Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Pointing towards a Escape Path (Fourth Update)
Translator: 549690339
“If we suggest that Li Futian intended to act in a way that would not arouse suspicion from others, then he must be calculated yet longing for life, and he would surely not commit suicide out of guilt that night, leaving such obvious evidence under his own bed.”
“Therefore, in humble opinion, there might be hidden circumstances in this matter, and this Li Futian might not be the murderer, but a scapegoat.”
Xu Zhengping replied in a clear voice.
“You have a point,” Chu Jinnian looked at Xu Zhengping with a meaningful glance.
This county magistrate, at least found some doubts about the case, which was not as clumsy as imagined.
However, that’s all.
“Master Chu, I believe that this matter needs further investigation to find the real murderer and to give justice to the victims.” Xu Zhengping said.
Chu Jinnian, with his slender fingers, gently knocked on the table, slightly raising his eyebrows, and smiling more intensely at the corner of his mouth.
“Mr. Xu, although the body of a man drowned in water swells and decays, his face was obliterated by someone. The murderer deliberately destroyed his face, what do you think was the purpose Mr. Xu?”
“In humble opinion, the murderer may have wanted to prevent others from recognizing the true identity of this person, so he deliberately destroyed his face to delay the investigation by the government office.” Xu Zhengping replied.
“You are half right and half wrong.”
Chu Jinnian laughed.
Xu Zhengping was suddenly at a loss, saying: “Your humble servant is dull.”
“Of course, destroying the face is to prevent others from recognizing its true identity, but if it really prevents others from discovering it, first of all, this corpse should be thrown in other county territories, inconvenient for the government office to find, and second, the murderer even thought to destroy its face, why didn’t he think to strip its clothes?”
Chu Jinnian glanced at Xu Zhengping and picked up the tea cup beside him: “Mr. Xu, please have a sip.”
Xu Zhengping stretched out his hand to hold the tea cup, but his back was drenched in cold sweat.
Exactly, Chu Jinnian was right. If one wanted to hide an identity, they would definitely throw the corpse to a distant place, preferably another county or mansion, to obstruct the investigation, and would not leave the clothing of the deceased, at least it would be damaged.
After all, when the government office investigates a case, if an unidentified person is found, they first check the recent missing population in the entire county, and then select the suspected deceased for comparison. With such obvious clothing, the identity can be determined immediately.
In other words, the person who died might not be Li Dali, but someone else. He wore Li Dali’s clothes to make people think he was Li Dali.
So, who is the deceased, and who killed him?
Was it truly to dispose of a body, or was it out of vengeance, that someone would use such a brutal method of murder by drowning and face obliteration?
And Li Futian, why did he become a scapegoat for an unrelated person? Did he really commit suicide, or was he murdered?
And who went through all this trouble to make it seem like an ordinary murder case?
What kind of trap was laid within?
Xu Zhengping, being a county magistrate, has handled several murder cases and knows that many things are deeper than he imagines.
But this time, he suddenly sensed something different from this case and felt an unprecedented sense of fear.
He suddenly understood why he felt some mockery in Chu Jinnian’s tone earlier.
By speculation, he may have already guessed the key point.
Cold sweat ran down Xu Zhengping’s forehead and fell on his cheek. The tea cup in his hand was almost unsteady, and some of it spilled slightly.
The warm tea stirred him back to his senses.
“I beg Master Chu’s pardon, your humble servant… your humble servant…”
“Please guide me, Master Chu.”
Xu Zhengping kowtowed like a pounding garlic.
Chu Jinnian had previously said that if he did not understand, he could ask him for advice. Perhaps he was referring to this moment.
This case is complex and confusing. If not handled, there might be mistakes, and if handled, there might still be mistakes. Whether he can keep his head at this point really depends on Chu Jinnian’s current intentions.
“It seems Mr. Xu has understood this layer.”
Chu Jinnian said softly: “In the past few days, I have been staying here for a while, taking walks in my spare time. I’ve noticed, Mr. Xu, you are a good governor. The common people also accept you.”
“So, I can chat with Mr. Xu a bit.”
“Yes, I am listening attentively.” Xu Zhengping’s back was straight as a pen.
“If someone is going to such lengths to make people believe that this case is nothing more than a temporary act of murder due to a dispute between villagers, Mr. Xu might as well follow this direction and close the case for now.”
“The evidence is clear, and even during the review of the case, Mr. Xu will not be found at fault, so you can rest assured. As for the real situation of this case…”
“Without concealing anything from Mr. Xu, I am very interested in this case. I would like to investigate who would do such a thing when I have the time, and who died that is so important to make the other party plan so carefully. He will not let the deceased die in vain, nor let the murderer off easily.”
The last two words were spoken very heavily by Chu Jinnian.
It can be heard, Chu Jinnian takes this matter very seriously and will surely find out the truth.
But at this moment, Xu Zhengping no longer cares much about this case.
Although he also wants to know the final answer, if we look at the current situation, saving his life is a priority.
Only by saving his life can he have the chance to know the answer in the future, otherwise, it is recklessness.
He is already middle-aged, and he is no longer reckless as in his youth. Xu Zhengping knows what to do at this time.
“Thank you, Master Chu, I understand what I should do now.” Xu Zhengping repeatedly thanked, “I will go back to the government office immediately and order people to close this case.”
“Go ahead.” Chu Jinnian waved his hand.
“I bid you farewell.”
Xu Zhengping did not know how he came out of Qingzhuyuan or how he returned to the County Government Office. He only knew that when he returned to his case, his hands and feet were still somewhat chilly.
It wasn’t until Ding Gaochang came and called him several times that he came back to his senses.
“Sir, has a verdict been reached in this case? What did Master Chu say?”
“This case…”
Xu Zhengping’s throat was a bit tight, he lightly coughed, and then said, “The evidence is overwhelming that Li Futian committed murder for money. His heart should be condemned, but since he has already committed suicide out of guilt, we will expose the body for ten days as a punishment.”
“The money found in Li Futian’s house should be returned to Mrs. Zheng, and the two acres of land registered under Li Futian’s name will be transferred to Mrs. Zheng as a compensation for the victims.”
“But, sir…” Ding Gaochang was somewhat confused.
Previously during their investigation, they had clearly identified some doubts. However, after seeing Chu Jinnian, Xu Zhengping didn’t mention a word about it. This was really strange..
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