Chapter 4
Chapter 4
The seven people I had named were all present today. At first they were still mocking me, but after I named them, they were too shocked to speak. Xuerui, Xue’e, and Xueling were the first to react, sneering repeatedly:
“You’re saying we killed Yuanyang? Where’s your proof?!”
“Exactly, we’re all sisters. What reason would we have to kill her?”
The customer Boss Zhao added angrily, “Why would I kill Yuanyang? I bore her no grudge!”
Young Master Yuan’s handsome features remained cold and stern; he still hadn’t said a word, his gaze revealing a probing intent.
As for the servant Song Qi and the madam Jin Lan, they cried out even more loudly in protest.
“I’m a servant; I make my living in this brothel. Killing Yuanyang would do me no good.”
“Then it’s even more impossible for me! Because of this murder, my business is about to collapse! This Jinlan Courtyard is the fruit of my years of hard work, more important than my life!”
I ignored their words, only looking at Captain Liu.
“What do you think?”
Captain Liu frowned tightly: “Through the coroner’s examination, we only know that Yuanyang died on the night of the 23rd of the eighth month; the exact time couldn’t be determined. What makes you think she was killed between the Zi hour and the Chou hour?”
I had gone over the events of that night dozens of times in my mind, even knowing how many flies had flown in.
One could say that details determine success or failure.
I said, “The last person to see Yuanyang that night was Lady Xuerui. Boss Zhao’s wine ran out, Lady Xuerui came out to fetch more, and ran into Yuanyang in the second-floor corridor. They exchanged a few angry words, correct?”
Xuerui was taken aback for a moment, then said, “Yes, so what?”
I asked, “What time was it then?”
Xuerui said, “I already told the constable about this. It was the Zi hour; the water clock outside had just sounded.”
I nodded. “In other words, Yuanyang was still alive at the Zi hour.”
Captain Liu said, “So what? How did you narrow the time down to the Chou hour?”
You have to understand, the Zi hour and the Chou hour are completely different.
The Zi hour is the liveliest time at Jinlan Courtyard, with music playing and everyone deep in their cups.
By the Chou hour, things gradually quiet down.
I said, “Have you noticed? Yuanyang lives alone; her daughter Linglong doesn’t live with her.”
Captain Liu’s expression froze; he obviously hadn’t noticed that.