Hearing the woman's words, Ying Chen raised an eyebrow. "You're not Min Ziqiong? Who are you?"
"I am Min Ziqiong's university roommate. She was kicked out of her family for getting involved with disreputable men and becoming pregnant before marriage. I took her in out of curiosity, as I rarely saw a young lady of her standing in such distress, hoping to witness her downfall..."
"This morning, she entrusted her daughter to me and returned to Jianghai herself, saying she was summoned by family matters."
"I don't know how Min Ziqiong offended you, but I am just an outsider. Her affairs have nothing to do with me! Please, spare me, won't you?"
The woman wept profusely, begging repeatedly.
Ying Chen's gaze towards the woman, however, showed a clear hint of disgust.
Setting aside the impure intentions behind the woman's offer to shelter Min Ziqiong, the very fact that Min Ziqiong entrusted her daughter to this woman, who then neglected her, allowing the daughter to fall into trouble, was enough to reveal the woman's wicked character!
"Before you accuse others of being promiscuous, you should take a look at yourself. Your gynecological issues have likely existed for at least ten years, right? The cause of such illnesses usually stems from multiple sexual partners. And you started indulging in such activities ten years ago. Compared to you, Min Ziqiong seems far from it?"
Ying Chen's eyes were sharp, as if he could see through the woman's body, and he spoke with mockery.
The woman's complexion instantly changed, her face flushing crimson.
Ying Chen had spoken the truth!
The root of her illness indeed originated ten years ago!
And it was precisely due to "group activities"!
At any other time, the woman might have leaped up like a cat with its tail stepped on, accusing Ying Chen of spouting nonsense.
But now, she dared not.
She had witnessed with her own eyes how Ying Chen had killed everyone in the room with a wave of his hand!
She hadn't lived enough yet! She didn't want to die!
"Let's go to Jianghai!" Ying Chen's gaze swept coldly over the woman, and he turned to leave.
Professor Li, following behind, opened his mouth, then quickened his pace to catch up.
However, in the next second, he turned back and said to the woman, "When the police arrive, you know what to say, right? Remember, it's better to avoid trouble."
The woman nodded hastily, "I know, I know. I'll say they were robbers who died in an internal conflict..."
"Very good." Professor Li nodded and walked out of the house.
Outside, Ying Chen gave Professor Li a deep look and said, "You're becoming more and more like a seed. Are you really not considering becoming my seed?"
Professor Li's scalp tingled, and he hastily waved his hands. "No, no, no. We're doing just fine as we are. I help you with your tasks, and once they're done, you let me go. I will keep your affairs a secret for the rest of my life."
"That's a real shame. You should know that becoming my seed brings many benefits. For instance, I am intimately familiar with the locations of various Qin Dynasty tombs and ruins, including the resting places of some feudal lords and sages." Ying Chen shrugged, planting a huge bait, then got into the car.
Professor Li, outside the car, was stunned.
Tombs of feudal lords and sages from the Qin Dynasty!
These were discoveries significant enough to shake the entire archaeological community!
If he could truly learn their exact locations and excavate them, Professor Li would immediately become a towering figure in archaeology throughout the country!
Should he take this bait or not?
Professor Li, his heart unsettled, got into the driver's seat, his hands trembling as he started the car and headed towards Jianghai City, the provincial capital of S Province.
...
Jianghai City.
The Min Family.
As a renowned aristocratic family in Jianghai, the Min family occupied a prime location with excellent feng shui. Over a century of development, they had established a rather grand manor.
The saying "the gates of a noble household are as deep as the sea" perfectly described such a family.
Professor Li looked at the seemingly endless estate before him, a look of admiration on his face.
Ying Chen, however, showed no discernible emotion, as if he were merely strolling through a rural village.
Professor Li's mind suddenly stirred. "Afang Palace must have been much larger than this, right?"
Ying Chen replied faintly, "More than a thousand times."
Professor Li was shocked.
Ying Chen had indeed seen Afang Palace!
The historical community had long debated whether Afang Palace truly existed.
Even the current Afang Palace site was considered fake by many, as only a platform had been excavated, with nothing else.
If Professor Li could truly learn the location of Afang Palace's true remains from Ying Chen, he couldn't even imagine the praise he would receive!
Professor Li's heart, which had finally calmed down, began to pound again.
"Min Ziqiong, are you playing me?"
"The first time you refused me, I thought it was because we hadn't known each other long enough, so I gave a woman a month, the longest I'd ever done;"
"The second time you refused me, I thought my sincerity wasn't enough, so I prepared flowers, fine wine, a candlelit dinner, and a sports car worth ten million;"
"The third time you refused me, I thought a prominent family required a formal marriage. So I found my highly-ranked grand-uncle to act as a matchmaker."
"And you still refused!"
"You wretched woman, you've exhausted all my patience! Today, you will marry me whether you want to or not!"
From the distant courtyard, a furious roar suddenly erupted.
And the target of the scolding was none other than Min Ziqiong, whom Ying Chen was looking for!
Ying Chen's expression shifted slightly, and he quickly walked towards the courtyard.
After just two steps, he saw several people standing in the courtyard.
One of them, a young master, stood with his back to the entrance, arrogant and condescending.
He was pointing and scolding a woman.
Without a doubt, this woman was Min Ziqiong!
Min Ziqiong's head was bowed. Though her features weren't visible, her silhouette indicated she was a beauty, otherwise, she wouldn't have attracted the young master's persistent pursuit.
"Young Master Hu, my lady is just not good at communicating, she didn't mean it the way you understand..." At this moment, Min Ziqiong's female assistant tried to explain.
However, before she could finish her sentence, a sharp slap echoed.
The female assistant was struck forcefully, sent sprawling to the ground.
"You, a mere servant, have no right to interrupt?"
The young master, nicknamed Young Master Hu, wiped the blood from his hand, his eyes cold as he spoke.
The already oppressive atmosphere became even more suffocating.
"I'll count to three. Either you come back with me to get married, or I will... execute you on the spot!"
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three!"
Young Master Hu finished his count. Min Ziqiong, who had been lowering her head, showed a look of determination on her face, as if she had made a decision.
Just as she was about to speak.
A voice cut in first.
"I thought the world after two thousand years would be a bit different, but I didn't expect it would still be filled with lust-driven pigs and dogs like you!"