Detective Di Renjie: The Mysterious Dynasty

Chapter 377 Tan Ling is dead, but everyone has become Tan Ling

Speaking of his innate supernatural powers, Lin Yongzhong's heart was filled with endless regret, and even tears welled up in his eyes.

Seeing this, Di Renjie couldn't help but feel sympathy for his past. He sighed and said, "I still remember the first time we met, I said you could be as noble as a prince, or as good as a general or minister."

"You flatly denied it at the time, saying that you were just a middle-class family, but I never thought that this joke would come true in this way!"

At this time, Li Yuanfang also sighed: "On the day of Wuping, we and Magistrate Lin hit it off right away and worked together to punish evil slaves and officials. What a harmonious relationship!"

"Later, Governor Wen arrived and Ge Bin was also killed. Your Excellency said at the time that the murderer must be someone who had just arrived in Wuping from Jiangzhou. I never thought that Magistrate Lin, who had just arrived in Wuping, would be the murderer!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yongzhong sighed again, his face full of shame.

Zhao Ji also sighed: "Last night, Jinniang failed to steal the letter from the county government office, but the letter from Wu Si disappeared. Di Gong and I believe there is something fishy going on."

"So we called the yamen runners to question you, and learned that you went to the morgue a long time after the haunting. In order to protect themselves, they took the initiative to confess that you were not in the county government office several times when the crimes occurred."

"You showed up at the morgue last night having just taken a shower. I'm afraid it was to wash away the bloody smell of murder, right?"

Lin Yongzhong laughed and confessed: "Your Highness, there is no need to say more. I planned all this, and I killed them all!"

"Ten years ago, Liang Wang Wu Sansi wrote a secret letter asking me to frame Huang Guogong Li Ai. I was deeply grateful to Huang Guogong and refused to be involved in the scandal, so I fled Jiangzhou."

"But who could have expected that we would run into the fake Xue Qinglin and his gang of pirates on the road? Of the more than 30 people in my family, only Jinniang, Zhang Yi and I survived!"

"From then on, I vowed to take revenge! A few years later, I changed my name to Lin Yongzhong, passed the imperial examination, and entered the official career. However, because I was upright and incorruptible, I was repeatedly excluded and served as a county magistrate for nearly ten years."

"But I don't regret it. During the years I was the county magistrate, I secretly got a clear picture of the fake Xue Qinglin and his gang. At the same time, I sent Zhang Yi to infiltrate the Marquis's mansion as an insider."

"Finally, I have waited for the opportunity to kill the fake Xue Qinglin, Feng Wanchun and the other evildoers. I can finally comfort the souls of my family members in heaven!"

Di Renjie sighed and stared at Lin Yongzhong: "Yongzhong, you killed four court officials and a marquis. How should I deal with you?"

Lin Yongzhong answered without hesitation: "Yongzhong is willing to die!"

Di Renjie was filled with compassion, and shook his head repeatedly, his tone heavy: "For the sake of revenge, you are not afraid of death. But have you ever thought about how heavy a blow this deliberate revenge will bring to yourself and your family! Yongzhong, you still don't know about Jinniang's suicide, right?"

Lin Yongzhong raised his head suddenly: "Jinniang? Committed suicide?"

Ruyan was filled with indignation and sneered, "Humph, since you came to Wuping, you have only cared about your revenge plan, but have you ever cared about your daughter once?"

Lin Yongzhong's lips trembled: "Miss Ruyan, how is Jinniang now?"

Ruyan snorted, turned her head and ignored him.

Di Renjie spoke slowly, with a hint of pity in his eyes: "Fortunately, we found her in time, Jinniang's life is not in danger, but..."

Lin Yongzhong asked anxiously: "Just what?"

Di Renjie couldn't bear to speak, and after hesitating for a moment, he finally said with difficulty: "She is crazy."

Upon hearing the tragic news, Lin Yongzhong stumbled back two steps, his face filled with astonishment: "How...how could it be? She has clearly already taken her revenge, why would she commit suicide?"

Ruyan stared at Lin Yongzhong coldly with an icy gaze: "In order to seek revenge, you sold your own daughter's innocence to her mortal enemy."

"When she knew that she sold her most precious thing and got a useless secret letter in return, think about it, what would she do? What would you do if it were you?!"

"You go to the Di Mansion so many times every day. Have you ever cared about Jinniang? Have you ever visited Jinniang once? Even a few words of comfort? But you didn't! Nothing at all!"

"She is less than 20 years old and is on the verge of despair. Her biological father is right in front of her, but she cannot recognize him, let alone ask for help. Have you ever thought about how she feels?"

