Chapter 95 Thinking of the Moon
When Ming Huashang appeared, everyone was stunned. Ming Huazhang was the first to react. He immediately walked in front of Ming Huashang, glared at her secretly, and stopped her without saying a word: "My sister is naughty. I am sorry to make the Duke and Jingzhao Yin laugh at me."
Duke Cheng frowned, looking unhappy. Who dared to provoke him now? Jingzhao Yin looked him up and down, asking, "Who is this?"
"This is..."
"I am the younger sister of Ming Shaoyin, the second lady of the Duke of Zhenguo." Ming Huashang rushed in front of Ming Huazhang, raised her voice to suppress his words, "I came to deliver food to my second brother, and accidentally ran into Jingzhao Yin solving a case. I didn't mean to disturb the government. But after hearing about what happened to Mrs. Cheng, I felt very uncomfortable. I knew her once, and I really couldn't bear to see her go away in such an unclear way. Duke Cheng, if you really care about her, would you have the heart to let her become a topic of conversation on the streets, and even be criticized after she is buried in the future? It is better to destroy before you build, find out everything, catch the murderer, and give Mrs. Cheng justice."
Previously, Jingzhao Yin had used personal connections, Ming Huachang had explained the situation to him, but Duke Cheng was unmoved. The dead were not their relatives, so they certainly had no worries when they stood and talked, but after Ming Huachang finished speaking, Duke Cheng fell silent.
When he heard the news, he rushed to pick up his granddaughter without even having time to eat. However, along the way, Duke Cheng still heard a lot of rumors. Some said that Sanniang eloped with someone, but the other party changed his mind and did not show up, so she was killed. Some said that she came to Tongjifang to have an affair. In a short time, even her "adulterer" was made up with details.
It was already a great sorrow for an old man to send off his young son, so how could Duke Cheng tolerate his granddaughter, whom he had doted on since childhood, being told such things? So he was very tough and did not allow anyone from Jingzhao Prefecture to disturb her peace. However, the young lady's words hit the mark and touched Duke Cheng's pain point.
He could issue a gag order to the people in the mansion, and put pressure on Jingzhao Prefecture and Jinwu Guard, but could he control the gossips in the streets? If this matter was not investigated thoroughly, Sanniang would always be accused of eloping or even adultery. How would the elders feel about this? And how would her younger sisters deal with it?
Ming Huashang saw that Duke Cheng was wavering, so she struck while the iron was hot and said, "Duke Cheng, don't worry, I can go to see Sanniang on behalf of the coroner. I will do whatever the coroner wants to see, and then pass the message to them. It will not affect Sanniang's reputation. If you are worried, you can send a servant to follow me, and I will never say no."
This seemed to be the best solution. Duke Cheng sighed and said solemnly, "Okay, I will trust you again for now. If the murderer still cannot be found..."
Without waiting for Jingzhao Yin to try to smooth things over, Ming Huazhang took the initiative to step forward and bowed to Duke Cheng: "This is my duty, and I will do my best. If the murderer is still not found, I will leave it to Duke Cheng and Your Majesty to decide."
Duke Cheng said nothing, but finally acquiesced. Ming Huazhang took Ming Huashang to Duke Cheng's mansion. It would be unacceptable for Jingzhao Yin to be a hands-off manager in such a serious case as the murder of the Duke's granddaughter, so he also went to the Duke's mansion.
In the mansion of Duke Cheng, the women were immersed in the bad news, and there were cries everywhere. When Lady Cheng saw a group of people in official uniforms coming, she looked alert. Jingzhao Yin was full of official rhetoric and stayed out of the matter. Ming Huazhang could only step forward and take the initiative to salute Lady Cheng: "I am Ming Huazhang, Junior Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture, and I pay my respects to Madam Cheng. We deeply sympathize with Madam Cheng's death, but her murderer has not been caught yet, and any woman in Chang'an could be the next victim. I hope Madam will cooperate and allow us to examine your daughter's body. To show respect, I will let my sister do it, and Madam can also send someone to watch."
Ming Huashang heard this and stepped out from behind Ming Huazhang, crossed her arms and said to Lady Chengguo in a very proper manner: "Madam, Madam, please accept my condolences. I, Ming Huashang, have met Lady Cheng several times before. I would like to send Lady Cheng off to seek justice for her and restore her reputation after her death."
