063 The Boss Appears

Chapter 063: The Boss Reveals Himself

Since the farewell at the restaurant two days ago, Lin Wan’er, who had originally planned to take down Fang Rulai but had nearly been poisoned to death herself, had been suppressing a rage that was close to its breaking point.

This monk, upon arrival, had immediately exposed the truth that the Sun family she intended to seek refuge with merely saw her as a stepping stone. What’s more, he was backed by a force she hadn’t been able to trace to this day. Compared to the humiliation she had suffered in the last city, what Lin Wan’er felt most from Fang Rulai was a sense of threat.

She had an overwhelming premonition that if she didn’t deal with Fang Rulai in advance, she would never have a chance to rise again.

So, when Sun Yao came to her with a new plan to take down the Zhao family, she agreed without hesitation. Sun Yao wanted to seize the jade ruyi for himself, and she wanted to use the opportunity to win over Sun Yao as an ally. Fang Rulai was right—focusing only on the Sun family’s genealogy was far too risky. But if she could enter the household as a daughter-in-law instead, it would sound much more credible than merely being a goddaughter.

Although the eldest son Sun Yao had a wife, his lack of children brought him much disdain. If, from then on, they stopped using contraceptives and she bore his child, wouldn’t she be able to secure her position?

With this in mind, she secretly offered a property she’d discreetly purchased as the rendezvous site and carefully helped Sun Yao send everyone else away. Who would have thought that he intended to find that widow from his past to bear his heir! Just as her fury was about to explode and she was going to confront him, she witnessed Sun Yao’s murder—failing to kill, only to be killed himself—and froze in her tracks.

Since he had no intention of allying with her, why should she step forward to help? At this moment, seizing the opportunity to turn the situation to her advantage was what mattered most.

She ran to fetch the most gullible patrol squad, deliberately convincing Zhang Sheng and his men that the people inside were the murderers. All of this was for the sole purpose of getting rid of Fang Rulai smoothly.

Zhu Xishi’s unexpected intervention only briefly overturned the situation. It was of little concern to Lin Wan’er, who was never one to stay down after just one defeat!

“Master Rulai, why are you here? Can you explain yourself?”

Separated by half a zhang, Lin Wan’er and Fang Rulai’s gazes finally met head-on for the first time since their reunion. One was filled with a heroic and explosive desire for the other’s demise; the other, detached and unruffled, wouldn’t even frown if you accused him of the impossible.

Fang Rulai pressed his palms together in greeting, then replied with a question of his own: “What about you, Benefactress Lin? Why are you appearing at such a time and place, and just happen to witness such a scene?”

Zhang Sheng’s suspicion, which had just shifted to Fang Rulai, instantly swung back. Yes—if it was hard to explain a monk’s presence here, how much harder was it for a maiden like her?

Lin Wan’er sneered. “You can’t explain yourself because you are in league with Zhu Xishi and Wang Suzhi. Wang Suzhi lured Sun Yao here with old affection, while you and Zhu Xishi secretly assisted her in murdering Sun Yao. Unfortunately for you, the net of heaven is wide and sparse but lets nothing slip—before you could escape, the constables discovered you! You are the murderers! Why don’t you surrender?!”

Fang Rulai turned his prayer beads. “Benefactress Lin, you evade the question; does this not prove you have no explanation either? No matter, if you are concerned for your reputation, let this poor monk speak on your behalf. You, Zhu Xishi, and Wang Suzhi were all brought here by the now-deceased Sun Yao against your will. This poor monk happened to see this, found it suspicious, and followed in hopes of rescue. Regrettably, lacking martial prowess, I hesitated several times. When I finally arrived, you were already gone, and only Wang Suzhi and Sun Yao’s bodies remained, with Zhu Xishi alive.”

This account was perfectly consistent with Zhu Xishi’s earlier statement. Zhang Sheng, who had just begun to think Lin Wan’er made sense, now found Fang Rulai’s version even more reasonable.

Seeing she could not win over Zhang Sheng and faced with Fang Rulai’s eloquence, Lin Wan’er began to panic. “Commander Zhang, I was merely passing by when I heard strange noises and entered out of curiosity. At that time, Sun Yao was still alive, struggling with Wang Suzhi. I sensed something was wrong and hurried out to report to the authorities.”

Had she spoken these words before Zhu Xishi, Zhang Sheng might have believed her given his initial bias toward Zhu Xishi and Fang Rulai’s guilt. Unfortunately for Lin Wan’er, after Zhu Xishi had already presented her as another victim, anything further now sounded pale and unconvincing.

Fang Rulai gathered his prayer beads and turned away, refusing to speak further. When Lin Wan’er stopped attacking and instead began justifying herself according to his lead, she had already lost the advantage. In this state, Zhu Xishi could defeat her without even drawing a butcher’s blade.

