Chapter 167 - 167: I killed the 167th person.
Translator: 549690339
Regarding Xiao Muyun’s death, Su Liang harbored anger and a bit of guilt in her heart.
Xiao Muyun was not necessarily a good person, but he was Original Master’s favorite man, and there has been no evidence proving that he did anything to hurt the Original Master.
The fact is, if Su Liang had not returned to the capital city, perhaps Xiao Muyun would not have died.
With this in mind, Su Liang was determined to find out the real murderer and not let them off the hook!
Ahead, the sound of a woman crying came from a distance. Su Liang focused and followed Gou Yu around a stone screen, seeing the memorial hall set up by the Xiao family for Xiao Muyun’s death.
The coffin was placed in the center.
A few maids and old women were kneeling inside, crying.
Prime Minister Xiao Qi was surrounded by his children and grandchildren, appearing outside the memorial hall.
“Grandfather.” Duanmu Chen approached.
Xiao Qi sighed deeply, “The fourth prince has arrived.”
“What happened?” Duanmu Chen frowned and asked.
Xiao Qi’s gaze passed over Duanmu Chen and fell on Su Liang, who was standing behind Gou Yu. With a cold face, he said, “Your second cousin was murdered.”
Duanmu Chen also glanced at Su Liang, then turned his gaze back to Xiao Qi and said in a low voice, “She has brought glory to Qian Country in the Martial Arts Exam and saved the fifth prince a few days ago. Our emperor highly values her. It’s best to let the Ministry of Justice handle this case and not have the Xiao family involved too much.”
Xiao Qi frowned.
Although Xiao Muyun was of humble birth and not very favored, the fact that the prime minister’s grandson was murdered at home must be thoroughly investigated, and the real murderer must be made to pay the price. Where would the Xiao family’s face be?
But the Xiao family and Duanmu Chen share common interests, and Duanmu Chen, whose power is growing, holds the decision-making power.
When he speaks, the Xiao family must listen.
Xiao Qi suddenly remembered that ever since Su Liang made a name for herself in the Martial Arts Exam, there had been rumors that she had known Duanmu Chen in Bei’an County and that she was actually Duanmu Chen’s person.
On this matter, Xiao Qi had asked Duanmu Chen for verification, and Duanmu Chen had denied it.
At this moment, Xiao Qi couldn’t help but wonder whether Duanmu Chen was trying to protect Su Liang. Was there really no relationship between them?
Duanmu Chen looked deep in thought, “Grandfather, at any time and in any matter, the premise is not to upset our emperor.”
Xiao Qi’s eyes narrowed!
Indeed, as Qian Country’s first female Martial Arts Champion who defeated the female general from Yin Country, Su Liang holds a unique and extraordinary status.
If her scandal spread at this time, it would damage Qian Country’s reputation.
From the Xiao family’s standpoint, handling the matter fairly would cause no harm.
If it is initially determined that Xiao Muyun was killed by Su Liang, but the final conclusion is contradictory, it would not benefit the Xiao family in any way.
After all, Xiao Muyun was already dead.
It was necessary for the Xiao family to find the real culprit to preserve their reputation, rather than simply insisting that Su Liang was the murderer.
Upon realizing this, Xiao Qi let out a long sigh, “You are right. Let the Ministry of Justice investigate. If Su Liang is indeed guilty, what should be done?”
Duanmu Chen’s face remained calm, “Grandfather, no matter who the real murderer is, they must pay the price.”
“Some things, you’ll know when you see them.” Xiao Qi shook his head.
Duanmu Chen frowned, “What?”
Xiao Qi had someone hand a stack of papers to Duanmu Chen, “This was found in Muyun’s study room.”
Duanmu Chen took it and, standing beside Xiao Muyun’s coffin, read the contents of the papers before returning them to Xiao family members.
“Is there anything else?” Duanmu Chen’s face was still calm.
Xiao Qi waved his hand, and a servant brought up a brocade box containing a blue fan pendant, silk handkerchief, and a purse.
At first glance, Duanmu Chen could tell what they were. He nodded his head without saying anything.
Gou Yu saw Duanmu Chen talking to Xiao Qi, so he waited outside with Su Liang and didn’t approach.
