c98 (2/2)

This person was indeed stubborn enough. Zhuo Qing felt angry at this kind of behaviour that did not cherish their own body but she knew that this was not a time to be angry. Zhuo Qing walked to Qing Feng but that pair of gloomy eyes did not even move. Zhuo Qing was not anxious and just softly called out, “Qing Feng.”

Qing Feng did not bothered about her but Zhuo Qing continued calling, “Qing Feng, I am here to see you.” Finis.h.i.+ng, Zhuo Qing lightly held Qing Feng’s hands. When she just held on to them, Zhuo Qing immediately s.h.i.+vered it seemed that she was holding a block of ice. Zhuo Qing looked down and found that both hands were wrapped up in cloth.

She was injured? Zhuo Qing looked at Fu Ling. Fu Ling opened her mouth but she did not say a single word. Zhuo Qing did not continue to look at her and just called out gently Qing Feng’s name continuously.

After calling out for more than ten times, that person who was like an ice sculpture finally moved a little. The bloodshot eyes look intently at Zhuo Qing for a while before calmly replying, “You have come.”

Zhuo Qing was secretly relieved, “The weather is cold, let’s go in and talk.” Finis.h.i.+ng, Zhuo Qing held Qing Feng’s hand and slowly walked back to the house. This time Qing Feng did not resist and followed Zhuo Qing back into the house. Fu Ling wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and hurriedly followed. She had stood frozenly for the entire night and since she walked too quickly, she almost fell.

Ming Ze saw that figure stumbling and a trace of irritation flash across his eyes but it soon restored the usual calmness.

Zhuo Qing supporting Qing Feng into the inner chamber and helped her to changed out of her external coat and gave her a warmer for her hands and knees. When it was all done, Ru Yi brought in breakfast. Fu Ling wanted to come forward to take over but Zhuo Qing lightly pat on her shoulders and said, “Let me do it. You should go and change and warm up your knees.”

“This servant…” Fu Ling shook her head but before she could finish, Zhuo Qing interrupted, “Quickly go. Come back after tidying up. She still need you to take care and if you are unable to take care of yourself, how would you be able to take care of her.”

Fu Ling hesitated a while and looked at the expressionless Qing Feng again before finally nodding her head, “Yes.”

Qing Feng’s hands were wrapped up tightly so Zhuo Qing took the bowl of porridge over and filled a spoonful to bring it to her mouth, “Drink some porridge.”

“I have something to ask.” Qing Feng disregard the warm porridge by her lips and her voice was as cold as the snow outside the window.

Zhuo Qing’s spoon went forward a little as she replied, “Drink some porridge first.”

Qing Feng was silent for a moment before she opened her mouth to drink the porridge. Neither one of them talked and Qing Feng went through the motion to drink the entire bowl of porridge down. During that period of time, her eyes kept staring unblinkingly at Zhuo Qing. Zhuo Qing’s heart sighed as she handed the empty bowl to Ru Yi and said, “You can withdraw.”

The atmosphere between both of them did not consist of any warmth between sisters but there were some feelings of confrontation. Ru Yi saw that Qing Feng did not speak and dare not wait any more. She quickly bowed and immediately backed out of there.

Placing a wooden chair in front of Qing Feng to sit down, Zhuo Qing said, “You can ask.”

“How did the child die?”

Zhuo Qing had earlier guessed that Qing Feng would ask her that question but she had not decide on how she would answer. She was unable to perform an autopsy and thus was unable to confirm the cause of the child’s death. Just taking into Qing Feng’s current condition, it would be best that she was not to be provoked in any way.

Zhuo Qing kept her silence and Qing Feng’s pale face got darker by a bit. Her teeth was clenched before it was slowly released, “Don’t lie to me. If even you lie to me, I do not know what else to trust.” The hoa.r.s.e voice was filled with self-ridicule and sorrow, making Zhuo Qing look up at her. Meeting Qing Feng’s lonely eyes, Zhuo Qing felt even more powerless as she said, “I am not trying to lie to you. It’s just that I do not have enough evidence to draw any conclusion.”

“Then speak of what you are sure of. That day you checked through the child’s… Corpse and took back a handkerchief. Don’t tell me that you cannot determine anything from it.”

Zhuo Qing was secretly surprised. That day Qing Feng was obviously near to collapse but she was able to notice what she had done? Zhuo Qing look at her carefully and seriously. Qing Feng’s eyes were red but was unusually sober. Perhaps… Qing Feng was not as fragile as she thought she was. Her logic was understandable and thoughts were meticulous, since she had asked today, if she was not willing to respond, Zhuo Qing was afraid that she would lose her confidence and in future exchanges would definitely be difficult.

After weighing the consequences, Zhuo Qing at the end spoke the truth, “The child’s death is indeed suspicious. I found some traces of poison in his mouth but was unable to determine what was it or if it cause the child’s death. Since there are poison in the child’s mouth, it means that this was something he ate, thus the bowl of medication was the most suspicious but that day Fu Ling went to search for it and found the dregs missing.”

That means that the child did not die due to illness!

Didn’t she guessed it earlier on? She blamed Yan Hong Tian for not protecting the child but what about her? The child was by her side every day and she was the same, unable to protect her own child. That bowl of medicine… It was her who feed him… Every single mouthful of it…

Why?

Zhi-er was just a child… Why was he not spared!

Qing Feng did not speak any more and her eyes were closed so one would not be able to see her current mood but Zhuo Qing was able to feel her pain from the trembling body. As a forensic professional, most of the deceased were all crying out a grievance as they died and she never knew how to comfort the families of the victims, so she would prefer to face the dead bodies than living peopled. Like today, she also did not know how to comfort Qing Feng until she saw the plain white cotton cloth that Qing Feng was tightly clasping her hands with started to be stained with tiny dots of blood.

Zhuo Qing quickly step forward and grabbed her wrist and urgently said, “Qing Feng, calm down a little. I have already sent someone to inform… Youngest Sister. When she return, we will think of ways to investigate. You mustn’t be impulsive and hurt yourself again, else you will lose your own life even before the matter is cleared up.”

Ultimately Qing Feng loosen her grip but it only made Zhuo Qing more worried as she saw the drowning hatred in her eyes when she opened them.

*****

The child had left for almost a month. Xi Yan was busy with don’t know what that he left early in the morning and returned late at night. Every time when he returned, he had an exhausted look on and often looked pensive that the normally indifferent him was recently always frowning. Ever since Qing Feng asked about the cause of the child’s death, she did not ask any more. When she went over to see her, there was no more sharpness or soberness in her eyes as they were immersed in grief. She even took the child’s cradle and placed it in the courtyard and stared dazedly at it all day. Zhuo Qing had prescribed some anti-depressant medication for her but Qing Feng refused to drink. When she talk to her, she also hardly reply. If this continues, her psychological situation can only worsen.

The weather in the early spring was still cold. Zhuo Qing sat at the stone stool by the side of the lakeside of Lan Yue Building and looked into the distant horizon as she ponder about how to treat Qing Feng’s psychological trauma.

“What exactly went on?” A cold female voice suddenly sounded from behind and gave Zhuo Qing a shock. She turned back and saw Gu Yun coolly stood behind her. Yun’s expression was terrible as her face showed exhaustion. Rus.h.i.+ng the entire journey back was indeed very tiring. Zhuo Qing pat on the stone stool beside her to indicate her to sit down. She felt relieved as she was finally back.

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