Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Ren Fengjue was not the only person standing outside the door.

Behind him, Constable Chen had one hand on the hilt of his saber and a squad of constables at his back, all of them intent on protecting Lord Ren.

But when they heard those words, their jaws nearly hit the ground.

Yet Ren Fengjue acted as though nothing had happened at all. “So it really is Miss Xia here.”

The two of them really knew each other?

Constable Chen’s legs went even weaker.

Then another thought struck him. This woman dared to address the Young Marquis by name. That alone proved their relationship was far from ordinary.

Quick on the uptake, he immediately cupped his hands and said, “So the young lady truly is one of Lord Ren’s people. What happened just now was purely a misunderstanding.”

Xia Ximo said coldly, “I am not one of his people.”

“…”

Cold sweat broke out all over Constable Chen. He genuinely had no idea how to respond to that.

Ren Fengjue, however, offered no explanation. He only asked, “I was passing by and saw that the master of this residence died under suspicious circumstances. Miss Xia, did you discover any clues?”

He was clearly giving her a way out.

But Xia Ximo merely glanced at Constable Chen and did not answer.

Constable Chen thought to himself that cases like this were normally first taken over by the Criminal Investigation Office of the district in question, then reported to the yamen for the county magistrate’s instructions.

Only when a case was serious, difficult to solve, or involved too many people for the yamen to handle would it be reported level by level until it reached the Three Judicial Offices.

It was already headache enough that a personage like Vice Minister Ren had been alerted. How could they possibly allow some slip of a girl to interfere in the case as well?

If the county magistrate found out, he would surely be scolded.

So, in order to prove that the East District Criminal Investigation Office was not a bunch of useless idlers, he immediately stepped forward and replied, “My lord, we have already examined the body just now. Our preliminary judgment is that he most likely died of poisoning.”

Ren Fengjue had also looked over the corpse. He did not refute him, merely followed his words and said, “Bleeding from the seven orifices. It does indeed resemble poison invading the viscera.”

Then he asked, “Have you identified the poison?”

Constable Chen panicked slightly. “That has not yet been determined. I am afraid we must first bring the body back to the yamen and have the coroner examine it in detail.”

Ren Fengjue knew the rules.

This matter truly was not suitable for him to interfere in right now.

“In that case, proceed according to the yamen’s procedures for handling cases.”

Hearing this, Constable Chen felt a little relieved, but he did not dare relax in the slightest.

Ren Fengjue had not directly interfered, but that did not mean he would ignore the matter.

Who did not know that the “Living Yama” was impartial and unyielding, and would never let any homicide slip by?

The pressure on Constable Chen was immense, yet he did not dare let even a hint of it show on his face. He gave the order at once.

“Get to work!”

The constables immediately scattered and began searching through the residence.

Ren Fengjue, meanwhile, clasped his hands behind his back and looked at Xia Ximo before him. He asked directly, “The questions Miss Xia asked Daoist Yan yesterday were presumably related to this residence, were they not?”

Xia Ximo gave a faint sound of assent.

“Then what is your esteemed opinion on the matter?”

He knew she would not have said such things without reason, nor would she appear here without cause.

And with matters like this, rather than ask the living, it was often faster to ask the dead.

Xia Ximo said, “Before yesterday, this residence concealed only one unjust murder case.”

“But now, there are two.”

“And the second one is far more troublesome.”

Ren Fengjue seemed somewhat surprised. He apparently had not known about this. He turned and glanced at Constable Chen, who was not far away, directing his subordinates in the investigation.

Sensing his gaze, Constable Chen immediately jogged over.

“What are your instructions, Lord Ren?”

Ren Fengjue asked, “Has a murder ever occurred in this residence before?”

Constable Chen shook his head at once. “No, never. This humble officer has served in the East District for more than ten years. When it comes to murders, I certainly-”

“Yan County.”

From the side, Xia Ximo cut him off coldly. “The mistress of this residence was from Yan County.”
Constable Chen immediately stiffened. “I remember now.”

