Chapter 21
Inner hall.
Yi Zong had placed the case files and everyone's confessions in front of Liu Ju and explained them one by one.
"According to the testimonies of those present at the scene, Mr. Qi was lying on his back on the ground, pierced in the back of his head by the tail of a bronze Pixiu ornament. Bai Shan knelt beside him, his hands stained with blood.
"I, along with the yamen runners, have inspected the scene. The room was in disarray, with clear signs of a struggle and violence. The shape of the Pixiu's tail also matches the wound on the back of the victim's head. The coroner carefully examined the body and found only this single wound, which he confirmed was the fatal injury."
As he said this, he handed an ornament to Liu Ju for his inspection.
The Pixiu's shape and long, slender tail may not be as sharp as a blade, but if it is thrust hard or rammed into something, it can easily pierce a person's body. It can definitely be fatal.
Liu Ju wasn't surprised to hear it was the murder weapon. However, based on his experience watching detective dramas and listening to Zuo Jian's stories, he felt a lingering doubt: "Does that mean no one saw Bai Shan kill Qi Langjun?"
"No." Yi Zong knew why Liu Ju asked this and continued, "But at that time, only Bai Shan and Qi Langjun were in the room."
Liu Ju was confused: "How can I be sure that there is no third person in the house?"
Yi Zong bowed and replied, "The incident took place in the study of Lord Qi's home. The study has no secret rooms or secret passages, only doors and windows for entry and exit. Outside the doors and windows is a small courtyard, which faces the corridor in front.
"At that time, Qi Dalang and Qi Yuanniang were both waiting in the corridor. If there was a third person, whether they went in through the door or the window, they would be discovered. But the two of them did not see anyone else coming in or out."
Liu Ju blinked. Could it be one of those locked-room murders so popular on TV? Had he seen a real-life locked-room murder?
Huo Qubing glanced at him, not knowing what he was thinking about, and simply spoke for him: "Call Qi Dalang in first."
Qi Dalang entered and bowed, then told what happened that day, which was not much different from his confession.
"I admit I truly dislike Baishan, and I doubt any brother would be interested in someone who would seduce or entice his own sister. But I didn't deliberately take this opportunity to crush Baishan. It's just that I couldn't think of any other possibility besides him.
"Although the Qi family has fallen on hard times, it's not a small family. How could we allow outsiders to come and go freely? Baishan was allowed to come and enter the study because of my father's permission.
"He and my sister had been at a stalemate for a long time. My sister had tried to persuade my father several times. My father had no choice but to agree to meet with Baishan and discuss the matter in detail."
Qi Dalang took a deep breath and said, "After Baishan came, my sister and I led him into the study. Because my father wanted to talk to Baishan alone, my sister and I didn't stay long and left.
"My sister was worried and stood in the corridor, looking at the study from afar. So I waited with her."
Qi Dalang gritted his teeth and unconsciously clenched his fists, clearly trying his best to suppress his emotions: "Our eyes have never left the study. How could we not know whether anyone has entered or exited the study?
"When Baishan went in, my father was still fine. There was no third party involved. My father died suddenly. Who else could it be but him?"
Liu Ju glanced at Huo Qubing, who waved Qi Dalang away and called Qi Yuanniang in. "Based on the current situation, Baishan is indeed highly suspicious. Why do you feel that Baishan is wrongly accused? Is it simply because of your feelings and trust in him?"
Qi Yuanniang shook her head: "Partly, but not entirely."
Liu Ju raised his eyebrows and motioned Qi Yuanniang to continue.
"Actually, I had a deep conversation with my father the day before this incident. I understand why he chose Xiucheng Zizhong. The Qi family has long since fallen into decline, and our branch isn't even the main line.
"Although he has a noble title, he is actually only slightly better than the average commoner. It's better to say that my father has a crush on Xiucheng Jun rather than Xiucheng Zizhong."
Everyone present understood. Xiuchengjun was the daughter of the Queen Mother and a commoner husband before she entered the palace. Although not of royal blood, she was Your Majesty's sister from the same mother.
Your Majesty personally conferred upon her the title of County Lady, and she enjoyed fiefdoms and was accorded the same status as an Eldest Princess.
Given Qi Yuanniang's family background, she was far from being qualified to marry the offspring of a legitimate royal princess, but Xiuchengjun's son was barely qualified.
Especially since Xiucheng Jun lived in the inner city, he had close contacts with the Wang family, the Tian family and the royal family.
From a personal perspective, Xiucheng Zizhong was not a good man. However, from a social status perspective, Xiucheng Zizhong was perhaps the best choice the Qi family could find.
"I told my father that whether a woman can be happy in marriage is not just determined by social status, and it is not necessarily better to be from a wealthy family. It also depends on whether the two are compatible.
"I've been spoiled at home so much that I couldn't hold back my temper when I clashed with the young master of the Gongshu family. Xiucheng Zizhong was also spoiled growing up.
"When we start a quarrel, neither of us will give in. Besides, he is in a high position and I am in a low position. How are we going to live like this?
