The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

When the old man left the city years ago, someone tampered with the axle of his carriage.

At that time, he was over fifty years old and retired at home. No one in the Duke's mansion knew who was going to such lengths to harm someone who posed no threat to anyone.

In the end, the Duke's mansion could only blame the groom for everything.

Faced with Lin Zuoqing's questioning, Xu Qianhui's incredulous expression instantly turned into anger.

"Minister Lin, do you doubt me?"

Lin Zuoqing looked at her coldly without saying a word.

Xu Qianhui met his gaze without yielding an inch, two lines of clear tears falling silently.

"Minister Lin, since you doubt me, why don't you come and ask me? Why didn't you ask me directly three years ago!"

"It's not too late to ask now."

Isn't it too late...?

It's too late.

Things have progressed to this point, and it's too late.

Xu Qianhui wiped away her tears and said, word by word, "Back then, the old lady suspected that the old master had a mistress. She searched all over the capital but couldn't find her, so she asked me to follow the old master out of the city."

Lin Zuoqing looked at her, his expression unchanged.

Xu Qianhui continued speaking.

"As you know, the old master's numerous concubines all died at the hands of the old lady. It's understandable that the old lady suspects that he's keeping women outside the marriage."

"If you don't believe me, you can go ask the old lady and see if I'm lying!"

After saying that, she slowly got up and walked out of the ancestral hall step by step.

She knew that Lin Zuoqing had suspected her three years ago.

At the clinic, he was holding the flowers she had thrown to him when he rode through the streets on horseback, and he instructed Qing Shu and Qing Yan to investigate the truth.

She heard Qingyan say that after Miss Biao threw flowers down the street, she followed the old master out of the city in a carriage.

Lin Zuoqing personally inspected the two carriages and found nothing unusual in her carriage.

The woman he loves most may be the murderer who killed his grandfather.

This conjecture completely shattered him.

Therefore, he suspected her, but had no evidence whatsoever.

What he lacked was a reason why she would follow the old man out of the city.

Once the old lady tells him herself, he will no longer have any doubts about this matter.

Of course, Xu Qianhui didn't care whether he would ask the old lady or how he would ask.

Because sooner or later, he will get that accurate answer.

After leaving the ancestral hall step by step, she left the Duke's mansion again.

Walking to Huichuntang, only Shen Huaijin was seeing patients.

Upon seeing him, Xu Qianhui couldn't stop her tears from falling.

"Little Huaihuai..."

Shen Huaijin quickly stepped forward to support her: "What's wrong?"

"Has Uncle Wang left yet?"

"They left the city last night."

Xu Qianhui nodded, wiped away her tears, and forced a smile: "Little Huaihuai, you haven't seen your brother for so long, I'll take you to see him."

"it is good."

Fifteen minutes later, an inconspicuous gray-roofed carriage drove out of the back door of Huichuntang.

The carriage traveled out of the city and headed towards the mass grave twenty miles away.

It was midday, and the sun was at its zenith, yet a chilling wind blew constantly through the mass grave.

Xu Qianhui led Shen Huaijin around the mass grave and arrived at Beishan.

This place is near a cliff, with lush trees and wildflowers everywhere.

Amidst the wildflowers, a small, low grave stands.

The tombstone in front of the grave is small, and the inscription on it is simple.

The tomb of his younger brother, Xu Zhiyi.

Xu Qianhui stood in front of the grave for a long time, then took out a packet of jujube paste pastries from her bosom and gently put it down.

Those were pastries that Chu Yunci had sent over last night. Because her younger brother loved them the most when he was alive, she secretly kept a few pieces.

"Ayi, your older sister has come to see you."

The wind blew through her hair and also wiped away the tears that had just fallen.

Xu Qianhui slowly sat down, placed her hand on the tombstone, and smiled, "Frost Grass is very useful. The only pity is that it's a slow-acting poison, which takes a lot of patience. Fortunately, I also stuffed a lot in her bed frame, so she'll be coming to see you soon."

