Madam Jiang glanced at Qiaolian, who remained silent, and assumed that Jiang Segu had caused trouble again. She was extremely dissatisfied, but for the sake of Zhou Mama, she had no choice but to let Zijin do as she was told.
"Mother Zhou, please sit down and have a cup of tea. Tell me what happened, and I'll see if I can help!"
"Madam, please don't ask. You'll know about this tomorrow after the eldest daughter leaves home!"
That stubborn old man!
Madam Jiang cursed inwardly, but smiled obsequiously, "I was just trying to share Mother's burdens!"
"I will certainly convey my gratitude to the Madam for her filial piety!"
Soon, everyone from Jiyue Courtyard was standing in the courtyard.
After Zhou's mother read it once, she had Qiaolian read it again.
"Madam, if I may be so bold as to ask, are all the people in your courtyard here?"
Madam Jiang glanced at Zijin, who replied, "Except for Zilan, everyone else is here!"
So, Zhou's mother and Qiaolian went to Luomei Courtyard again.
Grandma Jiang was not one to meddle; she did whatever she was told without saying much.
Next came the courtyards of several young ladies, and then we went to the back room.
After finishing in the backyard, we went to the front yard to check everything...
After the investigation of the Marquis's residence was completed, Wen Dong brought a handsome young man to Gu Songhan.
"General, this is the best coroner in the capital. Don't let his young age fool you..."
Before Wen Dong could finish explaining, Gu Songhan said, "Young man, please come with me!"
Upon learning that the coroner had arrived, Jiang Segu hurriedly came out from the west room.
However, Gu Songhan stopped him outside the dormitory.
Jiang Segu frowned as she looked at Gu Songhan. "What are you doing?"
"It's best you don't go in when the coroner is performing an autopsy!"
Jiang Segu's heart sank.
Before she could think any further, the coroner's furious voice came from inside.
"Is a corpse like this even worth calling me here?!"
As the words fell, the curtain was lifted.
Jiang Segu looked at the handsome young man and didn't realize for a moment that he was the coroner.
Gu Songhan bowed apologetically to the young man and said, "We are truly sorry to have disturbed you so late, young brother! Did you learn about the cause of death just now?"
"It's just strangulation, what else could it be! Didn't you see the ligature marks on the neck that went all the way to the back? If it were hanging, only the ligature marks on the front would be heavier. There are also signs of struggle on the victim's fingernails and heels!"
Zhao's mother had already been killed by her, so why was her mother still strangled to death?
Gu Songhan steadied the swaying Jiang Segu and said to the young man, "Thank you for your trouble, young brother. Wen Dong, take this young brother back!"
The boy waved his hand, "No way! I can't stand being carried around like a piece of merchandise anymore. Oh, by the way, you guys can go check the back window of the dorm, or the back door of the room!"
Judging from the deceased's appearance, he must have been dead for over an hour. It was dark then, and if the murderer were just an ordinary person, they might have left some evidence in the rush!
"Thank you, young man!"
Following the boy's suggestion, Qinghong and Wendong began their search with lanterns.
When Qiaolian returned, the two of them were handing a small piece of mouse-back gray jacquard satin to Gu Songhan.
The grayish-brown fabric was typically worn by women. However, in the Changping Marquis's residence, only servants wore this color.
It was made of brocade, but it wasn't something ordinary servants could wear!
"Investigate who in the household possesses the grey jacquard satin fabric with a rat-back pattern!"
Qiaolian turned around and went to investigate the matter again!
Three clapper sounds came from outside.
It's already past midnight.
Li Changshan looked at Gu Songhan, whose right shoulder was stained red, and stepped forward to whisper, "You should go back. We'll take care of things here! You're injured, and you still have to go to court after dawn. Even an iron body can't withstand that!"
Gu Songhan simply said, "It's alright. I won't be able to sleep anyway if I go back, so I might as well stay here and keep watch over her. That way, I'll feel more at ease!"
Knowing he couldn't persuade Gu Songhan, Li Changshan gave up and turned to look at Jiang Segu sitting in the rose chair. "Now that we know the cause of death, I'm afraid we should still have someone prepare the remains of Third Master Jiang and Third Madam Jiang, so that they can leave in a dignified manner!"
"That's not urgent. Right now, we need to find the murderer first. Everything else is meaningless!"
Seeing Jiang Segu seemingly lost in thought again, Gu Songhan felt worried and said to Wen Dong behind him, "Go and invite Aunt Lan here!"
"yes!"
When Aunt Lan arrived, it was still dark.
On her way here, she had already heard the reason from Wen Dong. While sighing in her heart, she was also sorting through the myriad of information in her mind.
But just as she entered Lanyue Courtyard, Qiaolian returned carrying a stack of notebooks.
"Reporting to Miss, the only ones in the manor who have this gray jacquard satin fabric are the Marquis and the Old Madam. The Marquis's piece was given to Steward Lin, and the Old Madam's piece is still in the storeroom."
"Did you send someone to find Manager Lin?"
"I've already sent someone!"
Soon, Manager Lin came over. When he heard that the question was about the fabric, he honestly confessed, "My wife made all that fabric into clothes for us!"
Before Jiang Segu could ask any questions, Qiaolian said, "Mama Lin is the eldest young lady's attendant!"
"Go and call her over, and have your men thoroughly search her house!"
Soon after, Lin's mother arrived.
Jiang Chuhui also came along.
"I saw that things were getting a bit out of hand, so I came to see what was going on! I wonder why Sixth Sister sent someone to invite Mother Lin over?"
"I have already explained to the eldest young lady that something is missing from Third Madam's room, and we are investigating the thief! Because of the eldest young lady's obstruction, I was unable to search Mama Lin's room!"
Qiaolian replied with her head lowered and eyes downcast.
Jiang Segu's eyes turned gray as she looked at Jiang Chuhui. "What do you mean by this, elder sister?"
"After all, she is my mother, how can I allow anyone to search her at will! Besides, Lin Mama is going to enter the palace with me, and the two matrons have already seen this list. Now that Sixth Sister is like this, I naturally have to come and ask her the reason myself!"
"Qiaolian didn't explain the reason very clearly!"
"Sixth Sister should know that I am not someone who is easily fooled!"
"I didn't want to upset you, but since you insist, please come with me!"
Jiang Segu led Jiang Chuhui to Grandma Jiang's bedroom.
Looking at the bloodless Grandma Jiang on the bed and Grandpa Jiang lying in a pool of blood, Jiang Chuhui's face instantly lost all color.
"There is evidence pointing to Lin's mother. May I ask, elder sister, are you still going to stop me?"
But Jiang Chuhui seemed not to hear her!
She stared blankly at her third aunt, who had been all smiles and laughter at her just two days ago, and mumbled, "She lied to me!"
"Big sister, what did you say? Who lied to you!"
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