She's skilled in medicine, martial arts, and even understands animal language—the abandoned dau

When Chu Zhiyi and Qingyang Hou returned to the military camp, it was already noon on the second day. The soldiers responsible for transporting Zhou Yu's coffin also returned to Chiyan that day.

Marquis Qingyang took Lin Simiao to his tent and untied his hands and feet.

"Si Miao, did you kill Zhou Yu or not? There are no outsiders here. You can tell me directly what you want to say. If you are innocent, I will definitely try my best to help you."

"Your life isn't just your own anymore. You still have Qing'er and Tong'er. You have to think about them..."

Lin Simiao stared blankly at the top of the tent, remaining silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "Father-in-law, I really didn't kill Zhou Yu, but in this situation, who will believe me?"

That day I heard arguing coming from his room. When I pushed the door open to check, he was already dead. The eldest prince and his men concluded that I was the killer based solely on the handkerchief I had dropped in Zhou Yu's room and a trace of white powder left under my fingernails.

They found Chang Qing's clothes under the tree behind Zhou Yu's room, yet they believed him to be innocent.

"Father-in-law, I was taught by my father to read the classics from a young age. How could I possibly commit such a heinous act as murder? They outnumber me and have framed me as the killer; I have no way to defend myself."

As he spoke, his eyes reddened and his voice choked with emotion.

Marquis Qingyang frowned, pacing back and forth in his tent. After a moment of thought, he said, "Si Miao, I believe you, but this matter is troublesome. Although Zhou Yu is a scholar who passed the imperial examinations, he is well-liked in the court and is highly regarded by the emperor."

If you don't have solid evidence to prove you didn't do it, they will definitely seize this opportunity to make a big fuss and ruin you.

“Father-in-law, my life is not worth worrying about. I am only worried about Qing’er and Tong’er. Qing’er is so young and has a child who is not even two years old. How will she live if I am gone…”

When Lin Simiao said this, her brows were tightly furrowed, and her eyes revealed endless pain and sorrow, trying to win Qingyang Marquis's sympathy with this helpless expression.

"Si Miao, the most urgent task is to find the real murderer and clear your name. Think carefully again, did you notice anything unusual in Zhou Yu's room that day? Or did you see anyone suspicious?"

Marquis Qingyang looked at Lin Simiao with unwavering eyes, trying to find a clue from his memories.

“Father-in-law, I only saw Chang Qing near Zhou Yu’s room that day. I suspect he was the one who killed him.”

"But that woman named Ding Man who is by the Crown Prince's side insists on pinning the murder on me..." Lin Simiao said indignantly after thinking for a moment.

Upon hearing this, Marquis Qingyang suddenly became alert.

He had known Shen Man for quite some time and knew her character well, recognizing her as a very upright person.

She wouldn't have assumed Lin Simiao killed Zhou Yu without any reason.

"Ding Man wouldn't falsely accuse you for no reason. Tell me the truth, did you kill someone or not?"

Lin Simiao didn't understand why Qingyang Hou's attitude had changed so drastically after hearing his words. A bad feeling welled up in his heart, and he argued forcefully, "Father-in-law, why do you prefer to believe an outsider rather than your son-in-law? Everything I said is true."

Marquis Qingyang, seeing that Lin Simiao's attitude didn't seem fake, began to waver again. Could he truly be wronged? Why would Shen Man do this?

Could it be because she knew she was abandoned by her birth mother, and thus harbored resentment towards her birth mother and family, so she wanted to take revenge on them?

Marquis Qingyang sat down in his tent, rubbing his temples, trying to clear his chaotic thoughts.

He looked at Lin Simiao and spoke again, "Simiao, it's not that I don't believe you, it's just that this matter is too strange. I've known that Doctor Ding for quite some time now, and I know her character well. If she didn't have some solid evidence, she would never have so easily accused you."

Lin Simiao said urgently, "Father-in-law, that white powder was just lime powder that I use when practicing calligraphy. As for the handkerchief, I was indeed scared after seeing Lord Zhou being killed, and I accidentally dropped it there. I have no grudge against Zhou Yu, so why would I kill him?"

Marquis Qingyang pondered for a moment and said, "I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly. You should also think carefully about whether anything unusual happened in the days leading up to the incident. You can rest in my tent for now; I'm going out for a bit."

After saying that, Marquis Qingyang walked out on his own.

After lingering outside the tent for a moment, he finally set off for Shen Man's tent, intending to ask her for clarification.

When Marquis Qingyang arrived, Shen Man had just returned after treating Fu Kai's wounds.

"My lord, is there something you need from me?"

"There are some details about Lin Simiao's murder of Zhou Yu that I am not very clear about, so I would like to ask you about them."

Marquis Qingyang was already used to Shen Man's cold attitude.

"Please come in and talk, Lord Marquis!" Shen Man invited Qingyang Marquis into the tent, and then the two sat down facing each other.

Looking at the woman before him, who was clearly his own daughter, Marquis Qingyang felt a pang of pain in his heart.

"Man'er...do you know that Lin Simiao is your brother-in-law?" Marquis Qingyang hesitated for a long time before speaking.

Shen Man lowered her head slightly and said calmly, "My lord, are you mistaken? My mother only has one daughter, me. Where would I get an older sister and brother-in-law?"

In the Lin Simiao case, I was merely acting in accordance with justice and my duty. Faced with the evidence, I will not favor anyone.

Her voice was steady and firm, without the slightest hesitation or wavering.

Marquis Qingyang frowned, his gaze fixed on Shen Man, as if trying to discern something from her face: "Man'er, whether you admit it or not, blood ties cannot be severed."

Are you really so heartless, showing no regard for any affection? Lin Simiao is your eldest sister's husband, and he has young children at home. If he is convicted, this family will be torn apart.

Shen Man raised her head, her eyes meeting Qingyang Marquis's with a cold gaze: "My lord, in my opinion, justice outweighs personal feelings. Lord Zhou was killed unjustly; shouldn't we seek justice for him?"

As for Lin Simiao, although I don't want to believe he would commit such a heinous act, the facts are undeniable, leaving me no choice but to believe it.

Marquis Qingyang felt a pang of pain in his heart. He knew he owed Shen Man all these years, but he was helpless at the moment: "How conclusive is the evidence you mentioned? As for that white powder, Simiao insists it's lime powder used for calligraphy practice. Do you have any solid evidence to refute his claim?"

Shen Man's eyes were firm, and she replied neither humbly nor arrogantly: "My lord, I have studied medicine and pharmacology for many years. I have repeatedly examined and compared that powder, and it is definitely not as simple as ordinary lime powder."

It contains an extremely rare ingredient that closely matches the composition of the sleeping potion placed in Lord Zhou Yu's room, which is no coincidence.

Moreover, there was Lin Simiao's handkerchief in Lord Zhou Yu's room.

Furthermore, all the signs on Lin Simiao's hands indicate that he is not actually a weak scholar, but rather someone who has practiced martial arts since childhood.