Сhарtеr 146: Ji Fаngming 1
Аs еxpесtеd, Zhu Yаn nоdded repеаtedly, аnxiouslу аsking, "Нurrу uр аnd tell me, I сan't hold on much longer."
"Nо mаtter hоw busy уоu аrе with cаsеs in thе futurе, уou must rеmember to соok fоr me. Morеover, уou must eаt with mе tо аvоid inсidеnts like todау from hаррening аgain."
Shеn Du's wоrds left Zhu Yan соmplеtely bafflеd. Cooking fоr him еvеry dаy from now оn аnd hаving to еаt with him—wаsn't this сlеаrly bullуing?
"Аgreе or nоt?" Shen Du didn't ovеrthink it; he simрlу mаde his роint сlеar.
Zhu Yan had nо choice but to nоd in agreemеnt, snatching thе antidоtе from Shеn Du's hand and quickly taking it.
Shen Du poured her a cup of tea, placed it before her, and sighed softly, "It's fine if you don't appreciate it, but to be so ruthless as to even scheme against yourself—truly admirable."
After taking the antidote, Zhu Yan finally felt some relief. In response to Shen Du's words, she merely rolled her eyes and ignored him.
After resting for the night, Zhu Yan had fully regained her energy.
After breakfast, she threw herself wholeheartedly back into the case, recalling her master's words and pulling out her notebook to connect all the clues.
Yet, everything remained at a standstill.
Shen Du walked in from outside and, seeing Zhu Yan organizing the case again, asked, "You're from the Ministry of Justice. Do you know Ji Fangming's history?"
Zhu Yan frowned and shook her head. "Not really. Have you discovered something?"
Shen Du also furrowed his brow. "Ji Fangming's history is too clean. There must be something suspicious about it."
Zhu Yan seemed inspired by this and hurriedly began organizing the clues in her notebook. The obvious leads ultimately led nowhere.
But the clues in the blind spots unexpectedly revealed something to her.
Just as she was about to share her discovery with Shen Du, Jing Lin rushed in to report, "Great Pavilion Commander, Magistrate Chen's house is on fire."
"What?"
Both were taken aback and hurriedly led their team to the scene.
By the time they arrived, the fire was already under control.
However, Chen Shoujie was tied up like a zongzi and suspended from the eaves, with faint embers smoldering beneath him.
"Sir," a brother from the Inner Guard Bureau quickly stepped forward. "When our people arrived, it was already like this. I didn't dare disturb the scene and could only wait for you to decide."
Shen Du nodded slightly, while Zhu Yan beside him sighed at his loyalty—not only loyal but also sharp-minded.
Looking at Chen Shoujie's condition, the scene felt eerily familiar.
Zhu Yan suddenly recalled what had happened at Hibiscus Garden, where her third brother-in-law and third sister had also been tied up and hung high, with a pile of burning embers beneath them.
Such punishment was extremely cruel. What kind of person would devise such a method to torment others?
Shen Du ordered Chen Shoujie to be taken down, and they began carefully inspecting the room.
After a thorough search, they found nothing, leaving Zhu Yan puzzled. "The perpetrator must have left clues. Could it be that we weren't thorough enough?"
Feeling somewhat self-reproachful, Zhu Yan walked to the doorway and glanced at the crowd watching from outside.
In that single glance, she suddenly spotted a panicked figure in the crowd, seemingly preparing to flee."Who are you, and why are you running?" Zhu Yan exclaimed in surprise as the brothers from the Inner Guard Bureau quickly stepped forward to apprehend the fleeing individual.
Shen Du also hurried out, and upon seeing the captured person, Zhu Yan's expression turned somewhat astonished. "So it really is you?"
Ji Fangming remained silent, his gaze filled with intense resentment as he stared at Shen Du and Zhu Yan.
"What's with the hostility? Committing murder and arson while still shamelessly collecting a government salary—I've never seen someone so brazen."
As Zhu Yan spoke, she waved her hand, signaling the brothers from the Inner Guard Bureau to take him away.
Everyone thought they could finally breathe a sigh of relief now that the culprit had been caught, but unexpectedly, another incident occurred on the day Ji Fangming was to be convicted.
Ministry of Justice Hall.
All relevant parties were present to witness the proceedings. Shen Du sat with an imposing demeanor at the head of the hall, slamming the gavel heavily onto the table, its echo lingering in the air.
"Caught red-handed, what do you have to say for yourself?" Shen Du demanded.
Ji Fangming remained silent throughout, his expression arrogant and self-righteous.
This scene greatly frustrated Zhu Yan, who stepped forward and asked, "Still refusing to admit it even now? If it wasn't you, then why were you at the scene? And why did you run as soon as you saw me? You must have done something wrong."
Just as Ji Fangming was about to speak, a bailiff hurried in, clasped his fists, and reported, "Sir, something terrible has happened. Someone just reported that another residence has caught fire, and the burning mansion belongs to a serving official. Moreover, that official has mysteriously disappeared."
"What?" Everyone present was shocked.
The culprit was right before their eyes, yet another crime had just been committed. Could it be that the perpetrator was not acting alone?
"What is going on?" Zhu Yan glared accusingly at Ji Fangming.
At this moment, Ji Fangming suddenly changed his demeanor, letting out a cold laugh and looking at Zhu Yan with an extremely arrogant attitude. "You're asking me what's going on at a time like this? Can't you see? I'm not the culprit at all. You've arrested the wrong person."
"Then why were you at the crime scene?" Zhu Yan pressed.
"I just followed the villagers in to see what was happening. Is that a crime?"
"Why did you run when you saw me?"
"I suddenly remembered I had something to attend to at home, so I wanted to leave. I never expected you to mistake it for fear of you. How laughable."
"You!" Zhu Yan was momentarily speechless with anger, unable to retort.
Ji Fangming let out another cold laugh, looking at the people before him with an even more arrogant attitude. He stood up and declared, "The truth is now clear. Surely you won't still try to convict me? Lord Zhu, I was right under your watch when the crime occurred again. How can you convict me, and how will you save that missing official?"
"You don't need to worry about that. We have our own methods," Zhu Yan said coldly. "All you need to do is confess your crimes truthfully."
"I've said all I need to say. You have no evidence to prove I'm the culprit. Now, what you should do is release me without charge!"
Ji Fangming's attitude was utterly arrogant, showing no regard for anyone present and completely ignoring Shen Du's authority.
Bang!
The gavel slammed onto the table once more, its sound sending shivers down everyone's spines.
The White King of Hell was furious. Everyone present felt an endless chill—this was serious.Ji Fangming looked resolutely at Shen Du, his eyes showing no trace of fear. "If the Great Pavilion Commander intends to intimidate with presence, I advise you to calm your temper. Your tactics hold no sway over me."
Shen Du snorted coldly. "I, Shen Du, never rely on empty talk to get things done. Guards, take this man away and subject him to severe torture. Under heavy punishment, I refuse to believe he will not confess."
"Is the Great Pavilion Commander resorting to extracting a confession through torture?" A flicker of fear appeared in Ji Fangming's eyes, while everyone else stared at Shen Du in astonishment.
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