someone I hired who happened to be out at night. After sending me a letter detailing everything, he disappeared, saying it was due to his guilt.
The bandit did not know that Zhao Dong intended to kill Bai Zhi when he lured her out; when I told him she had been murdered, he was terrified.
Overcome with guilt, he voluntarily turned himself in and reported Zhao Dong.
Zhao Dong and Mother Zhao believed that Bai Zhi's body had been cremated and buried, thinking they had perfectly concealed this matter without raising any suspicions.
Although private correspondence was handled with care, evidence was discovered by Yamen from these letters, which conveniently proved that Mother Zhao was also involved.
Not only that, but Bai Zhi had written a physical letter hidden under her bed, detailing the entire situation. She had sensed, to some extent, the fate that awaited her.
I had secretly seen that letter when Zhao Dong and his mother were out. I was shocked to learn that Bai Zhi had been harmed by Zhao Dong due to conflicts with her mother-in-law.
At first, this man doted on Bai Zhi, elevating her to the heavens; I felt I was not even worth a finger of hers.
When Bai Zhi found out that Zhao Dong was involved with Miss Li, jealousy consumed her, and she went to complain to her mother-in-law. To her surprise, her mother-in-law sided with Zhao Dong.
Bai Zhi, who could not tolerate any injustice, confronted her mother-in-law directly, declaring she would inform the the Li Family that Zhao Dong was a fraud plotting to seize their wealth.
This made both the mother-in-law and Zhao Dong view Bai Zhi as an obstacle in their relationship.
Thus, the two conspired together to kill Bai Zhi.
The man was cold-hearted; he loved one woman after another, truly heartless and cruelly selfish.
Later, I invited Yamen into Bai Zhi's room.
Yamen successfully found the letter and read it aloud in front of Zhao Dong.
Both Zhao Dong and his companion turned pale with shock, sweating profusely and wearing mournful expressions as they shook their heads repeatedly.
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