novel-bin Chapter 219 Losing a loved one
Chapter 219 Losing a loved one
Yizhou City was bustling and bustling with traffic. In an inn next to the Zhenxi Marquis Mansion, the most prominent place in the city, Qin Zhuoxi was anxiously waiting for news from Yunzhi.
Not long after, Yun Zhi hurried back to the inn and reported to Qin Zhuoxi, "Miss, I have already found out. The Zhenxi Marquis's Mansion will hold an annual ancestor worship banquet the day after tomorrow. And I heard that Miss Jun Ning has already sent the offerings to the Marquis' Mansion in advance, but she may not attend the ceremony."
Qin Zhuoxi took a sip of tea, a cunning look flashed in his eyes, and then he ordered Ming Jue: "Pour this bottle of medicine into the oil they use for cooking."
Ming Jue asked doubtfully, "Miss, why do you put the medicine in the oil? Will it really work?"
Qin Zhuoxi smiled and explained, "Meng Chongjing is the Marquis of Zhenxi after all. He is very alert. If we give him the drug directly, it will be easily discovered. But this drug has the effect of helping sleep, and its color and taste are very light. It is even more difficult to detect when dissolved in oil. It will not affect the efficacy of the drug, and it is not easy to arouse suspicion. However, once someone takes it with alcohol, it will have fatal consequences."
After listening to this, Ming Jue suddenly realized, nodded admiringly and said, "Miss is really wise! I will do it immediately." After that, he picked up the bottle of medicine and turned to leave.
Qin Zhuoxi raised the corners of her lips, and Yun Zhi asked again: "Miss, what if Miss Jun Ning comes to the memorial ceremony?"
Qin Zhuoxi said: "We are just waiting for the news that they have poisoned the body. Isn't Lu Wu in Yizhou?"
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The Zhenxi Marquis's mansion was decorated with lights and was very lively. Servants filed in, carrying all kinds of exquisite dishes. Meng Chongjing sat in the main seat, scanning each dish with sharp eyes, as if he wanted to see the danger hidden in these delicious dishes. He carefully checked each dish and was relieved after confirming that it was non-toxic.
At the banquet, the Meng family gathered together, chatting and laughing, enjoying this rare reunion time. They savored the food with satisfied smiles on their faces. However, no one realized that a huge conspiracy was quietly brewing.
Ming Jue stood quietly on the roof of the Zhenxi Marquis's mansion, looking down at everything in the mansion. His eyes were cold, revealing a subtle murderous intent. When he saw the Meng family members getting tipsy and beginning to feel unwell, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted, revealing a smug smile.
Before long, the Meng family members were holding their stomachs and groaning in pain. They tried to dig their throats with their hands, hoping to spit out the wine they had just drunk, but it was too late. The toxicity of the sleeping pills mixed with the wine quickly took effect, leaving them powerless. Seeing this, Ming Jue was secretly happy and very satisfied with his carefully planned plan. He turned and left, disappearing into the night.
On the other side, Zhao Junning and Li Ziyan hurried to the Zhenxi Marquis Mansion. As soon as they arrived at the door, they found that there was no guard standing guard outside the mansion, which made Zhao Junning confused. She frowned, and an ominous premonition came to her mind. The two walked quickly into the mansion, but were surprised to find that the entire mansion was unusually quiet, without a single servant, and even the guards were nowhere to be seen.
Zhao Junning's heartbeat quickened. She clenched her fists tightly and rushed into the house with an anxious pace. The moment she pushed open the door, a pungent smell of blood hit her face. She widened her eyes and the first thing she saw was the corners of clothes scattered on the ground, and then what came into her eyes was the bodies lying on the ground, curled up.
Zhao Junning's face turned pale as paper. She trembled and called softly, "Grandfather?" Her voice was filled with fear and despair. She stumbled to Meng Chongjing's side, squatted down, and gently shook his body. However, the only response she got was dead silence.
Meng Chongjing used up his last bit of strength to slowly open his eyes, his eyes revealing his attachment to the world and his reluctance to leave. He turned his head with difficulty and looked at Zhao Junning, who was standing beside him with tears streaming down her face, and forced a smile on his face, indicating that he had finally waited for her to come.
