Chapter VII

"Can Xu Chu's background be found out?"

"Back to the prince, I have found it out, and there is nothing wrong. The Xu family has been working for several generations, and the family background is innocent. It's just that Xu Chu's mother died early, leaving not many traces. Xu Chu grew up with Xu Chengzuo since he was a child, and he was mixed in the morgue and Yizhuang when he was a child, so he also learned the ability of autopsy. ”

King Jing'an nodded, wrinkled his eyebrows slightly thoughtfully, and said after a while: "Go and find all the cases that Xu Chengzuo has investigated over the years." ”

"Yes."

As Wei Guang retreated, there was a deliberate silence in the room, and King Jing'an still looked at the file in his hand with a calm expression. On the top of that file, the word top secret was impressively printed. And there is a portrait among them, but it is three or five points similar to Xu Chu, if you look at it in a hurry, I am afraid that you will recognize it as a person in a trance.

Xu Chu...... He pondered in his heart, but finally shook his head and sighed that he was becoming more and more imprudent.

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When Xu Chu came to visit again, Master Qian didn't give a good face at all. However, because King Jing'an acquiesced to her investigation of the case, she also made a few perfunctory remarks in the hall, and finally said that only her son was left to deal with something.

"I don't know why Miss Xu came here today?" Young Master Qian is in black right now, and it is obvious that he is fighting hard to meet people.

"I still want to see Ying'er again." Xu Chu was not polite, and said straightforwardly, "If it is convenient, I also asked Young Master Qian to call the elder to come with Ah Sheng." ”

Young Master Qian was stunned for a moment, and said with some hesitation: "Could it be that Ying'er has something to do with Ah Sheng and Ya Niang's death?" ”

"It's not clear if it's related or not, but I have something I want to ask them." Xu Chu thought carefully about the wording, and Yu Guang paid attention to Young Master Qian's expression, and saw that his face was nervous and his hands were slightly curled and trembling, before he continued, "I heard that the young lady once had the intention to marry Ying'er and Ah Sheng, and I think the two of them should be grateful to the young lady." ”

It wasn't until Xu Chu's words fell that the expression on Young Master Qian's face became a little natural.

"Ying'er is still in the house now, but Ah Sheng has not returned to the house because he went out of the city to visit relatives." Young Master Qian was full of apologies and led people into the hall, and sent someone to summon Ying'er to come.

Before, Ying'er was scarred, so she could only see a little resemblance to Mrs. Qian Shao between her eyebrows and eyes, but now her face was red and swollen a little, and she looked a little more like her when she didn't speak.

However, Xu Chu didn't come this time to confirm her origin, but took out a prescription and asked, "Ying'er, is this the medicine you went to the pharmacy to grab?" There is a tonka in it, but it is used for contraception. ”

"Slave maid...... Slave maid ......" Ying'er burst into tears, and glanced at Xu Chu with a dull face, but soon she seemed to think of something, and hurriedly remedied, "It's the medicine that the slave and maid went to catch, and the young lady has the heart to marry the slave and maid, but the slave and maid don't want to have children too early, so she bought tonka." ”

Seeing her admit it, Xu Chucai sneered meaninglessly: "You are really a good maid." ”

"Miss Xu, this ......" Young Master Qian frowned, as if he was confused and puzzled.

"Young Master Qian, do you know what the relationship between the young lady and Ying'er has always been?"

"Ying'er has accompanied Yaniang since she was a child, and she really has a little affection. It's just that in the past two years, the two have often had some unpleasantness, and Yaniang will punish Ying'er every time she gets angry. Especially when Zi Yaniang was pregnant for the first time, her temper was even more eccentric, and she was quite harsh on Ying'er. Young Master Qian looked sad, shook his head and said, "The doctor said that pregnant women are more irritable and temperamental, so I never thought about it, and only persuaded Ying'er to be considerate of Yaniang." ”

"What about the relationship between the step-lady and the young lady and Ying'er?" Xu Chu raised his eyes and looked at Young Master Qian.

But seeing that Young Master Qian hesitated slightly, he staggered Xu Chu's gaze and said gently: "I know that there are gossips about me and my stepmother in the house, but in fact, my stepmother has no selfish feelings for me. The stepmother has a very good relationship with Ya Niang, and often dismisses Ying'er, she does not have the frame of being a wife, and treats people very kindly. ”

Xu Chu nodded, seeing that Young Master Qian's words were gentle, but he did not have any charm and weakness, he was afraid that the two of them were really fine. She had asked before that on the day of the young lady's accident, the step-lady was enjoying chrysanthemums with the daughter of the county lord's family, and she did not leave an inch during the period, and there was no time to commit the murder.

