Chapter 35 Black Mud "The truth of tonight's events has finally been revealed, and...
In a blink of an eye, Yan Siqing was unwilling to be the playboy who wronged others and made his grandson a traitor who violated the law.
"I previously asked the two thieves if they hid the jade pendant along the path along the left wall of the backyard. They admitted that, to conceal the jade pendant's presence, they carefully scooped up the lotus leaves from the jar, placed the jade pendant lower, and then returned it to the lotus leaves. Later, after their confession and identification, the jar was found. Everyone can testify that the lotus leaves were intact, undamaged. Only the moss marks on the rim from the body's placement were scratched, but the jade pendant was missing. Therefore, if the two thieves hadn't committed murder, and if they had passed by the path with the jade pendant, the real culprit would have been nearby, at least witnessing them hiding the pendant. Then, simply placing Young Master Jiang's body in the jar would have been enough to complete the murder, frame him, and steal the treasure."
"The lotus bowl is a witness, and also a witness to the hearts of people on both sides."
"But Chen Shuang and his partner are, after all, top-tier thieves. If their secrets were discovered by this murderer, it's just an unfortunate coincidence. Given their skill and insight, ordinary people would have difficulty concealing their presence and would have been discovered and perhaps even killed to silence them."
"So, I guess the murderer must have been in a perfect hiding position at the time."
"If you count the land along the path on the left side of the backyard, I'm afraid the only thing left is the wine cellar next to the backyard with those large vats that have not been used for a long time."
"There's dust everywhere inside. If there are shoe prints, we can just take a copy and compare them."
"Mr. Qiu, there's no need to look at me like that. It's not that I'm suspicious of you for no reason, but because you're not very tall, it's quite obvious."
There is a certain pattern in the height and foot length of ordinary people. Unless it is unusual, they are mostly the same.
Short people generally have short feet, and there are differences between men and women.
This was what she learned from her uncle's numerous experience in handling cases, so there was no need to verify the identity of the person in person. If the two scholars had been identified as suspects, she would walk from the backyard to the eaves, and after questioning Chen Shuang and the others in front of Fu Yi, she would directly push open the abandoned small door. In the dust, she could see the wine bottles and jars piled up inside, as well as the shoe prints behind the slightly cracked window.
Luo Gao touched his head and listened attentively like Liao Qing and the others. He was speechless for a long time. The innkeeper's eyes were also flashing, and he kept making small unconscious movements.
He was a little panicked because he was scared.
This Ninth Young Master is so powerful, can he see through other things?
Fu Yi and Chen Shuang suddenly realized at this moment: No wonder the Ninth Young Master asked those questions and then asked his men to take them away, while she was still under the eaves. At that time, she thought that the Young Master simply did not trust them. Not only did they think that Chen Shuang and the other two were still suspects, they even thought that Fu Yi might be the murderer.
Actually it is not.
I'm afraid the murderer had already been identified at that time.
Now it depends on whether the person involved pleads guilty.
However, Liu Wuzheng, who almost became a scapegoat, was stunned for the second time, staring at Yan Siqing with a complicated look.
"Liu Wuzheng is obviously the more suspicious one! Don't you doubt him at all?" Qiu Moyu tried to argue.
Jiang Hui glanced at her.
Yan Siqing had already made up the story, "Looking inside the wine cellar, there's still some old, stale wine. Two jars were recently removed, and there are fresh marks of round bottoms on the shelves. I think your going to that abandoned wine cellar wasn't an accident. Perhaps you were planning to kill someone first—if Chen Shuang and the other two hadn't caught up with the jade pendant incident, Liu Juzi would have been the one to take the blame."
"So the reason the wine in Liu Juzi's room was intact was because you replaced the wine he had finished with old wine from the abandoned wine cellar. Before he died of drunkenness, you sneaked into his room and made these arrangements."
"The wine in his room is a suspicion on him, but it can also clear him of suspicion."
"With two parties guaranteeing your crimes, you'll definitely get away with it, and you'll also be rewarded with treasures worth three thousand taels of gold. This is truly a brilliant plan, well worth your continued ingenuity."
Qiu Moyu was stunned, as if he had lost his parents. He opened his lips several times, as if he was making up words to protest his injustice, but also calmly reminding himself not to say any more words and make any more mistakes.
In the end, he could only utter one sentence: "Besides the matching shoe prints, there is no other evidence? For such a murder, the evidence is so weak, right? There is absolutely no way I will confess. Besides, I have no motive at all."
