Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Proving Innocence with Death

Zhi Wan was caught off guard by Old Madam Lu. Just as she saw the cane about to strike her head, her arm was suddenly gripped tight. The next moment, she was pulled into a sturdy embrace.

THWACK!

The muffled thud of the cane hitting a back rang out, accompanied by a man’s pained grunt.

Before Zhi Wan could even react, she heard her aunt’s shout.

"Ah Zhan!"

"Big Brother!" Lu Jun exclaimed in alarm.

Zhi Wan came to her senses and quickly struggled to get out of the man’s embrace, wanting to check his injury, but he grabbed her wrist. "It’s nothing. Don’t worry."

"Old Madam, if anything happens to Ah Zhan, I will not let this go!" Lady Wei said angrily, her face ashen. "If my son hadn’t been quick enough to protect Wan’er, that cane of yours would have struck her on the head."

She couldn’t imagine the consequences if the cane had hit Wan’er’s head.

Old Madam Lu hadn’t expected her grandson to shield Zhi Wan. She, too, was startled when she saw the cane strike him.

Now, being rebuked by Lady Wei, her lips twitched, but knowing she was in the wrong, she said nothing more.

"Miss Zhi, please continue," the official said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Zhi Wan composed herself and continued, "After Lu Lan was assaulted, she turned her anger on me. The person the fourth Miss Lu, Lu Xin, had originally intended to frame was me, but I didn’t fall for it. So, Miss Lu turned her attention to Lu Lan instead.

"Lu Lan suffered that terrible misfortune and believed she was hurt only because I had refused Lu Xin’s invitation. She felt she had taken the fall for me."

"Miss Zhi, how did you know Lu Lan was directing her anger about this incident onto you?" the official asked, surprised.

Zhi Wan glanced at the pale, trembling Lu Lan and said coolly, "Because the day after it happened, Lu Lan came here to find me and said to my face, ’Wouldn’t it have been great if you were the one who went to Lu Xin’s room?’ Not long ago, she also tried to frame me. Other than that incident, I can’t think of any other way I might have offended her."

"Miss Lu, is it true, as Miss Zhi says, that you blamed her for what happened?" the official asked, turning to Lu Lan.

Lu Lan seemed to be trembling uncontrollably with fear. She covered her ears and shrieked, "My wound had finally scabbed over! Why are you ripping it open and making me bleed again?

Are you trying to drive me to my death?

That way, you can pin the crime of matricide on me, Zhi Wan can be cleared of suspicion, and no one can blame her!"

Seeing her like this, everyone except Zhi Wan and her companions began to feel sorry for her.

"Lan’er..." Old Madam Lu’s eyes reddened instantly. She set down her cane and pulled Lu Lan into a pained embrace.

For a rare moment, Lu Jingsi showed a father’s love. His gaze swept over everyone in the room as he said in a deep voice, "Lan’er, as long as your father is here, no one can slander you!"

The official frowned at the scene. "Miss Lu, we had no choice but to bring up this painful subject. You are a key suspect in your mother’s death. Please, cooperate with the investigation."

Tears streamed down Lu Lan’s face. She suddenly broke free from Old Madam Lu and cried, "Since you suspect me of killing my mother, you won’t believe any explanation I give! In that case, I can only prove my innocence with death! My mother is dead, and I don’t want to live anymore..." With that, she slammed her head against the wall behind her.

She moved so quickly, without a hint of hesitation, that even the swift reactions of Jiang Shi and the other guards weren’t enough to stop her.

With a sickening THUD, Lu Lan’s head hit the wall. A trickle of blood ran down her forehead as she crumpled limply to the ground.

"Lan’er!" Old Madam Lu cried out and lunged toward her.

But Lu Jingsi was faster. He rushed over first and gathered Lu Lan into his arms.

Lu Jingsi was stunned as he looked at his small daughter in his arms—pale, frail, her forehead a bloody mess.

He had never paid much attention to this illegitimate daughter, always thinking of her as weak and useless. He never imagined she had such a fierce temperament.

’To think she would try to prove her innocence with death.’

