Chapter 94 A Single Day Transformed into a Lone Star of Calamity
Pei Zhiwei held Wang Jingzong's brocade boots, carefully examining the scratched gilded ornament on the outside of the boot shaft.
"Think about it again." She looked up at the guard.
"After Wang Jingzong left the mourning hall last night, has no one really entered it again?"
The guard thought carefully for a moment and replied with certainty, "No."
From the beginning of the morning until the beginning of the morning, only Madam Wang and the maid who had kowtowed earlier remained. The two of them left the mourning hall and never returned.
Then there was Wang Jingzong, who went in and out, but never returned.
Pei Zhiwei: "No, that doesn't make sense."
As she spoke, she turned her boots over, heels down, and tilted the boot shaft to the side, almost turning it sideways. Then she raised her hand and brought the heel up to about half a person's height from the ground.
“Look, based on the paint chips on the boot ornaments and the scratches on the pillar, Wang Jingzong’s legs were at this height and in this posture.”
"Isn't this just being carried around?" Xie Ji exclaimed, "Does this even need to be thought of?"
Pei Zhiwei turned to the guard and asked, "How well was the lighting on the road from the mourning hall to the guest rooms last night?"
The guard recalled, "Ever since the Xu family started preparing for the funeral, the only light at night was inside the houses; the rest of the place was almost completely dark."
The Xu family mansion had a large courtyard, which was illuminated entirely by the moonlight that night.
The brothers had initially whispered among themselves, wondering why the richest family wouldn't even light a lamp for their funeral.
Does this mean that the wealthier people are, the more stingy they become?
But later, a brother mentioned that it might be that Wang had specifically instructed that no lamps should be lit in order to make it easier for Xu Fengyan to 'return to life'?
Later, I overheard the servants talking about it, and it turned out that Madam Wang had specifically instructed that no lamps be lit anywhere except in the mourning hall, because she was afraid of disturbing Xu Fengyan's soul.
So the brothers didn't think much of it.
"When you saw Wang Jingzong come out of the mourning hall last night, did you get a clear look at his face?" Pei Zhiwei pressed.
Bodyguard: "I didn't see her face."
There was only a little light at the entrance to the mourning hall, and he walked out with his back to the light, his face hidden in the shadows.
"This is utter nonsense. How can you be sure it's him when you haven't even seen his face clearly?" Xiao Yunzhan rebuked.
Seeing that Xiao Yunzhan was angry, Pei Zhiwei subconsciously placed her hand on the back of his hand and gently patted it.
"Since the entire Xu residence is pitch black, the colors of clothes are definitely not clearly visible."
What makes you so certain that the person who came out was Wang Jingzong?
The bodyguard quickly explained, "It's based on clothing style and height!"
When Wang Jingzong first entered the Xu residence, he was facing the light, so his brothers could see him clearly.
When he came out of the funeral hall, although we couldn't see his face clearly, the headdress on his head, the style of his clothes, and his height were exactly the same as when he went in.
That's why I didn't suspect anything.
Xiao Yunzhan's initial anger vanished the moment Pei Zhiwei's hand touched him.
But he still said with a stern face, "Now it seems you were wrong."
Once this case is closed, you can go to Li Rong to receive your punishment.
This will also teach you a lesson, so you won't think that just because you've had too many comfortable days, you can become so complacent.
The guard froze, then quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Your subordinate knows his mistake!"
Xiao Yunzhan didn't look at him again, but simply gestured for them to leave.
“Their observations weren’t entirely useless.” Pei Zhiwei pondered the guard’s words while unconsciously twisting the strap of her brocade bag.
"You know, Wang Jingzong's stature is not short or thin."
Moreover, Xu Fengyan's coffin was not small.
Putting aside the fact that Xu Fengyan's coffin was already deep, the only problem was that Xu Fengyan had to be carried out first before Wang Jingzong could be hidden inside.
The strength and movements alone would be impossible for an adult male to accomplish on his own.
At least two people are needed.
"Two people?" Liu Jingchang frowned, following her train of thought.
"You mean, one of them was about the same size as Wang Jingzong and impersonated him to return to the guest room, making people think he was still alive?"
And the other person stayed in the funeral hall to clean up the scene?
"right!
Judging from the traces that the altar had already been cleaned, they must have burned everything that could be burned.
For example, blood-stained clothes or cloths that have been changed off.
Then they pretended to be keeping vigil, waiting until the beginning of the morning.
As everyone began preparing for today's funeral, he planned to blend into the crowd without arousing suspicion.
“That’s right! It certainly won’t attract attention.” Liu Jingchang arrived at the Xu residence around dawn. In his opinion, although the servants of the Xu residence were all busy with their own tasks in an orderly manner.
However, it is by no means difficult to infiltrate a particular link in the chain.
“That’s not all,” Pei Zhiwei added immediately.
"Think about it, the person disguised as 'Wang Jingzong' must be about the same height as Wang Jingzong, wearing the same style of clothes and the same jade crown, so that he can fool the secret guards."
This would also fool the servants they encountered on their way back to their rooms.
Xie Ji: "That's right."
Wang Jingzong has only been at the Xu residence for a short time, and it is estimated that most of the servants in the Xu residence have never even seen him.
All I know is that the Wang family's uncle has arrived.
