Chapter 87: The Investigation

Wang Yunhe returned a bit late today, having been held back for a chat by the Emperor. By the time he arrived, a drama had already unfolded at the gates of Jingzhao Prefecture.

Upon Wang Yunhe's return, the yamen runners instantly felt emboldened. The girl continued her lament, and the crowd of onlookers hadn't dispersed yet.

Wang Yunhe frowned slightly and said to the girl, "Knowing that your father's bones are not yet cold, you should seek the arrest of the true criminal to comfort his spirit, not just accuse someone you suspect and expect the officials to obey! If you have a grievance, state your case; if you have a complaint, present it and then return home to wait. If there's no complaint, the office is already aware of the case details; you may go home and wait."

Initially emboldened, the girl's resolve weakened slightly upon seeing him, but she still sought the "truth." Side Supervisor Zhang couldn't hold back any longer and angrily said, "Since Lord Wang took charge of Jingzhao, when has he ever mishandled a case? Are you seeking the 'truth,' or are you trying to dictate the officials, expecting them to dance to your tune?!"

He had maintained order here for a while now. In the past, a simple beating to disperse the crowd would have sufficed. However, since Wang Yunhe became the Prefect of Jingzhao, such brute force was no longer acceptable; reason had to be used, and actions had to be gentler. Maintaining order had become a case of 'inviting yet repelling,' attracting even more onlookers and frustrating him greatly.

The girl wanted to say more, but the onlookers felt that Wang Yunhe's approach was reasonable, and what Supervisor Zhang said made sense. An elder then said, "Miss, if you demand an explanation yet don't trust the explanation given, why seek it from them at all?"

Together, they persuaded the girl to leave. Wang Yunhe bowed to the crowd, saying, "Thank you, everyone, for your trust." Someone led the response, "Because you, sir, are a trustworthy person!"

After another round of persuasion from Supervisor Zhang and the others, the crowd dispersed.

Wang Yunhe turned back to the office with a stern face, thinking, "This case needs to be swiftly resolved!"

Zhu Ying, following Pei Qing, didn't linger at the gate to watch the commotion. Pei Qing had already taken them through a side entrance to wait for Wang Yunhe.

Upon his return, hearing that Pei Qing was waiting, Wang Yunhe dispensed with formalities, first summoning officials like Fan Shaoji from Jingzhao Prefecture to report on the situation, then inviting representatives from the Dali Temple for a joint consultation.

Zhu Ying and Official Bao followed Pei Qing to a small reception hall, where they were seated, with Zhu Ying taking the first seat below Pei Qing. Across from him sat Fan Shaoji and a judicial military officer from Jingzhao Prefecture, with no yamen runners or similar officials present, and minor clerks from the Dali Temple waiting outside.

The officials from both departments started with a frank discussion. Wang Yunhe said, "His Majesty has already ordered Jingzhao and Dali to jointly handle this case, and today we've received further instructions from His Majesty. I've met with the chief justice of Dali, and right now, the priority is to clarify the case details. Both sides must work together harmoniously without damaging our rapport. I'm aware there are those among you who are displeased or eager to take the lead, but whatever your thoughts, keep them to yourselves!"

Pei Qing agreed, saying, "Exactly my point! What's the use of you detaining a suspect and not allowing me to interrogate, or sealing off the crime scene and not letting me inspect? If we trip each other up and fail to solve the case by the deadline, who will look good?"

Fan Shaoji coughed, saying, "Now that we've made our positions clear, where do we start?"

Pei Qing deferred to Wang Yunhe, who suggested, "Let's first summarize the case details."

The judicial military officer from Jingzhao Prefecture, He Jing, shared the details they had gathered: "The male victim was identified as Ma, a school captain from the Southern Army, with a fatal wound on his neck caused by a dagger belonging to Zhou, a school captain of the imperial guards. The female victim was a courtesan named Yingying, with a fatal wound to her chest, also inflicted by a sharp weapon matching Zhou's dagger. Investigations revealed that Zhou had quarreled with Ma the night before, threatening to kill him. The next day, Ma and the courtesan were found dead in a room. After the incident, a headcount confirmed that no one from the brothel had fled."

