Leng Ningyue calmly picked up a pair of chopsticks from the table and flicked them away.
The next moment, the scar-faced man’s pig-like screams erupted once more.
Ye Shengxiao curiously glanced sideways and saw the chopsticks he had used moments ago now deeply embedded in the scar-faced man’s calves.
…
Were his chopsticks that sharp?
Why did his mouth suddenly feel a bit sore?
Although he was curious how the seemingly frail county magistrate’s wife had managed it, he had to admit the scene before him was truly…
Ignoring the intense pain in his hands and legs, the scar-faced man tremblingly pleaded for mercy,
“My lady, spare me! I truly know I was wrong!
R-right!
As long as my lady spares my life, I will tell you who intended to kill your young master!”
To cling to life, the scar-faced man racked his brain.
However, Leng Ningyue’s gaze remained unfettered.
“As for who coveted Mo’er’s life, I will investigate and find out.
As for you, the moment you plotted against Mo’er, you deserved to die!”
With that, Leng Ningyue picked up another chopstick and flicked it away.
The scar-faced man’s face contorted in terror as he tried to scramble backward, attempting to escape this terrifying place guarded by a harbinger of death.
Alas, the opponent’s speed was too great. Before he could make any move, the chopstick pierced his throat.
Finally, the scar-faced man collapsed, his expression filled with utmost horror, and breathed his last.
As the sole survivor and bystander of the entire scene, Ye Shengxiao felt he never wanted to use chopsticks again for the rest of his life…
But thinking that the scar-faced man had died just like that, Ye Shengxiao mustered his courage and spoke,
“That… County Magistrate’s wife.
I, this young master, once heard Wei Laosan, who is the scar-faced man you just killed, say that someone from the capital offered a hefty sum for the life of the Changzhou county magistrate’s son.
Moreover, the price for him alive was double.
Also, that patron will send someone to take your young master away tomorrow morning.”
Ye Shengxiao revealed all the information he knew.
But Leng Ningyue merely replied with three light words:
“I know.”
As the anesthetic took effect, Ye Shengxiao’s head drooped powerlessly.
Having dealt with everyone, Leng Ningyue did not stop. She grabbed an empty bowl from the table and threw it towards a distant point.
However, this time, the empty bowl missed its target.
A dark figure flashed from the trees outside the house and appeared before Leng Ningyue.
Perhaps concerned that Leng Ningyue might make another move, the dark figure quickly identified themselves,
“Madam, we are not villains. We are here by our master’s orders to protect young master Lin.”
“I know.”
Still just three concise words.
After speaking, Leng Ningyue added, “So, you are the ones who have been buzzing around Mo’er like flies all this time?”
…
Having been a hidden guard for so many years, this was the first time the black-clad man, compared to a fly, twitched the corner of his mouth. He neither admitted nor denied it.
Leng Ningyue did not press further, merely stating coldly,
“I don’t know, nor do I wish to know who your master is. But if he intends to harm Mo’er, the scar-faced man’s fate will be his.
Furthermore, I do not wish for anyone else to know about this matter.
Especially, I do not want Lord Lin to know about this. Do you understand what I mean?”
The black-clad man couldn’t help but shiver and nodded rapidly in agreement, “Madam, rest assured, we will keep our mouths shut.”
“Keep our mouths shut?
Only the dead keep their mouths shut.”
As she said this, a dark glint flashed in Leng Ningyue’s eyes.
Her peripheral vision swept across several spots, including the roof beams and under the windows.
The other hidden black-clad men trembled in unison.
Just as the leading black-clad man hesitated, wondering whether to retaliate if attacked and if they could win, Leng Ningyue spoke leisurely,
“Considering you still have some use, I will trust you for now.
After all, aside from her and Mo’er, I don’t care how anyone else sees me.”
Speaking as if to herself, Leng Ningyue’s gaze sharpened, “However, you had best stay further away from our entire family from now on.
After all, it’s truly annoying to have flies buzzing around one’s ears all day.
Also, this scar-faced man was merely a minion running errands for someone else.
Now that everyone here has been dealt with, and there’s no contact person, the people from the capital’s patron naturally won’t show up.
Therefore, you might as well not waste your efforts staying here.”
Having said all that, Leng Ningyue glanced at the black-clad man and strode out.
After Leng Ningyue left, the other black-clad men scurried out, speaking in a flurry of voices,
“Big Brother, who exactly is this county magistrate’s wife? How come I can’t see through her at all?”
“Old Eight, if you could see through her, would Big Brother have been so frightened just now?”
“What I find most unbelievable is that we were discovered right from the start?!
What do we do? If our master finds out, we’ll all have our skins peeled off!”
“Losing our skin would be a light punishment!
Now we need to consider whether to report this matter truthfully to our master!”
“Everyone calm down, don’t panic.
I revealed myself voluntarily, it has nothing to do with you.
If our master blames us, I will bear all the charges.
As for whether to report it truthfully…
Conceal the fact that we were discovered long ago, and report everything else truthfully.”
As soon as the black-clad man called 'Big Brother' spoke, the others strongly objected,
“No!
How can we let Big Brother take all the blame?”
“Exactly!
Didn’t we brothers agree?
To share fortunes and share hardships!”
“Listen to me. If we all go to be punished, who will continue to carry out the mission?
Do you all want to work while injured?”
The black-clad man called 'Big Brother' said this, and the others lowered their heads.
The one called 'Old Eight' looked around and pointed at the only survivor by the table,
“Big Brother, what about that fellow? Should I deal with him?”
The black-clad man addressed as 'Big Brother' thought for a moment, “Let’s forget it. Since that county magistrate’s wife spared his life, it means he indeed has extraordinary qualities.
Let us not be superfluous and displease that county magistrate’s wife.”
Hearing the sound of a carriage approaching in the distance, the black-clad men quickly scattered and hid in the shadows once more.
“Honestly, though there are thousands of roads, safety is the first priority, this carriage is truly too slow.”
Lin Qingge muttered softly as she jumped down from the carriage in a hurry.