Сhарtеr 61: Ten-Dау Dеаdlinе
The two rеturnеd to the Shеn residenсе, whеrе Jiаng Lаngxing had bеen waiting for quite some timе.
“Wеll? Did yоu find anуthing?” Zhu Yаn stерpеd fоrwаrd tо inquirе. Jiang Lаngxing clasреd his hands аnd bowed to thеm.
“Indeed, wе did uncovеr sоmеthing, аnd it wаs ехtremelу wеll cоnсеalеd. It toоk grеat effоrt tо uncоver the truth.”
“What еxactlу is gоing оn?” Shen Du аsked with a seriоus ехprеssiоn, unwilling tо wаstе wоrds on thе сasе.
Jiang Lаngxing eхplаinеd, “Wе discоvеrеd thаt Liang Jiren is alsо a frequent visitor to thе Bright Hall, but hе alwaуs used аn аlias whеn going there, so we didn’t notice it at first.”
“Liang Jiren!” Zhu Yan was quite surprised. Liang Jiren held an official position and was widely known for his good reputation. How could he frequent such a place?
Jiang Langxing nodded. “It is indeed him. Who would have thought that someone serving in the imperial court would linger in such a pleasure quarter?”
Shen Du furrowed his brows, seemingly deep in thought.
“But…” Zhu Yan was somewhat puzzled. “Why has Rong Zhui never mentioned this?”
Zhu Yan turned and looked at Shen Du, assuming he was also pondering this question.
They had sought out Rong Zhui multiple times and spoken with him several times, but Rong Zhui had never mentioned Liang Jiren to them.
Could it be that they were hiding something?
Jiang Langxing lowered his head slightly, unable to understand the reason, and then began glancing around.
“Madam Shen, I heard that today Minister Lu went with you to the Liang residence. Why didn’t she return with you?”
“You mean Lu Chuichui,” Zhu Yan said casually. “She returned to the Ministry of Justice long ago. Why are you looking for her? If there’s something, I can pass it along for you.”
“Uh… no, it’s nothing.” Jiang Langxing looked somewhat awkward, as if trying to hide something. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now. I’ll notify you promptly if there are any new findings.”
“Alright,” Zhu Yan replied, adding a reminder. “If you want to find Lu Chuichui, go to the Ministry of Justice first. If she’s not there, try the theater. She’s famously fond of listening to opera and drinking tea, so if she’s not at the Ministry of Justice, she’s likely at one of those two places.”
“Thank you for the reminder, Madam Shen.” Jiang Langxing quickly expressed his gratitude to Zhu Yan, but then realized something was off.
He hadn’t asked Zhu Yan about Lu Chuichui’s whereabouts!
Zhu Yan’s series of self-answered questions made Jiang Langxing’s face flush slightly.
“This… I…” Jiang Langxing stammered, unable to form a complete sentence. Finally, he uttered “Farewell” and hurried away.
Watching Jiang Langxing’s hurried departure, Zhu Yan had already guessed the reason.
Lu Chuichui’s spring had arrived…
At this thought, Zhu Yan felt a surge of joy, thinking she must tease Lu Chuichui mercilessly the next time they met.
But when she turned around and saw Shen Du’s gloomy face, her joy instantly vanished.
“What’s wrong? Are you still worried about the case?”
Zhu Yan stepped forward to ask, feeling an inexplicable concern for Shen Du.
Shen Du furrowed his brows, thought for a moment, and then placed the imperial edict on the table. “This is the Empress’s handwritten decree. Take a look.”
Zhu Yan’s heart sank, and a sense of foreboding washed over her.
She stepped forward slowly and unfolded the decree. When she saw the words “ten days” on it, it felt like a thunderbolt striking her.
This was the final deadline. They had to solve the case within these ten days."This..." Zhu Yan didn't know what to say. "Isn't this a bit too short?"
"This is the final deadline." As he spoke, Shen Du suddenly stood up, looking at Zhu Yan with a hint of mockery. "Aren't you eager to become a widow? It seems that day is getting very close."
