Chapter 148

Chapter 148 - 148 142 Changling exposed Xie Shang learns the truth Chapter 148: 142: Changling exposed, Xie Shang learns the truth (first update) Chapter 148: 142: Changling exposed, Xie Shang learns the truth (first update) The Wen Zhaoyang case from seven years ago was the first case Zhu Huanzhi handled after becoming a judge.

Zhu Huanzhi didn’t take long to respond, “What do you want me to do?”

“I want to know everything about this case.”

“The files for this case have gone missing, I will need time to organize.”

It was clear that someone had deliberately covered up the case, erasing traces very cleanly.

Xie Shang calmly reminded Judge Zhu, “I can wait, the question is whether Mr. Zhu you can wait or not.”

On September 5, the funeral of Old Madam Liang took place, in accordance with the customs of her family, friends and relatives paid their respects on the evening of the fourth, and the memorial service was at Zhou Mountain Funeral Home.

Xie Shang took Gu Yihuan’s car to get there.

During the trip, his mobile phone’s email inbox received an email sent by Zhu Huanzhi.

“Xiao Huan, did you bring the computer?”

“Only a tablet, it’s in the storage box.”

Xie Shang opened the email attachments with the tablet.

The information extracted by Zhu Huanzhi was very detailed, containing transcripts, autopsy reports, and photos of the crime scene.

The victim, Fu Mingao.

The cause of death was a heavy blow to the head resulting in intracranial hemorrhage. Additionally, his spleen had ruptured, and his body bore many bruises from acts of violence.

The perpetrator, Wen Zhaoyang, was at the original crime scene and witnessed by an eyewitness holding the murder weapon.

Testimonies, physical evidence, fingerprints, and the time of death all matched. The motive for the murder was Wen Zhaoyang’s dissatisfaction with Fu Mingao for taking the university recommendation spot that should have been his. The first trial established the crime of intentional murder, and the victim’s family issued a letter of forgiveness, resulting in a sentence of ten years imprisonment.

At the same time, aside from Wen Zhaoyang and the witnesses, surveillance also caught four other people near the crime scene; they were tourists from Laifeng Town. The police took statements from all of them, with signatures on the records.

Those four names were all too familiar to Xie Shang.

He remained silent for a long time.

Gu Yihuan, feeling the silence was too heavy, tried to make conversation, “Fourth Brother.” He broached the subject indirectly, “That Yao Zhou Painting your dad sent last time is still around, right?”

He had seen with his own eyes as Wen Changling burned the Yao Zhou Painting; he asked this deliberately to give Xie Shang a reminder.

Xie Shang, lost in thought, stared unblinkingly at the darkened tablet screen.

Gu Yihuan felt Xie Shang’s state was a bit off.

“Fourth Brother.”

“Xiao Huan, be quiet for a bit.”

“Oh.”

Fourth Brother is acting strange.

Gu Yihuan sensed an impervious, suffocating tension.

Afterward, Xie Shang didn’t speak at all for the rest of the journey, and Gu Yihuan didn’t dare to either. The only sounds in the car were the roar of the sports car and the fierce wind gusting through the windows.

They arrived at Zhou Mountain Funeral Home at 6:28 PM, and Gu Yihuan followed Xie Shang to offer their condolences with incense.

Old Madam Liang’s eldest son, Liang Zhenqin, made a point of coming over.

“Xie Shang.”

Xie Shang replied, “Uncle Liang.”

Xie Shang’s grandmother had been very close to Old Madam Liang during her lifetime.

Liang Zhenqin came to express his thanks, “The Chinese honeycomb you provided had an effect. The old lady passed away peacefully, thank you.”

Xie Shang was rather taciturn today, responding politely but briefly, “You’re too kind.”

Liang Zhenqin then turned to Gu Yihuan, “Xiao Huan, please pass my thanks to your mother, for the trouble she’s gone to.”

Speaking on behalf of his mother, Gu Yihuan replied, “It’s no trouble at all.”

More relatives and friends came in to mourn, and Liang Zhenqin went to greet them.

Xie Shang said, “Let’s go.”

Gu Yihuan glanced at his phone’s messages, “My mom and the others will be here soon, your mom is also around, don’t you want to wait?”

“I’m leaving first.”