"If I were asked to change myself, to be gentle, considerate, docile, and attentive, I'd probably find it difficult to do so. But Baishan is different. We have a friendship that we grew up together, and he is willing to accommodate me. I am willing to repay his kindness."
Perhaps out of consideration for Xiucheng Zizhong's identity, he said this in a tactful way, but everyone present understood it.
Xiucheng Zizhong was not just spoiled when he grew up.
When Queen Mother Wang was alive, he was a petty bully, running rampant in Chang'an. When Queen Mother Wang died, his biggest supporter was gone, and he was forced to restrain himself. But the country can be changed, but the nature cannot.
If Qi Yuanniang married him, her life would hardly be peaceful, let alone happy.
"My father disliked Baishan, not because he disliked Baishan as a person, nor because he disliked Baishan's sincerity towards me. My father saw all of this. His only dissatisfaction was that Baishan's family background was too humble.
"But now that Baishan has been fortunate enough to have His Highness's favor, he has a chance. I told my father that I'm only fifteen and there's no rush for an engagement. I asked him to give him two years.
"Two years. If he can achieve something, we'll be together. If he can't, I'm willing to let my father make the decision and not make any more trouble.
My father has always loved me, and after considering it for a long time, he finally agreed.
"This morning he told me to call Baishan over after my lunch break so he could talk to him personally. If Baishan agrees with this plan and has the determination and willpower to move up the ladder, then it's settled. He won't arrange a marriage for me for the next two years, and he won't force me to marry.
"I told Baishan about this, and he was very happy at the time. He promised me that he would work hard."
Qi Yuanniang looked up, her eyes full of confusion: "Since my father has already relented and both sides have reached a consensus, why is there still a conflict?
"Even if Baishan was unhappy about this, if he really wanted to do something, he should have waited two years until things failed. With two years of buffer time, why would he rush into action?
"This goes against Baishan's usual style of doing things and is not in line with common sense."
Liu Ju nodded silently. It was indeed not in line with common sense. This made the mystery of the case even greater.
After Qi Yuanniang left, Bai Shan came in. He was being escorted by yamen runners, staggering, looking dispirited, and his clothes were tattered, with some glaring bloody whip marks on them.
Liu Ju glanced sideways at Yi Zong, who bowed his head. "Baishan is the prime suspect. I've handled countless cases, and it's common for criminals to cry out for justice. It's rare for them to confess without crying out for justice. Naturally, I'll give him a trial and try to pry him open. I haven't used harsh punishment on him."
Liu Ju looked at the number of whip marks on Bai Shan's body and reluctantly believed his words.
Bai Shan seemed very excited to see him, tears streaming down his face. "Your Highness! It's not me. I didn't kill anyone."
Yi Zong frowned, "It's unbecoming to cry in front of His Highness. Don't waste time. Tell His Highness the details of what happened that day."
Bai Shan forced himself to stop crying, calmed down, and began to recall what happened.
"Uncle Qi has the habit of taking a nap. Yuanniang waited until the nap was over before bringing me into the mansion. When we reached the study door, she asked if Uncle Qi was awake. Only after hearing Uncle Qi's response did she push the door open and go in.
"My uncle was in the inner room at the time. We didn't dare barge in, so we greeted him through the screen. My uncle agreed. Brother Qi said he wanted to talk to me alone, and he and Yuanniang withdrew.
"Since Yuanniang had already told me everything, I knelt down and thanked my uncle for giving me this opportunity. I vowed to achieve great things and never let Yuanniang down.
"But I talked for a long time, and my uncle still didn't say anything. I was worried, thinking that my uncle might have changed his mind, so I wanted to get closer and ask him for help. I had just walked around the screen and didn't see anything when someone hit me from behind with a stick, knocking me unconscious.
"When I woke up, I saw the room was in a mess and my uncle was lying on the side, motionless. I went over to check on him, but when I helped him up, my hands were covered in blood and he was already dead.
"I was so frightened and panicked that before I could figure out what was going on, Brother Qi and Yuanniang came in."
At this point, the basic situation is clear.
Yi Zong had Bai Shan taken away and bowed to report, "There is indeed a bruise on the back of Bai Shan's neck, but it cannot be ruled out that he accidentally bumped into it during the scuffle with Qi Langjun, or that it was intentional.
"In previous cases, it's not uncommon for murderers to injure themselves to create doubt and cover up the truth in order to escape punishment."
At this point, Yi Zong glanced at Liu Ju and added, "I'm not saying this is absolutely true. It's just that solving a case requires considering multiple circumstances and one shouldn't just rely on one side of the story. After all, the murderer is quite cunning."
Yi Zong's tone was hesitant and a bit worried, fearing that Liu Ju would think he was targeting Bai Shan.
Liu Ju felt that Yi Zong was overthinking things. He could completely understand this reasonable and normal consideration; he was not unreasonable.
He stood up and said, "Let's go to the crime scene."
