Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 56: Falling into a trap
Wei Lansheng ordered the palace soldiers to bring a bucket of water, and had people hold down Yan Ciwan and Chaolu, forcing them to wash off their makeup.

Cha Bingliang wanted to stop them but was stopped by the palace soldiers.

The actions of these palace soldiers were really rough, and Yan Ciwan's wound was pulled, and he gasped in pain.

Chaolu, who was beside her, had never experienced such a scene before. Fear and regret surged in her heart, making her tremble all over. Her eyes quickly turned red. She wanted to cry but didn't dare to.

Soon the makeup on their faces was washed off, revealing their original appearance.

Wei Lansheng had never seen Chao Lu, but he had met Yan Ci Wan once.

Looking at Yan Ciwan's face at this moment, Wei Lansheng frowned: "Ning Ci, how could it be you? How dare you walk into a trap!"

Yan Ciwan frowned because of the pain from her wound, and her face was pale, but her mind was surprisingly calm, and she was not at all panicked because her identity was discovered.

In fact, she had already prepared herself mentally for her identity to be revealed when she decided to enter the government office to examine the body.

Nothing is absolute. Even if she and Chaolu swapped appearances, there is no guarantee that there won't be someone with keen observations who will notice the clues.

But she still insisted on coming to the government office to see Lan Ying's body with her own eyes.

Because this is the fastest way for her to clear suspicion.

Yan Ciwan said calmly, "Wei Fazuo, why do you have to make such a fuss? Can't you just calm down and talk it out?"

Wei Lansheng's face darkened: "You are a wanted criminal by the government. I have nothing to say to you. Come, arrest this wanted criminal!"

Two soldiers strode forward, ready to arrest the man.

Chaolu quickly stretched out her arms, like a hen protecting her chicks, and protected Yan Ciwan. Cha Bingliang was secretly anxious. He touched the mutton-fat jade pendant in his purse and hesitated whether to take it out.

Yan Ciwan said loudly: "Even if the sachet was found in my residence, it cannot be concluded that I am the murderer. The sachet may have been placed with me by the real murderer in order to frame me!"

Wei Fazuo stared at her expressionlessly and asked, "If you have a clear conscience, why are you resisting arrest?"

Yan Ciwan asked back: "If I have a guilty conscience, I should find a place to hide. Why would I go to all the trouble to come to the government office and fall into a trap?!"

This is exactly what Wei Fazuo cannot understand.

He glanced at the female corpses silently. It didn't make sense to say that Ning Ci sneaked into the government office to destroy evidence. They had just found important clues that were missing from Lan Ying's corpse. Not only did they not make trouble, they also helped a lot.

Wei Fazuo stared at Yan Ciwan's eyes and asked again, "Why did you think of coming to the government office to examine the victim's body?"

Yan Ciwan said, "Because I once came into contact with a victim of a serial murder case. That victim is still alive and knows how Lan Ying was murdered. That's why I have doubts about Lan Ying's death and I took the risk to come and check it out myself."

Wei Fazuo never expected that there was a survivor in the serial rape and murder case, so he immediately asked about it.

"Who is the victim? Where is she?"

Yan Ciwan did not answer, but looked at the palace soldiers who were ready to pounce on and arrest people at any time.

Wei Lansheng remained unmoved. He never negotiated with criminals.

Yan Ciwan asked, "Does Wei Fazuo want me to reveal the identity of a murdered woman in front of so many people, so that everyone knows that she was bullied by criminals? Do you want her reputation to be ruined and she can no longer live a normal life?"

Wei Lansheng finally responded this time.

He ordered Qian San and all the soldiers to retreat.

As a result, the only people left in the resting hall were Yan Ciwan, Chaolu, Cha Bingliang, Wei Fazuo, and five cold corpses.

Wei Lansheng looked at Yan Ciwan and asked, "Can you tell me now? Who is the surviving victim?"

Yan Ciwan stretched out his hand and gently placed it on Chaolu's shoulder. Chaolu was feeling guilty for showing her timidity and exposing her identity, but the hand on her shoulder didn't weigh much, but it was like a reassurance pill, which calmed her troubled mind.

When she decided to find out the truth about Lan Ying's murder, she had already prepared for the worst. Now that she knows that she did not kill Lan Ying and she is not the murderer, the heavy burden that has been weighing on her heart has finally been lifted.

Since she is not the murderer, what is there for her to be afraid of?

Anyway, she doesn't plan to get married in the future, so reputation is not important to her.

She straightened her back and said without hesitation.

"it's me!"

Wei Lansheng looked her up and down, half believing and half doubting: "Who are you?"

"My name is Chaolu, and I am the second wife of the Chao family. Chao Canjun is my father, and Lanying is my personal maid. I was at the scene when she was killed."

She then told the whole story of what happened after she and Lan Ying were kidnapped, including that she was forced to stab Lan Ying by the murderer and that he threatened her with this matter.

After listening to this, Wei Lansheng was silent for a long time.

Many doubts that had been lingering in his mind were resolved.

Why did Lan Ying have a stabbing wound on her chest? Why did the Chao family try so hard to conceal Lan Ying's death? Why did Ning Ci take such a huge risk to sneak into the government office?

All because of the morning dew.

She is the only survivor of the serial rape and murder case and also the key to solving the case.

But the point is, is the person in front of me really Chaolu?

Wei Lansheng had never seen Chao Lu and didn't know what Chao Lu's real appearance was. He planned to invite Chao Yuanzhi to come over to recognize her in person.

When Chaolu learned that her father was coming, she immediately panicked.

The current situation has exceeded her expectations. She is very scared that once her father knows what she has done, he will not let her off easily and she will be arrested and placed under house arrest again.

But then she changed her mind and felt that it would be a good idea to go back. She was very worried about her mother's safety, and she would be able to take care of her mother up close if she went back.

This place is far from the imperial palace, so they can't just stand in the resting hall and wait.

Wei Lansheng temporarily settled Yan Ciwan and Chaolu in Rongxin Courtyard.

Rongxinyuan was originally used to accommodate witnesses involved in cases. It is located in the backyard of the government office, in a remote and very quiet location.

Wei Lansheng did not leave, but stayed here with them waiting for Chao Yuanzhi's arrival.

As for Cha Bingliang, he left the government office first.

He hurriedly ran to find Li Chengge and told him what had just happened.

Li Chengge was entrusted by his cousin to help take care of Ning Ci and Chao Lu. He had to do what he promised, so he put down the half-drunk hot tea and went to the government office with Cha Bingliang.

On the surface, Li Chengge and Cha Bingliang were subordinates of the Grand Councilor. Wei Lansheng could not stop them from entering the government office, but he did not allow them to get close to Ning Ci and Chao Lu.

Ning Ci is a fugitive suspect, and Chao Lu may be the only surviving victim. They are both deeply involved in the serial rape and murder case, and their importance is self-evident.

Wei Lansheng not only had to watch over them personally, he also arranged many palace soldiers to guard Rongxin Courtyard.

At present, no one except him is allowed to contact Ning Ci and Chao Lu.

　It's a new month. Do you have a ticket? Don't forget to vote for Aci~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)