There is a god in the sky

Chapter 85 The Arson Case at the Yu Mansion (Part 6)

One of the three corpses was a woman's, a discovery that forced Judge Yan to take seriously.

He assumed that Xiao Ji had examined the body and had no doubt about the authenticity of the record.

After all, Xiao Ji's ability to solve cases is well-known.

I heard that when he left Jianzhou, he had just solved a major case involving the annihilation of an entire family, and it only took him a few days. This achievement is something to be proud of no matter where he goes.

Judge Yan led his men to the Yu residence to recheck the list.

The servants employed by wealthy families all had signed indentures and were registered with the government.

Upon investigation, Judge Yan discovered that, apart from Lord Yu and his personal servant, there was no record of the other one of the three dead.

With a grave expression, he asked Madam Yu, "If you refuse to cooperate, then the cause of Lord Yu's death will probably never be found out."

Mrs. Yu was nearly forty years old, and even with her good health, she looked like a middle-aged woman with a worried face.

"Lord Yan's words are interesting. What do you mean I'm not cooperating? I've heard that you've already arrested the suspect, but haven't yet convicted her. Could it be that you're trying to protect her?"

"Does Madam mean Miss Shen?"

"Ha, she's nothing but a lowly maidservant, available to any man! What kind of girl is she?" Madam Yu retorted sarcastically.

Judge Yan ignored her and asked on his own, "This is Miss Shen's first time visiting the Yu residence. Putting aside whether she has been to Tingxiang Garden before, even if she has, where did she get the tools to commit the crime?"

Of the three dead, one servant was bound, another was a female corpse whose identity is unknown, and then there was Lord Yu, who was strong and robust. How could a mere girl subdue three people and then burn their bodies with oil?

"Who knows? Maybe that lowly maid is a fox spirit in disguise, with magic powers?" Madam Yu said casually.

"absurd!"

Judge Yan had previously felt sorry for Madam Yu, but now that he had entered the Yu residence again, he found that she did not seem like someone who had just lost her husband.

The mourning hall was set up at the Yu residence, but not many guests came to pay their respects.

Of course, this is related to the suspicious circumstances surrounding Lord Yu's death.

His death was gruesome, so his coffin was sealed early on. Therefore, when guests came, they would only offer incense and leave.

According to the procedure, the body may not even have to wait seven days before it is sent for burial.

When Judge Yan recalled Lord Xiao's instructions to persuade Madam Yu to open the coffin and examine the body, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Judge Yan coughed and said earnestly, "Madam, Lord Yu died at night, so the coroner may not have examined him carefully. Now that a female corpse has been found, perhaps Lord Yu's body was also mistaken. Why don't we let the coroner take another look?"

Mrs. Yu rolled her eyes. "No need. I'd recognize my own husband even if he were ashes."

Judge Yan was helpless.

Madam Yu stood up and said, "Lord Yan, there's no need to investigate the Yu residence anymore. I know that my master does indeed keep a prostitute at Tingxiang Garden, but I know nothing else... Guards, see the guest out!"

Judge Yan walked out of the Yu residence with a solemn expression.

He sent someone to investigate the prostitute's identity, and then ordered someone to secretly investigate the relationship between Lord Yu and his wife.

Upon returning to the yamen, he saw Xiao Ji sitting upright in the hall drinking tea, and he quickly told him the information he had found.

With more advisors, we might be able to find a breakthrough sooner.

"Actually, there are a few other places we can try, Lord Yan."

Magistrate Yan said humbly, "Please enlighten me, Lord Xiao!"

"First, regarding the source of the tung oil, it must have been poured not only on the bodies but also inside and outside the house when the fire started, which is why the fire was difficult to extinguish."

With such a large quantity used, did the Yu family not keep records?

Second, who instructed the gatekeeper and maid to collude on the same story?

Third, who had a motive for murder? Was it for money, profit, or love?

If we can find something out in these three directions, then we can prove that this case has nothing to do with Shen Lan.

That afternoon, Magistrate Yan interrogated the gatekeeper and the maid. Under severe torture, the gatekeeper confessed first.

“My lord, I’m telling the truth. Chun Cai told me to say this. She said that the madam hates it when the master gets involved with disreputable women. If that woman can be taught a lesson, the madam will be happy and will agree to my marriage with Chun Cai.”

Judge Yan was furious. "This involves a murder case, how could you be so reckless as to harm an innocent woman? Where is your conscience?"

The gatekeeper cried out, "I...I was momentarily bewitched, please forgive me, sir!"

Chun Cai had just suffered from the splint and was sweating profusely from the pain.

Hearing the doorman's words, she spat at him, "Coward! You think I'd even look at someone like you?"

She sneered, then said to Judge Yan, "If you want to kill me, then kill me. I wasn't lying!"

Judge Yan slammed his hand on the board and roared, "How dare you, a mere maid, lie openly before me! You have no nerve!"

He then ordered the bailiffs to give her twenty lashes.

After only ten strokes, the little maid finally couldn't take it anymore.

She lay on the bench, her voice barely audible, and said, "Sir... I'll die even if I tell... My... my family... they'll all die!"

"What if I guarantee that I will protect you and your family?"

"Heh... What guarantee do you have, sir?"

This was the first time Judge Yan had been so looked down upon by a prisoner, and he was displeased.

He ordered the yamen runners, "Bring Chun Cai's family here. Tell them I have more questions to ask."

"Yes." The bailiff took the order and left.

"I'll tell you when I see my family." Chun Cai closed her eyes and refused to speak no matter how much she was pressed.

Magistrate Yan thought the matter was easy to resolve, but the constables returned without bringing the person back.

"What's going on? Where are the people?"

"Your Excellency, Chun Cai's family... has all disappeared."

Chun Cai seemed to have anticipated this, so she didn't seem surprised.

Her face was filled with sorrow, and two lines of tears fell down her cheeks; she looked quite pitiful.

Shen Lan and Xiao Ji sat in the back room and listened to the whole thing.

It seems that this fire was not simple, and the perpetrator did not commit it suddenly, but rather it was premeditated.

Perhaps Shen Lan's appearance was just an accident, which made the other party think of pinning the blame on her.

And among the people in the Yu family, Shen Lan couldn't think of anyone else besides Madam Yu who possessed such abilities.

But why is she so fearless?

The next day, Sui Feng discovered the Yu family's secrets even before the government did.

The information was obtained by Sui Feng from the servant of the eldest son of the Song family. Whether it was true or not was unknown, but it was at least a clue.

"The servant said that Lord Yu is a frequent visitor to brothels and brings many prostitutes home. He and his wife have been estranged for many years."

Lord Yu has threatened to divorce his wife more than once.

However, Madam Yu's family was a prominent clan in Jiangzhou, and his position as a prefectural judge was secured for him by his wife's family. Therefore, Lord Yu dared not disobey his wife at home.

"In my opinion, a normal woman would kill her husband either because her extramarital affair has been exposed, or because Lord Yu has done something that has pushed Madam Yu to her breaking point."

In this world, how many women, if they can make a living, would kill the man beside them in bed?

Given Yu Yuanwang's terrible reputation, it's quite possible that he did something that Madam Yu couldn't stand.