Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 51 Weapon
At noon, the servants brought food and tea.

Yan Ciwan and Chaolu finished their meal in the guest room. After eating and drinking, Yan Ciwan felt a little sleepy, but she couldn't sleep yet. She had to wait for Xiao Wang to come back.

Fortunately, Xiao Wang didn't make her wait too long.

There was a knock on the door, and Uncle Jiu came to inform them that Xiao Wang and Li Chengge were back.

Chaolu walked forward, opened the door, and let Xiao Wang in.

Seeing that he was the only one there, Yan Ciwan asked, "Where is Li Sanlang?"

"He said he was a little tired and went back to his room to rest." Xiao Wang stood three feet away from her, with a dignified posture and a calm temperament. "I heard from Uncle Jiu that you had something to talk to me about. What is it?"

Yan Ciwan didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly.

"I hope you can return to the palace immediately."

"Can I hear why?"

Yan Ciwan told her thoughts: "I have analyzed before that the person who framed me is likely hiding in the Chao Mansion. As long as that person is found, the truth of the serial rape and murder case will surface. In addition, the Chao Mansion announced that Madam Chao was ill, but when we saw Madam Chao yesterday, she was still fine. What disease could make her physical condition take a turn for the worse in just one day, and she couldn't even see a guest? I'm worried that there is something fishy here, and Madam Chao may be in danger. I need you to go back to the Chao Mansion to investigate and see how Madam Chao is doing now?"

Upon hearing that this matter concerned her mother, Chaolu immediately stood up.

She clutched the amulet tightly and looked at Xiao Wang eagerly, afraid that he would refuse.

Fortunately, Xiao Wang did not let her down.

He accepted Yan Ciwan's request.

"I will be back to the palace soon. Do you have anything else to say?"

Now Yan Ci Wan completely regarded him as a partner, and helping each other was a matter of course, so she had no intention of being polite to him and continued to make her demands.

"I want to see Lan Ying's body. I want to determine the real cause of her death."

The real cause of death? Xiao Wang sensitively grasped the key words, looked at the other party thoughtfully, and asked: "Could it be that there is something else wrong with Lan Ying's death?"

Chaolu couldn't help but shrug her shoulders, feeling very uneasy.

Yan Ciwan admitted frankly: "I do have this suspicion, but I have no evidence, so I need to verify it myself."

Xiao Wang knew that Lan Ying was Chao Lu's personal maid, and he also knew that Chao Lu was at the scene when Lan Ying was murdered, and that Chao Lu was the only survivor in the serial rape and murder case.

His eyes fell on Chaolu.

Chaolu immediately lowered her head and avoided his sight.

Xiao Wang saw her guilt and uneasiness.

He knew that Chaolu was hiding something, and he couldn't help but feel a little suspicious of her.

But he did not show his doubt, but spoke calmly as if he had not noticed anything.

"I have to go back to the palace later, so I can only let Li Sanlang take you to examine the body. You just need to follow his instructions."

Yan Ciwan smiled and said, "Thank you, Xiao Liulang."

When she smiled, her eyebrows and eyes curved, and her originally sallow and sickly face suddenly became much more lively.

Xiao Wang asked Uncle Jiu to bring a wooden box.

"This contains the Heart-Replenishing Pills. I'll leave them all to you for safekeeping."

Yan Ciwan opened the wooden box and saw the neatly arranged medicine bottles inside. He smiled and then pushed the wooden box back. He said generously, "No need. Since I have decided to cooperate with you, I will no longer doubt you. There is no need to use the Xu Xin Pills to hold you hostage. You can take these Xu Xin Pills back."

Xiao Wang looked at her deeply, neither speaking nor moving.

Seeing that he didn't believe her, Yan Ciwan had no choice but to tell her his true thoughts.

"After you return to the Chao Mansion, you may not be able to come back today. What if you want to stay in the Chao Mansion, I can't have someone deliver medicine to you every day? This is too inconvenient and unsafe, so you should keep these Xuxin Pills yourself." This explanation was reasonable and Xiao Wang believed it.

He asked Uncle Jiu to take the wooden box back.

After the two left, Chaolu closed the door, then ran to Yan Ciwan and asked anxiously.

"Is my mother really in danger?"

Yan Ciwan said truthfully: "I'm not sure, this is just my guess. Don't worry, wait until Xiao Liulang returns from the imperial residence, and then you'll know everything."

Since this concerns her mother's safety, how can Chaolu not be anxious?
She clutched the amulet, her heart filled with guilt, uneasiness, worry and other emotions.

Seeing that she was about to cry, Yan Ciwan quickly changed the subject and asked.

"What was the dagger you used to stab Lan Ying that day like? Can you describe it in detail?"

Chaolu's thoughts paused.

She temporarily suppressed her worries about her mother, followed Yan Ciwan's words, and began to try to recall the details of the day of the incident.

"I was blindfolded at the time and couldn't see anything. I can't be sure what the dagger looked like..."

There happened to be writing brushes, inkstones, and paper in the room. Yan Ciwan spread out the paper and asked, "Even if you can't see it, you should be able to feel it with your hands. Is the dagger heavy? What is the material of the handle? Is there any pattern on the surface? Or is there any decoration?"

Chaolu closed her eyes, raised her hands, and slowly closed her fingertips as if she was holding something.

She murmured, "The knife doesn't feel heavy in my hand. The handle is made of metal and feels very cold. There are patterns engraved on the surface and it seems to be inlaid with gems..."

"Did you use a lot of force when you stabbed me?"

"I didn't use any force. It was the bad guy who held my hand tightly. He was very strong and I couldn't break free. The knife stabbed me and then I heard Lan Ying crying..."

When Chaolu recalled that dark and terrifying scene, she felt cold all over and her hands trembled uncontrollably.

She opened her eyes, staggered and fell into a chair, her face turned pale with fear.

Yan Ciwan was very worried: "Are you okay?"

Chaolu poured herself a cup of tea, took two big gulps, and then felt a little calmer.

She put down the teacup: "It's okay, just paint yours, don't worry about me."

Yan Ciwan drew on paper according to Chaolu's description and soon drew a small and exquisite dagger.

She handed the drawing paper to Chaolu.

"Is this the murder weapon?"

Zhaolu opened her eyes wide and carefully identified: "It seems so, but I can't be sure."

Yan Ciwan looked at the dagger in the painting and said slowly, "According to your description, the murder weapon must be very delicately made, and it is not something that ordinary people can afford. This means that the real murderer is either rich or noble."

Chaolu put aside the chaotic thoughts in her mind, concentrated her attention and thought seriously, trying to keep up with Yan Ciwan's train of thought.

"If the real murderer is someone extraordinary, then he should have no shortage of beauties. Why would he kidnap someone?"

Yan Ciwan: "Perhaps, what he wants is not only beauty, but also the pleasure of sadism and murder, which he cannot get even if he spends money."

Zhaolu frowned deeply: "This person is so..."

She held it in for a long time, but in the end could only utter two words.

"nausea!"

(End of this chapter)