After seeing Young Master Qian and Ying'er, Xu Chu went to visit his stepwife again. It was also at this time that she learned that Ying'er knew her life experience from the beginning, and even told her stepwife about the injustice of the world many times. It's a pity that no matter how dissatisfied she is in her heart, as long as the master of the Zhang family doesn't recognize her for a day, she will be a subordinate for a day.

In this way, Ying'er's suspicion has risen again. Ying'er complained in her heart, and she grabbed Linglingxiang, an abortion medicine. And in the medical hall, the guy who took the medicine for Ying'er on the day suddenly took leave and never returned. It's getting more and more interesting.

got the answer she wanted, Xu Chu didn't stay longer, this Qian Mansion was really much deeper than she imagined. And Young Master Qian, who has always been gentle and elegant, may not be as affectionate and clean as he shows.

As for Master Qian and his stepwife...... Xu Chu's eyes darkened, and then he spit out a breath of turbidity, that is the real troublemaker.

When he returned to the post station, it was already dark outside the window, and Xu Chu was bored fiddling with the beads he picked up from Qian's house. The Qian family is really rotten in their bones, and a good family has to do things that are not masters, slaves and slaves.

After another quarter and a half, and thinking through many things, she yawned and climbed into bed. In order to reward the silver after solving the case in a few days, she also had to raise her spirits.

In the next few days, Xu Chu would go to the Qian Mansion every day to order something, and then look for people everywhere to chat. So far, I have almost figured out the situation in the Qian Mansion. The mysterious stepwife who came from the capital, as well as the long-term entourage of Young Master Qian who suddenly went home to visit relatives, and then the young lady Qian closed the door from time to time......

When even the old man and the old lady of the Zhang family were suspicious of Xu Chu, they saw that Xu Chu was still wandering around the Qian Mansion unhurriedly. Whether it is a vendor or a shopkeeper, she will hold the melon seeds and say a few words.

If it weren't for the fact that King Jing'an was silent and didn't say anything, and called the ice cubes of the palace to help preserve the corpse, I am afraid that even if the Qian family and the Zhang family don't get into trouble, then even the corpse should be decomposed. After waiting for seven or eight days, Xu Chu packed up his belongings and informed the Zhang family that he had come down to the Qian Mansion.

Before she got close to the gate of the Qian Mansion, she saw a carriage coming from a distance, she glanced at it and leaned towards the side of the road. Unexpectedly, the carriage actually stopped directly beside her, and then the people inside lifted the curtain and came out, but it was King Jing'an, who had not been seen for a long time.

Xu Chu was stunned for a moment before she remembered to salute, she bent her legs and asked in a low voice, "The folk girl has seen the prince." ”

In front of the public, since King Jing'an did not come with great fanfare, he was afraid and unwilling to reveal his identity. Naturally, she would not look for trouble and delay the case any longer.

Xiao Qinglang looked at Xu Chu's cheeks, which were a little pale by the cold wind, raised his eyebrows slightly, and said slowly: "That person has already found it for you, and this time you owe this king a favor again." After a pause, he slowly added, "This time the king doesn't want to eat any noodles." ”

Now that the two of them were very close, Xu Chu actually smelled the fragrance of green bamboo that made people feel clear. She looked up a little dazed, and saw the man standing in front of her against the wind, which made her inexplicably feel a little warmer. She unconsciously licked her dry lips, and the words in the heart drama really made sense, the so-called beautiful and delicious food is probably like this.

Xiao Qinglang looked at Xu Chu's expression and looked away for a long time, but there were slight ripples in his heart because of those clear and clear eyes. If such a woman is admitted to the Three Divisions, she will be able to act justly......

By the time the two of them entered the Qian Mansion one after the other, everyone was already waiting in Wen Wanyuan. When Xiao Qinglang took his seat, he seemed to be casual but full of interest and said: "When the person is complete, I can say it." ”

Although Xu Chu was privately invited by the Zhang family, she still didn't dare to be presumptuous in the face of Xiao Qinglang, the prison prince who was in charge of the three law divisions and could meddle in the inner court. Seeing that he opened his mouth to give permission, Xu Chu walked to the bedside in the room, and said unhurriedly: "Strictly speaking, it is not one person who killed Mrs. Qian, or not just a group of people......

