Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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“Zi Shi[1]?” Governor Yu paced back and forth, then turned around with his hands behind his back and angrily asked Niu Erji, “Where were you at Zi Shi?”
Niu Erji’s eyes trembled with fear. “Master, I just confessed everything. Zi, Zi Shi? I should have come back and gone straight to sleep.”
“You didn’t even know your wife wasn’t by your side? What kind of husband are you? This is outrageous!”
Lu Qian stopped the furious Governor Yu and looked at Niu Erji, asking, “Have you and your wife offended any enemies?”
“No, since I entered the manor, I have never caused trouble without reason. My wife is also an honest woman. She helps in the kitchen every day and doesn’t often leave the manor.”
Governor Yu slammed his hand on the table. “Lord Lu told me to think carefully, why are you rambling on! Think about whether you have any enemies or adversaries in the manor?”
“Lord Yu, don’t be impatient.” Lu Qian was quite helpless as his sudden outbursts kept interrupting his thoughts.
“Lord Lu, how can I not be anxious? This murderer has killed two people in two days. It was one thing to kill in the street before, but now it’s even happening at my residence!” Lord Yu sighed. “Oh dear, I have so many women in my household, I wonder if the murderer is still hiding in some corner of the mansion! It’s truly worrying.”
Mu Feng chuckled. “This murderer can come and go freely in your governor’s mansion, killing people in the kitchen backyard and then leaping out of the window without alerting anyone. I think he’s very likely a martial arts master. Right, brother?”
Mu Zhao pondered for a moment and nodded slightly. “Lord Yu, if you’re worried, transfer some guards from the yamen to keep an eye on things. Don’t use the main kitchen for a while. I’ve had it temporarily sealed off. Perhaps we’ll need to ask the coroner to come and examine it again later.”
“Yes, yes, Your Highness is right.” It’s unlucky for someone to have died in the main kitchen, so it shouldn’t be used anymore. It’s only right that His Highness Mu has it sealed off. Yu Shoudao had no objection.
“Master, Miss Linlang has come with her maid.”
The group looked up and saw Yu Linlang leading her maid in gracefully, bowing slightly with her eyes lowered.
This girl was a bit cold, but her demeanour was impeccably refined.
Governor Yu inwardly praised her, raising his eyes to reveal a kind smile. “Linlang, how was everything after you returned home yesterday? I’ve been busy these past two days and haven’t had time to ask you in detail…”
“Your Excellency summoned us here just for casual pleasantries?” Yu Linlang interrupted his insincere greeting, saying calmly, “If you have something important to say, please do so quickly. I have other matters to attend to.”
Governor Yu choked for a moment, then turned to steal a glance at Mu Zhao and the others, saying awkwardly, “It’s Lord Lu who has something to ask your maid.”
“Everyone in the kitchen says that it was your personal maid who kicked open the kitchen door and went in first.”
“So what?” Yu Linlang remained unmoved. “There were more than ten people present at the time, entering the main kitchen one after another, with Mama Hu following behind Jiu Jin. Does Your Excellency believe that the first person to kick down the door is the murderer?”
Governor Yu looked awkwardly at the young gentlemen present and hurriedly said, “Of course, that’s not what I meant, but…”
“Lord Yu, let me ask the questions.” Lu Qian said helplessly as he paced around.
Prince Mu was a little dizzy from being paced around like this and couldn’t help but say, “Governor Yu, please sit down. Leave the questioning to Lord Lu.”
Lu Qian looked at Yu Linlang, who was silent with her brows furrowed. “Miss Yu, please sit down.”
“No need. Lord, please ask whatever you want to ask quickly. I have other things to attend to later.”
Lord Yu couldn’t help but jump up. “What do you have to attend to? Just sit down when I tell you to. Answer the questions properly. What are you busy with?”
“Does Your Excellency really want me to say all this in front of others?”
Yu Shoudao’s heart skipped a beat.
Yu Linlang’s sharp eyes shot towards Yu Shoudao, her voice growing increasingly cold, “This commoner still needs to go out of the manor to buy some daily necessities, from small items like bowls, tea sets, clothes, and shoes, to larger items like beds, screens, wardrobes, and shelves. This commoner has to go out and buy everything. Otherwise? Do you expect me to rely on your vast governor’s manor?”
Her face was full of sarcasm, her voice utterly mocking.
Cold sweat broke out on Yu Shoudao’s face again, and he clicked his tongue, momentarily speechless at his daughter’s retort.
Mu Feng nearly dropped the teacup lid in his hand, his eyes widening as he looked at the calm Yu Linlang, then at the little maid standing behind her with red-rimmed eyes.
“Uh…” Lu Qian coughed lightly, trying to smooth things over, when Mu Shizi said calmly, “Lord Yu, do you really need your daughter to personally arrange and purchase all the items for your household? That’s fine, but why make your daughter pay out of her own pocket? This isn’t common practice in the capital, even for a poor family.”
Yu Shoudao’s face flushed red, and he waved his hands repeatedly, “Uh, no, no, of course not. Linlang, uh, perhaps your mother is busy and has been somewhat neglectful. Don’t be angry with her. Ah, I’ll have the accountant give you five hundred taels of silver right away. Buy whatever you like later.”
Yu Linlang slowly raised her eyes, a rare look of something else on her face, “Don’t look back, go get it now, so that the young master and Lord Lu can be witnesses.”
Mu Feng almost burst out laughing, turning to look at his elder brother, also somewhat amused and exasperated.
This daughter is truly the governor’s own daughter!
Governor Yu was filled with mixed emotions. Not wanting to lose face again in front of the young master and his companions, he quickly instructed a servant to fetch five silver notes from the accounting office and handed them over to Yu Linlang.
Yu Linlang then sat down expressionlessly and instructed Jiu Jin, “Think carefully back to what you saw when you kicked the door open. Tell Lord Lu everything, no matter how small.”
Jiu Jin had already told the questioning guard three times and knew it almost by heart.
But now, after thinking carefully, she added, “When I kicked the door open, I felt her eyes were glazed over, staring at the beam. Now that I think about it, could there be something hidden in that beam?”
Lu Qian’s eyes brightened slightly, and he quickly called for someone to search again.
They had already searched every corner of the main kitchen without success, hoping to find a clue this time.
The search team returned quickly, and indeed, they had found something.
The item was hidden in a half-cracked crevice in the beam; the guards had groped around for a while before discovering it.
As Yu Linlang left with Jiu Jin, she saw the servants drag Niu Erji in again for questioning.
“Do you recognize this?”
Niu Erji stared blankly at the handmade wooden horse before him. “My lord, this isn’t mine!”
Though no snow had fallen that day, the air was still damp and chilly.
Yu Linlang turned and took a few steps closer, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the tears from the red-eyed maid. “Silly girl, why are you crying?”
“I feel sorry for Miss.”
“What’s there to feel sorry for? Just some insignificant people.”
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[1] Zi Shi starts from 11 p.m. and ends at 1 a.m.