Chapter 31: No Good Banquet 10 Incident
When Xun Shu and the other two arrived at the main courtyard, everyone was already there. The officials were standing in the center, and the maids of the Zhao family were supporting the pale-faced Zhao Jingrong, the second daughter of the Zhao family, who was standing in the corner. Many servants of the Zhao family were surrounding her.
The main hall, sealed the night before, was reopened. Empty, it remained as it had been the night of the banquet. The food on the tables had grown sour and rancid, and a strong odor emanated from the open door, attracting countless flying insects. The yamen runners guarding the main hall's entrance endured the stench, occasionally slapping their clothes to ward off the insects, their expression agonized.
County Magistrate Feng stood in front of the door with a gloomy face. Zheng Shu knelt in the middle of the yard, her body limp, sobbing.
"Zheng, I have found evidence proving you are the true murderer of County Magistrate Zhao. Do you have anything else to say?"
Zheng Shu raised her head, her face pale. She looked at County Magistrate Feng and shook her head, "I didn't! The master is my benefactor, how could I possibly kill him? County Magistrate Feng, you know..."
"Enough!" County Magistrate Feng interrupted her. "Since you deny it, I'll tell you everything, one by one, and see how you can quibble!" He flung his sleeves and walked to the armchair in the shade under the eaves, where he sat down. Staring at Zheng Shu, who was kneeling in the sun, he spoke word by word, "The day before yesterday at the dinner, County Magistrate Zhao suddenly collapsed and died. A coroner later determined he died of poisoning. After the incident, I immediately sent someone to inspect the food at the banquet. They found no poison, but unexpectedly, they found a dead bee next to the County Magistrate's desk. It looked strange, red and black, unlike the bees from Chaozhou. Yesterday, County Lieutenant Fang took the bee to the city to inquire about it and happened to meet a herbalist. He learned that this bee is called the Baicao Bee, commonly found in the southwestern mountains. It is highly poisonous and can be fatal if stung without prompt treatment. The cause of death is exactly the same as County Magistrate Zhao's death the night before.
"This bee is docile and won't attack anyone, but it's obsessed with a medicinal herb called milo. Last night, I had the herb dealer invited to the Zhao residence and had him walk around the main hall. Surprisingly, he discovered that the withered red flower on County Magistrate Zhao's desk was milo. The flower viewing banquet the day before yesterday was arranged by you, Zheng, and you personally presented this milo flower to County Magistrate Zhao. By sending the flowers, you imbued County Magistrate Zhao's hands and body with the scent of milo. Then, during the banquet, you released the herb bees you had prepared long ago, allowing the poisonous bees to pick up the scent and attack County Magistrate Zhao, killing him unnoticed. Am I wrong?"
Zheng Shu shook her head frantically, retorting, "No! I didn't know that flower was a milfoil. I just planted it in the back garden because it looked pretty. I thought a flower viewing party would require some fresh flowers and plants, so I picked one and presented it... I don't know what a herb bee is, let alone the relationship between this flower and the herb bee!"
"Oh? We happen to be at Zhao's house right now. Could you take us to see the milo you planted?"
Zheng Shu lowered her eyelashes, tears streaming down her cheeks. "That flower wasn't adapted to Chaozhou's climate. I planted a large area, but only one survived. It was the one I sent to the flower viewing banquet that day..."
Only one flower survived, and yet he was willing to cut it off and send it to the flower viewing banquet? Zheng Shu's voice became increasingly quiet. Not only did the officials not believe her, but even Xun Shu in the corner found it a bit absurd.
County Magistrate Feng raised his eyebrows slightly, stroking his beard. "How could such a coincidence happen? The flower viewing banquet was the day before yesterday, so the branches must have been pruned away. It would be a good idea to take us to see them." Seeing that Zheng Shu was about to argue, he waved his hand, losing his patience. "Don't make any more excuses. Do you think this is all I have?"
Zheng Shu bit her lip lightly, then knelt on the ground, her forehead touching the floor, her fingers clasped tightly against the bluestone. "Your Excellency, I have never had any second thoughts since you took me home. I only hope to raise my child in this house and live a peaceful life. You have been so kind to me, how could I possibly kill him?"
This argument was weak and pale. Xun Shu looked at her trembling back and felt sorry for her.
County Magistrate Feng snorted coldly and said, "No second thoughts? Not necessarily." He looked at Bi Da standing beside him and said, "Go and bring over Bai Xing, Madam Zhao's former maidservant."
Bi Da took his orders and left. Zheng Shu straightened up, trembling, with a bewildered look on her face, not knowing how this matter related to Bai Xing. Xun Shu and He Xuan looked at each other in the corner, and both sighed inwardly.
This Bai Xing, I'm afraid, has grasped that tiny clue again, deduced a complete story, and arbitrarily blamed others, just like in the case of Mrs. Zhao, she accused Xun Shu of being the murderer.
Xun Shu's guess was correct. After Bai Xing arrived at the courtyard, she seemed to have known what County Magistrate Feng was going to ask her. Without waiting for County Magistrate Feng to open his mouth, she told him everything like pouring beans about what she had seen different people entering and leaving Zheng's courtyard late at night.
I don’t know if it was because she dreamed of the nights when she ran into people last night, and revisited the old place to take a closer look. Bai Xing’s description today was different from yesterday, and more detailed. She could even confirm that there was more than one man among the people who went to Zheng’s courtyard.
Bai Xing's voice was loud and clear, tears welling in her eyes. She sternly said, "My lord, please stand up for our master and his wife! Concubine Zheng is unfaithful to her husband. She took advantage of the dead of night to lure her mistress into the house. I don't know how many despicable things she has done! The master must have noticed something, so she killed him! In my opinion, she should be thrown into prison, life for life!"