Having examined the bodies and been informed of these details, Wang Yunhe's briefing was for Pei Qing's benefit. He Jing further explained the crime scene to Pei Qing, such as its being sealed off. The male victim was found on the floor, and the female victim was tied to a bedpost, among other details.

Pei Qing raised an eyebrow, thinking: Ma certainly knew how to play his cards. That such a father could have a daughter bold enough to cause a stir at the prefectural office, it's hard to say whether she's a chip off the old block or not.

After He Jing finished speaking, Pei Qing glanced at Zhu Ying, who then said, "Zhou is currently in Dali Temple's prison, under the watch of the Ministry of Punishments. Hmm, yesterday, Official Bao and I visited Wu Niang's house. We didn't enter the crime scene, just questioned some witnesses outside. Thanks to Jingzhao's permission, we managed a look at the bodies. It appears Ma had a poor reputation in the Flower District, often accused of bullying, though he was known to be generous with money. Zhou, on the other hand, exhibited the behavior of a dissolute young man. For further details, I request Jingzhao's permission to examine the crime scene, the murder weapon, and the bodies once more."

He Jing commented, "The Investigator is quite straightforward."

Zhu Ying replied, "With only fifteen days and one already gone, today halfway through, straightforwardness is necessary."

Wang Yunhe said, "Agreed. Let's finalize a plan, then summon those on duty in turns for instructions."

Pei Qing added, "What Jingzhao proposes is very sensible."

Together, including Fan Shaoji, they devised a plan: each department would contribute a coroner to re-examine the bodies, then inspect the murder weapon. Afterwards, they would revisit the crime scene for another investigation and re-interrogate Zhou You. Fan Shaoji suggested, "Given the urgency, I will accompany Vice Minister Pei to the scene, perhaps you could proceed to Dali Temple for Zhou's re-interrogation?"

Wang Yunhe responded, "No problem."

Subsequently, they summoned the coroners and head officers from both sides, while also sending someone to clear the Flower District, and went to the morgue to view the bodies. The male body remained as before, but this time, the murder weapon was also presented. Pei Qing held the sword with a cloth, noting that the blade and handle were separate, both stained with blood, whereas the scabbard was clean.

Official Bao whispered to Zhu Ying, "Hey! This is much better than the usual Imperial Guard's sword."

Pei Qing concluded, "It's his sword." He then compared the wounds on the male body with the blade and edge's length, finding a match. It wasn't appropriate for him to undress the female body for a similar comparison, but the damage to her outer garment seemed consistent with the weapon.

Yang, the coroner, stated methodically, "We had a midwife compare, and the wounds match." Tian, another coroner, glanced at him, and Yang nodded. In truth, when out of sight, the male coroners would also discreetly verify the findings themselves, not fully trusting the midwife's word alone.

Wang Yunhe inquired, "Well?"

Pei Qing placed the dagger down with both hands, saying, "I have no further questions. What about you? Speak now if you have anything to say. Don’t hold back and hinder the investigation!"

Official Bao suggested, "This might not necessarily have been done by a man. A woman with similar strength could have inflicted those dozen or so stabs. Since the victim was known for his abusive behavior, perhaps it was a revenge killing..." He knew of Zhou You, believing him capable of ordering his servants to kill, but personally committing the act seemed unlikely.

Pei Qing retorted, "Don't speculate here! Speak only of what you've seen or suspect."

Official Bao became hesitant to speak further, but Zhu Ying added, "Unless Ma was sitting down, it likely was a man, given the height at which the neck was targeted. If it were a woman, she would have to be quite tall. Still, we can’t completely rule it out."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

He Jing shared, "We’ve also considered this. Besides Zhou, the main suspects include Wu Niang’s household. However, each member of Wu Niang’s family has an alibi." The courtesan had clients as witnesses, the servants were busy all night, mingling with servants from Zhou and Ma’s entourage, resting together. While Wu Niang’s family of three seemed to lack solid alibis, having access throughout the house, their suspicion is non-negligible. Yet, Wu Niang and her husband were too old to possess such physical strength, and their son openly admitted to entering the room to guide and assist with preparations before leaving.