He slapped his forehead. “That case took place within Yan County’s jurisdiction, and it was handled by the Yan County Government Office.”

“But the case was closed half a year ago. After the culprit was brought to justice, he was sentenced to death. He’s currently being held in the capital dungeon, and the execution will likely be carried out in a few days.”

Put that way, Ren Fengjue did have a faint impression of it. Guan Yue had reported the case to him verbally at the time, and he had also been the one to approve the case file.

He had not interfered.

Could it be…

Constable Chen quietly glanced at Lord Ren’s expression and thought to himself, Thankfully, this didn’t happen in the capital.

Otherwise, there would be no washing his hands of it.

“All right. I understand.”

After Constable Chen left, Ren Fengjue looked back at Xia Ximo and carefully reasoned, “Since Miss Xia called it a wrongful conviction, I presume the real culprit has yet to be brought to justice.”

“Correct.”

As Xia Ximo spoke, she flicked a glance at him, with the faintest hint of reproach in her eyes.

Ren Fengjue immediately thought of what she had said earlier-he had frightened all the ghosts away.

He could not help lowering his eyes with a smile.

“It seems this truly is my fault.”

Xia Ximo did not respond to that. She merely said, “When it comes to dealing with the living, I imagine you have your own methods.”

Ren Fengjue understood at once. “Leave this matter to me.”

Once those words were spoken, both of them paused slightly.

It was as if an indescribable tacit understanding had quietly formed between them.

Xia Ximo also felt a strange stirring in her heart.

Knowing she had said all she needed to say, she turned to leave.

But Ren Fengjue immediately followed her.

“As for the second matter, does Miss Xia truly have no intention of revealing it?”

Xia Ximo stopped and glanced at him. “The second matter is likely beyond your authority.”

–

The capital dungeon was a place without sun or sky.

A few lamps flickered in the gloom.

The jailer on duty was nodding off, and the prisoners inside the cells made no sound.

All was deathly still.

Then, all of a sudden, footsteps echoed from the corridor.

“The Ministry of Justice is here to take a prisoner-where is Li Ah Da?”

At the sound, the jailer jolted awake and immediately stood. “D-Director Guan, what brings you here?”

Guan Yue produced a jade token. “By Lord Ren’s order, prisoner Li Ah Da is to be brought for questioning.”

The jade token had been bestowed by the emperor himself. To see it was as good as seeing His Majesty in person; it was tantamount to an imperial mandate.

The jailer immediately dropped to his knees, but could not help asking, “Wasn’t Li Ah Da’s case already closed? Why would Lord Ren…”

“Impudent!”

Guan Yue barked, “How dare a mere jailer like you question Lord Ren’s actions? Bring him out at once. If there is any delay, can you bear the responsibility?”

At that, the jailer scrambled up from the floor, hurried to one of the cell doors, and unlocked it with trembling hands.

The prisoner Li Ah Da was curled up in the corner. Hearing the commotion, he thought they had come to drag him off to be beheaded, and he was so frightened he nearly lost control of himself on the spot.

The jailer pulled out his prison whip and was about to strike him, but Guan Yue stopped him.

He walked up to Li Ah Da and deliberately raised his voice. “Lord Ren of the Ministry of Justice wants to see you. Come with me.”

Li Ah Da seemed somewhat dazed. “…Lord Ren?”

Guan Yue gave a signal to the side. Two bailiffs stepped forward and escorted him straight out of the dungeon.

An hour later, Li Ah Da, now washed clean and dressed in fresh clothes, was brought into an office room at the Ministry of Justice Office.

Never in his life had he imagined that what awaited him would be a set of clean, warm clothes-and a table full of fine wine and delicacies.

Lord Ren sat at the seat of honor and gestured toward him. “Li Ah Da, you have suffered in prison these past days. This wine and food have been specially prepared to receive you.”

When Li Ah Da heard this, he was so terrified that he dropped to his knees with a thud.