GHLCS Chapter127

Strangely enough, the incident of Zhang Yaochen being attacked lasted for two days, but it ended without any result. This was because when the police went to question Zhang Yaochen, he was bedridden and could not tell what the killer looked like, nor could he explain the cause and effect.

 

He didn’t know anything when asked, and the housekeeper would send them away when asked more, saying that he needed to rest. This was true, for at such an old age, he was stabbed in the heart, and it was like walking through the gates of hell.

 

Speaking of Zhang Yinxi and Zhang Xiuming, it’s even more embarrassing.

 

That night, Zhang Yinxi actually disguised herself as a prostitute and sneaked into Ruiting Fang, wanting to take revenge on Xiao Yan. However, she first saw Shen Jingmo taking a medicinal bath. She became furious and grabbed Shen Jingmo’s hair and wanted to drown him in the pool.

 

As a result, she was discovered by Liao Qin, tied up, and handed over to Xiao Yan. When Xiao Yan saw Shen Jingmo coughing beside the pool, he lost his mind, poured hot water all over Zhang Yinxi from head to toe, and left her in public.

 

“I generally don’t bully women, but it is an exception if you hurt Shen Jingmo.” This is what Xiao Yan said.

 

Passersby who didn’t know the truth thought that it was the young lady of the Zhang family who offered herself to the ghost lord and was looked down upon and thrown out. They were pointing and laughing at her.

 

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, what rich young lady? She’s wearing less than a dancer…”

 

“Now, even if she marries into an ordinary family, I’m afraid no one will want her either!”

 

“The Zhang family must be punished for their evil deeds; otherwise, how could they be so miserable!”

 

With something like this happening, given how information spreads in Shanghai, it won’t be a day before the Zhang family becomes the topic of conversation for everyone.

 

Those upper-class folks are far from kind, many envy the Zhang family’s success. Now that they’ve found a weak spot to mock, who knows how many of them are secretly thrilled!

 

When Zhang Xiuming arrived, Zhang Yinxi was squatting in the corner with her teeth gritting, curled up into a ball. Her skin was burned red, and she had lost all her dignity.

 

He pulled Zhang Yinxi into his arms, patting her on the back, regardless of the sarcasm from others behind them: “It’s alright, it’s alright…”

 

In her brother’s arms, Zhang Yinxi burst into tears.

 

The Zhang family’s affairs seemed to have come to a halt here, and Duan Yelin and his party also set off on the boat back to Hezhou.

 

Inside the cabin, Duan Yelin was flipping through a newspaper and talking to Qiao Song: “Have you read the latest report from Jinling? I heard there’s a plague over there?”

 

Qiao Song was also reading a newspaper, but the newspaper was upside down and his eyes were blank, as if he didn’t hear Duan Yelin’s words. Until Duan Yelin kicked him and said, “What are you thinking about? Do you miss your wife?”

 

Qiao Song quickly turned the newspaper over, scratched his head, and smiled foolishly: “No… no… but a few days ago, Governor Duan sent a telegram saying that several strange bodies were found in the suburbs of Hezhou. I was just thinking about it.”

 

“Zhanzhou seemed to say that all the spies in the Japanese consulate have been eliminated. The other party’s methods were so fierce, there must be some unspeakable secrets.” Duan Yelin began to worry again. He had been away from Hezhou City for such a long time, and he didn’t know if everything was alright.

 

He raised his head and looked through the window at Xu Hang, who was standing outside on the deck enjoying the wind.

 

These past few days he seemed to be always unhappy and depressed, less talkative than before. He wore many clothes in the hot summer and wrapped himself tightly. He would not let Duan Yelin touch him unless necessary, and also refused to sleep with him at night. He often stayed alone, and his appetite became poor.

 

Not sure if it was because the trip to Shanghai made him unhappy or something else. Duan Yelin always felt that there was some strange reason, but he couldn’t put it into words.

 

Duan Yelin didn’t know that Xu Hang, who was standing on the deck at the moment, was struggling with his shaking hands. He held a piece of paper and wanted to tear it into small strips along the grain, but his hands were out of control, and he tore it like a dog was chewing it.

