The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

Chapter 390 Who exactly is the mysterious man with the mysterious painting style?

But to Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan's surprise, the people in the relief center were already mentally prepared for Li Chongxi's death.

The new dean was a man in his thirties. He personally went into the room to check on Li Chongxi's condition, and then methodically arranged for someone to bring in a coffin and put Li Chongxi in his body.

Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan stood aside, initially a little uneasy, but now they were numb.

How come these people are calmer than the two of them when they suddenly see Li Chongxi dead?

Gu Zhanghua tentatively asked the man a question.

"You...aren't you going to change Dean Li's clothes? Isn't it too hasty to just have him buried like this?"

Zhao Xuan, however, had another question.

"You have absolutely no doubt about the two of us?"

The new dean looked sorrowful and shook his head at the two of them.

"The dean had already changed her clothes. She used to only wear gray cloth dresses, but she had prepared this red dress long ago, saying that if she were ever seen wearing this dress, it would mean... her time was up..."

Tears finally welled up in the eyes of the new dean. He moved a stool to the base of the wall, stepped on it, and carefully took down the painting from the wall. He then carefully rolled up the scroll and placed it in the coffin next to Li Chongxi.

Then he beckoned in two more men, and the three of them together closed the coffin lid.

After the two men left the room, the new dean looked at Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan again and wiped away his tears.

"Moreover, the dean had left a will... She told me a while ago that she did something more than ten years ago that she regretted for the rest of her life. Evil has its retribution, and the retribution is coming soon..."

She was an orphan with no relatives. Once she dies, there's no need to investigate anyone. Just quietly bury her and the painting on the wall under the peach tree in the backyard... Keep it a secret from the children in the yard. Just say she was tired over the years and went on a long trip after retiring from her post..."

Upon hearing this, Gu Zhanghua couldn't help but speculate in his heart.

What exactly is the relationship between the man in the painting and Li Chongxi?

Li Chongxi wanted to be buried with this painting after his death?

Is the man in the painting her relative? Or her closest friend? Or her lover?

Filled with doubts, Gu Zhanghua asked the new dean.

Do you know who the man in that painting is?

The newly appointed dean shook his head.

"I don't know. All I know is that this painting was done by the dean himself and has been hanging in his room for many years... Alright, that's enough, you can leave now..."

Although Li Chongxi committed suicide by poisoning himself, Gu Zhanghua still felt guilty.

Regardless of whether Li Chongxi ordered those people to commit the evil deeds back then, as long as they don't come and ask about the old case from many years ago, Li Chongxi doesn't need to be so eager to die.

In the end, Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan buried Li Chongxi together with the new dean.

In the backyard, under the peach tree that Li Chongxi loved most, there wasn't even a small grave mound, which was also Li Chongxi's last wish.

Gu Zhanghua lit three incense sticks under the tree and, with Zhao Xuan in hand, bowed to the sleeping Li Chongxi on the ground.

Those entrusted with important tasks by Li Chongxi and those close to her had all learned of her death. Several men and women stood not far away, and Gu Zhanghua could hear their restrained and sorrowful weeping.

Inside the orphanage, the faint sounds of children's laughter and the clear voices of children reading aloud could still be heard...

The sorrow flowing in the shadows and the joy and tranquility in reality were strangely intertwined. Gu Zhanghua thought to himself that no matter how great the crimes Li Chongxi had committed, he had made invaluable contributions to the Fuze Relief Home.

Is she a good person or a bad person?

Gu Zhanghua was unable to give a definite answer.

On the way back to Liyang, Gu Zhanghua was in a bad mood. Zhao Xuan originally wanted to wait for him to calm down on his own, but even when they were almost in Liyang, Gu Zhanghua still looked gloomy.

While the two were taking a short break at a roadside tea stall, Zhao Xuan earnestly tried to persuade Gu Zhanghua.

"Xiao Wu, I know you're still grieving over Li Chongxi's death. Even if she wasn't the mastermind, she was at least an accomplice, right? She was the dean of the Liyang branch! You can't deny that, can you?"

“I know… but she just died right before my eyes, a living person, turned into a corpse in the blink of an eye. I still can’t quite accept it…”

"Let me put it another way. Even if we don't go after her, when the truth comes out, she will still be unforgivable! She sees things more clearly than we do and has long been prepared to die. I think this way of dying is too easy for her!"

Gu Zhanghua still couldn't muster any enthusiasm. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and started sighing again.

"Now is not the time to sigh and lament. We must hurry back to report this matter to Father Emperor. It is impossible to investigate further in private. We don't want to end up killing everyone we question. Ultimately, this matter must be decided by Father Emperor!"

Zhao Xuan patiently persuaded her again.

Gu Zhanghua looked at Zhao Xuan and stammered out his thoughts.

“Sister Xuan, I’ve not been grieving for her death these past two days entirely. I wanted to find the man in her painting and tell him Li Chongxi’s feelings, so that she could die without regrets.”

Zhao Xuan rolled her eyes at Gu Zhanghua.

"So that's what you were thinking about? You're really meddling in other people's business. How do you know she didn't confess her feelings to that man when she was alive? Maybe he didn't even like her! It might just be a case of unrequited love!"

These words were like a wake-up call; Gu Zhanghua instantly understood.

"How could I not have thought of that... Her life is really unfortunate..."

"I think you've been living in a sweet spot for too long. You feel sorry for everyone. I'll just run away from home without saying goodbye and see if you still think about other people's business!"

As Zhao Xuan spoke, she got up and walked toward the horse that was tied to the side. Gu Zhanghua hurriedly took out a few copper coins to pay the bill and caught up with Zhao Xuan.

"Sister Xuan, I promise I won't think like that again. Please don't run away from home..."

Zhao Xuan leaped onto the horse's back and grinned at Gu Zhanghua.

"Are you kidding me! The Prince Xian's Mansion is my home. Why should I run away from home? How are you feeling now?"

Gu Zhanghua also leaped onto the back of another horse and let out a soft sigh of relief.

"Hmm, much better. I'm never as rational as you at crucial moments, Sister Xuan. You're right, there's no time to lose. Let's hurry up and leave. We should be able to enter the city after noon and have a proper discussion with Father!"

That afternoon, the two returned to Liyang. Instead of going back to the Prince Xian's residence, they went directly to the palace to see Emperor Xia and told Gu Li everything about their trip to investigate the case.

Gu Li pondered for a long time before solemnly speaking to the two of them.

"Xiao Wu, Xuan'er, the prefect of Fucheng who was in charge of this case back then resigned shortly after the incident. He was always resentful that he had failed to manage his jurisdiction properly, which led to the tragedy. He died of depression a year later in his hometown... So, whether he was a suspect back then is no longer important..."

Gu Zhanghua hurriedly asked, "Father, what should we do now?"