Xie Shang didn’t wait, heading straight for the exit.

Gu Yihuan felt something was very wrong. Xie Shang had excellent control over his emotions, but at this moment, he was not only taciturn but also short-tempered, which was highly unusual.

“Fourth Brother.”

Gu Yihuan quickly caught up to him.

There were several memorial services set up at Zhou Mountain Funeral Home today, and the Zhou family’s funeral was also being held there.

Fu Ying received a message and came out of the funeral home. Wen Changling was crouched under a large tree waiting for her;

the railing around the tree was taller than she was as she crouched, seeming to be intently watching the grass.

Fu Ying walked over, “How did you get here?”

Wen Changling immediately looked up, “I came to check on you.” She stood up and circled around Fu Ying, “Did the Zhou Family throw any eggs at you?”

Wen Changling had been a genius since childhood, and the mind of a genius is always a bit unusual.

“Who told you they were going to throw eggs at me?”

“I eavesdropped on it.”

Wen Changling was very protective of her own people and would never allow others to throw eggs at them.

Fu Ying said, “No, they didn’t dare.”

At that moment, a man passed by, looking down at his phone, and bumped into Fu Ying’s arm. Without looking up, he perfunctorily said, “Sorry.”

Pang Shifang, Zhou Sheng’s cousin.

Almost instinctively, Wen Changling moved forward, her gaze chillingly cold. Fu Ying held her back and shook her head.

Wen Changling then suppressed her emotions and didn’t approach, “Why is your hand so cold?” Fu Ying’s hand was like ice, Wen Changling held it and rubbed it, “Aren’t you cold?”

“I’m not cold; you should go back. Don’t let people see you.”

“Okay, I’m going back.”

Wen Changling waved and went home.

*****

Xie Shang suddenly stopped.

Gu Yihuan almost bumped into him, “Fourth Brother.”

Xie Shang was looking outside.

“What’s wrong, Fourth Brother?”

It was as if he hadn’t heard, just standing there, in a state of dissociation, oblivious to everything around him, as if the world only consisted of the place his gaze fell upon.

Gu Yihuan followed his gaze, “Isn’t that Miss Wen from your family?” He saw that Miss Wen seemed about to leave, “Fourth Brother, shall we go over?”

“Don’t go over.”

The air around them thrummed with a bizarre, silent, and twisting magnetic field.

Xie Shang stood still, a stormy sea rising in his eyes: “Don’t disturb her.”

So, Wen Changling and Fu Ying were that close.

Ah Na wasn’t the murderer, the murderers were those four people.

Fu Mingao had a sister.

All the pieces came together, why Wen Changling hated Tong Taishi, why she dealt with Dihong Hospital’s organ trading, why she drank when the Zheng Family met with trouble.

Her wish was for evil to meet with evil, for the world to be at peace. Gu Yihuan said that chasing after Mr. Yezi’s computer had brought up a rabbit. He Dongzhou said that she had the knife and the rope in her hands, and she wasn’t simple.

She had come for revenge, she and Fu Ying... they had come for revenge...

When Fu Ying initially came to Ruyi Pawnshop.

He asked, “What do you want to pawn for gold?”

“Wen Changling.” Fu Ying said, “I want her to plead and not get, to suffer so much she does not wish to continue living.”

The one who ended up pleading and suffering was himself.

Quite impressive, Miss Wen.

*****

Xie Shang felt he needed to calm down.

He stood at the end of Lotus Pond Street for three hours, nearly staring holes through a rabbit lantern hanging on the eaves of the opposite shop. It was a mess of his own making. He approached with an agenda; he knew from the start that Wen Changling was not a harmless rabbit, with sharp claws, capable of biting, yet he still fell for her spell.

He pushed the door open and entered the house. Wen Changling was waiting for him in his courtyard.

“Why have you come back so late?”

Because I’m afraid to see you.

Xie Shang stood still and did not move forward.

Wen Changling approached him, her piercing gaze immediately detecting that something was wrong with him, “What’s wrong?”

“Wen Changling,”

Have you been deceiving me all along?

Without an answer, Wen Changling lifted her face and scrutinized Xie Shang carefully, asking again, “What’s wrong?”

All of it was fake, saying you would love me was fake, saying you would treat me well was also fake.