When Lady Cheng saw the Duke was there, she knew that Duke Cheng had agreed. Her face was solemn, and she could not tell what she was thinking. She said, "Since you are Sanniang's friend, please come in and see her off. But Sanniang has not been buried yet, so I hope you will leave."
Ming Huazhang bowed and said, "Of course."
After saying that, Ming Huazhang led a group of officials from Jingzhao Prefecture out of the house and closed the doors and windows. Only the women were left in the hall. Since they were all women, they didn't have to be so cautious when talking. Ming Huachang asked, "Madam, can I see Sanniang?"
The Duke's wife sighed and said, "She's in there, from the old house, take her to see it."
A pale lady who almost fainted from crying came forward. Ming Huashang recognized that this was the wife of the prince of Chengguogong, and Cheng Siyue's mother. Ming Huashang hurriedly supported the prince's wife and walked into the inner room.
In the middle of the room stood a wooden board covered with a white cloth. Ming Huashang sighed, and after paying respects to Cheng Siyue, she asked, "Madam, after you brought the third lady back, did you wash her or change her clothes?"
The Crown Prince's wife sobbed and shook her head: "Not yet."
Ming Huashang heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the female relatives were still in grief and had not wiped Cheng Siyue's body. After obtaining the consent of the Crown Prince's wife, Ming Huashang stepped forward and undressed Cheng Siyue.
When she had just convinced Jingzhao Yin and Chengguo Gong, she said that the coroner would give remote instructions and she would do the work. In fact, Ming Huashang herself had learned some basic knowledge of autopsies, and as long as she didn't need to perform an operation, she had enough reserves. After she undressed, she couldn't help but take a breath of cool air.
Cheng Siyue's skin was covered in bruises and purples, and there was hardly any good flesh on her chest and back, and her legs were even more horrible. The wife of the prince could not bear it and turned her head away, sobbing. Ming Huashang felt uncomfortable listening to the crying, but she still held back and continued to examine Cheng Siyue's body.
There were no obvious external injuries on her body, but there were deep bloody marks on her wrists, and the wounds were stained with tiny hemp rope fragments, as if she had been tied up with ropes. Ming Huashang carefully picked out the fragments and put them in the evidence box. Ming Huashang opened Cheng Siyue's eyes and lips and noticed that there were punctate hemorrhages on her eyes.
Was it death from suffocation? Ming Huashang turned over her fingers and uttered a soft "hmm".
There were cyanotic marks on her fingernails, consistent with asphyxiation, but more importantly, the middle finger on her right hand was missing.
Ming Huashang hurriedly asked the Crown Prince's wife: "Madam, are Sanniang's hands normal?"
"Of course." The Crown Prince's wife said, "Her fingers are very beautiful, thin and long. She usually takes good care of her hands."
Was the finger broken accidentally or was it done by the murderer? Ming Huachang took a closer look and noticed that the cut on the broken finger was very clean, the tendons were cut, and the joints were neatly separated.
The joint was handled so cleanly, which meant that the murderer had taken it away on purpose. Ming Huashang suddenly thought of the neatly removed tibia in the Huang Caiwei case.
But why fingers? Why is the middle finger among fingers?
After a careful examination, Ming Huashang carefully helped Cheng Siyue put on her clothes. She went out to report the results to the coroner. In front of Duke Cheng and Ming Huazhang, the coroner did not dare to direct Ming Huashang. In fact, there was nothing to add. The coroner thanked her, "Mrs. Ming, you have examined very carefully. Nothing is missing. Thank you for your hard work."
"It's what I should do," Ming Huashang said. "This murderer is brutal and inhumane. Catching him is to rid the people of harm. I should do my part."
Ming Huazhang said, "After we return home, I will let my sister dictate the information and I will personally write the autopsy documents. Please rest assured, Jingzhao Yin and Cheng Guogong. I wonder if you can ask Cheng Guogong to be flexible and ask someone around Sanniang to come over for questioning?"
The body had been examined, and there was no reason to refuse the interrogation, so Duke Cheng waved his hand and agreed. After all, Duke Cheng was old, and after a whole morning of hard work, his face showed obvious fatigue. Seeing this, everyone asked Duke Cheng to take a break. Jingzhao Yin accompanied Duke Cheng to the study, leaving the hard and trivial errands of interrogation to Ming Huazhang.
