TRBDM -Chapter 63 Witness Testimonies

Xie Wanrou struggled to sit up straight and gave a slight nod. “Greetings, Lord Jiang.”

She had done her best to make a sound, but her throat hurt so badly that even breathing felt like swallowing thorns.

Everyone else in the room followed with their salutations.

Jiang Yuelin acknowledged them one by one with a nod.

After making a round of the room, Jiang Yuelin’s gaze returned to Xie Wanrou.

She was leaning sideways against her younger brother, Xie Lan. Beneath her slender neck were five purplish-red finger marks, like twisting vines tightly wrapped around her throat.

Below her neck, hidden inside her collar, were patches of dark bruises.

Xie Wanrou’s face was pale, her eyes unfocused. She looked so frail that a single gust of wind might scatter her away at any moment.

Jiang Yuelin could not bear to look a second time.

“Old Madam Hou, Miss Xie is weak and requires quiet rest. Let us speak outside.”

The victim had been seen. As for the details of the incident, they would have to wait until Xie Wanrou recovered somewhat before questioning her further.

Wei Zhaorong invited Jiang Yuelin to sit in the side hall.

Imperial Physician Xiao, Xie Lan, Dou Shuyao, and Xie Sheng came along as well.

“Everyone,” Jiang Yuelin began, “when General Lei assaulted Miss Xie yesterday, were you all present?”

Xie Lan spoke first.

“I was. I saw Lei Lieshan grab my eldest sister by the throat with my own eyes. He was trying to kill her.”

“I saw it too,” Dou Shuyao followed.

Jiang Yuelin turned his gaze toward Xie Sheng.

“I… I didn’t see it. I drank too much at the time and was resting in the side hall,” Xie Sheng said guiltily.

After all, he had been the one who arranged for Xie Wanrou to meet Lei Lieshan. If the matter were truly pursued, he would count as an accomplice.

He had to clear himself completely. At worst, he could shift all the blame onto the servant who delivered the message.

Jiang Yuelin fell silent in thought. “Aside from members of the Hou residence, are there any other witnesses?”

There were.

Soon, someone stepped forward. “Lord Jiang, I was a guest at the Hou residence’s birthday banquet. I also saw it last night—General Lei was trying to kill Eldest Miss Xie.”

“Yes, we all saw it.”

After the guests left the Hou residence yesterday, Dou Shuyao had personally visited them early this morning to invite them to testify.

Seeing was believing. So many people had witnessed it; they were not afraid of offending the Weiyuan General’s Manor and each expressed their willingness to testify.

With the witnesses assembled, Jiang Yuelin carefully questioned them about the details of the incident.

It had already been dark at the time, and no lamps were lit in the back courtyard. When they rushed over, they only saw Lei Lieshan gripping Xie Wanrou’s throat. She collapsed on the spot, motionless.

Until now, they did not even know whether she was dead or alive.

“Oh, right—General Lei had two scratch marks on his face. Miss Xie must have clawed him while resisting.”

“I saw that too.”

Without revealing it, Jiang Yuelin carefully observed each person’s expression, ensuring none of them were lying.

The truth of the matter was laid out before him.

But one thing was missing.

A motive.

If he meant to kill his wife, there had to be a reason.

Why would Lei Lieshan want to kill Xie Wanrou?

Wei Zhaorong, seeing through Jiang Yuelin’s thoughts, spoke up. “Lord Jiang.”

“As the saying goes, family scandals should not be made public. But now, there’s no need to keep certain matters hidden any longer. Long ago, Lei Lieshan had already harbored ulterior motives. He wanted to marry Deputy General Luo’s daughter, Luo Feiyang, so he made things difficult for Rou’er in every possible way and frequently threatened to divorce her.”

“To divorce a wife, one must have grounds. But Lei Lieshan could find no fault in Rou’er. With his violent temper beyond control, he often laid hands on her instead. When Rou’er returned to the marquis residence this time, I accidentally discovered the bruises on her body. Only then did I realize what kind of life she had been living in the general’s manor.”

