Chapter 143: Trouble at the Ye Family

Wei Jing Yi arrived just before sunset.

When he saw Lu Chang Qing’s dirt-streaked and disheveled appearance, he couldn’t help but show a look of disdain.

Lu Chang Qing returned the disdainful glance and asked, “Why are you coming at this hour? Are you here to freeload dinner again?”

Hearing this, Wei Jing Yi pretended to turn and leave.

“I came with news about the Ye family, thinking you’d want to know immediately. If you don’t care, then fine.”

Lu Chang Qing quickly reached out to stop him.

“What news?”

Wei Jing Yi finally sat down, his expression serious. “The Ye family is dead.”

“Dead?”

This revelation shocked not only Lu Chang Qing but also Xiao Huai’an, who stopped in his tracks while passing by.

“What happened to the Ye family?”

Even Ye Xin Ran came over, intrigued.

Wei Jing Yi began recounting the information he had gathered.

Apparently, someone had reported to the county magistrate yesterday that a severed human hand had been discovered on Xiu Jin Mountain, five miles from the county seat.

When the magistrate heard the news, he immediately sent Captain Li and his men to investigate.

Captain Li and his team found the reported location and saw that part of the ground had caved in, revealing a portion of a corpse.

After digging out the body, everyone was stunned.

They recognized the deceased, it was none other than Madam Zou, who had been imprisoned not long ago.

Madam Zou had a blunt force trauma wound on the back of her head, clearly indicating foul play.

Captain Li had the body taken back to the county office while he and two others headed to the Ye family residence.

Judging by the stiffness of the corpse, Madam Zou had been dead for over three days.

For the Ye family to remain silent about her death was highly suspicious.

Captain Li suspected that Madam Zou’s family, specifically Ye Da Cheng, was involved in her death.

But when he arrived at the Ye household, he discovered that the situation was far more complicated than he had expected.

The Ye family servants informed him that their master, mistress, and young lady had left the house five days ago.

“Did they say where they were going?” Captain Li pressed.

“No, they didn’t!”

Realizing that the situation was dire, the butler stammered nervously, “When the master leaves, he rarely informs us of his plans. We’re just tasked with cleaning and truly don’t know where they’ve gone!”

Captain Li frowned deeply, a sense of foreboding rising within him. He gave his men a simple order: “Take them all back!”

The Ye family servants were thrown into a panic, unable to understand what was happening. Crying out their innocence and pleading their case, they were bound, linked together in a long chain, and escorted to the county office.

After delivering the group to the magistrate, Captain Li provided a brief explanation of the situation. Then, he took a team back to Xiu Jin Mountain.

Since the Ye family had left together, there was a strong possibility that the remaining two family members had also been murdered.

Captain Li ordered his constables to form a line and sweep the mountain systematically. As they searched, he silently prayed that they wouldn’t find the bodies of Ye Da Cheng and his daughter.

If the entire family had been killed, the case would become infinitely more complicated.

But when misfortune strikes, the thing one fears most often comes true.

By the end of the afternoon, the constables uncovered another burial site on the mountain. When the body was unearthed, Captain Li recognized it immediately, it was Madam Zou’s daughter, Ye Xin Yao.

Captain Li felt his head throb with frustration. A major murder case like this occurring in his jurisdiction meant that unless it was solved swiftly, his career prospects would be entirely ruined.

He recalled how, during the Lunar New Year, his wife had suggested he wear red socks to ward off troublemakers. He had scoffed at the idea back then.

If he could turn back time, he would wear ten pairs of red socks to stomp every criminal into the ground.

Yun Tong County had always been relatively peaceful. But now, news of such a horrific crime had somehow leaked.

By the following day, nearly the entire county knew that disaster had struck the Ye family.

Wealthy households became paranoid, fearing that bandits had infiltrated the area and targeted the Ye family for their riches.

Meanwhile, the Ye family’s distant relatives quickly descended on their estate upon hearing the news.

With no survivors apart from Ye Da Cheng, whose body had yet to be found but was presumed dead, the family’s assets were up for grabs.

The only living member of the immediate family, Ye Xin Ran, was now married and belonged to another household.

The remaining property of Ye Da Cheng was hotly contested among his uncles and cousins, who descended into bitter arguments, openly exposing one another’s faults and scandals in their quest for a larger share.

“And that’s the situation,” Wei Jing Yi concluded, looking up at Ye Xin Ran and Xiao Huai’an.

“They’re saying the only surviving daughter of the Ye family is Doctor Ye, aren’t they?”

Ye Xin Ran nodded, her expression somber.

Although she resented Ye Da Cheng and his family, Ye Xin Ran never imagined things would take such a grim turn.

“Doctor Ye, forgive me for being blunt,” Wei Jing Yi said after some thought. “If the killer is targeting the Ye family, you should be cautious as well.”

“Don’t speak nonsense. My sister has already severed ties with the Ye family,” Lu Chang Qing retorted, though his expression betrayed his worry.

This Ye family trouble seemed relentless.

Why should their mess drag his sister into danger?

“Even so, Doctor Ye was still once part of the Ye family,” Wei Jing Yi pointed out. “If the county authorities investigate, they will likely question her as well.”

“It’s fine,” Ye Xin Ran reassured them. “I haven’t been in contact with them for ages. Even if the county magistrate comes looking, I’ve been here at home planting ice spirit flowers. There are witnesses and evidence. There’s nothing to fear.”

“Better safe than sorry,” Lu Chang Qing said anxiously. “Sister, why don’t you come with me to Aunt’s house? The Wei household has many servants. It’s bound to be safer than here.”

“No need. The situation is still unclear. It’s best not to involve more people,” Ye Xin Ran declined. “But you should go stay with Lady Leng for the next few days.”

“I won’t! Until the killer is caught, I’m staying here to protect you,” Lu Chang Qing insisted.

“You? A sickly scholar?” Ye Xin Ran chuckled. “If something happens, I’d probably end up protecting you instead.”

“But”

Before Lu Chang Qing could say more, Xiao Huai’an interrupted, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Xin Ran is safe.”

“Exactly! Master Xiao looks strong enough to take on eight men at once. He’s much more capable than the two of us. Let’s not cause any trouble here,” Wei Jing Yi added in agreement.

Realizing he couldn’t help much, Lu Chang Qing reluctantly agreed.

He resolved to return to town and hire two of the best fighters from a martial guild to protect his sister.

Meanwhile, Xiao Huai’an and Ye Xin Ran became more vigilant.

After seeing off Wei Jing Yi and Lu Chang Qing, Xiao Huai’an immediately set up several traps around the courtyard and instructed Ye Xin Ran never to go out alone without him.

As Wei Jing Yi had predicted, the very next day, officials from the county office arrived to summon Ye Xin Ran for questioning.