Just one sentence made everyone stunned again, especially the old man and his wife of the Zhang family were even more shocked, and couldn't help but show a complex expression of grief and anger.

"This ...... My daughter is just a back-of-house woman, how can she be killed? Master Zhang was horrified in his heart, and looked at the Qian family viciously. In his heart, he has long believed that his daughter's death was committed by the Qian family, and the only daughter under his knees died at the expense, how can he not hate?

But Xu Chu didn't question too much, and continued: "At the beginning, I found that there were indentations on the back of the young lady, and it stands to reason that the traces in the corpse spots are mostly belts or shoulder blades, but the young lady Qian was found on the soft bed, so there should not be such traces. ”

Then I checked the young lady's room, and the doors and windows were intact, and there was no possibility of a thief committing a violent attack. But at this time, I found that the mandarin duck quilt on the young lady's bed was still clean and new, only the pair of pillow pillowcases were abruptly replaced with peach and plum branches. As she spoke, she looked at Young Master Qian, whose face changed slightly. Seeing that Young Master Qian nodded and admitted, she continued, "According to the traces and corpse spots on the young lady's body, it can be concluded that the young lady was under pressure on her back at that time, but if it is in the next place, there will definitely be traces on the young lady's chest and abdomen, but after my inquest, I didn't find anything wrong." The only possibility is that either the place where the young lady was pressed is smooth and smooth without any unevenness, or there is a soft object to support, and with the description of the scene of the accident where the young lady was found in the file, it is not difficult to determine that the scene was on the bed with a mattress. This is undeniable, and you will not argue with it. ”

"So what? Changing pillowcases is also a common thing, and it is nothing. "Because of King Jing'an, even if Master Qian is not happy, he has to come over." What do you want to say, you don't have to sell it directly, just say it directly, why do you make a fool of yourself and say something that we big guys know. ”

Master Qian was impatient, and his words were naturally not very kind.

Xu Chu saw that Master Qian showed disgust, but he didn't think it was a pestle, and continued:

"It's nothing, but what if the embroidery on the changed pillowcase is scratched by your fingernails and the pillowcase disappears?"

Seeing that Master Qian was still questioning, Xu Chu replied to him: "Although it is normal to change the pillowcase and bedding, I have asked Young Master Qian, and at that time, Young Master Qian said that Wen Wanyuan has not moved since the day of the accident. ”

"And I also asked the laundry person in the house, and she said that there has been no change of pillowcases or anything like that in the house recently." Xu Chu's face was calm, and he looked at Young Master Qian unhurriedly, "Young Master Qian, when you came to Wen Wanyuan that day, you said that you bruised your knee due to a mental trance, right?" ”

Facing Xu Chu's sudden question, Young Master Qian was obviously a little surprised, and subconsciously nodded in response.

Seeing this, Xu Chu showed a smile and said slowly: "But if my guess is right, the injury to your left knee is not a fall, but a press on the edge of the bed." ”

The words fell, and before Young Master Qian could react, the guards who followed King Jing'an had already suppressed the person, and in just a few breaths, they had already examined the scars on Young Master Qian's knees. Sure enough, it was not a patch of red and swollen, but a narrow bruise, which seemed to be not light, and now there is bruising.

"So what? My son has been in a trance since Yaniang's accident, and it is not impossible to hit it and then injure his knee. Before Young Master Qian's sophistry could be spoken, he saw that Master Qian had already glared at Xu Chu angrily. The step-lady also had a complicated expression, as if she was relieved and sad, and her emotions at this time were much more real than when she was in the mourning hall at the beginning.

"Then what if there is a jade pendant mark on the back of the young lady?" Xu Chu sighed and continued to analyze, "Actually, as early as when I saw the jade pendant on Young Master Qian's body, I began to doubt it. Then, when Young Master Qian was fighting with the old lady of the Zhang family, I checked the small pattern of the jade pendant, and it was really the same as the indentation that came down from the back of the young lady Qian. ”

"Young Master Qian is really smart, and he uses a soft pillow as a murder weapon, so that there will be no traces of wounds on the young lady's body. Even if it is found that there are symptoms of suffocation, he will let go of the suspicions because his mouth and nose are not injured and there are no pinch marks on the neck, not to mention that at that time, Zhao Chengzuo was invited by the elder of Young Master Qian's side to eat and drink, and after pushing the cup and changing the lamp, I am afraid that he will not be careful. ”

In fact, the quickest way to determine the cause of Mrs. Qian's death is not to infer it according to the traces on the body surface as she is now, but to do an autopsy, even if it is a local autopsy, only to see whether the petrous part of the temporal bone is black, you can determine whether it is sudden death from sudden illness or suffocation due to violent oppression. But since she crossed over, she knew that the world was taboo and afraid of dissecting corpses, so she would not use that method if there was a slight possibility.

