Chapter 692 - Investigation 2
Chapter 692 - Investigation (2)
Marquis Kang was extremely furious at first, angry that the two manservants actually dared to neglect their duties.
However, he considered that people were naturally fearful and the estate had not been peaceful recently. It would be fine if someone more courageous were tasked to guard the kitchens late into the night, but for someone that was more timid, they would surely be soaked in cold sweat even if they weren’t outright scared to death.
And the two little fellows asked to guard the kitchens clearly looked to be the timid type!
Thus, Marquis Kang’s fury was slightly appeased. He looked at Ji Yunshu and asked, “Teacher Ji, these two servants didn’t see anyone. Would you be able to find the culprit from the evidence on the crime scene or something?”
It’s difficult! But Ji Yunshu still nodded and walked towards that large boulder to investigate. There were some dried bloodstains on it, but other than that, there was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. Not a single suspicious item could be found.
Next, she turned her gaze to sweep through the crowd and asked, “Where were you all at chou s.h.i.+, between 1 and 3am in the morning?”
One after another, everyone reported what they were doing. Their answers were practically identical; they said that due to the recent haunting, they had gone back to their rooms to sleep once the sky turned dark. However, other than the four on guard duty, everyone else vouched for each other, confirming that n.o.body had gone out during chou s.h.i.+, nor did they go to the backyard of the kitchen.
Could it be that there really was a ghost causing mischief? Of course Ji Yunshu didn’t believe that!
But everyone else started to speculate. “Could...could there really be a ghost? A ghost caused Granny Lin’s death, then dragged her corpse into the room?”
“Who knows, it could really be like that.”
“There have been so many strange things happening in the estate. I think the ghost is going to kill someone.”
“Aiya, don’t you scare me!”
“Who’s scaring you?”
The discussion made everyone’s hairs stand on end, cold sweat pouring down their backs. Some of the more timid maids where so scared that they huddled together, and the manservants also looked rather scared.
Ji Yunshu’s sharp ears heard everything that the cowardly crowd had said, and lifted her head to tell them, “How could there be ghosts in this world? Don’t scare yourself. If Granny Lin were really killed by a ghost, why would it carry her back into the room, and then make it appear as if she had fallen down? If the culprit were a ghost, why would it be afraid of getting caught by humans? It would have been enough to kill her. There was no need to take the extra step of arranging the scene. Thus, this murder is clearly the work of a human. You people shouldn’t spread falsehoods anymore and just scare yourselves.”
However, someone within the crowd said, “But… n.o.body in the estate had ever come here! Who could have caused it other than a ghost?”
“That can only prove that the killer is very well hidden and didn’t leave any clues, but not that it was a ghost causing mischief.” When she said that, n.o.body had anything else to say.
Now, the first scene of the crime had been found, but there were no clues pointing to the culprit.
However, she thought to herself, why would Granny Lin be here at chou s.h.i.+? Was she looking for something or meeting someone? Otherwise, did she accidentally witness something secret and thus was silenced?
These questions exploded in her mind, one after another, to no avail. In the end, she could only let Marquis Kang dismiss everyone.
“Teacher Ji, is Granny Lin’s death really unrelated to the ghost?” Marquis Kang was still troubled by this question.
Ji Yunshu really couldn"t be bothered to explain again, and shot him a glance. “Marquis, this lowly one has already said, that if you insist on believing that a ghost is at fault, then for this case, this one is just being a busybody.” I won’t continue investigating!
“I didn’t mean it that way. Teacher, please don’t take offense.” Marquis Kang became anxious and cupped his hands in a salute. “I must still trouble Teacher for this.” 100% sincerity! Perfect att.i.tude!
Ji Yunshu isn’t someone who would take advantage of others’ weakness, but one who knew propriety. She nodded and accepted. “This one would like to go take a look in Granny Lin’s room.”
“Right. This way, Teacher.”
Just as they were about to go, a person suddenly rushed at her, holding a butcher’s knife raised high in one hand and swinging it wildly towards her.
However, before the knife could land, that person was sent flying with a single kick by Jing Rong, who was still beside her. That person fell onto the ground, the knife falling by his feet with a clang. He attempted to get up, but was immediately restrained by two manservants who had just arrived. Although he struggled valiantly, he couldn’t budge at all.
Jing Rong’s eyes blazed with fury as he glared at Cai Da in front of them. He grabbed him by the front of his robes. “How audacious. You even dare to touch this prince’s people?” A fist slammed into Cai Da’s abdomen, causing him to choke and spit out fresh blood.
For some reason, he was exceptionally tenacious and instead glared at the placid Ji Yunshu. “My mother is already dead, but you dare to desecrate her corpse. I will kill you!”
Jing Rong moved his hand from his collar and grabbed his neck with one hand, lifting him up. “If you dare to be impertinent again, this prince will twist your head off!”
Just as he was about to exert force, Ji Yunshu stopped him. “Wait!” She walked towards them, paying close attention to Cai Da’s eyes. “Cai Da, this one did not desecrate your mother’s corpse! Instead I am helping her find her true killer. If I really wanted to desecrate it, I’m afraid your mother’s corpse would have long been cleanly broken down into parts.” It’s already pretty good that she hasn’t opened Granny Lin up!
“You…!”
“This one knows that you’re upset that your mother had died tragically. However, it’s not right for you to vent your frustrations on me. No matter what, this one is helping your mother find her murderer, which is also helping you. You should thank me instead.”
Cai Da was speechless but the vicious expression in his eyes did not change at all.
When Marquis Kang saw that, he hurried forward and pointed angrily at Cai Da, berating, “Cai Da, you are really out of control. This marquis only let you into the estate to work on account on the several decades that your mother had been working here. But instead, you have been reckless and impulsive, creating trouble every few days, and now you even want to harm Teacher Ji. If a single hair on Teacher Ji had been harmed, both His Highness and I would demand for your life in compensation!” All that came to the estate were guests, much less Teacher Ji, who was helping him to investigate the case of the haunting!
After being scolded, Cai Da lost his stubbornness and turned docile.
Next, Marquis Kang apologised to Ji Yunshu. “Teacher Ji, please don’t take this to heart. Cai Da is the estate’s butcher and has a rather impulsive personality. He only reacted like that because he had gone out to work last night and came back to see his own mother dead. Please forgive him, Teacher.”
Ji Yunshu was unhurt, so she told Jing Rong, “Let him go.”
Since Jing Rong saw that Cai Da had calmed down, he released his hold on his throat, and the two servants behind followed suit.
However, just as he was released, the fury in his eyes suddenly flared up again. He reached out his arms and pushed Ji Yunshu’s shoulders with great force.
Ji Yunshu was caught off guard and fell backwards, landing heavily on the ground. Her hands were sc.r.a.ped, leaving faint lines of blood.
At the same time, Jing Rong grabbed Cai Da’s wrists and pressed. His wrist bone broke with a sharp snap and Cai Da fell to the ground with a shout. He was once again restrained.
Next, Jing Rong immediately bent down and carried Ji Yunshu up from the ground.
Marquis Kang was stunned. He was about to step forward, but Jing Rong barked at him, “Go away”, then simply left with Ji Yunshu in his arms.