When the Prefect of the Capital saw her approaching, he kept his hands hidden behind his back and said, "Miss Huang, may I be so bold as to take a look at your hands?"
Her hands are also a key point in this matter. If her hands are really that easy to injure, then it proves that the evidence on her hands is not fake.
Huang Ningmeng pulled a hand out from behind her back and showed it to him. Her delicate hand was covered in blue and purple marks, with small cuts and even broken skin in some places.
The Prefect of the Capital cast a accusing glance at the guard.
The guard looked innocent. "Sir, I'm no match for Miss Huang, let alone able to hurt her."
When Prime Minister Huang saw the extent of her injuries, his heart ached so much that he could no longer stand there. He stepped forward, grabbed her hand, examined it closely, and then turned to Rongyin, saying, "Quickly, go and get Miss's medicine box."
"Yes." Rong Yin turned and ran off in a hurry.
Huang Ningmeng was a little embarrassed. "Dad, I haven't finished telling you what happened yet. Wait until I finish."
Prime Minister Huang glared at her angrily, completely helpless against her.
Huang Ningmeng smiled sweetly at him before turning to the Prefect of the Capital, her expression hardening and her demeanor becoming serious. "After saving Jiang Sheng's life, I entered the bamboo forest. I didn't stay here for more than half an incense stick's time. Jiang Sheng was killed after I left, so there must be a discrepancy in the timeline. I believe the coroner will be able to determine the exact time of Jiang Sheng's death."
The Prefect of the Capital asked, "Do you have any witnesses to prove that you were not present when the person died?"
Du Chenyan walked over. "I can vouch for you."
Everyone looked at him.
Du Chenyan continued, "Last night, I heard a strange noise and rushed over. It was already past midnight. When I arrived, I didn't see Miss Huang, but I saw Jiang Sheng floating in the pond. I quickly pulled him out. When I pulled him out, he had already stopped breathing. After that, I dragged him into the bamboo forest and laid him down."
Later, Du Chenyan pointed out the traces of how he dragged Jiang Sheng up and brought him into the bamboo forest.
The Prefect of the Capital nodded.
It is absolutely confirmed.
At this moment, the coroner who performed the autopsy arrived and handed the records he had made to the Prefect of the Capital.
The Prefect of the Capital opened it and looked at it, then looked at Huang Ningmeng.
Huang Ningmeng met his gaze fearlessly.
The Prefect of the Capital asked, "Miss Huang, what were you doing in the bamboo forest last night?"
“Playing chess,” Huang Ningmeng said. “Yesterday morning, the abbot and I played chess in the bamboo pavilion in the bamboo forest all morning. Last night, I thought of it and went to the bamboo pavilion. I saw a game of chess in the pavilion and, on a whim, sat down to solve it.”
Du Chenyan touched his nose. "After the body was laid to rest last night, I went to the bamboo pavilion and saw Miss Huang. When I arrived, she had already been sitting there for a while."
“Miss Huang, it still cannot completely prove your innocence.” The Prefect of the Capital shook his head; there were still doubts.
Huang Ningmeng laughed, "My lord, if I were to kill him just because he uttered a few words of insult, why would I save him?"
“That makes sense.” The Prefect of the Capital frowned.
"Instead of wasting your time doubting me, why don't you come and see the real culprit?" Huang Ningmeng said.
"The real murderer?" The Prefect of the Capital looked at her in surprise. She had even found this out?
Huang Ningmeng walked to an irregular scratch and said, "This scratch was made by someone, and it was made by someone who is lame. The marks on it are not very deep, so it must have been made by a light-weight girl."
The Prefect of the Capital looked at her, then at the scratches.
Huang Ningmeng sneered and suddenly stumbled forward.
Du Chenyan was startled, and his body reacted before his mind, flashing in front of her and catching her.
Huang Ningmeng looked up at him and smiled, then said softly, "You dare say you don't like me?"
"I..." Du Chenyan was conflicted.
In an instant, Huang Ningmeng stepped out of his arms, saying, "Thank you for saving me, Young Master Du."
"You're welcome." After she left, he felt a little empty.
Huang Ningmeng lifted her skirt and stepped aside, revealing a fresh scratch to everyone.
This scratch is noticeably deeper than the old one.
Huang Ningmeng looked at the Prefect of the Capital with her hands behind her back, "Do you see clearly now?"
The Prefect of the Capital nodded. "Then whose scratch is this?"
Huang Ningmeng smiled and said, "After the bandit attack, there have been very few worshippers at the temple in the last two days, and no new people have been added to the Yuanjue Temple. Apart from Young Master Du and Young Master Jiang, the west wing is full of adult men. There are only monks in the temple. My Huang family didn't bring many women. I am fifteen years old, and Rongyin is sixteen. Qingluo and Geman, who are by Madam's side, are both women in their twenties. There is only one little girl, Hongyan, who is thirteen years old, with a slender figure, and has recently injured her foot."
"You mean the little girl kneeling in the courtyard?" When the Prefect of the Capital arrived, he also saw the little girl. She was gentle and frail, and didn't look like a murderer at all. How old was she?
“No need to guess, it’s her,” Huang Ningmeng said.
"Besides this, what other evidence do you have?" the Prefect of the Capital asked. If it were just this scratch, it would indeed be difficult to convince the public.
Huang Ningmeng walked towards the pond, and the others followed.
She saw the marks by the pond and sighed softly.
Everyone watched as she walked to the edge of the pond, took something out of the vines, and then walked back.
Huang Ningmeng handed the handkerchief to the Prefect of the Capital, saying, "It has the character 'smoke' embroidered on it, and it definitely belongs to her."
The Prefect of the Capital examined it and confirmed it was indeed so. Then he gave the handkerchief to the coroner.
The coroner examined it carefully and said, "Sir, the watermarks on it confirm that they were left in the pond last night."
Huang Ningmeng glanced at the coroner in surprise, "You can even tell that?"
The Prefect of the Capital said to her, "The accuracy with which Liu the Coroner deduces time is renowned throughout the capital."
Huang Ningmeng nodded. "I admire you."
The coroner, Liu, smiled sheepishly. "I dare not accept such praise. Miss Huang has the talent to solve cases; I am the one who should admire her."
"You flatter me." Huang Ningmeng walked to the edge of the pond, pointed to another mark left by the water, and said, "If I'm not mistaken, Hongyan deliberately threw the handkerchief into the pond, then lured Jiang Sheng to pick it up, and finally pushed him in when he leaned forward."
This also explains why Hongyan, such a delicate young girl, was able to push Jiang Sheng down.
The matter was now completely clear. The Prefect of the Capital turned to the constables and said, "Quickly, arrest Hongyan!"
"yes!"
Two bailiffs ran into the temple.
The truth came out, and Huang Ningmeng's reputation was almost completely ruined.
Prime Minister Huang was so angry that he was glaring at Huang Ningmeng, but he didn't know what to do with her.
Huang Ningmeng originally wanted to touch her nose, but when she felt the piercing pain in her hand, she forgot. Instead, she put her hands behind her back and bent down to crush the ants.
At that moment, Rongyin ran out of the back door with a medicine box in her hand.
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