Chapter 32: Old Friend 8: My husband will definitely catch the murderer
Wu Sheng stared at the corpse for a long moment, puzzled: "Boss, how did you know the murderer was a woman?"
Xie Wuhen glanced at him and said, "After all these years, you still haven't made any progress."
Wu Sheng looked aggrieved: "Otherwise, how come you are the boss and I am the slave?"
Xie Wuhen shook his head helplessly and pointed at the corpse's neck: "Look carefully, the color of the pinch marks is slightly lighter, which means the murderer didn't use much force."
He pointed to the bloodstains on the corpse's collar, which were marked by finger marks: "This must have been rubbed on by the murderer after getting his hands on the deceased's blood."
Wu Sheng suddenly woke up from his dream. "Anyone who kills someone must use all their strength. If their strength is not strong enough, it must be a woman, and a woman who likes to be clean."
Xie Wuhen stared at the corpse's purple-red complexion, concluding that it had been poisoned. "Not only does this woman love cleanliness, she's probably also skilled in poison."
He then ordered the coroner: "Perform an autopsy on the spot."
The coroner stepped forward and replied “yes”.
Xie Wuhen looked around the cave and told Wu Sheng, "Add a few more torches to the cave."
Wu Sheng followed the order and turned to prepare the torch.
In just a moment, the dark cave was brightly lit.
Xie Wuhen used the light to search for clues in the cave, checking the dust, the cave walls, and even the faint traces on the ground.
Torches crackled and the aroma of burning resin filled the cave.
He sniffed lightly a few times and faintly smelled some strange odor from the resin fragrance. He sniffed deeply a few more times to confirm that there was the smell of something else burning in the cave.
Xie Wuhen simply held up a torch and looked around the cave wall.
Finally, he found some burnt powder in a small pit at the entrance of the cave. He pinched the powder with his fingertips, put it to his nose and sniffed it. It was exactly the smell he had just smelled.
He called the coroner again and asked, "What is this powder?"
The coroner also sniffed the powder and said, "This should be the burnt spices."
"What spices?"
"I don't know much about incense, maybe I can ask the people in the Imperial Hospital."
Xie Wuhen immediately sent someone to the palace to invite the imperial physician.
The imperial physician, Qi Huai, hurried over, pinched some powder and placed it under his nose. He sniffed for a long time but couldn't identify what it was. "I am incompetent. I really can't tell what kind of spice this is."
His expression slightly restrained: "It seems that the murderer is a master."
He then ordered all the members of the Chamber of Commerce to gather in the front hall, and he personally interrogated them one by one.
Today was a big gathering, including members of the Chamber of Commerce and servants, there were more than a hundred people. Xie Wuhen's interrogation lasted until dusk before he began to see some results. Except for the manager Li Ming, the fireman and two gatekeepers, the rest of the people were finally able to leave.
A new maid becomes the key suspect.
Li Ming said: "The woman was timid, as if she was afraid to let Madam Du know she was here."
The fireman also agreed: "I guessed at the time that the woman might be... maybe President Du's lover outside."
Xie Wuhen had a cold face and said nothing.
Then he looked at the two guards and shouted, "How dare you let this girl go without permission."
The two guards were so frightened that they both knelt on the ground.
A guard defended himself, "It was... that woman who said she wanted to report the death to Madam Du. We didn't dare to delay... that's why we... released her."
Xie Wuhen sneered: "So she went to announce the death?"
Steward Li Ming interrupted, "Later, I personally went to the Du family to announce the death."
Xie Wuhen took a deep breath and was speechless for a moment.
Then he slowly paced around the room, saying as he walked, "Twenty-eight years old, beautiful, and thin. Apart from that, what other characteristics does she have?"
The fireman continued, "She also has a cinnabar mole on her chin."
Li Ming also pointed his index finger at his jaw: "Yes, right here, there is a round cinnabar mole."
"what else?"
Everyone shook their heads: "Nothing else."
