Chapter 440: A truth that might be the truth
Xie Yingmian said, "Since we know that the Mu family army's movements are consistent with the extermination of the village, we should find more clues by following this line."
Shen Tingsi: "If the witness is still alive, there may be a turning point."
"However, the eyewitness died, and the Mu Family Army also gave an explanation based on the investigation of the Six Criminal Department, saying that there were bandits causing chaos that night, and the Mu Family Army set out only after receiving a distress signal."
"The Mu family army's departure time, location, and bandit suppression process are all recorded in detail. The time when the Mu family army sent the bandits to the government office is also the same as the time given by the Mu family."
"The Mu family's logic is very complete. The Six Criminal Divisions are unable to produce stronger evidence, so this clue is effectively broken."
"It was autumn when the case occurred. The villagers had just finished their autumn harvest and every household had rice straw piled up. The fire spread out of control and almost destroyed all the clues."
"Without any clues or witnesses, and with the Mu family's logic chain intact, the Six Criminal Division is helpless. The case can only remain unsolved."
Xie Yingmian asked: "When did this case happen?"
Shen Tingsi chuckled: "You asked a very crucial question."
"This case happened right after the rumors started."
Xie Yingmian's expression became serious.
The rumors that Chen Tingsi mentioned were the rumors that the Queen Mother was kidnapped and lost her virginity by bandits.
This timing is intriguing.
She and Yu Lingye had previously suspected that the empress dowager was not the empress dowager at all.
The real empress dowager might have been kidnapped and lost her virginity by bandits as rumored, or she might have died.
In order to calm the situation, the Mu family used a trick of using someone else as a substitute.
If that's the case, the extermination of more than a dozen villages is closely related to this incident.
Yu Lingye knew Shen Tingsi very well.
Shen Tingsi is not a person who shoots without a purpose.
Shen Tingsi mentioned this specifically, he must have grasped some key clues.
"What did you investigate?" Yu Lingye asked.
Shen Tingsi said: “I sent people to investigate the village where the family was wiped out.”
"The nearest village to those dozen or so villages that were wiped out is over thirty kilometers away."
"Over 30 kilometers is a very long distance for the villagers who rely on ox carts and walk for daily travel. It's so far that intermarriage is rare, and many people in that village have never even heard of the horrific village annihilation case."
"I thought this investigation would be fruitless."
"It was also a coincidence. I was passing a street on my way off duty that day and overheard two merchants arguing. One merchant was enraged and said some extreme words, while the other merchant was being disloyal and said that everyone on the street knew him and that he had the ability to get rid of everyone on the street."
"At that moment, I had an epiphany."
"I suspect the Mu family army's purpose in slaughtering all the nearby villages was to destroy any clues related to a certain person."
“So, I followed this line of inquiry.”
Shen Tingsi narrowed his eyes slightly: “It will be much easier to investigate if we change our thinking.”
"Although the people in those dozen or so villages were completely slaughtered, there are still some people who are related to the villagers of those villages."
"We found some clues with almost no effort."
"From these clues, I pieced together a truth that might be the truth."
Xie Yingmian and Yu Lingye listened quietly to Shen Tingsi continue.
Shen Tingsi was thirsty and picked up another cup of tea.
His movements were slow and his hands were unsteady and trembling.
He trembled slightly several times during the process, but in the end, he still picked up the cup of tea and drank it all in one gulp.
Xie Yingmian praised: "You've recovered well."
Shen Tingsi: "My hands are assimilating with me."
"The skin used to be rough and dark, but these days, it's become whiter and smoother, and is almost the same color as my skin."
Xie Yingmian: "That's right."
"You'll get more and more comfortable using your arm, and it'll gradually become part of you until it's completely yours."
Shen Tingsi continued: “I went to investigate what happened when Madam Mu gave birth.”
"Mrs. Mu gave birth suddenly on her way to worship. Because it happened so suddenly and it happened to be raining heavily, Mrs. Mu had no choice but to stay with a villager."
"That night, Madam Mu gave birth to a daughter."
"It is said that Master Mu rewarded that family with a large sum of silver because Madam Mu gave birth safely. That family also transformed from an ordinary farmer into a famous landlord in the neighborhood."
"Coincidentally, the wife of that villager also gave birth to a daughter in the same year."
"Although that daughter grew up in the village, she was raised like a young lady in the boudoir. She had the best food, clothing, and daily necessities, and she had maids to serve her and a well-known female teacher to teach her."
"Coincidentally, the female teacher who taught her also died suddenly, and the time of her death was also after the rumors spread."
Xie Yingmian asked, "Among the people you investigated, has anyone seen that young lady?"
Shen Tingsi shook his head: "No one."
"There are intermarriages among the dozen or so nearby villages, and it's rare for anyone to marry far away. The people I've investigated who are even remotely related to those dozen villages are all distant relatives. These distant relatives rarely go back because the distance is too great, let alone see that young lady."
Xie Yingmian was very puzzled.
Having twins is not something shameful, so why leave one behind and take the other away?
She asked Yu Lingye, "Is it said in the Dayu Dynasty that having twins is unlucky?"
Yu Lingye shook his head.
Twins are generally considered a gift from God.
Many people even go to families that have given birth to twins to ask for good luck in having many children and good fortune.
"Yes." Tu Bufan, who had just arrived, happened to hear Xie Yingmian's question.
He naturally sat next to Shen Tingsi.
"I know something ominous about the twins. Do you want to hear it?"
Xie Yingmian: "Listen."
Tu Bufan rolled his eyes and said, "The story is a bit long. I want to eat something sweet."
The kitchen happened to have made some lychee daifuku for dessert.
Xie Yingmian had some delivered.
The lychee daifuku is placed in ice cubes, which is icy cold. The cream inside tastes great, and the skin is chewy, sweet and cold.
Tu Bufan squinted his eyes comfortably: "Delicious."
"As expected of Princess Ling, every dessert is irresistible."
"The outer layer is probably glutinous rice, and the inside is cream with sugar in it. And the lychees are fresh. It must be the famous Red Beauty Honey. It's delicious, really delicious."
Xie Yingmian: "...let's get down to business."
Tu Bufan hadn't finished the puff in his mouth yet, and his voice was vague: "Many years ago, in a city far away from Shangjing, there was an organization called the Twin Lotus Sect."
"The deity worshipped by the believers is the Twin Lotus Goddess."
"The leader of the Twin Lotus Sect calls himself the Lotus Master, and his subordinates include Flower Envoys and Lotus Guards."
"The Flower Envoy is responsible for searching for clues about the twins and spreading the teachings. The Lotus Guard is responsible for protecting the Lotus Master and the Flower Envoy, and maintaining order in the Twin Lotus Sect."
"The Twin Lotus sect views the twins' shared heart and soul as a source of evil."
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