Pointing evidence

The judicial officer opened the box. The box had two layers; the upper layer was piled with various weapons, and the lower layer contained clothing. A set of white clothes and a straw hat, along with two sets of night-clothes, were particularly conspicuous.

Xiao Liao swept through the hall, and Aunt Hong and her group knelt with their heads bowed, their expressions unchanged. Gu Jin Ning leisurely drank tea, seemingly unconcerned about the life or death of everyone in the teahouse.

Wu Dadao reported, "This box of murder weapons was found in the teahouse. Bloodstains were still visible on the white clothes, straw hat, and night clothes, which were worn during the prison break. Therefore, the prison break was a gang crime."

He pointed at the crowd, "These people are all murderers."

Dan Niang glanced up and looked at them with disdain. Aunt Hong quickly waved her hand in denial, "Your Highnesses, Your Honor, we are just a small business, we would never dare to break the law."

Gu Jinning spoke up, "Aunt Hong, you'd better explain everything clearly. If you really violate the criminal law, I won't rent that shop to you."

Li Huan said, "Aunt Hong, tell me your name, where you come from, and what you did in the past."

Aunt Hong raised her hand, bowed deeply, and knelt down to reply: "My family name is Yan, and my given name is Hong. I married into my husband's family at the age of seventeen and settled in Luoxian County, Hunan Province. Ten years ago, the day after the Ghost Festival, I took my son back to my parents' home to visit relatives. Unexpectedly, my husband's family was brutally murdered by bandits. All seven members of my family perished, and all our property was stolen."

“I was heartbroken and vowed to fight those thieves to the death. My neighbors all advised me to think about my son and that saving my life was the most important thing.”

"I was worried about retaliation from the bandits, so I took my son and fled to a distant place. On the way, we encountered a plague. My son was unfortunately infected while helping the sick. He died before the imperial court could provide a cure. He was only thirteen at the time."

Aunt Hong's eyes filled with tears, which silently streamed down her face.

“What am I going to do? I don’t want to live anymore. I run into the plague every day, but I can’t die. So I learned to wield swords and sticks like a martial artist and vowed to fight those thieves to the death and avenge my husband’s family.”

"When I found the thieves' lair, I discovered that the gang had already been wiped out by the local government. My wish was fulfilled, but I had nowhere to go, so I wandered the world, doing odd jobs to make a living as I headed south."

"On the way, I met Xiaoqiu and Xiaodong, two orphans who were wandering around. They were about the same age as my son and were all alone, so I took them with me to work and we made our way to Kyoto."

Aunt Hong wiped away her tears and continued, "I thought that Kyoto was a prosperous city with many ways to make money, so I planned to use the money I had saved over the years to buy a secluded house and find work for the children. But the children were naughty and ran around in the market, bumping into the princess's carriage."

“The princess took the two naughty children away and scolded them. I hurriedly chased after them to the teahouse to plead for them. The princess took pity on us and did not pursue the matter. Knowing that I was looking for a place to stay and that I had many skills, she rented the teahouse to me to try out.”

"Having heard that there are many refined people in Kyoto, I thought of opening a teahouse. My husband's family used to sell tea, and I have some knowledge of tea ceremony, so it will be easy for me to learn. Drinking tea requires music and singing, so I invited Dan Niang and others."

"Because of my own background, I mostly recruit people who are from the underworld and have no family. Of course, they are all law-abiding people who have not committed murder or arson, so the authorities can investigate them."

Gu Jinning said, "When I rented it to her, I told her that anyone who moved into my property could be poor, but they had to have a clean record. So I had everyone she hired investigated."

Gu Jinning called out to Qinglian, who presented a register containing detailed background information on everyone in the teahouse, more comprehensive and detailed than Xiao Liao's register.

"If Lord Li does not believe it, he may send this list to various places for verification. It will be valid forever."

Li Huan smiled, passed the booklet to Xiao Yi, then to Xiao Heng, and finally to Xiao Liao.

"Your Highness is too kind. This register is stamped with the seals of various localities; its authenticity is immediately apparent, so there's no need for verification. Your Highness, do you have any objections?"

Xiao Liao stood up and said, "A clean background does not mean a clean person. These weapons and clothing are irrefutable evidence."