He Jing also revealed a detail previously undisclosed to Zhu Ying: "Both the front and back doors were bolted from the inside."

Pei Qing questioned, "If the doors were bolted from the inside, why suspect Zhou?"

He Jing responded, "On that day, only he had a dispute with Ma, making him the prime suspect, and the dagger was his."

The discussion continued with points like "It's too obvious" and "Perhaps it's exploiting such psychology," but concluded with the same sentiment: without more concrete evidence, Zhou remains the prime suspect, yet it can’t be definitively stated it was him.

He Jing thought to himself: In the past, if it wasn't Zhou You, the case could have been settled like this, maybe just beating him up a few times to see if the thief would confess. Alas.

Wang Yunhe said, "We also can't wrong him for murder just because he has a bad track record. Let's go to the crime scene and take a look."

Zhu Ying then stated, "With your permission, Prefect Jingzhao."

Wang Yunhe asked, "Have you noticed anything?"

Zhu Ying examined the female body again, which had slightly changed from the day before. Looking at her disfigured face, he questioned, "There's one thing I'm puzzled about—how can we be sure that the deceased is Yingying? Can this face even be recognized? Who identified the body?"

Supervisor Zhang replied, "Wu Niang identified her, why? Could she not recognize her?"

"On what basis did she identify?"

Supervisor Zhang said, "How would I know?"

Wang Yunhe insisted, "No, this needs to be clarified." He Jing also added, "We need to interrogate Wu Niang again."

Zhu Ying pondered, "If it's really her, then fine, but if it's not, where did the body come from?"

…………——

The group then visited Wu Niang's house again, where, having had no customers the previous day, she was hoping for a quick resolution to attract some curiosity-seekers to supplement her income, as she cleaned the house again. She was already desperate enough to consider using the incident as a selling point, but then thought better of it, deciding to have a monk or priest perform a ritual to cleanse the house before reopening.

The arrival of He Jing was troubling enough for Wu Niang, but Wang Yunhe's presence made her legs weak. None of the visitors were in the mood for any delay, heading straight for the scene upon arrival.

Wang Yunhe told Zhu Ying, "Observe carefully, and if you have any doubts, feel free to speak up." He remembered how Zhu Ying had gone door-to-door for the Cao family case.

Zhu Ying responded, "Yes."

She came prepared this time, knowing exactly what to look for and which tools she needed. She first requested a ladder to be placed against the courtyard wall for an overhead view, also checking for any traces of someone having climbed the wall. Then, armed with a bamboo pole and a roll of red thread, she entered the courtyard.

The layout of the small courtyard resembled that of a typical household, except it lacked a kitchen and well, and its elegance and beauty surpassed Zhu Ying's current residence.

"The annual rent must be at least fifty guan," Zhu Ying thought.

She carefully observed the ground, thankful it hadn't rained in the past few days. Jingzhao Prefecture had guarded the area, preventing further disturbances, so some traces remained undisturbed. Zhu Ying carefully avoided stepping on these marks, drawing shallow circles around each footprint on the ground. Wang Yunhe noticed the sequence of circles she drew, identifying them as the trajectory of someone's movements, and quietly instructed, "Do not step on the areas she has circled."

Zhu Ying first avoided the main hall, heading to the side rooms instead. People originally lived in these side rooms but had been moved to another courtyard. The furnishings in the rooms were slightly outdated but originally of decent quality. The beds were left unmade, and the dressing tables were cluttered. She prodded around with a bamboo pole, finding nothing of value, and asked, "Did you take these things?"

Outside, the fifth lady quickly questioned her daughter, and Wang Yunhe also asked Captain Zhang, "Did anyone take advantage of the chaos to loot?"

Captain Zhang quickly denied any such actions, and seeing this, the courtesans also dared not lie, stating, "We took them."

Wang Yunhe then instructed them to verify the items, checking if the inventory matched.

In the courtesans' rooms, Zhu Ying discovered footprints of seven or eight different men, but none matched Ma or Zhou You, nor did they belong to any male member of this household.

