12dz Chapter 428 It really was someone we knew who committed the crime!
Chapter 428 It really was someone we knew who committed the crime!
Lu Qingchen followed behind Qin Miaoxi like a timid wife. Seeing her solemn expression, he even became cautious in his voice.
"Are we now investigating how the murderer escaped from the locked room?"
"You can put this issue aside for now."
"Why?"
"Because I have handed this difficult problem over to someone more suitable to investigate."
As they walked back to Master Wang's courtyard, Lu Qingchen exclaimed in shock, "Lord Liang, it's you!"
Liang Hongkai sneered three times, "Why don't you ask your good wife? She doesn't give this old man a chance to rest at all. Is she trying to work me to death?"
Qin Miaoxi flattered him with a smile, "Lord Liang, you are still vigorous and capable. You have been in charge of the Dali Temple for many years and have rich experience in handling cases. If we younger ones encounter difficulties, who else can we turn to if not you? Are we supposed to go to Lord Shao, who has been unable to catch the Ghost-Faced Judge for several years?"
These words undoubtedly pleased him. He laughed loudly twice and said smugly, "That's right, you should come and ask me. Don't worry, no murderer can escape from under my nose. Give me a day, and I'll find out the truth for you."
Those raised eyebrows clearly said: This child knows how to talk, say more.
"Thank you very much, Lord Liang."
"Alright, get on with your business! Don't keep me from thinking."
Lu Qingchen rushed out in a daze. Looking back at the figure deep in thought, he couldn't help but twitch his lips. His wife's charm had even captivated the shrewd and calculating Lord Liang.
Suddenly realizing his own inexperience, he decided to pity himself for a quarter of an hour.
When the investigation tasks were assigned, even the mental work was delegated to others...
What do we do now?
"Of course, I will conduct the investigation myself."
The Wang family had already been thoroughly investigated by the yamen runners. Apart from the unclear origin of the official silver, everything else was fine, so the investigation would start with the people involved.
The two saw Steward Shen and several stewards hurrying past from afar, and overheard their conversation as they passed by.
"Steward Shen, now that the master is gone, what should we do with our shop?"
Butler Shen's eyes were devoid of any warmth as he coldly looked at them and said in a flat voice, "Naturally, we'll do what we did before, and do it now."
"But without someone in charge, I always feel uneasy!"
"Yes! When will Madam return? With her in charge, we feel more at ease."
"The lady has been informed that she will be back soon."
The moment he gave a positive answer, the group finally breathed a sigh of relief, their tense shoulders relaxed, and smiles appeared on their faces. They were finally in the mood to chat for a while.
"You know, it's strange that Madam is like this. Her family is not as powerful as the Wang family. Going back to avoid trouble is not as safe as staying at the Wang family."
Another person interrupted him, "Safety? The master was murdered the very night he returned from the other residence, how can that be called safety?"
The man was speechless. Faced with the Ghost-Faced Judge's overwhelming power, all defenses were futile.
Raindrops fell without warning, and the group covered their heads and scattered.
Qin Miaoxi and her companion walked under the eaves and looked at the thick, dark clouds in the sky. A sense of oppression and gloom filled their hearts.
"The weather can change in an instant, and we don't know when this rain will stop, just like we don't know when we'll catch the murderer."
"The sun will eventually shine after the rain; we are only one step away from the murderer."
Qin Miaoxi gazed at the path ahead, her eyes gleaming with a determined light.
The rain grew heavier and heavier, the fine rain gradually forming a continuous expanse, weaving into visible silver threads that obliquely enveloped the world before us.
The constables who had been ordered to go out to investigate returned one after another. After all the information from the investigation was gathered and the matter was laid out, the once calm hall instantly erupted into chaos. Everyone was enraged by the inside story, and their faces were filled with barely suppressed anger.
"How dare they tamper with disaster relief supplies and do such a heartless thing? Aren't they afraid of being cursed with childlessness?"
Lu Qingchen clenched his fists in uncontrollable rage. Since they dared not touch the grain, they resorted to substituting inferior cotton clothing, coal, and herbs.
The cotton was not only old cotton from many years ago, but some were even stuffed with straw; the coal was also black coal mixed with a lot of soil; the most hateful thing was the herbal medicine, which was the life-saving medicine for the people, but they disguised it with withered branches and weeds. The few herbs were broken and tattered, yellowed and scorched with insect eggs, and some were black and rotten, with no medicinal effect at all.
Qin Miaoxi pursed her lips, her eyes filled with hatred, and said, "Those who seek profit always put profit first. What do they care about the lives of others?"
"No wonder the Ghost-Faced Judge issued a judgment order against the Wang family! Serves them right, these parasites deserve to be torn to pieces."
"They made their money by stepping on the corpses of refugees. Aren't they afraid of being haunted by them in their dreams?"
“If it weren’t for my job, I would leave the Wang family right now. Protecting them would be the greatest insult to the dead.”
"I am not the Ghost-Faced Judge, but I have the urge to kill."
Boom!
Qin Miaoxi slammed her hand on the table, her sharp gaze sweeping over the group, her eyes filled with a warning that silenced everyone present.
“Remember who you are.”
The hall fell silent instantly, and the few bailiffs who had spoken so harshly lowered their heads in remorse.
Qin Miaoxi continued, "Submit a copy of the evidence to the Ministry of Justice. Since we helped them catch the Ghost-Faced Judge, they should do something for us in return."
Hearing her clear and organized instructions, the group, who had been somewhat dejected, instantly perked up, their eyes blazing with energy, and they shouted in unison, "Yes!"
When only the two of them remained, Lu Qingchen said thoughtfully, "Could the real culprit also know about what the Wang family has done?"
Qin Miaoxi stared at him scrutinizingly, "Are you so sure the real culprit isn't the Ghost-Faced Judge?"
“Of course!” Lu Qingchen smiled calmly. “For him, even murder must be done openly and honestly, without any intention of hiding anything. As for such insidious and despicable methods, he despises them from the bottom of his heart, let alone using them himself, as it would only tarnish his own principles.”
"You seem to know him quite well."
Meeting her probing eyes, Lu Qingchen felt a sudden pang of guilt and instinctively forced a stiff smile. "He is, after all, my benefactor, and we've worked together for a while."
Why is my wife looking at me like that? I'm so shy!
Before Qin Miaoxi could ask anything else, he suddenly pointed ahead and exclaimed with delight, "They're back! Did they find the person?"
After saying that, he braved the wind and rain to go to meet them.
Qin Miaoxi stared at his back, her gaze sharp as a blade, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable certainty, "You can't escape. Sooner or later, I will uncover everything you've been hiding."
The constable took off his raincoat and reported to the two men, "Coroner Qin, we've found the person squatting in the flowerbed. It's Miss Wang from the Wang family—Wang Xiangxiang."
The constable was holding a pair of embroidered shoes. The soles of the shoes were stained with purple, and the shape of globe amaranth petals could still be clearly seen.
Lu Qingchen scoffed, "It really is an inside job. No wonder they're so familiar with the Wang family's defenses."
"Don't speak recklessly before a conclusion is reached," Qin Miaoxi solemnly instructed. "Go and invite Miss Wang here."
"Yes."