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"Manager Luo?"
Yun Xi expressed some surprise in her words, probably not expecting that the three characters coming from Xing Ruyi's mouth would be this.
"Ruyi, are you mistaken? How did this matter involve Manager Luo? He is an elder in the residence and has no grievances with the old lady; how could he possibly harm her?"
"If Fox Demon remembers correctly, when the Luo family reported the case to the Government Office, it was mentioned that the first person to discover the old lady's death was indeed that steward from the residence. Fox Demon believes that this child would not lie about this matter, right?"
"Young Lady, what I just said is true."
The boy lifted his eyelids slightly: "When Manager Luo saw it, he was very surprised and even tried to prevent anyone from entering this courtyard. He only saw that his foster mother had already gone to the Luo family ancestral hall. But he knew in his heart that Manager Luo was lying. However, as a steward, he is not even considered an ordinary servant in the Luo family, so naturally, he did not dare to force his way in and could only return to the gatehouse. It was only when people from the Government Office arrived that he took advantage of following the crowd to enter this courtyard."
"The circumstances surrounding my foster mother's death are suspicious; both this Young Lady and Sister Ruyi already know about it. At this point, I have already suspected that it was Manager Luo who did it, aside from seeing the shadow at night, there was also the probing that happened the next day."
"Is it the nightmare you just mentioned?"
Xing Ruyi countered, and the boy nodded.
"The nightmare is real, and so is the probing. The words given by Manager Luo have already been conveyed to Sister Ruyi and Young Lady. The cause and effect of this matter are probably like this." The boy spoke again, respectfully lowering his head, but those high shoulders clearly indicated that this child harbored not only respect but also calculations that were beyond his age.
No! At eleven or twelve years old, perhaps in her time, he would still be considered a child, but in the Golden Tang Dynasty, he might already be regarded as an adult.
Just as Xing Ruyi was about to sigh, she heard the child ask again: "Does Sister Ruyi know where the water stains by the bed came from?"
"Those are traces left by melting ice cubes; their purpose is to delay the decomposition of the body. Although spring is not far off now, it is still quite cold; keeping some ice cubes around is not difficult. The strange part is this person's intention. At this time of year, it has already delayed the degree of decomposition of the body; adding these ice cubes seems somewhat unnecessary. The only possible guess is that the murderer wanted my foster mother's body to be discovered and recognized by her facial features when found. Perhaps the murderer never intended to absolve themselves of guilt from the beginning."
"Fox Demon is correct!"
As soon as Xing Ruyi finished speaking, she heard Chang Tai's voice beside her ear, followed closely by familiar footsteps. Looking up, she saw Chang Tai and Deer Lady, along with Manager Luo following behind them.
Upon seeing Manager Luo, the boy immediately darted behind Xing Ruyi and pointed at him: "It's him! Sister Ruyi, it's him! He is the one who killed my foster mother!"
Luo Butler did not deny it; he simply stood behind Chang Tai, glanced at Boy, and then shifted his gaze to Xing Ruyi's face, calmly saying, "Debts must be repaid, and lives must be returned. I am merely reclaiming what she owes me."
"So, is it true that the elder owes you a life, Luo Butler? But how exactly was this life owed?"
"My daughter died at the hands of this cruel Woman. Young lady, do you see? Shouldn't I seek to reclaim her life?" Luo Butler sighed lightly. "My family is poor, and out of necessity, I sold myself into servitude, becoming a servant in Ruo Mansion. With the help of Master, I worked hard for many years and gradually reached my current position. Outsiders think my temperament is strange; I have been single for many years and never considered marrying or taking a concubine. Even Master and Matriarch have mentioned several times that they would help me find a suitable match. Little do they know that many years ago, I had already married and had a daughter. At that time, I was not yet a steward and was just an ordinary servant in the Luo Family, so no one paid attention to my life, and I had no need to mention my family to others. Especially for someone who sold themselves into servitude, marriage requires the master's consent. My private marriage was inappropriate, so I could only keep it hidden."
As Luo Butler spoke, his eyes glistened with tears, revealing that he still felt deeply about the matter; even after many years, his emotions had not settled.
"I lost my parents at a young age and grew up experiencing the hardships of life. My greatest wish has always been to live peacefully and happily with my family, even if our lives were modest or difficult. But fate would not allow me such happiness. Before my child turned one year old, my wife fell ill and passed away, leaving that child to be fostered elsewhere; I dared not bring her back home to raise.
Years passed in the blink of an eye. That year, my sister Luofu's eyesight suddenly improved. Master ordered me to find several maids of similar age for her to train under Old Woman for a few days before sending them to serve her. I thought it was an opportunity and brought my daughter into the mansion. Little did I know that within just a few days, she would be brutally abused to death by that wicked woman."
