☆ Chapter 115 Taking the Blame or Breaking Out of Prison: Which to Choose?
Uncle Zhao was terrified and, upon hearing this, grasped at a straw: "Please tell me quickly!"
Jiang Wuyu glanced at Zhou Mujiao.
"If you have a method, then hurry up and tell me!" Du Zhusheng was getting impatient. "What kind of talk is this, going on and on like this? This is a matter that could cost you your head!"
"In my younger days, I traveled all over the country and made many acquaintances from all walks of life. I even had a life-or-death friendship with a few outlaws. Just last night, a high-ranking criminal from the imperial court came to Peach Blossom County. He said that he had been on the run all his life and did not want to run anymore. He only wanted to die."
Jiang Wuyu glanced at Zhou Mujiao again. Seeing that Zhou Mujiao was expressionless and very composed, he secretly praised her and then revealed his plan: "Therefore, my method is to make the serious criminal turn himself in and confess to the crime. Once the real culprit has appeared, Young Master Zhao can naturally go home."
Ma Dalang slapped his thigh: "Miss Zhou! Do as Old Jiang says! Young Master Zhao is a scholar. For a scholar to spend even a quarter of an hour more in jail is an insult to him!"
Liang An said in a low voice, "But this is a cover-up. What if that serious criminal regrets it in the end and confesses that it was Old Jiang's idea? Wouldn't that further solidify Young Master Zhao's murder conviction?"
"That's not the most important thing. The most important thing is that if we miss the best opportunity to catch the real culprit because this serious criminal took the blame and then went back on his word, then Young Master Zhao might really become a murderer," said Boss Tang.
Liang Shanhai and Lord Fang both agreed with Boss Tang's analysis. Ma Dalang, having grasped the key point, scolded Jiang Wuyu for his ill intentions: "Jiang, do you have a grudge against Young Master Zhao? Why did you come up with such a terrible idea to harm him!"
Uncle Zhao looked ashen, as if all his strength had been drained, and his mind was buzzing.
Jiang Wuyu, however, remained unhurried: "Master, what are your thoughts?"
"Breaking him out of prison and finding someone to take the blame are both unacceptable. I want more than just Zhao Yunjing to be exonerated. I want the real culprit to be caught, and I want the person behind this to pay the price!" Zhou Mujiao said coldly. "This is my attitude and my thoughts."
The words "set up behind the scenes" sent chills down Liang Shanhai's and several students' spines. They all thought of Miss Chen's framing of Zhao Yunjing last night.
The two dead students were the ones who deliberately gave Zhao Yunjing the wrong directions. So, could it be that Miss Chen or Lord Chen felt that they had failed to deceive Zhao Yunjing and had even damaged Miss Chen's reputation, thus becoming enraged and wanting to kill them, and then framing Zhao Yunjing to teach him a lesson?
Ma Dalang was unaware of the details, but he had people on his side. Upon hearing Zhou Mujiao say that she wanted to find the real culprit, he immediately declared, "Miss Zhou, I will go back immediately and mobilize all available personnel from Zhou Yunwu Logistics to cooperate with your operation!"
Du Zhusheng and Liang An also said they would lead people to keep an eye out and conduct undercover investigations near the official road, and they would definitely find out the real culprit.
Mr. Tang said, "Good Luck Restaurant and Prosperity Restaurant will be closed from today. All staff will cooperate with Miss Zhou's actions until the real culprit is found before they can reopen."
Liang Shanhai and Feng Wei also expressed that the students of Huilan Academy are willing to do their part. Liang Shanhai said, "The two deceased were also students of our Huilan Academy. We not only want to restore Zhao Yunjing's reputation, but also want to find the real culprit for the two deceased so that they can rest in peace."
Zhou Mujiao knew that these people trusted her and Zhao Yunjing so much for two reasons: first, most of them had vested interests with her, and second, her special physique attracted them to her. But seeing them offering advice and suggestions, she was still moved.
Zhao Yunjing got into trouble, and it was related to a life, so he was labeled a 'murderer.' It's normal for people around him to distance themselves from him, since it affected their reputation and future. But it is precisely because it is so normal to distance oneself from others that those who do not distance themselves from him are all the more precious.
"Thank you all for your kindness today. I will remember it. I won't say anything more. After this matter is settled, I will make you all rich... and build Huilan Academy into a beautiful academy, making it the most beautiful academy in Daliang!"
Everyone laughed.
Zhou Mujiao then shared the useful information she had extracted from Constable Liu: "...Two important pieces of evidence, one is a pair of very small sachets, one is sewn by the Eighteenth Man, and the other is sewn by my aunt. What Constable Liu saw at the scene was a pair that were exactly the same..."
The second item was a short knife. Brother Zhao usually carried it on his waist, but he was in such a hurry to go down the mountain yesterday that he didn't bring it with him. So it's very likely that someone else picked up the knife and gave it to the real murderer. Also, the knife had unique markings and symbols on it.
Zhou Mujiao shyly wrote a few letters on the paper: YJ & MJ.
Liang Shanhai frowned: "Is this the script of a foreign country? I've seen something similar in the ancient books left by Lord Liang. Miss Zhou, do you recognize foreign script?"
Jiang Wuyu also stared intently at her.
Zhou Mujiao looked innocent: "Brother Zhao asked the blacksmith to write this. So it's foreign language. No wonder it looks so strange... The style and markings of this short knife should be unique. The short knife that Captain Liu found at the scene was similar in appearance, but without any markings."
She drew the shapes of the sachet and the dagger, and marked the details in red.
She drew more than a dozen copies in one go, and everyone took one and immediately went their separate ways.
Jiang Wuyu, Zhou Mujiao, Uncle Zhao, and Boss Tang were the only ones left in the top-tier room.
Jiang Wuyu glanced at Boss Tang, who, for reasons unknown, immediately took Uncle Zhao away.
Zhou Mujiao poured herself a cup of tea, drank it all in one gulp, and then spoke up: "Uncle Jiang, is there something else you want to say? Is it related to Brother Zhao? Do you know something? Is there a serious criminal in your family?"
Several questions in a row were related to Zhao Yunjing. Jiang Wuyu thought to herself, "I really feel sorry for Zhao Yunjing."
“I don’t know much either, but it should be the same person you’ve identified, boss. It’s just that we haven’t found any evidence yet.” Jiang Wuyu paused. “But what I want to tell you isn’t about Young Master Zhao. I want to ask you for a small favor.”
"You go first."
"My mother has suffered greatly from the hardships and displacement she endured with me over the years. I had hoped that once we settled down, she would recover with proper care. However, her health has recently deteriorated rapidly, and the doctor at Huichuntang Hospital said she doesn't have many days left to live."
Zhou Mujiao's mind raced.
Jiang Wuyu said with red eyes, "I have a younger sister. Twenty years ago, she was about the same age as you, sir. Unfortunately, she passed away. My mother was driven mad by grief and fell ill. She was depressed and unhappy all her life. Now, on her deathbed, she is somewhat unconscious and keeps calling my sister's name."
Hearing this, Zhou Mujiao already knew what Jiang Wuyu wanted her to do: "Uncle Jiang wants me to pretend to be your sister and go see your mother one last time, so that your mother will have no regrets?"
Jiang Wuyu asked cautiously, "Master, are you willing?"
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