Victor's face twisted with ferocity.
Clutching a gleaming dagger, he lunged toward the back of Adrian's neck with deadly precision.
Yet just before the blade touched skin, Adrian moved as if he had eyes on his back.
His body shifted—calm, fluid—
Then his right hand shot out like lightning.
His fingers closed around the blade like an iron vise, stopping it dead in the air.
Victor's expression changed instantly.
Blue veins bulged on his forehead as he tried stabbing again, and again—
But the dagger didn't budge.
It was as if the weapon had fused with Adrian's hand.
Realizing he was doomed, Victor panicked and released the dagger, bolting for the exit.
Lillian saw this and exploded, fury twisting her delicate features.
"Useless coward! No-balls dog!"
But Victor had barely escaped the hall when he found his path blocked by Shenhe—and a stern purple-haired girl in black stockings.
His legs failed him instantly.
"M-Master Keqing… I… I didn't know anything! I swear it's not my fault—none of it!"
Keqing frowned coldly.
"The Ministry of Civil Affairs will judge your crimes. Justice will be handled impartially."
Victor collapsed onto the floor, trembling.
Keqing had no intention of wasting her breath on such trash.
She walked past him and entered the main hall.
There she saw Adrian reclined lazily in a chair—calm, unrushed—while Lillian knelt on the floor, face buried in her hands, crying her heart out.
Keqing approached Adrian and snapped,
"Adrian, don't call me for this again. Do you know how busy I am? And this isn't even my department."
Adrian didn't blink.
"If not you, should I call those useless drunks at the Ministry of Justice? They couldn't solve a crime if it bit them."
Keqing gritted her teeth.
She hated to admit it, but… he had a point.
Suppressing her irritation, she went straight to business.
"You said the husband was murdered. Do you have actual evidence?"
Adrian answered calmly:
"Director Hu Tao of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor can foresee the approximate time of death. She firmly believed the man would die today. But he actually died yesterday."
Keqing narrowed her eyes.
"That alone is hardly proof of murder. Your conclusion sounds flimsy."
Adrian continued:
"Naturally, that isn't the only clue. Lillian has been pushing me nonstop to bury him immediately. If she feared decay, that would make sense. But he's been placed in an ice coffin—he won't rot."
At this moment, Lillian sobbed harder, voice shaking pitifully.
"T-That… that was his final wish… I was only following his dying words… How could you accuse me of something so cruel?"
Her grief-soaked voice tugged at the average person's heart.
But Keqing remained unmoved.
Her gaze stayed sharp.
"Any other evidence?"
Adrian pointed to the ice coffin.
"Call Baizhu from Bubu Pharmacy for an examination. He'll reveal the truth.
And if all else fails, let Director Hu Tao perform her spirit-calling ritual. She can consult the deceased's soul directly."
Keqing rolled her eyes so hard it nearly echoed.
Baizhu was a healer, not a forensic examiner.
And Hu Tao hated disturbing the dead more than anything.
But she didn't shut down the suggestion—instead, she turned her gaze on Lillian, voice frosty:
"Lillian, I suggest you confess now.
If we discover the truth through the methods Adrian mentioned…
the punishment will be severe."
Lillian knew it was over.
The truth would come out sooner or later.
She clenched her teeth, eyes filling with desperate resolve—
Then pointed all blame at Victor.
"It was Victor! That beast forced himself on me! He used it to blackmail me—and forced me to help him murder my husband! Oh, my poor, poor husband…"
Outside the hall, Victor heard her accusation.
He stormed inside, roaring like a madman:
"Lillian, you venomous snake! You seduced me first! When he discovered our affair, it was YOU who suggested poisoning him! And now you want to dump everything on me?!"
Lillian shrieked back:
"You ball-less animal! You committed these monstrous acts—now you want to blame me? You're not even human!"
Victor wasn't backing down.
"You filthy slut! Drop the act! You know exactly what you are!"
The two screamed insults like street thugs—
A chaotic mess of filth, curses, and betrayal.
Who would've thought that just days ago, they were wrapped in each other's arms on the same bed, whispering promises of eternal love?
Adrian watched the scene with interest—
though his gaze lingered more on the… ahem… dramatic movements of Lillian's chest as she shouted.
Shenhe, however, hated such vulgar noise.
She frowned and silently walked out.
She found a quiet corner of the estate, far from the chaos, enjoying the peace.
Shortly after, officers from the Ministry of Justice arrived and dragged away the adulterous pair.
Keqing shot Adrian a cold glance and turned to leave without a word.
Adrian immediately leaped from his chair, chasing after her with a bright smile.
"Master Keqing, wait!"
The title alone made her blood boil.
It always felt like he was mocking her.
She turned sharply.
"Don't call me Master Keqing. If you have something to say, say it. I'm extremely busy."
Adrian rubbed his hands sheepishly.
"It's about the land purchase I mentioned before—for the cemetery project."
Keqing's face went colder than Shenhe's ice coffin.
She turned and sped up to leave.
Adrian raised his voice desperately:
"Master Keqing, I can pay more!"
Keqing didn't even look back.
"Get lost!"