TGCFNM -Chapter 384 The Cause of Yu Xiangxiang’s Death

After Chu Ling returned to the room, she immediately caught the scent of blood in the air. In the inner chamber, Su He was conducting the autopsy, so she simply leaned against the doorway to wait.

Wan Sanjin and Fu Qingyu walked over to her side. Chu Ling looked at Fu Qingyu and asked, “Do you have many enemies?”

Fu Qingyu thought for a moment. “Quite a few fellow scholars.”

Chu Ling couldn’t help but laugh. That wasn’t wrong.

“Did jealousy kill an innocent person?” Wan Sanjin murmured softly. “Who could it be?”

Chu Ling shook her head. “It’s not that jealousy killed an innocent person. Someone wanted a scapegoat. And if that person happened to be Fu Qingyu, then they’d also eliminate a rival. Killing two birds with one stone.”

“So the murderer is a scholar?” Wan Sanjin exclaimed. “Among the scholars who came today?”

Just then, Zhang Dong knocked and entered, handing something to Fu Qingyu. “Young Master Fu, someone said this might help you. They said you’d know who it was—and what it meant.”

Fu Qingyu took it. He looked at the smooth stone in his palm without saying a word.

“Qingyu, do you know who the killer is?” Wan Sanjin asked.

Fu Qingyu shook his head. “What they meant was: you know who’s helping you. Remember that you owe me a favor.”

Wan Sanjin let out an “Oh.” “Who is it?”

Fu Qingyu lowered his gaze and smiled faintly. “Just someone I’m not particularly close to. No need to mind it.”

Chu Ling turned to Zhang Dong. “Zhang Dong, was the one who delivered this a man or a woman? Tall or short?”

Zhang Dong replied helplessly, “My lord, it was the kitchen cook. She took ten copper coins from someone.”

Chu Ling smiled. “Quite mysterious.”

Fu Qingyu handed the stone to Chu Ling. “This kind of pebble comes from Yixiantian. It’s only found there nearby.”

“The matchmaking gathering was held there, wasn’t it?” Chu Ling said softly. “Which means someone might have met her by the lakeside… perhaps even argued with her.”

It seemed she would have to question them one by one.

A while later, Su He finished the autopsy and stepped out. He looked at Chu Ling and said, “My lord, the deceased had a bone age of seventeen and was three months pregnant. She was stabbed in the abdomen. The wound was narrow—similar to an awl—and the weapon was poisoned. Two lives lost in one body.”

Chu Ling let out a sharp breath, her face turning icy as she strode out.

Su He stayed behind to handle the aftermath, with Xiao Hua and Zhang Dong assisting him.

Chu Ling, meanwhile, took Wan Sanjin and Fu Qingyu out of the room and went straight to Zhuang Tianyou, instructing him to randomly separate all the scholars into several rooms—she would question them one by one. As for the young ladies, since it would be inappropriate to disturb them now, she would have to trouble Pei Ningzhu to come once she had rested. There were questions she needed to ask her.

Zhuang Tianyou immediately carried out the orders. After all, someone had died on his estate. If the matter blew up, the Zhuang family’s reputation would certainly suffer.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zhuang Tianyou had separated all the scholars. Chu Ling then entered each room in turn to interrogate them.

When she reached the last room, she ran into Nangong Han, who had disappeared midway earlier.

Nangong Han rushed forward almost immediately. “I didn’t run away. I don’t know anything.”

Chu Ling looked at him and deliberately asked, “Then where did you go halfway through?”

Nangong Han looked conflicted. “My lord, I can’t say. I can only tell you that someone I know called me away and spoke to me about matters concerning the Nangong family. By the time I returned, I learned someone had provoked you, my lord—and around that same time, someone had been killed.”

Recalling the situation at the time, Chu Ling said casually, “The person who called you away was quite discreet. No one seems to know who summoned you.”

Nangong Han gave an awkward smile but did not respond.

Seeing she wouldn’t get anything more from him, Chu Ling stopped pressing and instead looked at the others.

“Except for those who were fishing—anyone who spoke with the young lady at Yixiantian, step forward. If anyone lies, the other scholars may point it out. Those who do will be allowed to have Fu Qingyu guide them in their writing.”

Soon, several people stepped forward, and three more were identified by the scholars.

Chu Ling had the eight of them stand in a row and questioned them one by one.

“How long have you known each other?”

“Which family does the other party belong to?”

“What did you talk about? Did you pick up any stones?”

“Did you just meet today, or have you known each other for a long time?”

After going through them all, Chu Ling dismissed everyone except one, waving the others away. She then looked at the remaining scholar.

“So your family and Miss Qi’s family are old acquaintances?”

The scholar who stayed behind, Tang Yang, answered respectfully, “Yes, my lord.”

“And you picked up stones together?” Chu Ling asked.

“We did. Xiao Wu—Miss Qi—said she wanted to collect some stones to put in the fish pond at her home. She said they would look nice. We picked up quite a few.” Tang Yang hesitated, then asked curiously, “My lord, why are you asking about the stones?”

“The object that struck Pei Ningzhu and caused her to sprain her ankle was a cobblestone,” Chu Ling replied.

Tang Yang was startled. “My lord, could you tell me where Miss Pei fell?”

Chu Ling named the location. Tang Yang immediately shook his head. “My lord, we didn’t pass by there. But we did pick up many stones—perhaps some fell along the way.”

Chu Ling considered this. “Where is the last place they might have fallen?”

Tang Yang gave a location, then looked at Chu Ling with some unease. “My lord, to be honest, it seems only we were picking up stones.”

“Miss Qi and Yu Xiangxiang didn’t get along?” Chu Ling suddenly asked.

Tang Yang frowned slightly and let out a sigh. “My lord… not particularly. Miss Yu once… once threw a handkerchief to me. Xiao Wu was not very pleased.”

“Can you persuade Miss Qi to come over so I can question her? After all, someone has died,” Chu Ling said.

Tang Yang cupped his hands. “I’ll try.” With that, he left the room.

Chu Ling also prepared to leave with her people. Nangong Han quickly stepped forward and whispered something in her ear before retreating.

Chu Ling paused mid-step, then crossed the threshold again and walked out.

After they had gone some distance, Wan Sanjin finally asked curiously, “My lord, what did he say to you?”

Chu Ling halted briefly. “He said the person who told him to leave is someone I also know. That person said we had met once—in Changzhou.”

Wan Sanjin blinked, still confused. “Who is it?”

“Chu Rou. She’s returned to the capital.” Chu Ling lowered her gaze slightly, looking at her clenched fist. Inside it was a slip of paper Nangong Han had pressed into her hand.

“My lord!” Tang Yang hurried over. “Xiao Wu said you may question her. I’ve arranged for her to wait in the front hall—but I must stay by her side.”

Chu Ling nodded. “Very well.” She slipped the note into her sleeve and followed Tang Yang.

Lagging a step behind, Wan Sanjin frowned deeply. “What is this Chu Rou trying to do?”

Fu Qingyu glanced at him. “Chu Rou is not worth worrying about. There’s no need to pay her too much attention.”

Nevertheless, Wan Sanjin committed the matter to memory, planning to have the Wan family investigate once they returned.

“Let’s go. Let’s see how my lord solves the case,” Fu Qingyu said, holding the cobblestone in his hand.

Wan Sanjin gave a quiet hum of agreement and walked forward with him.