Tang Jinxian’s attempt to get a handle on him ended with a few painless, harmless threats.
But by taking the initiative to come to his door, she had indirectly relieved Jiang Mu of quite a bit of pressure.
After all, many people were watching from the shadows.
As a member of the yamen, it was not very appropriate for Jiang Mu to take the initiative to fawn over this woman.
With her coming to him of her own accord, it better showed that he had no choice in the matter, and would also make those in the dark think Tang Jinxian could no longer hold out and had come to pressure him, the fool.
The next day, after breakfast, Jiang Mu went to look for Shi Baolu.
In the end, that fellow had run out early in the morning to search for his precious lost chick.
Jiang Mu was utterly speechless.
And he finally understood why Uncle An had previously been rather unwilling to arrange duties for Shi Baolu in the yamen.
Looking after one “fool” was already taxing enough. If another were added, it would truly give one a headache.
Helpless, Jiang Mu could only continue visiting the widows on his own.
After crossing off the households he had already investigated from the list, this time Jiang Mu arrived at a rather plain little farmhouse courtyard.
The widow he was visiting this time was named “Huo Ling.”
Her husband had once been a scholar of the Hanlin Academy while he was alive, a man of pure and distinguished standing. Because he had taken part in compiling the Wen Yuan Canon, he had been greatly appreciated by the late emperor, and she had thus been granted the fifth-rank title of Yiren.
Not long after the late emperor passed away, her husband also died of illness, but her status as an imperially titled lady was preserved.
After her husband’s death, he had not left behind a generous family fortune. She maintained her livelihood only on a small annual stipend and was not wealthy.
Her son was named Wu and had already obtained the scholarly rank of xiucai.
He had a gentle temperament and was extremely filial to his mother. Among the neighbors, his reputation was excellent.
Madam Wu also had an older male cousin currently serving in the Patrol Yamen Office.
His name was Yan Qingshan.
Jiang Mu went over the information in his mind once more, then knocked on the courtyard gate.
The one who opened the door was an old matron with graying hair.
Seeing the yamen uniform on Jiang Mu, she froze for a moment, a hint of wariness in her eyes. “Sir constable, is there something you need?”
Jiang Mu said in a mild tone:
“Granny, apologies for the disturbance. May I ask if Madam Wu is at home? I am from the county yamen and have some matters I would like to discuss with Madam Wu.”
“Please wait.”
The old matron hesitated for a moment, but still turned and went inside.
Before long, she returned and opened the courtyard gate a little wider. “Sir constable, please come in.”
“Many thanks.”
Jiang Mu gave a slight nod and stepped inside.
Led by the old matron, Jiang Mu entered the main room.
As soon as he entered, a faint scent of sandalwood lingered at the tip of his nose.
At the innermost part of the room stood an incense altar. Upon it was a small Buddha statue, its eyes lowered in compassion. In the incense burner before it were three thin sticks of incense, blue smoke curling upward.
A woman dressed in plain white was kneeling on a prayer cushion, kowtowing toward the Buddha statue, a string of prayer beads in her hand.
The woman looked to be around thirty-five or thirty-six, with fair skin.
Her features could not be called especially exquisite, but they were dignified and pleasing to the eye, and her figure was rather full and graceful.
In particular, paired with her white garments and the detached air about her that came from immersion in Buddhist rites, she had a charm all her own.
Jiang Mu’s gaze lingered on the woman for only two seconds before naturally sweeping over the rest of the room.
Very soon, his eyes narrowed.
Beside a chair against the wall stood several slender switches of thorny wood.
Switches?
Jiang Mu narrowed his eyes and unconsciously recalled the marks on the victims’ bodies.
On the table beside the switches was a stack of thick books.
Leaves had even been tucked between them.
It seemed this Madam Wu likely supervised and tested her child’s studies every day.