Liu Wuzheng suddenly spoke up, "You are. You're jealous of Brother Jiang's background, future prospects, and even his achievements, which are superior to ours. I feel the same way, not just you. I used to think jealousy was human nature, and it was fine given the principles and rules taught by the saints. But Brother Jiang, in order to allow you to study and take exams with peace of mind, has spent over three hundred taels over the years to clear the hole in your gambling father's pocket. That's a huge favor, like a huge vengeance."
Qiu Moyu's expression suddenly twisted, and he sneered: "Wu Zheng, you are just trying to find a pretext to accuse me!"
Liu Wuzheng frowned, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
Qiu Moyu wanted to say something, but the scabbard on his neck turned and the coldness stuck to his tendons and veins.
He suddenly became quiet.
Jiang Hui said nothing, but he looked like a demon.
Yan Siqing glanced at the sky outside and pressed his finger between his eyebrows. "The wine in Liu Juzi's room has a tainted smell, which can be identified. This is related evidence. If you want more detailed evidence, why not reflect on yourself - where did you hide the jade pendant after you got it?"
"You're not stupid. You know your room will be searched sooner or later, and all your belongings will be turned over. But the post station is someone else's territory, and you're busy with everything from killing people to disposing of bodies and framing others. You don't have much time to find a trustworthy source, right? If I were you, the most trustworthy and convenient thing at the time would be the horses you rode when you traveled around the world."
——————
After a while, everyone who moved to the stable saw everything with their own eyes - Luo Gao rummaged under the saddle of one of the three horses ridden by the three scholars, and found a jade pendant wrapped in cotton cloth in the space stuffed with soft objects.
The jade pendant is so warm and luxurious, and it also reveals the natural agility and sense of fate of red beans.
It can be called a natural treasure and a master's technique.
Everyone was slightly shocked by the beauty of the two jade pendants matching each other, and couldn't help but look at Qiu Moyu's expressionless face.
He didn't want to talk at all, and no one thought he could make any argument. Luo Gao admired Yan Siqing very much.
"Too powerful, too powerful! Ninth Young Master, you really are like a person with a divine eye. No conspiracy or evil scheme in the world can hide in front of you. You can see through it all!"
Yan Siqing glanced at him, neither modest nor arrogant, but calm and even with a touch of good temper. She said, "When the jade pendant was stolen, we checked the stables. The focus was on the horse that Chen Shuang and the other man had deliberately disturbed to attract the attention of the great escort Luo. In reality, it was the former who had thrown a stone and hit the horse. This wouldn't have been a big deal, but I found it a little strange at the time. All the horses were basically tied to the stables by the waiters at the post station. As soon as the guests arrived at the inn, they would entrust their horses to go out and eat or do business. All the horses were tied the same way, except for one."
Everyone turned to look at Qiu Moyu's horse.
Qiu Moyu suddenly looked over. He was just wondering how he got into trouble. Now he looked at the reins tied to the trough post...
"When Luo Gao and the other two were fussing over the stolen jade pendant, the stable was empty; they had already gone to pack their clothes. You came here alone to hide the jade pendant, and you needed to loosen the saddle to put it inside. This would have easily spooked the horse, so you untied the rope to calm it, and then tied it again using your own knot method."
So, after she confirmed the man's suspicion in the wine cellar, she went to the stable and even found the location of the jade pendant.
The real culprit was also completely identified.
Qiu Moyu racked his brains but could not think of any way to refute his self-evidence, unless he insisted that it was someone else who did it and framed him, but he also knew... if they really wanted to investigate the case and convict him, the current evidence was enough.
When it was quiet, there was a sudden commotion outside.
Luo Gao's eyes lit up, "The government officials are here!"
Liao Qing and others breathed a sigh of relief.
"The truth of tonight's events has been revealed, and the dust has settled."
Nothing comes true.
Outside the gate, in the dead of night, dust was flying and dozens of people on horses came in a chaotic manner.
"Liu Guangyu, the head constable of the Zhanglin County government, has been called in to investigate a case reported by the Tianluo Escort Company. All those involved are to..."
Liu Guangyu was a man in his prime, full of vigor and vigor, quite upright and efficient in his work. As an official, he brought a large number of people with him when he took the case. During the conversation, he learned that Luo Gao was willing to spend a lot of money because the jade pendant was related to his own future and the future of the escort company. The escort who went to report the case brought several large silver bills with him.