Everyone then moved to the Qi family, and the layout of the study was exactly as Yi Zong had described.
He even went to the corridor to stand and take a look himself, and then moved the boxes and cages over and placed them at the eye level of Qi Dalang and Qi Yuanniang. No matter from which angle, everything was clearly visible.
In the study, the outer room and the inner room are separated by a screen.
The outer room is used for daily reading and writing, and the inner room is probably prepared with a bed and various clothes and supplies considering that Mr. Qi has the habit of taking a nap.
Yi Zong pointed to a wooden cabinet shelf in the inner room and said, "There were some bamboo slips placed here, and the Pixiu ornament was also here. That day, the bookshelf tilted, and the bamboo slips fell to the ground."
He pointed down and said, "Lord Qi is lying here. Bai Shan is kneeling beside him, holding the back of his head with his hands. His hands are stained with blood, and so is his body.
"I suspect the murderer may not have intended to kill him, but rather accidentally pushed him during an argument with Mr. Qi, causing him to bump into a shelf. The tail of the Pixiu figurine unfortunately pierced the back of his head, causing him to fall to the ground and die."
Liu Ju looked at the wooden frame, then down at the spot where Yi Zong had said Qi Langjun had fallen. Indeed, judging by this location, if Bai Shan was indeed the murderer, it was more likely manslaughter. But manslaughter is still murder, and Bai Shan's cry of injustice was injustice.
The left supervisor frowned and asked, "What was Mr. Qi doing before Bai Shan entered the study?"
They were all experienced in solving cases, so Yi Zong immediately understood what he meant. "Lunch break. Mr. Qi has the habit of taking a nap, and since he's a light sleeper, he doesn't like to be disturbed during his nap. When the Qi siblings brought Bai Shan here, Mr. Qi should have just woken up."
Huo Qubing rolled his eyes and said, "I don't like being disturbed during my lunch break. That means if someone was already in the room at that time, the Qi brothers and sisters wouldn't know."
Yi Zong nodded: "That's true, but Qi Dalang is right. The Qi family is not a small family. How can outsiders come in and out so easily? Moreover, if there is a thief, why didn't Qi Langjun call for someone to catch the thief?
"When Qi Dalang and Qi Yuanniang brought Baishan in, why didn't Mr. Qi give any hints to ask for help? Most importantly, how did the thief get out?"
Huo Qubing and Zuo Jian paused at the same time. Qi Dalang and Qi Yuanniang were staring at the study from the corridor, seeing no one enter or leave.
Liu Ju suddenly had an idea and thought of a scene in a TV series: "Maybe he didn't go out at all?"
Everyone:!!!
Liu Ju turned to look at Yi Zong: "How did the incident come to light, and how did it develop after it was revealed?"
"Qi Yuanniang was anxious and restless when she saw that Baishan hadn't come out yet. She asked the servants for some fruits, hoping to find an excuse to send fruits to her father to see how his conversation with Baishan went.
"As a result, when my brother and I pushed the door open, we saw the crime scene. We both cried out in shock and called the servants over.
"Qi Dalang was the first to react. He went to check on his father while ordering the arrest of Bai Shan. The commotion was so loud that the entire mansion was in chaos, and even the neighbors came to watch the excitement."
Liu Ju blinked. "So, in other words, the scene was chaotic, with so many people present, that everyone's attention was almost entirely focused on the deceased and Bai Shan?"
Yi Zong immediately understood: "Your Highness means that the murderer did not leave immediately after committing the crime, but hid in the house, and then took advantage of the chaos to blend into the crowd and leave openly?"
Everyone was shocked, but they all understood that this guess was very likely.
"One more thing." Liu Ju held his chin in his hand and thought for a moment, then gestured for Zuo Jian to come out. "Go stand in the corridor for a while."
The left supervisor didn't understand what was going on, but he still obeyed the order and went.
Seeing Zuo Jian arrive at his seat, Liu Ju swept the bamboo slips to the ground and called Zuo Jian back: "Did you hear any noise just now?"
"Yes. It seemed like something had fallen to the ground. It was a bit far away, so I couldn't hear it clearly, but I definitely heard the sound."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the bamboo slips on the ground, then looked at the empty wooden shelf, and his expression changed slightly.
Huo Qubing asked Yi Zong, "Did Qi Dalang and Qi Yuanniang, who were standing in the same position at the time, hear the noise?"
Yi Zong quickly asked someone to call the Qi brothers and sisters in to ask questions.
The two thought about it and shook their heads: "No."
It didn't make sense that Zuo Jian could hear it but the siblings couldn't. Zuo Jian was just an ordinary man, his hearing wasn't exceptional.
Yi Zong took a deep breath. "That is to say, the bamboo slips might not have fallen at that time. The situation in Qi's house might have existed long ago, and the young man might have died before that. Perhaps it was during his lunch break when he didn't want to be disturbed."
Qi Dalang and Qi Yuanniang were both stunned. Qi Dalang shook his head vigorously: "Impossible. When we came in, my father responded to us."