Luo Butler pointed angrily towards the Bedroom.
Xing Ruyi glanced at the swirling black mist above the courtyard and understood.
"Was the maid who was punished and frozen to death in the courtyard your daughter?"
Luo Butler closed his eyes in silence, but tears streamed down from the corners of his eyes.
"I have no complaints about my daughter's punishment for her mistakes. In a big household like this, who doesn't have rules? But she merely accidentally knocked over that Woman's box containing items; even if punishment was warranted, it shouldn't have led to death. Yet this cruel Woman made my daughter kneel here all night—an entire night! She froze her to death. By the time she was discovered the next day, she had become an ice sculpture in this courtyard, still maintaining a half-kneeling posture even in death. As her biological father, my heart aches as if it were being torn apart; it hurts so much that I can barely stand. But there is nothing I can do; I cannot ask anything because no one in this mansion knows she is my biological daughter. I must remain here to seek revenge for her!"
"I can understand your feelings, Luo Butler. As a mother myself, if someone harmed my child, I would risk everything to fight back against them," said Fox Demon. "But what puzzles me is that so many years have passed since your daughter's incident; haven't you found an opportunity for revenge?"
"Of course I have! It's just that I promised others not to act until she was gone." Luo Butler opened his eyes. "After that incident occurred, I have been looking for opportunities for revenge.
Not long after, my intentions were noticed by Lady Luo. Given her style of doing things, she naturally investigated the matter and quickly learned the truth.
She spoke with me and promised me the best living conditions while also assuring me that I could take revenge after her departure. Since entering Ruo Mansion, Lady Luo has treated me well; I also understood that she had no one trustworthy in this household. After some internal struggle over several days, I eventually agreed. Over these years, I've avoided meeting that Poisonous Woman, fearing that I might lose control and kill her prematurely.
Finally, I've waited for this moment."
"How did Lady Luo die?"
Xing Ruyi unexpectedly asked Luo Butler directly. It was unclear whether he had no time to think carefully or simply did not intend to conceal the truth, but he answered straightforwardly.
"Master killed her, right in the ancestral hall. Even Lady Luo's body was hung up by me with Master’s help."
"Why did Lord Luo kill his own wife?"
"Master has wanted to kill the Matriarch for quite some time. At first, he was afraid, then he hesitated, and later he just couldn't find the opportunity. During the Yun Family Gathering, who doesn't know that the Ruo Mansion owes its current scale entirely to Lady Luo? Although Master is called Master, everyone inside and outside the mansion has to listen to the Matriarch. As a man, how could he endure that? Even if he could tolerate it for a moment for profit or wealth, he couldn't bear it for a lifetime.
That night, I heard some noise and got up to check. I saw the Young Lady carrying a lantern heading to the Luo Family ancestral hall. I was curious why the Young Lady would go there alone in the middle of the night, but what I saw next was even more surprising. First, I saw the Young Lady arguing with the Matriarch in the ancestral hall. Then I saw that Poisonous Woman carrying a lantern into the hall, and afterward, I discovered Master hiding in the shadows. That night was truly the liveliest night in Ruo Mansion. Of course, I also learned Ruo Mansion's biggest secret, but that secret was of no use to me.
The argument between the Young Lady and Matriarch didn't last long. Soon after, I saw that Poisonous Woman catch fire. To be honest, I felt very conflicted at that moment; part of me wanted her to burn to death while another part hoped she would survive so I could take revenge for my daughter. Perhaps Master sensed my inner struggle because the fire went out, and the Young Lady ran out of the ancestral hall.
Then I heard Matriarch scolding that Poisonous Woman a few times before she left. Only Matriarch remained alone in the Luo Family ancestral hall, staring at a certain spot. That spot, as we all know now, was a hidden chamber where Master’s beloved mistress's remains were concealed.
Just as I was about to leave, I noticed Master entering the ancestral hall. Taking advantage of Matriarch's unguarded moment, he loosened his belt and strangled her neck. Panic surged in my heart as I rushed out from my hiding place and was caught by both Master and Matriarch. I saw Matriarch reaching out to me; I knew she wanted me to save her, but I also caught Master’s warning gaze. I stood still because I remembered my previous promise—to take revenge only after Matriarch's death. I am old now; I cannot wait any longer, so all I could do was watch as Matriarch's hand slowly fell away from mine. Afterward, I helped Master set up the scene and closed off the hidden chamber before coming to this courtyard to kill that Poisonous Woman."
"Brother Chang examined her and found no fatal wounds on her body nor any signs of a struggle. So could you please clarify how you killed her?"
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