Shuangcheng’s heart immediately settled into peace.
She originally hadn’t wanted to become enemies with Quan Feitong – after all, they shared the same mentor, and Quan Feitong had always taken care of her. But the current situation forced her to make a choice, and they would probably be at odds like fire and water from now on. However, no matter what, she and Lian Yu were finally on the same side.
If Huang Tianba answered this way, was there truly nothing she could do?
Her true intention was never about the wine anyway.
Her expression instantly turned cold as she addressed the two terrified bailiffs: “Magistrate Huang has already said he gave you no such orders. Won’t you confess the truth – who instructed you? Did you two plant those bank notes in Er Niu’s household?”
The two bailiffs trembled like sieves: “My lady, we truly acted according to Magistrate Huang’s orders. Magistrate Huang said there were buried corpses in Er Niu’s courtyard and told us to find an excuse to enter… We haven’t lied. As for the bank notes, that wasn’t our doing – it must have been another group following orders.”
Shuangcheng sneered: “Good! Not only do you frame Magistrate Huang, but you’re still stubborn. Come, administer punishment!”
The sentence was fifty rod strikes.
Fifty heavy strikes weren’t light. The two bailiffs were beaten until their skin split and flesh tore, crying out in agony. Suzhen watched with a pounding heart – these two were also following orders. Though detestable, their crime didn’t warrant this.
To the common people below, however, it was deeply satisfying. These public servants usually didn’t do real work but specialized in creating trouble, earning much hatred. Immediately there was another round of cheers!
Yet after the punishment, though the two bailiffs’ eyes held resentment, they still insisted it was Huang Tianba’s doing. Shuangcheng frowned slightly: “It seems you two don’t appear to be lying, but Magistrate Huang has always been an upright official. This is troublesome – who this behind-the-scenes instigator is probably can’t be revealed quickly.”
When she mentioned “upright official,” she deliberately paused, and immediately there was a chorus of boos from below. Someone mocked, and others openly said: “Upright official, bah!”
Through three court sessions, the people of Minzhou knew Huang Tianba wouldn’t fare well. Knowing that even if he could escape with his life this time, dismissal from office was inevitable, they no longer suppressed the resentment in their hearts and let it all explode.
Huang Tianba couldn’t help but slowly lower his head, like a defeated fighting cock.
Shuangcheng knew she was getting closer to her desired outcome and continued: “The Hu Wei case has too many suspicious points. Besides the deliberate house search by officials, we later found residual intoxicating incense in the soil where Hu Wei’s corpse was unearthed. Come, summon the coroner to testify.”
This coroner was none other than the young man Suzhen had seen at the post station, who had accompanied Shuangcheng and others on their investigation that day.
Shuangcheng asked: “Is this type of intoxicating incense common in the market?”
The young man had an odd, slightly embarrassed expression on his face. Finally, scratching his head, he said: “This intoxicating incense has powerful effects and is mostly related to seductive theft and sneaky activities. It’s mainly used by martial artists and really isn’t easy to find in the market.”
Shuangcheng smiled: “Thank you.”
She continued: “That day, Er Niu and others didn’t know how many people would come to negotiate. The killing could be said to be a spur-of-the-moment decision. Originally, for an ordinary butcher to get hold of this type of intoxicating incense would already be difficult, let alone in a hasty, spur-of-the-moment situation. From this we can deduce that this intoxicating incense definitely didn’t belong to Er Niu and others.”
“But this intoxicating incense was found right beside Hu Wei’s corpse. If it wasn’t left by the murderer, who else could it be?”
“Can we make a hypothesis? If the murderer wasn’t Er Niu and others, but someone deliberately framing them, then when would be the most suitable time to act? Er Niu and others lived at the village entrance where people came and went during the day – it would be impossible to act then. So it could only be the night before last, in the deep of night when everyone was fast asleep.”
“But would this be safe? No, not safe at all. What if Er Niu’s family and their dog were awakened? Under this concern, the intoxicating incense would come in handy.”
