“They must have gone looking for Gu De. He Shu was killed by the Gu family, and Old Father escaped back, fearing the Gu family would eliminate everyone, telling us to leave to avoid disaster.” He’s father paused here, his expression full of resentful hatred.
By this point, everyone almost understood why He’s father had hesitated earlier.
Even He’s father himself couldn’t provide evidence that Old Man He hadn’t killed anyone. He simply believed in Old Man He.
According to the neighbors’ account, He Shu had been to Old Man He’s house, they had a heated argument, and after that no one knew what happened. Whether He Shu and Old Man He had gone to Gu De’s house and the Gu family people had killed He Shu in anger and dumped the body in the village pond to frame Old Man He, or whether Old Man He had accidentally killed He Shu during their argument – no one could say clearly!
No one in the village could prove Old Man He hadn’t killed anyone, and no one could prove He Shu had died at Gu De’s house. But the last place He Shu had appeared in the village was Old Man He’s house – this was an indisputable fact no one could refute!
Moreover, the coroner had found cloth fragments in He Shu’s teeth, which upon investigation matched the embroidery thread of Old Man He’s clothing. He’s father’s description also mentioned that on the day He Shu disappeared, Old Man He’s outer jacket was torn, apparently from intense struggling with someone.
Based on this evidence, Huang Tianba’s judgment appeared completely legal and reasonable on the surface.
Of course, everyone soon thought of someone – He Jie, who had notified He Shu of Fang Rui’s trouble and accompanied He Shu to Old Man He’s house. If he had witnessed what happened afterward, it would be much easier to handle. But everyone remembered clearly that in the entire court record, not a single word mentioned this young man.
Shuangcheng immediately asked: “Old man, what about He Jie? Wasn’t he the one who took He Shu to Old Father He’s house that day? After He Shu disappeared, did you ask him about the situation?”
He’s father nodded, but his expression showed helplessness: “He Jie is a good young man, and he grew up playing with our He Shu. Unfortunately… that day, after I met Old Father and he returned home without saying a word, I was at my wit’s end and thought of him. After settling He Shu’s mother, I went to find him. When I asked about He Shu’s situation, he said that halfway there, He Shu had said he was determined to go to the Gu house to cause trouble and didn’t want to implicate him, so he told him to go back first. He Jie is quite righteous, but with elderly parents at home, how could he afford to offend the Gu family? It was helpless – he told He Shu to consult him if anything came up, that he’d definitely help if he could, then left first.”
Since the court records had no mention of this, He Jie certainly had no evidence to provide. Everyone had actually expected this to some extent, but hearing He’s father confirm it was still disappointing.
Seeing nothing more could be learned here, Lian Yue was straightforward and took her leave without much ado. Wu Yan and Miao Yin offered some comfort to He’s mother, while Lian Yue looked at Wu Yan with a slight cold smile.
Miao Yin said politely: “Please take care. If there’s anything requiring your assistance later…”
Before she could finish, the He couple tearfully said: “Of course! Please, honored officials, you must seek justice for our He Shu. He died so miserably, and his bride is still in another family’s house…”
As they spoke, they knelt again. Shuangcheng and Wu Yan helped them up respectively.
Little Zhou saw Su Zhen remaining silent from beginning to end, looking like “I’m spacing out,” and became angry, forcefully tugging her sleeve: “What’s wrong with you? If you have no ideas or leads, at least look active and say something casually. Don’t think His Majesty didn’t openly send people to monitor the situation – he definitely sent spies in secret. Without Murong Xin going back to gossip, if these hidden watchers report back, you’ll be…”
Su Zhen truly hadn’t thought of this. She was startled, then hooked her arm around Little Zhou’s shoulder: “I have no ideas – I can’t pretend to have ideas.”
“Pretend! You must pretend!” Little Zhou had a “you’re an idiot” expression.
Su Zhen felt unable to communicate with this person and walked out first.
Before leaving, she unconsciously looked back and saw the two elderly people in disheveled, tattered clothes, half-white hair, kneeling down again. He Shu’s mother’s face was sallow, with He’s father tremblingly supporting her. Unable to bear watching more, she quickly turned away.
Leaving He Shu’s house, everyone decided to visit Old Man He’s house and ask neighboring households for clues.
The villagers feared trouble. Their words showed sympathy for Old Man He, but they spoke tremblingly for just a few sentences before stopping. Their answers were basically consistent with what He’s father had said.
On the day of the incident, after the neighbors dispersed to their homes, they only vaguely heard Old Man He arguing with He Shu who had suddenly appeared at his door. After that, they heard nothing more. Whether Old Man He had killed He Shu and gone out to dispose of the body, or whether the two had gone to the Gu house together and He Shu had actually been killed at the Gu house… no one knew anymore.
Miao Yin sighed: “It seems we can only visit the Gu mansion to see if there are any new discoveries.”
But Shuangcheng said: “We should still visit He Jie’s house – there’s no guarantee He Jie doesn’t know something else.”
This suggestion immediately gained everyone’s approval. If they couldn’t find evidence favorable to Old Man He here, it would be even harder to find anything at the Gu house.
He Jie’s parents were startled to see everyone. Only after everyone explained their purpose and Wu Yan spoke some gentle words did they calm down somewhat, though their eyes still showed fear.
Seeing this, Shuangcheng and Wu Yan exchanged glances.
