"A man? Six feet tall? And left-handed?" Huo Huaixin stared at the Wedding Gown laid out on the desk, puzzled. "The height is one thing, but how did you know he's left-handed, Marquis?"
Yue Qiong picked up the gown. "Brother Huo, look. This gown was worn by that person. Though brand new, only the left sleeve shows stains and pulled threads, while the right remains untouched. I had it examined—the stains are moss from Plum Garden's back wall, undoubtedly acquired when entering. Wearing such attire, one would move cautiously. That he left traces only on the left sleeve suggests habitual use of that hand..."
Huo Huaixin studied it closely, eyes suddenly brightening. "Brilliant deduction, Marquis!"
Yet Yue Qiong couldn't accept the praise. His lips curved in a faint, bitter smile. These insights weren't his own—he'd omitted Qin Guan's involvement to shield her from trouble.
After a moment's thought, Huo Huaixin added, "Tonight's events are bizarre, yet they've given the case a new lead. Duke Song's wedding entourage included twenty low-ranking attendants for carriages and ceremonial gear, twenty guards, eight matrons and stewards, six personal maids, plus Young Master Wei and his two close attendants. If, as you say, this gown was Miss Song's precautionary measure, questioning her head matron should suffice. Simultaneously screening all male servants and guards would simplify matters."
Yue Qiong's expression turned grave. "Precisely. But Brother Huo, what's the motive here?" Pausing, he hinted carefully, "The culprit disguised as Miss Song's corpse didn't target me or my sons, but an unrelated... household servant. Why frighten an innocent bystander?"
Missing the subtext, Huo Huaixin began responding when a clear voice interjected.
"To sow panic within the manor, naturally. With heavy guards around the Marquis and heir, the perpetrator chose easier targets among servants. Merely appearing before someone sufficed."
Huo Ning stood nearby, solemn and earnest. "This involves both Duke Song's household and Marquis Anyang Manor. The culprit may aim to escalate tensions between them or create confusion to obstruct our investigation. Fortunately, your staff was observant enough to note distinguishing features—identification shouldn't prove difficult."
His certainty drew a glare from Huo Huaixin, who apologized to Yue Qiong, "Forgive my son, Marquis. He's taken interest in this case, so I've allowed him to observe for experience."
Yue Qiong smiled slightly, unperturbed. "Huo Ning shows promise and filial devotion—commendable. Though your implication, young Huo, is that the killer definitely came with the wedding party?"
Huo Ning hesitated. "That... requires verification. After all, Song Rou was Duke Song's daughter. Every servant and guard in the procession would be loyal to their house—no apparent motive for harming her."
Yue Qiong nodded. With the case officially filed, Huo Huaixin's presence was required for interrogations. "Then let me escort you to East Courtyard. Duke Song's entire wedding party is quartered there. My sons Jia'er and Qing'er have already gone to account for every male servant and guard—none will be missing."Huo Huaixin's expression brightened. "Excellent! If we can find this person, even if they're not the murderer, they could provide crucial clues. Then this case would become much simpler, unlike now where we have no idea where to start."
The victim was the daughter of Duke Song's household, and the case also involved Marquis Anyang Manor. Huo Huaixin knew that solving this case might not earn him great merit, but failing to solve it would undoubtedly be a grave mistake!
Three days had passed since the incident, yet he had no leads whatsoever. Just as he was tossing and turning in worry, a sudden development occurred at the Marquis's manor—it was practically handed to him on a silver platter! Huo Huaixin was certain the case would be cracked within days.
Beaming with satisfaction, Huo Huaixin followed Yue Qiong to the East Courtyard, which was brightly lit. All the male servants and guards from the Song household had been gathered in one place. When Huo Huaixin arrived, Yue Qing was speaking with a bewildered Wei Yanzhi.
"Brother Yanzhi, it's not that I'm withholding information from you, but we must wait for the Prefect—"
His eyes flickered, and he exclaimed, "Ah, the Prefect has arrived!"
Wei Yanzhi also spotted Huo Huaixin immediately and hurried forward. "Prefect, has there been any progress in Xiao Rou's case?"
Wei Yanzhi was the leader of the bridal escort party, representing Duke Song's household. Huo Huaixin dared not treat him lightly, yet he truly had no concrete leads to share. He could only say, "Young Master Wei, please don't worry. We've come tonight precisely for this case. On the night of the incident, I already brought people to question everyone. Now that some new developments have arisen, there are a few things we need to ask again."
Wei Yanzhi's face fell with disappointment, and he asked hoarsely, "How is Xiao Rou?"
