"In the blink of an eye, I kicked that little wench in the groin with my right side, making her so angry that her ancestors' graves were practically emitting auspicious smoke. Later, that little wench resorted to sneak attacks and dirty tricks, but it was all my fault for being careless and falling for it. She got away, otherwise this case would have been closed long ago." Sun San got more and more excited as he spoke.
Su Yan listened to Sun San's slightly exaggerated claims at the door, but Shen Yao ignored her, walked in with a sullen face, and coughed, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
"Cough... What are you all doing gathered in the room? Doesn't the county government have anything better to do?"
As soon as Shen Yao spoke, the constables were so frightened that they all fled, and in the blink of an eye, only he, Su Yan, and Sun San remained in the room.
Sun San hurriedly put his leg down on the table and tried to get up to bow, but Shen Yao stepped forward and stopped him.
"No need for formalities, I'm here to collect the painting."
"Painting? What painting?" Sun San looked bewildered and looked to Su Yan for help.
Su Yan, standing behind Shen Yao, immediately gestured to remind him, and Sun San instantly realized what was going on.
He immediately took out the painting box from under the table and respectfully handed it to Shen Yao, saying, "I have failed in my duty and was so busy that I forgot to give the painting box to Lord Shen. I hope you will not be offended."
"It's alright..."
After saying that, Shen Yao took the painting box and opened the scroll. He looked at the portraits in the painting thoughtfully. "These depict the three dead people?"
Sun San immediately chimed in, “Sir, you have a keen eye. The women dancing, singing, and playing the zither in this painting are the victims of the first three cases. The woman in the painting is Xin Yunniang, the manager of Wan Hua Lou.” Sun San pointed to the woman brewing tea in the painting.
Upon seeing this painting, Shen Yao understood why he was so certain that the murderer of the fourth victim was someone else on the day he first met Su Yan.
Shen Yao's gaze fell on the 'Leisurely Hermit' at the end of the painting, and he looked at Su Yan behind him, "Who is the Leisurely Hermit?"
“I have already inquired and found that no painter in Chang’an knows or is aware of the origin of ‘Qingxian Jushi’. Therefore, I speculate that ‘Qingxian Jushi’ is either an unknown painter or someone who enjoys painting in private.”
"Since Xin Yunniang is in the painting, she must know the painter. I will go and question her again." With that, he turned and walked out the door.
"My lord, wait for me..."
Su Yan hurriedly caught up with Shen Yao's hurried pace, leaving Sun San alone in the house, bewildered.
The two arrived at the prison. Xin Yunniang was huddled in a corner, trembling, looking very afraid of the big sister who was surrounded by people. It seemed that she had been bullied by the local thugs in the prison.
Shen Yao had heard a little about the rules among prisoners, but he didn't care about the details and ordered the jailer to bring the man out.
Xin Yunniang, who was dragged out by the jailer, did not resist at all. She seemed to have lost her soul and let herself be manipulated. Shen Yao noticed that something was wrong and asked the jailer about the situation.
Having learned that Xin Yunniang had been terribly bullied by the prison leader, she was still in shock.
Upon learning of the situation, Shen Yao showed no sympathy and immediately ordered his men to splash water on Xin Yunniang.
A bucket of cold water was poured over her, soaking Xin Yunniang completely. She seemed to have choked on the water and was coughing incessantly.
"Cough cough cough..."
Standing aside watching the show, Su Yan couldn't help but worry: Will Lord Shen ever be able to find a wife?
"Who drew this?" Shen Yao squatted down, unfolded the painting in front of Xin Yunniang, and questioned her.
Xin Yunniang calmed her cough and was stunned when she saw the portrait. Her pupils widened slightly, and she looked incredulous, muttering to herself.
"This can't be... I definitely burned it, this can't be..."
Shen Yao narrowed his eyes and questioned again, "What do you mean by that..."
Suddenly, Xin Yunniang burst into maniacal laughter, "So that's how it is... So that's how it is..."
No matter how Shen Yao asked, Xin Yunniang would either ramble on and on about "karma! Karma!" or giggle for no reason.
At the crucial moment, Xin Yunniang went mad, which gave Shen Yao a huge headache.
Originally, Shen Yao did not want to use violence against women, but Xin Yunniang kept pushing his limits, so it was impossible not to use torture.
"Guards, bring the torture instruments. I want to see how long she can keep up this act of madness."
The prison warden brought out the instruments of torture one by one. The fire in the furnace burned brightly, dispelling much of the chill in the torture chamber.
Just as the prison warden was about to take action, Su Yan called out to stop him.
"My lord, may I conduct the interrogation on your behalf?"
Interrogating prisoners is the duty of an official, and a mere coroner like her naturally has no right to obstruct it. However, Su Yan also understands that Xin Yunniang's emotions are extremely unstable at the moment, and taking forceful measures would only backfire.
Shen Yao looked at Su Yan with a hesitant expression. If she were an enemy, Shen Yao would naturally show no mercy and act ruthlessly. But Xin Yunniang was, after all, a woman.
After hesitating for a moment, Shen Yao waved to the prison warden and told him to put down the instruments of torture.
Seeing that Shen Yao agreed, Su Yan took the opportunity to make a request, "My lord, may we talk alone?"
Having already agreed to let her conduct the interrogation, and knowing that a private interrogation wouldn't be a problem for Shen Yao, he granted the request. Before leaving, he patted Su Yan on the shoulder, saying, "Don't let me down..."
Having said that, he left the torture chamber with two prison guards.
In the huge torture chamber, only Su Yan and Xin Yunniang, who was tied to the rack, remained. It was so quiet that they could hear each other breathing.
Su Yan took the water bottle from her waist, poured out water to wet a handkerchief, and stepped forward to wipe the dirt off Xin Yunniang's face. She patiently tidied Xin Yunniang's messy hair and clothes.
Xin Yunniang stared at her blankly, her eyes full of doubt and confusion.
Su Yan smiled and replied, "Every time I see you, you are always wearing the finest perfumes and fabrics, and even your jewelry is the latest fashion. It's clear that Manager Xin is a person who loves beauty. Unfortunately, this is all I can do for you right now."
As soon as she finished speaking, tears welled up in Xin Yunniang's eyes, but she stubbornly held back her tears in front of Su Yan, refusing to cry out loud.
Seeing Xin Yunniang's emotional fluctuations, Su Yan pressed on, "Why didn't you tell us the origin of the painting just now?"
"Even if I told you, would you believe me? You still don't believe I'm the murderer. Even if I told you, you would only think I'm making excuses. But I really didn't kill them."
Su Yan naturally knew who Xin Yunniang was referring to when she said "them". "I believe you."
"Trust me?" Xin Yunniang chuckled, "How ridiculous! Aren't you all in cahoots?"
“Xin Yunniang, I believe you killed Xu Cuiyun out of desperation. You were just afraid of dying. If you had a choice, you would never have chosen to kill someone.”
"What's the use of saying all this now? I've already killed him, there's no going back."
"No, you still have a chance. I know the real murderer isn't you."
Xin Yunniang looked at Su Yan in surprise, and asked tentatively with a hesitant expression, "Do you really believe me?"
Su Yan nodded.
“If I told you that I burned that painting before, you would believe me.”
Su Yan nodded again.
Xin Yunniang was still somewhat skeptical, but Su Yan wasn't angry. Instead, she smiled and said, "I've already checked. I know that painting isn't from ten years ago, but rather an old painting from five years ago. It's a forgery."
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