Not until Duanmu Chen looked over and gave Gou Yu a signal did he enter the memorial hall, asking Su Liang to wait outside.
Su Liang noticed the look that Duanmu Chen gave her, sensing that the situation was not good.
Xiao Qi asked someone to hand over the evidence to Gou Yu and allowed the coroner arranged by Gou Yu to examine the body.
Su Liang waited outside the whole time.
Half an hour later, Gou Yu walked over and said, ‘Miss Su, please take out your weapon.”
Although he used the word “please,” his tone was very assertive, as if he had already determined that Su Liang was the murderer for seven to eight parts.
It was widely known that Su Liang carried concealed weapons during the Military Exam. She realized that the killer might have made a similar-shaped weapon to kill Xiao Muyun and frame her.
In that case, it would be very tricky.
Still, Su Liang cooperated by bending down to draw out both sharp knives and handed them to Gou Yu.
Her forthrightness made Gou Yu hesitate for a moment. If Su Liang said she didn’t have it or had lost it, Gou Yu actually wouldn’t dare to search her body forcibly.
Gou Yu took Su Liang’s knives and went back into the memorial hall.
After the coroner made a comparison, he said with certainty that the fatal wound on Xiao Muyun’s body could match Su Liang’s knife completely.
Adding to that the words written by Xiao Muyun, besides the most suspicious Su Liang, there was no other possible suspect to be found.
The Xiao family said that Xiao Muyun was humble and gentle, and had no enemies.
“Your Highness the Fourth Prince, can I take the suspect Su Liang to the Ministry of Justice for trial?” Gou Yu asked respectfully.
Duanmu Chen sneered, “However you want to conduct your case, why ask me?”
Gou Yu was embarrassed, “After all, Miss Su is the Martial Arts Champion of this exam.”
“Knowing that her status is special, you should be clear that if there is any inside story in this case, and she is being framed, what consequences would it bring for you to take her to the Ministry of Justice and torture her?” Duanmu Chen asked indifferently.
Gou Yu’s complexion changed.
According to Qian Country’s laws, with the current evidence, taking Su Liang in for interrogation would be no problem, and even convicting her would be possible.
However, those who can survive in the capital city as officials need to be resourceful. Some people are untouchable to them.
If Su Liang really was the murderer, capturing her wouldn’t be a big issue.
But if it wasn’t her and they took her to the Ministry of Justice, even if the real murderer was eventually found, Gou Yu couldn’t bear the responsibility of apprehending the wrong person.
“I said those things without any other intentions. Please investigate this matter thoroughly, Gou Daren, but kindly remind you that Su Liang’s weapon, although very rare, has been seen by most people in the capital. If someone deliberately framed her and copied a similar weapon, could the same wound appear?” Duanmu Chen asked.
Gou Yu nodded, “Your Highness the Fourth Prince’s speculation is very reasonable.”
“I just think that the Martial Arts Champion praised by Father for being extraordinarily intelligent, if she really wanted to kill, she wouldn’t use her well-known weapon, would she? That would be too stupid.” Duanmu Chen said.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qi also felt that there was something fishy about the situation.
“Prime Minister, are those documents left by the Second Young Master Xiao real?” Gou Yu asked Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi told the truth, “I didn’t see any signs of forgery. Daren Gou can take some of Muyun’s previous writings back for further verification.”
Gou Yu instructed someone to collect the evidence and record the testimony of the Xiao family members before coming out.
“Miss Su’s weapon, please return it to its original owner,” Gou Yu was three times more polite than when he asked for the weapon, “May I ask if Miss Su has any enemies?”
Su Liang nodded, “Yes, the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and the Fifth
Prince have all proposed to marry me, but I said that I was already engaged. They might think I’m ungrateful and disrespectful.”
Gou Yu’s mouth twitched, “Miss Su really knows how to joke. In this murder case, Miss Su is the prime suspect, but there are still doubts at present. I hope Miss Su will cooperate with the Ministry of Justice’s investigation in the future and not go out at other times.”
“You’re not going to arrest me?” Su Liang was somewhat surprised.
Gou Yu shook his head, “Not for now. I will go back and report to the Secretary first.”
“Can I go now?” Su Liang asked.
