Upon hearing these words, the group couldn’t help but exchange glances with each other.

The situation seemed to be growing more and more unexpected.

“The village chief never mentioned this matter to us,” Shao Mingyuan said.

Tiezhu sneered coldly, “The person who said this was just a drunkard who got drunk every other day. Eight out of ten words he spoke were lies – who would believe him?”

Speaking to this point, his eyes filled with fear, “But I believed him! What he said was similar to what I saw, I—”

Shao Mingyuan patted Tiezhu’s shoulder, “Brother Tiezhu, speak slowly, don’t rush. First, tell us when that person died and how he died.”

Tiezhu calmed down a bit before continuing, “That person died before the Imperial Inspector arrived. That day, he got drunk and said Xiuniang was murdered by someone. When the officials came, he would tell them this secret so he could get a lot of reward money to buy wine. At the time, nobody who heard it took it seriously – only I knew he was telling the truth.”

Speaking to this point, Tiezhu gave a bitter laugh, “I had the same plan. As long as the authorities came to investigate the Qiao family fire, I would take the opportunity to tell the officials this secret, and maybe I could help Xiuniang get her revenge. But unexpectedly, on the very night that man said those words, he dove headfirst into the small ditch by the village and drowned. Everyone else said he had this misfortune because he drank too much, but I don’t believe it at all! That little ditch was only two feet deep – why didn’t he drown earlier or later, but drown right after he said those words?”

“You suspect he was silenced?” Shao Mingyuan asked.

Tiezhu’s tone became agitated, “Definitely! There must have been someone in the village secretly watching us, and whoever was discovered to know something would be silenced! So later, when the Imperial Inspector came, I hesitated for a long time, but finally didn’t dare say anything. I don’t know who was secretly watching us, and I don’t know if he left or is still…”

Yang Houcheng smiled, “Brother Tiezhu, you don’t need to be afraid now. With us here, we won’t let anyone harm you!”

Tiezhu glanced at Shanzi and lowered his head, “I don’t know if I’ll be killed, but I’ve been regretting it all this time. I dream of Xiuniang scolding me for being a coward and letting her die with unrest…”

Shao Mingyuan exchanged a look with Qiao Zhao.

It seemed they had arrived at just the right time. A step earlier or later, and there might not have been this opportunity with Tiezhu.

This was a good omen. Shao Mingyuan smiled slightly at Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao actually understood his meaning, turned her gaze away expressionlessly, but felt inexplicably warm in her heart.

“In that case, Brother Tiezhu, please tell us carefully what exactly happened on the day of the Qiao family fire.”

Someone in this village was secretly monitoring – was the person hiding in the shadows still here?

“That day—” Tiezhu closed his eyes as if falling into memory, “That day I thought Xiuniang’s house was running low on water, so I quietly went to check on her. I happened to see a tall man standing outside her courtyard gate, talking to Xiuniang.”

“What did he say?” Shao Mingyuan asked.

Tiezhu shook his head, “I didn’t hear. Xiuniang and I…”

He hesitated for a moment, his dark face reddening, “Xiuniang and I always had to be careful not to let the villagers know about our relationship, so we were always very cautious when meeting. That day, when I went to find Xiuniang and saw someone standing outside her house, I only dared to hide far away and wait for that person to leave before approaching.”

“Didn’t you ask Xiuniang who that person was and what he said?”

“I did ask. Xiuniang said that person was asking for directions.”

“Was he asking how to get to the Qiao family?” Qiao Zhao, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly asked.

Only then did Tiezhu notice the young woman sitting in the corner. After being stunned for a moment, he nodded and responded with an “Mm. “Since there were often people visiting the Qiao family in earlier years, asking for directions wasn’t uncommon, so we didn’t pay attention. I told Xiuniang I’d come back in the evening to fetch water for her and then left quickly.”

“What happened next?” Qiao Zhao asked again.

“Later—” Tiezhu glanced at Shanzi, his face full of sorrow, “I remembered that Shanzi would be returning from the school in town that day, so I went up the mountain to catch a rabbit to add to his meal. When coming down the mountain, I saw that tall stranger again. I found him very strange at the time and couldn’t help but look at him a few more times.”

Qiao Zhao’s hands on her lap clenched into fists as she took a quiet breath and asked, “Why did you find him strange?”

“He had changed his clothes,” Tiezhu said, looking at Qiao Zhao. “When he asked Xiuniang for directions, he was wearing very ordinary gray-yellow robes. But when he came out of the Qiao family mansion, he had changed into all black clothes. Isn’t that strange?”

Qiao Zhao’s eyelashes trembled.

Was he afraid of accidentally getting blood stains on his clothes, so he changed into black garments?

This person was truly cold-blooded and composed!

“Did that person notice you?”

Tiezhu shook his head, “No, that person seemed quite hurried. Plus, since he had asked Xiuniang for directions, I didn’t want him to see me. I waited for that person to go far away before walking down. Unexpectedly, the Qiao family mansion suddenly burst into towering flames. It was I who shouted that there was a fire, and only then did the villagers rush over.”

Speaking to this point, Tiezhu’s expression became increasingly grim. Large drops of sweat rolled down from his forehead and splashed into the teacup he was holding. He paid no attention to this, downing the bitter tea in one gulp to ease the tension in his heart.

“After we put out the fire, I suddenly thought of that stranger. The more I thought about it, the more afraid I became, so I hurried to Ah Xiu’s house. I had just reached the door when I saw Shanzi crying as he rushed out, saying Ah Xiu had fallen into the water vat and drowned…”

Speaking to this point, Tiezhu could no longer continue. He slowly crouched down, grabbed his hair, and beat himself several times, saying hoarsely, “It’s because I’m useless and couldn’t protect my own woman! After that beast asked for directions, I should have stayed with Xiuniang all along. That way, Xiuniang wouldn’t have been silenced by that beast!”

“If that had happened, you probably wouldn’t be able to stand before us now and tell us these things,” Chi Can said indifferently.

Tiezhu was stunned for a moment, then gave a bitter smile, “If I could have died together with Xiuniang, that would have been good too. It’s just that if the villagers had discovered us, it would have damaged her reputation.”

The man was in his middle years, but his temples already had white hair. Crouching on the ground with a blank expression, not knowing what he was thinking about.

The young man suddenly spoke up, “Uncle Tiezhu, my mother would want you to live well. Only by living can you seek justice for her.”

Tiezhu nodded, “Right, I must live. If I don’t find that beast and get justice for Xiuniang, she’ll scold me for being useless.”

Qiao Zhao sighed softly, patiently waiting for Tiezhu to gradually regain his composure before asking, “Brother Tiezhu, do you still remember what that stranger looked like?”

Shanzi couldn’t help but glance at Qiao Zhao, thinking to himself: This little girl is younger than him, yet she’s calling Uncle Tiezhu “Brother Tiezhu” – isn’t she taking advantage of him?

The young man looked at the general again and vaguely understood something.

“I remember – I’d remember him even if he turned to ash!”

“Good, you describe him and I’ll draw him.”