Entering the Game Himself

The widow Zhou Clan could not help but look the young man up and down, her gaze filled with a scrutinizing interest as she asked, "How do you intend to find them?"

"It is not difficult." Chen Ye's tone was composed as he replied, "As long as you take me out of here, I will tell you everything, point by point."

The widow Zhou Clan did not respond immediately.

She looked at the young man standing straight before her; thrown into the Feng Family dungeon, he did not beg for mercy, but instead chose to negotiate terms with her.

"You aren't looking for the killer at all, are you? You just want to save your own skin."

"Even an ant clings to life, let alone a man." Chen Ye said candidly, "Naturally, I want to live, and so do you. If this succeeds, your position within the estate will be all the more secure."

"And if you fail?"

"It would be nothing more than my death." There was no fear on Chen Ye's face, his voice as calm as if he were discussing a matter unrelated to himself. "As for you, even if you make a mistake in your desperate search for your husband's killer, the people in the estate will only see it as a natural human reaction."

Hearing this, the widow Zhou Clan looked the young man over once more, her eyes filled with calculation.

A moment later, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"You are very clever."

Without further hesitation, she summoned a guard from nearby and said in a crisp tone, "Release him. I am taking him to see the head of the family."

The guard was startled, his face showing his distress. "Young Mistress, this... this is against the rules. This man's background is unknown, and he is a high-security prisoner. If the real killer escapes because of this, I will be unable to shirk the blame."

"This man possesses vital evidence." Zhou Clan cut him off, her gaze sharp. "I do not trust anyone else in this estate; I will watch him myself."

The guard still hesitated. "Mistress, this..."

Before he could finish, the widow Zhou Clan backhanded him across the face.

Slap!

Though the guard was a martial artist, he was struck to the ground by the blow and could not immediately scramble back up.

He instinctively clutched his face, his eyes filled with terror. He opened his mouth, but could not even utter a plea for mercy; he simply knelt on the ground, not daring to lift his head.

"A mere servant—who gave you the gall to question your master's decision?" The widow Zhou Clan's willow-leaf brows arched, her face flushed with fury, and a hint of killing intent flickered in her eyes.

"How did you perform your duties when Third Young Master was alive? Now that Third Young Master's body is not yet cold and the killer remains at large, you are the first to worry about your own responsibility? If the killer escapes, can you bear the weight of that?"

The guard hurriedly knelt and prostrated himself, his voice trembling. "This subordinate dares not... this subordinate dares not..."

"I am taking him now." The widow Zhou Clan stopped looking at him, her actions swift and decisive.

"Yes."

This time, no one dared to show the slightest defiance.

The cell door was opened, and Chen Ye walked out.

Zhou Clan did not say another word; she turned and walked away.

Chen Ye looked back at Zuo Dongxi.

Zuo Dongxi was slumped against the wall, listless, a bitter smile on his face. He realized that all his efforts had only served to pave the way for someone else.

Chen Ye said nothing, merely giving a slight nod before following Zhou Clan.

Su Guang, watching this from another cell, felt a flicker of movement in his eyes, deep in thought.

Chen Ye followed behind the widow Zhou Clan, walking all the way out of the dungeon.

Having stayed in the darkness for so long, the sudden appearance of light made his eyes sting, and he instinctively raised a hand to shield them.

After a moment, his eyes gradually adjusted.

Only then did he truly see the appearance of the widow Zhou Clan.

She appeared to be no more than twenty years old, with a delicate nose and crimson lips, her almond-shaped eyes hidden beneath willow-leaf brows. Her skin was flawless, clearly the beauty of a noble house, yet she carried an air as cold as frost.

Two elderly maids and two guards stood watch outside the dungeon; seeing them emerge, they immediately bowed in salute.

The widow Zhou Clan said nothing and strode out.

The group entered the main hall of the inner courtyard where Zhou Clan resided.

Chen Ye took a brief glance, finding the style completely different from that of the Capital City.

A landscape painting hung in the center of the hall, with a long table placed beneath it.

On the long table, a vase was placed on the east side, and a bronze mirror on the west.

An Eight Immortals table was positioned so that half was tucked under the long table, while the other half remained exposed.

A grand armchair stood on either side of the table.

It was clearly a southern style.

Zhou Clan sat in the main seat and waved for those around her to leave.

Once the door was closed, she picked up a teacup and took a sip. She did not speak, but her gaze remained fixed on Chen Ye.

Chen Ye was in no hurry; he stood with his hands bound, waiting patiently.

After a long while, Zhou Clan set down her teacup and spoke. "Speak. What do you intend to do next?"

Chen Ye looked down at the patterns on the blue stone floor, weighing his words. A moment later, he looked up and said, "Next, you only need to do one thing: take everything you have heard and seen today and leak it to the outside world, exactly as it is."

Zhou Clan's willow-leaf brows furrowed slightly; she clearly found it hard to believe.

"It sounds simple, but many details must be arranged one by one," Chen Ye continued.

"This news must be leaked inadvertently by the servants in your residence, or perhaps leaked after they are bribed."

"Why arrange it that way?"

"Because only then will the other party be willing to believe it."

A glimmer of realization gradually appeared in Zhou Clan's eyes, and she nodded. "Continue."

Chen Ye said, "Once the groundwork for this news is laid, when night falls, you should leak another piece of information: claim that I have a teacup and other important evidence in my possession. Call the estate's apothecary over, as if you are seeking a consultation."

"As for the rest, just lock me up and have people guard me. You only need to wait."

Zhou Clan toyed with the teacup in her hand, lost in thought, before a knowing smile curled the corners of her lips. "You are entering the game yourself, using yourself as bait."

Chen Ye offered a timely compliment, "It is because you are wise, Madam, that you could see through my meager tricks at a glance."

Zhou Clan ignored his flattery.

She set the teacup down on the table, the base clicking sharply against the wood.

"If we are to do this, we must act quickly. We cannot let the Head of the House intervene."

She paused, then looked up at Chen Ye and said, "However, why would the other party come just because you mention a teacup?"

"Third Young Master was poisoned, and there are only a few ways to administer poison. A teacup easily brings that to mind. We just need to bluff him."

After hearing this, Zhou Clan stared at him for a moment before standing up and calling out, "Have Uncle Guan come here."

Soon, a middle-aged man dressed in a black training suit hurried over. He pushed the door open, glanced at Chen Ye first, and then bowed to Zhou Clan. "Madam, you summoned me?"

Zhou Clan tilted her chin, her tone decisive. "Trouble Uncle Guan with locking him in the guest room. Find a few trusted people to guard him. Remember, choose those with average skills; don't make it too conspicuous."

"This old servant understands."

The corners of Chen Ye's mouth curled upward slightly.

Now, he was seven or eight parts certain he could escape this predicament.