The top-level junior sister also wants to act weak today

Yan Chuan looked at Tao Mengnan and hesitated for a moment before asking, "Since you are well-read, why are you willing to be a servant in the Sun Mansion instead of continuing to study for a high position?"

Tao Mengnan didn't hide anything and said directly: "To be honest, my family is poor. A few days ago, my wife hanged herself for no reason. In order to bury her, I have spent all my family's wealth. Even if I pass the imperial examination, I still need money to go to Beijing to take the exam. Everyone in Liangzhou knows that the Sun Mansion in Liangzhou is the most wealthy, so I want to come here to work as a servant and earn some money. I also hope that the masters will take pity on me and give me this job. I will do my best to do it well..."

After saying that, Tao Mengnan bent his waist a little more.

"You said your wife hanged herself? What was her name?"

"Aping."

"A Ping..." Yan Chuan remembered that the first woman who committed suicide in the serial murder case had the character "Ping" in her name. If the person in front of him was the murderer, then wouldn't the first person he killed be his wife?

Thinking of this, Yan Chuan felt even more disgusted with this person.

But he was never one to show his emotions on his face. Not only was he not angry, but he looked relieved: "That's great. Our young lady likes reading. If you had some knowledge, she would definitely appreciate you more."

After saying that, Yan Chuan said to the housekeeper, "Housekeeper Zhou, let's take him."

"Okay." After that, Butler Zhou said to Tao Mengnan, "Then come with me to register. Our young lady is coming from the capital and will only stay for a short time. During this time, you will be responsible for the flowers and plants in the young lady's yard, as well as some heavy work."

"Yes, yes, I'll take care of it."

After the people walked away and the rest of the people dispersed, Yan Chuan returned to the house.

He handed the form that Tao Mengnan had just filled out to County Magistrate Fu and asked, "Sir Fu, do you know this Tao Mengnan?"

County Magistrate Fu took the paper and glanced at it. "I know him. He's actually quite famous in Liangzhou. And his wife was one of the victims in the serial murder case."

"Oh? He's quite famous? Why?"

County Magistrate Fu waved his hand, his brows furrowed slightly. "Oh, forget it! This guy takes the Tongshi exam every year, but never passes. He's just a Tongsheng, not even a Xiucai. In my eyes, he's hardly a scholar. Yet he keeps boasting about being well-read and erudite, saying he'll one day go to the capital and become the top scholar. With his level of skill, I think he's just daydreaming. He's a complete lunatic."

Jiang Yingxue leaned over the table, tapping it gently, her slender fingers moving lightly across the smooth wood, as if she were pondering something: "Then who supports him, as he studies all day? Is he just living off his savings?"

County Magistrate Fu shook his head. "How could he possibly have any savings to live on? His parents passed away a few years ago, and he married a new wife. All the household expenses are covered by his hardworking wife."

He paused, his tone slightly heavy. "Speaking of that girl named A Ping, she's a pitiful person. She was probably attracted by his tall stature and fair skin, so she gave him quite a bit of dowry to marry him. But her husband is a gigolo, penniless, and stays at home studying every day. But after so many years, he hasn't passed a single exam. A Ping has to support him by farming and selling vegetables all by herself, and he can't help at all. Now that his wife is dead, he must be broke, so he has to work as a handyman in the Sun Mansion. But looking at his appearance, you can tell at a glance that he's not someone who can do manual labor. How could the Sun Mansion possibly want him?"

"No," Yan Chuan said, "He is the one we want."

County Magistrate Fu was stunned for a moment, his lips curled up slightly, and his face was full of confusion: "Why? He can't even farm!"

Jiang Yingxue smiled and said, "Oh, Master Fu, have you forgotten that our recruitment this time was just a cover. We are here to catch the murderer."

"You mean... Tao Mengnan is the murderer?" Lord Fu looked incredulous. "That's impossible... He talks about it all the time. He can't even kill a chicken, so how could he kill someone?"

"I sensed a demonic aura from him, exactly the same as the one I felt at the deceased's house that day, and it was much more pronounced than at the deceased's house."

"But the first person to die was his wife. This...this...is impossible."

"Why is this impossible?" Jiang Yingxue stretched lazily. "Didn't Master Fu also say that the other party was simply a lunatic? Besides, it's hard to find a three-legged toad, but it's very easy to find a two-legged ungrateful man. I just don't know why he would risk cutting off his financial resources and kill someone. What exactly is his motive? We need to interrogate him thoroughly. You guys stay here first, I'll go meet him."

After saying that, Jiang Yingxue stood up and walked towards her yard.

At the same time, Butler Zhou was carefully leading Tao Mengnan, explaining to him the rules of the mansion and how to clean and maintain the courtyard.

After seeing Jiang Yingxue, Butler Zhou immediately stopped smiling and bowed respectfully to her: "Hello, young lady."

His voice was low and steady, and at the same time he was deliberately reminding Tao Mengnan to pay attention to his behavior.

Tao Mengnan was listening attentively when he was suddenly patted on the shoulder by Butler Zhou. He was stunned for a moment before he reacted.

He slowly raised his head, and what came into view was the most beautiful face he had ever seen in his life. Her skin was as white as snow, her hair was as black as ink, and her fairy-like temperament made him lose his mind for a moment.

He quickly lowered his head, feeling flustered, "Hello, young lady."

"No need to be polite, just look up." Jiang Yingxue gently waved the round fan in her hand, and the slight breeze blew her long hair, making her face look even more beautiful. She looked at Tao Mengnan carefully with a sharp gaze: "I heard that you are a scholar?"

Tao Mengnan felt her gaze, his heart tightened, a bit of pride appeared on his face, and his voice rose slightly: "Yes, Miss."

Jiang Yingxue deliberately provoked: "So what level are you at now? Scholar?"

Tao Mengnan lowered his head somewhat embarrassedly: "Not yet, just a Tongsheng."

"How old are you this year?"

"Reply Miss, I'm twenty-three."

"Oh, you're twenty-three?" Jiang Yingxue said with a hint of sarcasm, "Do you know where I'm from?"

Tao Mengnan nodded slightly, feeling uneasy: "I heard from Butler Zhou that the young lady came from the capital."

"Yes, I'm from the capital." Jiang Yingxue's demeanor became increasingly arrogant, and her tone was filled with disdainful ridicule: "You so-called scholars, you've studied your whole lives, don't you just want to go to the capital to take the imperial examinations? But do you know that those top scorers are actually very young? The geniuses in the world have already achieved success and fame in their teens and twenties. And you——"