“Lin Wan’er!” With a look from Fang Rulai, Zhu Xishi’s eyes instantly brimmed with the pain of betrayal. “If Wang Suzhi had survived, for the sake of your reputation, we would have taken all the blame—what of it? But now she’s dead, and it was to protect you and me that she gave her life. Wang Suzhi was so kind and righteous. Not only do you refuse to prove she was murdered, you now slander her character? Lin Wan’er, you are heartless!”

Her scolding rained down mercilessly, spittle flying as she advanced step by step, forcing Lin Wan’er to retreat.

Behind Lin Wan’er was a coffin, and Zhu Xishi showed no sign of stopping. Lin Wan’er stumbled, half collapsing onto the coffin, the weight of Zhu Xishi pressing her down.

Their eyes met at close range, and Zhu Xishi’s gaze was filled with undisguised disgust. Compared to Wang Suzhi, who betrayed for her son but fought to the death for him, this Lin Wan’er—who would stop at nothing for her own advancement—was the one she would most like to finish off with a butcher’s knife.

The killing intent in Zhu Xishi’s eyes was so palpable that, as she suddenly reached out, Lin Wan’er squeezed her eyes shut in terror. She had witnessed Sun Yao’s disembowelment from start to finish—a single, decisive stroke. If she hadn’t known Zhu Xishi was inside the coffin, she would have thought the killer was a seasoned assassin!

Zhu Xishi’s mocking voice rang out. “What’s this, Miss Lin? Even you know fear?”

She wasn’t going to kill her? Lin Wan’er snapped her eyes open, only to see Zhu Xishi’s back as she strode toward Zhang Sheng.

“Commander, we have the most crucial piece of evidence that we were abducted—this!” Zhu Xishi raised the jade ruyi high. “If we weren’t abducted, why would we bring along this funerary object, which should have been in Ke Shao’s coffin? If, as Miss Lin claims, we lured Sun Yao here to murder him, why would we bring along something that would so obviously incriminate us? Wouldn’t that be handing evidence straight to the authorities?”

The jade ruyi was pure jade, gleaming all over—its extraordinary value apparent even to an outsider. Who would bring such a treasure out of their home unless their mind was clouded?

With that, the facts were settled. Zhang Sheng waved his hand. “Return to the yamen.”

Although in Zhang Sheng’s view, Zhu Xishi and Fang Rulai were no longer suspects, the deceased was still the county magistrate’s son. They would have to go back to assist with the records. As for Lin Wan’er—who, to protect her reputation, had not hesitated to slander the dead—such a scheming woman should also be taken back for the magistrate to see her true colors.

The group marched grandly toward the county yamen.

Behind them, a shadow moved even faster, leaping across rooftops to reach the magistrate’s study in the rear hall ahead of them.

“My lord, the young master has accidentally died.”

“Useless fool! I knew he was all ambition and no skill.” Behind his desk, Magistrate Sun Chi paused only briefly upon hearing the news, then continued writing. “And the jade ruyi?”

“It fell into the hands of a patrol squad leader named Zhang Sheng. He’s bringing it here to report.”

“Who’s with him?”

“The monk, the widow, and Miss Lin.”

“Ah, so everyone’s present, aren’t they?” Sun Chi admired the calligraphy he’d just finished. “Go prepare the main hall for the trial. We’ll follow procedure shortly.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Remember: only inform the madam in the rear courtyard after they’ve arrived at the yamen.”

“Yes, sir.”

The shadow withdrew. Sun Chi rose, bowed deeply, and stood by the bookshelf. “My lord, you may come out now.”

At his words, the bookshelf creaked and turned, and a man in Taoist robes emerged from a hidden chamber.

Shi Changzi of the Qitian Taoist Temple.

Had Fang Rulai been present, she would have recognized him at once as the same “Little Ten” who had descended into the Shengjing prison with Sanfengzi more than half a month ago.

“Boundless Heavenly Venerable, Magistrate Sun, please accept my condolences,” Shi Changzi said, though his face showed not a trace of sympathy. His manner as he took Sun Chi’s seat was that of someone utterly above it all.

Sun Chi dared not show the slightest resentment. “My son was incompetent and failed to fulfill the task you entrusted to him. He died as he deserved.”

“It’s good that you understand. The Crown Prince values you greatly, which is why he bestowed the priceless jade ruyi upon you.”

“Yes, I will never fail the Crown Prince’s expectations.”

“Enough. Fine words mean little compared to results.” Shi Changzi flicked his sleeve, knocking over the inkstone; ink smeared Sun Chi’s fresh calligraphy into a black blot. “You were ordered to replace the Zhao family without harming the Salt Daoist’s connections, yet after all these years, the Zhao family is nearly dead but you still haven’t succeeded. You were also told to eliminate the monk and the widow quickly, but you’ve dragged it out for days. If this continues, not even the imperial jade ruyi will save your life.”

“Yes, yes, I swear on my head that I will handle these matters flawlessly according to the Crown Prince’s wishes.”

“You remember the failure in Shengjing, don’t you? Take it as a warning.”

“Rest assured, my lord, I will not repeat the same mistake!”

Thanks to dear Smelly Egg Haha and Manman! for the flowers and encouragement—tears and determination~

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