"A person's heart is hidden in their chest. Even your closest relatives might not reveal their true selves to you!" Qin Yun wanted to comfort Niu San, but his words lacked the right touch.
"I understand, sir!"
"After I deal with Niu Gen, I'll treat your illness!"
Niu San knelt and kowtowed again. "Thank you, Lord Qin. Lord Qin is my reborn parent!"
"That's enough! Didn't I just say, no more kneeling! If you kneel again, I won't treat you!"
Niu San hurriedly got up, tears of gratitude streaming down his face.
Qin Yun felt a pang of embarrassment.
He shook his head helplessly and then approached Niu Gen.
"Splash him awake!"
A servant brought over a basin of cold water.
"Splash!"
Niu Gen instantly became a drenched dog.
"Let me go, let go!" Niu Gen was defiant and started to struggle.
"Let you go? Do you think that's possible? Niu Gen..." Qin Yun bit down heavily on the last two words.
Niu Gen froze on the spot.
His mind raced, wondering how he had been exposed.
The only person here who knew he was Niu Gen... was Niu San!
Niu San?
Niu Gen instinctively looked towards Niu San in the corner.
He saw Niu San looking at him with fierce hatred.
Seeing Niu San's intense animosity,
Niu Gen knew that the other party had discovered his true identity.
He said nothing, having been knocked out midway.
He had only been unconscious for a short while, so how had things escalated like this?
Could it be...?
Niu Gen tried to touch his face.
Unfortunately, his hands were bound and he couldn't move them at all.
He lowered his head.
When he saw the leather mask at his feet, Niu Gen deflated.
Qin Yun also noticed Niu Gen's actions and smiled. "Is there any point in hiding anything now?"
Niu Gen chuckled. "Heh heh heh. Since you've discovered me, I have nothing more to say!"
"Niu Gen, you are my brother. Why did you try to harm me?" Niu San couldn't hold back any longer. He strode forward and grabbed Niu Gen by the collar.
"Harm you? You were already dying, so earning some silver with your life was only natural, wasn't it?"
"Ptooey!" Niu San spat a century-old phlegm onto Niu Gen's face. "You are so wicked, I don't have a brother like you!"
Niu Gen looked at Niu San with disgust. "You sickly fellow, get away from me!"
"You're almost dead, why are you still acting so arrogant!"
Qin Yun pulled the agitated Niu San aside and crouched down, sneering, "He won't die. It's you... who will die!"
Seeing Qin Yun's sinister expression, Niu Gen became scared. "My lord official, please spare me this once as it's my first offense!"
"Spare you? Did you ever consider sparing Niu San? Or those famine victims!"
Qin Yun twisted Niu Gen's chin, shaking his head. "You're truly disgusting. Your face makes me sick!"
"Now that things have come to this, you should tell me who you were working for!"
Niu Gen trembled. "If I tell you, will Lord Qin let me go?"
"I'll see how you perform!"
Niu Gen lowered his head and said softly, "I only know his surname is Wei. His servant calls him Butler Wei!"
"Did that Butler Wei approach you on his own?"
Niu Gen nodded. "He gave me a thousand taels, saying he'd give me another five thousand after the job was done!"
"So, you roped Niu San in, planning to use him as a scapegoat if something went wrong?"
Niu Gen glanced at Niu San stealthily and then nodded. "I thought... he was already dying anyway, so why not go along with the plan!"
"It just so happens that his family is in need of money! He has a simple-minded wife and a two-year-old son! I figured that for the sake of his wife and child, Niu San would definitely agree, which is why I exploited him!"
Niu San roared, "My wife isn't simple-minded. She just stutters when she speaks and sometimes forgets things!"
Niu Gen chuckled. "I originally thought that once you died, I would take care of your wife and child. I didn't expect to get caught in the end!"
"You'd be that kind?" Qin Yun didn't believe it.
"Perhaps Niu San's wife has a certain allure, and you've been coveting her for a long time!"
Niu San was taken aback by this statement.
Did Lord Qin mean that Niu Gen had secretly... taken a liking to his wife?
And intended to replace him after he died?
Niu Gen gave a wry smile. "Yes, that simple-minded wife does have some beauty. And coincidentally... I had a taste of her a while ago. She tasted exceptionally good!"
Upon hearing this, Niu San was furious!
He snatched the rattan whip from the servant's hand and started lashing Niu Gen.
"I'll beat you to death, you scoundrel! That's your sister-in-law, and we are brothers! How could you be so beastly!"
Niu San whipped him fiercely, his senses starting to blur.
Niu Gen cried out in pain on the ground. "Ah...! You sickly fellow, just because you're impotent doesn't mean you can stop me from having my way! What kind of man are you? Anyway, you're going to die, and that simple-minded wife will be mine sooner or later!"
Qin Yun held his forehead.
Was this Niu Gen foolish!
One must not covet a friend's wife, let alone when they were cousins!
He even dared to covet his brother's woman!
This person was truly not a good sort!
Qin Yun had initially stood by, intending to turn a blind eye!
Letting Niu San vent his anger was only natural!
After all, his own wife had been defiled by this man.
But Niu San was beating him to death!
If he continued like this, Niu Gen would surely be beaten to death!
Qin Yun couldn't bear to watch any longer.
At this moment, Niu Gen was covered in blood.
There were two bloody streaks on his face.
He gave a signal to the servant, who immediately pulled Niu San away.
Niu San was reluctant, but his weak body was no match for the strong and vigorous servant who dragged him away.
Seeing Niu San's intense reaction, Qin Yun knew he needed to calm down.
"You truly brought this upon yourself! Knowing that Niu San cared deeply for his wife, you still chose to provoke him!"
Niu Gen lay weakly on the ground.
"Life is like this! That simple-minded woman, I saw her first. Niu San got there before me! Heh heh heh!"
Qin Yun's eyes widened!
After all this talk!
Niu San and Niu Gen had both fallen in love with the same woman back then?
And Niu San had won her over, causing Niu Gen to hold a grudge?
"Since Niu San has already married her, you should have voluntarily withdrawn. You shouldn't have sought revenge like this!"
Niu Gen gave a bitter laugh. "What's the point of saying all this now! I, Niu Gen... am destined to be a failure! First, I lost the woman I loved, and now, even using a dying man has turned out so unlucky!"
Qin Yun walked to the window of the woodshed and looked into the distance, saying softly, "This is fate!"
"Yes, this is my fate!" Niu Gen said and closed his eyes.
"Now, I'll ask you, when did that Butler Wei approach you?"
Niu Gen closed his eyes and said weakly, "Five days ago!"
"Do you remember what Butler Wei looked like? And his voice!"
"I remember!"
Qin Yun turned and looked at Niu Gen. "Very good, your vocal imitation is excellent. Mimic Butler Wei's tone and say a few words!"
Niu Gen had no choice. Knowing his current situation, he had no other option but to cooperate.
Following that, Niu Gen mimicked Butler Wei's speaking style and uttered a couple of sentences.
Qin Yun did not know that Butler Wei, so she couldn't make out anything.
But the officials and nobles in the capital were limited.
Even if she had to dig three feet deep, she would find that Butler Wei and the household he belonged to!