Liu Ju glanced at him and asked, "How did you respond?"
"ah?"
Qi Dalang was a bit confused and didn't react. Instead, Qi Yuanniang dug her nails into her palms, forcing herself to calm down. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and tried to recall.
"Before entering, I asked my father outside if he had gotten up. He replied, 'Yes.' I pushed the door open and walked in, greeting him. He also said 'Yes.'
"Then my brother said, 'Baishan has arrived. Since father wants to speak with him alone, my sister and I will take our leave.' Father waved his hand and continued to respond. After that, my brother and I withdrew."
Huo Qubing frowned: "In other words, your so-called response was just three "hmm" sounds, without uttering a single word? If I remember correctly, you said you didn't enter the inner room, but greeted me through the screen.
"So the so-called waving hand was also waving to you through the screen. You only saw the shadow of the waving hand, and never saw Mr. Qi's face from beginning to end, right?"
Qi Yuanniang's figure swayed, and Qi Dalang's face turned pale. It seemed that the two of them had already noticed the problem.
It is very likely that the person in the room at that time was not Mr. Qi, but a thief. The one who nodded was a thief, and the one who waved his hand was also a thief.
Huo Qubing couldn't help but let out a light sigh.
Zuo Jian sighed and looked at the Qi brothers and sisters: "Please think about it carefully. Are there any other abnormalities?"
Qi Yuanniang closed her eyes, reminiscing for a long time, and suddenly opened them: "I... I remember now. At that time, my father... No, when that person said "hmm", his voice was very similar to my father's, but with a slightly heavier nasal tone.
"And... and incense. The wrong incense. As my father got older, he often had trouble falling asleep, so he would burn incense to help him sleep. There was incense that day, too, but the scent seemed... seemed stronger than usual."
At this point, her voice trembled even more violently, and her whole body trembled as well: "Why didn't I notice it then? If...if I had discovered it, then...at that time, would Father still be saved?"
Yin Liu hugged her and said, "Girl, I don't blame you. It's not your fault. You didn't stay long in the room when you came out. Who could have thought that your husband had been in trouble? Who could have noticed the tiny details of that moment?
"When you go back in, all the smells will be gone, and you'll be in shock and grief. How can you remember such a small thing?"
After all, the sounds were so similar, and the incense was only a little stronger.
Everyone understands the truth, but from Qi Yuanniang's point of view, it is difficult to accept it for a while. Even Qi Dalang is confused and stunned.
Liu Ju could only let Yin Liu and the servants take the brother and sister downstairs to settle them. On the other side, Huo Qubing was already tapping the hilt of his sword, looking here and there, and looking around.
Zuo Jian naturally understood what he was looking for and looked at Yi Zong.
Yi Zong's face was gloomy as he summoned the yamen runners. "Search this study room, search every inch of it, especially any hiding places. Don't leave even a crack or a gap unsearched."
As the wild geese fly by, so too do people leave traces. Since the thief has been hiding in the house, there may be clues.
So after everyone's intensive search, they made a discovery in less than half an hour: a wooden sign that had fallen in the corner under the bed.
Liu Ju tilted his head: "This thing looks familiar."
Huo Qubing glanced at him and said, "It's the wooden sign given after the bet was placed at the Shengping Tower Arena."
After hearing this, Liu Ju remembered that it was indeed the case, but it was a little different.
"Go to Shengping Tower and ask."
Huo Qubing collected the wooden sign and left immediately.
Liu Ju: ...You are indeed a man of action. You do what you say and never talk nonsense.
Everyone moved to Shengping Tower again. Liu Ling was there too. He rushed over as soon as he heard the news. He glanced at the wooden sign and nodded, "It belongs to us at Shengping Tower. However, the rooms on the second floor are all for distinguished guests, so the pairs of cards they bet on should be more exquisite. This one is for our own people in the tower."
"Everyone working in the building has one free bet opportunity per month. You don't have to put up any money yourself, just choose a target and register. If the chosen target wins, everyone will receive 20 coins."
Liu Ju raised his eyes: "People working in the building?"
"Yes. The servants in the building, the resident opera troupe, the puppet show troupe, and so on are all welcome. Although the amount offered is small, the advantage is that it's a zero-cost business, so you don't have to invest any money yourself. Losing doesn't matter, but winning is a free profit, so few people pass up this monthly opportunity."
Liu Ju frowned, which means the number of people is huge.
"However, after most events, the wooden cards are collected. The number of wooden cards is fixed. Each one is numbered and recorded in a booklet corresponding to the bet target, so you can check it."
Liu Ling called the steward of Shengping Tower forward and said, "I don't need to worry about these trivial matters. He will take care of them. You can ask him."
He also instructed the person in charge to reply carefully and tell everything he knew.
Huo Qubing glanced at her and said, "Since the steward is here, there's no need to trouble you. Go and do your work."
Liu Ling was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "I'm a little tired today. I really need to take a break. I won't disturb you from working on the case. If there's anything else you need me for, just let me know."