After inspecting the side rooms, she slowly made her way to the main hall. The hall still smelled strongly of incense, mixed with a faint, unpleasant scent of blood. A string of red cords lay scattered beneath a bedpost, with a pool of blood in front of the bed. A small table had been overturned, and a porcelain vase shattered into pieces on the floor, next to a low table with several odd items.

The ground here was paved with polished bricks, with blood seeping into the cracks between the bricks.

Wang Yunhe observed the floor tiles, feeling a bit disappointed. He had hoped Zhu Ying could discern something from them. It might have been easier if the floor was dirt, but with such tiles, it seemed unlikely.

It was broad daylight, and Zhu Ying looked at the doors and windows, asking, "Were the doors and windows closed at the time?"

The madam and others said, "We can't remember clearly. When we heard someone had died, we all rushed over. Maybe they were closed? Or did someone bang on the door? We can't remember about the windows."

The madam's son stated, "They were closed. The windows too. Otherwise, we could have seen from the windows and wouldn't have needed to knock on the door."

Wang Yunhe nodded and asked Zhu Ying, "What else can you discern?"

Zhu Ying used the red string to encircle the area around the bed, squatting down to look repeatedly. "Many people came here; they all had been here," she indicated the madam's family and two prostitutes, adding that there were also footprints of eight other men, surprising everyone. The madam was especially suspicious: "How many people came, I might not remember, but how can she see that?" She stared wide-eyed, only to see very faint, barely discernible shoe prints on the polished brick floor.

Zhu Ying was quite satisfied with her findings! The footprints here were significantly fewer than those at the entrance and the courtyard. At the time, dozens of people surrounded the entrance, and twenty or thirty must have entered the yard. Only these few were in the room, which was relatively good.

From the eight men's footprints, Zhu Ying identified five belonging to yamen runners. Zhang Ban thought, "No wonder she's so bold; she truly has the skill. I always saw her humbly asking me for advice, thinking she was just a novice, but she has this up her sleeve..."

Bao Ping said, "If they were guests from that night, it would be difficult to find them." He then looked at the prostitutes, suggesting they be taken back for interrogation.

Madam Wu hastily explained, "Who would dare to linger and watch when General Ma is involved? It's too creepy. When General Ma stayed the night, the girls would rest elsewhere after attending to their clients."

Zhang Ban, representing the officials, rebuked, "Why didn't you make this clear earlier?! Must we ask for you to speak?!"

Madam Wu replied, "No questions were asked, so I dared not speculate."

Wang Yunhe and the others sighed, noting this down for a more detailed inquiry later. Zhu Ying slowly made her way to the back door. Once outside, she resumed marking circles on the ground, leading all the way to a small door at the back, which was sealed from the outside, although the latch was inside.

After completing her inspection, Zhu Ying returned to the front and instructed Bao Ping to secure the door: "Latch it."

Bao Ping, rubbing his arms, asked, "Why?"

Zhu Ying responded, "To see if it can be opened from the outside."

Opening a door or window from the outside isn't too difficult. A piece of wire, a hairpin, sometimes a copper or wooden shim can all do the trick.

Supervisor Zhang thought to himself: That's feasible.

The door fit tightly, its panels not perfectly aligned but staggered so that no gap was left when closed, showcasing quality carpentry. The windows were the same. Zhu Ying assessed and resisted showing off her skills in front of them, simply saying, "Let's go outside."

Supervisor Zhang added, "A seasoned thief could open it. Or, one could simply lift the door off its hinges."

Wang Yunhe then instructed someone to open the doors and windows, nodding at Zhu Ying, "Note this down."

Zhu Ying moved to the back door of the courtyard, confident in this task as she had inspected this door before, finding it loose with a wide gap, easily opened with a hairpin.

Few footprints led to and from the back door. Zhu Ying identified four individuals: Wu Niang's son, known as "Little Fan," a woman's footprints not belonging to any present, and two yamen runners, likely here for patrol or to seal the place.

