Chapter 113 Interrogation

Chapter 113 Interrogation

The shopkeeper Gu was no fool. When these plainclothes members of the Jinlin Guard suddenly showed their badges, it was clearly not a good sign!

"Are the two esteemed gentlemen here to buy books?" The shopkeeper bowed deeply, his face showing utmost respect.

One of the Jinlin Guard members, who had put away his badge, said coldly, "Shopkeeper Gu, please come with us."

The shopkeeper's face turned ashen instantly. "What did this humble citizen do wrong? Could there be a mistake, sir?"

The Jinlin Guard sneered. "If Shopkeeper Gu wants everyone on this street to know he’s being taken away by the Jinlin Guard, feel free to resist."

The shopkeeper wilted like an eggplant that had been frosted over.

"Let's go." The two plainclothes Jinlin Guard members flanked the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper shuffled out, his head hanging low, his legs feeling heavy as lead. Just before he left, he gave a frightened clerk a meaningful look and was then pushed by the Jinlin Guard member behind him, disappearing through the door.

The clerk stood there in a daze, only reacting after some time had passed, running to the store entrance to look outside.

People bustled about on the street, but there was no sign of the shopkeeper.

"We need to tell the master!" The clerk hurried off to report.

"Shopkeeper Gu was taken away by the Jinlin Guard?" The master of Yaxin Bookstore's face darkened upon hearing the clerk's report.

"He was just taken away. Those two Jinlin Guard members were in plainclothes; they came in, identified themselves, and took Shopkeeper Gu away. Master, what should we do?"

"Did they give any reason?"

"They didn’t say anything—" The clerk's face suddenly changed, and he lowered his voice, "Master, could it be that our actions have been discovered?"

The young man's eyes darkened, thinking the same thing.

The clerk was puzzled. "But even if they found out, it shouldn't concern the Jinlin Guard."

At most, it was business competition. Even the murder at the Imperial Academy would be handled by the Shun Tian Prefecture and the Ministry of Justice.

"Let's wait and see." The young man frowned.

The clerk wanted to ask what to do about the shopkeeper but refrained from speaking further given the master's grim expression.

The young man chose to wait and observe, not because he was calm, but because he thought it wasn't worth getting involved with the Jinlin Guard over a shopkeeper. As long as the Jinlin Guard didn't come for him, it was fine.

To open such a large bookstore in East City and thrive within a few years, the young man had connections.

In his youth, his father's mismanagement had led to the family's decline. The young man, with his good looks, became a son-in-law to a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Revenue. Despite the official's relatively low rank, he had influential in-laws. Anyone who could establish themselves in the capital was not simple.

"Go find out more and report back immediately if anything happens."

The shopkeeper had tried to stay composed, but once he was brought into the small, dark interrogation room of the Jinlin Guard, his legs turned to jelly.

"M-my lords, this humble citizen is law-abiding—"

A man in his thirties entered the interrogation room and glanced at the shopkeeper. "Is the person here?"

The two Jinlin Guard members bowed. "Yes, he is here."

The man was a deputy commander under He Qingxiao named Yan Chao, known for his efficiency.

"Tell us, why did you spread the rumor that demons can emerge from *Painted Skin* to harm people, causing panic throughout the city?"

The shopkeeper immediately protested, "This humble citizen did no such thing!"

Yan Chao sneered. "Do you think the Jinlin Guard brings people here without reason? Are you afraid your murderous deeds will be exposed?"

This scared the shopkeeper, his voice rising. "Heaven be my witness, this humble citizen has never killed anyone!"

"Don’t you dare? It seems you won’t confess until you see the coffin!" Yan Chao, with his sharp nose and thin lips, looked naturally fierce, and his position in the Jinlin Guard only added to the pressure, "Wasn’t the victim in front of the Imperial Academy killed by someone you hired to sabotage Qingsong Bookstore’s business?"

"No, really! Our bookstores may compete, but it’s all business. We wouldn’t resort to murder!"

Yan Chao narrowed his eyes. "So, you admit to spreading the rumors?"

The shopkeeper's lips trembled, as if someone had grabbed his throat.

"If you don’t admit it, it doesn’t matter. It’s rare for someone like you to enter here. Not gaining some insight would be a shame. Bring him—"

Seeing someone approach with a whip, the shopkeeper fell to his knees without hesitation. "Spare me, my lord, spare me! I’ll confess!"

Yan Chao’s lips twitched.

Before the first lash landed,

The shopkeeper knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. "I heard a student died at the Imperial Academy, his heart ripped out. Since Qingsong Bookstore released *Painted Skin*, our business plummeted. In a moment of foolishness, I spread those rumors..."

"What about the victim?"

The shopkeeper froze, his face turning white. "My lords, this humble citizen had nothing to do with that death! I’m just a shopkeeper; I wouldn’t do something like that!"

"Not do it? So, your master—"

The shopkeeper frantically waved his hands. "No, no, our master would never kill anyone!"

"Give him two lashes." Yan Chao nodded to his subordinate.

With the first lash, the shopkeeper screamed in agony. With the second, a stench filled the air.

Yan Chao: "..."

As he raised his hand, the executioner from the Jinlin Guard paused.

The old shopkeeper, tears and snot streaming down his face, pleaded pitifully, "Sir, the deaths at the Imperial Academy really have nothing to do with our bookstore. Please spare this humble citizen; I will never speak recklessly again."

Yan Chao held his breath as he stepped out and reported to He Qingxiao, who had just returned.

"Sir, the old shopkeeper of Yaxin Bookstore has admitted that their bookstore spread the rumors, but he firmly denies any involvement in the murders. Based on my years of interrogation experience, it seems he is not lying. The victims found at the gates of the Imperial Academy were likely killed by someone else."

"Send him to Shun Tian Prefecture."

"Yes."

Due to the involvement of the Imperial Academy and the commotion caused, the case was not only handled by Shun Tian Prefecture but also involved the Ministry of Justice and even the Board of Censors. With the confirmation that the victims were not from the Imperial Academy, the investigation stalled due to the unknown identity of the victims. Without knowing the victims' identities, finding the murderer would be even more challenging.

The prefect of Shun Tian Prefecture was already overwhelmed and, upon hearing about the old shopkeeper causing further complications, immediately locked him up in jail.

Taking advantage of the situation, He Qingxiao proposed to examine the bodies.

Given that the prefect of Shun Tian Prefecture had just received assistance from the Jinlin Guard, he could not refuse such a minor request.

He Qingxiao, accompanied by an experienced examiner from the Northern Pacification Office, went to where the bodies were stored and conducted a thorough examination.

The examiner from the Northern Pacification Office, with his extensive experience, noticed an anomaly beyond what was recorded by the initial examiner.

"Sir, the knees of the deceased show signs of blackening and hardening, indicating long-term friction."

He Qingxiao listened and fell into deep thought.