The Double
Chapter 243 - 104: Pretend to be Confused

Chapter 243: Chapter 104: Pretend to be Confused

Meeting with Old Madam Ye went smoother than Jiang Li had imagined. Although she was purposefully using the trouble the Ye Family was in to draw closer to members of the Ye Family, Jiang Li believed that even without this incident, there would be no estrangement between Old Madam Ye and Miss Jiang the Second. As long as Miss Jiang the Second turned back, Old Madam Ye would always be her support.

But after all, it was a matter of the heart that had been settled.

What had to be done next was to wait calmly for the results from Tang Fan. However, none of them had expected the outcome to be so unexpectedly sudden.

Three days later, Tang Fan visited the Ye Family and upon entering said, "I’ve found the person who brought the Tuoluo Flowers to Xiangyang."

Ye Minghui asked, "Who is it?"

Tang Fan shook his head, "These past few days, together with Tong Zhifu, I’ve had people investigating the case. Following the trail, we discovered Dafeng Medical Shop in Xiangyang City. Every six months, the shopkeeper sends people out to collect some rare medicinal materials. One clever assistant in his employ returned from the Western Regions two months ago. Some say he brought back a lot of medicinal materials, and according to what others have said, there seem to be traces of Tuoluo Flowers."

"Dafeng Medical Shop?" Ye Mingxuan pondered for a moment, "The common people of Xiangyang get their medicine from Dafeng Medical Shop, but they have no grudges with our Ye Family."

"We intended to arrest the suspects quickly, but this morning we found out that the shopkeeper of Dafeng Medical Shop and his family of seven, including the assistant who had returned from the Western Regions, were all silenced."

"Silenced?" Ye Jiaer exclaimed in shock.

"Indeed, it doesn’t seem to be an act of vengeance. I think," Tang Fan looked toward Jiang Li, "it’s very possible that the person behind the scenes knew we were investigating and decided to sacrifice the pawn to save the king."

"You mean, there’s someone else behind this?" Ye Mingyu asked.

"If it were just Dafeng Medical Shop’s own idea, there would be no need for a massacre. Now, those who knew are all dead, but it seems there is someone else behind the scenes pulling the strings," Tang Fan answered. He had not been entirely sure at first, but seeing the shop that was under suspicion wiped out overnight, he was almost certain that the matter of the Ancient Fragrance Satin of the Ye Family was indeed a plot by someone else. However, such brutal methods and complete disregard for the consequences indicated that the opponent had considerable power.

But since he had already taken a stand with the Jiang Family, it was too late to back out now, so he had to carry on resolutely.

"Lord Tang’s suspicions about Dafeng Medical Shop should not have been leaked," Jiang Li said with a slight smile. "Such a quick silencing of Dafeng Medical Shop, could it be that someone had advanced knowledge of this and thus moved against Dafeng Medical Shop? If so, there could be a traitor..."

"Absolutely not!" Tang Fan quickly assured, "We were sent to Xiangyang by the Head of the Weaving Department precisely to thoroughly investigate this matter, with no connection to Dafeng Medical Shop, and we would definitely not let any information slip. He feared that Jiang Li would suspect their people had tipped off the opposition, which led to the destruction of Dafeng Medical Shop and the elimination of any living witnesses."

"Lord Tang need not worry. Since I have left the matter entirely in your hands, I naturally trust you will give us an explanation. It’s just that this event is quite unexpected; we had just focused our attention on Dafeng Medical Shop when they left no one alive. Don’t you think it’s too coincidental? Tong Zhifu has many underlings; could it be that one of them carelessly leaked information, offering an opportunity to others?" Jiang Li said with a smile.

Tang Fan’s gaze at Jiang Li changed slightly, and he inwardly sighed. Tong Zhiyang had thoroughly offended Miss Jiang the Second. The implication of Jiang Li’s words was the suspicion that Tong Zhiyang was colluding with those who framed the Ye Family, and upon receiving the news, informed the other party, who then dispatched people to wipe out everyone from Dafeng Medical Shop. Although possible, Jiang Li’s mention of it at this time was a clear attempt to suppress Tong Zhiyang. Once Jiang Li returned to Yanjing City and reported the matter to Jiang Yuanbai, Jiang Yuanbai could find any pretext to have Tong Zhiyang investigated thoroughly for any clues.

Miss Jiang the Second was not to be trifled with, nor offended. With this realization in mind, Tang Fan was even more polite when speaking to Jiang Li, saying, "In the backyard of the assistant’s quarters at Dafeng Medical Shop, we found some scattered Tuoluo Flower Powder. Although Dafeng Medical Shop has been wiped out, we can roughly affirm that the assistant was behind it. We only need to gather enough evidence to clear the Ye Family’s name."

"But the person behind the scenes hasn’t been found, have they?" Ye Minghui said solemnly. "If they don’t succeed this time, what will we do if they plot against us again? It’s not easy to come across a clue, and now Dafeng Medical Shop has been silenced. How can the public believe the Ye Family’s statements now? They might even suspect collusion between the Ye Family and the Official Family, thinking it’s all an excuse. The reputation of the Ye Family is already ruined, not to mention, the business of Ancient Fragrance Satin is likely over, so what should we do now?"