"No matter how you choose to convict, it's up to you," Su Mufeng said slowly, closing his eyes as if unwilling to continue the conversation. His response indeed disappointed Zhuo Qing. They exchanged a glance before stepping out of the prison. Zhuo Qing had anticipated that things might evolve into this situation, but she hadn't expected Su Mufeng to take the blame for a crime he knew nothing about. She couldn't decide whether to admire him or scold him.
After a long silence by the prison door, Gu Yun placed her hand on Zhuo Qing's shoulder, sighing, "Let's find Gu Yuexin and figure out the truth of the matter first."
"Mm," Zhuo Qing replied, resigned. Su Mufeng was unlikely to provide them with any answers.
Glancing at Zhuo Qing's bandaged hand, Gu Yun asked with concern, "Is your hand really alright?" The frightening scene last night had not only frightened Lou Xiyan but had also made Gu Yun break into a cold sweat.
Zhuo Qing moved her fingers and wrist fluidly and smiled, "If there were something wrong, would I still be here?"
Gu Yun shrugged, "True."
Lou Xiyan should be even more anxious, considering their wedding was just days away. In fact, Lou Xiyan had indulged Zhuo Qing by allowing her to run around even as the big day approached.
The two of them chatted casually as they made their way to the cell where Gu Yuexin was held. When they entered, Gu Yuexin did not show them any hostility but merely half-sat on the stone bed, coldly asking, "What do you want?"
Gu Yun stepped in first and said, not too soft, not too harsh, "I've come to bring you good news. We caught the real killer last night, so you no longer need to—"
Before she could finish, Gu Yuexin sprang to her feet, her gaze locking onto Gu Yun. She asked urgently, "Who did you catch?"
"Su Mufeng," Gu Yun replied, deliberately speaking slowly and clearly.
"No," Gu Yuexin rushed toward Gu Yun, but Gu Yun skillfully dodged her grasp. Gu Yuexin was clearly panicking now, "You've caught the wrong person. Mufeng is not the killer! He is innocent!"
Why won't he leave? Why doesn't he leave?!
Leaning against the door, Zhuo Qing spoke coldly, "If he's not the killer, then who is?"
Gu Yuexin trembled, her mouth opening and closing several times, as though her strength had been drained. She collapsed onto the ground, unable to utter a word. How could she explain? Even if she did, who would believe her?
Zhuo Qing was certain she knew something. She entered the cell and crouched beside Gu Yuexin, gently taking her hand. "The man who shares Su Mufeng's body, the one who becomes murderous after being touched by a woman—who is he? How can we meet him?"
"Y-you?"
As soon as Zhuo Qing spoke, Gu Yuexin recoiled, her bloodshot eyes widening in disbelief. How could she possibly know? How could she?!
Her reaction only fueled Zhuo Qing's confidence. She smiled softly and continued, "Don't be surprised. I know that two distinct souls inhabit Su Mufeng's body. It wasn't Su Mufeng who killed those people, it was someone else. Who is he? What's his name? You've seen him, haven't you?"
Gu Yuexin lowered her head, her eyes flickering. She was torn inside—could she trust this woman before her? How did she know about Mufeng? What had happened to him?
Seeing her hesitation, Gu Yun threw out a decisive remark, "If you don't speak, we can't help Su Mufeng. He's as good as dead!"
Gu Yuexin was startled, lifting her head again, her gaze shifting between the two women. After a long pause, as if making up her mind, she sighed deeply and said, "This whole incident, from the very beginning, has been a mistake. Over twenty years ago, my second sister fell in love with Mufeng's father, Su Zhan Yi, at first sight. But at that time, Su Zhan Yi already had a wife and two concubines. Despite this, the two of them were deeply in love. My second sister ignored the strong objections of her family and insisted on marrying into the Su family as his concubine. They were indeed very affectionate, and Su Zhan Yi treated her with great care. Soon after, Mufeng was born. While Su Zhan Yi was home, his wife and other concubines dared not mistreat my second sister, but whenever he was away, disputes were inevitable. The tragedy that befell my second sister, and thus Mufeng, began when he was ten years old."