Seeing his daughter on the verge of death, Lu Jingsi felt a pang of guilt.

"Lan’er... Lan’er..." Old Madam Lu sobbed, shaking Lu Lan’s hand as tears streamed down her aged face.

Lu Lan’s eyes were tightly shut, and she was silent and still.

Lu Jingsi lifted Lu Lan into his arms and glared viciously at Zhi Wan. "Zhi Wan, if anything happens to Lan’er, I will not spare you!"

Watching Lu Lan, who looked as if she had stopped breathing in his arms, Zhi Wan dug her nails into her palms.

’Lu Lan’s move was brilliant, a masterstroke of desperation. Now, not only has she cleared herself of suspicion for the matricide, but she’s also won the sympathy of Old Madam Lu and Lu Jingsi.’

"You dare touch Zhi Wan and see what happens." Lu Zhan stepped in front of Zhi Wan, his gaze icy as he faced his second uncle. "Lu Lan is only putting on this show to clear her name. Can’t you see that? Or are you deliberately indulging and shielding her?"

Lu Jingsi’s pupils contracted when he met his nephew’s cold stare. But looking at the daughter in his arms, hovering between life and death, he puffed out his chest and retorted, "Lu Zhan, you are arrogant and disrespectful to your elders! Aren’t you afraid I’ll submit a memorial to the Emperor to have you impeached?"

"Your threats are useless against me. On the contrary, if word gets out that you’re sheltering a daughter who murdered her own mother, you won’t be able to escape unscathed!" Lu Zhan’s voice was like ice. "Furthermore," he added, his eyes falling on the unconscious Lu Lan, "does she think pretending to kill herself will clear her of matricide? The net of Heaven is vast; though its mesh is wide, nothing escapes it. For killing her own mother, she will face severe punishment!"

Lu Jingsi’s heart shuddered, but the image of his daughter slamming her head against the wall still overwhelmed him. He couldn’t help but refute, "Lu Lan has always been meek and honest! She could never murder her mother! Don’t you dare try to pin this crime on Lan’er! I will report this to the Emperor and ask for His Majesty’s judgment!

"No matter how capable you are, Lu Zhan, can you really shield the true killer?" At this, he shot a venomous glare at Zhi Wan before turning and rushing away with Lu Lan in his arms.

Before following them out, Old Madam Lu looked at Lu Zhan with deep disappointment. "Jinzhi, you’ve really lost your senses. To become so foolish over a woman... Lu Lan is your own cousin! How could you turn against her for an outsider?" With that, she sighed, shook her head, and left.

Lady Wei was so angry her chest heaved. "How can they both be so stupid? The Old Madam has the nerve to call someone else foolish? I think she’s the most muddle-headed person in this entire mansion!"

The official wiped his sweat.

’He never expected things to escalate to this point. Lu Lan was indeed a key suspect. By law, he could have taken her back to the Government Office for questioning. But with this sudden stunt, the matter had to be put on hold. After all, that blow to her head was not light; who knew if she would even survive?’

"Mr. Lu, how should we proceed with this matter?" the official asked Lu Zhan, seeking his instruction.

Lu Zhan didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Who was it that reported the case to Mr. Chen?"

"It was a servant girl. I do not know her name," Mr. Chen replied. "Because the Duke Dingguo Mansion was involved, I did not dare to delay upon receiving the report and immediately brought my men here."

Lu Zhan nodded and asked, "When did you receive the report?"

"Around the Hour of the Snake..." As Mr. Chen said this, a chill went down his spine. The victim died around a quarter past the Hour of the Snake, but he had received the report around the Hour of the Snake. In other words, the crime was reported to him before the victim was even dead.

’How could the person who reported it know in advance that the victim would die? Unless it was premeditated.’

At this thought, Mr. Chen wiped the sweat from his brow and hastily ordered his Government Officials, "Quick, find the servant girl who made the report! If we find her, we’ll know who the murderer is!"

Before Lu Zhan needed to say a word, Lady Wei understood. "I will have all the servant girls in the mansion gathered in the front courtyard," she announced. "You can see if the one who made the report is among them!"