The banknotes went there but never came back, but a large number of constables from the yamen came.
The jade pendant was recovered, the thief apprehended, and the truth finally revealed. Luo Gao was in high spirits, but he didn't dare boast too much. Jiang Lingxin's death was a complete accident, and the consequences behind it were a real headache for even Liu Guangyu, who arrived and learned of the situation. They all felt that the theft of the jade pendant would be dealt with secondarily. The murder case had to be sorted out first and established as a solid case. Qiu Moyu was, after all, a scholar, not an ordinary citizen. The judicial process was unusual, and he couldn't be easily sentenced. He probably knew his advantages, and with a cunning and unwilling nature, he refused to admit his guilt in front of Liu Guangyu. Luo Gao and the others were furious, and they didn't even need Yan Siqing to repeat the previous investigation process with Jiang Hui. They explained everything in a few words.
Liu Guangyu glared at Qiu Moyu angrily. "Even after all this, you still refuse to admit it? You have no sense of shame. I really don't know what sage's book you've read. I'll review everything, collect all the information, and follow the proper procedures before taking you back to the county government office. Then you'll understand the strictness of the law!"
He had no intention of letting Qiu Moyu go, but he also mentioned that all the evidence and procedures for handling the case had to be complete. It was impossible to settle the case based on the previous investigation process of this unidentified outsider who was not an official and had no authority to handle the case.
After all, these officials were not present before.
This was as it should be, and Yan Siqing and the others had nothing to say, but fortunately Liu Guangyu was not arrogant. He seemed to see that they had extraordinary backgrounds, so he did not pester Yan Siqing and the others to go through the process again.
"Young Master Jiu is young and impressive, a man of leisurely temperament. Even when faced with this incident, he still took the trouble to help with the investigation. This is truly a benevolent act. Now that everything is clear, we, the government, will use your work to expedite matters and will not burden you any further."
Yan Siqing looked at the other person, nodded, and went upstairs. After passing the stairs, he glanced down and saw Luo Gao and others trying their best to cooperate with the officers.
Starting from the matter of the jade pendant, this man first began to explain the matter of the boxes, and proudly mentioned that he was making a feint to the east and attacking in the west... Liu Guangyu was impatient and asked him to move the boxes to check, and then get to the point.
The box was moved and found to be empty. There were no treasures at all. The treasure was the jade pendant. Liu Guangyu was indeed a responsible captain. Even though the real murderer was now exposed, he did not let go of any suspect. After looking at the jade pendant, he did not feel greedy and returned it. He also verified everything according to Yan Siqing's previous investigation. However, when he saw Jiang Lingxin's body, his expression was heavy and he sighed several times.
He probably knew that this task was not easy, and he didn't know how the Jiang family in Chang'an would intervene.
With so many people coming in and out, it was quite noisy.
Yan Siqing felt sleepy. He glanced at Ruozhao and the others, closed the door, walked to the window, and looked out through the slightly opened window at the courtyard gate which had been sealed for the second time by the servants instead of the bodyguards.
About an incense stick later, Liu Guangyu and his officers finished everything and left the post station with Luo Gao and other victims related to the case, as well as the suspects Chen Shuang and his wife, and Qiu Moyu.
The gate of the post station opened and closed again.
The dust and smoke rolled and gradually dissipated.
But this is the post station.
Jiang Hui mounted his horse and quietly left the post station with a group of powerful subordinates. The second wave of troops ambushed in the nearby woods also chased out, leaving only a few people including Ruozhao guarding the post station.
Of course, Yan Siqing was also quietly arranged to Room B3.
The female secret agent lowered her head. "Your Highness personally led the troops out. Are you certain that Liu Guangyu and the others are up to something? Are you going to track down the whereabouts of Lin An and the others behind them? Did he reveal any flaws? Madam, please forgive our ignorance for not being able to see the problem."
Yan Siqing sat on a chair, took an upside-down teacup and poured a glass of water, saying calmly, "The hooves of those officers' horses were covered in black mud."
Uh-huh....
The female assassin suddenly came to her senses and looked towards the mountains and forests north of the post station.
"If you're rushing from the county town overnight, the fastest way is to take the official road. The official road is full of vehicles and horses, and it's covered in yellow dust. And since there's no rain today, these horses really shouldn't be stained with black mud."
"But the northern forests are shady and dark, with lots of fallen leaves and humus. The soil is black and moist. Could they have arrived long ago and been hiding in the woods to spy on the situation?"
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