He Jie wasn’t home.
When asked where he’d gone, Jie’s mother said quietly: “Ah Jie went to pay respects to He Shu. That poor child was about to get married when this disaster happened.”
Su Zhen thought this He Jie was indeed a loyal and righteous person.
Everyone also wanted to see the site where the body was found, so this was killing two birds with one stone. They had Jie’s father lead the way.
On the way, they learned this fish pond was indeed a good place for dumping bodies. Several years ago, two children had drowned while playing in the pond, and some ghostly incidents were reported. Since then, the pond had been abandoned – not only did adults strictly forbid children from playing there, but even adults themselves dared not easily approach.
But later, because children were mischievous and several had agreed to explore the fish pond, they discovered He Shu’s body.
Spring and summer alternated. After walking for half an incense stick’s time through windless, slightly warm weather, Murong Xin wiped sweat and cursed quietly. After turning through another wooded area, they finally found the pond. The water was blue-green with a layer of filth floating on top, countless mosquitoes flying low, moss growing around the pond edges – a sticky, dark green scene. Dead leaves and withered flowers scattered the ground, showing this place was usually deserted – indeed a good place for disposing of bodies.
Around the pond were dried incense candles and paper offerings, presumably left by villagers who came to pay respects after seeing another accident occur.
A young man in a blue cotton jacket knelt facing the pond, sometimes kowtowing, sometimes speaking quietly. Finally, he turned to pick up the paper figures and horses he’d brought, reaching for incense candles.
“Ah Jie, officials from the prefecture are looking for you, saying they’re overturning the case for retrial, asking about He Shu’s matter.”
The young man suddenly heard voices and his hand shook, dropping all the paper offerings into the pond. He also fell straight toward the water. Fortunately, Leng Xue was quick-eyed and quick-handed, leaping over to grab his collar and pull him up, also retrieving the paper offerings and placing them back on the ground. Otherwise, they would have witnessed a scene of vengeful spirits claiming lives.
He Jie’s father was so frightened he cried out. But He Jie remained relatively calm and was quite polite. After glancing at the paper offerings, he quickly thanked Leng Xue and bowed to everyone: “I don’t know what you honored officials wish to know?”
Everyone saw dark circles under his eyes and red, swollen eye rims, but he was clean and handsome with fine features and large eyes, giving them a good first impression. Lian Yue explained their purpose. Only then did he show some shock: “Overturning the case?”
His expression was agitated as he urgently asked: “Can this case definitely be overturned?”
Everyone was startled. He Jie also realized his impropriety and smiled apologetically: “Because I’ve always believed Old Father He wouldn’t kill He Shu.”
Everyone was delighted to hear this. Little Zhou saw Su Zhen spacing out again, staring fixedly at the fish pond and paper offerings without finding it terrifying. She spoke before Shuangcheng: “Since that’s the case, please be sure to cooperate with us. Tell us everything you saw and heard that day – it might help overturn the case.”
He Jie’s eyelashes drooped slightly: “I’ll certainly tell you everything I know.”
“That day, you told He Shu that the Gu family had come to snatch the bride, which is why He Shu went to Old Man He’s house. It’s said you went together at the time. When did you separate? Did you see He Shu arguing with Old Man He?” Seeing Little Zhou asking questions, Lian Xin was displeased and also jumped ahead. She was naturally articulate, and having gained some understanding of cases these past days, her questions sounded quite professional.
But He Jie sighed and smiled bitterly: “He Shu is good-hearted and feared I’d suffer for it. Just as we reached Old Father’s house, he told me to go back, saying he’d discuss with Old Father and no matter what, they’d go to the Gu house to get Fang Rui back.”
“I’m also cowardly. If I were alone, I’d risk everything, but with elderly parents still alive, I…” He paused, his expression even sadder, not seeming false. “As soon as He Shu said this, I went back. I don’t know what happened after that.”
Though everyone had somewhat expected this result, hearing it still made their hearts sink heavily. He Jie apologized: “If you honored officials have no other questions, I’ll finish paying respects to He Shu first. Today marks a month since his death – I want to burn more things for him.”
He picked up the paper offerings from the ground and lit them. The paper offerings were quite elaborate – mansions, carriages, servants, treasures were all there, well-crafted and lifelike. Among them was a figure dressed as a bride with rouge on both cheeks, wearing a golden circle around her neck, a phoenix crown on her head, and bracelets on both hands, looking both terrifying and pitiful.
Everyone understood this female figure was probably made in Fang Rui’s likeness, fulfilling He Shu’s wish.
Just as He Jie was about to burn the female figure, Lian Xin cried “Ah!” and kicked aside a nearby stone, picking up a male paper figure from underneath: “Here, there’s this one too.”
This figure was much larger than the female one, with jade inlaid in its hat and thumb rings on its hands, exuding wealth and nobility. Both figures were very realistically drawn. Unfortunately, the male figure’s head had been crushed by the stone, leaving only a pair of intact eyes, adding an ominous quality. He Jie’s expression changed as he choked out: “I deserve to die. Fearing the wind, I used a stone to weigh it down, only to crush it like this… Alas, He Shu…”
Sorry, I felt this chapter wasn’t well written, so I revised and reposted it. I wasn’t able to update on time yesterday. Thank you for reading, see you next chapter.