Madam Wu rose to her feet. Her eyes, calm as autumn waters, looked toward Jiang Mu, and her voice was gentle yet carried a distant chill:
“I wonder what brings you here, sir constable? Could it be that my son has caused some trouble outside?”
Jiang Mu came back to himself and cupped his hands.
“Madam, you misunderstand. Recently, Yancheng has not been peaceful. Several cases of women disappearing have occurred one after another. His Honor the county magistrate has specially ordered us to strengthen patrols in various places, and to pay particular attention to esteemed persons such as yourself, Madam, offering protection in secret lest you be targeted by the culprit.”
Jiang Mu was using the same explanation he had given Madam Yan.
Hearing that it had nothing to do with her son, Madam Wu’s expression eased slightly. Then she frowned and said:
“From what you are saying, sir constable, those women who disappeared earlier were somewhat similar to myself?”
This woman was very clever.
“Precisely.”
Jiang Mu nodded. “That villain seems to be specifically targeting women whose circumstances are similar to Madam’s. Therefore, if Madam needs to go out, you must be exceedingly careful. It would be best to have someone accompany you. Of course, we will also increase our patrols and do our utmost to ensure Madam’s safety.”
“Many thanks to you, sir constable, for making a special trip to inform me. I will keep it in mind.”
Madam Wu’s tone softened somewhat. “On ordinary days, I mostly remain at home to worship Buddha and seldom go out. If I truly notice anything unusual, I will report it to the authorities at once.”
“It is best that Madam can be so cautious.”
Seeing that she had no intention of inviting him to sit and talk, Jiang Mu mentioned a few matters she should pay attention to, then prepared to take his leave.
As he was leaving, his gaze drifted, seemingly by chance, to a piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall, and he casually asked:
“This piece of calligraphy is truly well written. I see your son’s name on the signature. Could it be Young Master Wu’s work?”
Madam Wu looked at the calligraphy, and a smile appeared on her face. “It is indeed something my son wrote in his leisure time. You flatter him, sir constable.”
Following the opening, Jiang Mu praised it a few more times and said:
“To be honest with you, Madam, when patrolling nearby, I often hear the neighbors praise your esteemed son. Not only is he learned, he is also a rare filial son. He can truly be called both talented and virtuous.”
Sure enough, as long as one praised their child, parents would always lower their guard somewhat.
Madam Wu smiled, then sighed and said:
“It is true that my son is filial, but his temperament is too fond of play, and his resolve is insufficient. Some days ago, he was nearly led by the third young master of the Yang family to fool around in those pleasure quarters.
“If I had not discovered it in time and properly punished him, I fear his studies would have gone to waste.”
Seeing that Madam Wu seemed about to open up, Jiang Mu was just about to ask further when a voice suddenly came from the courtyard gate:
“Mother, I’m back.”
Jiang Mu listened carefully to the voice. It did not overlap with the voice of the man in black.
However, at the time, the man in black had deliberately altered his voice and had been wearing a mask. Even when he was furious and flustered at the end, his voice had remained low and hoarse throughout, making it very difficult to distinguish.
A young man stepped into the room.
He was about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a handsome, refined face.
Seeing an unfamiliar yamen runner in the room, he froze for a moment. “Mother, this is…”
And from the instant the other party entered, Jiang Mu had been staring intently at the man’s expression.
Yet to his disappointment, the man’s face showed only the normal surprise of seeing an unfamiliar officer, without the slightest trace of tension or panic.
He then assessed his build.
At the time, the other party had been wearing a black robe, so his exact build could not be determined.
But his height was about the same.
“My son, this is a constable from the county yamen…”
Madam Wu explained Jiang Mu’s purpose in coming.
When Wu heard it, he quickly cupped his hands and said:
“So it is for this matter. I have also heard quite a bit about the recent cases, and I have been worried, just fretting over how to advise my mother to go out less. Today, with sir constable personally coming to warn her, that could not be better. It saves this student quite a bit of persuasion.”
