The next day, the sky was still gloomy.
Gloomy as a resentful woman nursing her grievances.
The fluffy, piled-up skirts of cloud desperately suppressed the restlessness within, as if hot rain might come pouring down at any moment.
After breakfast, An Chenghu packed his things and prepared to head to the neighboring county.
Before he left, he handed Jiang Mu a thin booklet.
Inside were several suspects he had screened out based on the information he knew.
Having been rooted in Yan City for more than twenty years, and often dealing with the Patrol Office, An Chenghu knew the circumstances of many prominent households in the city like the back of his hand.
On top of that, the murderer’s family background was likely not ordinary, and he had some connection to the Patrol Office, so the scope of investigation narrowed considerably.
“Based on my many years of intuition in handling cases, the murderer is most likely among these few people. Check them one by one, and be sure to be cautious.”
An Chenghu gave him careful instructions. “Remember what I told you yesterday. The murderer must be discovered and arrested personally by Chief Tang. Don’t be rash and stick your neck out.”
Jiang Mu nodded. “Uncle An, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. By the way, do you need me to report to Chief Tang that you’ve gone to the neighboring county?”
An Chenghu shook his head.
“No need. Chief Tang has likely already gotten wind of it. Just focus on your investigation. It would be more appropriate to wait for her to come to you on her own. That way, the county magistrate won’t be able to find fault either.”
“Then do I need to go to the yamen first and get some manpower?”
“No. The more people there are, the more troublesome it becomes. Besides, the county magistrate won’t give you any men. Oh, right…”
An Chenghu suddenly thought of something. He took out a slightly stiff sheet of official paper and handed it to Jiang Mu.
“The eldest girl of the Shi family, Yurun, asked me some time ago to find a position in the yamen for that boy Baolu. I originally didn’t want to agree, because looking after him would be exhausting.
“But now that your head is better, and only Baolu is left, it’s not a problem. I asked the county magistrate for a favor and stuffed that kid in. From now on, let him run errands with you.
“Besides, that girl Xueying has entered Divine Phoenix Island. Consider it doing them an early favor.”
Jiang Mu took the official paper.
It bore a vermilion official seal, along with several lines written in ink.
In Great Qian, yamen runners were not classified as menial servants; their descendants could still normally take the imperial examinations or participate in cultivation selections.
Otherwise, An Chenghu would never have let Jiang Mu enter the yamen.
Especially after spirit disasters appeared, many old systems had undergone reforms.
Jiang Mu teased, “Then I’ll take Stone with me to investigate. I’m sure the county magistrate and the others would be happy to see us two fools assisting Chief Tang with the case.”
An Chenghu was amused as well. He patted Jiang Mu on the shoulder. “Be careful.”
……
After An Chenghu left, Jiang Mu went next door to Shi Baolu’s house to look for him.
However, the other party’s courtyard gate was locked.
“Strange. Going out so early in the morning?”
Jiang Mu was puzzled, but he didn’t think too much of it. He simply picked the nearest suspect from the list Uncle An had given him and decided to go probe on his own first.
About the time it took for an incense stick to burn, he arrived before a grand residence with tall gates.
According to the information An Chenghu had provided, the owner of this household was a widow surnamed Yan. She came from a scholarly family, but her family later declined, and she married a merchant.
After the merchant died of illness, she supported the family business alone and raised her son to adulthood.
This woman had a rather forceful personality, and through her own efforts, she had managed the family business with great success.
Because she had once donated a great deal of money and goods to the Patrol Office, she had a decent relationship with the people there. This also made some petty villains who coveted her family property unwilling to come cause trouble lightly.
Jiang Mu decided to pay a direct visit.
Investigating in secret was time-consuming and laborious. It was better to test them openly.
The murderer must harbor hatred toward him for “stealing” Tang Jinxian. If he suddenly appeared, the other party’s expression and reaction might reveal a flaw.
He straightened his clothes and was just about to ask the gatekeeper to announce him when, at that moment, a beautiful woman dressed in luxurious attire, with a refined and alluring bearing, walked gracefully out from within the gate, surrounded by a group of maids.
The woman’s back was straight, showing the upbringing of a noble household.
Her glossy black hair was combed into an impeccable bun, with only a single golden buyao hairpin hanging by her cheek, swaying lightly.
Beside her followed a well-dressed, handsome young gentleman.
Jiang Mu’s gaze focused.
He felt that the young gentleman looked somewhat familiar.
After thinking carefully, he realized it was the man who had gotten off the carriage together with Shi Xueying yesterday.
“Madam Yan.”
