Chapter 15
The Dong Family did not send anyone for a long time, delaying until the afternoon of the next day before dispatching a steward and a servant.
Yu Baisu did not hold court in the main hall, but in the second hall, questioning them in the rear flower hall.
The steward knelt on the ground and began to cry: “Your Excellency, please see clearly! Our Master is charitable and upright, every month he opens a porridge kitchen to help the poor, and he treats the servants in the manor extremely well. How could such a thing as beating someone to death happen? We are wronged, Your Excellency!”
The steward’s voice was loud and his crying astonishing. Yu Baisu was so disturbed by the noise that he felt a headache coming on. “Enough, enough, no one said someone was beaten to death in your manor. The reason you are summoned today is simply to clarify whether you recognize this male corpse.”
The steward wiped his tears and replied, “I truly do not know. In our manor, we have both living contracts and death contracts. Living contracts are signed for five years, and when the time comes, the family can redeem the servant. The Master basically never asks for redemption money, and for those who work well, he even gives extra silver. As for death contracts, they are all signed voluntarily; we never force anyone.
“And if a servant makes a mistake, for minor matters, they are just scolded or fined some money. For serious offenses, they are expelled from the manor, but beating is absolutely not allowed!”
I was standing to the side and suddenly asked, “Is there a servant in your manor, male, about twenty years old, six feet tall, strong build, with a slight limp in his right foot?”
The steward looked confused after hearing this, but the servant behind him blurted out, “Isn’t that Zhao Tiandong?”
I stepped forward and asked, “What is his job in Dong Manor?”
The servant swallowed and said, “He is the groom in the manor, responsible for taking care of the horses. He is especially skilled at horse care.”
The steward finally reacted, thought carefully, and nodded, “Now that you mention it, it does sound like him. He is the best at handling horses. Previously, the Eldest Young Master acquired a Night-Shining Jade Lion, a horse with a terrible temper that no one could approach. Zhao Tiandong ate and slept with the horse, and finally tamed it. Since then, the Young Master valued him greatly.”
I asked, “And then? How did he die?”
The steward shook his head, “Two years ago, Zhao Tiandong’s contract expired. He suddenly said he wanted to return to his hometown to get married. The Eldest Young Master tried everything to keep him, but he refused, saying his parents were old and needed care, and that he would return home to marry, have children, and fulfill his filial duties.
“Since he said so, the Young Master could not keep him any longer. He prepared a carriage, clothes, and food for him, and even gave him ten taels of silver, sending him home.”
I continued to ask, “Where is his hometown? Have you seen him again?”
The servant nodded, “His hometown is Liyang. Half a year ago, he came back for a visit. I even drank with him. He looked very spirited.”
“Did you personally see him leave?”
“Yes. At that time, the Young Master was very happy to see him, took him to see the horses, drank together, and personally sent him out of the city the next day.”
I asked further about Zhao Tiandong, but did not make things difficult for the two, and let them go.
Yu Baisu did not say much, only instructing me to solve the case quickly before dismissing the court.
I left and went straight to the rear office.
Fortunately, the Li Family Brothers had not left yet, so I told them about Zhao Tiandong.
Li Zhong said, “There is indeed such a person in our county. His parents have always lived here. Zhao Tiandong returned two years ago, but he did not get married, and only stayed for a few months before leaving. He has not returned since.”
I stroked my chin, “Then where has he been for more than a year? And how did he end up dead at the Dong Manor banquet…” The clue I had finally found seemed to break off again. Just as I was at a loss, Song Lan ran back.
He leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Young Master, Zi Su has returned. She says she has made a discovery.”
My eyes lit up at once. I told the Li Family Brothers not to return to Liyang yet, and hurriedly followed Song Lan back to the County Office.