“After drugging the people in the house, this leftover incense would naturally need to be collected. Unfortunately, heaven’s net is vast – it accidentally fell out when the murderer was digging to bury the corpse. At that time the night was thick and dark, and the murderer didn’t even know he’d dropped something.”
“If this was how events unfolded, wouldn’t it be much more reasonable than Er Niu and others committing murder!”
Nearby, Philanthropist Liao quickly glanced at Huang Tianba, then said awkwardly: “But Er Niu and others have signed confessions. If they didn’t actually kill anyone, how could they confess?”
Shuangcheng sneered slightly: “Er Niu, tell us – why did you submit to guilt and take on crimes you didn’t commit?”
Er Niu and others looked at each other, expressions agitated, unable to speak.
For a long time, Er Niu, this fierce-looking butcher, finally choked up: “Like Old He and Auntie Guan, our parents and children were all captured. On the day we were imprisoned, we received mysterious notes in our food saying if we didn’t confess, our parents, wives and children would surely die… Later, the authorities told us our relatives’ bodies had been found, so we finally…”
He began crying softly – a burly man doing this was both ridiculous and heartbreaking.
Shuangcheng looked coldly at Philanthropist Liao: “This is why they confessed. Of course, this is just Er Niu’s one-sided story – naturally the philanthropist needn’t believe it. But compared to the philanthropist’s case, this case has even more suspicious points. If the philanthropist objects, saying the principle of ‘doubt benefits the accused’ doesn’t apply, then the judgment in the philanthropist’s case should also be void. Otherwise, everyone would curse me for unfairness, wouldn’t they?”
Philanthropist Liao was immediately speechless, unable to say anything for a long while.
Shuangcheng walked before Hu Wei’s sister and asked gently: “If this official judges Er Niu and the other three innocent, and Hu Wei’s case awaits further evidence before retrial, would you object?”
Hu Wei’s sister was lost in thought for a long while, then shook her head with quite firm resolve.
“Good.” Shuangcheng clenched her hands, her gaze quietly sweeping over the man at the right end of the judgment platform, her eyes even showing some moisture.
“Judge Gu…”
Just as her words fell, they immediately ignited the greatest cheer from the crowd.
In the thunderous sound, Suzhen saw Lian Yu’s lips curve up slightly and suddenly remembered her former self – back then she hadn’t been nearly as composed and outstanding as Shuangcheng was today.
Even if they couldn’t immediately convict Philanthropist Liao, who had long colluded with Huang Tianba, and even if Huang Tianba could only be dismissed pending investigation for now, bringing these two to justice was just a matter of time. Most importantly, the good people were all safe.
He was right – he truly didn’t need her specifically.
Her eyes also grew moist, but she smiled slightly at Leng Xue and the others: “I’ll go back to the post station first. See you later.”
The others were watching with interest when they suddenly heard her speak, all somewhat at a loss. Still, Wuqing was quick to cover with a light cough: “Nothing much to see anyway. We’ll just go with you.”
Suzhen shook her head: “I want to walk alone. See you later, Ice Block – don’t follow me either.”
Leng Xue knew that this time was even worse than the last – she must be feeling terrible inside. He was about to object when Wuqing whispered in his ear: “Let her be alone for a while.”
Leng Xue frowned but finally gave up.
Suzhen waved at them and walked into the depths of the crowd.
After walking some distance, she turned around and glanced toward the judgment platform, seeing him staring thoughtfully at Shuangcheng. She couldn’t help but laugh heartily – the Yangtze River’s back waves push the front waves forward. Ah San had a new opponent. When she returned to overturn the case, her life would be in danger, and without anyone in court to oppose him, how bored he’d be. She pulled out a silver ingot from her bosom, tossed it in the air, caught it again, a trace of cunning flashing in her eyes.
She had no intention of returning to the post station at all – she was going back to the capital, traveling alone, laughing alone, crying alone. Nothing could be better.
“Stop!”
She was humming a little tune as she walked in the opposite direction when suddenly a cold voice rang out behind her.
