Chapter 163: The Blood-Stained Garment

Bai Yan bristled with anger.

She shoved Jiang Chengyang away, clutched her large quilt tightly around herself, turned back, and fixed him with an accusatory gaze, looking thoroughly indignant. "Don't try to sweet-talk me. I'm not listening."

"Are you planning to slaughter me?" she added, trembling inwardly.

Jiang Chengyang: "..."

He had practically beaten himself black and blue, yet her mind was still fixated on the slaughtered rabbit.

"Come here." Jiang Chengyang rubbed his aching shoulder and reached his hand out toward her.

Bai Yan let out a huff, pouted, and refused to acknowledge him. Clutching her little quilt, she made straight for Mrs. Zhao.

Watching the little girl scurry away like a puff of smoke, Jiang Chengyang rubbed the bridge of his nose, utterly at a loss for words.

Was this what they called lifting a stone only to drop it on one's own feet? He hadn't managed to outsmart anyone else, but he had certainly crippled himself.

Not only was she immune to his sweet words now, but she was ignoring him entirely.

Mrs. Zhao was sitting in her room pondering matters when she saw Bai Yan dart in clutching her little quilt. Her face instantly lit up with delight.

"Who knows when your father will be back? Why don't you just stay here for the next few days?" Mrs. Zhao asked her.

Bai Yan nodded obediently, burying her face in Mrs. Zhao and refusing to let go.

Ever since Jiang Chengyang had mentioned the word "treasure," Bai Yan refused to have anything to do with him and stayed exclusively by Mrs. Zhao's side. In just a few short days, Mrs. Zhao had fattened her up until she was plump and rosy.

Early one morning, Bai Yan was sitting obediently before a small table eating her meal while Mrs. Zhao bustled about nearby, chattering away, "Your father should be coming back in a day or two."

When Jiang Chengyang walked in, Bai Yan spotted him from afar and immediately covered her small bowl, which was piled high with delicious food. With a sharp turn of her head, she presented him with nothing but the back of her head.

Over the past few days, Jiang Chengyang had been driven to the verge of internal injuries.

"Little darling, do you know why pigs are afraid of getting fat? The fatter a pig gets, the sooner it gets slaughtered," Jiang Chengyang said in a flat tone.

Bai Yan: "!!"

The moment Jiang Chengyang finished speaking, a heavy slap landed squarely on his back. Mrs. Zhao glared at him fiercely and scolded, "What are you trying to scare her for? Get yourself out of here and stop getting in my way."

Jiang Chengyang felt a burning sting across his back. Mrs. Zhao certainly hadn't held back her strength.

Just as Bai Yan resumed eating with her hands still shielding her little bowl, a loud *bang, bang, bang* echoed from their courtyard gate. Jiang Chengyang got up to open it. The moment the door swung wide, Magistrate Chen rolled in with his roly-poly frame.

"Ah-yan is here too? That means your parents really are staying here," Magistrate Chen glanced at Jiang Chengyang, then at Bai Yan, who sat wide-eyed in the background quietly eating her meal. He let out a sudden sigh.

"Where is your mother? You children should come take a look and see if this is your father's clothing." Magistrate Chen lowered his head, unwilling to say anything more.

Jiang Chengyang furrowed his brows slightly, while Mrs. Zhao, who had just stepped out of the kitchen, fixed a razor-sharp gaze upon the magistrate.

"What is the meaning of this, Lord Chen? My husband is perfectly fine. Whose clothes are we supposed to be identifying?" Fire seemed to be blazing in Mrs. Zhao's eyes.

"Elder Sister Zhao, someone found a blood-stained garment by the river today and reported it to the authorities. We went to inspect it and noticed the characters 'Jiang Fu' embroidered on the fabric, so we came directly here." Magistrate Chen held Jiang Chengyang in high regard, which was why he could only sigh upon encountering such a grim affair.

Mrs. Zhao stood rooted to the spot. Her body did not sway at all; apart from a complexion drained of color, she showed no other reaction.

Before Magistrate Chen could speak further, he heard Mrs. Zhao ask in an eerily calm voice, "Where was the blood-stained garment found?"