The Yizhuang.
Cao Chengwu's body was laid out in the courtyard. A middle-aged man with a goatee hurried over—it was Zhang Wuzuo, the forensic doctor from the government office.
Ye Chutang, along with Ye Yunfeng and the Cao Family, stood on either side. The atmosphere was tense.
When Cao Chengwen saw the man arrive, he immediately stepped forward and said urgently,
"Zhang Wuzuo, you must conduct a thorough autopsy and find out the truth behind my brother's death!"
Zhang Wuzuo readily agreed.
Watching from the side, Ye Chutang suddenly remarked, "Although you and your brother were not born of the same mother, Young Master Cao, your deep bond is truly moving."
Cao Chengwen's face stiffened. "I was raised by my mother's side, and I grew up with my brother. Our bond is naturally closer than anyone else's!"
Everyone in Jiangling knew that Boss Cao Deping of Cao's Restaurant was a notorious philanderer. After his first wife died in childbirth, it took him less than a month to marry her younger sister—the current Mrs. Cao.
Cao Chengwen, being a few years older, had always been extremely close to his younger brother, spoiling him rotten. Cao Chengwu had caused no end of trouble growing up, and it was almost always Cao Chengwen who cleaned up his messes.
This time, however, he had taken it too far and ended up dead.
Ye Chutang nodded and said no more. But Cao Chengwen grew uneasy, his eyes darting toward Ye Chutang from time to time.
'There's something about that question Ye Chutang asked...'
He glanced back at Zhang Wuzuo, clenching his fists in secret.
Time trickled by.
Finally, Zhang Wuzuo completed the autopsy.
Wu Xu immediately asked, "Well?"
Zhang Wuzuo sighed. "There are no serious external injuries, but there are large patches of purpura. The cause of death was asphyxiation, likely... from an allergic reaction to something he ate before he died. The time of death was approximately the Chou hour today."
This was consistent with Ye Chutang's own conclusion.
Wu Xu nodded, then turned to Ye Yunfeng. "What did you do yesterday after your fight with Cao Chengwu?"
Hearing Zhang Wuzuo's words, Ye Yunfeng began to understand the situation, and his initial panic subsided considerably.
He said earnestly, "After I fought with him at the academy, I went straight home and never saw him again. My classmates at the academy can all vouch for that!"
Cao Chengwen's brows furrowed. "Who knows if you didn't sneak out later to find Chengwu!"
Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow. "A Feng's every move at the academy yesterday can be corroborated by his classmates. As for Cao Chengwu, from what I understand, he also went home right after his studies. Young Master Cao suspects A Feng did something in secret—but he's only twelve. Wouldn't it be a bit difficult for him to sneak into the Cao Mansion without anyone noticing?"
Cao Chengwen's expression turned ugly.
He knew perfectly well that there were no holes in Ye Chutang's argument.
After their conflict, the two boys had both gone their separate ways home from the academy and had no further contact.
Under these circumstances, proving Ye Yunfeng was the culprit was virtually impossible!
"Besides, if A Feng was truly responsible, Cao Chengwu would have had his reaction much sooner. He wouldn't have made it through the night only to be discovered so late," Ye Chutang continued. "And isn't it quite a coincidence? The second young master of the Cao Family has a sudden medical emergency, and by pure chance, not a single servant is by his side. He isn't found until the next morning?"
Previously lost in grief, Mrs. Cao was stunned by these words and snapped her head up. "Wh-what are you trying to say!?"
"I think you know very well what I mean, Mrs. Cao."
Ye Chutang didn't believe a woman who had held the position of Mrs. Cao for so many years could be a complete fool. She was likely just muddle-headed from the shock and grief of losing her son. Now, with just a slight nudge, it wouldn't be difficult for her to see the problem.
Cao Chengwu was allergic to river shrimp. If he ingested it, an attack was certain to occur within fifteen minutes. When he started feeling unwell, wouldn't he have called for help? Yet, nothing happened at the Cao residence last night. By the time the servants discovered something was wrong, he was already stone-cold dead.
The perpetrator had clearly intended to kill him outright, leaving him not the slightest chance of survival.
Mrs. Cao's eyes were filled with panic and terror.
At this moment, Wu Xu also spoke up. "Forgive my asking, Mrs. Cao, but had your son offended anyone recently?"
"N-no..." Mrs. Cao searched her memory, murmuring in disbelief. "He had a bit of a temper, but it was all just minor squabbles. Nothing that would lead to someone wanting to kill him!"
There was some truth to her words.
Cao Chengwu was fourteen. Having been spoiled by his family his whole life, he often used his family's status to bully the weak.
But it was highly unlikely he had made any mortal enemies.
Ye Chutang's gaze swept impassively over Cao Chengwen as she asked, seemingly offhandedly, "What about... Young Master Cao?"
Cao Chengwen flinched as if pricked by a needle and snapped his head up. "Wh-what!?"
Ye Chutang watched him intently, not missing the slightest change in his expression, yet her tone remained calm and composed. "I said, since you and the second young master were so close, Young Master Cao, you should be more familiar with his situation. Can you think of any suspicious individuals?"
The color drained from Cao Chengwen's lips. "Oh, oh! Th-that... I'm n-not really sure. I've been busy with the restaurant lately, so I haven't been paying much attention to him."
Wu Xu pondered for a moment. "Based on the time of death from Zhang Wuzuo's report, it's highly likely that someone from the Cao Mansion is responsible."
He raised a hand.
"Start the investigation with them!"
...
Ye Chutang took Ye Yunfeng back to the clinic to await the results of the government office's investigation.
Dusk was falling, and the secluded path was empty, with just the brother and sister walking side by side.
Ye Yunfeng was not one to hide his thoughts. Seeing no one around, he finally couldn't help but lean in and ask in a low voice, "Sister, do you think there's something wrong with that Cao Chengwen?"
Ye Chutang didn't answer his question directly. Instead, she brought up something else. "I hear Boss Cao hasn't been in good health recently."
Although Ye Yunfeng could be blunt, he was not slow-witted. In fact, he was quick on the uptake.
Hearing Ye Chutang's comment, he thought for a few seconds before it suddenly dawned on him. "Sister, are you saying that Cao Chengwen was worried Cao Chengwu would fight him for the family inheritance?"
Cao Chengwu was only fourteen and probably had no concept of such things, but Cao Chengwen was already nineteen and would certainly be planning for his own future.
With Cao Chengwu dead, the Cao Family's fortune would be his alone.
Ye Chutang neither confirmed nor denied it.
Ye Yunfeng scratched his head, still finding it hard to believe. "But they're brothers, after all. How could he be so ruthless...?"
Ye Chutang stopped in front of the clinic door and said to him with a faint smile, "Don't go making accusations without proof."
Ye Yunfeng immediately fell silent.
Ye Chutang pushed open the door, but in the next moment, the smile froze on her face.
In the courtyard, the Little Milk Group she had painstakingly cared for for three years was nestled in a man's arms, earnestly nibbling on a Furong Cake.
Hearing the noise, the man and the child both looked up in unison.
Meeting those deep, phoenix-like eyes that held a hint of a smile, Ye Chutang had only one thought—
'My house has been robbed!!!'