"I..." Zhu Yan was about to explain, but the words caught in her throat.
Her mind was in turmoil, and for some reason, she was growing increasingly worried about Shen Du's situation.
Wasn't she hoping to become a widow? Why was she concerned about Shen Du at this moment?
Zhu Yan didn't know what she was thinking either. By the time she regained her composure, Shen Du had already disappeared.
The sky had darkened. A day had passed, and they had only uncovered some information about Liang Chenzhong.
Nine days remained. Zhu Yan clenched her fist, determined to solve the case completely within these nine days.
Early the next morning, someone from the Ministry of Justice arrived in a hurry.
Zhu Yan was having breakfast at the time when she suddenly heard shocking news: "Rong Zhui has been arrested and brought to justice."
"Pfft—"
Zhu Yan spat out the porridge she had just sipped, staring in disbelief at the person before her.
Shen Du was standing to the side. He merely glanced at Zhu Yan before asking, "What crime is she accused of?"
"Murder," the Ministry of Justice official replied simply. "The victim's family personally filed a complaint at the yamen, so she was arrested."
"Murder?" Zhu Yan was puzzled. "Who did she kill?"
"A courtesan named Lüyun," the official replied. "The remains unearthed a few days ago have been identified by the coroner. This courtesan was newly arrived at the Bright Hall. Not long after arriving, she was killed."
Zhu Yan gasped, looking at Shen Du with confusion.
Shen Du frowned slightly, thinking along the same lines as Zhu Yan—there was something suspicious about this.
"Let's go to the Ministry of Justice and see."
When they arrived at the Ministry of Justice, the chief minister, Wu Taiming, was not present. Only Vice Minister Gao Chengxue was handling the case.
Gao Chengxue was in a difficult position. As a mere vice minister, he had no authority to oversee such a case, but with no one else from the Ministry available, he had no choice but to step up.
However, the case was not progressing as smoothly as he had hoped. The accused, Rong Zhui, stubbornly refused to confess to the murder, leaving him at a loss.
"Bold Rong Zhui!" Gao Chengxue slammed the gavel, speaking with righteous indignation. "Why do you deny the murder you committed?"
"I did not kill anyone," Rong Zhui said calmly, standing below the dais without even the slightest intention of kneeling.
Kneeling beside her were the family members of the courtesan Lüyun—likely her parents.
The elderly couple wore tattered clothes, appearing to have sent their daughter to the Bright Hall out of poverty and desperation.
"If you didn't kill her, why did she disappear from your Bright Hall, and why didn’t you report it? You must have something to hide!"
"Hmph..." Rong Zhui snorted coldly. "Minister Gao, if you convict me simply because someone disappeared from my Bright Hall, that’s hardly convincing. You know very well what my Bright Hall does. It’s common for courtesans to leave without notice with their patrons. How can I accept being convicted on such grounds?"
"You! You’re simply being unreasonable!" Gao Chengxue flushed with anger. "Then tell me, where were you on the first day of last month?"When asked about the first day of last month, Rong Zhui fell silent, her expression turning grim as if she had something difficult to confess.
"Can't answer, can you?" Gao Chengxue said with a smug look. "I knew it. Before arresting you, I thoroughly investigated your recent whereabouts. On the first day of last month, you clearly weren’t at the Bright Hall. Who you met that day and what you did—you know it in your heart. Wasn’t it on that very day that you committed murder, disposed of the bodies, and carried out this heinous act?"
Rong Zhui clenched her fists, her slender frame trembling slightly as if holding back.
"You accuse me of murder and disposing of bodies, but then give me a reason—why would I kill them? I am the Brothel Matron of the Bright Hall. I rely on them to attract customers and earn money. What benefit would killing them bring me?"
"This..." Gao Chengxue was left stunned by Rong Zhui’s counter-question.
He didn’t know how to respond to her question. If Rong Zhui were the murderer, she would have no motive at all.
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