Chapter 041 Traitor 41
When they came here, they had already attracted a lot of attention from local people. After all, this was just a small county town, not a particularly prosperous city. Even refugees from outside were not common, not to mention that they were a group of bodyguards who looked well-trained and very experienced.
It's like everyone in the village is familiar with each other. Whenever a dog passes by the village entrance, people will talk about whether it is male or female, let alone so many people like them?
So when they entered the county town, there were already people following them who had nothing to do and wanted to watch the fun.
When they arrived at the county government office, there were even more people watching, especially after Mr. Fang and the escort explained the situation to the government officials. The news of a murder and suspected homicide spread almost throughout the entire county, and even the surrounding villages had heard of it.
If it were an ordinary case, this might affect the investigation of the case, but their case is different because it did not happen in the county town, so there is no such thing as it being affected.
The county magistrate came back very quickly. As soon as he heard about the case, he rushed back without stopping, leaving only a few yamen runners to continue working.
The county magistrate was a thin, well-proportioned man with the air of a scholar. His face was finely wrinkled, with a few gray hairs streaking at his temples. His complexion was sallow, and even his hands were calloused. He was the least like a county magistrate Xiao Yan had ever met.
Even though the county magistrates there often visited the countryside to understand the people's sentiments, they were not so... experienced. After all, most county magistrates sat in the county government office, and even if they went to the countryside, they would not just go through the motions and would not do anything in person.
Before the county magistrate came, he had already heard of his deeds.
I heard that this county magistrate was a Jinshi in the Yuan and Ming dynasties, and later was sent to serve as an official in other places. He served as the county magistrate here for twenty years. It is said that this county magistrate is very popular and supported by the local people. He is not arrogant at all. If anyone has any difficulties, as long as they don't have any crazy dreams of getting rich overnight, they can find a solution to their problems by going to him.
When talking about the county magistrate, the yamen runner's face was full of pride and it seemed like it was a great honor for him to be a yamen runner in the county government. This was different from the yamen runners and common people in other places.
The saying "People should not fight officials" has been around since ancient times, and it speaks volumes. Whether officials or yamen runners, most people would be in awe of them, but this was different.
Along the way, the local people looked at them warmly, and they were not wary of them like the people in other towns.
From the interactions between the common people and the yamen runners, it can be seen that the yamen runners do not have that kind of condescending official airs at all. Rather than being in awe of the yamen runners, the common people admire them more. The way they look at them is full of admiration, as if the yamen runners have done a lot of favors for them.
However, just as Xiao Yan believed, if an elderly or lonely person in a family needed to repair their house, these yamen runners would be very enthusiastic to help, and the people would usually give them fruits and vegetables in return.
This place is so simple and unpretentious that it seems like a paradise. Of course, there are all kinds of strange things, quarrels and small conflicts, and even ridiculous things, but they are only a minority. In most cases, it is very simple and warm.
Even the local wealthy businessmen were giving alms and doing good deeds in the town. They did not look down on ordinary people because of their wealth. They were even very friendly and discussed with the people which ponds had more fish.
This is very rare in the current era of supreme imperial power and even power struggles, which is enough to show that the county magistrate is extremely capable.
The county magistrate looked at the sky, which was just before noon. "Why don't you all find a place to stay first? This matter will take some time."
The escort frowned, "Sir, we are not in a hurry, but these two young masters are anxious to go to the capital to take the imperial examination. Can you please be flexible?"
If it were an ordinary county magistrate, he would not dare to say this, after all, it would easily offend people, but this county magistrate seemed very easy to talk to, and he wondered if he could be flexible.
Xiao Yan bowed to the county magistrate and said, "I am humble and humble, but I am honored to meet you, Your Excellency."
The county magistrate looked calm and made no promises. Instead, he said, "This case is full of doubts. Those involved are not allowed to leave until the facts are fully clarified."
He paused, then added, "Please rest assured, everyone. I will find out the truth as soon as possible."
Although everyone felt a little disappointed, fortunately the county magistrate had already made his attitude clear, so they felt a little relieved.
Even though they were anxious, it would take time to investigate the case, so they could only temporarily stay in the homes of the townspeople.
The county magistrate was very efficient. He started investigating the case right after finishing his meal.
To determine whether it was an accident or a deliberate act, the body, the crime scene, and even the confession were crucial. The coroner had already begun examining the body, and the yamen runners, led by the escort, were heading to the crime scene. Xiao Yan and the others were being interrogated separately.
"What is your relationship with Fang Yuchang?"
"We are both candidates for the imperial examination in Beijing. We do not know each other and have never spoken a word to each other. We just happen to be escorts from the same escort agency."
"Why did you hide your identity as a juren?"
Xiao Yan naturally knew this question would come up, and he didn't hide it. "When you're out and about, being too conspicuous isn't a good thing, so my younger brother and I are hiding our identities. The escorts are also aware of this; they've escorted us several times, and they've always done the same thing."
"Fang Shixing has repeatedly verbally offended you two brothers. Are you dissatisfied?"
