mesbooks Chapter 34 Killed
Chapter 34 Killed
Liu Shan was still puzzled. Different types of knives would naturally leave different wounds. What was so surprising about that?
Tian Fugui added in a very low voice, "Young Master, the ox-tail knife is the standard weapon of the Xia Dynasty army."
"Ah..." Liu Shan was startled and couldn't help but gasp!
The complexity of the case seemed to far exceed his expectations.
He walked toward Zhang Tienan and said in a low voice, "The case is complicated. I have already asked Tian Fugui to inform the government."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Tienan's expression turned complicated, and he nodded slightly.
As night fell, the efficiency of the Cangzhou government was commendable. In just half an hour, the yamen runners, led by a fat man, quickly arrived at the scene.
This fat man was none other than He Qiong, an old acquaintance of Liu Shan.
He Qiong's originally gloomy face softened considerably upon seeing Liu Shan.
Liu Shan smiled and bowed, saying, "Master He, I'm truly sorry to bother you so late at night."
He Qiong waved his hand, signaling the constables and coroner to examine the body, while he smiled bitterly and said, "I've heard this case is complicated. Since we're quite close, I'll be frank. There's probably a lot going on behind this case, and we both need to be careful."
Liu Shan nodded in agreement and, during the brief interval between the constables and the coroner examining the body, recounted in detail how Zhao Tingxiao had abducted the courtesan.
Upon hearing this, He Qiong frowned and demanded sharply, "Who is Zhao Si to you?"
Zhao Tingxiao hurriedly replied, "Reporting to Your Excellency, Zhao Si is indeed my father."
He Qiong's face darkened, and she continued to press, "I've met both of Zhao Si's sons, but I've never seen you before. Who exactly are you?"
Zhang Tienan then interjected, "My lord, he is the son of a maid."
Liu Shan was slightly surprised. It was the first time he had learned about Zhao Tingxiao's background, and he also understood why Zhang Tienan was able to beat Zhao Tingxiao so easily—it was simply because Zhao Tingxiao's status was too lowly.
He Qiong nodded. He had indeed heard that a maid in the Zhao household had given birth to a son for Zhao Si, but he never expected that the maid's son would be so despicable as to kidnap a courtesan!
It's ridiculous; he's completely disgraced the Zhao family.
Nevertheless, Zhao Tingxiao was, after all, Zhao Si's son. Given that Zhao Si donated money and goods to the government every year, He Qiong decided to give him a lenient sentence.
Thinking of this, He Qiong said, "I will send someone to inform Zhao Si and have him take you back."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Tingxiao's face turned pale instantly; he knew exactly what this meant.
Once Zhao Si learns of this, he will either die or be maimed.
For years, he has gone to great lengths to please the sons of officials. Why?
Isn't it all just to escape her lowly position in the Zhao family and fight against fate?
Isn't it all to clear the name of my mother who died tragically in the Zhao family?
However, he was about to be easily deprived of such an opportunity, and his heart was filled with resentment and struggle.
He looked at Zhang Tienan and Liu Shan one by one, but received only indifferent glances.
Zhao Tingxiao's heart sank completely; he knew that he was probably doomed.
At the same time, resentment began to grow in his heart!
If Liu Shan and Zhang Tienan hadn't intervened, he might be embracing the courtesan's soft waist right now, enjoying the romance and ultimate pleasure.
Soon, an old man who looked like a butler hurried over.
After bowing, he handed He Qiong a stack of silver notes without any hesitation and said politely, "Master He, I'm sorry to trouble you again. My master asked me to pass on a message to you that he will be hosting a banquet at Hongbinlou tomorrow to personally apologize to you."
He Qiong calmly accepted the silver note, tucked it into her sleeve, and replied casually, "I will naturally give Zhao Si face. However, his son must be disciplined strictly."
Upon hearing this, the butler's expression changed slightly, but he could only repeatedly agree.
At this moment, He Qiong spoke again: "There's no need for a banquet. These two people in front of you are the people who reported the case. As long as they don't pursue the matter, you can take Zhao Tingxiao away."
The steward cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask where you two gentlemen live?"
Zhang Tienan and Liu Shan exchanged a smile, understanding that the steward was trying to gather information.
Liu Shan replied, "I am the son-in-law of the Li family, and he is the second son of the Zhang family."
The butler nodded, realizing that neither the Li family nor the Zhang family were people the Zhao family could easily provoke.
He knew that if this matter was not handled properly, it could bring great trouble to the Zhao family.
Therefore, the steward's attitude became even more humble. "Young masters, this matter is purely a misunderstanding. The Zhao family is willing to offer a small gift, and we hope you will accept it."
This was the perfect opportunity to show off, so Liu Shan said in a pretentious manner, "Tie Nan and I are not short of pocket money. Let Zhao Tingxiao kneel down and kowtow to the courtesan."
The butler immediately walked up to Zhao Tingxiao with a gloomy face, slapped him more than a dozen times, and shouted sternly, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and kneel down to thank the two young masters for their leniency."
Zhao Tingxiao had no choice but to lower his head, tears welling up in his eyes, and a hint of unresolved sarcasm appeared on his lips.
He endured the pain, slowly knelt down, and pressed his hands against the cold mud, as if silently vowing that he would avenge the humiliation he suffered today.
"Young masters, rest assured, the Zhao family will make proper arrangements for the funeral of this tragically deceased courtesan." The steward seemed to change his demeanor, adopting a humble and polite appearance.
Zhang Tienan smiled contemptuously, stepped forward and kicked Zhao Tingxiao, pointed at the courtesan's corpse, and said coldly, "From now on, there is no longer any connection between us!"
Zhao Tingxiao kept his head down, avoiding everyone's gaze. A hint of hatred flashed in his eyes, and his resentment grew stronger.
After the Zhao family steward took Zhao Tingxiao away, the yamen runners and coroner completed their examination of the body.
A coroner stood up and reported the situation to He Qiong.
The coroner's findings were almost identical to those of Tian Fugui.
This made Liu Shan look at Tian Fugui in a different light.
After the coroner left, a constable reported: "Sir, the courtesan died under suspicious circumstances. The only wound was on her chest, and judging from the wound, the murder weapon was indeed a bull-tail knife..."
After hearing the brief report, He Qiong instructed the coroner to properly preserve the courtesan's body, and then prepared to return home.
Liu Shan was taken aback. Why not continue the investigation?
He hasn't even had a chance to show his skills yet.
He Qiong seemed to see the doubt in Liu Shan's heart, and turned around to explain calmly: "Investigating a case is not something that can be accomplished overnight. Let's call it a day and make plans for tomorrow."
Liu Shan nodded in understanding, but in his heart he was secretly planning to personally investigate the case the next day until he could uncover the truth about the courtesan's murder.
When Liu Shan returned to the Li residence, it was already late at night, and the time had come to 9 PM.
Most of the lights in the Li residence had been extinguished, but he was wide awake.
However, to his surprise, Li Polu came to visit him in person a short while later.
After bowing, Liu Shan asked in surprise, "Father-in-law, what urgent matter is there?"
Li Polu nodded and cut straight to the point: "You don't need to get involved in the case of the death of the courtesan of Louwailou anymore. Let's leave it at that."
Li Polu's voice was deep and powerful, and a hint of unusual worry appeared in his eyes.