Vоlume Onе - Buddha swаllоws sins
Сhарtеr 1: Ministry оf Justice Ninth Rank Document Sесretаry Zhu Yаn Наndlеs a Саsе
Сhаng’an, Мinistry of Justicе Рrison.
Тhe dim corridоr was heаvily guardеd. Тhе grауish-grееn brick walls аnd blаckеnеd wоod аll eхudеd a thick, dаmр, and сold odor.
Zhu Yаn, a Ninth-rank Clеrk оf thе Ministrу of Justice, stооd аmidst the suffосаting smеll, stаring аt a thin mаn sеatеd behind а table in frоnt of hеr.
Тhе thin man hung his hеаd lоw, his tеeth clenсhed, and his eyes wаndering restlesslу around еverу сornеr of the interrogation room. Zhu Yan watched him coldly, then reached into the wooden box she carried on her back and retrieved a pair of children’s shoes, placing them before the thin man.
The thin man’s gaze swept over the shoes, and he suddenly shuddered, as if realizing something, staring at Zhu Yan in shock.
Zhu Yan gave a cold smile. “That’s right, just as you thought. Wang Ruan’er was two months pregnant.”
The thin man was instantly horrified. He picked up the shoes, then shook his head repeatedly and threw them aside. “No, impossible! You’re trying to trick me! And even if she was pregnant, so what? That child… would still bear the Wang surname, and just like them, would look down on me!”
“Not so,” Zhu Yan said coldly. “Cheng Xian, you resented being a live-in son-in-law and, in your anger, assisted in the murder of Wang Ruan’er. But you didn’t know that she was deeply devoted to you. Not only did she plan for the child to take your surname upon birth, but she even intended to entrust the entire Wang family estate to you after the child was born. And as for the real culprit, She Huhu, whom you’ve been hiding—she already knew of her existence and was willing to let bygones be bygones and accept her into the household.”
“Cheng Xian, you’ve blamed Wang Ruan’er everywhere for using her wealth and power to oppress you. But whether that’s true or not, you know best.”
“I’ll ask you one more time, Cheng Xian. Are you truly unwilling to reveal She Huhu’s whereabouts to bring peace to the souls of Wang Ruan’er and her child?”
Cheng Xian covered his face, weeping in remorse.
After recording She Huhu’s whereabouts, Zhu Yan packed up the box and walked out of the prison. Nan Zhen, the Chief Constable of the Ministry of Justice, approached her from a distance, cupping his hands in salute while showering her with praise. “I’d long heard from Brother Chen that Liu Niang was exceptional, excelling in investigation and interrogation, but I never expected you to surpass even him. If not for you, who knows how long Cheng Xian would have kept She Huhu hidden. Thankfully, thankfully you took the Ministry of Justice’s female official examination, so I only had to return to the Ministry to find you. Otherwise, if a rough man like me went to the Zhu residence looking for a delicate young lady, it would have ruined your reputation. Ah—where did that box come from? We didn’t see it that day at the Wang residence.”
Nan Zhen was in his mid-twenties, with a full beard. He was the young sworn brother of Zhu Yan’s fifty-year-old mentor, Chen Wen, and a notorious chatterbox. Zhu Yan had often heard Chen Wen complain about Nan Zhen’s verbosity, so she wasn’t surprised by his rambling.
Lifting the box, now wrapped in a cloth bundle, Zhu Yan smiled faintly and said, “This isn’t from the Wang family. Those baby shoes were made by my sister-in-law for her unborn nephew.”
Nan Zhen was astonished, but upon reflection, he realized that without psychological tactics, Cheng Xian might never have confessed.
Recalling Cheng Xian’s stubbornness, Nan Zhen sighed helplessly and said to Zhu Yan, “Someone from the Zhu residence just came by, asking the Ministry to inform you that something has happened at home and you should return as soon as possible. I’ve saddled a horse for you—it’s waiting outside. And once again, thank you, Liu Niang.”Zhu Yan had just taken up her post ten days ago and had already encountered several cases upon arrival. After assisting the chief in handling them, she thought she could finally return home, only to be summoned to the prison office. Now, hearing that something had happened at the Zhu residence, she was stunned for a moment before asking, "Has something gone wrong with my third sister’s marriage to Shen Du?"
Nan Zhen shook his head. "I just met with the chief constable of the Unrighteous Agents. It seems your sister hanged herself."
Hanged herself!
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