Xue Dalang suddenly looked at Chen Yu and asked in surprise, "Why are you looking for Qiu Xue'er? She was burned to death last night."
Shen Yu didn't believe it. If Qiu Xue'er was dead, then who was the masked woman she had just seen?
She stood up, first bowing to Xue Dalang in apology, and then said, "There is a case that requires Qiu Xue'er to testify. I need to see the person alive or dead, so please allow me to examine the body, Young Master Xue."
Bang! Xue Dalang slammed his hand on the table, furious. "Fifteen people died in the fire, their bodies indistinguishable. I can't even recognize my sixth brother's remains, how are you going to find Qiu Xue'er's remains?"
Shen Yu was inherently stubborn; after seeing the masked woman twice, she became convinced that Qiu Xue'er was not dead.
Even though fifteen skeletons are piled together, if one skeleton is found to be missing, wouldn't that prove that Qiu Xue'er is still alive?
Seeing Xue Dalang's grief and indignation, she had no choice but to look at Yan Wang and say righteously:
“Your Highness, the fire at the Xue family’s warehouse is indeed suspicious. It must have been premeditated. Why did Xue Liulang go to the warehouse at night?”
Clearly, he was instigated by someone, leading to the conclusion that the murderer is connected to the Xue family. Therefore, I request Your Highness's permission to examine the remains and search for clues.
Yan Wang naturally agreed, and looked at Xue Dalang in a low voice to comfort him, "Young Master, please accept our condolences. Only by examining the body can we find clues. Please take Shen... take Shen Lang to examine the remains."
"Wait!"
The three looked towards the entrance, where a man dressed in a purple robe and wearing a veiled hat walked in aggressively and stood beside Chen Yu.
Shen Yu naturally knew that the person who came was Prince Jing.
King Jing could not hide his anger; the thin veil on his hat rose and fell with each breath as he pointed at Chen Yu and berated King Yan:
"She's afflicted with a serious illness and hasn't even had a chance to take her medicine yet. You want her to have an autopsy? If you truly care about Yu Lang, why put his woman in danger?"
After saying this, King Jing grabbed Chen Yu's arm and stormed out the door.
------
The hour of You (5-7 PM).
Prince Yan sent a messenger to Shen Yu: In the case of the fire at the Xue family's warehouse, there is indeed one missing victim. I have ordered the authorities to apprehend the culprit, Qiu Xue'er.
This matter has been reported to the emperor, who has ordered that Qiu Xue'er be apprehended and brought to justice before Zhang Manguan's case is put on trial.
Thus, Qiu Shuang'er remained imprisoned for the time being, but her life was not in danger.
Shen Yu felt a little relieved. After all, given the grudges and affections, she had not used her position to settle personal scores or cover up the truth, so she had a clear conscience.
After coaxing An'er and Ping'er to sleep, she returned to her own bedroom and was about to lie down when Rong Mama hurried over and whispered, "Miss, Master Gu has come to visit and is waiting for you in the study."
Chen Yu strode into the study.
Master Gu closed the door, hurriedly walked to the desk and sat down, gesturing for Chen Yu to sit opposite him.
"Fish, something terrible has happened."
"What is it?"
"There's a new lead in the passenger ship fire case; one body is missing."
What do you mean?
Master Gu took out paper and pen and began to draw as he spoke, “The boatman Zhang Jing secretly confessed that he was carrying a man and a woman to Jiangnan that night. Not long after, Zhang Han’s boat caught up with him. When he heard that Zhang Han was also going to Jiangnan, he transferred the man and woman from his boat to Zhang Han’s boat.”
Actually, Zhang Han's boat was carrying one man and three women; one man escaped, so there should have been four bodies. There's one less body than expected.
Chen Yu was shocked; her first thought was that Hong Yu was still alive.
Hongyu is cunning and calculating. Knowing that Yan Wang would snatch the letter, why would she go to the dock and walk into his trap? Hongyu must have used a trick to switch the beams and pillars and escape like a cicada shedding its shell.
Now that Hongyu survived, where did she go? Remembering that a man had escaped from the passenger ship, Chenyu asked, "Who was that man who escaped? Is there a portrait of him?"
Master Gu nodded, then hurriedly took out the portrait from his sleeve, unfolded it, and laid it in front of Chen Yu.
Shen Yu's eyes widened in surprise. Wasn't this Steward Liao from the Prince Lu's Mansion?
Steward Liao is the Sixth Prince's man, Hongyu was divorced by Prince Yan, and Hongyu is also involved with the Liao family. Could it be that Hongyu has sided with the Sixth Prince? The Sixth Prince helped her stage a scheme to escape unscathed.
Chen Yu was startled again and couldn't help but tremble.
Master Gu asked in surprise, "Has Yu'er thought of something?"
Shen Yu snapped out of her daze and pointed at the portrait, saying, "Father, the man who escaped is Steward Liao from the Lu Prince's Mansion. He committed suicide in the Wang Baozhu case. Next, please investigate the relationship between the escaped woman and Steward Liao. Is she related to the Lu Prince's Mansion? Once you find out her identity, the truth will come to light."
“It’s easy. The Sixth Prince and Wang Baochai are both in jail now. I’ll send Erlang to the Prince of Lu’s residence to investigate and try to find out the woman’s identity tonight.”
------
Early the next morning.
Shen Yu finished washing and dressing early, ate breakfast, put on a face mask, and sat in the courtyard waiting for news from Master Gu.
Gu Erlang rushed in, and before he could even sit down on the stone bench, he spoke up. "Seventh Sister, we've found out. The day Steward Liao and Yinxing went to Jiangnan, they were on Zhang Jing's passenger ship, and later transferred to Zhang Han's ship. Steward Liao committed suicide yesterday, and Yinxing's whereabouts are unknown."
What are they going to Jiangnan for?
"They said they were going to Jiangnan to pick up Steward Liao's elderly mother."
Shen Yu nodded thoughtfully. Since Butler Liao was from Jiangnan, his explanation was quite reasonable.
But where did Ginkgo go? She's nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead.
Thinking of Yinxing's petite figure and crippled hands, Chenyu suddenly stood up and said, "Quick! Take me to see Hongyu's remains."
The two hurried to the yamen, and as soon as they entered, several yamen runners came to greet them in a panic.
"Oh no, one of the bodies is missing."
"Zhang Hongyu's remains have disappeared."
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