Missed The Chance

This residence was very secluded. The sun was shining so brightly outside, yet barely any reached this part of the estate. The room was dark and depressing, the atmosphere so oppressive, it could make one feel panicky.

Qi Yan sat on a chair and looked at the mourning Gan Zhixuan as he continued speaking in a lower, slower and more concerned tone of voice.

“Zhixuan, we know each other from way back, so I think I can be honest with you.” Qi Yan propped his chin up with his left hand as his eyes glinted. “Actually… you found your mother very annoying, didn’t you?”

Gan Zhixuan’s entire body stiffened up.

“Yes, she doted on you dearly, she worked very, very hard to bring you up. She would rather let you have the very best than eat or wear what she wanted. She was your mother and nobody loved you more than she did. That’s for sure. But you didn’t think that way. Not everything she gave you was what you wanted. You couldn’t understand. Both of you could have had a much better life, and both of you deserved a much better life. Why was your mother so unwilling to choose that?”

“You thought that she was stupid, that she was foolish, that she was hurting you, that she was dragging you down, that she had ruined the bright future you could have had. You’re already at an age where you can get married, so you can’t wait any longer… After spending so much time and effort, it paid off. Heaven was on your side. You found your father.”

As Qi Yan spoke, he pulled a long face and sighed. “Bianliang is the capital of the country, so it’s different from anywhere else. The flowers smell better here, the moon’s brighter here, and even the air is way classier here. The wealth and status that the count enjoys as well as the sheer size of his house was something beyond even your wildest imagination. Even the servants here get better food and clothing than you did. The whole house is filled with joy and it’s so harmonious. This is a house you ought to live in, this is the sort of life you ought to lead. You have such a bright future ahead of you, but… your mother kept you from enjoying all of it.”

“You should have been one of those wealthy, young aristocrats since you were born, yet you ended up struggling to survive in a place that nobody has even heard of. You grew up poor and despised by others, and you even looked down on yourself.”

“Yes, you owe your mother for taking such good care of you, but she also ruined your prospects. Ruining someone’s prospects is as bad as killing one’s parents, some say. She both doted on you and ruined you, so you didn’t really owe her anything in the end.”

These words were like a shot to the heart. Gan Zhixuan stared at Qi Yan in horror as he fell to the floor. The expression on his face was obvious enough for even Qi Yan to understand.

His expression was saying: How did you know?!

Qi Yan raised an eyebrow and dragged his words out, “And since you were born to be an aristocrat, then Madam Wei, your father’s official wife, was the only one worthy to be called Mother. Madam Gan could only be your Second Mother. Madam Wei taught you how to be an aristocrat, how to mix with such circles, how to ensure a bright future ahead. But your second mother kept pouring cold water on you, she kept warning you and telling you that you couldn’t do this and couldn’t do that…”

“Initially, you thought that while you didn’t owe her anything, she did give birth to you after all. So, you didn’t mind taking care of her after you had become successful. But she refused to listen to you and kept either dragging you down or ruining your plans. You were very aggrieved and very embarrassed by her, and you felt that this couldn’t go on anymore…”

Qi Yan leaned toward Gan Zhixuan. “And so, you killed her.”

“Tell me, what did you see that day and whose plans were you riding on?”

Gan Zhixuan felt bitterness in his throat. “I didn’t! I really didn’t kill her!”

“But you’ve been here for quite a while now. Besides taking some time at first to settle in, you’ve been following Madam Wei everywhere and you’re hardly seen around Fourth Missy Gan, plus both of you argue every time you see each other. It’s clear that you’re no longer on good terms…”

Qi Yan remained seated as he picked up a teacup to drink from it. “I’m not making this up. I’ve investigated thoroughly already.”

“I was just…” Gan Zhixuan’s pupils trembled. “I was just busy so I didn’t…”

“You were so busy, yet you managed to find time to kill your mother. You’re quite capable.”

“I didn’t!”

“You really didn’t?”

“I really didn’t!”

“Fine. Then tell me, when all of us arrived at the scene of the crime, why did you seem so guilty when you were answering questions?”

Qi Yan suddenly grew extremely serious and stared straight at Gan Zhixuan without even blinking.

He knew from Gan Zhixuan’s reaction that he had been right to say that. Gan Zhixuan was feeling guilty about something.

Qi Yan hadn’t been at the scene that day, so this was not his conclusion. It was Song Caitang’s. She said that she noticed that Gan Zhixuan’s expression was very strange, as though he was feeling very guilty. He was definitely hiding something and was sorry toward Fourth Missy Gan.

He didn’t have to analyze why Gan Zhixuan was feeling this way. He just had to get answers straight from the horse’s mouth.

Qi Yan took a small knife out and began playing with it. “If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine with me. I’m not in a hurry. But you… don’t have a lot of time left.”

“Commandery Prince Zhao came by earlier and took someone away, and he said he’d be back to arrest more people. Your father and his wife are very anxious and are trying to think of a way to get out of this situation. If the next one to be arrested turns out to be you, what do you think they’d do?”

Gan Zhixuan felt his heart tremble in fear.

Qi Yan went on, “The fact that I’m able to walk all the way here and sit in front of you and ask you questions… I’m sure you understand the count’s stance on this situation. I wouldn’t lie to you either. If you don’t believe me, you can go out there and find out for yourself.”

Gan Zhixuan didn’t get up and walk out. He knew that the count had the final say within this house. Qi Yan was allowed to sit here and question him because the count and his wife had allowed him to.

“Actually, we both know that you didn’t kill your mother, but you’ve also not said everything you know either.”