Then, he pointed at the child next to him with a trembling hand and said in a weak but firm voice: "Take Yuan'er away..." Before he finished speaking, his breath gradually dissipated, and the candle of life went out.
Zhao Junning's heart was broken, and her body shook uncontrollably. She cried in grief, shouting loudly: "Grandfather! Grandfather, wake up! It's Junning who is late... It's all my fault..." Tears poured out like a flood, soaking her clothes.
Zhao Junning's eyes were red from crying, as if blood could drip out. Li Ziyan, who was standing by, silently examined Meng Chongjing's body, feeling extremely heavy-hearted. Zhao Junning suddenly raised her head, her eyes full of anger and determination, and gritted her teeth and said, "My grandfather was loyal to the monarch, served the country, and cared for the people all his life. He never made any mistakes. Why did he suffer such a cruel hand?"
Li Ziyan held Zhao Junning's shoulders tightly, trying to calm her down. However, Zhao Junning struggled to break free and said firmly: "I will not give up until I find the real culprit! No matter who it is, I will never let it go!"
Zhao Junning suppressed her inner pain and began to carefully examine every dish on the table. She stared with wide eyes, not missing any details. Finally, she found something strange in one of the dishes - it was a sleeping pill. In an instant, everything became clear. It turned out that the murderer used this drug to make people lose consciousness without knowing it, so as to achieve the purpose of killing quietly.
The mourning hall was solemn, with white silk fluttering in the wind, as if expressing endless sorrow. Zhao Junning stood there quietly, staring at the fifty coffins neatly arranged in front of her, with an indescribable grief welling up in her heart.
Yuan'er grabbed Li Ziyan's clothes tightly and asked in a trembling voice: "Brother-in-law, I... I have no home again, right?" Tears welled up in his eyes, which made people feel pity.
Li Ziyan patted Yuan'er's shoulder gently and comforted her: "No, Yuan'er. As long as your sister and I are here, this is your home. We will always be with you and will never let you feel lonely."
Zhao Junning turned to look at Meng Yuan, her eyes full of love. She met this child by chance when she came to Yizhou last year. Perhaps it was really a predestined relationship in the previous life. Zhao Junning did not hesitate to save Yuan'er, who had just gone through hardships, and took him as her brother, bringing him back to the Zhenxi Marquis Mansion. From then on, they became each other's closest family.
Zhao Junning called softly, "Yuan'er." There was a hint of sob in her voice.
Meng Yuan walked to Zhao Junning with firm steps, looked up at her, with a firm light in her eyes, "Sister, don't be sad, Yuan'er will always be with you. No matter what happens, Yuan'er will never leave you."
Zhao Junning nodded slightly, trying hard to hold back the tears that were about to burst out, and said, "Okay, sister won't cry. With Yuan'er here, sister will definitely be strong." She reached out and touched Meng Yuan's head, feeling the warmth and dependence.
During this sad moment, the three of them supported each other and faced the pain of losing their loved ones together.
After the burial, Zhao Junning slowly closed the heavy door of the Zhenxi Marquis's Mansion. She silently stared at the mottled paint on the door, as if she could see the prosperity and glory of the family in the past, but now there was only dead silence.
At the same time, Li Ziyan stood quietly by the side, he understood the pain in Zhao Junning's heart at the moment. After all, losing two close relatives in a short period of less than a year, such a blow is unbearable for anyone.
The two set off on their journey home, all the way in silence. Zhao Junning's eyes were always staring into the distance, as if she wanted to find a trace of comfort or answers through the vast world. Li Ziyan silently accompanied her, expressing his concern and support for her with his actions.
In this way, they went all the way and finally arrived in Jingzhou. Zhao Junning was already exhausted at this time and fell asleep leaning on the carriage. Li Ziyan got off the carriage carefully, then gently picked her up, walked into the room, and put her on the bed. Looking at Zhao Junning's peaceful sleeping face, Li Ziyan couldn't help but feel a surge of pity in his heart.
He sat beside her bed, guarding her quietly, hoping that she could forget the sad past in her dreams and find her own happiness and peace again.
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