He grabbed Dan Niang and held the white robe and bamboo hat up to her body, saying, "The size is just right, it's yours, isn't it?"

Dan Niang raised her eyebrows slightly, picked up her clothes, put them on on the spot, and then defiantly put on her bamboo hat.

"What is tailor-made for me is naturally mine."

That pale, slender figure and tall, aloof demeanor were exactly like those of the people who broke into the prison that day.

Wu Da pointed and said, "Your Highness, it's him!"

Aunt Hong quickly said, "No, no. You've got it wrong. I just had these costumes custom-made from a tailor shop the day before yesterday, for tomorrow's opera performance."

Wu Da retorted, "Nonsense! How could there be bloodstains on newly made clothes?"

"It's not blood. It's just red paint mixed with chicken blood that was deliberately applied to make the performance more realistic."

Aunt Hong rolled up her sleeve, revealing a red lining. "You see, it looks white on the outside, but when you get cut by a knife during the performance, the red lining comes out, that's the wound."

Aunt Hong then went to get the black night suit, flipped open the hidden buttons on the shoulder, and said, "Here too, it's fine when it's buttoned up, but when it's flipped open, there's a tear, and the red is fake blood."

The judicial officer accepted the evidence and presented it.

Aunt Hong explained, "The teahouse has been doing well lately. Many customers are tired of the sentimental ballads and suggested performing some heroic martial arts dramas, which is why we ordered this batch of costumes. You can go to the tailor shop on North Street to inquire. I am a regular customer of theirs. I settle accounts monthly, and I have a detailed list for every batch of clothes I order."

Li Huan gave the judicial officer a look. The judicial officer understood and immediately went to fetch the tailor shop owner.

The tailor shop owner acknowledged the clothes and provided a clothing list, confirming that the clothes were made the day before yesterday and were picked up yesterday, along with several theatrical costumes.

Kuang Xiaoli had searched the teahouse earlier, but no clothing was found at that time.

Li Huan concluded: "The clothing is identical and is not evidence."

Wu Dadao: "Sir, these are clues we found in prison. Please take a look."

He presented a case file stating: "After repeated inspections, it was found that Zuo Wenzhong's mysterious disappearance from prison was due to someone using a rope to climb into the prison, cut through the iron bars, and take him away. There were obvious wear marks on the window. The iron bars were narrow, only wide enough for someone as thin as Zuo Wenzhong, or even a child, to squeeze through."

Wu Da pointed to Xiaoqiu and Xiaodong, saying, "They are small in stature, which is sufficient for them to carry out their tasks."

Aunt Hong said, "There are countless children in the city. How can we doubt them just because they are children? That's really unreasonable."

"Then how do you explain these murder weapons?"

Wu Da pulled out a soft sword from the box and stabbed it at Xiao Qiu, who was kneeling on the ground. Xiao Qiu was so frightened that she stood there, raising her hands and screaming.

Dan Niang kicked the sword away, and Wu Da drew his horizontal sword from his waist and slashed straight at her. Dan Niang tilted her head back to dodge, and her bamboo hat instantly split in two.

"Don't move." Wu Da's knife was pressed against Dan Niang's neck.

He said smugly, "You know martial arts, so what else is there to say? You can split into two groups, one to attract the government troops and the other to rescue people. It's a good plan."

Dan Niang pushed his knife away without any fear, and said disdainfully, "My repertoire is very extensive. I can not only wield swords and sticks, but also shoot arrows and do somersaults. If I didn't have this kind of reaction ability, wouldn't I have wasted all these years?"

"you!"

Wu Da continued to shout, but Xiao Liao gestured for him to step back.

"Your name is Dan Niang?" Xiao Liao walked around to look him up and down, then exposed him, "But you're a man."

Dan Niang retorted, "When did I say I was a woman? My name is Dan Niang. It's because I was young and weak, and my mother was afraid I wouldn't live long, so she named me 'Niang' (meaning 'mother') so I could be raised well."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Heng'an glanced at Gu Jinning, who guiltily turned her head away and pretended to drink tea.

Danniang removed her white robes, revealing the undergarments she wore to bed, clearly in a man's style. However, her long black hair hung down smoothly, her lips were red and her eyebrows were delicate, her bright eyes were sparkling, and her features were soft and beautiful. There was a unique charm in her eyes and brows that made people overlook her tall stature, which was rare for a woman.