As he spoke, he took out a small piece of silver from his sleeve and handed it over.
“A little tea money, hardly enough to show my respect. Please accept it, sir constable.”
Jiang Mu accepted the silver and said ashamedly:
“Young Master Wu, you are too courteous. Protecting the common people is our duty to begin with. Rather, it is our failure that we have yet to capture that rampant villain. I truly feel ashamed.”
“You constables toil day and night. We common folk all see it.”
As a xiucai, Wu was so modest and courteous toward an ordinary yamen runner. With such speech and conduct, it was extremely easy for people to feel goodwill toward him. No wonder his reputation among the neighbors was good.
Jiang Mu chatted idly with him for a few more moments, then rose to take his leave.
Wu personally saw him to the door.
Just as he was preparing to leave, Jiang Mu suddenly asked, “Young Master Wu, what kind of person do you think the murderer might be?”
Wu was startled when he heard this, then gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
“This student is merely a scholar, knowing only how to bury my head in the books of the sages. I know nothing at all about criminal investigation and adjudication. How would I dare offer rash comments?”
“No harm in it. Just treat it as idle conversation.”
Jiang Mu’s voice abruptly turned cold. “I think the murderer must be a twisted, extremely arrogant yet cowardly incompetent! Relying on a bit of ability to bully weak women—he is nothing but scum among men!
“I imagine that for someone to raise such a beast, his mother must also be an old vicious hag who cannot distinguish right from wrong, harsh and devoid of kindness! Young Master Wu, wouldn’t you say that is so?”
Jiang Mu stared fixedly into the other party’s eyes.
Wu only frowned slightly and again gave a bitter smile.
“I do not know, but judging by what the murderer has done, they are indeed the deeds of a beast. I only hope the authorities can capture him soon.”
Jiang Mu withdrew his gaze and smiled. “Rest assured, we certainly will.”
With that, he turned and left.
After walking a few steps, he suddenly turned his head. “Oh, right. I truly wouldn’t dare accept this. His Honor the county magistrate would scold me.”
He tossed the piece of silver back.
But he deliberately threw it a little askew.
Wu flusteredly caught the silver and was about to speak, but Jiang Mu had already gone far away.
…
After turning past the mouth of the alley, Jiang Mu stopped.
His expression was calm. With his back against the wall, he stood silently for a moment, then suddenly turned and retraced his steps.
At the courtyard gate, Wu was no longer there.
Jiang Mu folded his arms before his chest, rubbed his chin, and murmured:
“With the mask on, he’s like a frenzied, mindless demon. With the mask off, he’s as shrewd as a fox… Is that how it is? Acting too perfectly instead exposed the flaw.”
He once again walked toward the Wu family’s small courtyard.
When he was almost at the entrance, however, he took a turn, going around to the back of the courtyard wall. Then he lowered his head and looked at the mud that had been soaked by rain, stepping on the grass beside it as he slowly observed.
Very soon, he discovered a string of footprints at the corner of the wall to the left of the courtyard gate.
The footprints led toward the courtyard gate.
Jiang Mu searched again for the other end of the footprints, but found nothing.
It was as if the footprints had appeared out of thin air from beneath the foot of the wall.
Jiang Mu raised his head and examined the wall, then closed his eyes and thought back for a moment, murmuring:
“The timing of his appearance was quite exquisite. He interrupted my key questioning of Madam Wu all at once. Could he have been at home the entire time, and seen me from the moment I appeared?”
Jiang Mu rubbed the space between his brows and said in frustration, “That probing just now was a little too hasty. I’m afraid I made him suspicious.”
He shook his head, no longer lingered, and left the Wu family’s small courtyard.
Not long after Jiang Mu left, Wu walked out from his own courtyard gate and came to the corner of the wall.
Looking at the trampled grass, he stood there in silence for a long while. Then he rubbed his face hard, sneered, and cursed:
“Didn’t they say he was a fool? Damn it, what kind of fool is like this!”