Liu Ju nodded. After Liu Ling left, the steward called the person in charge of the books to come and look through them one by one.
"Found it. The pair of number twelve cards was distributed three days ago and hasn't been taken back. The person they were distributed to was Wang Li."
Liu Ju: "Who is Wang Li?"
"The ventriloquist in the building."
Everyone paused: Ventriloquism?
If it's ventriloquism, then can you also imitate other people's voices and speak? Maybe not full words, but simple "hmm" sounds?
Liu Ju frowned: "Where is this person?"
"I don't know. We haven't seen him for two days. He didn't come yesterday because he was resting. But he had a ventriloquist performance today, so he didn't come either. We sent people to look for him at his place, but he couldn't be found either. We're thinking about reporting him to the police."
Everyone: ...
Huo Qubing snorted, "Issue a wanted order."
********
Inside the carriage, Liu Ling leaned back and squinted his eyes.
"Princess."
The maid trotted over and the carriage slowed down to let the maid get on before it resumed its normal course.
Yin Liu, who had passed by her, paused. Qi Yuanniang was eager to know the murderer, but she had just suffered a great blow and could only rest for the time being. So she sent her to monitor the progress. But halfway through, she heard this call.
It wasn't that Yin Liu was sensitive, but rather that the matter was of grave importance. She had feigned death while lying among the corpses, having heard bits and pieces of information, among which was this title: Princess.
The massacre of the village is definitely related to the princess they mentioned.
Yin Liu instinctively turned back to look, but the carriage had already sailed off. There was more than one Princess Under Heaven, and it wasn't necessarily her. Yin Liu suppressed her thoughts and continued toward Shengping Tower.
Inside the carriage, the maid informed him of everything she had learned.
Liu Ling was full of questions: "Wang Li? One of ours?"
The maid shook her head. "No. The ventriloquist in the building has nothing to do with us. He was just hired to perform."
"Are you sure it has nothing to do with our people?"
"No. I've already asked. Your Highness is investigating the death of the young master of the Qi family. Our people have no connection to the Qi family or Wang Li.
"If there is anything, at most he is Wang Li's employer, and Qi Langjun and Qi Dalang have also come to Shengping Tower to play a few times, there is nothing more."
Liu Ling nodded, feeling slightly relieved. "That's good. These are troubled times, and we shouldn't stir up any more trouble. Since it has nothing to do with us, there's no need to hide it. Let everyone in the building cooperate wholeheartedly and be respectful."
After some thought, he still wasn't completely reassured, so he added, "Send a message to the spies, asking them to keep an eye on His Highness. Although we certainly weren't involved in the murder, I don't know why I still feel a little uneasy."
The maid was suspicious: "Did the princess discover something?"
Liu Ling shook her head. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she had a strange feeling, a feeling that made her uneasy.
She sighed, "Keep an eye on it."
"promise."
********
Flying Palace.
Since the case was traced back to Wang Li, Liu Ju no longer had to be involved in the subsequent arrests.
By the end of the fifth lunar month, the weather had begun to turn scorching hot, and ice was being used everywhere in the palace. Since Liu Ju was young, the amount he was given was small, and its effectiveness was limited. Liu Ju simply had a soft couch brought in and placed under the corridor to keep him cool and enjoy the breeze.
He was half lying on the couch, holding the freshly squeezed cherry juice, took a sip, turned over, his brows furrowed, took another sip, turned over, his brows furrowed even tighter, and his mouth opened and closed, but no one knew what he was saying.
Fenghe could only hear clearly when he got closer.
"This case was solved too quickly to be true."
"I always feel like something is wrong, as if I'm missing something."
"What's wrong?"
Feng He was puzzled: "Your Highness, are you thinking about the Qi family case? Doesn't Your Highness dislike these things and is impatient to send Zuo Jian here?"
Liu Ju glanced at her and curled his lips: "I just don't like being restricted or forced, and I don't like my time being fully scheduled.
"If we put all that aside, I'd still be happy to listen to Zuo Jian's stories occasionally. After all, Zuo Jian is a pretty good storyteller. Let's get back to this case. Since I've gotten involved, I have to see it through to the end. It's not good to give up halfway."
Feng He understood: "Then Your Highness feels that something is wrong? Could it be that the real culprit is not Wang Li?"
Liu Ju couldn't answer for a moment. He stammered, "Let me think about it."
So he opened up the detective dramas and criminal investigation science videos in his mind, and compared the content and knowledge in them with the current case one by one. Suddenly, he stopped.
"The three elements of a murder?" Liu Juteng stood up suddenly. "Ahhh, I know what the problem is! How could I forget such an important thing!"
Just then, Zuo Jian sent someone to report that Wang Li had been found.
Liu Ju hurriedly pulled Huo Qubing out of the palace.
Wang Li's body lay by the river. This place was no longer in the territory of Changling Town, but closer to Yangling Town.
Huo Qubing stretched out his hand to cover Liu Ju's eyes: "Don't look."