Jiang Mu took the initiative to step forward and cupped his hands in salute.
The beautiful woman stopped her lotus steps. Her sharp yet charming eyes turned and landed on Jiang Mu.
When she caught sight of his county yamen uniform, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
The young man beside her was first stunned when he saw Jiang Mu, then his expression became somewhat odd.
“Madam Yan, I am from the county yamen—”
“What is it?”
The woman spoke coldly, her voice carrying a slight magnetic quality.
She looked every bit like a domineering female CEO.
Jiang Mu paid no mind to the woman’s strong manner and said,
“It’s like this. Yan City has not been very peaceful lately, with several cases occurring one after another. The higher-ups specially instructed us to strengthen patrols and visits in the surrounding area. They also specifically told us to remind esteemed people like Madam, who often need to go out, to pay extra attention to safety.”
The woman’s beautiful eyes examined Jiang Mu as she asked, “May I ask your honorable surname, officer?”
“Mu.”
Jiang Mu replied.
The woman gave the maid beside her a look and said coolly, “Thank you for coming to remind me, Officer Mu. I have also heard about the recent cases, and naturally, I will be more careful.”
The maid took out two small pieces of silver and handed them to Jiang Mu.
Jiang Mu accepted them readily. After thanking her, he took them without embarrassment, then spoke again. “Madam, I wonder if it would be convenient to trouble you for another moment and have a brief chat?”
A trace of displeasure flashed across the woman’s face.
But perhaps out of consideration for the yamen’s face, or perhaps because Jiang Mu’s words just now had worked, she pondered briefly in the end, then waved to the coachman, indicating for him to wait outside.
She said to Jiang Mu, “Since it is official business, then come in and sit for a moment.”
After entering the elegantly arranged reception hall, a maid served clear tea.
The young man named Wen Yu did not follow them in.
“Officer Mu, what else do you wish to ask?”
Madam Yan picked up her teacup and got straight to the point.
Compared to Tang Jinxian, who was also a widow, Madam Yan’s looks could not compare, but the ripe, mature figure cultivated by years of pampered living was not inferior by much.
Jiang Mu took a sip of tea and smiled.
“It’s just routine, to learn a little more about the situation. For example, have there been any strangers wandering around the residence recently, or have you noticed any unusual movements?”
Madam Yan shook her lovely head. “I have not noticed anything unusual.”
“Have any servants reported anything abnormal?”
“No.”
Jiang Mu casually asked a few more questions.
Although Madam Yan seemed somewhat impatient, she answered each one briefly.
She even called over the household guards who patrolled the courtyard to ask them.
After chatting for a while, Jiang Mu deliberately shifted the topic away. “When I saw Madam outside just now, I felt your bearing was extraordinary, and that young gentleman was even more impressive in appearance. I presume he is the young master of your household?”
Hearing him praise her son, Madam Yan’s expression softened slightly. “Indeed, he is my son.”
Jiang Mu followed along and praised, “As the saying goes, a tiger mother does not raise a dog son. I have heard that Madam has put great care into cultivating the young master. I imagine he must be profoundly learned and is sure to have a splendid future ahead.”
The woman’s tone carried a bit of helplessness, but not without pride.
“I do hope he can pass the examinations and earn official rank, but alas, this child has his own ideas and is wholeheartedly yearning for the path of cultivation. I was unwilling for him to leave home and brave danger, but I could not overcome his stubbornness.”
Hearing this, Jiang Mu had basically determined that this Wen Yu was not the murderer he was looking for.
The murderer had always been in a suppressed environment where he was controlled and unable to resist.
His mother would definitely not indulge her son like this.
Having achieved his goal, Jiang Mu chatted a few more sentences, then rose and took his leave.
Madam Yan did not ask him to stay either, and signaled for a maid to see him out.
After he walked out the main gate, the young man named Wen Yu suddenly chased after him and called out to Jiang Mu, who was preparing to leave.
“Officer Mu.”
Wen Yu wore a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes revealed an air of arrogance looking down from above. “I know you. You’re Xueying’s neighbor. And you like her very much.”
“What’s the problem?”
Jiang Mu raised a brow and looked at him.
Here it came. The melodramatic plot was here.
Sure enough, a cold warning glint burst from Wen Yu’s eyes.
“Xueying is already a disciple of Divine Phoenix Island. Her future achievements will undoubtedly be extraordinary. She is not someone any toad can covet. I think you understand what I mean, don’t you?”
Young man, even your threats have no originality…
Jiang Mu secretly mocked him, but on the surface, he deliberately shook his head in confusion. “I don’t quite understand.”
