dognovel Chapter 209 Catching the Murderer at Night
Chapter 209 Catching the Murderer at Night
Inside the Prince Xiang's mansion, lanterns and decorations were everywhere, creating a joyous atmosphere. As soon as Shen Yanchu entered, the steward led the servants to kneel respectfully on the ground, shouting in unison, "Congratulations on Your Highness's joyous occasion! This old servant, along with all the servants of the mansion, offers our congratulations!"
Shen Yanchu, dressed in a magnificent robe, stood tall and handsome, his eyes revealing a hint of joy. He looked at the kneeling crowd, raised his hand slightly, and gestured for them to rise.
"Rise, all of you. Today is my joyous occasion, there's no need for such formalities," Shen Yanchu said in a deep and magnetic voice.
Everyone stood up, their faces beaming with joy. The steward, thinking that the agreed-upon date for the betrothal was approaching, quickly ordered preparations to be made.
Shen Yanchu then summoned Mu Yin, as he was curious to know why the Imperial Concubine had been so obedient lately. This seemed unlike their usual behavior, and he suspected she might be plotting something much bigger.
"What's the Imperial Concubine's side doing? Since she dared to poison me, she should be prepared to bear my wrath." A ruthless glint flashed in Shen Yanchu's eyes.
Mu Yin hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine's men are plotting to get rid of you, and it seems they already have some plans."
"Your Highness, rest assured, I have already arranged for secret guards to protect the manor like an iron barrel, with no way to get through. I will definitely not let that Imperial Concubine succeed in harming Your Highness." Mu Yin said with absolute certainty.
Shen Yanchu frowned slightly and waved for him to leave. He knew that without sufficient evidence, even if the Emperor valued him highly, he would not easily break ties with the Consort.
After all, the Imperial Concubine came from the Lu family of Fanyang, whose family had deep roots and wielded considerable influence in the court.
Meanwhile, in Xinyang County, Shi Wanxia was extremely busy these days. County Magistrate Xu rushed over to report that the owner of Wu's Wine Shop in the north of the city had been brutally murdered in his own shop the previous night.
He had already taken the coroner there, but the situation seemed quite complicated, and Shi Wanxia needed to go there in person to assist with the investigation.
As Shi Wanxia listened to the report, she quickly pondered the situation. She knew the owner of Wu's Wine Shop; he was quite well-known in the north of the city and was known for his kindness. How could he have suddenly met with such a calamity? What secrets lay behind this?
In the county government office, Shi Wanxia recently recruited a new batch of people. These people were all intelligent and quick-witted, good at communication and observation, and their identity was that of yamen runners.
Shi Wanxia knew that countless secrets and crimes were hidden in the seemingly peaceful Xinyang County, and the existing staff of the county government were far from enough. The addition of these yamen runners might bring new ideas and opportunities to solve the case.
When Shi Wanxia arrived at Wu's Wine Shop, a large crowd had already gathered. She frowned and ordered the constables to disperse the crowd and maintain order.
Upon entering the distillery, the stench of blood assaulted the senses. The manager's corpse lay beside the counter, the surrounding area a scene of utter chaos. The coroner was carefully examining the body, while Magistrate Xu took notes nearby.
"Coroner, what's the situation?" Shi Wanxia asked.
The coroner stood up, his expression grave: "Sir, the deceased died from a sharp blade piercing his heart. The time of death was probably around midnight last night. Judging from the scene, it seems there was a fierce fight."
Shi Wanxia looked around at the messy footprints and overturned wine jar on the ground, pondering to herself. This murderer was so audacious, daring to kill in the city, and seemed to have come prepared. She crouched down, carefully examining the footprints, trying to find some clues.
"Sir, look here," a constable said, pointing to a piece of cloth on the ground.
Shi Wanxia walked over, picked up the piece of cloth, and examined it carefully. The cloth was of good quality; it shouldn't belong to an ordinary person. Could the murderer be someone of high status? Or was it deliberately left to mislead them?
"Keep this piece of cloth safe; it might be an important clue," Shi Wanxia instructed.
She wandered around the distillery again and noticed that a cabinet in the back room had been ransacked. She went over and opened the cabinet; the account books and other documents were still there, though somewhat disorganized. It seemed the murderer was looking for something, but what could it be?
"County Magistrate, go and ask the shopkeeper's family if there's anything unusual. Also, investigate whether the shopkeeper has made any enemies recently," Shi Wanxia said to County Magistrate Xu.
"Yes, sir." Magistrate Xu accepted the order and left.
Shi Wanxia stepped out of the winery and stood at the entrance, looking at the bustling street. What untold secrets lie hidden beneath this seemingly ordinary street?
How can she, as the county magistrate, safeguard peace in this complex situation while also dealing with the covert harassment from those who are dissatisfied with her female identity?
Inside the Prince's residence, Shen Yanchu sat in his study, his brows furrowed. The Imperial Concubine's conspiracy and Miss Shi's affairs were tangled in his mind like a tangled mess.
He knew he had to figure things out as soon as possible, otherwise the situation would spiral out of control. And that girl, for some reason, kept lingering in his mind; besides his initial dissatisfaction, he was gradually developing a sense of curiosity towards her.
Who exactly is this woman, that she possesses such courage and boldness?
As night fell, Shi Wanxia returned to the county government office. She sat at her desk, looking at the files compiled by the newly recruited detectives.
These materials are clues about some strange cases that have recently occurred in Xuxian County. Although they seem disorganized, Shi Wanxia knows that as long as she sorts them out carefully, she can always find some connections.
"My lord, you haven't rested yet?" Shiqing walked in carrying a cup of tea.
"With no leads in the case, how can I think about resting?" Shi Wanxia took the tea and sipped it lightly.
"Sir, please don't overwork yourself. Everyone sees how much you've done for our county," Shiqing said.
Shi Wanxia smiled slightly: "This is what I should do. The people of Xinyang trust me, and I must live up to that trust."
After saying that, she lowered her head again and continued to study the documents, completely unaware that in the darkness, pairs of eyes were watching her, and a larger conspiracy was quietly approaching her.
Meanwhile, Shen Yanchu, far away in the Prince's residence, was also secretly plotting, aiming to seize the initiative before the Imperial Concubine could make her move.
Following the location of the Imperial Concubine's actions that evening, which Mu Yin had found out, Shen Yanchu led his guards to a remote part of the capital. This area was generally inhabited by the poor, a melting pot of all sorts of people, with narrow and winding roads; they took many detours before finally finding it.
Night fell over the area, and dim lights flickered on the narrow streets. Shen Yanchu and his guards moved forward cautiously, vigilantly observing their surroundings.
They walked through the crowded slums, surrounded by a cacophony of sounds: arguments, cries, and barking dogs. A foul odor filled the air, a mixture of garbage and sewage.
Finally, they arrived at a dilapidated temple. The temple doors were tightly shut, but a faint light shone from inside. Shen Yanchu gestured for the guards to surround the temple, then he stepped forward himself and gently pushed open the door.
Inside, the assassin leader sat in a worn-out chair, surrounded by several trusted confidants. She showed a hint of surprise when she saw Shen Yanchu enter, but quickly regained her composure.
"General Shen, what brings you here?" the assassin leader asked.
Shen Yanchu looked at her coldly and said, "You're courting death."
She smiled slightly and said, "General Shen, you truly live up to your reputation; you've managed to find this place. You're not leaving today."
As she spoke, she suddenly stood up from her chair, a dagger appearing in her hand. Her confidants also drew their weapons, confronting Shen Yanchu's guards.
A fierce battle is about to begin...