The question sent a chill down Huo Huaixin's spine. Song Rou was dead, her condition gruesome, and after lying in the Mortuary Temple for days, her state was hardly presentable. What could possibly be "good" about it? Huo Huaixin forced a bitter smile. "She's... fine. Everything is fine. The incense altar you set up that day is still in place at the Mortuary Temple, and the offerings have been continuous. Please accept my condolences, Young Master Song."
Wei Yanzhi clenched his teeth, his voice strained as he nodded. "I implore you, Prefect, to take this seriously and swiftly uncover the murderer who killed Xiao Rou. Only by solving this case can she rest in peace. For two nights now, I've dreamed of her—she cannot find tranquility in the afterlife. She came alone to Jinzhou Prefecture, and now she lies cold and alone in the Mortuary Temple, her beauty extinguished, without even a proper ritual to honor her. It's truly..."
Governor Huo felt the weight of pressure mounting. Right now, it was just Wei Yanzhi, but once the official representatives from Duke Song's household arrived in a few days, they might very well hold a knife to his throat demanding answers. "Of course, of course. I’ve been working day and night and dare not neglect this matter. Young Master Wei, you must understand the procedures of the prefectural office. Until the case is fully investigated, the deceased must remain in the Mortuary Temple. It’s under guard, which is most conducive to solving the case."
Wei Yanzhi nodded and took a step back, his demeanor despondent. "Ask whatever you need, Prefect. We will cooperate fully and withhold nothing."
Huo Huaixin was quite satisfied with Wei Yanzhi’s attitude and turned to the dozen or so constables behind him. "Divide into two groups. Question each person individually. Once questioned, they are to leave the courtyard immediately and are forbidden from speaking to those remaining."
With years of experience as an official, Huo Huaixin had a well-established routine. At his command, the constables sprang into action, utilizing two empty rooms in the East Courtyard. All the male escorts from the Song household waited outside as they were called in one by one for questioning.
Turning back, Huo Huaixin added, "Find Miss Song’s stewardess and ask if she recognizes this Wedding Gown."The wedding gown was currently in the hands of a yamen runner. At these words, Wei Yanzhi looked toward the runner and his pupils instantly trembled.
Wei Yanzhi stepped forward. "Wait a moment—where did this wedding gown come from?"
Huo Huaixin frowned but didn't answer the question. "Young Master Wei recognizes it?"
Without hesitation, Wei Yanzhi approached and examined the gown closely. His eyes immediately widened. "Of course I recognize it! This is the handiwork of the Brocade Embroidery Workshop in the capital. The embroidery patterns are all stitched with gold thread, and the pomegranate bursting with hundreds of seeds motif is even inlaid with crushed gemstones. This single wedding gown alone is worth a fortune. During the bridal procession, we were with Xiao Rou day and night—everyone recognized this as her wedding gown!"
His expression darkened. "Did the Prefect take Xiao Rou's wedding gown?"
Huo Huaixin couldn't help but twitch his lips a few times. Song Rou's corpse was stored in the Mortuary Temple, but given her status, Wei Yanzhi had set up an incense altar the very night she was placed there. Not only that, he had insisted that no one was to touch Song Rou's remains until someone from the Duke's residence arrived. Huo Huaixin had wanted to change her clothes—who knew how horrifying a headless female corpse dressed in red looked in the Mortuary Temple!
"Of course not. This isn't the one Miss Song was wearing."
Wei Yanzhi froze, then said incredulously, "Could it be... the spare gown Xiao Rou prepared?"
Huo Huaixin and Yue Qiong exchanged a glance before Huo Huaixin nodded. "Very likely. That's why we sent for Miss Song's head maid."
Wei Yanzhi looked dazed. "But... as far as I know, that gown was never taken out. How did the Prefect get his hands on it?"
Huo Huaixin didn't answer, only saying, "Young Master Wei will find out soon enough."
As they spoke, someone had already gone to fetch Song Rou's head maid, who was resting elsewhere.
Wei Yanzhi's face was a mix of shock and doubt, his eyes fixed anxiously on the courtyard gate. Before long, two women in dark blue narrow-sleeved Ru skirts entered. The East courtyard had been quite noisy tonight, but male and female servants were housed separately, so the two maids had no idea why they were being summoned. Their hearts were uneasy, but the moment they stepped into the courtyard and saw the bright red wedding gown in Wei Yanzhi's hands—
Their faces turned pale, and the two maids halted in terror, their eyes wide with fear.
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