Chapter 77: An Inquiry

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The next morning, Lin Qiang came over and told them that the police station had sent a message saying that the fake waiter had confessed. Someone had paid him to poison the people at their table, and he was just doing his job. He had no idea why that person wanted to kill them.

Xu Zhizhi was really afraid now; she wished that Wen Jiang would take her home right away. Wen Jiang was also scared, but he was braver than Xu Zhizhi and more thoughtful. His aunt was seriously ill. As the younger generation, they should see her one last time as she wished.

Lin Qiang’s eyes rolled as he pulled Ding Yao aside and asked her in a low voice, “Miss Ding Yao, did you offend anyone? Do you think those people are coming after you?”

Ding Yao sneered in her heart. Lin Qiang was asking her about the situation to see if she suspected him? Since he was pretending, she would play along. Long San and Long Liu also hadn’t exposed Lin Qiang all this while. They probably didn’t have any evidence. The trail went cold for this poisoning incident, also probably for the fire last time.

Ding Yao shook her head. “I don’t have any enemies… If I did… it might be because my fiancé, Song Xiuyan… who previously saved General Long Zhanyuan.”

Lin Qiang looked as if he had suddenly realized something. “It makes sense now that you said it. I’ve been wondering. The first time could have been a coincidence, but not the second time. It seems that someone was indeed after your life. No wonder you were so cautious and even tested the food for poison before eating. I’ve been too careless and didn’t think of this. I must test all dishes before eating in future and eat only if they tested negative for poison.”

After a moment of thought, Lin Qiang continued, “Your fiancé, Song Xiuyan, who saved General Long Zhanyuan… I heard that General Long Zhanyuan was very grateful and left a group of people to protect him in secret. Is that true?”

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Ding Yao nodded. “Yes.”

Lin Qiang’s expression changed briefly before he continued to probe, “Did they send one or two people to follow you when you came on this trip?” He felt that something was off since both attempts on her life had been uncovered very quickly with the culprits caught. Ding Yao’s calm demeanor also made him very suspicious.

Ding Yao looked at Lin Qiang strangely. “Do you think… that’s possible? I only know that General Long Zhanyuan left people behind… to lure the snake out of hiding. As for the rest… I’m not sure…”

Lin Qiang did not continue to probe, instead, he comforted Ding Yao. “It’s fine. Regardless of whether someone is following you to protect you, you don’t have to worry too much. We’ll arrive at the capital tonight and it’s very safe in the capital. Those people wouldn’t dare to make a move there.”

Ding Yao nodded. “Okay, I understand.”

Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi heard the conversation between Ding Yao and Lin Qiang. It turned out that both incidents happened because of Ding Yao. Xu Zhizhi felt some regret in her heart. If she had known this, she wouldn’t have persuaded Ding Yao to come to the capital with them. However, Xu Zhizhi was a simple and kind person at the end of the day. She didn’t blame Ding Yao for this matter. She would simply distance herself from Ding Yao so she could stay out of harm’s way.

Ding Yao naturally would not argue with Xu Zhizhi. However, she hated Lin Hu’s guts. In order to kill her and not be suspected, he dragged Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi, two innocent people, to be buried with her.

Lin Qiang changed to a comfortable carriage, with a berth for naps. Before Ding Yao got into the carriage, she received a note from Long San. “There is naturally dangerous spot on the mountain road ahead. It is very suitable for manufactured accidents, to have the carriage fall off the cliff. If there is an accident, we will try our best to stop the carriage. However, for safety’s sake, it is best for you to get out of the carriage and walk that stretch of the road before getting back onto the carriage.” She understood Long San and Long Liu’s intent; they didn’t want to put her in danger. Since they couldn’t get any evidence of Lin Qiang harming them, they would first make sure that she got to the capital safely. Once they arrived there, they would watch what Lin Hu was up to. Long San and Long Liu knew that Lin Hu had sent people to kill her, but they didn’t know why. Perhaps even Lin Qiang, who had been tasked with the job, didn’t know what was going on.

This time, Lin Qiang didn’t sit in the carriage. Instead, he sat outside with the coachman who was driving the carriage. In the afternoon, the carriage drove into a mountain road. This mountain road wasn’t the only way into the capital. There were very few carriages coming and going. Ding Yao pulled open the carriage curtain and looked outside. The person riding a horse in front of the carriage was Long San, and the person riding a horse behind was Long Liu.

Perhaps they had reached the naturally dangerous spot. Someone in front shouted, “The road is blocked by rocks. We won’t be able to get through. Everyone, come and help.”