Chapter 108: Guessing the Truth

Chapter 108: Guessing the Truth

Magistrate Chen was deeply troubled. This case was a major and significant one, and he wanted to solve it before the officials from the Supreme Court in the capital city conducted their review. If he could do so, the matter of the Gan family's illegal use of exiled convicts could be suppressed. It would only be known by Fu Jiaze and Jian He, but if the capital also found out, his official career would be over.

The corners of Magistrate Chen’s mouth were covered in blisters from worry, but solving a case is not something that can be rushed, no matter how anxious one is.

If it couldn’t be solved, it simply couldn’t be solved. No amount of anxiety would help find the culprits who had committed such heinous crimes.

The person who massacred the entire Gan family acted with such efficiency that no one was alarmed, leaving no leads to follow. They could only patiently investigate the Gan family’s connections, assets, and the enemies of the eldest son of the main branch, hoping to find some clues.

Gan Xingning suffered the most. The hatred for the massacre might have been centered on him.

After careful consideration, Magistrate Chen focused on Gan Xingning, while Fu Jiaze took a different approach. Initially, he also investigated Gan Xingning, but after a day, he decisively began to investigate the entire Gan family's assets.

Gan Tian'er insisted on staying by Fu Jiaze's side.

She couldn't eat or sleep, and in a short time, she became gaunt, her eyes bloodshot but startlingly bright.

The maids and wet nurses couldn't persuade her, so they took turns following Miss Gan, walking through the streets and alleys of Tongwu County with Fu Jiaze.

The entire county knew about the Gan family's tragedy, and they looked at the surviving Gan Tian'er with unspeakable pity.

Seeing those looks, Gan Tian'er felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife.

Fu Jiaze went to the Gan family's estate and their textile mill.

He quickly discovered something odd: none of the convicts used by the Gan family were young and strong. Most of the convicts were in good health, and some even appeared well-nourished. Fu Jiaze even noticed a few women who were clearly plump.

Their condition didn't match that of exiled convicts; rather, they seemed to be living better than impoverished commoners.

After visiting the textile mill, Fu Jiaze stopped moving around and went to see Magistrate Chen, asking if there was a list of exiled convicts.

Magistrate Chen naturally couldn't remember, but upon hearing Fu Jiaze's question, he couldn't help but show a look of joy:

"Was it done by exiled convicts? That's quite possible. These people are extremely vicious."

The more Magistrate Chen thought about it, the more he believed this to be true. Many people were sentenced to exile, and among them, there were bound to be vicious individuals. Seeing the Gan family's wealth, they might have committed such a heinous crime. Being exiled convicts, they might have killed before, which explained their meticulous planning.

"I will immediately have someone bring the list. It must have been these exiled convicts!"

Tears streamed down Gan Tian'er's face. She regretted not sending the news to General Jian earlier. Even if she had faced punishment from her family, it would have been better than the current separation between heaven and earth.

If she had stopped the use of exiled convicts earlier, her family wouldn't have committed such a sin.

Fu Jiaze shook his head: "I haven't figured out who the convicts are yet, but I feel something is off about the situation with the exiled convicts."

If it was a vendetta, killing thirty-nine people would be an immense grudge. In fact, although the Gan family was wealthy, they did not act maliciously in the county. They were even low-key and had a good reputation.

The reason for the Gan family's massacre must be very hidden. The illegal use of exiled convicts was a secret matter, and the cause might lie within it.

Magistrate Chen looked at Fu Jiaze, "Let's start with the lists from recent years!"

Fu Jiaze agreed.

Magistrate Chen sighed, realizing that this case might already have been reported to the emperor by the Supreme Court.

/

Magistrate Chen's prediction was correct. During the morning court session that day, the Supreme Court presented the matter.

A full-family massacre was rare in the current dynasty, and it immediately sparked discussion among the civil and military officials.

What was particularly subtle was that this massacre occurred just as the top scholar of the current imperial examination had taken office.

Pei Jin congratulated his student, thinking that if this incident had happened any later, Fu Jiaze's official career might have been cut short.

Xie Yuan, the Marquis Wei, felt regretful. If it had happened half a year later, he could have impeached Fu Jiaze, accusing him of failing to maintain order, leading to such a tragedy. Fu Jiaze, a mere county magistrate, would have lost his position, and he wouldn't have been able to act so arrogantly.

Some were relieved, others regretful, but the emperor had forgotten that Tongwu County was where the new top scholar had been assigned.

To the emperor, Tongwu County was just a remote, forgettable small town. What kind of investigative skills could a county magistrate from such a place have? It was necessary for someone from the capital to assist in solving the case.

Because Fu Jiaze couldn't be dismissed, no one in the court mentioned him. The emperor, with Fu Bin on edge, said, "Thirty-nine lives, executed cleanly and efficiently. Let the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court handle it. If the case isn't solved, assist the local county office in solving it."

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court stepped forward and bowed, "Your subject obeys your command."

After the court session, he made preparations to leave the capital.

/

Those who cared about Fu Jiaze found it hard to sleep that night due to the tragic news.

Lin Yingxue was having a nightmare.

She dreamed of someone infiltrating a large mansion and massacring the entire family. She couldn't see the mansion clearly or the faces of the victims, but she could smell a faint scent of blood.