Ming Huazhang did not show any resentment or anger on his face. He was calm and composed. He first divided the yamen runners into groups, and then assigned different tasks according to their abilities. The time, location, and content were clearly explained in an orderly manner. The officials took orders and left one by one. Finally, Ming Huachang came up and asked expectantly, "Second brother, what about me?"
Ming Huazhang glanced at her calmly and said, "I want you to go home, what do you think?"
Ming Huashang blinked, staring at him with her big eyes, without saying anything. Ming Huazhang sighed helplessly: "Okay, you stay here and talk to Madam Cheng. There's no need to deliberately ask about anything, just follow your heart and comfort them."
Ming Huashang agreed and said sincerely, "Second brother, you really know how to appoint people to the right positions."
Ming Huazhang glanced at her coldly: "There's no one here, so don't flatter me."
Ming Huashang pouted and snorted softly: "They are obviously praising you sincerely, but they don't know how to be kind."
Jingzhao Prefecture was investigating a case, but Ming Huashang followed along, which was very conspicuous and eye-catching in the eyes of outsiders. Ming Huashang always refused to come to deliver food to her brother, and happened to run into a murder case of someone she knew. She couldn't bear to see the lady of the Cheng family get hurt and wanted to share her brother's worries, so she followed to take a look.
The outside world has long known that the two of them are a perfect match, so it is understandable that they are inseparable. No one would make things difficult for a young lady like her. After Ming Huazhang told Zhaocai to stay with Ming Huashang, he went to do his own thing. Ming Huashang returned to the main hall and continued to talk with the wife of Duke Cheng and the wife of the Crown Prince.
The wife of Duke Chengguo went to the back hall to rest because she was exhausted. The wife of the Crown Prince had powder on her face, and it was obvious that she had just cried again. Ming Huashang had never seen her mother since she was born. When she saw the Crown Prince's wife, she couldn't help but wonder if her mother was the same?
After putting herself in his shoes, Ming Huashang felt even more sad. She said dryly that she was mourning, but she knew in her heart that no mother could mourn for her daughter's tragic death. She sat quietly with the prince's wife, and after she calmed down a little, Ming Huashang asked, "Madam, why did the third lady go out yesterday?"
Speaking of this, the wife of the prince was filled with hatred and anger, saying: "No one asked her to go out, she ran away on her own!"
Ming Huashang raised an eyebrow, very surprised: "Running away?"
"That's right." The wife of the Crown Prince said, "She used the excuse of learning calligraphy to drive all the maids out, and I don't know when she ran away. I didn't realize something was wrong until dinner that night. I interrogated the maids and found out that she had disappeared in the morning. I immediately asked people to look for her, and they stayed up all night, but the next day I heard that..."
The wife of the prince recalled her sorrow again and cried with her face covered. Ming Huashang sighed and asked, "What about the maid who served the third lady?"
"She's still kneeling in the courtyard." The wife of the prince gritted her teeth in anger, "If they hadn't failed to serve her well and kept the matter secret, how could Yue'er have gotten into trouble?"
Ming Huashang was not sure what to say. She paused and asked softly, "Madam, can you allow me to go and see them?"
Ming Huashang entered the courtyard where Cheng Siyue lived before her death. A row of maids were kneeling on the stone slabs. It was so cold, they had been kneeling outside for a whole day and night, shivering with cold, and some had even fainted.
The maids trembled even more when they saw someone coming in, thinking that the lady was going to sell them off. Ming Huashang sighed secretly and said, "Don't be nervous. I'm here to ask you questions on behalf of the Junior Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture."
Ming Huashang paced slowly in the room, carefully checking Cheng Siyue's utensils. A maid stood by the wall. She was swaying and could not stand steadily, but she saluted Ming Huashang tremblingly: "I pay my respects to you, my Lord."
Ming Huashang sighed, "You don't have to call me sir. I'm just asking casually. Did the Third Lady like to write here when she was alive?"
When the maid heard the word "before death", her face became miserable and she nodded, "Yes."
"Why did she send you out yesterday?"
The maidservant was equally confused: "I don't know. The Third Lady often practiced calligraphy behind closed doors before. I just thought it was just like usual and didn't know she would slip away. If I knew the Third Lady was going out, I would never have dared to hide it from Madam."
