Released from prison (revision)
Qin Ziyuan was pale. He immediately ran to a low house in the courtyard. He pushed the door open and found the inside messy but empty.
He was in a state of panic, and rummaged through the old clothes and clutter on the ground, but found nothing.
He rushed out of the house, his face filled with panic and terror.
How could this be? How could this be!
Where did he go? Didn't he specifically instruct us to hide in this courtyard and keep a safe distance? How come it's all empty now...?
Is anyone there?
Undeterred, he roared at the empty courtyard walls, only to hear the echo of his voice being washed away by the rain.
All was silent. Qin Ziyuan frantically swung his long sword in the air, tears mingling with the rain. Just as he was wondering what to do, he heard an unusually calm voice behind him.
"Qinziyuan".
He hurriedly turned around, but the wet ground made him stumble and almost fall. He only managed to steady himself by using his long sword to brace himself.
Looking up, I saw a person standing in the courtyard. The garden was full of greenery, and the person stood tall, dressed in a simple beige straight dress, but his expression was aloof, as if he had melted into the drizzle.
That face was all too familiar.
Although they hadn't seen each other for many years, the man's demeanor remained unchanged; in fact, he had become more composed, exuding the confidence and ease of a mature man.
"Brother Yi Huai, it's been a long time."
After thinking for a moment, Qin Ziyuan smiled again and added, "Back in the martial arts arena, Brother Yi Huai and I were like brothers. Now, after several years apart, I truly have many feelings. But Yi Huai, it's pouring rain, what brings you here?"
Dou Yanxun remained expressionless, extending his hand forward and catching some raindrops with his palm facing upward.
He smiled faintly, looked down at the rain in his palm, and said softly:
"This summer has seen a lot of rain, much like the scene in the past."
After speaking, he slowly raised his eyes, a deep and intense gloom rising in them, all traces of his former clarity gone.
"—Qin Ziyuan, I've come to kill you."
Qin Ziyuan was taken aback by Dou Yanxun's response and was momentarily stunned. An awkward smile appeared on his face, followed by a dry laugh:
"Brother Yihuai, please don't joke with me like that."
Dou Yanxun lowered his eyelids, turned his palm downwards, and the rainwater that had been accumulating in his hand was all poured out.
A mocking smile slowly rose to his lips, his expression indifferent, yet carrying a chill that even the finest rain could not dispel.
Qin Ziyuan saw that smile, but for some reason, he couldn't help but shiver.
It was about four or five years ago when he first met Dou Yanxun at the martial arts training ground in the capital.
At that time, Dou Yanxun was thin, and even a long robe could not be filled out because of his frail body. He looked empty and like a ghost.
When he first arrived in the capital, he possessed only exceptional martial arts skills, but was unfamiliar with and timid about everything else. At that time, the students in the martial arts arena were full of scions of noble families, and Dou Yanzhou, with his noble and elegant demeanor, naturally stood out. He only thought about making a name for himself in the future, so he befriended Dou Yanzhou, and over time, he also became closer to his half-brother.
Unlike Dou Yanzhou, who was famous throughout Mujing at a young age for his handsome appearance, Dou Yanxun was only fifteen or sixteen years old at the time. It was rumored that he was disliked by his family because of his lowly status and was sent away from the mansion early on for being disobedient. Many years later, he was brought back to Mujing by the Dou family's leniency and compassion.
Qin Ziyuan spent all his time with Dou Yanzhou, and over time, even as an outsider, he had heard Dou Yanzhou ridicule and disdain his brother several times.
She was of lowly status and had a capricious nature; she was simply not likable.
There's nothing to fear from any perspective.
Therefore, he never took that thin boy seriously.
They were only being polite to him because of his family background and his relationship with Dou Yanzhou.
After all, when it comes to martial arts skills, how could Dou Yanxun, who was young and sickly and had to retire from martial arts training after only half a year due to illness, be his opponent?
Qin Ziyuan recalled the past, looked at the face before him again, opened his mouth, and laughed:
"Yi Huai, unfortunately, I am tied up with important matters today and cannot have a proper reunion with you. If I have time another day, I should personally visit Lord Dou's residence and join Qi and Yi Huai for a drink..."