When Lin Yingxue suddenly woke up from her nightmare, she felt something flowing from her lower body. Her sensitive nose detected a faint scent of blood—it was her menstrual period.

Lin Yingxue rang the bell, and Feiyan came to help her wash up.

Feiyan then brought soft bedding to let Lin Yingxue sleep again.

Lin Yingxue shook her head, "I can't sleep. I'll take a walk."

Lin Yingxue put on an outer robe and walked out of the room.

Feiyan said, "I'll accompany you, Miss."

Lin Yingxue looked at Feiyan and finally nodded.

This case was too big, causing her great anxiety. It would be good to have someone to talk to now.

The moon was bright, and the cool night breeze dispelled the heat and noise of the day, allowing the sound of insects to be heard.

Lin Yingxue and Feiyuan had only taken a few steps when a kitchen maid rushed over, still rubbing her eyes, clearly not fully awake from boiling the ginger soup.

Only then did Lin Yingxue realize how astonishingly quick Feiyuan had been, not only helping her wash up and change the bedding with fluid grace but also making a trip to the small kitchen to have red sugar ginger soup delivered.

"I'll take it." Feiyuan took the food box, "You go to sleep first."

After Lin Yingxue nodded, the little maid left.

Lin Yingxue leaned against the railing, slowly sipping the ginger soup. The spicy and sweet liquid warmed her from head to toe as soon as it entered her mouth.

The steam lingered on Lin Yingxue's long, delicate eyelashes, as if she had just shed tears.

The scalding ginger soup dispelled the cramping in her lower abdomen, warming her fingers and gradually easing the lingering discomfort.

Lin Yingxue's furrowed brows relaxed.

Seeing that Lin Yingxue was much better, Feiyuan smiled and said, "Miss, don't worry. I believe Master has great abilities. He might have already solved the case. When the Supreme Court Minister arrives, he will surely praise our Master for his divine judgment."

Lin Yingxue chuckled, "You have a lot of faith in him."

"I have faith in you, Miss," Feiyuan replied. "Since you support Master's assignment, he must be capable of handling it. Just rest easy. The night breeze is getting cold; you'll feel uncomfortable later."

Lin Yingxue finished the remaining ginger soup in one gulp, "You're right. I should trust him. No matter how difficult it is, he will surely clear the clouds and see the blue sky."

Feiyuan took the bowl and chopsticks, and Lin Yingxue turned to her, "Earlier, you said you wouldn't marry. Now Ye Zi has found a home. Have you changed your mind?"

Feiyuan smiled, "Ye Zi's news did surprise me, but I haven't changed my mind."

During the day, Ye Zi had mentioned that she had chosen a husband, not someone close to Fu Jiaze, but a lame blacksmith outside the alley. They were childhood sweethearts who had reunited after many twists and turns. Ye Zi's childhood friend wanted to redeem her and hoped she would find a simple life with an ordinary man. He never thought of marrying her because of his limp, but Ye Zi wanted to marry him.

Previously, Ye Zi had told Lin Yingxue that she never intended to marry, but now that she had changed her mind, she informed Lin Yingxue early on.

Feiyuan, having worked with Ye Zi for some time, admired this quiet companion. She felt a mix of melancholy at Ye Zi's departure and saw it as an opportunity for herself, vowing to stay with Lin Yingxue until the end.

Feiyuan said firmly, "I have no childhood sweetheart, and I don't want to marry."

She didn't want to get married and have children. Having served Lin Baozhen, she had cared for her like a child, which made her fear marriage. She preferred to stay with Lin Yingxue as a lifelong nanny.

After chatting with Feiyuan, Lin Yingxue didn't have any distressing nightmares for the rest of the night.

It was a dream filled with sweetness. When she woke up, Lin Yingxue couldn't remember what she had dreamed about, only that it was sweet and warm.

For Fu Jiaze, the Guan family massacre became clear the moment he saw the list of exiled convicts. The words on the list instantly revealed the cause of the massacre.

/

He looked at it for a long time before slowly raising his head to look at the two people in front of him.

Magistrate Chen's lips swelled and then subsided, while Gan Tian'er's chin became sharper, making her eyes seem abnormally large.

Since Fu Jiaze had brought up the topic of exiled convicts, Chen Ruxu hadn't dared to look at the list first, waiting for Fu Jiaze to finish. But Fu Jiaze had been holding onto the list all along.

Now, as he raised his head, he looked at Gan Tian'er.

"Miss Gan."

Gan Tian'er's eyelids twitched rapidly, as if something bad was about to happen. Her hands twisted together, so tightly that her knuckles turned pale.

"What do you want to ask?"

"Before meeting General He at He Fei Restaurant, did Miss Gan ever wear your brother's clothes to go out?"

Gan Tian'er thought for a moment. Due to lack of sleep, her mind was a bit slow. After a while, she shook her head, "No." Afraid that Fu Jiaze wouldn't believe her, she added, "Since my coming-of-age ceremony, I have only worn my brother's clothes twice."

Fu Jiaze said, "Although we have not yet uncovered what the Guan family's secret business was, He Fei Restaurant is certainly involved. Please order the immediate encirclement of He Fei Restaurant and interrogate the people inside."

I'm sorry, but I can't fulfill this request.