TGCFNM -Chapter 387 Refusing to Shed Tears Until Seeing the Coffin

As soon as Chu Ling finished speaking, Pei Ningzhu’s expression changed. “My lord, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Miss Qi was so frightened that she immediately shrank to the side.

Chu Ling let out a light laugh. “Truly, you won’t shed tears until you see the coffin. Very well—allow this official to lay out the entire course of this case.”

“First, I asked Miss Qi. She said Yu Xiangxiang met Xu Gong at Miss Pei’s birthday banquet, after which she clung to him relentlessly. Miss Pei was said to be grieved and helpless. But Miss Qi also mentioned that Miss Pei once pitied Yu Xiangxiang and felt that even marrying the same man as sisters would not be unacceptable.”

“A poor relative who came seeking refuge was repeatedly tolerated by the Pei family. That makes no sense. Moreover, Miss Pei is the legitimate daughter of the household. The only possible explanation is that the person who returned to seek shelter possessed something the Pei family was interested in.”

“Furthermore, from my inquiries, almost every time Yu Xiangxiang went out with Miss Pei, they just happened to run into Xu Gong. Can we really call that a coincidence? And considering the timeline—Yu Xiangxiang was three months pregnant. Naturally, she would listen to the child’s father in everything. So continuing to harass other men doesn’t quite add up. What’s more, I also confirmed that almost every time Yu Xiangxiang behaved that way, Miss Pei was by her side.”

“Miss Qi said that Miss Pei apologized everywhere, and given her own pitiful situation, she gained everyone’s sympathy. But what if all of this was deliberate from the start? And today’s outing—Miss Pei deliberately said Yu Xiangxiang didn’t want her accompanying her. Wasn’t that also to buy time for the killer?”

Pei Ningzhu clenched the hem of her clothing tightly. “Everything you’ve said, my lord, is merely speculation.”

Chu Ling nodded. “It is speculation. But Yu Xiangxiang told me the truth.”

Pei Ningzhu suddenly looked up at her.

Chu Ling turned to Su He. Su He took out a gold bracelet removed from Yu Xiangxiang’s wrist. The bracelet was hollow. When opened, a rolled piece of paper fell out. Su He unfolded it.

“My lord, it’s a map—appears to be a map of some kind of mineral deposit.”

Chu Ling nodded in understanding. “This is what the Pei family wanted. And what Xu Gong wanted.”

As she spoke, she looked at Xu Gong.

“As for you, it’s even simpler. You must have sweet-talked Yu Xiangxiang into lowering her guard. But you didn’t expect her to be no fool… The tassel on your jade pendant is missing a few strands. Those strands were found in Yu Xiangxiang’s mouth. And if I’m not mistaken, that particular color belongs only to you.”

“There’s also one truth you cannot refute—your hand.”

Xiao Hua kicked Xu Gong to the ground and exposed the base of his wrist. There was a faint scratch there, barely noticeable.

“When you killed her with this gold hairpin, you used great force. The broken strand of gold wire left a mark on your hand… Honestly, you were too stingy even with a gift. The craftsmanship is crude—the so-called gold wire isn’t even gold, probably copper wire. And that became the evidence you left behind.”

As Chu Ling spoke, she held up the hairpin, showing the faint trace of blood on it to everyone present.

“Xu Gong, Scholar Xu—what do you have to say for yourself?” Chu Ling asked coldly, holding the hairpin.

Xu Gong’s eyes shifted as he was about to speak, but Chu Ling stepped on his head and forced it down.

“I don’t want to hear your excuses. I don’t want to hear your bribes. I don’t care about your dealings with the Pei family. I only know that you are the murderer, and my murder case is solved. What happens next is the magistrate’s office’s business… isn’t that right, Zhuang Tianyou, Scholar Zhuang?”

“Many thanks, my lord.” Zhuang Tianyou cupped his hands and bowed deeply, then immediately called for men to enter and prepare to take Xu Gong and Pei Ningzhu away.