Xie Wuhen thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I understand. You guys go back first."
Then he ordered Wu Sheng: "Call Liu."
Liu had been waiting outside the door for a long time, crying as she waited, her eyes swollen.
As soon as she entered the room, she knelt down with a thud: "Master Shaoqing, please catch the murderer. My master... died so tragically."
Xie Wuhen had no expression on his face: "You stand up and talk first."
Liu got up, sobbing, and couldn't help muttering, "I never could have imagined that someone who was fine this morning would be dead now."
"Let's get to the point." Xie Wuhen's expression was solemn and his tone was direct: "Excuse me, Madam Du, has Master Du ever had any grudges with anyone outside?"
Liu was startled when she heard this and wiped away her tears. "My master is kind and righteous to his people, and he runs an honest business. From court officials to servants, everyone speaks well of him in front of others. How could he have any grudges against anyone?"
Finally, her expression brightened: "I just heard that the murderer was a woman. I wonder if that person was my master's lover outside? Or did he kill her because he refused to divorce his wife?"
Xie Wuhen was not interested in dwelling on such nonsensical issues.
He answered irrelevantly: "Since Mr. Du has never had any grudges against anyone, today's questioning ends here. Madam Du can go home and wait for news."
Liu still refused to give up: "Sir, are you really not going to check on the master's mistress outside?"
She continued, "When the master was alive, I always wanted to make friends with you, and your wife also promised to take you to visit the Du family. I never expected that in just a few days, we would be separated forever. I hope you will do your best to catch the murderer. I will repay your kindness with a token of gratitude."
Xie Wuhen paused: "Do you know my wife?"
Liu paused. "Your Excellency, don't you know that Madam Zun and I are close friends? Didn't Your Excellency ask Madam Zun to bring gifts to the banquet on my old lady's birthday?"
Xie Wuhen's eyelashes fluttered as he replied calmly, "I'm busy with official duties, so my wife is in charge of all household affairs. I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Madam." Then he added, "I will do my best to catch the murderer. Please go back first, Madam."
Liu had no choice but to bow and leave the room.
Wu Sheng watched Liu disappear at the door and murmured, "Boss, why don't you check to see if Mr. Du has any mistresses outside?"
Xie Wuhen snorted coldly: "Even if Master Du's lover wanted to kill someone, the person he would kill would be Liu, not Master Du himself."
Then he thought for a moment, "This case is most likely a vendetta."
Wu Sheng was puzzled: "But Liu said that Master Du has never had any enemies."
Xie Wuhen glared at him, "To ascend to the throne of Imperial Merchant, one must step on the shoulders of countless merchants. How can one avoid making enemies along the way? Liu's evasive and hesitant words only serve to infer that Du Yuting's actions are unclear and unclear, and the grudges he has made are probably countless."
"But Du Yuting is already over 40, and the woman is only 28. They are two generations apart. How could there be any enmity between them?"
Xie Wuhen replied in a resounding voice: "Does the revenge for my father's murder count? Does the revenge for my mother's murder count?"
Wu Sheng suddenly realized: "This is a blood feud! No wonder the murderer, even after poisoning him, still tried to strangle Mr. Du."
Xie Wuhen ordered: "Go and find out what kind of murders Du Yuting has committed."
Wu Sheng lowered his head and replied "yes".
Then Xie Wuhen turned around and went back home.
In Chunhua Courtyard.
Su He had finished washing up and asked Chunlan to paint her eye sockets with indigo.
She felt relieved that her revenge was achieved. Even Zhang Xiuhua and Chunlan were secretly happy for her, and they specially added a dish of "Crab Roe Lion's Head" to the dinner.
Ah Si was so happy that he cried and couldn't help but go to his father's grave to pay homage at night.
But Su He couldn't find his father's grave.
Dad is in a mass grave and has no grave.
My mother once said that my father was penniless when he was alive, so there was no need to worship him after his death.
She didn't even know where her mother was buried. Maybe she was dragged to a mass grave by those officials?
