Chapter Ten: Who is the Murderer?
The chill of autumn seeped into the river.
Di Yun dove underwater, spotting Lian Heng entangled in a massive clump of aquatic plants. His heart raced, a mix of fear and relief flooding through him as he swam toward her.
Her braid had come undone in her struggles, and her long, dark hair fanned out around her in the water. Strands of her jet-black locks intertwined with the plants, dancing gently, resembling a mournful ink-black lotus in bloom. Against this backdrop, her pale face looked even more ashen.
His heart pounded uncontrollably.
Lian Heng, you mustn't... you mustn't leave us!
Pain tore through him as he cradled her soft body and swiftly swam toward the shore.
When he finally surfaced, holding her above the water, the crowd on the riverbank gasped in shock.
"Lian Heng—!" Lian Zheng dashed forward in desperation, his usually composed face etched with fear and urgency.
"Miss!" Xiaoqiao and Yuzhong followed anxiously.
Lu Qiaoqiao made to rush forward as well but was held back by Yun Zixing, who was still carrying a bamboo basket. "Be careful! Don't trip in your haste!" she chided.
Di Yun laid Lian Heng down on a patch of clear ground near the bridge. Kneeling beside her, he immediately cleared the mud and water from her mouth and nose. He placed her abdomen across his knee, allowing her head to hang down, and pressed her back to expel the water.
After a frantic effort, Lian Heng finally coughed weakly and opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was a pair of gentle, clear eyes and a finely chiseled, handsome face. Droplets of water trickled from his hair, catching the light, but his smile was brighter still.
"You're safe now," he murmured softly, reassuringly.
A faint smile appeared on her lips as she whispered, "Th-thank you..."
Lian Zheng hurried over and wrapped her in his coat. "The river's cold; we mustn't let you catch a chill. I'll take you home now! Xiaoqiao, go and fetch Doctor Liu immediately!"
Cradling his daughter, he sprinted back toward their residence.
When Yu Luoying saw Lian Zheng rush in carrying Lian Heng, she was startled. Upon seeing Lian Heng's bedraggled state, tears welled in her eyes.
"What happened? She's only been out for a short while and now—this!" she cried. "Lian Heng, oh, Lian Heng..."
"Stop crying! She's fine. Quickly, prepare warm water and help her change out of these wet clothes. We can't risk her catching a chill and falling ill," Lian Zheng commanded firmly, maintaining his composure as the head of the household.
Wang Sao, Luo Ma, and Xiao Shan immediately sprang into action. Once everything was prepared and Doctor Liu had examined her, Lian Heng drank a bowl of hot medicine and finally regained some strength.
"What on earth happened? You've always been so careful. How could this happen?" Lian Zheng and Yu Luoying sat by her bedside, speaking softly. Since childhood, Lian Heng had always been composed and deliberate, never reckless. Falling into the river was highly unusual. Thinking of the recent incidents in the family, Yu Luoying shivered involuntarily.
Lian Zheng placed a comforting arm around his wife's shoulders, silently offering solace.
"Someone pushed me," Lian Heng said softly. "It was deliberate. They shoved me hard. But…I don't know who it was."
"Are you certain?" Lian Zheng asked anxiously.
Lian Heng nodded weakly. "The hands weren't rough. They felt like…a woman's hands."
Lian Zheng and Yu Luoying exchanged a glance, their faces ashen.
"Summon the third madam, Xiaoqiao, Yuzhong, Constable Yun, and Constable Di to the flower hall downstairs!" Lian Zheng instructed Luo Ma firmly. He turned to Yu Luoying, gripping her hand tightly. "Don't worry, Luoying. I'll get to the bottom of this. No one will harm our Lian Heng."
Yu Luoying's eyes reddened again. She bit her lip and nodded.
In the flower hall beneath Lian Heng's chamber, everyone who had been present at the incident was gathered.
Upon seeing Lian Zheng, Lu Qiaoqiao immediately asked, "How's Lian Heng? Is she alright?" Her almond-shaped eyes glistened with tears, and her voice trembled as she spoke. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't insisted on going out, this wouldn't have happened..."
Yu Luoying cast her a reproachful glance, her face expressionless. "I suspect this 'accident' was no accident at all. You were all there. What were each of you doing at the time?"
Di Yun and Yun Zixing exchanged a grim look.
Xiaoqiao was the first to speak. "At the time, Sister Yuzhong's basket fell into the river. Constable Yun leaped in like a bird to retrieve it, attracting quite a crowd. People were jostling one another. Master was on the left of the third madam, while Miss was on her right. I was behind the third madam, shielding her to prevent her from being pushed."
Yuzhong added, "It's true. The third madam was standing very close to Miss on her right side. I was pushed aside by the crowd and was focused on worrying about Constable Yun. I didn't notice anything else."
Yun Zixing, filled with remorse, said, "I shouldn't have caused such a commotion while retrieving the basket, drawing so much attention and creating chaos."
Di Yun chimed in, "I was initially near Miss Lian, but as the crowd grew, several passersby came between us. I was concerned about my aunt being jostled. In that brief moment, Miss Lian fell into the river."
Yu Luoying frowned. "So, at the time of the incident, the person closest to Lian Heng was Qiaoqiao. What motive would an outsider have for pushing her into the river? But you, Lu Qiaoqiao—you're different!"
Lian Zheng placed a calming hand on his wife's arm. "Luoying, don't get ahead of yourself. Yuzhong, are you sure Miss Lian was standing to the right of the third madam?"
Yuzhong bowed her head respectfully. "Yes. Miss Lian and the third madam were standing close together. This is a grave matter; I wouldn't dare lie."
Lu Qiaoqiao clenched her teeth, her fury barely contained. "Yuzhong! What are you trying to imply? Yes, I was near Lian Heng, but that proves nothing! I could just as easily say you created the distraction and pushed her!"
"Me? What would I gain from harming Miss Lian? But you…" Yuzhong trailed off, leaving the implication clear.
If Yuzhong harmed Lian Heng, she'd gain nothing. But if Lu Qiaoqiao harmed her, her unborn child would become the sole heir to the Lian family's vast fortune.
Yu Luoying's face turned ghostly pale with rage, convinced by Yuzhong's words. "Lu Qiaoqiao! How could you be so heartless?"
Lu Qiaoqiao fell to her knees with a thud before Lian Zheng, her tears cascading down her face. "Master! I'm being framed! I understand Madam's emotions, but I beg for your discernment!"
Di Yun stepped forward, anxious to help her up. "Evidence is paramount. Please, rise first!"
He cupped his fists before Lian Zheng and Yu Luoying. "Master, Madam, my aunt couldn't have done this. Yes, she has motive, but pushing someone into the river would endanger her own pregnancy. She wouldn't take such a risk. Besides, I was watching her closely. She was entirely focused on the river and did nothing suspicious."
Yu Luoying glared at Lu Qiaoqiao. "Even if she didn't act herself, Xiaoqiao wasn't far from Lian Heng. Her involvement can't be ruled out!"
"I did nothing! Madam, please believe me!" Xiaoqiao pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
Tension thickened in the flower hall.
Lian Zheng observed Lu Qiaoqiao's defiant expression, torn. Deep down, he didn't want to believe she was guilty. He had known her for years and trusted her character.
Suddenly, a loud crash shattered the heavy silence in the flower hall.
"Lian Heng!" Yu Luoying dashed upstairs in a frenzy.