Chapter 5: 5. Chapter 5: You've Raised Your Daughter Well

Chapter 5: The Daughter is Well-Raised

Madam Cao answered subconsciously, "He... he couldn't eat river shrimp before, or his whole body would itch and break out in red rashes..."

As she spoke, her eyes widened abruptly. "You! Are you saying he—"

Ye Chutang thought to herself that it was as she expected; Cao Chengwu’s manner of death was indeed consistent with fatal anaphylaxis. As long as the allergen could be identified, this trouble would be solvable.

"After he went back yesterday, did he touch any river shrimp?"

Madam Cao looked flustered. "N-no! Everyone in the family knows he can't eat river shrimp, so we never keep any! How could it be..."

Ye Chutang’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Everyone in the family knows?"

The Cao family could be considered a wealthy household in Jiangling, with a three-courtyard residence and a crowd of maids and servants.

With so many hands involved, who could guarantee there were no issues?

"What did he eat after he went back yesterday, whose hands did the food pass through, and is there any of it left now?"

Ye Chutang asked a series of questions. Madam Cao looked completely bewildered, unable to answer a single one, only shaking her head and muttering that it was impossible.

"Miss Ye!"

Cao Chengwen suddenly called out to her, his expression seemingly pained. "My second brother’s passing has already caused my mother a great shock; please, stop pressuring her!"

Ye Chutang’s gaze swept over him calmly.

"Young Master Cao, I can understand your and Madam Cao’s feelings, but I am doing this to uncover the truth as soon as possible and give everyone an explanation. How can you call this pressure? Or could it be that you don't want to know how your brother died so unjustly?"

The words were harsh, but straightforward.

Ye Chutang did not want her younger brother to be the scapegoat; seeking the truth was perfectly reasonable.

The questions she asked were standard inquiries, hardly deserving the label of "excessive."

Cao Chengwen immediately raised his voice in rebuttal: "How is that possible! You—don't spout nonsense!"

Ye Chutang said, "It is normal for Madam Cao to be unable to recall things while in such grief. It doesn't matter; we can just interrogate everyone in the Cao household, and it will all become clear, won't it?"

Cao Chengwen didn't speak, his eyes flickering.

"There are so many people in the house, and a whole day has passed; how could you possibly find anything out? My second brother has already passed on, why must you torment him like this!"

He scolded the servants nearby: "Why are you still standing there? Help my mother back!"

Two maids hurriedly agreed and stepped forward.

Cao Chengwen’s expression was sorrowful. "Father has not yet returned from out of town. If he knew that my second brother was being subjected to such torment after his death, who knows how heartbroken he would be! What are you all staring at? Hurry and take my second brother home!"

He was the eldest son of the Cao family, and with Madam Cao in a daze and emotionally distraught, the servants naturally followed his lead.

"Wait!"

A shout suddenly came from outside the crowd, and two government runners walked over quickly.

"Someone reported a case, saying there was a homicide here. What exactly is going on?"

Cao Chengwen was startled. He subconsciously looked at Madam Cao, lowered his voice, and said urgently, "Mother, did you call them? Didn't I tell you clearly this morning not to report this to the authorities yet!?"

Madam Cao was also taken aback. "I—I didn't!"

With her son dead, her mind was in chaos. When she heard Cao Chengwen inadvertently mention that Cao Chengwu and Ye Yunfeng had fought yesterday, she subconsciously assumed the killer must be Ye Yunfeng and came to block the door without a second thought.

Cao Chengwen had specifically warned her that Ye Chutang had once cured the emergency illness of Officer Wu from the yamen, effectively saving his life. He feared that if they called the officials, it might work against them, so she hadn't sent for them.

Seeing that the officials had arrived, Cao Chengwen quickly explained: "N-no! It’s just a misunderstanding. Sorry to trouble you, officers!"

Wu Xu scanned the area, his gaze lingering on the black coffin for a few seconds.

Anyone could see that something was wrong; otherwise, why would they be blocking someone’s door with a coffin!?

He looked at Ye Chutang, his attitude notably courteous.

"Doctor Ye, what do you say?"

Ye Chutang bowed and gave a balanced, concise account of what had just happened.

"...That is roughly the situation. I originally did not want to trouble you both, but the charge of murder is far too heavy. If I do not get to the bottom of this and let my brother bear this name in vain, his entire life will be ruined. I ask for your understanding."

Wu Xu stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly.

"Indeed! Since the Cao family claims that the fourth son of the Ye family committed murder, we must get to the bottom of this! In that case, we will first send Cao Chengwu to the mortuary for the yamen’s coroner, Zhang, to perform an autopsy. We will reach a conclusion only after the cause of death is determined!"

"This—"

Cao Chengwen opened his mouth to refuse, but the other party was an official and he was a commoner—how could he argue?

Just as he wanted to argue further, Wu Xu had already raised his hand.

"Let's go!"

He walked two steps, then turned back: "Both sides, come along! We will settle this clearly at the yamen!"

This was exactly what Ye Chutang wanted.

Before leaving the house, she had heard the other party’s clamoring and knew they had ill intentions. She had specifically instructed A-Yan to climb over the wall and find Auntie Yang from next door to help report the case.

Three years ago, Wu Xu had owed her a favor; today was the time to collect.

Since the Cao family wanted to make a scene, she would make it even bigger to see who was truly the one with a guilty conscience!

Ye Yunfeng had not expected that a mere fight would bring such great trouble to his family. Being only twelve years old, it was impossible for him not to be nervous or afraid.

"Sister, I'm sorry." He lowered his head, filled with guilt. "It’s all my fault!"

Ye Chutang said calmly, "You say you didn't kill him, and Sister believes you, but others may not. If we cannot prove your innocence today, your life will be ruined, and you will never have a chance to rise again."

Ye Yunfeng lowered his head, feeling ashamed.

It was all because he was too impulsive! If he hadn't—

"Therefore, the most important thing in doing anything is to consider whether you can bear the consequences. Since you did it, you must dare to take responsibility." Ye Chutang raised her eyebrows slightly. "Or are you saying you don't even dare to go to the mortuary?"

"Of course I dare!"

Ye Yunfeng straightened his back abruptly.

He hadn't killed anyone, so what was there to fear!

Ye Chutang nodded with satisfaction. "Then let's go."

With A-Yan looking after Xiao Wu at home, there shouldn't be any problems.

She set her mind at ease, glanced at Cao Chengwen, whose face was turning a faint shade of green to her front right, and followed along calmly.

...

Inside the house, Lian Zhou recounted what had just happened, still feeling amazed.

"...To think that a weak woman like her would dare to open a coffin for an autopsy in public! This is truly—"

He thought for a long time but couldn't find a suitable word, and his heart grew worried again.

"But Master, if she can't come back, your injuries..."

His master’s health had just begun to improve; if Ye Chutang were trapped, then—

Shen Yanchuan raised his eyebrows slightly. "She will be fine."

A weak woman?

That word truly had nothing to do with her.

That pure and clean face was far too deceptive. Those who didn't know her would really think she was a delicate little white flower, little did they know...

Suddenly, he sensed something and looked up to see a small head peeking out from behind the half-closed door.

The little milk bun opened her big, dark, watery eyes, looking curious and adorable.

Shen Yanchuan’s lips curved upward.

"However, the daughter is indeed well-raised."