Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 57: Cancellation of the Wanted Notice
Li Chengge was not angry when he was turned away. He had learned from Cha Bingliang's narration that Wei Lansheng was a man of upright character and a man who would stick to his principles.

Against such people, power and status are of no use.

Only when he finds out the truth himself and is sure that what Ning Ci and Chao Lu said is true, will he change his attitude.

So the two of them waited near Rongxin Courtyard. Anyway, Wei Lansheng had already sent people to the imperial palace to ask for help, so they believed that the matter would soon have a result.

Yan Ciwan sat by the window, watching the sunset and night gradually falling.

Chaolu was feeling very uneasy. She kept pacing around the room, muttering to herself.

"If my father takes me back, I won't be able to continue investigating Lan Ying's case. I can't let Lan Ying die in obscurity..."

Yan Ciwan suddenly said, "I will continue investigating for you."

Chaolu paused.

She originally thought that Yan Ciwan would withdraw after clearing her suspicion, but she didn't expect that she would still be willing to wade into this muddy water. She looked at Yan Ciwan with expectation in her eyes and asked cautiously, "Really?"

Yan Ciwan smiled at her and said, "I promised you that we will catch the real murderer together and give Lan Ying justice."

At first she decided to find out the truth in order to clear herself of suspicion.

But people are all made of flesh and blood. Chaolu has helped her so much, she can't just turn her back on him as soon as she gets away.

And she really wanted to know who was secretly framing her?

She is a narrow-minded person. If someone plots against her, she can't just pretend nothing happened. She must pay back double.

Chaolu's heart was touched.

She felt like crying again.

"Aci, thank you."

The palace soldiers rode on horseback to Chao's residence, going and returning quickly, but in the end they failed to bring Chao Yuanzhi back.

Because there was a banquet at the governor's residence tonight, Chao Yuanzhi was taking his eldest son to attend the banquet, but he was not at home at the moment. Liu also claimed to be ill and could not see the guests. In the end, the palace soldiers had to take away Chao Fu, the housekeeper of the Chao residence.

When Chaofu learned that Er Niang was in the government office, he was shocked beyond words.

As soon as he saw Wei Lansheng, he couldn't wait to ask.

"Where is my second mother? Why did she come to the government office? Did you do anything to her?"

Wei Lansheng acted in a businesslike manner and said with a straight face, "Someone claims to be the second lady of the Chao family. I'm not sure if it's true or not, so I specially asked someone from the Chao residence to come and identify her. When you meet her later, you only need to tell me if she is Chao Lu. Don't say anything extra. Do you understand?"

Chaofu didn't think much of Wei Lansheng, a minor official, but now he was eager to know Chaolu's whereabouts, so he had to hold his nose and bear it.

"Okay, I won't talk nonsense. Take me to see Er Niang."

Wei Lan brought Chaolu over.

The moment Chaofu saw Chaolu, he became extremely excited.

"Second Mother, it's really you! The master has sent people everywhere to look for you, why are you hiding here?"

Chaolu pursed her lips and asked in a low voice: "Uncle Fu, is my mother okay?"

"My wife is ill and is recuperating at home. Come with me home to see her."

After Chaofu finished speaking, he reached out and tried to pull Chaolu's arm.

Wei Lansheng immediately ordered his men to stop Chaofu and not allow him to get close to Chaolu.

Chaofu was very dissatisfied and shouted, "She is my second wife. I want to take her home. Why are you stopping me? Do you want to forcibly seize my daughter?!"

Wei Lansheng said calmly: "Chao Erniang is an important witness in the serial rape and murder case. I need her to stay and provide testimony. She can't go back for the time being."

Chaofu's eyes flashed. Chaolu was kidnapped that day and disappeared for a day. It was Chaofu who found Chaolu near her home and brought her home personally, so he was one of the few people in the family who knew about it.

Chao Yuanzhi once ordered everyone to keep silent, not allowing the news of Chao Lu's disappearance to spread, and not allowing outsiders to know that Chao Lu was the victim of rape and murder.

Hearing Wei Lansheng's words at this time, it was obvious that he already knew what Chaolu had experienced.

Chao Fu was a little panicked. He raised his voice and shouted, "No! How can Second Mother, a good lady from a noble family, be left in your government office full of men? If this matter gets out, how will outsiders see Second Mother? Will Second Mother still be able to live as a human being in the future? Second Mother must come back with me today. If you dare to stop me, I will tell General Chao!"

Seeing that he kept silent about the serial rape and murder case and only talked about Chaolu's reputation, Wei Lansheng already had an idea.

It seems that Chaofu already knew about Chaolu's connection with the serial rape and murder case.

This proves that what Chaolu said is true.

Now that Chaolu's importance has been confirmed, it is even less likely that Wei Lansheng will let her go now.

"I will do my best to conceal what happened to Chao Erniang and prevent it from being spread. After the confession is confirmed, I will personally escort Chao Erniang home and apologize to Chao Canjun."

After saying this, he waved his hand and asked the palace soldiers to ask Chaofu to leave.

Chaofu refused to leave, and finally two soldiers held him on the left and right, half dragging and half pulling him out of the government office.

Seeing Chaofu being taken away, Chaolu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Facing the victim, Wei Lansheng's attitude was not as tough as when facing the suspect. He slowed down and asked, "Are you sure Ning Ci is not the murderer?"

Chaolu said firmly: "No!"

"The murderer may have an accomplice. Ning Ci may be one of them..."

Chaolu interrupted him: "If Ah Ci is an accomplice, he will definitely try every means to kill me and silence me. How could he try every means to help me find out the truth?"

Wei Lansheng was speechless.

Chaolu said again: "Aci is innocent! She was framed!"

Although it is shameful to admit mistakes, Wei Lansheng is not the kind of person who would disregard the law for the sake of face.

He said frankly: "It seems that we have indeed wronged Ning Ci. I will explain the truth to the envoy and cancel the wanted warrant for Ning Ci as soon as possible."

Chaolu was overjoyed.

This was the only good news she had heard in recent days!

Wei Lansheng kept his word. He immediately ordered the release of Ning Ci and cancelled the wanted warrant against her.

After regaining his freedom, Yan Ci Wan did not leave the government office immediately, because Chao Lu had to stay in the government office to provide testimony, so Yan Ci Wan stayed to accompany her.

Wei Lansheng personally took up the pen and recorded in detail the process after Chaolu and Lanying were captured.

After writing it, he gave the confession to Chaolu for review. After making sure there were no mistakes or omissions, Chaolu signed and sealed it.

It was already very late at this time, and Wei Lansheng expressed his desire to personally send Chaolu back to the palace.

Chaolu was struggling internally.

She was afraid that she would be put under house arrest by her father again after returning, but she was also worried about her mother's safety.

Yan Ciwan had also been very worried about her mother's illness. She could understand Chaolu's feelings very well. Moreover, tomorrow was the day when Liu would "die of illness". She could not pin all her hopes on Xiao Wang. Letting Chaolu go back to stay with Liu would better prevent accidents from happening.

So she suggested: "You should go home with Wei Fazuo first."

Chaolu looked at her eagerly: "Once I go back, it will be difficult for me to come out again."

Yan Ciwan smiled and said, "Don't worry, even if you can't come out, we can still go see you."

(End of this chapter)