Liu Ju didn't refuse and let him cover it up. After all, he really had no interest in corpses. He was afraid that nausea would affect his appetite, and he was also afraid of nightmares at night.
By the time Huo Qubing lowered his hand, Wang Li's body had been covered with a straw mat. The coroner stepped forward and reported, "Wang Li has multiple knife wounds. He must have been murdered and thrown into the river, where the current flowed to this location. Preliminary estimates indicate he's been dead for five days."
Five days ago, something happened to Mr. Qi.
Liu Ju frowned. "I thought I had the most favorable witness by arresting him, but... well, I have to find evidence all over again."
Huo Qubing raised his eyebrows and said, "Who says the dead can't serve as witnesses?"
Liu Ju tilted his head: "Huh?"
Huo Qubing asked Zuo Jian Yi Zong: "Wang Li's body was only discovered today. Has this news spread?"
Yi Zong shook his head: "No. No one knows except the people in the government office."
"That's good." Huo Qubing curled his lips, "It's just the right time to lure the snake out of its hole."
Liu Ju: Eh?
********
Qi's house.
Yin Liu hurried in: "Girl, I found Wang Li."
Qi Yuanniang suddenly stood up, but Qi Dalang had already rushed over: "What did you say? You found Wang Li?"
"yes."
"Did he confess? Did he explain why he killed my father?"
Yin Liu shook her head: "No, Wang Li was seriously injured and is still unconscious."
Qi Dalang was stunned, and Qi Yuanniang was even more confused: "Seriously injured?"
"Yes. I heard he fell into the water after being injured and hit his head. Luckily, he was rescued by a family in Yangling. He's been groggy for the past few days, often unconscious and awake, and even when he does wake up, he's still groggy."
"The family originally thought he had been rescued by the robbers out of kindness. Two days earlier, the government had issued a wanted notice and had posted it in all the major mausoleums. They saw the picture on the notice and inquired about the details, only to discover that Wang Li was the murderer, so they reported him to the authorities.
"Yangling County's yamen runners personally transferred the man to Changling County. However, due to Wang Li's severe injuries, he could not be immediately interrogated. The county magistrate ordered that he be placed in a medical clinic. The doctors at the clinic said that his injuries had improved and he would be fully conscious in about two days."
Qi Yuanniang breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."
She wanted to find the murderer and also wanted to know how and why the murderer killed her father.
She couldn't understand what kind of grudge her father had with a ventriloquist that would lead him to such a murderous intent. She feared there was something else going on, like a murder for hire.
If this is true, then the person behind the murder is the mastermind and he must not be allowed to escape.
******
Medical clinic.
The yamen runners were guarding the door, chatting while standing guard.
"Is this case almost over?"
"That's about right. If nothing unexpected happens, the case should be closed once Wang Li wakes up and confesses the truth. We can also take a good rest. These past few days, because His Highness has been paying close attention to the case, the county magistrate and I have been searching day and night, and we haven't had a good night's sleep."
"You're still concerned about whether you can sleep or not. It's rare for His Highness to pay attention to a small case like ours. Have you ever thought about performing well enough to catch His Highness's eye and then soar to fame?"
"Soaring to the sky? I dare not even think about that. With my limited abilities, I'd better just stay honest and do my job as a yamen runner."
A servant from the Qi Mansion came over with a food box. "Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen. My young master is very happy to hear that the murderer has been caught. Thinking that you have troubled me a lot these past few days, and now it is so hot, and you still have to guard the murderer, I have ordered my servants to bring you ice bowls to quench your thirst."
The so-called ice bowl was freshly squeezed juice mixed with crushed ice. The juice was made with ordinary fruits, not expensive. But the ice was not cheap, and the common people rarely used it. The yamen runners' eyes lit up when they saw it.
The servants hurriedly called everyone over: "Come and eat, the master has prepared a lot, two bowls per person is enough."
The bailiffs came forward with a smile to take some, praising it endlessly: "Refreshing and refreshing. The Qi family is very kind."
No one noticed that a masked figure took this opportunity to sneak behind the crowd and slipped in.
In the room.
"Wang Li" was lying flat on the bed. Due to a head injury, his entire head was wrapped in gauze, covering most of his face.
The masked figure approached carefully, holding down "Wang Li" with his left hand, and raised the dagger with his right hand to stab him, but suddenly he saw "Wang Li's" face clearly, his body froze, his pupils shocked, and it was too late to retreat and escape.
Huo Qubing jumped down from the beam, kicked the dagger out of the masked man's hand, and with a beautiful grab, he pinned the man to the ground in a split second, pinning him down. He killed him instantly, and in the process, he also removed the mask from his face.
If the person coming is not Qi Dalang, then who else could it be?
Liu Ju and others also came out from the inner room one after another.
Qi Dalang's face was pale. "Is this a trap set by you? Did you know it was me?"
"It wasn't that long ago, just two days ago." Liu Ju sighed and waved his hand, "Take him away."
The rest of the work was simple. Yi Zong would conduct the interrogation himself. Liu Ju, Huo Qubing, and Zuo Jian only had to sit in the inner hall and wait for the results.
