Chapter 508: The Murderer

Tao Yaoye and Lanting carefully observed the study's simple layout: two bookshelves, two paintings on the wall, and several yellow talismans used for exorcism. Besides these, there was a desk, a wooden chair, a tea table, and a vase on the tea table—it looked like any ordinary study.

The door was tightly shut, and according to the butler, the windows were also closed and couldn't be opened from the outside.

"This is..."

Tao Yaoye noticed a hole poked in the corner of a broken window.

The butler explained, "Before I broke the window, I poked a hole to see if Master had truly met with an accident."

"It must have been you, Elder Brother, who killed Father!" the second son, Song Qing, yelled, grabbing his older brother Song Tian's collar. He was furious, his eyes bloodshot, like a mad dog.

Song Tian was displeased, frowning deeply. He pushed his second brother away and angrily retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

"I'm not spouting nonsense! Don't think I don't know that ever since you took over Father's business, it's been losing money. A while ago, you even had a failed investment and lost a huge sum. You didn't dare tell Father, afraid he'd get angry and not let you manage the family business anymore!"

"Now it's perfect; you killed Father, and as the first heir, all the family business is yours!"

Song Tian was enraged. "Nonsense! If we're talking motive, yours is far worse than mine. You failed the scholar exams multiple times, and Father got angry and broke your leg. He even said that if you couldn't pass the imperial exams, you wouldn't inherit a single penny from the family! I once heard your friend say you were buying wine and having fun, and that you even said you'd kill Father!"

"You bribed my friend!"

"It's your friend who is greedy for money."

Song Lian'er trembled, pointing at Master Song's corpse. "Stop arguing, all of you. Look, Father's eyes are still open. He died with grievances."

Everyone looked and indeed, Master Song's head was tilted, and his eyes were open, staring directly at the tea table.

The youngest son, Song Qi, followed Master Song's gaze and saw a blue and white porcelain vase on the tea table.

"A blue and white porcelain vase... blue and white porcelain... blue... Second Brother Song Qing! This must be a clue Father left before he died! Second Brother, you killed Father!"

The second son, Song Qing, became anxious. "Rubbish! You're saying I killed him based on something so meaningless?"

"Father's right hand has one finger extended; this clearly points to Elder Brother!"

"Besides, if we're talking motives, who here doesn't have one? Third Brother, you resent Father for cutting off your allowance, which made you lose face among your friends. If you killed Father and inherited a portion of the family fortune, you'd naturally have money!"

"And Little Sister, Father told you to break off your relationship with that boy surnamed Zhou, but you refused to listen and secretly kept in contact. With Father dead, no one can stop you from marrying the boy surnamed Zhou!"

Song Qing pointed out everyone's hidden intentions, showing that they all had a motive.

Tao Yaoye suddenly asked, "When was the last time each of you saw Master Song?"

"I saw Father in the courtyard when I was reading in the morning. Then I went inside to read. That was two and a half hours ago."

The third son stammered, "An hour ago, I came to the study to take some money. When I left, I bumped into Father walking into the study, and he scolded me."

Song Lian'er said, "Half an hour ago, I brought a bowl of tea to Father in the study."

The butler chimed in, "I happened to be outside the door when Young Lady brought the tea. I haven't seen Master since then."

Lanting nodded. "So, Master Song passed away less than half an hour ago."

"What were you all doing half an hour ago, and who can prove it?"

The eldest son, Song Tian, quickly said, "At that time, I was checking ledgers at the shop. The clerks can all confirm it."

The second son, Song Qing, also said, "I was reading at the time. Although no one saw me, I usually read aloud, so the maids passing by should have heard me."

The third son, Song Qi, said, "I was drinking and watching dancing with friends at a brothel. Wang family's second son, Kong family's eldest, and someone from the Sun family were all with me. But I drank too much and fell asleep. When I woke up, I was at home. I don't know who brought me back."

Song Lian'er's eyes were teary. "After bringing tea to Father, I stayed in my room until Elder Brother came to find me."

"Can anyone confirm that?"

Song Lian'er's voice grew quieter and quieter. "No."

Tao Yaoye keenly sensed something amiss. "Wait, you said you brought tea to Master Song. Where is the teacup?"

There was only the blue and white porcelain vase on the tea table, no teacup.

It was impossible for Song Lian'er to wait for Master Song to finish his tea before taking the cup away.

Song Lian'er stammered, unable to say a word.

"Little Sister, hurry up and tell us!" the third son, Song Qi, urged anxiously, sweat beading on his forehead.

Song Lian'er finally made up her mind and said, "The butler told me that there are no unresolved conflicts between father and daughter and encouraged me to talk to Father about Zhou Lang. I brought tea to Father to ask him to agree to my relationship with Zhou Lang. He got angry on the spot, threw the teacup to the ground, and the butler collected the teacup. Then I went back to my room and cried."

Song Tian frowned at the butler, implicitly questioning him. "If that's the case, why didn't you mention this, Butler? And you should know Father's attitude; it's impossible for him to agree to Little Sister's matter!"

The butler met Song Tian's eyes, then nervously looked away.

"Look me in the eye! Tell me, what exactly do you want to do!" Song Tian demanded sharply.

Seeing everyone looking at him with hostile expressions, the butler knew he couldn't escape. He sighed helplessly. "Actually, Young Lady's beloved is my illegitimate son. I wanted to bring them together, but I didn't expect Master's attitude to be so firm."

Song Lian'er stared blankly at the butler, not expecting such a relationship between the butler and Zhou Lang.

So, the butler's encouraging words to her weren't about encouraging her to pursue love?

Song Lian'er's gaze was dazed; something within her collapsed.

Tao Yaoye whispered, "In that case, the most likely scenario is that Song Lian'er and the butler conspired. The butler must have shot a poisonous ice needle through the window, poisoning Master Song, and then, under the pretense of checking, poked through the paper window to cover the needle hole."

Lanting shook her head, offering her own insight. "If that were the case, how could the butler ensure that the eldest son would ask him to go find Master Song? After all, the butler couldn't have known we were coming."

"In my opinion, it could be the second son, Song Qing. He said he was reading in his room, but by purchasing a recording orb from the merchant guild and continuously playing his voice, he could completely fabricate an alibi!"

The two argued softly, coming to no conclusion. Finally, they both turned to ask Lu Yang.

"Senior Brother Lu, who do you think is the murderer?"

Lu Yang did not answer. He silently walked over, squatted beside Master Song, and took out a Soul-Returning Pill.

He had bought this pill from the Mission Hall when he went to Barren State, fearing some unexpected event, but had never used it.

The pill melted in Master Song's mouth. Master Song slowly regained consciousness, his expression somewhat confused.

Lu Yang explained, "Master Song isn't dead; his soul was extracted. I used a Soul-Returning Pill to pull his soul back."

Lu Yang was frequently possessed, making him far more experienced in soul matters than his two junior sisters.

"Master Song, we three are from the Immortal Sect. Who extracted your soul?"

Master Song was initially still confused, but upon hearing Lu Yang's words, his eyes became resolute, and he named the culprit:

"It was the painting."

Lu Yang turned to the others and said, "See, the murderer has been found."

The Song family siblings: "..."

The butler: "..."