She was stunned – how could it be him?!
She turned around with confusion, seeing someone three or four steps away whose brows were habitually slightly furrowed – the expression most familiar to her when he faced her.
She smiled and greeted him first: “Minister Li.”
Li Zhaoting’s gaze held an indescribable depth. He stared at her for a long while before saying: “You saw the performance of several women today. You do have some intelligence, but you’re not intelligent enough to act recklessly all the way. There’s always someone better, always a higher mountain.”
The slight sternness in his eyes made Suzhen feel melancholy. She understood the meaning behind his words.
Actually, his feelings for her weren’t completely severed.
But why did she feel angry instead?
“Minister Li, I’ll say this one last time – I won’t leave until I overturn the Feng family case.”
She bowed to him and stepped away, but he was faster, reaching her in two or three strides.
She never knew that this scholar could be so swift.
She was somewhat stunned, but his expression had already turned cold, his angular jaw sharp as a blade. She had seen him angry before, but this kind of fury radiating chill was rare.
Just as she felt somewhat anxious, he had already grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a quiet alley ahead.
“When will you learn to read people’s expressions? You shouldn’t have followed here but you did. Now Lian Yu looks down on you, Gu Shuangcheng surpasses you in every way – you have no more reason to stay, no more capital to make people value you!”
He scolded her harshly, his grip so fierce it hurt.
She didn’t cry out in pain but raised her head to stare coldly back at him.
“Li, don’t take out your anger about Lian Yu and Gu Shuangcheng’s mutual affection on me!”
Suddenly seeing the coldness in her eyes, Li Zhaoting was also startled, but heard her say coldly: “Don’t advise me anymore either. I thank you for your good intentions, but I don’t need them. What I need is comfort, not lectures. I’m not as beautiful as Gu Shuangcheng, not as smart as her, inferior to her in every way in your heart, but I’m still a person – I hurt too.”
Li Zhaoting was immediately furious, but seeing her bite her lower lip until it bled, tears glistening in her eyes yet not crying and carrying on like before, stubborn as ice and snow, he felt an inexplicable pain in his heart for a moment. Those harsh words rolled on his tongue but wouldn’t come out. When he realized what he was doing, his hand was already touching her face—
Suzhen forcefully knocked his hand away, smiling as she asked: “Is this belated comfort?”
“But I no longer need it. Minister Li, do you think I don’t know why I angered Lian Yu? If I hadn’t come, nothing would have happened. I was afraid something would happen to you, so I rushed here despite being ill. Yes, you’re right – I’m powerless. I no longer have any capital to rely on.”
“But I am my father’s daughter, and I must overturn their case!” she roared at him. “Just as I can’t force you to love me, you absolutely cannot force me to do things I don’t want to do. If you were still my husband, I could listen to you in everything, but you’re not anymore.”
She turned and ran. Li Zhaoting’s gaze darkened fiercely as he gave chase without thinking. She suddenly turned around, pointing at him: “Stop! When my father died, when I needed your comfort, where were you? Coming to pity me now – isn’t it too late!”
The hatred in her eyes froze Li Zhaoting in place. By the time he came to his senses, she had run far away. Frustrated and agitated, he punched the wall – “bang” – a dull sound as dust fell, mixed with blood staining his hand.
Sorry, this update was written until 4-5 AM before being posted – don’t know if everyone saw the notice in the comments. The Minzhou case ends completely here. Because I can’t finish the work at hand with these consecutive updates, the new volume won’t start until the 1st. Everyone has this “ah, I was about to abandon the story when you finally decided to write the synopsis plot” kind of resentment. Actually, you don’t love reading the cubed mystery-solving, and I don’t particularly want to write it either >0<. The next volume will be all romance to bore you to death. Also, I specifically checked the backend last night and found subscriptions were higher than usual – probably some coins haven’t been refunded yet? Tomorrow when editors are back at work, I’ll have them check clearly, and if there are unrefunded amounts, they’ll definitely be returned to everyone.