Huo Qubing gently tapped Liu Ju's forehead and asked with a smile, "Why did you think of Qi Dalang?"
"Because there are three elements to a murder: motive, weapon, and timing. The murder weapon in this case is clear: it's the Pixiu ornament from the Qi family's study.
"As for the motive. If it was before, when Mr. Qi disagreed with Bai Shan and Qi Yuan Niang's affairs, then Bai Shan and Qi Yuan Niang could be said to have the same motive for committing the crime.
"But Mr. Qi has already agreed to a two-year term, so this motive no longer exists. Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that these two are lying. So they are one of the motives.
"The second motive is Xiuchengjun's son Guangzhong. Guangzhong was upset because the Qi family had humiliated him, and he was resentful of losing to a mere technician. A murder and frame-up is also possible."
Huo Qubing raised his eyebrows: "If that's the case, why do you rule out this possibility?"
"It's not completely ruled out." Liu Ju shrugged. "I don't think Guangzhong needs to fight for Qi Yuanniang. Even if the Queen Mother is gone, the Wang family is still there, the Tian family is still there, and Xiucheng Jun is still as dignified as the eldest princess.
"Even though the Qi family is descended from the Chu nobility, they have long since fallen into decline and are now very ordinary. I haven't had much interaction with Guangzhong, but I can see that he has high standards and a high aspirations.
"He probably wouldn't be satisfied with Qi Yuanniang's family background. He didn't agree that day, but he didn't refuse either. Who knows what he was thinking? Maybe he saw her beauty and wasn't satisfied with her as a wife, but thought she could be a concubine."
Everyone: ...
"I'm a little embarrassed that the plan didn't work out, but this is nothing to make Guangzhong go to such great lengths to kill someone and frame him, and even go through such a long detour. He's always been flamboyant and domineering, always straightforward, never this roundabout."
Huo Qubing nodded: "Indeed. It doesn't fit his character. So, we can basically rule him out. Then why do you say it's not completely ruled out?"
"His timing was perfect. Bai Shan had just been taken away from the Qi family by the yamen runners when his carriage passed by. So when my cousin set up a trap to leak the news about 'Wang Li' to the Qi family, I also passed it on to Guangzhong.
"If it was really him, he would have reacted. But he just cursed inwardly, wondering why the murderer wasn't Bai Shan, and then nothing happened. It seems that he really just happened to come across them, and seeing that it was the Qi family and Bai Shan, he casually gloated and took advantage of their misfortune.
"Of course, there's another point. He doesn't quite meet the time requirement among the three elements."
Huo Qubing and Zuo Jian ignored him and looked at Liu Ju again: "When?"
"Yes. According to our previous deduction, Wang Li had been hiding in the house the entire time, and only escaped after causing a commotion by blending into the crowd. So why did he pretend to be Lord Qi and lure Bai Shan in?
"If his goal was simply to escape, then all it would take is for Qi Dalang and Qi Yuanniang to discover their father's death. They would be shocked, horrified, and in a state of panic. The scene would naturally become chaotic, and his goal would be achieved.
"If that's the case, then when Qi Dalang, Qi Yuanniang, and Bai Shan come in together, we can hide. When Qi Yuanniang calls out to her father and gets no response, she'll naturally go into the inner room to check and find the body. The subsequent commotion will continue, as expected.
"So, isn't it superfluous and unnecessary to pretend to be Mr. Qi to confuse Qi Dalang and Qi Yuanniang and lure Baishan in? So the only explanation I can think of is that the murderer wants more than just to escape.
"In addition to escaping, he also wanted to frame Bai Shan and create the illusion that Qi Langjun was still alive at the time, blurring the actual time of Qi Langjun's death and using this time difference to create an alibi for himself."
Liu Ju narrowed his eyes. This is the case in almost every case on TV dramas. Eight out of ten murderers would do this.
Fake an alibi and blur the time.
This is also the focus of the three elements: the time of the crime.
He continued, "Now that we've established this, we can do the opposite. If the murderer wants to blur the lines of time, he'll definitely create an alibi during his fabricated timeframe to rid himself of suspicion. Who has a perfect alibi for this timeframe?"
Huo Qubing replied, "Qi Dalang and Qi Yuanniang."
The two men stood waiting in the corridor, always together, confirming each other, and even had servants following them.
"If it was Qi Yuanniang, she wouldn't have blamed Bai Shan, nor would she have come to me for help afterwards. So it's most likely Qi Dalang. Once Qi Dalang is identified, many previously overlooked issues will become apparent."
Liu Ju's expression flickered, just like when he discovered a spy in the palace. Before the person was identified, many details would be overlooked; but after the person was identified, these things would become supporting evidence.
He took a deep breath and continued, "For example, Qi Dalang was very indignant about Bai Shan's murder of his father and kept putting pressure on the government to close the case and kill Bai Shan as soon as possible.
