"Impossible! I clearly saw the old master's will in black and white, stating that all the Shangguan family's assets are to be inherited by my daughter, Shangguan Yuyan!"
Shangguan's wife couldn't help but blurt out that she had seen the will before. Seeing everyone looking at her in surprise, Shangguan's wife waved her hand impatiently, "What are you looking at? Who says no one can be present when a will is made? Butler, quickly drive away all these useless riff-raff!"
"Yes, Madam." The butler immediately complied, but Shangguan's wife glared fiercely at Lin Qingge and the other two standing there. "Are your ears deaf? Didn't you hear me say that all outsiders should leave our house?"
Leng Ningyue stepped forward, blocking Lin Qingge, and retorted domineeringly, "She is a guest I invited. Let's see who dares to disrespect her!"
"Hmph, don't think you can scare me with a fake will. Let me tell you, I, Xiahou Jin, am not easily intimidated!"
"Madam Shangguan, I reiterate, the will in your hand is authentic and valid. To be frank, the old master Shangguan urgently sought me out last night to amend his will. This will bears the old master's personal signature and seal, making it legally binding."
Since the will had been retrieved from the safe and publicly disclosed, Lin Yan no longer needed to keep it a secret and revealed the truth of last night. "The old master has always doted on Yuyan, and I have toiled alongside the old master for years. How could the old master abandon us mother and daughter and leave all his property to this bastard who never comes home and has never shown filial piety to the old master?"
"Madam Shangguan, I am not clear why Master Shangguan changed his will. However, my job is to execute the contents of Master Shangguan's will. Feel free to transfer the Shangguan family's assets to Miss Leng Ningyue."
"No, you can't do this!" Shangguan's wife lunged forward as if insane, but Lin Yan sidestepped her. "Madam Shangguan, you may not have examined the will carefully. The will also specifically states that upon Master Shangguan's death, you and the second daughter, Shangguan Yuyan, must immediately vacate this villa and are forbidden from taking any jewelry or money from the Shangguan family."
"No! You're lying! The old master and I grew up together. The old master married that bitch Leng Shuying only for the Leng family's fortune. The old master truly loved me! Therefore, the old master would not, and could not, be so heartless to me!"
Shangguan Yuyan's eyes also welled up with tears, and she said softly, "Lawyer Lin, is there some misunderstanding here? Father and Mother always had a good relationship, everyone knows that. Did you hear wrong? Father isn't evicting me and Mother, but someone else?"
"Madam Shangguan, Second Miss, I confirmed the will with Master Shangguan repeatedly, and there is no mistake. Therefore, I hope you two will pack your bags and leave as soon as possible. Otherwise, Miss Leng, as the owner of this villa, has the right to evict you both."
After speaking, Lin Yan took his leave, citing other work. His words seemed to ignite the powder keg that was Madam Shangguan. "Damn it! The old master's bones are not yet cold, and these people are colluding to bully us, a helpless mother and daughter! If you have a spirit in the underworld, old master, you must vindicate us!"
Ignoring Madam Shangguan's wailing, Leng Ningyue expressionlessly instructed, "Uncle Wang, go help them pack their belongings."
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yuyan could no longer feign weakness and play the victim. She pointed at her nominal sister and said angrily, "Leng Ningyue, don't be too arrogant! This is Father's home, why are you kicking us out?"
Leng Ningyue narrowed her eyes slightly, as if looking at a clown, and a mocking curve appeared at the corner of her lips, "Simply because my surname is Leng, and my mother is the mistress of this house."
After speaking, she added reassuringly, "Uncle Wang, make sure their mother and son's belongings are packed properly before sunset today. Remember, strictly adhere to the contents of my father's will, and do not let them take a single thread or needle belonging to the Leng family!"
"Leng Ningyue, you're kicking us when we're down! Leng Ningyue, you have a heart of a serpent! You will die a terrible death!"
Ignoring the vicious taunts of Madam Shangguan and her daughter, Leng Ningyue led Lin Qingge and the others to the courtyard. "I apologize for letting everyone witness such a spectacle."
"Senior Sister Leng, please don't say that. That mother and daughter are clearly not easy to deal with. They must have bullied you a lot over the years by relying on Master Shangguan's favor! If you still feel unquenched, I can find someone to deal with them for you!"
"No need. I have some matters to attend to later. Tell me your address, and I'll come find you tonight."
After speaking, Leng Ningyue's expression suddenly turned serious, and her sharp gaze swept towards a corner of the garden. "Who is lurking there?"
However, her only response was the rustling sound of the wind. Seeing this, Leng Ningyue threw a dart she had held in her hand at some point. The dart, glinting with a cold light, whistled through the air and shot towards the bushes in the corner with lightning speed.
Immediately after, a muffled grunt of pain was heard. The next moment, a figure emerged from the bushes.
"You?" Seeing the person, Lin Qingge couldn't help but raise her eyebrows in surprise.
"Do you know each other?" Hearing Leng Ningyue's question, Lin Qingge introduced, "Senior Sister Leng, this fellow is Lu Huaiying. He's a semi-colleague of mine. He was originally a reporter for the Harbin Daily, but he was fired for offending a powerful figure. Later, to make a living, he opened an agency in Daoli, handling all sorts of difficult and complicated matters. Frankly, as long as the money is right, he'll do anything."
"Boss, isn't your detective agency also like that?"
"Shut up." Yan Tinghao made a gesture to shut up and stood obediently to the side.
Lu Huaiying, clutching his shoulder where he was hit by the dart, scanned the surroundings with a measuring gaze, his eyes finally settling on Lin Qingge's face: "You are Lin Jingxing?"
"I stand by my name, and I do not change my surname. It is indeed I."
"You've taken over the case of Master Shangguan's death?"
"It's not exactly taking over, just helping a friend. But how did you know Master Shangguan was murdered?"
Lu Huaiying did not answer Lin Qingge's counter-question but suggested, "This is not the place to talk. We should find another location."
"Indeed, we should change locations~" Hua Jinrong fanned herself, the smile on her face suddenly lessening, "Lu Huaiying, is it~ I, this detective, now declare you a key suspect in the murder of Shangguan Hong, and I am arresting you! You few standing at the door, come and apprehend this key suspect and escort him back to the police station~"
After giving the order, Hua Jinrong looked at Lin Qingge and said with a smile, "Detective Lin, the forensic doctor's results should be out by now. How about Detective Lin, you also bear some trouble and come with me~"