Wan Sanjin looked at the pebble Fu Qingyu was idly playing with and asked curiously, “Then what evidence is this pebble?”

Chu Ling subconsciously glanced at Fu Qingyu.

Fu Qingyu smiled. “My lord, please go ahead and speak freely.”

Chu Ling gave a soft hum and looked at Pei Ningzhu.

“Pei Ningzhu and Xu Gong were working together. Originally, they planned to frame Young Master Fu, so the sprained ankle was fake. The maid’s drug was meant for Young Master Fu. As for the banknotes—they’re real. But their purpose was to serve as a backup, to pin the blame on the little maid if anything went wrong.”

Zhuang Tianyou was startled. “My lord, Miss Pei’s ankle injury is real.”

Chu Ling nodded. “It is real. What I meant was that she pretended to sprain it at first to deceive Fu Qingyu. But she didn’t expect someone to pick up a pebble and actually injure her ankle… That’s why, when Young Master Fu escorted her back, he sensed something was off and left ahead of time, avoiding the trap.”

Wan Sanjin finally caught on. Tugging at Fu Qingyu, he whispered, “So when he told you to remember the favor, this is what he meant?”

Fu Qingyu nodded.

Chu Ling continued, “That person should know martial arts and has excellent aim—injuring Miss Pei in a single strike… isn’t that right, Miss Pei?”

Pei Ningzhu pressed her lips tightly together. She had indeed been struck and injured. But to prevent the plan from failing, she endured the pain and tricked Fu Qingyu into accompanying her back. In the end, however, he still managed to extricate himself.

And Yu Xiangxiang was already dead. If she didn’t find a way out for herself, she would certainly be labeled the murderer. So she pretended to be frightened, and soon others rushed over.

But—

“Yu Xiangxiang was actually pregnant—three months along!” Pei Ningzhu gritted her teeth viciously. “Xu Gong, how dare you lie to me! You said you were only getting close to her to obtain her mine map. You said it was for our future! You lied to me!”

Xu Gong’s face darkened. “Shut up. Don’t spout nonsense!”

“Nonsense?” Pei Ningzhu laughed in fury. “You deliberately approached her for that map, and that fool even wanted to marry you together with me! You murderer—you’ll die a terrible death!”

“Pei Ningzhu, do you think you can wash your hands of this? You arranged the meeting between me and Yu Xiangxiang. You told me to speak with her in secret. You’re a murderer too—you won’t die well either!” Xu Gong shouted back.

Chu Ling clicked her tongue. Dogs biting dogs.

Zhuang Tianyou’s brows were tightly knit. He had never imagined that the usually refined and elegant Xu Gong was such a scoundrel in private.

“Guards! Escort them to the prefectural office—no, I’ll personally take them there!” Zhuang Tianyou said. He bowed to Chu Ling in thanks before leading the group away.

Su He called out, “Don’t forget Yu Xiangxiang’s body.”

Zhuang Tianyou acknowledged him and instructed his men to carry the corpse.

Chu Ling looked at the fallen mine map, her eyes narrowing: Mine.

Fu Qingyu glanced at the map in Su He’s hand and frowned. “Someone should submit that map along with the case. That location isn’t somewhere ordinary people can access.”

Hearing that, Chu Ling instantly deflated.

So the other scholars took the mine map and hurried after Zhuang Tianyou.

Tang Yang looked around blankly. “Young Master Zhuang has already left. Are we still staying here?”

One after another, the scholars made their farewells, unwilling to linger even a moment longer. As for the young ladies, they too prepared to depart.

Wan Sanjin grabbed Chu Ling with one hand and Fu Qingyu with the other. “The fish! Our grilled fish, braised fish, fish soup—we have to finish eating before we go. We must eat until late, or it’ll be such a waste!”

Chu Ling decided to turn her grief and indignation into appetite. “Let’s go. Time to eat!”