Zhang Feng's face twisted with malice.
He gripped the dagger tight, the blade flashing cold light as he stabbed viciously toward the back of Song Yinjian's neck.
But just as the dagger was less than a hair's breadth from striking— Song Yinjian moved.
It was as if he had eyes on the back of his head. His body turned abruptly, and in the same breath, his right hand shot out like lightning.
That hand clamped down like iron tongs, catching the dagger cleanly.
Zhang Feng's expression changed instantly. Veins bulged on his forehead as he roared and stabbed again and again with all his strength.
Yet the blade didn't budge at all, as if it had been forged into Song Yinjian's fingers.
Realizing disaster had struck, Zhang Feng panicked. He let go of the dagger and spun around to flee the hall.
Pan Huilian, seeing it, snapped into fury. She glared with wide eyes and shrieked, "You spineless dog!"
Zhang Feng barely made it outside before he was blocked.
Shenhe stood there—and beside her, a purple-haired girl with a sharp, imposing presence, dressed in black stockings.
Zhang Feng's legs went soft. With a thud, he dropped to his knees before her.
"Lady Keqing! I—I don't know anything! It really has nothing to do with me, nothing to do with me!"
Keqing frowned slightly, her voice cold and stern.
"The crimes you've committed will be judged fairly by the authorities."
Zhang Feng went ashen, collapsing limp onto the ground as if he'd fallen into an ice pit.
Keqing couldn't be bothered to waste another second on trash like him. She walked straight into the main hall.
The moment she stepped inside, she saw Song Yinjian lounging in a chair with an easy air, while Pan Huilian knelt nearby, covering her face and sobbing until she sounded hoarse.
Keqing strode up to Song Yinjian and spoke bluntly, without the slightest courtesy.
"Song Yinjian. Next time something like this happens, don't come looking for me again. Do you have any idea how busy I am? And cases like this aren't even under my jurisdiction."
Song Yinjian didn't care in the least. He replied righteously, "If I don't come to you, should I go to those useless fools in the Ministry? What can they do besides waste time?"
Keqing thought of the usual inefficiency and delays from certain departments and found herself unable to argue.
She cut to the point. "You said Mister Zhang was murdered. Do you have solid evidence?"
Song Yinjian spoke slowly, unhurried. "Director Hu Tao of Wangsheng can see many people's exact time of death. She was certain Mister Zhang would die today."
He lifted his gaze.
"But the truth is, he died yesterday."
Keqing pressed, "Just because of that, you're convinced he was murdered? That's far too flimsy."
"Of course not just that." Song Yinjian continued, "Madam Pan kept urging me to bury him immediately. If she feared the body would rot, that could be understood."
He gestured casually toward the ice coffin. "But he's already sealed in an ice coffin."
Pan Huilian's sobbing intensified. She choked out, "Th-That… that was my husband's dying wish… I only wanted to honor him. I never imagined I'd be wrongfully accused like this… wuwuwu…"
Her voice was grief-stricken and miserable, enough to stir sympathy in most hearts.
Keqing didn't waver. Her gaze remained steady and clear as she asked Song Yinjian, "Any other evidence?"
Song Yinjian pointed at the ice coffin, his tone light. "Bring Baizhu from Bubu Pharmacy to examine the body. The truth will come out."
He added, as if it were nothing, "If that doesn't work, ask Director Hu Tao to speak with the soul. She can communicate with spirits."
Keqing rolled her eyes hard.
Baizhu was a physician who saved lives, not some professional forensic examiner.
As for Hu Tao—though that girl was lively and eccentric, she hated nothing more than disturbing the dead.
Still, Keqing didn't outright reject his suggestion. Instead, she turned her gaze to Pan Huilian, her tone carrying a warning edge.
"Madam Pan, I advise you to confess everything now. If we uncover the truth through other means, your sentence will only become harsher."
Pan Huilian understood well: the truth of Mister Zhang's death would be dragged into the light sooner or later.
She clenched her teeth, a ruthless resolve flashing in her eyes, and immediately dumped everything onto Zhang Feng.
"It was Zhang Feng! That beast!" she cried. "He… he violated me, threatened me with it, and forced me to help him murder my husband! My poor husband… wuwuwu…"
At that moment, Zhang Feng—still outside—heard her words and snapped.
He rushed into the hall, shouting, "Pan Huilian, you venomous woman! You're disgusting! You were the one who seduced me first! When our affair was discovered, you were the one who suggested poisoning the master—now you want to throw everything on me?!"
Pan Huilian screamed back without a shred of dignity left. "Zhang Feng, you spineless dog! You did something so monstrous and now you dare bite back and push it onto me—are you even human?!"
Zhang Feng jumped and cursed back, "You shameless slut, stop pretending to be pitiful! You know exactly what kind of woman you are!"
They devolved into a filthy, screaming match, hurling unbearable insults at each other like a barrage.
Who could've imagined that only days ago, these two had been tangled together in bed, whispering sweet vows and swearing eternal love?
Song Yinjian watched the spectacle with clear interest.
Shenhe, however, despised noisy, vulgar scenes like this. She frowned faintly, said nothing, and turned to leave, seeking a quiet, secluded corner of the estate to enjoy a rare moment of peace.
Not long after, officials arrived and hauled away Pan Huilian and Zhang Feng—the pair of adulterers.
Keqing glanced once at Song Yinjian, who was still lounging in his chair, then turned to leave without even offering a greeting.
Song Yinjian sprang up. He hurried after her in a few quick strides, plastering on a smile. "Master Keqing, wait a moment!"
The moment she heard that title, a nameless irritation surged up inside her. It sounded like mockery.
She spun around and snapped, "Don't call me that. Say what you need to say—quickly. I have a lot of work today."
Song Yinjian rubbed his hands awkwardly. "It's about that land purchase I mentioned before—the one for building a cemetery."
Keqing's face turned even colder. Without another word, she turned and walked away faster. Song Yinjian raised his voice, calling after her, "Master Keqing! I can pay more!"
"Get lost!"