Zhu Ying also visited Zhou You's living quarters, Lin Lin's room, where the footprints were neater and fewer compared to where Ma died, Yingying's room. She recognized Zhou's footprints, who similarly didn't go to the back door, only having a set of footprints to the front door, one set in and one set out, without any back-and-forth movement. There were also some footprints from the brothel.

After the inspection, Zhu Ying's suspicions grew stronger. Wang Yunhe then ordered Wu Niang's entire place sealed. Wu Niang cried, "My lord, how are we to live? Please grant us a place to stay!" She hoped not the entire house would be sealed, just the crime scene as before.

Wang Yunhe ordered, "Take them away."

Supervisor Zhang remarked, "There's plenty of space in the guardroom!"

Wu Niang was dumbfounded, never expecting a trip to Jingzhao Prefecture. Zhu Ying whispered to Pei Qing, "Sir, tell Jingzhao to separate the detainees. We might learn something from them."

Pei Qing whispered back, "What have you figured out?"

Zhu Ying replied, "I can't say for sure yet, but after returning to Jingzhao Prefecture, we might find some clues."

Pei Qing nodded and relayed this to Wang Yunhe, who agreed, "Of course!"

…………

As the group escorted the prisoners to Jingzhao Prefecture, Wu Niang, hiding her face with her sleeves, cursed the murderer's ancestors for generations. Who would dare kill in her house?!

Upon arrival at Jingzhao Prefecture, Wang Yunhe first separated the male and female detainees without immediate interrogation. He then convened the investigators from both offices to discuss the case further.

He began with, "It's not Zhou You?"

Fan Shaoji exclaimed, "How did you come to know that?"

Wang Yunhe looked at Zhu Ying, who explained, "Zhou You's entry and exit into Lin Lin's courtyard showed only one set of footprints each way, unless he can fly."

Fan Shaoji gasped, and He Jing inquired, "Are you certain of what you saw?"

Pei Qing commented, "Isn't it better if it's not him? If we clear him, His Majesty won't mind if we don't solve the case within fifteen days, allowing us to thoroughly investigate."

But that's nonsense. If Zhou You was wronged, wouldn't he cause an uproar at Jingzhao Prefecture's gates? They were the ones who arrested him!

Even though Wang Yunhe was attending court at the time, having a Prefect like him gave Jingzhao Prefecture the confidence to arrest Zhou You red-handed. In the past, they could easily pin the crime on Zhou You, assuming he wouldn't find the real culprit, blaming him seemed convenient as he could bear it. But now, with Dali Temple involved, that's no longer an option.

He Jing stared intently at Zhu Ying, "Are you sure of what you saw?"

Zhu Ying said, "Even in Yingying's courtyard, there are no footprints of his."

"With so many footprints, are you sure?"

Zhu Ying replied with resignation, "I'd rather Zhou You stayed in prison a few more days than falsely accuse him."

Wang Yunhe, knowing the backstory, coughed into his fist, "Let's not talk about that."

Supervisor Zhang thought to himself, if he had a grudge against Zhou You, it would explain why he was so eager to take over the case.

Wang Yunhe asked, "What else have you found?"

Zhu Ying spoke softly, "There's a woman who has never appeared before; her footprints are in Yingying's courtyard. There are no footprints of Yingying in her own courtyard."

Wang Yunhe questioned, "Are you sure?"

Zhu Ying affirmed, "Yes. I... suspect a case of identity substitution, the dead is not Yingying. The body in the morgue has flat feet. The footprints in the courtyard do not. Also, Little Fan, something's off about him too; he entered carrying a heavy object and left with a woman, supporting her."

Pei Qing cautioned, "We mustn't speak carelessly!"

The room was abuzz with surprise, everyone whispering among themselves. Even the yamen runners of Jingzhao Prefecture couldn't stay mad at her, staring in disbelief. Coroner Yang asked, "Flat feet?"

Zhu Ying said, "Right, the shoes don't match the body either. Different sole patterns and walking postures wear shoes differently. Letting the women identify the body one by one and asking why they think it's Yingying might give us some answers."

With suspicion in the air, Wang Yunhe commanded, "Interrogate!"

