On her wedding night, she went into exile with her pharmacy arsenal

Chapter 2145 Third Trial of Prefect Ding

The group continued digging at two other marked points, while expanding the digging area.

As the hoes and shovels rose and fell, more and more corpses were dug out.

Some of the corpses were well-dressed, some were just skeletons, and others were so decomposed that only a vague human shape could be discerned.

More than a dozen bodies were dug out and neatly arranged in the open space of the flower bed, a shocking sight.

Sun Qing walked to Yan Ruyu's side and said in a low voice, "Master, with so many corpses, it seems that the governor's mansion is hiding a huge secret."

Yan Ruyu's gaze swept over the corpses, and the coldness in her eyes deepened: "As the steward, Li Fu couldn't possibly be completely unaware."

"Interrogate them. If they don't tell the truth, use severe torture!"

Sun Qing agreed and turned to go find Li Fu. Li Fu was terrified, completely unprepared for the fact that they could dig out so many corpses so quickly and accurately.

He collapsed to the ground, too exhausted to even beg for mercy.

Sun Qing grabbed him by the collar and demanded in an icy tone, "What happened to these corpses? Tell me now!"

Li Fu's lips trembled, and tears and snot streamed down his face: "It was the Prefect, haha! These people had offended you, and you ordered me to bury them here as fertilizer. I was forced into it, please spare my life!"

Yan Ruyu listened quietly, looking at the precious flower garden in front of her, at the flowers blooming in the sunlight, and felt only utter irony.

Who could have imagined that beneath this beautiful, vibrant flowerbed lay so many innocent souls?

It's getting dark.

There were no lights on in the room, only a dim light filtering in through the window lattice, which cut across the room at an angle, dividing the space into two halves, one bright and one dark.

Huo Changhe stood in the open, his shoulders and back straight, like a spear standing in the cold wind. His gaze was as deep as a pool, and when it fell on Prefect Ding on the ground, it was devoid of any warmth.

Governor Ding sat on the ground in the shadows, his usual imposing presence in his official robes gone, replaced by a disheveled state.

Governor Ding spoke first, his voice slightly hoarse: "I've really said everything I needed to say."

He raised his head, his gaze piercing through the darkness, looking in Huo Changhe's direction, his eyes carrying a hint of feigned weariness and honesty.

"I have no idea what Wu Ping'an looks like or how old he is. I've never seen his face before."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing, and added, "As you know, being a prefect means dealing with countless trivial matters every day, and I'm also suppressed by the Liu family. It may seem glamorous, but it doesn't give me any semblance of official dignity..."

Huo Changhe didn't speak, but listened quietly until Governor Ding finished speaking. The room fell into a brief silence, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind outside the courtyard and Governor Ding's slightly rapid breathing.

He slowly took two steps toward Prefect Ding, his figure looming over Prefect Ding.

He looked down at Governor Ding with his eyes lowered, his gaze heavy as he focused on the other man's face, not missing a single subtle change in expression.

"You believe in ghosts and spirits?"

A cold, clear voice rang out in the dimly lit room. It was flat and monotone, yet it made Governor Ding's breath catch in his throat.

The weariness on his face faded slightly for a moment, and he was clearly taken aback, not expecting the topic to suddenly shift to this.

He blinked, his eyes somewhat blank, and subconsciously shook his head: "I don't believe it."

"Don't believe me?" Huo Changhe's lips curled into a very faint smile, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "But I've heard that Governor Ding, you didn't get your position by merit alone."

Governor Ding's shoulders tensed almost imperceptibly. He tried to remain calm, his Adam's apple bobbing as he spoke in a lower voice than before: "You're joking."

Huo Changhe leaned down slightly, closing the distance, and lowered his voice even further: "But some people also say that they saw Governor Ding offering sacrifices under a tree in the backyard of his mansion in the middle of the night."

The moment the word "worship" left his lips, Governor Ding's face turned deathly pale, and his previously maintained composure crumbled instantly.

His eyes widened suddenly, his pupils contracted slightly, and his breathing became rapid.

He hurriedly retorted, his voice trembling slightly and slurring at the end: "This is absolutely a fabrication! I have never done such a thing. Who is spreading these lies? You can't believe them!"

As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly, as if trying to stand up. He struggled for a moment, but could only fall back down. His panic was even more pronounced, and his eyes showed a hint of fear. He subconsciously avoided Huo Changhe's gaze and looked at the cracks in the bricks on the ground.

Huo Changhe straightened up, his gaze still fixed on him, taking in all his reactions.

"Spreading rumors?" he said slowly, his voice still calm, yet carrying an undeniable sense of pressure. "You've described the places you worshipped in detail; how could that be spreading rumors?"

Governor Ding's face grew paler and paler, his lips pressed tightly together, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

His breathing became increasingly rapid, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

"He also said that during the worship, he muttered incantations and looked very devout," Huo Changhe said sarcastically.

"No..." he finally managed to squeeze out a few words, his voice hoarse and filled with panic, "Please listen to me, it's all fake, someone is deliberately framing me! I really didn't perform any sacrifices, you must investigate!"

Huo Changhe raised an eyebrow slightly. "Prefect Ding, you just said you don't believe in ghosts and gods, so why are you so nervous about this 'worship'?"

Governor Ding froze: "I... I just feel wronged because I've been slandered."

He spoke cautiously, his voice much lower, "Given my current situation, it's hard to guarantee I won't be taken advantage of. How can I not be nervous when someone spreads such rumors about me?"

Governor Ding's voice carried a hint of pleading: "The matter of the sacrifice is completely fabricated."

Huo Changhe looked at his feigned earnestness and a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Prefect Ding, do you think I would be saying all this to you here if I didn't have some confidence?"

The wind outside grew stronger, making the window frames creak and groan, as if someone was crying outside.

The light in the room grew dimmer, and Huo Changhe's figure appeared even taller in the shadows, while Prefect Ding huddled on the ground like a cornered beast, left with only endless panic and despair.

Seeing his expression, Huo Changhe didn't press him further, but simply stood there quietly, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

He knew that Governor Ding's psychological defenses had collapsed, and that with a little more pressure, he might get the answer he wanted.

After a long silence, Governor Ding finally said in a trembling voice, "Alright."

"I said."

He wiped away his tears and took a deep breath: "I did indeed offer sacrifices. Under that tree, no one else is buried."

Huo Changhe narrowed his eyes, waiting for him to continue.