Qi Yan paused to give the other party time to think, then went on, “Gan Zhixuan, what you want is a life of luxury, a bright future ahead. But if you choose the wrong path now, you won’t get a chance to attain that anymore. I’m an aristocrat myself, so let me give you some advice. These circles place importance on one’s connections and one’s ability to use every opportunity to their advantage. The commandery prince is considered the top of the food chain here, so he’s someone that not even your father would dare to offend, and your mother has to butter him up even.”

“If you don’t cooperate and you ruin the commandery prince’s mood by making it hard to crack this case, how could you even think about your future?”

Gan Zhixuan immediately began to panic. His heart pounded wildly in fear and looked like he was about to faint.

It was true that he had been blinded by wealth and status when he first got to this city filled with bright lights and lavish lifestyles, but he wasn’t stupid beyond hope. He knew what Qi Yan was trying to tell him and he knew that Qi Yan’s advice was genuine.

“I… I…”

He stuttered for a long time but couldn’t even get past the first word.

Qi Yan didn’t get impatient. Or at least even if he felt impatient, he couldn’t let it show. He sat back and waited for Gan Zhixuan to spill the beans.

Zhao Zhi and Song Caitang had told him that he was supposed to scare Gan Zhixuan by accusing him of being the killer and forcing him into a desperate corner. Then, he was to talk about what Gan Zhixuan really thought of his mother so that he would feel ashamed and bad about his mother’s death. After that, it was time to console the young man and point him in the right direction. Gan Zhixuan was easily swayed by his emotions, so stressing him out like this would definitely make him talk.

“I… I’ll talk, I’ll tell you everything.” Gan Zhixuan took a deep breath. His voice trembled slightly.

He was going to come clean after all.

Qi Yan immediately got up and brightened up. “Go ahead!”

“I wasn’t lying about the fact that I had gone twice to the corridor outside the room where my mother was found,” Gan Zhixuan pursed his lips, his face as white as a sheet, “The second time, I went because I was concerned about Miss Lu and wanted to check on her, to find that the door to the room was ajar and the moment I went in, I saw my mother’s… body.”

Qi Yan narrowed his eyes. “What about the first time?”

“The first time was just a coincidence. It’s nearer to use that corridor to get from the main hall to the kitchen. When I went down that corridor, I noticed Miss Lu’s expression was off. She looked very tired and unwell, there was even perspiration on her forehead. I… I’m attracted to her, so I couldn’t help but take notice of her and so, I approached her.”

Qi Yan asked, “That’s all?”

“At that time… I didn’t just spot Miss Lu. I saw my mother too.” Gan Zhixuan hung his head. “My mother was coming from afar toward me. But I didn’t stop to greet her and left with Miss Lu instead.”

“Since she was coming from a different direction and was far off, how were you so sure that that woman was your mother and not someone else?”

“I grew up with only my mother, so I would be the last one to mistake her for someone else. I’m very sure that was my mother!” Gan Zhixuan bit his lip. “But there was nothing strange about her and I was annoyed with her, so I just ignored her and focused on helping Miss Lu… I’m sure it happened after that… If I had just gone over to greet her or to say something, maybe this sort of thing wouldn’t have happened to her…”

Gan Zhixuan couldn’t suppress the grief in his heart and began to sob.

Qi Yan wasn’t expecting that. The last person to see Fourth Missy Gan turned out to be her own son? And Fourth Missy Gan hadn’t been forced into the room, but had walked to the room herself?

Song Caitang was surprised too. So, that’s what happened…

Her gaze flickered for a moment but she didn’t stop to think too much about it. She raised her hand and gave Qi Yan a signal.

Qi Yan saw it and continued asking Gan Zhixuan, “Why was Lu Yuxue there?”

“I don’t know…” Gan Zhixuan’s voice was weak. “I really don’t know.”

Qi Yan took a deep breath and prepared himself mentally for the next question. “Five years ago, your mother was at Qingxian and ran into danger,” he stared steely at Gan Zhixuan as he slowly asked his question, “did you know anything about that?”

Gan Zhixuan was a little stunned because he didn’t expect the questioning to go this way. But he replied anyway, “I was still quite young and didn’t really take note of much. I’m not sure if you’re asking—”

Qi Yan pulled out a drawing of the jade pendant he had prepared in advance and put it on the table. “Have you seen this thing before?”

“I think… so….”

Now that he had come clean about what happened on the day of his mother’s death, Gan Zhixuan felt like a burden had been lifted off his shoulders and was relieved. He was happy to answer any questions about other matters.

There were some parts that Qi Yan understood, and some Qi Yan was surprised by. But he did not overlook any of them and remembered every detail even if he couldn’t figure it out right now.

He had Zhao Zhi and Song Caitang to help him analyze all this anyway.

Meanwhile, Song Caitang started making plans. Before Gan Zhixuan talked about what happened five years ago, he said he saw both Lu Yuxue and Fourth Missy Gan.

She figured that Qi Yan could handle the rest himself, so she picked up her skirt and walked out of the residence.

When Zhao Zhi left, he left a guard behind to act as a messenger for her. After thinking about it, she called the guard over and sent him to Prince Ping’s residence with a message for Lu Yuxue.

She had guessed part of the truth and she felt that while Lu Yuxue would be surprised, it wouldn’t be enough to force her out of the house.

Lu Yuxue was a very clever and calm woman. It would take more than this to get her to come over. Song Caitang needed Wen Yuansi to do his part first.

Song Caitang glanced toward the main hall of the count’s estate. She knew she could trust Wen Yuansi to handle this situation. This man knew when to be hard or soft on others and he was definitely an expert in gauging the situation.

She was more worried about Zhao Zhi.

Zhao Zhi seemed to be in a much higher position with greater power, but he had left to face the crown prince of this country, someone with real royal authority. Being in the company of royalty was like being in the company of tigers. The blade of power was sharper than any military weapon.