Chapter 195: Framing
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Chu Qingzhi put on her gloves and checked Second Master Tan’s body. His body had not completely stiffened… “He died at midnight last night. It’s been four hours since then. The cause of death was poisoning!”
“It looks like Tan Maozhi’s death, but the cause of death is different. Could it be that someone is imitating the first murderer?”
Chu Xujin carried the incense burner over. “Fifth Sister, look, there’s also fleeceflower stems in here.”
Chu Qingzhi took the incense burner and checked it carefully. Then, she asked, “Third Brother, are there any traces of human movements on the beam?”
Chu Xujin shook his head in confusion. “No, there are no suspicious traces in the room. Fifth Sister, is Second Master Tan’s death different from Tan Maozhi’s death?”
Chu Qingzhi thought for a moment and said, “It’s indeed different.”
The method of killing was different, so it might be a different murderer. Chu Xujin guessed, “Fifth Sister, I suspect that someone is framing the first murderer.”
Chu Qingzhi looked at Chu Xujin. “Third Brother, do you have any takes?”
Chu Xujin thought for a moment and said, “Fifth Sister, let’s check the roof tiles first before going to see Third Master Tan.”
“Okay.”
Chu Qingzhi walked out of the room and flew to the roof to take a closer look. There were no traces of the tiles being touched. She flew to the ground and shook her head at Chu Xujin.
The two of them had a tacit understanding and immediately went to Third Master Tan’s room.
The crime scene and the time of death were exactly the same as Tan Maozhi’s. From the looks of it, Second Master Tan’s death was very problematic.
The head constable walked towards Chu Qingzhi. “Miss Chu, this is the information you asked me to investigate about Red Crane yesterday.”
Chu Qingzhi took the paper from the head constable’s hand and read it. Then, she was surprised. “Red Crane actually came from the northern border!”
Chu Xujin said, “Fifth Sister, if Red Crane is the descendant of those generals who were killed by the former Lord of the Northern Border, then she should have been killed too. How did she end up becoming the daughter of a criminal official?”
The head constable pondered for a moment. “If those generals were convicted of staging an uprising, then they, along with their family members and relatives, would be executed. There can’t be anyone left alive!”
Chu Qingzhi said, “There are so many people. It’s not strange that someone escaped. By the way, head constable, did Red Crane do anything abnormal last night?”
The head constable shook his head. “No, Miss Red Crane went to bed early.”
Chu Qingzhi asked in confusion, “How can she still sleep after knowing Tan Maozhi’s death.”
Chu Xujin and the head constable could not answer this question.
Chu Xujin said, “Fifth Sister, I think Second Master Tan must have been killed by the second murderer. The second murderer wanted to frame the first murderer, but he didn’t understand the first murderer’s method of killing, so he could only try to make the crime scene as similar as possible.”
Chu Qingzhi was silent for a moment before asking, “Third Brother, why do you think the second murderer was in such a hurry to kill Second Master Tan last night?”
Chu Xujin said, “That’s right. He could have waited until he figured out the first murderer’s method of killing before making a move.”
Chu Qingzhi said, “Then that means he had no choice but to kill him.”
Chu Xujin said, “Fifth Sister, they all used fleeceflower roots. This should be a clue.”
“Third Brother, let’s go take a look at the Tan mansion.”
“Okay.”
The Tan family was very rich. They built the mansion beautifully. Even the stone slabs on the ground were of the best quality.
Chu Qingzhi and Chu Xujin wandered around the garden of the Tan mansion.
Chu Qingzhi said, “If the two murderers can get the fleeceflower roots, it means that the two of them have something to do with each other. If the fleeceflower roots can be found in the mansion, it means that these two people are very likely to be from this mansion.”
“Okay.”
She searched the garden carefully and really found some clues. “Third Brother, there are no fleeceflower roots here, but there are leaves of the fleeceflower that have been disposed of.”
Chu Xujin said, “Then our previous guess might be right. The murderer is from the Tan family.”
Chu Qingzhi said, “Most likely.”
The head constable sent the statements of the Family family members to Chu Qingzhi. “Miss Chu, can we send Second Master and Third Master Tan’s corpses back to the mortuary?”
“Sure. After you send the corpses back, get the coroner to do the autopsy immediately.”
“Yes.”
Chu Qingzhi walked into the pavilion and read the statements.
After reading the statements, she specially reread the state of the servant girl. The servant girl said that Second Master Tan had a chat with his foster son, Qin Zhiyu, last night. Then, a strange sound came from the room. About two hours later, Qin Zhiyu came out of the study. After that, Second Master Tan went to sleep.
Chu Qingzhi took out the statement of the foster son and found that it was the same as the Servant girl’s. “Why did Second Master Tan take in this foster son?”
Chu Xujin said, “Yesterday, I heard from Second Madam Tan that 20 years ago, Second Madam Tan went to the temple to pay respects to Buddha. She saw that Tan Maozhi, who was usually unsocial, was actually playing very well with a child. When she saw that the child was an orphan, she took him in as a foster son to keep Tan Maozhi company. Later, Tan Maozhi moved out for Red Crane, so the two of them stopped interacting.”
There was only this information in the statement for the time being. Chu Qingzhi decided to ask Qin Zhiyu. “Third Brother, let’s go.”
In the Tan mansion, the head constable temporarily arranged a room for questioning. Chu Qingzhi and Chu Xujin walked in. “Officer, please call Qin Zhiyu over.”
The constable was very impressed by Chu Qingzhi and was very cooperative. “I’ll call him over immediately.”
Tang Jinghong walked in. “Qingzhi, I’ve asked. The murder weapon that lulled First Master Tan many years ago was found in Old Madam Tan’s dowry box, confirming Third Master Tan’s words yesterday. The other statements are still being verified. I’ll tell you immediately after they are verified.”
Chu Qingzhi smiled at Tang Jinghong and pulled out a chair. “You must be tired. Take a seat.”
Tang Jinghong did not sit down. “If there’s anything else you need to do, feel free to instruct me.”
“Not at the moment. Take a rest.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Zhiyu walked in under the lead of the constable. He was a very handsome man. He was very masculine and was considered attractive among young ladies.
Chu Qingzhi pointed at the chair in front of the table. “Young Master Qin, please sit.”
Qin Zhiyu glanced at the people in the room and sat on the chair in silence. After sitting down, he said, “What do you want to ask?”
Chu Qingzhi asked the main point. “What were you and Second Master Tan doing in the study last night?”
Qin Zhiyu’s face immediately paled, and his lips trembled. He lowered his head and gritted his teeth. His entire body was tense, and he refused to speak.
Chu Qingzhi raised her eyebrows. What exactly made him so resistant to speaking?
She deepened her voice and asked again, “What were you and Second Master Tan doing in the study last night?”
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