Chapter 568: Suicide
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xiao Juan’s expression darkened as he reflected on what had transpired.
To think that he was confident in his extraordinary five senses. In the end, he did not even notice that they had been followed.
He pursed his thin lips and said coldly.
“They could have been hiding in the dark all along. Now that they suddenly appeared to snatch the donkey bone, it means that our investigation direction is not wrong. We are approaching the truth step by step.”
Although that was the case, no one felt relaxed. Instead, their mood became even heavier.
They had only found a little, but there were already so many experts chasing after them.
If they continued to investigate, their future situation would definitely be even more dangerous.
Yuan Jin returned quickly.
He bowed and promised again.
“I’ve already sent someone to chase after the assassins outside the city. Your Highness, don’t worry. As long as they’re still in Bashu County, I’ll definitely capture them and give you an explanation!”
Hearing this, Yu Niaoniao revealed a strange expression.
“Duke Lang and I had no intention of leaving the city tonight. It was because our people had encountered some trouble and were delayed. That was why we had to decide to leave the city at the last minute to look for them.”
“However, we were attacked by an assassin on the way back to the city. County
Governor Yuan, do you think all of this is a coincidence?”
Yuan Jin looked at her in a daze. “You are?”
Before Yu Niaoniao could answer, Xiao Juan spoke first.
“She’s my County Princess. Answer her question.”
Yuan Jin hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed to Yu Niaoniao. “Greetings, County Princess. If you have any doubts, feel free to say them. I’ll definitely investigate.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “You have a low-ranking official under you who has brought people to cause trouble for us time and time again. Originally, I didn’t take him seriously, but tonight, it was because of his pestering that we decided to leave the city at the last minute. Moreover, not long after we separated from that official, we were assassinated.”
Yuan Jin broke out in cold sweat. “Was there actually such a thing? May I ask, Princess Consort, what’s that lowly official’s name? I’ll definitely investigate him!”
Yu Niaoniao said, “1 don’t know his name.”
Yuan Jin said, “Then I’ll call all the low-ranking officials in the residence over and let you recognize them one by one.”
However, Yu Niaoniao said, “There’s no need to go through so much trouble. I remember his appearance. I can draw it for you to see.”
Yuan Jin immediately ordered someone to bring over pen, ink, paper, and inkstone and personally laid out paper and ink for the princess consort.
He had seen many portraits and knew that there was a huge difference between portraits and real people. Therefore, he did not have much hope for the County Princess’s work, but he did not dare to dampen the County Princess’s interest and could only stand at the side and watch silently.
However, when he saw the County Princess outline a vivid face on the paper with just a few strokes, he could not help but be stunned.
According to the image in her memory, Yu Niaoniao kept drawing. Her facial features became clearer and clearer, and the entire figure became more and more real.
It was so real that it seemed like it would come to life at any time.
Yuan Jin was surprised by the County Princess’s exquisite painting skills and could not help but praise.
“This painting is wonderful!”
Yu Niaoniao put down her paintbrush and asked, “Have you seen this person?”
Yuan Jin looked at the portrait carefully. “He looks very familiar, but I can’t remember who he is.”
There were many small officials in the residence. As a county governor, he was very busy every day. How could he have the time to remember an unknown official?
Yuan Jin called the head official over and pointed at the man in the portrait.
“Do you know this person?”
The head official was in charge of the personnel changes in the county governor’s residence. He knew everyone in the residence, so he recognized them at a glance.
“This is a small official under Official Gao. His name is Li Jia, and he’s in charge of the security of an area in the east of the city.”
Yuan Jin immediately said, “Bring him over!”
Seeing that the county governor’s mood was not good, the head official did not dare to ask further and hurriedly agreed.
“Yes!”
The head official hurriedly retreated.
He left for a long time.
Yuan Jin was nervous. From time to time, he would steal a glance at Duke Lang and the Princess Consort, afraid that they would be unhappy.
Just as Yuan Jin was about to ask someone to look for the head official, he saw the head official hurriedly barge in.
Before Yuan Jin could ask, the head official knelt on the ground and told him everything.
“County Governor, I went to look for Li Jia when I was informed that he was not in the residence. Therefore, I brought someone to his house, only to discover that he had already died at home!”
Yuan Jin’s expression changed and he hurriedly asked, “How did he die?” Guardian: “He… he hanged himself. When we arrived at his house, he was already dead.”
If he wasn’t guilty, why would he have committed suicide?
Yuan Jin could not help but feel nervous. Could it be that Li Jia had really colluded with an assassin to assassinate Duke Lang?
However, Li Jia was only an unknown official. He had nothing to do with Duke Lang. Was there a need to take the risk to go against him?
Li Jia’s death was very sudden, but Xiao Juan did not react much.
He asked calmly.
“Where’s Li Jia’s corpse?”
The head official did not know the identity of the person in front of him, so he did not answer. Instead, he looked up at Yuan Jin.
Yuan Jin said angrily, “Why are you looking at me? Just say what you know!”
Since the County Governor had said so, the head official naturally had nothing to worry about.
“The corpse has been brought back to the County Governor’s Mansion.”
Xiao Juan said, “Carry it in.”
The head otticial looked at Yuan Jin again.
Yuan Jin glared. “Aren’t you going?!”
The head official hurriedly got up and went outside to get someone to carry the corpse into the house.
Lo Pingsha stepped forward and untied the white linen covering the corpse.
Li Jia lay straight on the stretcher. His face was gray and his eyes were closed. There was a deep strangulation mark on his neck.
Lo Pingsha put on his gloves and carefully checked the ligature mark on Li Jia’s neck. He quickly came to a conclusion.
“There are two strangulation marks on the victim’s neck. One of the strangulation marks is facing back, and the other is facing up. The victim should have been strangled with a hemp rope first and hung high to create the impression that he hanged himself.”
Yuan Jin hurriedly said, “In that case, Li Jia didn’t commit suicide?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “Yes.”
Before Yuan Jin could heave a sigh of relief, he heard him continue right on the heels of that.
“Li Jia must have been killed by his accomplice.”
Yuan Jin was stunned.
Yu Niaoniao turned to look at Xiao Juan, who was sitting beside her, and asked softly.
“Could it be that group of assassins just now?
Xiao Juan said, “That’s very possible.”
Lo Pingsha stood up. “From the temperature and stiffness of the corpse, the time of death should have been an hour ago.”
The head official muttered, “An hour is the time to go back and forth to Li Jia’s house. In that case, he stopped breathing as soon as we arrived at Li Jia’s house. This is too much of a coincidence. If we had arrived earlier, Li Jia might not have died.”
Yuan Jin said, “That’s right. As long as you arrive a step earlier, you could have met that group of assassins head-on.”
The head official immediately shrank his neck and did not dare to say anything else.
He was only a civil servant. If he really met an assassin face to face, he would definitely die..
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