"Because there is no flesh and skin in the young lady's nails, it is rare to think of covering her to death." After all, several homicide cases that everyone is familiar with in this era either leave marks on the mouth, nose and neck when the murderer commits the murder, or scratch the back of the murderer's hand and arm when the deceased is dying.

Probably this is an instinct, and it is also the most common judgment experience used by the puppeteer.

But what if the deceased was pressed on his knees on top of a soft couch and covered with a pillow? As long as the murderer has enough strength, he doesn't even need to make any noise to succeed. But the only flaw is that it is easy to leave other marks with enough strength, such as the marks of the knee pressing on the deceased's body, or the jade pendant worn around the waist being pressed together.

"It's just your words, how to prove it. What's more, when his daughter-in-law died, Ji'er was not in the house at all, how could he commit murder. Master Qian was obviously angry, and even forgot that there was another prince in the seat, so he stared at Xu Chu angrily.

"Who said that Young Master Qian was not in the mansion at that time? I once went to the flower building to let Tang San Shao often find the confidante to inquire, although Young Master Qian was drunk after eating flower wine on the day of the crime, but in fact, the beautiful woman in Young Master Qian's room had already laughed with others, and when he returned to the room, Young Master Qian was coming out of the inner room with sleepy eyes. Although she testified that Young Master Qian had been in the flower building all night long, she didn't really guard it, and it could be said that she didn't even know whether Young Master Qian had just woken up from the inner room or had just returned from outside. ”

"Because everyone subconsciously felt that the sleepy person must have just woken up, and felt that Young Master Qian had no time to go back to the house to commit crimes. But in fact, he not only returned home, but also hid it from everyone. ”

"How is that possible, even if he has that time, how many people can watch him all the way back from Hualou, is it possible that he will still be invisible?" Master Qian couldn't suppress his anger at this time, and said angrily, "You don't want to falsely frame my son's innocence. ”

"Young Master Qian can't be invisible, but he can change his clothes!" Xu Chu said word by word, "Chang followed Ah Sheng to go home to visit relatives on leave, but by chance, I saw him in the house. Then I asked King Jing'an for help, and waited for the rabbit in the pawnshop, and I was arrested. Then I checked the pawnshop's brochure and found that Ah Sheng had pawned a piece of clothing many days ago......"

The carved windows, the splendid curtain and brocade quilts, which were originally the glory and wealth, were silent at this time.

King Jing'an raised his eyes and saw Xu Chu wearing a white and slightly old dress, even if he stood in a bright place, he couldn't hide the solemnity on her face and the persistence in the depths of her eyes. The autumn wind blows, and through the window the curtain swayes.

The inexplicable Xu Chu glanced at King Jing'an, stabilized his suddenly trembling heart, pursed his lips and looked at Young Master Qian, and then said: "And Ah Sheng was holding it when he was arrested...... It's the pair of mandarin duck pillowcases. Young Master Qian, do you want me to tell me more about how you went back to the house in the dark? ”

At that time, Ying'er went to Aunt Xun's to eat wine, Aunt Xun was drunk and slept for a while, if someone entered the house through the back door at that time, what was the difficulty? Before, the people in the county government only asked the young master at the front doorman, but they didn't know that if they wanted to commit murder, they could enter and exit the back door and even the dog hole. What's more, the traces of the jade pendant are the jade pendants worn by Young Master Qian.

Xu Chu glanced at Master Qian, and then looked at Young Master Qian's waist with a solemn expression, "I once asked Young Master Qian, that jade pendant is a family heirloom of the Qian family, and it is unique. ”

Just when Xu Chu said Ah Sheng, Young Master Qian's face was a little difficult to look at, but he still stared at the bed and didn't make a sound. After a long time, when everyone looked at each other, Young Master Qian looked at Xu Chu and asked unhappily and sadly, "Why did I kill my own wife?" I have had a friendship with Ya Niang since I was a child, even if Ya Niang had a miscarriage, it was a real affection. Besides, I have never had the intention of marrying a concubine Nami......"