Ming Huashang had done similar things before, and she knew that as long as the person was willing, the maids would not be able to stop her even if they had three heads and six arms. Ming Huashang asked, "Do you know why she left?"
The maid shook her head, obviously afraid that Ming Huashang would get angry, and her eyes were timid and helpless. Ming Huashang changed the question and asked, "Has she been different these days?"
"Strange?" The maid thought for a long time, then said hesitantly, "The day before yesterday, my lady went for a walk in the garden. After she came back, she was very happy and tried on clothes all night. If you were to talk about other things, it seems that there is nothing else."
Trying on clothes? Ming Huashang seemed to sense something and asked, "How old is the third lady this year? Is she engaged?"
"My wife is sixteen this year, and her marriage has not yet been decided."
"Does she have a man of her dreams?"
The maid looked embarrassed and said, "Mrs. Ming, our Third Mistress is the most gentle and obedient person. She will not marry someone secretly."
Ming Huashang knew that big families were very cautious about such matters, so she didn't insist on the topic any more and added, "I'm just asking casually. Does she have any close friends that she has been in frequent contact with recently?"
The maid still shook her head: "The Third Lady is gentle and well-behaved. Although we have a handkerchief friendship, it is limited to talking at banquets. We don't have much contact in private. She is not as close as the eldest son."
Ming Huashang caught a new name: "Da Langjun is..."
"He is Sanniang's biological brother, and he is currently studying at the Imperial Academy."
Ming Huashang was about to ask Cheng Fu's Dalang about his situation in detail when there was a knock on the door: "Madam Ming, Shao Yin is here."
Second brother is here? Ming Huashang pushed the door open and went out. When she opened the door, she saw a pigeon on the treetop spread its wings and flew away. Ming Huashang was curious, does Cheng Siyue raise birds? It seems that there is no bird food in her room.
But Ming Huazhang was already waiting outside the door, so Ming Huashang immediately put aside the thought and ran towards him quickly: "Second brother!"
Ming Huazhang stood outside the courtyard gate with his hands behind his back. It was chilly and he seemed like the only bright spot in the world. Ming Huazhang held her wrist and said as they walked: "We are leaving. I will take you back home now."
Ming Huashang was surprised: "Where are you going?"
"The Imperial College." Ming Huazhang said simply, "Just now, Duke Cheng sent someone to call Cheng Dalang back from the Imperial College. We just learned that Cheng Siyue went to the Imperial College yesterday. Cheng Dalang said that he saw Cheng Siyue at noon when the class was over. He clearly hired someone to send her back to the mansion, but I don't know why she disappeared on the way. Now we have to go to the Imperial College to question her, so we don't have time to take care of you. I'll take you back first."
When Ming Huashang heard this, he immediately said, "Such an important clue, why are you still wasting time? Go and take care of the Imperial College, and I will take Zhaocai and the others back with me."
"No." Ming Huazhang rejected it flatly. "Mrs. Cheng San disappeared on her way home. The murderer hasn't been found yet. How can I rest assured? I will personally send you back."
Cheng Siyue went to the Imperial College before her death. This can be said to be the most significant gain since taking over the case. Maybe the murderer is in the Imperial College. Jingzhao Yin and Cheng Guogong are watching. If Ming Huazhang does not rush to the scene at this juncture, but is busy sending his sister home, then his previous efforts will be in vain. What's worse, it will affect his official reputation and be impeached by the historian.
Neither of them was willing to give in. After a short standoff, Ming Huashang came up with a compromise: "Second brother, how about this? You go to the Imperial College, and I'll stay at the Chengguo Mansion to chat with the lady and ask about Cheng Siyue. When you're done, come to the Chengguo Mansion to pick me up, how about that?"
Ming Huazhang was startled and frowned, "You were not familiar with the Cheng family before, so leaving you alone in the Cheng mansion..."
"It's okay." Ming Huashang waved her hand proudly, "Everyone knows each other, we will get to know each other in a while."
Ming Huazhang was speechless, once again horrified by Ming Huachang's social skills. He sighed and said, "Well, it's too much trouble to bother the Duke Cheng's mansion for so long. Come with me to the Duke's wife and tell her."