Maybe dad and mom have become wandering ghosts?
They are as humble as mud and their lives are worthless. Except for her, probably no one will remember that they have ever come into this world.
Su He opened the window and looked out. The night sky was clear and the stars were twinkling.
She clasped her hands together towards the starry sky and murmured, "May Daddy and Mommy rest in peace. I will soon sacrifice Liu Dazhong's life in your honor."
Liu Dazhong was the judge from that year, the murderer of her mother.
The evening breeze blew gently, rustling the leaves.
It was as if all things had spirits and understood her whispers.
When Xie Wuhen came back, she was leaning against the head of the bed reading a storybook.
He casually asked, "Is my wife feeling better?"
She put down the notebook, slipped on her slippers and got out of bed: "I feel much better after sleeping in the room for a whole day." Then she went forward to help him change his clothes.
He looked at her face and saw that her eyelids were indeed swollen from sleep: "It seems that you slept a lot today."
She smiled charmingly: "My husband has told others not to disturb me, who would dare to disturb me?"
He curved his lips into a smile, feeling satisfied.
When he looked up, he suddenly caught sight of the book "Slave" on the bedside table: "My wife, haven't you finished reading this book yet?"
She replied: "I have nothing to do, so I'll just read it again."
“So beautiful?”
"Anyway, no matter how beautiful it is, my husband won't look at it."
"Maybe I'll watch it when I have time later."
She looked at him suspiciously, then said, "Although the title of this book is 'As a Slave', the author is a court official. Perhaps your husband knows him."
His curiosity suddenly piqued: "Who is the author?"
"Former Imperial Counselor Shangguan Cang."
"It's him. He was banished to Meizhou by the Emperor a long time ago."
As Su He took off his coat, he spoke softly, "Although he was an official appointed by the imperial court, he was brave enough to speak up for the weak. This shows his noble character. Even though he was not a good official, his writings were immortal. Therefore, he has no regrets."
Xie Wuhen was silent for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Madam, do you want me to become such a person?"
She walked up to him and looked up at him.
He spoke her mind, but she couldn't admit it.
She said gently, "No matter what kind of person my husband is, I will like him."
He knew she was coaxing him, but he didn't care. He stretched out his arms and gently embraced her in his arms.
He casually asked, "How did you get to know that Liu?"
Her chest sank, but she pretended to be confused: "Which Liu?"
"Du Yuting's wife, Madam Du."
She smiled slightly. "I met her by chance a few days ago when I went to a teahouse for tea. We weren't that close, just acquaintances. Why did my husband suddenly ask about her?"
He carried her to the table and answered the question irrelevantly: "Why didn't you invite me to go with you to Mrs. Du's birthday party?"
Su He suddenly put away her smile: "What on earth are you suspicious of, my husband?"
He was stunned for a moment: "I don't doubt my wife, I just don't want...my wife to hide something from me."
She was obviously angry. "I am just a girl in the harem. What big thing could I possibly want to hide from my husband? On the day of the Du family's old lady's birthday, my husband and I were arguing about taking a concubine. He even moved to the study without saying a word. How could I tell my husband?"
At last, she still pretended to be upset: "My husband, if you are worried about me, you can take the key to the storehouse back and I will not be the head of this family anymore." After saying that, she got down from the table, turned around and walked towards the bed.
"My lady, you misunderstood me. That's not what I meant."
Xie Wuhen hugged her from behind and hurriedly explained: "Because Du Yuting was killed today, I asked a few more questions. Madam, please don't be angry."
Su He turned around and looked at him, his face full of disbelief: "Du Yuting was killed?"
He nodded: "Yes, what happened today."
She asked, "Is Mrs. Du okay now?"
He replied: "When something like this happens at home, naturally things won't be any better."
She turned around and met his gaze: "Where is the murderer? Has he been caught?"
He put his arms around her again and kissed her forehead, his tone gentle but firm: "Don't worry, your husband will definitely catch the murderer."
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