Before Wen Yu could speak again, he suddenly stepped forward, put an arm around the other man’s shoulder, and said in a teasing tone,
“I hate being lectured and threatened the most. Since you’re being this childish, I’ll also say something very childish, but it might make you lose your composure a little.”
“What?”
“Xueying and I have slept in the same bed many times. Do you believe that?”
Wen Yu’s expression changed abruptly. Then he flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly. “It was just playing around as children. What is there to mention?”
“Sleeping as children is still sleeping.”
Jiang Mu acted like a ruffian. “I watched her grow bigger, and she watched me grow longer. If you don’t believe me, you can go ask her whether she used to like naughty brats who caused trouble.”
With that, Jiang Mu turned and left.
Wen Yu was left standing there alone, his face shifting between green and white, fists clenched tightly.
However, after this incident, Jiang Mu became even more certain that Wen Yu was definitely not the murderer.
Someone who harbored twisted, repressed hatred toward his mother would already have a deformed psyche. How could he possibly like another girl so normally, even getting jealous and competing for her favor?
Jiang Mu took out the booklet and crossed one name off.
“Next one.”
——
——
At the Patrol Office, inside the document room where the chief usually handled official business.
Tang Jinxian held the note a subordinate had delivered, her lovely face covered in a layer of frost, anger rippling in her cool, light-brown eyes.
The note said that An Chenghu had already been transferred to the neighboring county.
Smack!
The woman slapped the note onto the table and laughed in fury.
“Good, Magistrate Yang. How very loyal of you. Do you really think you’ve found yourself some towering tree to lean on?”
Last time, the other party had brushed her off by sending the dimwit Mu Jiang to assist her in handling the case, and she had let that go. She hadn’t expected him to dare openly trip her up now.
Even a clay bodhisattva had some temper.
Let alone the fact that her mood had already been utterly terrible these past few days.
“Xiuxiu!”
“My lord.”
A delicate-looking female official responsible for assisting with daily official duties quickly walked in and bowed respectfully.
Tang Jinxian restrained the anger from earlier. Her expression was calm as she said coolly,
“For the past half year, any documents, case files, draft proposals, or reports submitted by the Tongxin County yamen that require the Patrol Office’s approval or filing are to be returned in full. Have them check each item according to the Detailed Regulations on Official Documents of the Patrol Office. If there is a single mistake or omission in format, wording, or seals, they are not to resubmit it.”
“In addition, I will write a letter to Lord Li, requesting a routine audit of Tongxin County’s grain transport losses, corvée labor apportionment, and the like. In a moment, send someone to deliver it by fast horse.”
“The spirit disaster assistance funds and travel tokens allocated by the Patrol Office to the county yamen need to be reassessed. For the time being, they will not be issued to them. Let Magistrate Yang wait first.”
“Also, retrieve the case files this county has closed within the past three years, especially those suspected spirit disaster cases that may contain doubts or have been handled perfunctorily. Have them investigate them again.”
“Oh, right. Temporarily transfer the county assistant magistrate, registrar, and others from that county to the Patrol Office branch to assist with official duties.”
Xiuxiu froze for several seconds, then hurriedly responded, “Yes.”
Tang Jinxian leaned forward slightly, her sharp phoenix eyes staring at her.
“If Deputy Chief Yu interferes, have him come find me personally. If he uses being busy with official business as an excuse, tell him that anyone can tear down windows, but I, Tang Jinxian, prefer tearing off roofs. At worst, we’ll all bake in the sun together and all get drenched in the rain together! Let’s see who gets roasted to death first, and who drowns first!”
“Yes.”
Seeing the woman wave her hand, Xiuxiu left with a stiff scalp.
As expected, a widow driven to anger was truly terrifying.
Once the room became quiet again, Tang Jinxian exhaled the turbid breath that had been clogged in her chest and murmured, “I wonder if that silly boy can do it?”
She trusted An Chenghu’s ability.
But Mu Jiang…
Although his previous performance had barely been passable, he was still too inexperienced in the end.
“Forget it. Let’s leave it to luck.”
The beautiful woman sighed and leaned heavily back against the chair.
The force of her leaning back was not light. Her ample curves bounced and trembled, squeezing a few beads of sweat, brought out by the stuffy heat, from the valley between them. They sprang free and scattered, splashing into tiny glimmers of light.
“But then again, if Mu Jiang can really help me dig out the murderer, that means he’s quite capable. This also means that this kid won’t be easy to control.”
“I need to think of a way to get some leverage over him.”
“But how?”