San Ni repeatedly muttered about seeing ghosts, and some bold busybodies ran to the Qiao family ruins, where they indeed found the lantern that San Ni and the deceased Wang family youngest son had left behind during their secret meeting last night.
Two people who had been to the Qiao family ruins—one dead, one mad—this undoubtedly confirmed the matter of the Qiao family’s wronged souls turning into evil spirits to harm people due to the coffin examination.
For a time, the village was in an uproar. When they saw Qiao Zhao and her group, they instinctively averted their gazes, concealing the resentment in their eyes.
They common folk couldn’t afford to offend important people, but important people shouldn’t harm others like this!
In the Tofu Beauty’s residence, Coroner Qian sneered: “Bullshit about evil spirits harming people. I could tell at a glance that the Wang family’s youngest son had his neck twisted and broken by someone. Judging from the angle of the finger marks, that person’s height should be about the same as the Marquis’s.”
About the same height as Shao Mingyuan?
Qiao Zhao suddenly thought of something and glanced at Shao Mingyuan.
Shao Mingyuan’s eyes darkened, clearly thinking the same thing.
Yang Houcheng plopped down and rubbed his hair: “No matter how he died, I can see that the people of Baiyun Village can’t wait for us to get lost. Tingquan, if we want to get clues about the Qiao family fire from the villagers later, I’m afraid it’ll be harder than ascending to heaven.”
Shao Mingyuan nodded.
The villagers were mostly ignorant and believed in the ghost story. They would harbor blame and taboo against them. When questioned later, they would claim to know nothing, and they couldn’t subject these ordinary villagers to severe interrogation.
“Tingquan, could someone have deliberately killed to divert attention to ghosts to stop you from investigating further?” Chi Can asked.
“That’s also possible.”
“Then what do you plan to do? Stay in Baiyun Village?”
Shao Mingyuan smiled: “The other party doesn’t know that we’ve already found the clues we needed from Baiyun Village. Even if they intended to kill and blame it on ghosts, it does not affect us. I plan to visit the Qiao family’s old friends, then leave this place.”
“To the South Sea?”
“Yes, to the South Sea.”
When only Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan remained, Qiao Zhao asked: “Do you think the Wang family youngest son’s death was the other party trying to interfere with our investigation?”
“What does Zhaozhao think?”
Qiao Zhao walked to the table: “That’s just one possibility. Another possibility is killing to silence.”
She picked up a brush and quickly drew a layout map of Baiyun Village, pointing to the easternmost part: “Look, here is the Wang family, living at the village head. The village chief’s house is in the center of the village, while our family is at the village tail, going further west past Xingzi Grove. Last night, the Wang family youngest son and San Ni fled in panic. When they reached here, San Ni returned to the village chief’s house. This entire stretch of road was safe for them.”
Shao Mingyuan nodded: “Correct. This proves that when we went there last night, no one followed us, so they didn’t encounter the murderer.”
“Right. The Wang family youngest son met with trouble here, very close to his home. General Shao, what do you think was the reason he encountered the murderer here?”
Their thoughts were extremely in sync. Shao Mingyuan immediately said: “The most likely reason is that someone happened to be sneaking into Baiyun Village at that time, unexpectedly encountering the Wang family youngest son, so they killed to silence him.”
Qiao Zhao’s eyes curved: “I was thinking the same thing.”
A cold light flashed in Shao Mingyuan’s eyes: “About the same height as me—that person is very likely the murderer Tiezhu saw. When we went to Baiyun Town to visit the Xie family, Governor Li couldn’t sit still and sent this expert to monitor us.”
Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together, her expression icy: “That person is also clever. After killing to silence, he immediately thought of diverting attention. This morning, rumors about the Wang family youngest son being harmed by evil spirits spread everywhere. The other party certainly fanned the flames, wanting to kill two birds with one stone.”
Today’s nonsensical talk from the villagers had angered Qiao Zhao considerably. Shao Mingyuan felt very distressed and reached out to take her hand: “The villagers are ignorant; don’t bother with them. It’s good that the other party can’t keep their composure. Only when they can’t hold back and make a move can we catch their tail. Zhaozhao, what do you think Governor Li’s reaction would be if we captured this expert by his side?”
Qiao Zhao pondered briefly and chuckled softly: “Probably like a cornered dog jumping over a wall.”
“That’s exactly what we want—for him to jump over walls in desperation! Xiao Zhao, continue accompanying this marquis to visit the Qiao family’s old friends.” Knowing Qiao Zhao was in a bad mood, Shao Mingyuan deliberately teased her.
“This marquis?” Qiao Zhao raised an eyebrow.
This form of address was rather novel.
The man chuckled low: “Your husband?”
Qiao Zhao’s face reddened uncontrollably. She glared at him: “Nonsense! Hurry up and prepare to depart!”
The man across from her gazed at her intently, unblinking.
Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together.
What was this fool daydreaming about now?
“Zhaozhao, last night I dreamed of our wedding night—”
“Shut up!” Qiao Zhao stormed off with a dark face.
The abandoned young general touched his nose.
He just wanted to tell Zhaozhao that last night he dreamed they had just finished the wedding ceremony when an imperial edict arrived, and he had to go to war again without having time to see her. This dream left him feeling unsettled even after waking up.
Why did Zhaozhao get angry and leave before he finished speaking?
Even after they set out, the young general was still seriously pondering this question.
Over the following days, the people of Baiyun Village increasingly isolated Qiao Zhao and her group. Although they didn’t dare speak of driving them out of the village due to their status, they no longer showed their former enthusiasm, wishing they could hide far away whenever they saw them from a distance.
Having had their previous conversation, everyone paid no mind to this. They left Chi Can and Yang Houcheng to deal with County Magistrate Wang and others, while Qiao Zhao accompanied Shao Mingyuan to visit one or two Qiao family old friends each day.
Governor Li’s side became increasingly puzzled by their actions.
“Marquis Guanjun has been visiting Qiao family’s old friends daily these past few days. He doesn’t seem very concerned about the Qiao family fire case.”
“Sir, don’t let your guard down. Marquis Guanjun putting on this attitude might be deliberately trying to confuse us.”
“Naturally. That’s why I called Liu Hu back to watch him.”
The advisor frowned: “Sir, I think calling Liu Hu back is somewhat risky. Liu Hu was, after all, one of those who acted against the Qiao family—”
Governor Li smiled dismissively: “Legend has it that Marquis Guanjun’s martial arts are unrivaled. Without calling Liu Hu back, I’d feel uneasy. Master Han, rest assured. When Liu Hu acted against the Qiao family that day, only a widow living at the westernmost part of Baiyun Village saw him, and that widow had already been silenced by Liu Hu. So, except for us, no one else in this world knows about this matter. Liu Hu has been by my side for many years—suddenly setting him aside and not using him is inconvenient.”
Speaking of this, a cold light flashed in Governor Li’s eyes: “Moreover, our reinforcements will arrive soon. Even if there are any accidents, Marquis Guanjun and his people won’t be able to escape!”
Coming out of the Zhu family in Jia Feng City, Qiao Zhao’s expression was grave: “General Shao, I’m wondering—was Uncle Zhu’s fall from his horse an accident? Seeing Brother Zhu’s grief today, I feel rather uncomfortable.”
Brother Zhu?
Hearing this form of address, the young general’s brow furrowed.