He smiled at Dou Yanxun, but his eyes betrayed a hint of disdain beneath his fawning. He was only halfway through his polite conversation when Qin Ziyuan suddenly felt a chill run down his neck.
It was so fast that he had no time to dodge.
"Bang--"
Before he could even turn around and see what was happening, all the strength in his limbs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud. The long knife in his hand also fell to the ground abruptly, splashing muddy raindrops.
Looking up, he saw a pair of finely crafted soft-soled, black leather pointed boots walking towards him through the rain.
"Young Master, he has been deeply poisoned by the needle and will die in half an hour." A strange but steady male voice sounded from above.
Qin Ziyuan used all his strength, but he had no power to struggle. He felt unbearable pain in his internal organs. He stared wide-eyed at Dou Yanxun's exceptionally indifferent face above him, and with all his might, he spat out a mouthful of black blood.
"Why...why..."
Dou Yanxun looked down at him, watching his pathetic struggle, his eyes completely unmoved. It was as if everything that had just happened was perfectly natural to him.
“A few days ago, you celebrated your victory at a tavern, but publicly humiliated my wife. This poison is to avenge your disrespect towards my wife.”
.
A murder suddenly occurred during the trial, and the witness was a key witness in the case, causing everyone in the courtroom to feel uneasy.
After the coroner carefully examined the body and the servants cleaned up the mess, most of the onlookers dispersed due to fright.
Niu Wenyuan frowned deeply. He had already noticed during the last court hearing that Ma Fu's testimony as a witness was too perfect, and he had been suspicious at the time.
When things are done in excess, they fall short. He answered questions fluently in court, as if he had been prepared, rather than a greenhorn. Unexpectedly, after being threatened a few times during the retrial today, he bit his tongue and died on the spot. Doesn't that mean the clues in this case have gone cold again?
Seeing Niu Wenyuan's worried face, Jiang Heng stood up and slowly stretched his arms.
Taking advantage of the commotion, Jiang Heng paced around the hall a few steps, came to Niu Wenyuan's side, and his bright, radiant smile was particularly glaring.
"Lord Niu, it seems this case is quite complicated. Thank you for your hard work, Lord Niu."
Niu Wenyuan snorted softly, inwardly cursing.
Did you, Jiang Heng, really need to say this? Anyone with eyes can see the situation clearly.
Jiang Heng still smiled and said, "I just wonder what the student Ma Fu, who just committed suicide, intended to do? Lord Niu is always a brilliant judge, so I'm sure you have some insight. I would be grateful if you would enlighten me."
Although Niu Wenyuan considered himself a pragmatist and did not get along with Jiang Heng, he still needed to maintain the proper decorum of officialdom, especially in front of others. So he chuckled and returned the greeting with a cupped hand, saying, "Your Excellency, please do not joke."
Niu Wenyuan continued, “I have solved countless cases and observed people’s hearts for a long time. Although I cannot be considered a senior, I have some understanding of them. The so-called witness recantation is mostly because he has something to hide. In addition, Ma Sheng changed his story only a moment before committing suicide in court. His behavior is really suspicious. In my humble opinion, there are only two possibilities for this.”
He took a sip of tea and said, "Firstly, the witness may have given false testimony for reasons we do not yet know. Knowing that he could not escape punishment, he was terrified and resorted to this desperate measure. In my opinion, this is definitely not due to jealousy, as he himself claims."
"The second reason is that the witness was coerced, received benefits from the person, or had his/her secrets exploited, so he/she could not reveal the mastermind behind it. His/her death can cut off the clues and make it difficult for the person behind the scenes to surface."
Jiang Heng nodded, his face showing clear agreement.
The two chief priests of the Dali Temple, who were sitting in front of the hall, also became interested. One of them couldn't help but nod and softly echoed:
"I also think Lord Niu is quite right. Ma Fu died suddenly, just as you discovered that his testimony was rather suspicious. He must have committed suicide in a hurry to protect those behind him when he realized that things had been exposed."
Niu Wenyuan, being the most senior person present, couldn't help but feel a little smug when he saw that Jiang Heng and the others all looked in agreement.
