That Fair-Faced 'Sage' {Completed}

35. Fifth Madam's Master

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A few hours later, Shuǐ ChénLín and Zhao LanFeng had gone to find the Fifth Madam.

She had been expecting them, and didn't even resist, when Shuǐ ChénLín directed two fingers at her, and spirit-binding ropes wrapped themselves around her.

"How discourteous, Young Master Shuǐ. I thought you would at least question me first. I'm sure you know I can't run away, as my children and family are here."

Shuǐ ChénLín bowed politely. "I heard you were helpful in finding the culprit, and your white cat was even trying to warn the people..."

Zhao LanFeng had explained everything to him about the fifth Madam, just a while ago.

"However, there is a problem we still haven't clarified, so tieing you with Spirit-binding ropes is a precaution, since we don't know how you might react. Please bear with it."

LanFen stepped forward. "Fifth Madam, You're not really the 'Fifth Madam', are you?" She asked directly, and wasn't surprised by the woman's instant reaction.

Her eyes had widened, and her pupils shifted from side to side, avoiding making eye-contact as she spoke. "Young Master Zhao, you have said something puzzling. I do not know what you are talking about."

LanFen's lips bent in a small smile. "There is no doubt that you are innocent, where the attacks are concerned, but not in this issue. I already know you had a twin sister, who died mere months ago...

"Your parents didn't want either of you to cultivate, and you both grew up under strict rules. But your 'sister' was another matter. She was stubborn. Willful... She ran away from home at a young age to chase her dreams, and she eventually became a decent cultivator."

Beads of sweat had formed on the fifth Madam's forehead, but she still said nothing, as LanFen paced while she spoke.

"Unfortunately, she realized after many years, that she had left her heart behind... As a child, she had greatly admired a certain young man, far older than she was, but he was someone who had always shone brightly to her."

'Quite literally!' LanFen couldn't resist mentally adding, as she recalled the numerous jewels on Lord Ming's person.

"This man was always kind to her as a child. He encouraged her to chase after her dreams, and even secretly gave her some silver, when she ran away.

"Eventually, she returned, but a little too late... He had married several women, including her own twin sister, who had stayed behind.

"This is considered a fairly normal story among cultivators, since a lot of them leave home to acquire skills, but the only problem here is..." LanFen turned to face her.

"The Twin sister who had no cultivation, is suddenly in the blue realm, and her own children are being distant with her... Are you really the one who remained behind?"

The fifth Madam was practically shivering at this point, and she dropped to her shaky knees, then lowered her head to the ground.

"I beg you! Please look away and leave things as they are!" She cried out, as her tears dropped to the floor. "I know how things might appear, but I didn't kill my own sister!"

LanFen, "You might say that, but wouldn't anyone in your position say the same thing?"

Fifth Madam, "I'm telling the truth! I did return for Lord Ming, but that was ten years ago, shortly before I turned twenty!"

When she didn't elaborate, LanFen prodded her. "If we are indeed to believe you, shouldn't you tell us the full story? What happened after you returned, and how did your sister die?"