Chapter 5

Chapter 5

And so the questioning went on for an entire day.

Yuan Nanshan and I finally obtained several important leads.

First, around the hour of shen on the day of the crime, most of the inner courtyard had been gathered in front of the opera stage watching the performance.

It took roughly the time it took for one incense stick to burn to walk from the opera stage to Concubine Xu’s courtyard.

A round trip, plus the time needed to commit the murder, could not have been done in such a short window.

Second, we questioned every maid and old servant woman on duty and narrowed it down to three people whose whereabouts were unclear and who had the time to commit the crime.

They were Lady Song, Concubine He, and one guest-County Lady Qixia of Zhongwang Mansion.

Apart from them, a young maid also said that while she was picking flowers in the garden, she saw Cook Wang from the back kitchen go to Lady Xu’s courtyard.

Not long after, she saw Cook Wang rush out in a panic.

Her behavior was extremely suspicious.

Chapter 10

In my view, although Lady Xu was domineering, she was not the sort to attract lovers.

She lived year-round within the deep inner residence, surrounded by maids and old servant women, so a crime of passion could basically be ruled out.

Judging from the scene, robbery did not hold up either.

That left revenge as the most likely motive.

Yuan Nanshan and I both agreed: assuming no man from the front courtyard had secretly slipped inside, then among Lady Song, Concubine He, County Lady Qixia, and Cook Wang, one of them was very likely the killer who murdered Lady Xu.

Now that the case had a direction, Yuan Nanshan and I both felt our spirits lift.

At least all that sifting through the sand had not been for nothing.

Next, all we had to do was investigate whether these four had a motive for murder and whether anyone could vouch for their whereabouts on the day of the crime.

Delight showed in Yuan Nanshan’s eyes. “Perhaps we can solve the case before the day is out.”

I nodded.

But my instincts told me things would not be that simple.

Soon, the steward brought over Cook Wang from the back kitchen.

Cook Wang was a stout woman in her forties.

The moment she saw Yuan Nanshan and me, she stiffened with fright, her eyes darting evasively.

One did not even need to look closely to know she had something weighing on her conscience.

I said in a low voice, “Where were you when Lady Xu was killed?”

Cook Wang rubbed her hands together unconsciously and said in a quiet voice, “I-I was in the back kitchen making pastries for the Old Madam.”

Yuan Nanshan snapped coldly, “Lies! Someone saw you go to Lady Xu’s courtyard during the hour of shen. How do you explain that?”

“Was it you who killed Lady Xu?!”

Cook Wang’s face changed drastically, and she waved her hands in a panic. “I didn’t, I didn’t! I only dare kill chickens. How would I dare kill a person?”

Yuan Nanshan said sternly, “Then why did you go to Lady Xu’s courtyard? If you dare conceal even a single word, you will come back with me to Dali Temple and be served with the heavy punishments there!”

Cook Wang trembled all over. After hesitating for a moment, she lowered her head and said with reddened eyes, “I-I did go to Concubine Xu’s courtyard, but I only… wanted an explanation…”

She wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve and said softly, “Two months ago, Master Xu came to stay at the residence for a few days. My… my daughter brought him his meals, and then… he violated her…”

“She is only fifteen! The child didn’t dare say anything before, but now we’ve found out she is pregnant.”

“I wanted to ask Concubine Xu for an explanation. Who would have thought Concubine Xu would not only refuse to acknowledge it, but curse my daughter as a lowly slut, a whore, saying she had deliberately seduced Master Xu…”

“I was furious, but I didn’t dare argue. I had no choice but to swallow the grievance in silence…”

At those words, Yuan Nanshan and I were both stunned.

So there had been such a story behind it.