Zhao Ji sighed softly, his tone full of emotion: "To be fair, you refused to associate with Wu Sansi and were unwilling to frame innocent people. This shows that you are upright and have a noble character, which is rare."

"After going through all the disasters, you never took your anger out on others. During your several terms as an official, you always took it as your responsibility to eliminate violence and protect the good. You are deeply loved by the people. This is particularly valuable."

"So, Lin Yongzhong can be called a good official, but you are not a good father, let alone a good man! You used your daughter's beauty to achieve your goal of revenge, which is something that ordinary people would not do, let alone gentlemen!"

Hearing this, Lin Yongzhong sighed deeply and shook his head repeatedly, his face full of pain and regret. Zhao Ji's eyes revealed scrutiny and contempt: "When the bloody incident happened, Jinniang was already nine years old. She was very sensible. In order to avenge her family, she was willing to sacrifice herself. I believe this was not your intention."

"But I don't understand why you chose such a despicable method. She is your own flesh and blood! Even if you let her act as an assassin and die together with Xue Qinglin, it would probably be better than the current situation."

As he spoke, Zhao Ji looked towards the direction of the northern capital: "When I was ordered to leave the capital, my wife was already two months pregnant."

"Due to the heavy workload of state affairs, I couldn't always be with her, and I always felt guilty. But before I was ordered to do so, I at least did what I could and spent as much time with her as possible to comfort myself."

"I also want to ask you, even if you avoid revenge, have you fulfilled your responsibilities as a father to Jinniang? Do you care about her enough?"

When Zhao asked this, Lin Yongzhong was stunned for a moment. His face became even paler and his eyes were red. It seemed as if he had thousands of words to say but they were stuck in his throat and he couldn't express them.

Ruyan sneered at the side and said sharply: "I don't think you have it! Jinniang has been so lonely and helpless these few days with me!"

"Did you see her crying in front of Wu Si's body? Do you care about her as much as Wu Si, her adoptive father, does?"

"If you were a trustworthy father, why would Jinniang be so desperate as to commit suicide, let alone drive herself crazy!"

Hearing this, Lin Yongzhong finally couldn't control himself, tears welled up in his eyes and he cried loudly.

"Yes! I... I am indeed not a good father." Lin Yongzhong's voice was low and hoarse, filled with endless bitterness.

Seeing Zhao Ji and Ruyan taking turns to criticize him, Di Renjie still softened his heart and said to Lin Yongzhong: "Do you want to see Jinniang?"

Lin Yongzhong suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with anticipation, and stared at Di Renjie closely.

Di Renjie sighed and gave Ruyan a suggestive look.
Although Ruyan was full of resentment towards Lin Yongzhong, she finally reluctantly agreed after being persuaded by Li Yuanfang.

Soon, Ruyan came in supporting Jinniang.

Lin Yongzhong quickly wiped away the tears from his eyes, took a step forward, and called out hopefully, "Jinniang!"

However, Jinniang shrank back into Ruyan's arms as if frightened, and shouted in fear: "Ghost, ghost!"

Lin Yongzhong was stunned, and called out in a trembling voice: "Jinniang, I, I am Daddy!"

Jinniang looked at him in confusion, muttering: "Daddy..."

Lin Yongzhong responded eagerly, with hope in his eyes: "Yes, it's me!"

But suddenly, Jinniang screamed and threw herself into Ruyan's arms again, crying, "Mother, he is a ghost, a ghost!"

Ruyan patted her back gently and comforted her softly: "Okay, okay, let's not see ghosts anymore, let's go."

As she spoke, she supported Jinniang and slowly walked out the door.

Lin Yongzhong quickly stretched out his hand and shouted, "Jinniang! Jinniang!"

However, Ruyan ignored his call, and Jinniang was even more confused and ignorant, not realizing that it was her father calling her.

Seeing this, Lin Yongzhong opened his mouth wide and tears filled his eyes again.

Di Renjie's eyes were also a little wet, and he kept shaking his head and said, "You killed the fake Xue Qinglin and all your enemies. But you also hurt your only daughter!"

"Lin Yongzhong, Lin Yongzhong, what did revenge bring you? In the end, it was an even greater tragedy!"

Zhao Ji sighed deeply and pointed out a more cruel reality in a heavy tone: "Jinniang is only 19 years old, a beautiful girl. Have you ever thought about how she will live the rest of her life? You are only 42 years old. How can you face Jinniang?"

Hearing this, Lin Yongzhong felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife. He collapsed to the ground helplessly, his emotions completely broken down, and he burst into tears.

Zhao Ji, Di Renjie and Li Yuanfang witnessed this scene and shook their heads, but they could only sigh.

(End of this chapter)