Moreover, the Xu residence has been completely dark at night for the past few days, and there are very few people who can move around freely.
Furthermore, given their similar build and fine attire, the servants would surely assume he was the uncle's son, and no one would dare to approach him.
“There are far too many servants in the Xu household; checking them one by one would take an extremely long time,” Pei Zhiwei said, glancing at the yamen runners waiting to be dispatched.
"Go and pass on a message, tell the brothers to first investigate two types of people."
One type is those who are about the same height as Wang Jingzong, especially those with similar builds.
Another type is the servants who kept vigil at the funeral hall last night.
Not a single one can be missed!
Ask further questions about anyone who shouldn't be interfering but suddenly offered to help with errands.
The constable dared not delay, clasped his hands in acceptance, and ran off to deliver the message.
Before everyone could get out of Pei Zhiwei's train of thought, a mischievous "hehe" suddenly rang out.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Xie Ji's lips hadn't even had time to retract.
Realizing he had ruined the atmosphere, he quickly made a fist with one hand, covered his mouth, and coughed lightly twice, trying to become serious.
Xiao Yunzhan glanced at him irritably: "What's so funny?"
"This case hasn't even been fully investigated, and you're already laughing?"
Xie Ji quickly pushed his hand forward, "Hey, I'm not disrespecting the deceased!"
I just suddenly thought of something, thought it was kind of interesting, and couldn't resist.
"Look at you."
"These days, people around Wang have either died or gone to jail." He started counting on his fingers, as if afraid Xiao Yunzhan wouldn't believe him.
"First, my husband Xu Fengyan and the steward Chen Gong died."
Then Xu Ren killed his concubine, Lady Liu, and Xu Ren was then killed by Xu Li.
Xu Li and her confidant Wang Heng were imprisoned.
Now even her own brother, Wang Jingzong, is gone.
She's simply... she's become a cursed star overnight!
Xiao Yunzhan snorted coldly, "Aren't you afraid that if someone with ulterior motives hears this, they'll pin this huge mess on your uncle's head?"
Xie Ji chuckled and waved his hand dismissively: "Who in the entire Daliang doesn't know that my uncle is an unbridled mad dog?"
As he said this, he winked at Xiao Yunzhan with a half-smile, and Xiao Yunzhan blinked twice unnaturally, while clearing his throat.
Xie Ji rolled her eyes at him, but continued talking: "If he really wanted to kill someone..."
Why go through all this trouble when we could have just attacked Wang Jingzong on his way to Yangdu, dragged him into the woods to be eaten by wolves, leaving not even bones behind?
He's a mad dog, not a stupid one; he'd never cause trouble for himself.
Xiao Yunzhan raised an eyebrow upon hearing "silly dog," a mischievous smile playing on his lips: "I will relay your 'praise' verbatim to your uncle."
"No!" Xie Ji exclaimed anxiously.
"We grew up together, how could you do this to me?"
If my uncle knew I talked about him like that, he'd throw me into the army for three months of training.
If I end up looking like a ghost after all that torture, would you be willing to let me off the hook?
Suddenly a hand appeared between them.
Pei Zhiwei: "I've never understood why the murderer wanted to kill Wang Jingzong?"
Xiao Yunzhan: "What did you think of?"
“I just find it strange.” Pei Zhiwei adjusted her position to face the mourning hall.
The white cloth was still hanging in the mourning hall, but the coffin was gone, and the offering table had been moved away, so it looked empty now.
"Just as Wang said, Wang Jingzong has only been in Yangzhou for three days. How could he have made a deadly enemy of anyone?"
Xie Ji also dropped his joking expression and rested his fist on his chin: "Could it be... an old grudge from many years ago?"
For example, if Wang Jingzong had offended someone elsewhere before, and that person had never had a chance to take revenge, then seized the opportunity to strike when Wang Jingzong came to Yangzhou?
“Unlikely.” Pei Zhiwei shook her head.
"According to the initial examination by coroner Han, the murderer stabbed Wang Jingzong several times from behind, and Wang Jingzong showed no signs of resistance, obviously being killed without any warning."
Wang Jingzong was a scion of a prominent family, proficient in all six arts of a gentleman. If he had been on guard, killing him would not have been so easy.
Xiao Yunzhan thought for a moment and said, "That's right, I can tell that Wang Jingzong does have some martial arts skills."
Pei Zhiwei continued her analysis, "And don't forget, the secret guards said that after Wang Jingzong left the mourning hall, no one entered the mourning hall again until dawn."
Let's assume that the "Wang Jingzong" who walked out of the mourning hall was the murderer or an accomplice in disguise.
The guards said they identified the man as Wang Jingzong based on the style of his clothes, the type of headdress he wore, and his build.
But how could they know what kind of clothes Wang Jingzong would wear that night, and even prepare a matching headdress? These things couldn't be made on the spot.
Liu Jingchang nodded and said, "Madam Pei is right. I have carefully examined Wang Jingzong's body. The style of his brocade robe is the one that was just becoming popular in Yangdu."
Moreover, there are no ready-made clothes; everything has to be tailor-made, which cannot be done overnight.
Pei Zhiwei added, "And the hair ornament on his head."
The guard specifically mentioned that the headdress was exactly the same as when he went in.
"If the murderer was looking for an opportunity to strike, why would they have prepared these things in advance?"
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