Fang Yuchang is Young Master Fang, so Fang Shixing should be Master Fang.
Xiao Yan admitted directly, "I have indeed been dissatisfied with him for a long time. Or rather, in the entire team, except for the Fang family's servants who are unclear about their attitude, and the Fang family members themselves who certainly don't feel the same way, everyone is dissatisfied with the Fang family. This can be basically known by asking. After all, even clay figures have tempers, let alone us who are still mentally intact. A mere verbal dispute is not enough for me to kill Fang Yuchang, and there is no need."
"In terms of family background, although my family's wealth is not as good as the Fang family's, my family is not short of money. In terms of talent and learning, I am the local champion, and my brother is the runner-up. Why would I be jealous of someone who is not as talented as us, and whose future prospects are not as good as ours?"
"Besides, my brother and I have bright futures ahead of us. It's not worth it to be involved in a murder lawsuit for someone we may never see again."
The yamen runner had obviously asked other people and knew about Xiao Yan's situation. He was just asking as a routine question, trying to find any clues that might help with the case, so he asked this question.
"I heard that Fang Yuchang had beaten and scolded Fang Qinshi many times. Did you see it with your own eyes?"
Xiao Yan's eyes flickered. "I've seen it several times myself. It was always because the food was too cold, or because it didn't suit their appetite, or because they were beaten or scolded under other pretexts. It's become commonplace."
"When we first saw him, we tried to stop him, but Fang Yuchang only got worse. They say it's hard for a judge to judge family affairs, let alone outsiders like us. So every time we could only watch helplessly, there was nothing we could do."
"I heard that you thought about helping Fang Qin escape?" The bailiff finally asked the key question.
As the most likely suspect in the murder of Fang Yuchang, Fang Qinshi would naturally be listed as the key person for interrogation.
Xiao Yan knew this and it was inevitable that he would not be able to conceal it. In other words, apart from the Fang family and their servants, almost all the escorts were involved in this matter. With so many people involved, how could it be concealed?
"It is true. You may not know this, but where I live, the imperial court has recently issued a document vigorously promoting embroidery. Workshops are everywhere, and anyone with quick hands and decent character can find a job."
"So after seeing the beatings at the hands of the Fang family, I felt compassion and wanted to help Fang Qinshi leave the Fang family so she could have a way out."
He sighed softly and said, "Perhaps everyone has their own aspirations, or perhaps Fang Qinshi still has her own flesh and blood and can't bear to part with them, so in the end Fang Qinshi declined the offer of help. Of course, this is just my personal speculation and has no real evidence."
Xiao Yan's remarks were similar to those of the others. After the questioning, all that was left was to wait.
After Xiao Yan and Xiao Chen were questioned, Fang Qinshi was still inside, her son temporarily in the custody of the escorts. As for Fang Qinshi, even Master Fang, Madam Fang, and the Fang family's servants, due to their status, they had not yet come out.
Xiao Yan looked at Fang Heming, the young master of the Fang family, who was only seven years old, yet had an indescribable gloom. He lowered his head and wondered what he was thinking. Suddenly, a vague thought flashed through his mind - could it be that this seven-year-old Fang Heming had killed his biological father?
This thought came out of nowhere, but there was a strange trace of it.
In today's world, a seven-year-old child may only be in the first or second grade of elementary school, but in today's society, a boy becomes the head of the family at the age of fifteen. A seven-year-old is neither too young nor too old, but he can still help with some simple chores at home.
It has always been the case that children are precocious. Combined with the fact that Xiao Yan once saw him looking at Fang Yuchang with resentment, and his private filial piety towards Fang Qin, it is possible that he really had a motive to kill!
First, he might have done it to protect his biological mother! Second, he hated Fang Yuchang for various reasons!
If it was homicide, this would also explain why Fang Qinshi did not defend herself when Mr. Fang and Mrs. Fang piled the charges on her!
Because she knew that her son was the murderer of Fang Yuchang, in order to protect her son, she did not choose to excuse herself!
But how does such a young child plan?
If the possibility of homicide is true, then Fang Yuchang must have something on him that can attract poisonous snakes! And Fang Heming is the "root" of the Fang family, and he is so young. If he wants to go out to buy something that can attract poisonous snakes, he must be accompanied by servants!
There are two possibilities. One is that Fang Heming successfully avoided the eyes of his servants and bought this thing himself. The second possibility is that he has an accomplice!
Furthermore, if this hypothesis was correct, how could Fang Heming be so sure that it would attract venomous snakes? After all, it was January, and snakes were still hibernating. How could he be sure there were snakes there? Or that the snakes that came were definitely venomous, not non-venomous?
Xiao Yan believed that it was more likely that Fang Heming had an accomplice, because things that could attract poisonous snakes were mostly some kind of herbs, and he was just a child, so the owner of the pharmacy would not easily sell these things to him.
Even that extremely poisonous snake might have been bought by Fang Heming's accomplice!
Of course, this is just his guess at the moment, and there is no evidence to prove that Fang Heming is the murderer behind Fang Yuchang.
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