Even though he comes from a prestigious family in the Northern Plains, a family of judges, isn't he just a greenhorn? If we really want to compare their abilities, he naturally can't compare to me.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but cough lightly, and a moment later, a servant waiting nearby came forward attentively and poured hot tea for the officials present.
Now that he has deduced the true purpose of Ma Fu's suicide, all he needs to do next is send someone to thoroughly investigate who Ma Fu was on good terms with during his lifetime, whether he has been behaving suspiciously recently, and whether he was being instructed by someone else behind the scenes.
Niu Wenyuan was confident of success, so he whispered a few instructions to the yamen runners, and a group of men rushed to Ma Fu's residence to search it.
He looked up and saw Jiang Heng looking down, casually flipping through the case file in front of him.
For some reason, he felt that although Jiang Heng sat there calmly with an ordinary expression, there seemed to be a deeper meaning in his eyes and brows. Was he mistaken?
.
The Ministry of Justice has always been strictly disciplined, and its subordinates are all outstanding. In less than half an incense stick's time, the team that had gone out to search returned with news.
Ma Fu, a native of Yong'an County, Jiangzhou, was twenty-two years old and came from a poor family. Later, due to his outstanding martial arts skills, he was selected to study at the Central Martial Arts Academy in Mujing in the fourteenth year of Yuanzhen. After arriving in the capital, he rented a place in a dilapidated alley in the old city of Mujing. He rarely interacted with others except for his classmates from the martial arts academy.
The team leader and guards thoroughly searched his residence but found nothing unusual. However, among a pile of tattered clothes in front of the bed, there was a half-finished letter.
There are still some ashes remaining.
Niu Wenyuan took the evidence, carefully examining the half-burnt letter for a moment, his gaze lingering on the signature on the envelope. After a while, he looked up and questioned the clerk in charge of the case files and various registers:
"...Is there anyone named Zhi Ting in the Mu Jing Martial Arts Training Ground?"
Liang Zhengyuan had been silent ever since Ma Fu suddenly bit his tongue and committed suicide. He had even been taken away to rest for a while because of his pale face. But now, upon hearing this, he slowly raised his head.
He knew whose name it was.
Not only in the martial arts arena, but this man had also been with him throughout the southward campaign against the bandits. He was naturally very familiar with him.
Seeing that Liang Zhengyuan's expression was strange, Niu Wenyuan said:
"Suspect Liang Zhengyuan, do you have anything to say?"
"Mr. Liang happens to know this person."
When Niu Wenyuan heard that Zhi Ting was Qin Ziyuan's courtesy name, who was one of the members of the Fourteenth Division and had been appointed as a deputy general for his outstanding performance, he was immediately invigorated and sent his guards to find Qin Ziyuan as soon as possible.
A moment later, news came back that Qin Ziyuan had disappeared without a trace a few days ago and had not been seen in Mujing City since.
The trail went cold again, and Liang Zhengyuan had no further connection with Ma Fu, who had previously given false testimony to frame him.
Qin Ziyuan, also a student at the martial arts academy, possessed exceptional swordsmanship. He had even consulted with a professor about the secrets of the Twelve Linked City Technique while at the academy. More importantly, at the time of the incident, Qin Ziyuan was also stationed in Huidong with the 14th Division. Therefore, he is naturally a suspect.
His sudden disappearance seems more like a case of framing someone and then fleeing in fear of being exposed, adding another layer of mystery to the case.
Three days later, the team sent by the Ministry of Justice to investigate in Huidong also sent back news, saying that when the 14th Division was stationed at the foot of Huidong Mountain, many people witnessed Qin Ziyuan, as deputy general, arguing with An Zhuangren after drinking.
It means that the motive, the method, and the timing are all complete.
He even bribed his former classmates beforehand, and went so far as to fabricate false evidence to frame others.
In an instant, Qin Ziyuan went from a promising general awaiting promotion to a fugitive wanted by the Mu Jing government with a large sum of money.
Liang Zhengyuan was acquitted and released. When the iron chains that had been on his wrists and ankles for so long were finally removed, he found it hard to get used to it.
As he was released from prison, he looked back at the dim light filtering through the iron bars, the dust swirling around him, and coughed lightly, covering his mouth.
After all the trials and tribulations, he finally regained his freedom.
Now, the only person he longs to see is that delicate beauty.
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