"For example, Qi Dalang did everything he could to prevent Qi Yuanniang from seeking help from outside to redress Baishan's grievances, even resorting to abduction and imprisonment.
"For example, when he learned that we had discovered the true time of death and deduced that a third person had been hiding in the house, his expression changed drastically. Qi Yuanniang was still able to think calmly, but he was completely unable to stand, swaying and faltering, his soul fading.
"For example, the most important point is something we overlooked at the beginning. Qi Yuanniang, Baishan, and Guangzhong all have motives, but doesn't Qi Dalang have one?
"Lord Qi doesn't want Qi Yuanniang to marry Baishan. He wants her to marry someone higher up. Does Qi Dalang agree? He was the one who brought Guangzhong back."
Liu Ju waved his hand: "Of course, this motive shouldn't be enough to make him kill his father. But Yi Zong said that according to the on-site investigation, the possibility of manslaughter is greater. Bai Shan may have committed manslaughter by mistake, so is Qi Dalang also possible?
"Qi Langjun agreed to Qi Yuanniang and Baishan's marriage, and Qi Dalang's plan fell through. In desperation, he went to his father to argue and try to change his mind. But his father cared more about his daughter's happiness. They disagreed and argued and fought. Qi Dalang accidentally killed his father.
"The crime of patricide is more serious than ordinary murder. He was confused, scared, and panicked. After calming down, he had only one thought: he had to cover up the truth and not let anyone know that his father died at his hands.
"He was a frequent visitor to Shengping Tower, so he naturally knew Wang Li's abilities. He used coercion or bribery to make Wang Li his accomplice, creating an alibi for him to remove suspicion, and even shifting the blame for the murder to Baishan.
"But threats and inducements won't last long. After the deed is done, Qi Dalang will naturally kill the witnesses to eliminate future troubles."
Huo Qubing nodded: "Yes, the analysis is meticulous, the logic is tight, and it makes sense."
Zuo Jian: "Your Highness is clever and talented."
Liu Ju raised his eyebrows. These methods were similar to those used in TV dramas. Comparing them, and applying them to each case, they became clear.
but……
Liu Ju suddenly thought of something and looked at the two of them: "You don't seem surprised by this."
Huo Qubing and Zuo Jian paused at the same time, avoiding his gaze somewhat guiltily.
"So you've already thought of these doubts, but you just didn't tell me, right?"
Huo Qubing & Zuo Jian: !!!
What's so confusing about that expression? He clearly knew, yet he didn't tell him. He looked so gloomy and thought about it for two or three days. He'd been watching countless episodes of detective dramas and criminal investigation videos!
Liu Ju was furious. He stood up and left. "Feng He, let's go back to the palace. I don't want to be with them anymore. My cousin is so mean. He made fun of me. I like him so much. And Zuo Jian, he actually stabbed me in the back again. Damn it!"
Huo Qubing: ...
Left Supervisor: ...
Again? When did I ever stab you in the back? Your Highness, you cannot say such words casually. I cannot bear it!
And we're truly wronged. Is this something we don't want to say? It's clearly His Majesty who forbids us from saying it. His Majesty wants you to think for yourself. If you have any grudges, go vent to His Majesty!
On the other side, Liu Ju soon found Liu Che, but he did not lose his temper, but to accuse Huo Qubing and Zuo Jian of their bad behavior.
He cursed the two men a hundred times, drank a glass of water to moisten his throat, cursed them a hundred times again, drank another glass of water to moisten his throat, and continued to do this a hundred times.
Liu Che listened while handling government affairs, nodded from time to time, and occasionally agreed with a few words. His attitude was relaxed, and he felt very at ease and had no guilt at all.
Weren't it Qubing and Zuo Jian who were hiding this from Ju'er? At most, Yi Zong was added to the mix. What did this have to do with him? Ju'er hadn't come to ask him, and he hadn't hidden anything from Ju'er.
Yes, that's right, that's it.
When Liu Ju's mouth was dry and he was tired of scolding, Emperor Wu smiled and asked Wu Changshi to send the man out. He reached out and flipped open the bamboo slips. It was the case report just delivered by Zuo Jian. Liu Ju's analysis and explanation basically matched Qi Dalang's confession, with only a few omissions.
Liu Che picked up his pen and wrote a few words on a blank bamboo slip: motive, murder weapon, time.
He studied the slips for a long time, then rolled them up and handed them to Wu Changshi. "Send them to Zhang Tang, and have him circulate them to the various counties. In future cases, have the investigators consider these three points."
After Wu Changshi took the order and left, Liu Che closed his eyes and thought deeply.
He had only tentatively probed her, but unexpectedly, she had given him such a big surprise. She truly had a side to her that he hadn't known about, a knowledge base he hadn't known about, and a wisdom and acumen beyond his expectations.
He also became more convinced that knowledge can be taught, but wisdom and cleverness cannot be taught.
As for the former, Liu Che could not help but be more curious about the master behind the "teaching" Liu Ju.
As for the latter?
There are always prodigies in the world, why can’t it be my son?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