“After I found out, I was determined to have them separate. Rou’er had her reservations at first, but after my persuasion, she agreed to a mutual divorce.”

Wei Zhaorong’s emotions surged, tears almost spilling over. “When Lei Lieshan learned that Rou’er intended to separate, it was as if someone had touched his reverse scale. Murderous intent flared instantly—he tried to kill her on the spot.”

Jiang Yuelin frowned in confusion. “If General Lei wished to marry the woman he loved, why would he attack Miss Xie upon learning she wanted to separate?”

“For Rou’er’s dowry, of course,” Wei Zhaorong replied firmly.

Back when the marquis household married off their daughter, the sheer lavishness of the dowry had made the unmarried ladies of the capital green with envy.

Naturally, the Lei family was unwilling to let such a prize slip away.

In a mutual separation, a woman could reclaim all her dowry. But if she were divorced—cast off by her husband—the husband’s family could withhold it all.

“Everyone in the capital knows how generous the dowry of the Mingde Marquis Residence was.”

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

In that case, everything made sense.

Lei Lieshan, enraged upon learning that Xie Wanrou wanted a separation, had acted in fury and attempted to murder his wife.

He had thought that in the remote back courtyard no one would discover him—only to be caught red-handed.

“Bah! A dignified general behaving so despicably.”

“Exactly! The Lei family has fallen into a pit of greed—beating their daughter-in-law and still coveting her dowry.”

“Miss Xie must have the worst luck in eight lifetimes to have married such a beast.”

One by one, the witnessing guests bristled with indignation, speaking up for Xie Wanrou.

“Lord Jiang, you must seek justice for Wanrou!”

“Yes, Lord Jiang, we are all witnesses. Every word we’ve said is true. Lei Lieshan is no human—by the laws of our dynasty, he should be imprisoned.”

Wei Zhaorong clenched her fists and remained silent.

To tear open Xie Wanrou’s wounds and lay them bare before the world—her heart was bleeding.

But only in this way could Lei Lieshan be made to pay.

The Mingde Marquis Residence had grown weak in recent years. Xie Sheng held only a minor post at court. Xie Chuan did nothing but eat, drink, and idle about. Xie Lan was still young and needed several more years to mature. With only Wei Zhaorong holding everything together, it was no easy task.

In contrast, though Lei Lieshan was not exactly a favorite before the emperor, he possessed military merit and had connections with many officials at court. So long as he steadily commanded his troops and accumulated further achievements, promotion in the future was inevitable.

The two families had never stood on equal footing. Creating momentum that portrayed the marquis residence as the oppressed party and resolving the matter swiftly was the wisest course.

Otherwise, once the Lei family leveraged their court connections to suppress the matter, it would soon fade away unresolved.

Better short pain than long suffering. Wei Zhaorong had only one chance—she had to strike true in a single blow.

Jiang Yuelin instructed his subordinates to collect the witnesses’ testimonies, securing their signatures and seals.

After the statements were gathered, Jiang Yuelin requested to see Lei Lieshan.

Wei Zhaorong led him toward the stables.

Before they even drew near, Lei Lieshan’s foul curses filled the air.

“Wei Zhaorong, you dare to bind me? When I get out, I’ll slaughter the entire marquis household!”

“Xie Sheng, stop hiding—I know you’re there! Get out here and let me go. Didn’t you beg me to promote that brat from the Zhang family? Release me and I’ll help you!”

“Xie Wanrou, you’d better hide well. Don’t let me find you. Next time, I’ll snap your neck without hesitation.”

Hearing those words, Wei Zhaorong wished she could plunge a knife straight into Lei Lieshan’s mouth and cut out his tongue.

Jiang Yuelin’s brows remained tightly knit. Especially upon hearing Lei Lieshan threaten to snap Xie Wanrou’s neck, an inexplicable disgust rose within him.

A true man ought to cherish and protect his wife. How could he rely on his natural physical dominance to bully and abuse her?

Originally, Jiang Yuelin had doubted that Lei Lieshan intended to kill his wife.

Now, he believed it.