 

The degree of nerve paralysis was far beyond his imagination.

 

Too irritated, he threw all the papers in his hand into the sea and watched the ripples created by the boat swallow them up.

 

His head was splitting with pain, and he felt so miserable that he even wanted to climb over the railing and jump off.

 

After a stalemate with his inner feelings for a while, he took out a syringe from his pocket, lifted up his sleeve, inserted the needle, and slowly injected the transparent medicine. His tense nerves finally relaxed.

 

Now is not the time, he can’t go to detox with peace of mind, he still has to look normal.

 

Only if you don’t show your weakness will the enemy not be arrogant.

 

Hearing footsteps behind him, he calmly threw the things away as if nothing had happened.

 

“…Young Master Xu,” Qiao Song, who was behind him, hesitated and said, “Can I ask you something?”

 

Xu Hang turned around and looked over Qiao Song’s shoulder to see Duan Yelin in the cabin reading a newspaper. The wind was strong on the deck, and his hair was blown as soon as he left the room. Qiao Song’s hair was blown to one side, revealing his slightly full forehead.

 

His face started to turn red before he even opened his mouth.

 

It was the same before. Xu Hang even felt that Qiao Song had known him for so long, but he had hardly ever looked him in the eye or spoken to him. He spoke carefully, “Where did you go the night the Chief of Staff was attacked?”

 

Oh, did he find out? Xu Hang thought to himself.

 

To be honest, it was a bit surprising that this silly, sometimes confused, and somewhat cute adjutant actually became sensitive in this regard.

 

When Xu Hang heard his question, he subconsciously thought about where he had given himself away. After thinking for a long time, he still had no clue until Qiao Song took out a small, fingernail-sized piece of blue crystal glass from his pocket.

 

Qiao Song was very nervous at first glance: “That night, you didn’t come back, and I was actually waiting for you in the side hall. Later, when I saw you coming in, this thing fell off your body. It wasn’t a very noticeable thing, but maybe you also didn’t know it…” He took two steps forward, wanting Xu Hang to see it more clearly: “I went to the Chief of Staff’s home with the Commander, and he had a lot of blue crystal glass like this in his home. These were all shipped back from France at a price of one ounce of gold per glass. I heard that this craft is out of print. In addition to the 17 pieces in the Chief of Staff’s home, there are only two pieces in the French museum.”

 

Therefore, this is irrefutable evidence that Xu Hang had been to the Zhang family’s house. Putting all the clues together, it is hard not to suspect that he was the killer who attacked Zhang Yaochen.

 

As Qiao Song spoke, he felt Xu Hang’s gaze becoming increasingly scorching, and even his breathing became erratic. He could no longer hear the whirring wind in his ears, but only the echoes of terror in his heart.

 

“I am from a poor family. Of course I can only hear and see such a valuable thing, so I remember it clearly. But I don’t understand why this thing would appear… on your body?”

 

Xu Hang looked at Qiao Song’s bright eyes, which were full of expectations for kindness. He reached out and took the glass from Qiao Song’s palm, never expecting that his flaws would be exposed by this little thing.

 

It seems that it got caught in the hair when the glass was broken. Who would have thought that such an inconspicuous piece of glass could be a treasure?

 

But he was not terrified by being discovered. Instead, he asked Qiao Song, “Since you doubt me, why don’t you give this thing to Duan Yelin first?”

 

“I’m not doubting you! Ugh… I’m not-not doubting you… it’s just… it’s just…” Qiao Song was so anxious that he couldn’t speak coherently. “I want to hear your explanation!”

 

“Explanation? …Qiao Song, do you want me to tell you that I didn’t go to the Zhang family’s house? I picked it up on the road? It fell from the sky? Or it grown on my body? Do you believe it?” Xu Hang made him choke.

 

Qiao Song was speechless.

 

Of course he wouldn’t believe it, and he couldn’t make up any lies either. Qiao Song then realized that his behavior was actually a revelation.

 

Xu Hang took a step forward and got closer to Qiao Song. He lowered his voice and stared at Qiao Song with eyes that could see through a person’s soul: “You might as well admit it, Qiao Song, you like me. I saw through it a long time ago.”