Wu Niang was the first to be brought in for questioning by He Jing. Wu Niang, a woman accustomed to high society, could handle entertaining high-ranking officials but felt intimidated inside Jingzhao Prefecture.

She dared not shift the blame to Zhou You, nor admit to the crime, only able to proclaim her innocence. He Jing, far from gentle, ordered, "Start with twenty lashes."

After the lashes, questioning resumed. The punishment was painful but not severe, leaving Wu Niang still capable of responding. Realizing He Jing's sternness, she confessed, "Yingying is truly dead! Her clothes were new this year! That silk flower, a fashionable design, cost me five hundred coins!"

Hearing this, Zhu Ying thought to herself, "Damn, I'm going to learn silk flower making tomorrow!"

He Jing then had Wu Niang examine the body closely. She insisted, "It's her! Where else would these clothes come from?"

The courtesans also recognized the body as Yingying, citing the physique and attire. Pei Qing quietly asked Zhu Ying, "Is it true?"

However, He Jing had the women inspect the corpse's feet, with Lin Lin finally saying, "These aren't Yingying's feet! They, they, they look like Yanyan's!"

It turned out, following a case involving Madame Feng years earlier, the younger courtesans in the brothel had also compared their feet in private. Yanyan had a mole on her foot, a detail they often teased her about, making it memorable. In fact, Yanyan's mother was also an official courtesan, not sent there midway through. Yanyan and Yingying had very similar builds.

Enraged, He Jing ordered Wu Niang to be beaten again.

Fearful of further punishment, Wu Niang exclaimed, "Yanyan's already dead! Who would have thought it was a dead person?"

"When did she die?"

"Just a couple of days ago."

"Hmm? Why didn't you mention this when asked?"

Wu Niang, frustrated, replied, "For people like us, young women dying isn't uncommon, is it? We even reported it to Jingzhao Prefecture and had her name crossed off!"

"How could you be so negligent?"

If not for the beating she received, Wu Niang might have laughed out of sheer frustration. Instead, she forced a calm, gentle demeanor and said, "It's quite common. Young girls don't stay long. After a few years, they're worn out, either moving elsewhere or ending up in the graveyard..."

"Where's the body?"

"We took it out and buried it..."

He Jing then had Wu Niang taken away and rushed back to report, by which time it had gotten dark, casting Wang Yunhe's face in a grim light as he remarked, "To think it could come to this!"

He continued, "Have them identify the body to determine exactly who it is!" He then called everyone together, insisting on secrecy about the day's events. The investigation would continue the next day to definitively identify the deceased.

With orders in hand, everyone went their separate ways. Outside Jingzhao Prefecture, Pei Qing clapped Zhu Ying on the shoulder, saying, "Well done! Ha ha!"

Official Bao and the clerks from Dali Temple all praised, "Inspector Zhu, impressive indeed!"

Zhu Ying cautioned, "Don't say that yet. Whether it is or isn't, the real culprit is still out there."

Official Bao suggested, "Little Fan seems suspicious. Perhaps we should interrogate him tomorrow."

Pei Qing cautioned, "Let's not jump to conclusions! Everyone go home, and I expect to see you at Dali Temple tomorrow! Do not speak of this to anyone. Anyone who leaks details and jeopardizes the case will answer to me."

Everyone agreed.

Pei Qing then took Official Bao and Zhu Ying to visit Zheng Xi at Marquis Zheng's residence to report the day's events to Zheng Xi overnight.

Zhu Ying stood by, not interrupting, and after Pei Qing finished, Zheng Xi said, "Zi Cheng, you've worked hard. San Lang, remember to be humble and not show off in Jingzhao Prefecture." He also acknowledged Official Bao's hard work.

Official Bao responded, "It's all thanks to your leadership, Vice Minister Pei's command, and Inspector Zhu's expertise. I merely followed along."

Zheng Xi said, "You've also contributed." Not holding the team back and being able to partner up for the task is commendable.

Zheng Xi then asked Zhu Ying, "Are you confident?"