Everyone tacitly agreed that he was a beauty and the teahouse's star attraction.

Xiao Liao questioned, "Why did you disguise yourself as a woman and hide your voice in secret?"

The female lead retorted, "First, my voice is soft and gentle; it has been like this since I was young, and I haven't done it intentionally. Second, I always wear my opera costume when I sing. My regular customers know exactly what I'm dressed for each day. Does His Highness the Prince of Qin also discriminate based on appearance?"

Xiao Liao remained indifferent and offered no explanation.

Xiao Yi spoke up, "Our country has an open culture and does not prohibit men and women from wearing the same clothes. As long as someone violates the law or regulations and dresses according to their personal preferences, there is no way to hold them accountable."

Li Huan, while taking notes, chimed in, "Your Highness is absolutely right. A man dressed as a woman cannot be used as evidence. Your Highness, although we have deduced the modus operandi of the prison breakers in this case, there is no physical evidence to support it. If we cannot produce direct evidence, please refrain from making unfounded speculations."

Xiao Liao snorted and said sternly, "I want to examine the injuries."

When the judicial officer stepped forward to check, Wu Da blocked him first and reached out to pull at Dan Niang's clothes.

Dan Niang gave her a sharp look and stopped her, saying, "I'll take it off myself."

He took off his shirt, slowly revealing his shoulders. His collarbones were clearly visible, and his shoulders were flawless, without a single scratch or scar.

Suddenly, Wu Da grabbed Dan Niang's wrist and forcibly checked her pulse. After a moment, he released her and then struck out with his palm. Dan Niang couldn't dodge in time and was sent flying several feet away, crashing into the courtyard and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Dan Niang!"

Aunt Hong rushed over to help him up.

Gu Jinning jumped up in shock and angrily shouted, "Wu Da, you committed a crime in court, showing no respect for the law!"

Wu Da explained, "Princess, I was just testing his skills, and my methods were a bit aggressive. Please forgive me. But I'm holding back; I won't kill him."

Gu Jinning glared at him, "Did you figure it out? Is he the suspect you're looking for?"

Wu Da replied, "This person lacks internal strength and has mediocre martial arts skills; he is not someone who would break someone out of prison. But these weapons..."

"Fine!" Gu Jinning strode forward and kicked him to his knees. "Now, you have disrupted the court, disregarded the princes, and used torture without authorization. You deserve to be punished."

“Lord Li, what do you say? If this trend is tolerated, I can also kill at will in court.”

She selected a long spear from the box and pressed it against Wu Da's neck, "but I don't know if it's too heavy or too light."

Li Huan felt sweat beading on his temples as he listened. Looking around and seeing no one speak, he could only wipe his sweat with his sleeve and say with a forced smile, "Princess, please calm down. Wu Da has shown contempt in court and should be punished with ten strokes of the cane to set an example. Princess, please put down your weapon."

Li Huan stared nervously at the spear, fearing that Gu Jinning might impulsively slit Wu Da's throat.

Gu Jinning sheathed her gun, traced a line on the muzzle with her finger, and sneered, "A gun without a sharpened edge can make Lord Li worry."

She kicked over the box, scattering various weapons all over the ground. Gu Jinning picked them up and tossed them at Xiao Liao's feet. "Look closely, these knives, swords, darts, and hidden weapons are all unsharpened props. Families of singers could collect hundreds or even thousands of them. It's far too frivolous for the King of Qin to use these as evidence."

“Oh, right.” Gu Jinning picked up a bundle of rope, stretched it out and said, “Is this the rope you suspect was used to climb over the prison? I see that although there are signs of wear at the ends of the rope, it looks like it was caused by repeated friction with a sharp weapon, not by climbing over the wall. Besides, this rope doesn’t look like an old thing.”

The judicial staff inspected the rope and agreed with Gu Jinning's deduction that "the rope damage was not caused by climbing, but by deliberate cutting and aging. The broken joint is brand new, which means it was done just yesterday or today."

Xiaodong replied, "Your Honor, I am usually in charge of storing miscellaneous items in the building. This rope is obviously not from the building."

Li Huan asked, "Why?"