Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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“The body was found in the alley ahead.” Wei Ling raised her chin.
“Everyone living nearby knows this is a dead end; nobody usually goes through it. Today, a few children happened to be playing nearby and saw some small wooden carvings on the ground. They picked them up and went into the alley, where they found the body.”
“The children were quite frightened, and their accounts were somewhat incoherent. They only knew that a dozen or twenty small wooden carvings of various shapes were scattered on the ground, like little eagles and chicks.” Chen Buyu led the group into the alley.
“We’ve already examined Old Madam Niu’s body. The preliminary examination shows the same manner of death as Niu Daji and Niu Erji. Both died by disembowelment, except that Old Madam Niu’s eyes were gouged out before she died, and the characters ‘Diao’ and ‘Du’ were tattooed on both cheeks.”
Governor Yu slapped his thigh. “It’s undoubtedly revenge! If it were a serial killer without a purpose, why would they target the Niu family and tattoo Old Madam Niu’s face? It must be a deep-seated hatred!”
“What about the first victim, Chen Ergou?” Wei Ling asked, puzzled.
Wu Yong, a clerk from the governor’s office, spoke up, “Based on our investigations over the past few days, Chen Ergou has no relation to the Niu brothers. However, he previously worked at the Liang Wang’s residence, but was kicked out by the steward due to his lazy and inefficient nature.”
“The Liang Wang’s residence?” Yu Shoudao frowned, pondering without finding a clue.
“Alright, let’s take Old Lady Niu’s body back to the mortuary first, so the Niu family can identify it.”
“There were only two brothers in the Niu family. Now, the eldest and the second brother, along with the second brother’s wife, Old Lady Niu, are all dead. Only the eldest brother’s wife, who recently married into the family, remains.” Wu Yong sighed. “Speaking of which, this eldest brother’s wife is quite unlucky. A perfectly good scholar’s daughter, yet she married into such a family.”
“You said the eldest brother of the Niu family only married this year? Do you know how much dowry he gave to the scholar’s family?” Yu Linlang suddenly asked.
“Oh, I asked about that too. He gave a full ten taels of silver as a dowry!” Wu Yong laughed.
This was a unique honor in the entire Niu family village. Usually, three taels of silver was enough for a rural family to marry a bride, and some even included a banquet.
“I heard the banquet was quite grand, a real honor for the scholar. But his wife has been married for over half a year and hasn’t conceived, so Old Madam Niu had started to complain, often glaring at her eldest daughter-in-law.”
“What’s there to complain about?” Wei Ling scoffed. “I think his second daughter-in-law didn’t get pregnant either. Maybe the Niu family was just destined to have no heirs.”
“Oh, no, according to my investigation, Niu Daji had a wife who seemed to have become pregnant two years ago. But she disappeared during her delivery, and when she was found, she was dead in the mountains— a tragic loss of both mother and child.”
“Then how long do you think it would take a poor farmer to save ten taels of silver?” Yu Linlang stood quietly at the alley entrance, watching them. “Two years ago, Niu Erji and his wife sold themselves into the governor’s mansion, signing a ten-year contract.”
“If they weren’t poor, why would they do this? Do you think it’s reasonable for a family that sells itself into servitude to spend ten taels of silver to marry off a new wife?” Yu Linlang looked at Wu Yong. “If it were Lord Wu, under what circumstances would you spend ten taels of silver to marry off your eldest son to his second wife?”
“Uh… that would be when the family has a small surplus.”
Chen Buyu immediately understood. “You mean, Miss, this farmer’s assets are more than ten taels of silver?”
“Niu Daji died at the Chang Le gambling den, and his brother had previously argued with his wife because he often gambled there. How much did these two gamblers lose at the gambling den? Shouldn’t Lord Wu investigate?”
“A farmer’s harvest and approximate annual income are all quantifiable accounts. If the accounts don’t match, there must be something fishy going on. When you investigate a case, shouldn’t you start with the details, peeling back the layers slowly and carefully? What can you find out by going around in circles like this?”
“This case may seem bizarre, but it is actually a deliberate crime. Since it has nothing to do with your Demon Suppression Division, you might as well hand it over to Lord Lu of the Criminal Justice Division as soon as possible.”
Yu Linlang left the alleyway after uttering a string of words.
Chen Buyu and Wei Ling exchanged glances, feeling offended and frustrated.
Wu Yong scratched the back of his head, looking dumbfounded at Governor Yu. “Uh, I think what you said makes a lot of sense.”
Governor Yu glanced at his dazed subordinate and couldn’t help but roar, “If it makes sense, why aren’t you investigating? Go to Niujia Village and search the Niu family, then ask the neighbors to find out what’s going on with the Niu family! Also, find out how much money is betting at Chang Le Gambling House. Oh, and invite the eldest daughter-in-law of the Niu family to the prefectural city for questioning.”
After rattling off a string of questions, he turned to Chen Buyu, who was expressionless. “Is that right, Lord Chen?”
Chen Buyu nodded and said to Wu Yong, “Go and do it.”
Governor Yu said with a forced smile, “Lord Chen and Lord Wei don’t need to take what my daughter said to heart.”
“Of course. Lord Lu is busy with the starving and sick people inside and outside the city. How could he find time to investigate a case right now?” Chen Buyu said calmly, “Leave the case to us.”
“Your Excellency, may I ask what your daughter did before?” Wei Ling asked curiously. “Your daughter is skilled in autopsy and bone examination, has a sharp eye, and analyzes cases with great insight. She wouldn’t have worked in the yamen before, would she?”
“Your Excellency Wei is too kind,” the governor chuckled. “My daughter has been recuperating at our small estate for many years due to illness, and only recently returned to the manor.”
“Your Excellency,” a yamen runner hurried from the alley entrance, bowing, “The young master has ordered the city sealed off, and tonight a search will be conducted along the streets for any trace of the culprit.”
….
Inside Yuchun Garden, Huo Shi and her daughter Yu Pianpian had finished their dinner and were snuggling intimately on the couch, whispering sweet nothings.
The atmosphere had been pleasant, but when the topic turned to Yu Linlang, Huo Shi’s expression noticeably cooled.
“I heard she’s been running around with your father these past two days, busy with the case,” Madam Huo said, taking a sip of tea. “A young lady should act like one.”
“I wonder when she’ll learn even a fraction of your gentle and refined manners.”
“Linlang is quite capable; ordinary people wouldn’t understand such things. By the way, Mother, haven’t we heard anything yet about sending someone to Xiaofu Village to fetch those old women?”
“It can’t be that fast,” Madam Huo chuckled. “The weather’s freezing cold and the roads are difficult to travel; it’ll take at least half a month to get there and back. Judging by the current situation, it’ll be considered a success if they can be brought here by the end of the month.”
“Then it’ll be the New Year’s Eve,” Yu Pianpian thought to herself, a smile appearing in her eyes. “Mother, what do you think about sending Linlang to our Shuyun Girls’ Academy?”
Madam Huo was somewhat surprised, looking down at her beloved daughter. “Why would you think of that?”
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