Zhu Ying replied, "It's only the third day at dawn, far from the fifteen-day deadline. It would be wise to investigate the acquaintances and enemies of Ma and Zhou. Better safe than sorry."

Zheng Xi, amused, said, "Always the mischief-maker. Agreed. Zi Cheng, I'll mention this to Wang Jingzhao as well, and you should discuss it with the minor officials too. Investigate thoroughly. If the deceased isn't Yingying, the whereabouts of that woman become crucial, and finding her will lead us to the real culprit. Let's tackle this from both ends."

Pei, Zhu, and Bao all praised, "Your wisdom shines, sir."

Zheng Xi added, "Zi Cheng and San Lang, continue your work with Jingzhao tomorrow," pointing to Official Bao, "and you, discreetly inquire around the Flower Street and elsewhere for a woman resembling Yingying."

Official Bao, slightly excited, affirmed, "Yes."

Only then did Zheng Xi let them leave.

…………——

Zhu Ying, clutching the pass and deliberately avoiding the night patrol to test her skills, made it home safely without showing the pass, feeling quite proud of herself.

Approaching her house, she frowned – there were guests at the Zhu residence, with several horses tied up at the front!

Getting closer, she recognized one of the horses as Jin Liang's and sighed in relief, knocking on the door, "I'm back!"

Jin Liang himself opened the door, commenting, "You really are busy!"

Zhu Ying, glancing inside, asked, "What? You brought people to demand justice from me on behalf of your comrades?"

Jin Liang pulled her inside, saying, "Knowing is good! Let's have a proper chat."

Seeing he wasn't angry, Zhu Ying was slightly anxious, "Okay. Mom, Big Sister, could you make some tea? Don't worry; it's nothing serious."

Jin Liang glared at her; Zhu Ying laughed, "The person is already dead; you should think about how to wrap this up."

In Zhu Ying's living room, four burly men crowded around a small round table, all eagerly watching Zhu Ying with cautious assessment. Jin Liang introduced them as brothers from the Southern Army. Zhu Ying acknowledged, "I know, the two on the left almost clashed with the Imperial Guard in front of Jingzhao Prefecture yesterday, the one on the right was in plain clothes. Only the last one wasn't seen."

Jin Liang boasted, "What do you think? My little brother is capable, right?"

The one who hadn't been seen before stood up, bowed, and said, "Sorry for the late disturbance. We're blunt men, not good with words. Jin Da said Marquis Zheng's residence doesn't shelter the guilty. But we thought, even if Dali is unwilling, they're overwhelmed by obligations. We don't need an official verdict from Dali Temple, just the truth. If the Marquis's residence won't disclose it, we had to ask the young master here, leveraging Jin Da's respect."

Zhu Ying took the tea tray from Zhang Xian Gu, placing it on the table and pushing her out, "Don't worry, go to sleep, it's not a big deal." She then locked her out.

Turning back, Jin Liang had already poured the tea, handing Zhu Ying a cup. She exclaimed, "Shit, forgot to have dinner. The case has a fifteen-day deadline; why the rush? Even if you're considering vigilante justice, Zhou You isn't out of prison yet. Big Brother Jin, you're not usually so impatient."

Jin Liang responded, "I'd like to be patient, but I'm worried the brothers won't be. This matter could have been settled by Jingzhao or Dali, but with the Imperial Guard involved, Zhou You's uncles seeking protection, and the Emperor favoring sides, tensions are bound to rise. If the Southern and Northern Armies clash, being labeled could ruin anyone. Then..."

Jin Liang, belonging to the Southern Army and once under Marquis Zheng, must ensure nothing goes awry.

Zhu Ying looked at the others, who stated, "We too seek justice for Old Ma."

Zhu Ying responded, "That's fortunate, as I have some questions regarding General Ma."

"As long as it's for Old Ma's vindication, ask away! We'll answer anything! We owe it to Old Ma to clarify matters."

Zhu Ying replied, "No thanks are needed; I don't accept gifts for this."

They all smiled, having come because they knew the Zhu family hadn't accepted the Zhou family's gifts; they decided not to tell Zhu Ying this detail.

