Chapter 200 The Beauty's Schemes (3) - Understanding the Case
Ning Shu casually flipped through her dressing table, took out a decent-looking silver hairpin, and gave it to the little maid.
Xia Ju was flattered and declined several times, but Ning Shu became impatient and said it was to thank her for helping to buy pineapple cakes earlier.
After everyone left, he began to look around his bedroom.
Well, the bedroom isn't big, but it has everything you need, so living here shouldn't be a problem.
However, there is one thing she cares about more—money.
How much money does she actually have?
This is crucial for the execution of her future missions; having money provides a greater sense of security.
Ning Shu began rummaging through her belongings and found a small wooden box at the bottom of a trunk. Upon opening it, she discovered two land deeds and several silver notes inside.
She didn't know where the land deed came from or how much it was worth, but the banknote clearly and explicitly stated the amount.
I calculated that there are more than a thousand taels of silver in total, but I'm not sure about their purchasing power. I'll find out later.
She took out a 100-tael note from her banknotes and put it on her person.
Thinking that it wasn't safe to put it in the brocade pouch, she folded the silver notes and stuffed them into the gap in her belt.
Ning Shu's belt was folded in half and wrapped around her waist, with the opening facing upwards, like a book with the spine facing downwards.
She tucked it into her belt like she would a banknote between the pages of a book, so it wouldn't easily get lost.
After doing all that, I checked the time again.
There was still a long time before dusk, so she quickly lay down on the bed to get some sleep, knowing she might be up very late that night.
After a good night's sleep, she felt hungry and asked someone to lead her to the kitchen. She specifically asked where she usually ate.
Xia Ju took her hairpin and said very tactfully, "Sister eats in the small kitchen just like us. It's a kitchen specially set up for the maids."
Ning Shu was hungry and asked when they usually ate. She felt a little regretful after realizing she had missed her mealtime.
It seems that although she received some preferential treatment in the Prince's mansion, it wasn't all-encompassing, which is quite in line with her status.
Ning Shu was curious: what did people in ancient times usually do if they didn't need to work?
"So what do I usually need to do?"
Xia Ju felt that Ruyi was acting particularly strange today, as if she knew nothing. She was still the same person, but her behavior was rather odd.
She was indebted to the Empress Dowager and answered truthfully: "My sister usually keeps the Empress Dowager company to relieve her boredom, such as reading to her, copying Buddhist scriptures with her, or going to worship Buddha."
Ning Shu didn't want to waste her time on such boring things and thought it would be better to go out of the manor to inquire about the mission.
"Are there any regulations in the manor regarding the number of times or the duration of time a maid can leave the manor in a day?"
She didn't want to break the rules as soon as she arrived.
Xia Ju thought that the "time" Ning Shu mentioned must mean the hour, and after thinking for a moment, she said:
"Yes, but the Dowager Consort is quite lenient with my sister. As long as it doesn't exceed the time stipulated by the mansion for locking the gate, there's no problem."
"When should we lock the gate?" Ning Shu followed local customs.
"Hai hour".
Ning Shu quickly checked the corresponding time, and it actually meant before 9 PM? That's way too early!
What if she can't find anyone and leaves work on time? Wouldn't she miss her chance to go home?
Xia Ju felt it necessary to remind her sister Ruyi, who wasn't quite clear-headed: "Sister Ruyi, if you go out at night, remember to come back before curfew." [1]
What is a curfew?
Seeing Ning Shu's puzzled look, Xia Ju continued:
"A curfew begins at 9 PM, and anyone still wandering outside will be arrested as a spy and imprisoned."
Generally, after this time, those who are outside are all officers and soldiers.
Ning Shu had no concept of this; he just knew that such a thing existed.
It means that you must be back at the mansion before 9 p.m., which is the same time as the closing of the gate.
This dungeon has so many restrictions, Ning Shu is having a heart attack.
After asking the question, Ning Shu took out two silver coins and stuffed them into Xia Ju's hand, instructing, "I'm going out to take care of some business. If the Empress Dowager is looking for me, just look for me at the entrance of the Dali Temple."
Xia Ju nodded after listening. She really felt that Sister Ruyi was acting very strangely today. She was usually stingy, but today she was giving her a silver hairpin and silver.
After giving his instructions, Ning Shu left the mansion and headed straight for the Dali Temple.
Fortunately, Dali Temple is not too far from Prince Rui's Mansion, about a half-hour walk.
She got smarter and rented an oxcart on the street, having the driver take her there.
When she arrived at Dali Temple, she looked around and found a small shop to sit in. She asked the waiter to bring her some food, since she hadn't eaten yet.
She thought she could inquire about the NPC Yin Xinyue, but she didn't know if the other NPCs knew anything about her.
While the waiter was serving her food, Ning Shu asked, "Young man, have you heard of Yin Xinyue?"
The waiter became excited upon hearing the name: "Is there anyone in the capital who hasn't heard of her? She killed her uncle's entire family; she's incredibly ruthless."
Kill the whole family? That's ruthless.
Ning Shu was curious, so she asked about the specifics.
After the waiter's vivid narration, Ning Shu summarized the general situation of Yin Xinyue's case.
Yin Xinyue was not from the capital. For some unknown reason, she left her hometown to seek refuge with her uncle in the capital.
On the day she arrived at her uncle's house, her uncle's entire family was poisoned to death.
Her uncle's entire family of six died, but she was unharmed. When the constables came to arrest her, she was still at her uncle's house.
She was still searching her uncle's family members when she was spotted by the bailiffs who burst through the door and were arrested.
Yin Xinyue insisted that she was innocent and that she did not know why her uncle's family died.
However, the Ministry of Justice concluded that she was the murderer, and after the conviction, the case was transferred to the Court of Judicial Review for review.
All the evidence now points to her as the murderer, but Magistrate Cui of Dali believes there is something fishy about the case and is reviewing it.
"Why did Yin Xinyue kill her uncle's family?" Ning Shu asked curiously.
The waiter said he didn't know.
"How did those constables know that something had happened at her uncle's house? Weren't they supposed to break down the door?"
The waiter said he didn't know.
Well, as expected, he's just a random NPC, only able to provide a little bit of information, and we don't know anything more.
Ning Shu didn't force him, and while eating, she thought about what to do next.
Judging from the situation, character A may have already fallen in love with Yin Xinyue, so he believes she is innocent and wants to overturn her case?
This logic doesn't seem quite right. She seems to have missed some crucial information, so she quickly went to ask the waiter from earlier.
"Young man, when did Yin Xinyue commit the crime?"
Ten days ago.
In such a short time, Cui Zeyu fell in love with her?
Isn't this... a bit too fast?
Who knows, maybe it was love at first sight.
Ning Shu analyzed that if they were to become a couple, they would definitely have to be brought together, but it would be too difficult to match an official with a prisoner.
The best way is to help Cui Zeyu find out the truth for Yin Xinyue so that they can get rid of her prisoner status.
Therefore, her task is to investigate the case!
Ning Shu understood.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
