"To escape from Senior Sister Leng's grasp, that Fu Xun indeed has some skill."
Lin Qingge's words were not mere flattery, as she knew Leng Ningyue's capabilities. It was precisely because of this that Fu Xun's difficulty was further proven. Hearing the name again, a trace of ferocity flickered in Leng Ningyue's eyes. She said, enunciating each word in a voice as if tempered with ice, "Protecting the young marshal of the Xia family is one aspect, but since we know Fu Xun has appeared here, this time I will ensure he never leaves, to comfort the souls of those comrades he massacred!"
After catching up, the two returned their conversation to the case. Lin Qingge recounted the autopsy results and the information obtained from Lu Huaiying to Leng Ningyue. Leng Ningyue, in turn, concisely explained what she had learned. The Japanese did indeed intend to cooperate with her father, but he had refused. Her father had gifted the special medicine as a dowry to the Xia family. Due to multiple forces coveting the special medicine, the donation agreement was signed in secret by both parties. However, she had searched the study and safe deposit box but could not find the agreement.
"Senior Sister Leng, on the night of the incident where Master Shangguan was murdered, besides Madam Shangguan, is it possible anyone else infiltrated the study?"
Leng Ningyue fell into thought upon hearing this. "I was summoned by the Military Statistics Bureau that night and only returned to the villa late in the evening. Although Butler Wang slept in the servant's quarters directly below the study, Butler Wang is advanced in age. He could hear my father's cane, but if someone had silently infiltrated the study, it would have been almost impossible for him to detect. Therefore, your possibility cannot be ruled out."
Lin Qingge's attention, however, was drawn to the first part of Leng Ningyue's statement: "Senior Sister Leng, the Military Statistics Bureau summoned you late at night, could it be they also had designs on that special medicine?"
"Not just the Military Statistics Bureau; the Organization is also very interested in this special medicine." Speaking of this, Leng Ningyue couldn't help but sigh, "Actually, I returned with a mission. The Organization wanted me to persuade my father to sell the produced special medicine to the base area at factory price. If that wasn't possible, they wanted me to obtain the formula for the special medicine first."
"Good heavens, I'm suddenly curious, just who is this remarkable person who developed such a potent special medicine."
"The person who developed it is named Bai Yichen. He was originally a noble in the late Qing dynasty but was deeply passionate about medicine, having traveled overseas several times to study in other countries. He was an alumnus of my father's. After returning to the country, he accepted my father's invitation and threw himself into the laboratory of the Shangguan family's pharmaceutical factory. After several years of research, he finally made a breakthrough and achieved fruitful results. Oh, by the way, his son, whom you met this afternoon, is Murong Bai, the one who helped the police station with the autopsy."
"Since they are mentor and disciple, why do they have different surnames?"
"As far as I know, it seems Murong Bai did not wish to live under his father's shadow, so he voluntarily changed his name."
"I see."
Lin Qingge chatted with Leng Ningyue for a long time. Just as she was reluctantly rising to see Leng Ningyue off, Hua Jinrong arrived. Accompanied by him was Yan Tinghao, who had finished his classes.
"Detective Lin, this afternoon I sent people to search the Shangguan residence inside and out according to your instructions, and we actually found some clues~" Hua Jinrong said as he walked into the house. Upon seeing Leng Ningyue, he feigned surprise and exclaimed, "Oh, Miss Leng is here too~ Could it be I'm interrupting your good time, Detective Lin~"
"Detective Hua, the consultation fee for the detective agency at night is three times that of the daytime, so I suggest you speak less useless nonsense and get to the point."
"Detective Lin, aren't you helping our police station solve cases pro bono?"
"Detective Hua, I'm running a business, and I naturally charge money. However, out of respect for my teacher Director Xu, I can give you a 1% discount. Also, during the case-solving period, my meal and transportation expenses must also be covered by you."
"Detective Lin, I didn't realize you shared the same fondness as that skinflint Bai Er, perhaps even surpassing him~" Seeing Lin Qingge's displeased expression, Hua Jinrong quickly reined himself in and returned to the main topic. "It's like this, my people found a small amount of black ash in the incinerator in the backyard of the Shangguan residence, suspected to be the remains of burned photographs. According to the servants, this incinerator is only used at specific times, and people rarely linger near it. However, the driver He Zhang was seen near the incinerator today. When my men went to find He Zhang, they couldn't find him in his room. Furthermore, he was the one who touched the kitchen refrigerator on the day Master Shangguan was murdered. So, I just issued a warrant for his arrest~"
"Driver He Zhang touched the refrigerator, what about the bottle containing the milk?"
"When my subordinate found the bottle containing the milk, it was already a pile of glass fragments~ Bai Er asked his assistant Qin Han to see if he could restore the milk bottle. If the murderer did handle the bottle, it's highly likely they would have left fingerprints on it. However, through sampling and testing the broken glass pieces, a trace amount of digitalis was indeed detected. This is sufficient to prove that Detective Lin's previous guess was correct. The murderer indeed poisoned Master Shangguan by directly administering the drug into the milk bottle~ In addition, I have also thoroughly investigated the identity of Madam Shangguan's close associate~ Even you, Detective Lin, would be greatly surprised to hear it~"
After listening to this long report, Lin Qingge subconsciously shook her head. "No, I'm already greatly surprised." She considered herself an expert on everything in Harbin, but she wouldn't dare guarantee she could investigate so much in such a short time. Yet, Hua Jinrong, a newly appointed detective, had accomplished it? Seemingly sensing Lin Qingge's curiosity and doubt, Hua Jinrong fanned himself and smiled, "Detective Lin, there's no need to be so modest~ I don't have many strengths, but my sources are just a little more thông tin than average~"
This was more than just "a little bit"! Lin Qingge grumbled inwardly. Seeing that Hua Jinrong was unwilling to say more, she smoothly changed the subject, "Tell me, who is this esteemed person that Mrs. Shangguan's associate is?"
"Detective Lin, I've prepared a car, why don't we talk on the way?"
"Fine, just remember to settle my consultation fee for tonight after the case is solved." Lin Qingge said this and gestured for Leng Ningyue to go outside. Lu Huaiying, who was also very curious about the case, followed suit.
"Boss, wait for me!" Yan Tinghao, forgotten at the entrance, shouted, finally squeezing into the car just before it started.
When everyone arrived at the Shangguan villa, Butler Wang hurried out to report to Leng Ningyue, "Young miss, a young gentleman claiming to be a friend of the master is looking for you."