A raft?

What does this have to do with a raft? Ji Yinshu continued: “The murderer had already arranged to meet Du Mubai that day in the pavilion. He had prepared the raft in advance to row from here to the opposite side, so even the beggar at the alley entrance didn’t know he had entered. After the two met, the murderer had Du Mubai drink water or tea laced with a stupefying drug, rendering him unconscious. By the time Du Mubai realized something was wrong, it was already too late. He probably… wanted to leave, but after just a few steps he passed out, his back striking the bronze bell in that pavilion! Then, the murderer lifted him onto the raft and transported him from the opposite side to here! He then carried the unconscious Du Mubai all the way to that dilapidated residence we just saw and hid him there. Afterward, he also exchanged clothes with him.”

The old official asked in confusion: “Since he already exchanged clothes, why didn’t he exchange shoes?”

Li Cheng: “Could the murderer have forgotten?”

Ji Yinshu denied it: “Of course not!” She continued explaining: “I said the murderer is a very clever person! The reason he didn’t exchange shoes was because he was afraid of getting Du Mubai’s shoes dirty!”

“Ah?” She pointed at the ground in the woods: “Look at this place. Because it had snowed, the white snow and mud mixed together, creating a muddy mess. Walking from here to that residence would inevitably cover the soles of the shoes with mud. If the murderer had put on Du Mubai’s shoes to walk this section of road, the coroner would certainly have been suspicious during examination, and might even have discovered his method and tracks of committing the crime. So to avoid all this, the murderer could only wear his own shoes, then take the raft back to the pavilion, disguise himself as Du Mubai, and leave through the alley entrance.”

However—

Li Cheng still didn’t understand, his brows furrowing high: “But if it really was like this, shouldn’t that raft be on the pavilion side? How did it end up here in the woods under this large tree?”

“Because the murderer tied a very long rope to the raft!”

“Rope?” “One end was attached to the raft, and the other end was tied to this tree in the woods. After the murderer left the alley entrance disguised as Du Mubai, he immediately went to that old residence we just saw, then circled around to where we’re standing now. By pulling on the rope, he pulled the raft from the opposite side over here. All his movements were silent and without a trace!”

“How do you know?”

Ji Yinshu pulled out a handkerchief from her waist, wrapped it around her hand, walked to that rotted raft, reached down, and pulled out a tattered rope.

The rope was thick and very long, only after many years, the rope had obviously softened and rotted somewhat.

Li Cheng finally understood, exclaiming in amazement: “So that’s how it was.”

Ji Yinshu smiled and put the rope down: “So this is also why Du Mubai stayed inside for two full hours! Because the process of committing the murder indeed took a very long time.”

“Didn’t you say the murderer changed shoes twice?”

“That’s right! The murderer changed shoes the second time when transporting Du Mubai out of the residence. It’s just… I’m still not clear how he transported Du Mubai into the Literary Society? But it’s certain that the murderer once again disguised himself as Du Mubai and entered the Literary Society.”

Li Cheng interrupted her again: “That’s not right. You said the murderer disguised himself as Du Mubai and entered the Literary Society? But every night there’s a young attendant guarding the entrance of the Literary Society. You said earlier that the murderer was five chi seven cun tall, but Du Mubai was only five chi three cun tall. With such a big difference, the young attendant couldn’t possibly not notice.”

“I did ask the young attendant at the Literary Society. He said the same thing as the beggar—they both said the murderer’s height was the same as Du Mubai’s, five chi two or three cun!”

“Then doesn’t that not match?”

“Since the murderer is a clever person, he naturally made full preparations.”

“Hm?” “In order to avoid being discovered as the killer, the murderer would definitely think of every way to disguise himself, and there are two methods for this! One is to use the height of the hanging rope to confuse people, making us all think the murderer is someone five chi seven cun tall! And the second point is naturally the beggar at the entrance! Once someone discovered something wrong with the hanging rope, they would investigate Du Mubai’s movements, and naturally would find that beggar. But he went to the pavilion by raft, so the beggar would definitely insist that no one else entered besides Du Mubai. With the beggar as his witness, and the hanging rope to confuse people, the murderer’s plan could be said to be seamless. And he was also very lucky—six years ago, neither of his two preparations were needed! But he simultaneously overlooked two points. One point is that he wore the wrong shoes. The other point is that he wasn’t limping. A few days before Du Mubai died, he sprained his foot and had trouble walking, limping along very slowly! The murderer, however, was someone who walked extremely fast with swift steps! It’s precisely these two points that completely exposed his seemingly seamless plan.”

One really didn’t know whether to say the officials who handled cases in the past were incompetent, or to say Ji Yinshu was brilliant.

These two most crucial points were just overlooked like that!

Ji Yinshu felt somewhat annoyed in her heart as well.

After she explained it this way, Li Cheng finally understood.

It’s just—

“Then… who exactly is the murderer? Also, how did the murderer transport Du Mubai into the Literary Society?”

Ji Yinshu shook her head.

She still had no clues!

The old official gave her a sidelong glance: “So after all that you’ve said, Ji Gongzi, you still don’t know who the murderer is.”

Those in officialdom, of course, only care about results—the process can all be disregarded.

So for that old official, everything Ji Yinshu had just said about the murderer’s process was of no critical use whatsoever.

This was precisely what made Ji Yinshu different from these ordinary people.

She responded to the old official’s words: “Sir, I only said I knew how the murderer committed the crime, but I never said who the murderer was.”

“But…” “So what Sir means is, when you handle cases, you don’t want to understand the process? You only care about results? But if you don’t even know the murderer’s process of committing the crime, how can you find the murderer? It seems I finally understand why Du Mubai’s case dragged on for six years.” Her tone was full of sarcasm.

“…” The old official’s face immediately turned bright red.

For a moment he didn’t know what to say.

Li Cheng quickly smoothed things over: “Then Ji Gongzi, in your opinion, what should we do now?”

Ji Yinshu pondered for a moment.

Jingrong’s sharp eyes narrowed. He said: “The murderer had to prepare a raft and find such a long and thick rope—it should be impossible that he made it himself, right? So if we can find which shop sold this kind of rope back then, perhaps we can discover something!”

A reminder.

“Good, I’ll send people to investigate right away.” Li Cheng quickly instructed the guard he’d brought: “Then quickly pull out the rope and go ask from house to house.”

“Yes!” The guard complied.

Although the clue wasn’t substantial, it was still better than nothing.

By this time, the sky was already darkening. Li Cheng and the others took that raft back to the pavilion.