Gou Yu nodded.
Su Liang turned to leave but then turned back, “Can I take a look at those pieces of evidence?”
Gou Yu refused, “Please don’t make it difficult for me, Miss Su.”
Su Liang waved her hand and left.
Actually, she also wanted to take a look at Xiao Muyun’s corpse, but there was no opportunity.
On her way home from Xiao Mansion, Su Liang found that more people were talking about her.
It hadn’t been long since she got the news, and it spread all over the city. It was impossible for no one to be fueling the flames.
Su Liang felt that she owed Duanmu Chen another favor. He must have said something for her, otherwise she would have been on her way to the Ministry of Justice’s prison by now.
Su Liang did not pay attention to the rumors. When she returned home, she found that her friends had come.
Lin Shuzhi was sitting in the courtyard, with his son and son-in-law beside him.
Wan Hui, Lin Xueqing, and Qin Yujin had all been invited into Su Liang’s room by Ning Jing.
Seeing Su Liang return, Lin Shuzhi let out a huge sigh of relief and stood up,
“Miss Liang, are you all right?”
Su Liang shook her head, “There’s a problem. The weapon that killed the second young master of Xiao family matches my knife perfectly, and he also wrote something that pointed to me.”
Xing Yusheng frowned, “Could it be the second prince?”
Everyone thought that the most likely person to frame Su Liang would be Duanmu Ao.
Su Liang felt the same.
“Even if Su sister wanted to kill someone, she wouldn’t use a knife that everyone Imows, right? This is a frame-up!” Lin Xueqing was very angry.
Lin Boyan sighed, “But it’s hard to say that someone won’t accuse Xiaoliang of using such means on purpose, just to create the appearance of being framed, when in fact, it was her doing.”
Hearing this, Su Liang laughed, “What Brother Lin said is not impossible.” Qin Yujin sighed, “Sister Liang, how can you still laugh at this time?” Su Liang was very calm, “Otherwise, do you want to see me cry? At this time,
you should all go back first, don’t worry, I haven’t done anything wrong, no one can do anything to me.”
“Where is senior brother Ning?” Lin Xueqing noticed that Ning Jing was missing.
Ning Jing’s voice came from inside the room, “Looking for me?
Lin Xueqing frowned, “Senior brother Ning, what’s wrong with you? Su sister has run into such big trouble, and you aren’t by her side?”
“She didn’t let me go.” Ning Jing said.
Nian Jincheng: …No wonder Ning Jing hasn’t been able to warm Su Liang’s bed until now. It’s good that she doesn’t hit him!
Su Liang smiled, “Yes, I didn’t let him go. Today, for some reason, I find it very annoying to see him.”
Lin Xueqing held her forehead, ‘You are annoyed already before you get married? It’s so worrying.”
“Okay, okay, you all go home first. If I need help, I won’t be shy to ask.” Su Liang smiled and said.
Xing Yusheng sighed, “You said it. If there’s any trouble, just find my dad, he likes you a lot.”
Su Liang: …What’s with the “you can trick my dad all you want” look?
After a lot of effort, Su Liang managed to send her friends away. She entered Ning Jing’s room and saw him sitting inside reading, while Nian Jincheng was still lying down.
“Actually, it’s quite simple. Since you two are getting married and don’t care about other people’s opinions, you might as well say that you have already slept together, and then Ning can testify that Su Liang was at home all last night.” Nian Jincheng suggested seriously.
“No.” Ning Jing shook his head. “I’m not that kind of person.”
Nian Jincheng: .
Su Liang pondered, “I’m just curious, what exactly did Xiao Muyun write, and did he really write it?” She would have to secretly go and ask Duanmu Chen about it tonight, as he had seen it.
Little did Su Liang know that just as she returned to her room to drink a cup of water, government soldiers came to her door again.
It was still Gou Yu leading the team.
“By order of the high official, I am here to arrest the suspect Su Liang for the murder of Xiao Muyun from the Prime Minister Mansion!” Gou Yu said coldly, “Miss Su, please cooperate!”
Upon hearing this, Su Liang realized that it was the officials above Gou Yu who wanted to arrest her.
