Just Now
"Zi Shi?" Governor Yu paced back and forth, then turned sharply with his hands behind his back and asked Niu Erji angrily, "Where were you at Zi Shi?"
Niu Erji's eyes trembled with fear. "Old… Master, I had just finished everything. Zi… Zi Shi? You should have been asleep when you returned."
"Your wife is missing, and you don't even know? What kind of husband are you? Outrageous!"
Lu Qian stopped the furious Governor Yu, looked at Niu Erji, and asked, "Have you or your wife offended anyone?"
"No, sir. Ever since I entered the mansion, I've never caused trouble. My wife is also an honest woman. She helps in the kitchen every day and rarely leaves the mansion."
Governor Yu slapped the table. "Mr. Lu asked you to think carefully before answering! Have you made any enemies in this mansion?"
"Mr. Yu, please don't be anxious." Lu Qian sighed, visibly interrupted in his thoughts. His expression was helpless.
"Mr. Lu, how can I not be anxious? You said this murderer has killed two people in two days. It was bad enough when he killed someone on the street, but now he has entered my mansion!"
Governor Yu sighed heavily. "There are so many women in my household. Who knows if the murderer is still hiding somewhere in the mansion? It's truly worrisome."
Mu Feng chuckled. "This murderer can come and go freely in the governor's mansion. After killing someone in the kitchen's backyard, he jumped out the window and disappeared without alerting anyone. I think it's highly likely he's a martial arts master. What do you think, brother?"
Mu Zhao nodded slightly. "Governor Yu, if you are worried, send some guards from the yamen to patrol the mansion. Don't use the main kitchen for now. I will have someone temporarily seal the area, and we might need to call the coroner later for another inspection."
"Yes, yes, what the prince says makes sense." The large kitchen was now tainted and couldn't be used. Blocking the area was a reasonable suggestion, so Governor Yu had no objections.
"Master, Miss Linlang is here with her maid."
Everyone looked up as Yu Linlang entered, leading her young maid. She bowed slightly, her expression calm and composed.
This girl carried a cold demeanor, yet her manners were flawless.
Governor Yu felt a slight sense of admiration and raised his eyes with a kind smile. "Linlang, how was your return yesterday? I've been busy these past two days and haven't had time to ask..."
"The governor invited me here just for pleasantries?" Yu Linlang interrupted coldly. "If there's something important, speak directly. I have other matters to attend to."
Governor Yu hesitated, glancing awkwardly at Mu Zhao and the others before saying, "It's Lord Lu who wishes to ask your maid a few questions."
"Everyone in the kitchen claims that your maid was the first to kick open the kitchen door and enter."
"So what?" Yu Linlang remained unmoved. "There were more than ten people present, including Madam Hu. Does the governor believe that the first person to enter is the murderer?"
Governor Yu looked embarrassed as he turned toward the young men present. "Of course, I don't mean that, but—"
"Mr. Yu, let the officials handle this," Lu Qian interjected.
Prince Mu, who had grown dizzy from Governor Yu's roundabout statements, sighed. "Governor Yu, please sit down and leave the questioning to Lord Lu."
Lu Qian turned to Yu Linlang. "Miss Yu, please take a seat."
"No need. If you have questions, ask them quickly. My maid and I still have things to do."
Governor Yu's patience snapped. "What could be so urgent? Sit down when you're told to and answer properly!"
Yu Linlang's gaze turned ice-cold. "Governor, do you really want me to say it here in front of everyone?"
Yu Shoudao's heart skipped a beat. Yu Linlang's sharp eyes locked onto him as her voice grew even colder.
"We need to buy household essentials—bowls, cups, tea sets, clothes, shoes, socks, bed screens, wardrobe racks. Everything must be purchased. Otherwise, do you expect the governor's mansion to provide them?"
Her words were laced with biting sarcasm.
Cold sweat formed on Yu Shoudao's forehead. His daughter's sharp tongue left him speechless.
Mu Feng nearly dropped his teacup, wide-eyed as he looked between Yu Linlang and the young maid standing behind her with red-rimmed eyes.
"Uh..." Lu Qian cleared his throat, trying to defuse the tension. But before he could, Prince Mu spoke calmly. "Governor Yu, are you saying your daughter has to personally buy essential household items? That's strange. In our Beijing residence, even in the most rundown homes, daughters are not expected to do such things, let alone pay out of their own pockets."
Governor Yu's face flushed with embarrassment. He waved his hands hurriedly. "No, no, that's not it. Linlang, perhaps your mother was too busy and overlooked this matter. Don't be angry. As your father, I'll immediately order the accountant to give you five hundred taels of silver. You can buy whatever you need."
Yu Linlang raised her eyes slowly. For the first time, a flicker of satisfaction appeared on her face.
"Not later. Right now," she said calmly. "Let the prince and Lord Lu serve as witnesses."
Mu Feng nearly burst out laughing and turned to his elder brother, who also looked somewhat amused.
Is she really the governor's biological daughter?
Governor Yu's emotions were mixed. Not wanting to be further embarrassed in front of the prince and officials, he quickly ordered a servant to fetch five silver notes and hand them to Yu Linlang.
Yu Linlang accepted the money without a word, then sat down expressionlessly. She turned to her maid.
"Jiujin, recall what you saw when you kicked the door open and tell Lord Lu in detail."
Jiujin had already recounted the incident three times to the guards, but she still thought carefully before speaking.
"When I kicked the door in, I noticed that her eyes were empty. She was staring toward the ceiling beams. Now that I think about it, was something hidden up there?"
Lu Qian's eyes lit up. He immediately ordered a search.
The guards combed through the kitchen thoroughly, hoping for a clue.
Before long, a searcher returned with a discovery.
Something had been hidden in a crack in the crossbeam. It took a while for the guards to retrieve it.
As Yu Linlang led Jiujin away, she caught sight of a servant dragging Niu Erji forward.
"Do you recognize this?"
Niu Erji stared at the small handmade horse in front of him, utterly confused. "Sir, this… this isn't mine!"
The air was cold and damp, despite the absence of snow.
Yu Linlang took a few steps forward, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped the tears from Jiujin's red-rimmed eyes.
"Silly girl, why are you crying?"
"I'm not worth it for you, my lady."
"What is there to be worth? They are just irrelevant people."