Jiang Si’s words immediately caught the attention of everyone present.
Zhen Shicheng eagerly asked, “How can Miss Jiang prove this?”
“Would Magistrate Zhen be willing to accompany me to Juxia Lake?” Jiang Si inquired.
Zhen Shicheng nodded, “Of course.”
He had originally planned to examine the scene carefully after questioning anyway.
The group made their way back to the shores of Juxia Lake.
Jiang Si pointed and said, “Magistrate Zhen, look here. Although there are many chaotic footprints in this area, one set of footprints stands out clearly.”
Zhen Shicheng looked carefully and pointed to a set of large footprints near the lake, asking, “Is Miss Jiang referring to these footprints?”
Jiang Si nodded, “Yes, these footprints were left by my second cousin. If you don’t believe me, you can compare them with the shoes he’s currently wearing.”
Su Qingyi had a large build, and his feet were surprisingly big. Jiang Si remembered this clearly from a time she stayed at the Marquis’s mansion and overheard maids complaining about how difficult it was to make shoes for the Second Young Master.
When everyone rushed to the scene earlier, Jiang Si knew there would be trouble and had been quietly looking for clues. She quickly discovered this set of footprints.
“Bring the shoes Second Young Master Su is wearing for comparison,” Zhen Shicheng ordered his subordinates.
Soon, a subordinate brought a shoe and carefully compared it. “Sir, these footprints indeed match the owner of this shoe.”
Jiang Si walked forward a few steps and stopped at the edge of Juxia Lake. “The last footprint is right here, with the toe pointing towards the lake. My second cousin was facing the direction of Juxia Lake before falling in. If he was pushed into the water, the culprit must have been standing behind him. Does the Magistrate think my reasoning is sound?”
Zhen Shicheng nodded, “Miss Jiang’s reasoning is logical. However, apart from Second Young Master Su’s footprints, the others are numerous and chaotic. It’s almost impossible to identify the culprit’s footprints from these.”
As he spoke, Zhen Shicheng sighed inwardly. Like many crime scenes, important clues were often destroyed due to people’s ignorance, making originally simple cases much more difficult to solve. Yet, he couldn’t blame the victims for this.
Jiang Si stared at the chaotic footprints on the ground, feeling a heaviness in her heart. Among these footprints, one set must belong to the culprit, but with the arrival of rescuers and onlookers, it was now impossible to distinguish.
Jiang Si sighed softly, “The Magistrate has misunderstood. When I mentioned the footprints, I wasn’t hoping to find the culprit through them, but rather to let everyone know where the culprit was standing at the time. If there truly is a culprit, they should have been standing here. Does everyone agree?”
The crowd nodded in agreement.
Jiang Si lifted her skirt slightly, “My second cousin has a large build. Falling into the water like this would surely have caused a big splash, so the culprit’s clothes would inevitably have gotten quite wet.”
“So what? The sun is so strong, even if they were wet, they would have dried by now,” Madam Yu retorted.
Jiang Si looked at Madam Yu, “When I returned to the theater, it was still early, and those who saw me can testify that my clothes were clean. Moreover, Aunt, surely you recognize the fabric of my skirt?”
Madam Yu looked closely and her expression changed slightly.
Jiang Si was wearing a vibrant green skirt made of a luxurious fabric called “Biying Silk.” This material was perfect for summer wear, cool and comfortable, and favored by many noble ladies. However, it had one drawback – even a few drops of water would cause stains that looked like oil marks. Yet, Jiang Si’s green skirt was spotless, without a single blemish.
As Jiang Si had pointed out, even if the culprit was careful, it would be impossible not to get splashed at all when pushing Su Qingyi into the water. She had undoubtedly proven her innocence with her green skirt.
Jiang Si stopped looking at the discomfited Madam Yu and turned to Zhen Shicheng with a slight smile, “Regrettably, this humble lady can only prove her innocence. As for finding the real culprit, that will be up to Magistrate Zhen.”
Zhen Shicheng looked at Jiang Si with undisguised admiration, “Miss Jiang has done very well.”
Jiang Si curtsied slightly and stepped aside.
Jiang Zhan gently pulled Jiang Si and gave her a thumbs up.
Jiang Si smiled back but quickly composed herself.
Perhaps because in her previous life, Su Qingyi had “passed away from illness” soon after, she had subconsciously accepted this fact. So when it happened before her eyes, although her mood was heavy, she didn’t feel the uncontrollable despair she had experienced when facing the deaths of the Earl and Countess of Yongchang.
“So, the culprit might have changed clothes?” Madam Yu suddenly asked.
Zhen Shicheng nodded, “We can’t rule out that possibility.”
Madam Yu slowly moved her gaze, finally settling on Second Madam Xu.
Everyone followed Madam Yu’s line of sight, and several maids and servants instantly changed their expressions.
They simultaneously remembered that when Second Madam Xu attended the birthday banquet, she was wearing a sapphire blue persimmon-patterned silk jacket. She had left during the middle of the play, and now she was wearing a lilac brocade jacket with ten auspicious patterns.
“Sister-in-law, why did you change clothes?” Madam Yu stepped forward, glaring fiercely at Madam Xu.
Earlier, while watching the play at the theater, she had caught a glimpse of Madam Xu hurriedly leaving midway and had wondered about it, but hadn’t given it much thought. Now, thinking back, if Madam Xu had acted against her second son, the timing would match perfectly.
Madam Xu looked coldly at Madam Yu, “Do I need to report to you every time I change clothes?”
“I don’t care how many outfits you change on a normal day, but now that Qingyi is dead, the fact that you changed clothes makes you suspicious!” Madam Yu said excitedly, “Magistrate Zhen, she left in the middle of the play earlier, and the timing coincides exactly with when my second son was harmed. This can’t be just a coincidence!”
“Please calm down, Madam,” Zhen Shicheng soothed.
Madam Xu spoke calmly, “Sister-in-law, don’t carelessly throw mud at others. I left during the play because a maid came to report that Bao’er had woken up. I went back to give Bao’er medicine, and some spilled on my clothes, so of course I had to change. My maids can testify to this.”
Hearing Madam Xu mention Su Qingbao, Madam Yu’s tone became even more agitated, “Stop making excuses! You must have harmed Qingyi to avenge Bao’er!”
“Silence!” the Old Master Su shouted, his face dark, “Spouting nonsense in front of so many people, aren’t you ashamed?”
“I’m not talking nonsense! My Lord, even if you don’t want to air our family’s dirty laundry, you can’t let Qingyi die without closure!” Madam Yu cried.
Zhen Shicheng coughed, “Marquis Su, I’d like to hear why the Madam is saying this.”
The shock of losing her son and the failure of her scheme against Jiang Si made it difficult for Madam Yu to control her emotions. She revealed the inside story without hesitation, “Qingyi’s mind wasn’t fully developed, and he liked to play with others. A few days ago, while playing hide-and-seek with Bao’er, he accidentally pushed him off a rockery. Bao’er hit his head and was unconscious for a long time. Madam Xu must have harbored resentment and acted against Qingyi!”
Hearing Madam Yu mention her son, Madam Xu’s eyes reddened, and she laughed coldly, “Sister-in-law, you’re wrong. It’s precisely because I was heartbroken after Bao’er’s injury that I would never harm someone else’s child. As a mother, I could never do such a thing!”
At this moment, a youth’s cool voice was heard, “I’ve discovered something interesting.”