Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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“Why are there female officials in this Demon Suppression Division?” As soon as everyone entered the hall, Aunt Cui couldn’t wait to make her presence known.
“Ignorant fool! Didn’t you hear what Father just said? Appointment documents are directly signed by the Cabinet! I bet Aunt Cui doesn’t even know what the Cabinet is!” The mocking girl, no more than twelve or thirteen years old, wore a gold-embroidered silk dress and a headdress adorned with precious pearls, her face delicate and charming.
She stood behind a scholarly-looking concubine, her jewelled attire a stark contrast to the gentle and quiet concubine.
Aunt Cui, though rebuked, wasn’t angry. Instead she smiled sweetly at the girl, “Miss Zhihua can read and write at seven years old, so naturally she knows more than us concubines.”
“Aunt Su is truly blessed to have such a clever and insightful girl.”
The scholarly Aunt Su raised her eyes, smiled at Aunt Cui, and remained silent.
“Alright.” The old lady frowned. “Quiet down. When the Demon Suppression Bureau asks questions later, think about how you’re going to answer.”
Aunt Cui, the most outspoken, flicked her handkerchief and said, “That person died in the servants’ quarters, what does that have to do with us? In my opinion, they shouldn’t be asking us.”
“Madam, the officials from the Demon Suppression Bureau have asked you and the young ladies to go to a side room. They say they’re going to question you one by one.”
Everyone exchanged glances, then looked at Madam Huo, who was standing next to the old lady.
“Why are you looking at me? They have official documents in hand. If they want you to cooperate, then cooperate properly.”
Madam Huo left, but Yu Linlang was bored and a little sleepy. She had just laid down to take a nap but was woken up by Mama Hu in no time and was now really tired.
Fortunately, the Demon Suppression Bureau’s questioning was not slow, and Yu Linlang just leisurely drank half a cup of tea before it was her turn.
The servant led the way, whispering to her, “Master said, young lady, there’s no need to panic. The officials from the Demon Suppression Bureau are just asking questions as usual; just answer truthfully.”
Yu Linlang hummed in agreement and stepped into a side room.
The room was simply furnished, with a long desk in the center, where Chen Buyu of the Demon Suppression Bureau sat upright.
Seeing her enter, Yu Shoudao stood up again. “This is my third daughter, Linlang. She had been recuperating at the estate due to her health condition and has just returned home.”
“The deaths of Niu Erji and his wife have absolutely nothing to do with my daughters,”
Chen Buyu said with a smile, glancing at Yu Linlang. “Third Miss, there’s no need to panic. I’m just asking routine questions.”
Yu Linlang glanced at him expressionlessly.
“Where were you, and what were you doing between Chenshi (7-9 AM) and Sishi (9-11 AM) today?”
Yu Linlang answered without hesitation. “I was in my room browsing the Analects, the Classic of Filial Piety, the Precepts for Women, and the Inner Rules. My maid, Jiu Jin, can vouch for me.”
A hint of satisfaction appeared on the governor’s face.
Her daughter was quiet and elegant. Although she had been raised outside the family for many years, she was still a daughter of the Yu family at heart. Look at the books she read— she had such good taste.
Little did he know that Miss Linlang’s words about “browsing” were really just that— browsing, glancing at them, shaking them, and then putting them back on the shelf.
“Never left the house?”
Yu Linlang shook her head, expressionless. “There was a murder in the manor, and we were all very scared. Naturally, we wouldn’t go out casually.”
Chen Buyu thought to himself, “I don’t believe you! Looking at your expressionless face, you don’t seem scared at all…”
“I heard that the female corpse was discovered by your personal maid yesterday?”
Yu Linlang glanced at him and said calmly, “My lord, I think I should correct you. Yesterday, the female corpse was discovered by more than a dozen people from the kitchen. Besides my maid Jiu Jin, there were many other people at the scene.”
“Bang!” The side room door was kicked open with brute force.
Wei Ling, the female official from the Demon Suppression Bureau, strode in carrying a rattan trunk. “My lord,” she said, “this Niu Erji’s body, like that of the street thug Chen Ergou, was disembowelled, his heart and lungs removed.”
“However, unlike the other two bodies, Niu Erji’s limbs bear marks of severe beatings.”
“Based on the limb marks and size comparison, the murderer must have brutally disembowelled Niu Erji before whipping his hands and feet with a two-finger-wide rattan cane.”
“This was also left at the scene, very conspicuously next to the body, as if deliberately left by the murderer.”
Wei Ling placed a small bamboo ball on the desk in front of Lord Chen, stepped back, and squinted at Yu Linlang.
Miss Yu, eyes downcast and focused on her feet, remained silent.
“Was it a demon who killed him?”
Governor Yu pressed on. “Chen Ergou died in the street, but Niu Erji and his wife died in my governor’s mansion. Is there some unknown connection between them?”
“Did Chen Ergou have any family?” Chen Buyu asked.
“No, no. The reason we were able to identify him earlier was because Lord Lu sent people to inquire along the streets and found several street ruffians like him. According to Chen Ergou’s companions, he was an orphan since childhood and never married. He spent his days loitering in brothels and brothels, doing nothing.”
Governor Yu was completely bewildered. “I’ve thought about it again and again but I still can’t figure out what connection Chen Ergou could have with Niu Erji and his wife.”
“And what about this wooden horse and bamboo ball? What did the murderer mean by leaving these two things?”
Miss Yu continued to lower her eyes and remain silent until Lord Chen told her to leave first. Only then did she give a proper bow, turn around, and leave.
Wei Ling raised an eyebrow and squinted as she watched the young girl walk away.
Yu Linlang lightly flicked her sleeve, her gaze meeting Lu Qian’s as he approached.
The young master Lu, dressed casually, stood slender and elegant, his presence radiating a refined air amidst the snow and frost. His features were handsome and his demeanor gentle. Upon seeing Yu Linlang, he bowed first.
Yu Linlang avoided him and returned the bow. As she walked past him, her thoughts shifted slightly, and her steps involuntarily faltered.
Seeing her stop, Lu Qian turned to look at her. Noticing her hesitant expression, he couldn’t help but call out, “Miss Yu, is there something you want to ask?”
Yu Linlang thought for a moment, then stepped back and walked to his side. “Lord Lu, I wish to ask if the farmer’s family will be sentenced?”
Lu Qian nodded, his expression serious. “The Ministry of Justice has already decided on this case. The farmer’s family will be sentenced to imprisonment according to precedent…”
He glanced at the expressionless Yu Linlang and added, “The sentence will be at most three years, and the old woman who committed the act is over fifty; she would thus be pardoned and her son will take her place.”
One life, three years imprisonment— Yu Linlang sneered.
She nodded slightly to indicate she understood, bowed to Lu Qian, and then turned to leave.
Lu Qian was lost in thought when suddenly someone patted him on the back.
“What are you doing standing here in a daze, Brother Xiwen?” Mu Feng asked curiously as he approached him. “Has the Demon Suppression Division finished their questioning?”
“No, they haven’t gone in yet.” Lu Qian shook her head, looked at Mu Zhao who was walking slowly towards him, and said with a smile, “The young master has also arrived.”
“Big brother, let’s go in with Brother Xiwen and listen to what kind of trouble the Demon Suppression Division is up to now.”
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