Zhuo Qing and Gu Yun exchanged a knowing glance. It seemed they were about to hear the whole truth. They casually sat down beside Gu Yuexin, listening attentively.
"That year, Su Zhan Yi went to the capital and was not at home. His wife's children came to visit the Su residence. Mufeng, who had grown exceptionally handsome, caught their attention. But he had always been a shy and aloof child, and his indifference upset the wife's niece. The girl insisted that Mufeng play with her. In the ensuing struggle, both of them fell to the ground, their clothes in disarray. When the servants heard the commotion and saw them on the ground, they hurriedly alerted the wife."
At this point, Gu Yuexin's expression suddenly changed, her tone tinged with anger. "When the adults arrived, the young girl refused to admit that she had held onto Mufeng. She cried and accused him of improper behavior, and the other children, too afraid to speak the truth, blamed Mufeng. Mufeng had no way to defend himself. The wife seized the opportunity and demanded punishment. Fifty strokes of the cane! A ten-year-old child, how could he withstand fifty strokes? My second sister pleaded for mercy, but the wife refused to relent, insisting that it would bring dishonor to the family. After ten strokes, Mufeng was almost unconscious. My second sister could only lie on top of him, taking the remaining forty strokes herself. Though my second sister was skilled in medicine, her health was frail, and she succumbed after three days. When I arrived, Mufeng was still unconscious. In my rage, I took him back to the Gu family."
Gu Yun clenched her fists, unable to contain her anger. Zhuo Qing remained calm, her voice low as she asked, "Did Su Mufeng develop his dual personality after that?"
Seeing his mother die trying to save him, and being powerless to stop it—such a traumatic event could indeed lead to a split in his personality. Especially since it was such a formative experience in his youth, it could have played a pivotal role in shaping his character.
Gu Yuexin shook her head, her expression troubled as she continued, "We didn't know what you mean by dual personality. At first, we just thought the child was strange. In the mornings, he seemed like his usual self, not even remembering how my second sister had passed away. To spare him from sorrow, we told him she had died of illness. But at night, he became a different person—violent, sinister, full of bitterness and hatred. He scoured all the Gu family martial arts manuals, practicing relentlessly, almost to the point of madness. We had no choice but to have the elders teach him martial arts to prevent him from killing himself. By day, he was Mufeng, and by night, he was Xifeng. For five years, Xifeng's martial skills grew stronger, and Mufeng's musical talent flourished. As time passed, Xifeng rarely appeared, and we thought that his strange condition had improved. After six years of pleading, the Gu family finally allowed Mufeng to return home."
So his name was Xifeng. It seemed that Su Mufeng, unlike what most people believed, had no knowledge of Xifeng's existence. Meanwhile, Xifeng saw himself as Mufeng's guardian.
Zhuo Qing frowned, "So whenever a young woman interacted with Mufeng, Xifeng would appear and kill them?"
"Yes," Gu Yuexin said softly, "In Xifeng's mind, those so-called noble young ladies who clung to Mufeng were all pretentious, worthless women who deserved to die."
Zhuo Qing's mind raced as she recalled the intense eyes that had nearly made her falter. She asked, "Who taught him the hypnosis… the illusion skills?"
If Xifeng was the one who practiced them, then his teacher must have been a master of hypnosis. Why hadn't anyone noticed earlier and helped Su Mufeng? Gu Yuexin's expression darkened further. "Mufeng doesn't know any illusions. It's Xifeng who possesses the skill. The Gu family has a bloodline trait where one person in every generation is born with silver-gray eyes. Their illusion skills are a gift. This time, it happened to be Xifeng. I don't know whether it's fate or misfortune."
A natural-born talent? Good heavens! How was it possible?
Gu Yuexin suddenly grasped Gu Yun and Zhuo Qing's hands, her prideful demeanor completely shattered as her eyes welled up with tears. "I know, whether it's Mufeng or Xifeng, to you, they are the same person—the killer. But to me, they are both pitiful. Especially Mufeng
! He's suffered so much!"
Zhuo Qing nodded. "We understand."
She did. Both of them understood.