The wife of Duke Chengguo did not expect that the young and handsome Shao Yin would come back not long after he left. This time he brought his sister with him, and Zheng Zhong gave her an evening greeting: "Madam, I have to go to the Imperial College for questioning and cannot take care of my sister. Madam Lao will help me take care of her for a while. I will come to pick her up as soon as I am done there. Madam Lao."
The wife of Duke Chengguo was a little surprised. With so many maids and servants in the Duke Chengguo's Mansion, looking after a lady was just a piece of cake. But Ming Huazhang said it so solemnly, which showed that he was very polite.
The wife of Duke Chengguo showed approval. She had heard that the Ming family had produced a good talent in this generation. Now it seemed that Duke Zhenguo had indeed raised his son very well. No wonder he had not remarried for many years and devoted himself to his only son.
Such a handsome, steady and calm man, who is not afraid of the powerful and is not rude to trivial matters, is indeed worthy of the whole family's efforts to cultivate. As for whether there are other sons or not, it is not important at all.
Ming Huazhang was about the same age as her grandson. The more Lady Chengguo saw him, the more satisfied she was. She said, "You are wholeheartedly helping Sanniang to investigate the case. I should be grateful to you. My useless granddaughters complain all day long. It's just right that the Second Lady is here, so let them talk. You can go without worry. I will take care of the Second Lady and won't let her suffer any injustice."
Ming Huazhang was relieved, bowed again and said, "Thank you, madam. I have one more thing to ask. Before I come, please do not let her go out no matter what, even if she asks to go home."
Lady Chengguo understood clearly that murders had occurred one after another in Chang'an, and now all the families with young ladies in their mansions were in a panic. Ming Huashang was about the same age as Cheng Siyue, so it was no wonder that Ming Huazhang was worried.
It is rare to find a man who is neither humble nor arrogant to outsiders, but can treat his family members attentively. The eldest son in their family is famous for loving his younger sister, but when he saw his younger sister sneaking out yesterday, he just hired a car to send her back.
Of course, this cannot be said to be Cheng Dalang's fault. After all, personal future is the most important thing. He has to take care of his own things, so how can he take care of his sister personally?
This makes Ming Huazhang even more valuable. Lady Chengguogong couldn't help but sigh: "You two have such a good relationship. I heard that you two are a perfect match. No wonder."
Ming Huashang had been quietly acting as a pendant since she entered the room. When she heard the wife of Duke Chengguo talking about the dragon and phoenix twins, she felt guilty and couldn't help but glance at Ming Huazhang out of the corner of her eye.
He lowered his eyes, his face was calm and indifferent, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. He thanked Lady Chengguo again, turned around and said to Ming Huashang, "Wait for me to pick you up."
Ming Huashang nodded obediently. He took one last look at Ming Huashang and walked out with big strides.
After he left, Lady Chengguo praised him, saying, "A gentleman is slow to speak but quick to act. He speaks little but does a lot. Even many grown men cannot be as responsible as he is. Is he really only sixteen years old?"
Ming Huashang and You Rongyan lowered their eyes and smiled softly: "Of course. He is the best person in the world."
Unfortunately, no matter how good he is, he is someone else's husband. The Cheng family has lost their daughter now, so they can't rely on matchmaking. Lady Chengguo was very sorry and said, "Madam Ming, just feel like you are at home. There is no need to be restrained. I will send someone to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to pass on the message. Don't let your elders at home misunderstand you at this critical juncture."
In fact, Ming Huashang left a letter for her family when she went out. When she saw Ming Huazhang, Ming Huazhang immediately sent someone back to inform her that Ming Huashang was with him. The Duke of Zhenguo would know where she was. But this was the good intention of the wife of the Duke of Chengguo after all, and Ming Huashang did not refuse and thanked her with a smile.
Ming Huashang's smile was sweet and sticky, like sunshine shining into people's hearts, which greatly comforted the wife of Duke Cheng's granddaughter. Ming Huashang talked with the wife of Duke Cheng, and then went to see the wife of the prince, Cheng Siyue's sisters, and even the maids in the inner house. She fully utilized her advantages of being beautiful and smiling sweetly.
Even Zhaocai couldn't help but sigh, fortunately their wife is lazy, otherwise, the whole Chang'an would be her fish pond.
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