Chapter 25: The Abandoned Pawn

"Coroner, did you discover any dagger when you conducted the examination at that time?"

Xu Zhihuan replied truthfully. "Reporting to the young master, no dagger was found at that time."

"Very well, then take a look at what this is."

Meng Yuxi reached into his robes and pulled out a white cloth bundle. Carefully unwrapping it, a gleaming dagger appeared inside.

Wang Lingxin, Li Zhao, and Deng He all leaned in to look, a chill running down their spines. Why was there another dagger here, and one even more delicate and exquisite than the one they had burned—it looked more like something a woman would use.

What devious scheme was this cunning scoundrel Meng Yuxi playing now?

A sense of foreboding rose in all their hearts.

"Xu Zhihuan, look at the nicks on this blade. Are they consistent with those on my sword?"

Xu Zhihuan picked up the dagger to examine it closely, then brought over the evidence sword to compare the edges. Indeed, the marks were consistent with two weapons clashing.

The moment he picked up the dagger, Xu felt a wave of dizziness. He fanned the air above the blade and sniffed cautiously; the scent of musk was extremely potent, far stronger than the traces he had found in the room that day.

"Reporting to you, Young Master, the scent of musk on this dagger is very strong. I am certain it originated from Qin Ming. Furthermore, judging by the nicks on the blade, there are clear signs of multiple collisions with your sword."

"When I was performing the autopsy, I also noticed some crimson marks on Qin Ming's palms. Now I realize it was because she was clutching a sharp weapon at the time."

Xu Zhihuan now admired Meng Yuxi to the point of total submission, realizing that the case had finally become clear.

It was simply that Qin Ming had first drugged Meng Yuxi, then attempted to assassinate him with the dagger. In a life-or-death struggle, Meng Yuxi had fought back with his sword, eventually succeeding in killing Qin Ming.

Meng Yuxi gave Xu Zhihuan a slight smile and turned to display the dagger to the people of Su City.

"Meng Yuxi, couldn't this dagger have been used by Qin Ming for defense when you were assassinating her?" Li Zhao pointed at Meng Yuxi, shouting in anger.

"Li Zhao, you are merely a newly appointed deputy steward of the Meng household. How dare a mere servant point fingers at his master? Do you consider yourself the Prefect of Su City? Or the law of the Great Li Dynasty? Or perhaps there is someone behind you supporting your arrogance?"

Li Zhao was rendered speechless, looking toward the legitimate Prefect, Wang Lingxin.

Wang Lingxin coughed twice and said, "Indeed, Young Master Meng, please explain a little." His attitude had made a 180-degree turn from just moments before.

"Wang Lingxin, what kind of attitude is that? What did the brothel keeper’s testimony say just now? Didn't she say she heard lewd sounds from the three of them in the room, and then heard Miss Qin Ming screaming for help?" Li Zhao pointed at Wang Lingxin and asked.

Wang Lingxin flicked his sleeve and looked into Li Zhao’s eyes. Just as he was about to speak, his vision blurred, and he turned to bark at Meng Yuxi, "Indeed, how do you explain the witness testimony from the brothel keeper?"

Meng Yuxi retorted, "Oh, so the testimony from your deputy steward is even more complete than what the brothel keeper said. Could it be that you coached her on all of it?"

"Do you think you are the only ones with witnesses? Xiao Cui!"

Meng Yuxi called out several times, but Xiao Cui did not respond.

Deng He let out a snort of laughter. Ever since the head steward had carried Xiao Cui back yesterday, she had been locked in her room. Did they really think Xiao Cui possessed the skills of an elite death warrior of the Meng household, able to appear at a moment's notice?

Meng Yuxi grew anxious. He walked over to Meng Xueqiao and pulled out the alluring young man hiding behind him.

Meng Xueqiao stepped aside with a smile. The alluring young man’s face turned bright red; he was clearly unwilling and kept his head bowed.

When Wu Jiwen saw this, the teacup in her hand trembled, and she stood up. She saw clearly now that this alluring youth was not Meng Xuexian. Since that wretched girl was neither in the Meng manor, where could she have run off to?