Zheng Shu stared at her intently, eyes filled with disbelief, and angrily said, "I have never done anything to offend the master! How can you slander me like this? Could it be that the maidservant trained by the madam is such a mean person who would make false accusations like this?!"
The mention of Madam Zhao at this moment only made Bai Xing even more agitated. Unfazed, she stared back at Zheng Shu and raised her voice, "Every word I say is true! I saw with my own eyes those people entering and leaving your courtyard in the dead of night. Madam Zheng, do you dare to admit this?"
Zheng Shu was speechless and bit her lips, not knowing how to defend herself.
Everyone's gaze converged on her, leaving her feeling uneasy, unable to move forward or retreat. If she didn't explain, she would be tacitly admitting she had wronged the master and shouldering this absurd motive for murder. If she did explain...how could she explain it? How could she explain some things?
Xun Shu looked at Zheng Shu, as if seeing himself a month ago. Unable to bear it, he couldn't help but ask, "Ms. Bai Xing, you insist that those who enter and leave Concubine Zheng's courtyard are her mistresses. Did you see Concubine Zheng doing anything inappropriate with them?"
Bai Xing hesitated: "That's not the case, but what other reasons could there be for sneaking in and out of Auntie's yard late at night?"
"Ms. Bai Xing, you can't just assume something you haven't witnessed and pin it on others just because you can't think of any other reason. It's just like how you slandered me a month ago. This is not good." Xun Shu said seriously. After she finished speaking, she seemed to feel that her words were insignificant and added, "Even if Madam Zhao were still alive, she would also feel very bad."
There were whispers in the yard, mixed with a few laughs. Bai Xing frowned with an ugly expression, and finally did not speak again.
Doubts spread unchecked at that moment. County Magistrate Feng snorted, "How dare you speak nonsense in front of me when you haven't witnessed anything yourself? You're so bold!" He paused, his gaze passing over Bai Xing and landing on Xun Shu. "Although this maid didn't see everything with her own eyes, it's a fact that someone entered and exited Zheng's courtyard late at night. If they hadn't done something shameful, why didn't they do it in broad daylight?! I'm afraid this matter has been discovered by County Magistrate Zhao, and that's why he's so anxious to kill her. I believe this still serves as a pretext for Zheng to kill County Magistrate Zhao!"
Xun Shu frowned, his eyes full of incomprehension and disapproval.
At the banquet the day before, County Magistrate Zhao's expression and tone when he faced Zheng didn't seem to harbor any resentment. This matter was suspicious in every way, yet County Magistrate Feng seemed eager to convict Zheng and put her to death.
What is he anxious about? Or what is he afraid of?
County Magistrate Feng seemed to notice the strange looks in the room. He cleared his throat and continued, "Besides this, there's one more thing. Yesterday, I discovered that Zheng had withdrawn a large sum of money from the mansion's treasury, claiming it was for urgent use. County Magistrate Zhao was unaware of this. I have reason to suspect that Zheng's murder of County Magistrate Zhao was also related to this incident. Now, only the Second Young Lady and the Third Young Master are left in the mansion. As long as County Magistrate Zhao is gone, the Zhao family will be under Zheng's control, and she will no longer have to return the money she lent. Zheng, am I right?"
Zheng Shu was stunned, feeling as if she had just heard a huge joke. "Yes, I did spend some money from the accounting office due to some matters. I was in urgent need and didn't have time to tell the master. I originally thought that after this matter was over, I would find a chance to tell the master. It's not as complicated as you think. It's nonsense to say that I covet this house! The Zhao Mansion may look glamorous on the surface, but in reality, it's just an empty shell. I'm not a woman from a small family who has never seen the world. How could I kill the master for such a small amount of money? If the master were still here, I would still have a place to live. Now that the master is gone, what's the point of me taking care of this dilapidated house with two children?"
Zheng Shu's words were so heartfelt that they convinced everyone in the courtyard, but not Magistrate Feng. Magistrate Feng's face darkened. With a wave of his hand, he ordered the yamen runners to tie up Zheng Shu. "Zheng, although we still lack evidence, you are the primary suspect. I have no choice but to bring you back to the yamen. If it is later determined that you have no connection to the case, I will release you."
Zheng opened her eyes wide and continued to argue: "Mr. Feng, you clearly know—"
"Someone!" County Magistrate Feng interrupted her, his eyes full of meaning. "Take Zheng away. The Third Young Master is still young and cannot be left alone. Find another nanny to take good care of him."
Zheng felt as if someone had grabbed her throat, her voice gone, unable to utter a single word. Her shoulders drooped helplessly, her face bewildered, not knowing what to do.
Most of the people in the courtyard were officials or servants. They didn't dare say anything about this naked threat, and could only look away. County Magistrate Feng was very satisfied with the crowd's reaction. Just as he was about to say something else, he heard a voice emanate from a deserted corner. The sound was clear and bright, like a morning bell or an evening drum, awakening the chaotic world.
"The County Magistrate's judgment was rather hasty and arbitrary. But is there something you don't want everyone to know that's why you're so anxious to close the case?"
The person who spoke was He Xuan.
He stood still, facing the scrutiny of everyone with no fear. He looked at County Magistrate Feng in the shadows with a half-smile. "Since your Excellency has confined us all to this mansion, why not wait until all the evidence is gathered before making a decision? We've already been here for a few days, after all, so why not stay a few more?" He raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Are you planning to do as described in the picture book, taking Zheng away and quietly silencing her, then pinning the crime on her while she's unable to refute it? But why would you do that? Do you know the murderer? Or is County Magistrate Zhao's death connected to you?"
-----------------------
The author has something to say: The next update will be on Monday~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
