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Second Master Ning was angry and aggrieved. “All those gestures were just for show, worth almost nothing. As for inheriting the family business, we never intended to compete with our elder brother for it. What pains us is our father’s neglect. It seems no matter what, he always thought of our elder brother first. Were my third brother and I just decorations?

If what Second Master Ning said was true, it would indeed make people jealous, and jealousy was a very scary thing. “Grandpa Ning fell ill because he was worried about you two brothers.”

“He wasn’t worried about us; he was distressed because we killed our elder brother.” Second Master Ning spoke with a sense of vengeful satisfaction, “We wanted him to feel the pain of loss!”

Ren Buqing couldn’t help but interject, “Your father may have been biased, but your elder brother did nothing wrong to you. How could you bring yourselves to harm him?”

Chu Qingzhi thought to herself that once the heart hardens, a son killing his father is possible, let alone brother against brother. She had seen too many such killings to find anything strange about it.

Second Master Ning said hatefully, “Without him, our father would surely have noticed me and my third brother. As long as our father would glance our way, what does it matter if the elder brother was killed?”

His heart was twisted by jealousy.

Chu Qingzhi had the coachman brought over, “The carriage Ning Yuting was riding in was also tampered with by you, correct? You bribed the coachman to deliberately cause an accident and have it fall off the cliff?

Second Master Ning admitted straightforwardly, “After Ning Yuting was born, the old master treasured him like a precious gem, while he never spared a second glance at me and my third brother’s children. They deserved to die, all of them.”

Suddenly stopping his mad laughter, he glared at Chu Qingzhi, “But why did you save him? Just when our father had started to notice me and my third brother, Ning Yuting’s return made everything crumble. He became even more fond of Ning Yuting…”

The man was beyond redemption. Chu Qingzhi ordered, “Take him away and bring up Third Master Ning.”

“Yes.” The jailer quickly brought Third Master Ning forward.

Chu Qingzhi posed the same question to him, and he admitted to the crime as well, though he was calmer than Second Master Ning.

After interrogating both, guards from the Ministry of Justice informed that

Ning Yuting had arrived.

Chu Qingzhi and Ren Buqing met him at the entrance of the Ministry.

Ning Yuting spoke first, “Lord Ren, have my uncles confessed?”

“They have,” Ren Buqing confirmed truthfully. “Just now, they admitted to hiring someone to commit murder. The evidence is conclusive; they cannot escape their fate.”

Ning Yuting struggled to say, “I don’t want them to die.” If they died, his grandfather would lose three sons, which he couldn’t bear. Having already lost his parents, he didn’t want to lose his grandfather too.

Ren Buqing was puzzled, “Why?”

“My grandfather won’t be able to bear it.” Ning Yuting’s fists were clenched white, “Is there a possibility for a lighter sentence?”

Ren Buqing looked at Ning Yuting sympathetically, “According to the laws of the Daling Dynasty, the lightest sentence would be exile for three thousand miles.”

Ning Yuting pleaded, “Then please let it be so.”

Ren Buqing glanced at Chu Qingzhi, who showed understanding for Ning Yuting’s situation and remained silent. After all, it was a family matter. Ren Buqing said, “I will try my best.”

“Thankyou, Lord Ren.” Ning Yuting also bowed to Chu Qingzhi, “Fifth sister, thank you.”

Seeing Ning Yuting’s somber expression, Chu Qingzhi offered some consolation, “What’s important is the living and the future. Try to reconcile with the past and things beyond your control. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

Ning Yuting nodded, “I know. Give me some time; I’ll get better.”

“Go back. My second sister must be worried about you.”

“Farewell.”

Tang Jinghong left the Ministry of Justice, his gaze sweeping over Ning Yuting’s departing figure and settling on Chu Qingzhi and Ren Buqing, “The Ning family’s case is almost concluded, isn’t it?”

Ren Buqing responded, “Only the formal court session remains, but it’s merely

a formality now.”

He thought to himself that with Chu Qingzhi’s assistance, the case had been smoothly solved. He almost wished he could keep Chu Qingzhi at the Ministry of Justice.

Chu Qingzhi mentioned, “I have other matters to attend to, so I must leave now.”

Tang Jinghong, concerned for Chu Qingzhi’s well-being, suggested, “It’s noon, why not have lunch before you go?”

“That works, let’s go.” It had been many days since she and Tang Jinghong had dined together. With her two disciples looking after Lu Yice, Chu Qingzhi agreed without worry.

Tang Jinghong invited Ren Buqing, “Would you like to join us?” “No, thanks. You two go ahead.” Ren Buqing declined without a second thought, reasoning it was a meal for the engaged couple, and his presence would only be intrusive.

Tainan restaurant.

The two chose a private room and sat opposite each other.

As they were about to order, the waiter mentioned, “We’ve recently acquired a new type of drink, very fresh and uniquely named beer, which is quite suitable for ladies. Would you like to try a bottle?”

Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong exchanged a look, surprised that beer had made its way to Tainan Restaurant.

Chu Qingzhi nodded, “Bring us a bottle.”

“Right away,” the waiter said, swiftly heading downstairs to fetch their order. Soon, the waiter returned, pouring the beer with attentive service, “Please enjoy.”

After tasting the beer, Chu Qingzhi recognized it as their own, “This is good. When did the restaurant start selling this?”

The waiter thought for a moment, “It’s been four or five days. This beer sells well, but the proprietor can only get so many bottles, limiting sales to fifty bottles a day. Once sold out, customers need to reserve for the next day.” It seemed that the beer was selling well. Chu Qingzhi tipped the waiter and said, “This drink is not bad. Thank you for recommending it to us.”

The waiter happily took the money. “Please enjoy your meal. I’ll go check on your dishes.”

“Go on.”

The beer’s popularity and high price reflected the capital’s unique market dynamics, where expensive items often attracted more buyers.

Tang Jinghong smiled, “How does it feel to encounter our own product while diningout?”

“Very good. It feels like all the hard work has paid off.”

“Let’s toast to that.”

“Okay.”

Lord Zhang’s Estate.

Lu Yichen looked in the direction of the door several times, his expression clearly worried.

“What are you looking at?” Wu Yaqing couldn’t help but ask.

“Why isn’t Qingzhi back yet?” Lu Yichen looked at the glass bottle. LuYici’s hand looked even paler under the reflection of the glass bottle. It was bloodless and heart-wrenching.

Wu Yaqing sized up Lu Yichen. This was completely unlike the usually cold and heartless Third Master Lu. “Are you worried about Lu Yici?”

“Don’t talk nonsense; I’m worried about Qingzhi.” Realizing his concern, Lu Yichen pondered whether he was actually worried about Lu Yice.

Wu Yaqing bluntly exposed him, “You’re not even good at lying. Qingzhi is invincible; she doesn’t need your worry. Besides, it’s not like it’s your place to worry about her!”