This was indeed a bit troublesome. If she resisted or ran away, it would only confirm her guilt. But if she was shackled and taken away, she would have limited freedom of movement and would not be able to fight back even if someone wanted to kill her.
“Hold on.” Ning Jing walked out of the room.
“Young Master Ning, do you have anything to say?” Gou Yu asked.
“She was at home all night and never gone out. I can testify.” Ning Jing’s face was calm.
“But Miss Su has already said that you did not sleep together.” Gou Yu scoffed.
Ning Jing nodded, “Indeed. But we didn’t sleep last night.’
Gou Yu frowned, “Didn’t sleep? What were you doing then?”
Ning Jing replied, “Fishing.”
Gou Yu’s face darkened, clearly not believing him.
Ning Jing explained, “There have been howls heard in the mansion at midnight recently. We suspected someone was secretly causing trouble, so we stayed awake last night, trying to find out what was going on.”
Gou Yu looked at Su Liang with an inexplicable expression, “Is what Young
Master Ning said true?”
Su Liang sighed deeply, “Having a ghost in the house, after all, is not an auspicious thing, so I didn’t want to bring it up.”
“Please follow me to the Ministry of Justice, Miss Sul” Gou Yu became more polite.
“We can cooperate with the investigation, but if you treat her as a criminal before we find out the truth, you can’t afford the consequences!” Ning Jing warned coldly.
Gou Yu saw the cold light in Ning Jing’s eyes, and subconsciously nodded, “Young Master Ning, rest assured, we will find out the truth and not wrong good people.”
“Ministry of Justice, I’ll go with you. I know everything about her.” Ning Jing said.
Gou Yu frowned, “Young Master Ning, this is against the rules. I can’t explain it to Minister Mei when I go back.”
Mei… Su Liang recalled that the second prince’s wife’s last name was Mei.
“If it is because she had some relationship with Xiao Muyun, I would be the more likely suspect in the crime of passion, right? As for the weapon, I gave Su Liang the Twin Blades.” Ning Jing’s face was calm.
Gou Yu hesitated for a moment, “Then… if it was Young Master Ning who did it, why use Miss Su’s weapon?”
“If it was her who did it, why would she use her own weapon?” Ning Jing countered.
Gou Yu’s face stiffened, and he said awkwardly, “That’s a point of doubt that needs to be cleared up.”
“Then please clear it up before arresting someone,” Ning Jing said coldly, “If today Gou Yu must take someone back to report, I surrender, I killed the person.”
Gou Yu’s face became ugly, “Young Master Ning, don’t joke like that. Miss Su is a martial arts expert, and you are the Top Scholar. How could you sneak into Xiao Mansion and kill someone at night?”
“Money can make the devil turn the millstone.” Ning Jing’s face was indifferent, “I think hiring a master would be a piece of cake.”
Gou Yu’s face darkened, “Young Master Ning, I ask you one more time, are you sure you want to turn yourself in?”
Ning Jing nodded, “Yes.”
Gou Yu looked at Su Liang, “Miss Su, do you have anything to say?”
Su Liang’s face was calm, “We fished together until dawn last night. Catching me or him makes no difference. Since he wants to visit the Ministry of Justice, Gou Yu, please take good care of him.”
Ning Jing was taken away by Gou Yu.
Su Liang watched them leave, her face sinking before she turned and entered Ning Jing’s room.
Nian Jincheng, who had heard everything outside, immediately said to Su Liang when he saw her, “Aling obviously cares about you, but he won’t admit it.”
Su Liang was stunned, “What did you say?”
Nian Jincheng sighed softly, “What are you thinking about?”
Su Liang pondered, “The other party is targeting me, and that Minister Mei is connected to the Second Prince…”
“The Minister of Justice is the Second Prince’s father-in-law now.” Nian Jincheng said.
Su Liang’s eyes turned cold, “That’s right. If I were to enter the Ministry of Justice’s prison, I might not survive the night, and they could easily frame it as suicide out of guilt. Ning Jing’s surrender completely disrupts their plan.” “But you have to rescue him as soon as possible.” Nian Jincheng said.
Su Liang nodded, “Of course.”
As she left, Nian Jincheng asked what she was going to do.
Without turning back, Su Liang replied, “Cooking, to bring food to my falsely accused fiancé..”
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