Shen Huaijin also sat down and placed the folded gold ingots one by one in front of the grave.

"Little guy, it's been so many years. You're not upset that your boss didn't come to see you, are you? Sigh, if you're upset, fine. It's my fault for not being a good boss, I didn't..."

At this point, Shen Huaijin choked up a little: "But don't worry, I will definitely protect your sister. I will help bring down all those who have harmed you, one by one."

Xu Qianhui gently nudged him: "Why are you crying? I'm all alone, powerless and helpless. Taking revenge is as difficult as Jingwei trying to fill the sea. The old woman is still going to die, isn't she?"

"Yes...yes."

......

In the Duke's Mansion.

Chu Yunci sat upright in the main hall, facing off against Lin Zuoqing, while Lin Zuoan was also present.

When Xu Qianhui returned, the room was desolate.

Lin Zuo'an stared at Chu Yunci and asked, "Young General Chu, are you joking? You've come here to take our Duke's daughter?"

Chu Yunci ignored him, only glancing at Xu Qianhui as she entered.

"Since we agreed not to fight, let's find another way."

Lin Zuoqing stood up: "Alright, let's play mahjong."

This is a card game popular among the powerful and wealthy, requiring four people to play at a table.

Lin Zuo'an said he would go and call someone else.

Chu Yunci said, "No need, with Miss Xu included, it's just enough."

From the moment they entered, only Chu Yunci and Xu Qianhui greeted them.

But when it came to playing cards, the two Lin brothers only exchanged a glance before deciding whether she would stay or leave.

The servant quickly carried the mahjong table to a side hall, and everyone went over there.

Xu Qianhui smiled and sat down at the table.

She often watched her stepmother play mahjong when she was in Jiangnan.

Upon arriving in the capital, Lin Zuoqing gave him special instruction.

She was no stranger to the rules.

The side hall door creaked shut, leaving only Xu Qianhui and three men in the room.

Chu Yunci sat to her left, opposite Lin Zuoan, and to her right was Lin Zuoqing.

The four shuffled, arranged, and drew cards. Lin Zuo'an then asked the same question again: "General Chu, on what grounds do you come to the Duke's mansion to demand someone?"

Chu Yunci printed out a whiteboard.

"Second Young Master, you're about to get engaged to Miss Qin, why are you asking these questions? Do you intend to marry a concubine? Or do you want A-Qing to marry a concubine?"

Lin Zuoqing touched his whiteboard and chuckled, "You can marry him."

Xu Qianhui looked at Lin Zuoqing.

She didn't know whether he meant Lin Zuo'an, who could marry a concubine, or him.

Lin Zuo'an's expression turned somewhat unpleasant upon hearing this.

He finally managed to appease Qin Miaoyun, how could he possibly marry a concubine?

He played a one-of-a-kind tile and didn't respond.

Chu Yunci laughed along, "One of you is about to get engaged, and the other is about to get married. It's not appropriate to keep Miss Xu here."

Xu Qianhui discarded a three of bamboo: "The young general is right. There are no such good things in the world, and you can't have everything you want."

"You're right." Lin Zuoqing rarely agreed, but his smile was ambiguous.

After saying that, he followed suit and played a three-of-a-kind.

Xu Qianhui pushed over the tiles: "I won!"

A row of tiles, with two and four of bamboo sandwiching three of bamboo.

Single hook.

"You played three of bamboo?" Lin Zuo'an asked incredulously.

Xu Qianhui smiled and reshuffled and arranged the cards.

In the new round, Xu Qianhui took the "One Color" hand.

Lin Zuoqing seems to have a good hand as well.

He looked at Chu Yunci: "Yunci, there are some things you shouldn't get involved in. No matter who Xu Qianhui marries, it won't be you. Everyone knows about her past with me, and her affair with Zuo An after returning to the capital. Your mother won't let her into the family."