Seeing Wu Jiwen stand, Li Zhao and Deng He bowed.

"Yo, shouldn't someone watching the show be sitting? Why stand up? Is something bothering you?" Meng Yuxi chuckled.

Wu Jiwen shot a cold glance at Li Zhao, who instantly broke into a cold sweat. Deng He also said in a trembling voice, "Mistress, shall we leave?"

Wang Lingxin was oblivious to what was happening beside him and continued to repeat his previous line, "Indeed, how do you explain the witness testimony from the brothel keeper?"

"Xiao Cui, tell everyone: the brothel keeper said the three of us were playing games in bed and even pleasured you until you fainted. Is there any truth to that?"

Xiao Cui’s pretty face turned so red it looked as if it would bleed. She was a maiden, yet the brothel keeper had accused her of such things; she hated it so much she could have bitten through her teeth. And this Meng Yuxi was just as hateful, teasing her repeatedly—she really wanted to bite a chunk of flesh off him. It was a pity she had actually wanted to save him earlier.

Without a word, Xiao Cui walked up to the brothel keeper and slapped her repeatedly across her fat face until her teeth fell out.

The brothel keeper mumbled, "Heroine, it wasn't me who said it, it was all Li..."

Meng Yuxi watched with interest, hoping she would say more.

Suddenly, the brothel keeper’s eyes rolled back, she began to foam at the mouth, and died on the spot.

Xiao Cui drifted backward. The two old men standing beside Meng Xueqiao couldn't help but gasp.

Meng Yuxi secretly thought to himself, *It's poison,* and covered his nose and mouth.

"Wu Jiwen, someone is trying to poison you!" Meng Yuxi suddenly shouted, his eyes darting around.

Wu Jiwen whirled around to look at Li Zhao.

Li Zhao backed away in fear, muttering, "I... I didn't..."

Deng He immediately stepped in front of Wu Jiwen to protect her.

One of the two old men brought by Wu Jiwen flashed in front of Li Zhao, both men striking out with their palms simultaneously. Li Zhao gasped, arching his back to dodge, and kicked out with both feet to counter.

The two old men, guarding their status, naturally wouldn't use their hands to block the soles of Li Zhao's shoes, so they stepped aside. Li Zhao seized the opportunity to steady himself and scattered a handful of silver needles. The two old men flicked their fingers like blooming flowers, shielding their mistress and batting the needles away one by one.

The three of them became locked in a chaotic brawl.

Wang Lingxin was still standing there, repeating, "Indeed, how do you explain the witness testimony from the brothel keeper?"

A deflected silver needle struck his face, and he immediately convulsed and collapsed, foaming at the mouth.

Seeing the danger, the people in the Su City prefectural office fell into chaos, scattering to avoid being caught in the crossfire. Meng Xueqiao and Xiao Cui retreated behind a pillar. Even the usually composed Wu Jiwen hid herself completely behind Deng He, watching the three combatants with total concentration.

None of them noticed that Meng Yuxi had taken advantage of the chaos to crouch down and sneak behind her.

Meng Yuxi quickly pulled a bottle from his robes and, unnoticed, poured a few drops of liquid into Wu Jiwen’s teacup.

At that moment, the two old men pressed their palms onto Li Zhao’s chest. The force of their strikes poured out, and Li Zhao’s body collapsed like a boneless doll, falling to the ground motionless.

They then kicked Li Zhao’s corpse aside.

Wu Jiwen finally let out a sigh of relief and sat back down in the office. Deng He, knowing they had caused trouble, retreated behind Wu Jiwen, not daring to draw a full breath.

Meng Yuxi hurried to Wang Lingxin’s side and called out softly, "Prefect Wang, are you alright? Prefect Wang?"

His eyes kept darting toward Wu Jiwen. Seeing her exhale, she likely realized she had lost her composure and was now forcing herself to stay calm, habitually reaching for her teacup.

*Drink up,* he thought. *You love tea so much, don't you? Drink.*