Zhu Ying asked, "Was General Ma truly a virtuous man, perfected over ten lifetimes?"

"What?"

Jin Liang cautioned, "Don't bring up past deeds now."

Zhu Ying shot him a glance, and Jin Liang fell silent. The one who nearly started a brawl asked, "Brother, what do you mean by that?"

Zhu Ying explained, "Zhou You's father's blessings are too profound! If General Ma wasn't a man of great virtue, his merits could hardly counteract Zhou You's golden aura, and instead might be suppressed by his fortune."

Jin Liang inquired, "How so?"

Zhu Ying elaborated, "Based on what I've seen today, it's 99% not Zhou You. Now both offices are under fire. My word alone won't suffice; we need to catch the real culprit! To do so, we must sift through everyone and everything around the victim. Has General Ma been investigated?"

Several Southern Army officers chimed in unison, "Old Ma was a good man!"

Zhu Ying questioned, "Did he beat his wife? Scold his children? Punish his subordinates? Don't tell me 'all men do this.' Any of the above could indicate a violent and harsh nature. Moreover, his death in a brothel suggests a lack of personal morals."

She watched as Jin Liang struggled to calm his comrades, stirring up more trouble, and laughed, "Common folks don't care about how honorable your General Ma was; they relish the scandalous and bizarre. Dying in a brothel, quarreling before death – that's gossip for months. The more you defend, the more eagerly they'll speculate you're hiding something. The best strategy is to let it cool off, let the story fade. Or, overshadow it with something more sensational. Now, not only are you causing a stir, but his daughter too. It's too much to cover up."

Moreover, judging from the condition of the female corpse and public opinion, well, General Ma might not have been all that admirable inside.

Jin Liang urged, "Stop with the cold remarks, tell us what to do! Are we just going to let Zhou You off?"

Zhu Ying queried, "Why do you seem to hate Zhou You more than I do?"

Hearing this, the Southern Army officers became suspicious. Zhu Ying asked, "Do you want to find the real culprit, or are you just fixated on blaming Zhou You?"

"Is he really not the murderer?"

"It's 90% certain he's not! Do you want to escalate this matter? It won't benefit Old Ma. It'll be even worse for that young lady. She's already causing a stir. Imagine, once Zhou You is released, you know his temper. What about the young lady? If her father's reputation is damaged, her future might be even tougher."

Jin Liang remarked, "That girl is very stubborn! Old Ma was a good father, he took great care in raising his daughter, educated her, taught her to manage a household... Old Ma..."

Zhu Ying assured, "I will find the real culprit. Even the evidence they might find inconvenient to speak of... I can handle. You need to think carefully, if it's not Zhou You, how will you conclude this matter?"

The Southern Army officers responded, "We want the real culprit! With solid evidence! As for Zhou You! Humph! If he's innocent, we'll make amends!"

Jin Liang exclaimed, "Are you fools?! Won't he take advantage of that?"

The Southern Army officers stood up in unison, saluting Zhu Ying, "We trust Jin Da, and since Jin Da vouches for you, we trust you too. Brother, don't let us down!"

Zhu Ying responded, "Here's the deal, I admire your loyalty. I'll investigate the real culprit and will share my suspicions with you, no matter who it turns out to be. You can decide what to do next. If something unfavorable about Old Ma comes up, I'll try to cover it up. If I can't, I'll help you find a way. If it's impossible to conceal, don't blame me."

"Thank you!"

"No need for thanks, it's out of respect for Big Brother Jin. Otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed to meet like this. Please—"

Jin Liang sighed deeply, lingering at the back, and asked, "About Old Ma..."

"I've examined the female corpse; the marks on her body are troubling. Did Old Ma really have no peculiar habits?"

Jin Liang replied, "His wife passed away a few years ago. It's not unusual for a man to find comfort in a brothel."

"Hmm?"

"Ah... don't go spreading this to your sister-in-law!" Jin Liang whispered, "It couldn't have been a jealousy dispute, could it?"

Zhu Ying commented, "Hard to say, you know what's in your heart. He may not have been a paragon of virtue."

With a heavy heart, Jin Liang bowed and departed.