Chapter 185 – Yan Bowen Did Not Die of Illness (2)
“That’s right, the pages were smeared with toxic luminescent powder. With father’s habit of licking his fingers before turning pages, he inadvertently ingested the powder. Over time, he was poisoned. Since it was a slow poisoning, the symptoms weren’t obvious, and ordinary doctors couldn’t detect it, assuming father had fallen ill.”
Ms. Zhong, struggling to hold back tears, choked out, “We all thought your father had fallen ill. We had invited several doctors, and they all said he had been struck by misfortune.”
Xiaosi frowned and paused before asking, “Mom, besides father, who else often touched these books?”
This was the crucial question. Whoever else frequently handled these books was most likely the murderer of her father.
Ms. Zhong, recalling the past, tearfully replied, “It’s probably… it was your uncle. He, like your father, was studious and often borrowed his books. Sometimes, he would keep them for several days before returning.”
“Did father fall seriously ill after uncle borrowed the books?”
Ms. Zhong, clutching her aching heart, nodded with difficulty. She had never imagined that Yan Bozhang, though not very close to his brothers, could harbor thoughts of murdering his own brother.
Hearing Xiaosi and Ms. Zhong’s conversation, Yan Shuxue and Yan Shuqin also grasped the situation.
The sisters, just like Ms. Zhong, were shocked.
Yan Shuqin, with eyes wide in disbelief, asked Yan Xiaosi for confirmation, “Xiaosi, are you saying our father didn’t die of illness, but was killed by uncle using poisonous luminescent powder?”
Yan Xiaosi nodded, “Most likely, yes. Yan Bozhang must have known about our father’s habit of licking his fingers before turning pages. He took the opportunity to smear the pages with toxic white luminescent powder. Under daylight or strong lamp light, the powder wouldn’t glow. Father mostly read during the day or under candlelight at night.”
The Yan family was wealthy, and Old Master Yan valued his son, so he wouldn’t skimp on candles for reading.
Ms. Zhong nodded in agreement to Yan Xiaosi’s analysis.
“Back then, your eldest sister and second sister had just been born. Your father mostly studied during the day and spent nights with me and your sisters. Occasionally, he read at night, indeed using several candles.”
Xiaosi couldn’t help but lament that her father was a good man; a pity she never met him.
“That’s right. Under daylight and strong candlelight, the luminescent powder never glowed. Father never realized that uncle had tampered with his books. Mom, after father’s death, did uncle rush to burn father’s belongings?”
As Yan Xiaosi asked this, Ms. Zhong recalled again and realized that Yan Bozhang was indeed the one most eager to burn her husband’s belongings, especially his books and clothes.
Her head spun once more.
“Yes, after your father died, your uncle was the most anxious to burn his belongings, particularly his books and clothes. I secretly saved these books.”
Initially, Xiaosi only suspected Yan Bozhang, but now, after hearing Ms. Zhong’s words, she was certain that he used luminescent powder to kill her father.
Yan Bozhang’s eagerness to burn his brother’s belongings was a classic case of a guilty conscience. Additionally, he had a motive for the murder. At that time, Old Master Yan favored his third son, causing Yan Bozhang, the eldest son, to feel overlooked and possibly bear resentment. With her father’s death, the Old Master’s attention naturally shifted to Yan Bozhang.
“Mom, big sister, second sister, I am now certain that father was murdered by Yan Bozhang using luminescent powder.”
Yan Shuqin wore an indignant expression.
Yan Shuxue bit her lip, clenched her fists, and angrily said, “Big sister, mom, Xiaosi, let’s go to the county court tomorrow to seek justice for father.”
Yan Xiaosi bit her lip and shook her head slightly. “Second sister, father has been dead for so many years. Even with these books, we can’t bring down Yan Bozhang, especially since County Magistrate Yao Jin is a complete fool.”
Yan Shuqin, full of anger and unwillingness, protested, “If we can’t bring down Yan Bozhang, should we just let father’s death go unavenged? Should the murderer go unpunished?”
Yan Xiaosi’s lips curved into a sinister smile. “Debts must be paid, and a life taken must be atoned for. Big sister, second sister, mom, I will seek justice for father. For now, don’t spread word of this, so as not to alert our enemy. And don’t tell third sister, so she can work peacefully at the Xu Family Fur Store.”
Hearing this, Ms. Zhong grabbed Yan Xiaosi’s hand excitedly. “Xiaosi, what are you planning to do? I won’t allow you to do anything dangerous, and your father wouldn’t have either.”
Seeing her mother’s alarmed expression, Yan Xiaosi quickly explained, “Mom, don’t worry, I won’t be foolish enough to stab Yan Bozhang. There are other ways to take his life.”
Ms. Zhong was relieved. “Your safety is most important. We’ll slowly discuss how to seek justice for your father.”
Seeing Ms. Zhong’s exhausted face, Xiaosi led her to sit down and massaged her temples. “Mom, father wouldn’t want you to be so sad. I told you all this so you can see the true nature of the Yan family. We don’t need to accommodate them anymore.”
Ms. Zhong felt guilty. Over the years, remembering her husband came from the Yan family, she had endured much and let her daughters suffer.
Leaning on Yan Xiaosi’s shoulder, she cried and said, “Xiaosi, I was wrong. I will protect you all better in the future and not let you suffer any more.”
“Mom, you’re tired. Rest now.”
Xiaosi held her, gently patting her shoulder like soothing a child to sleep.
…
As the crescent moon rose high, Yan Shujing bathed, changed, and dressed even more splendidly than she had been at the banquet earlier. Under the moonlight, she wore a white gauze dress that trailed on the ground, holding a pipa as she entered the eastern wing alone.
“Yan Shujing greets the five Dragon Guards. General Long has agreed to let Shujing enter to play the pipa, please allow me to pass.”
The five Dragon Guards had been present during the banquet, and they had heard Yao Jin’s arrangement for Yan Shujing to play the pipa in the eastern wing after the banquet, and there was no objection from their master.
Long Yi glanced over her, ensuring she wasn’t carrying any weapons, then stepped aside, reminding her, “Our master prefers not to be disturbed while sleeping. Please leave promptly after playing the pipa for Doctor Murong.”
