Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 202 The Case of Shao Qingqing
"Li Mu, is that the new Li Mu from the Right Court? That's right, he's a local official from Lujiang. He was only promoted back to the Court of Justice as a court official because he solved a major case. Come to think of it, this major case should be the case of Shao Qingqing's secret room massacre."

Upon hearing the familiar name, Min Zangzhi couldn't help but interject.

On that day, he was the one who led Zhou Zhao and Li Mu into the Court of Justice.

As Min Cangzhi spoke, her expression became somewhat complicated as she looked at the case file. "Zhou Zhao, do you know what it means for you to reopen this case?"

Zhou Zhao knew this, of course; it meant she was declaring war on the Right Court.

If there really is a problem with this case, then she has slapped Li Mu across the face. He will not only have to go back to where he came from, but he will also have to watch the drama unfold.

If there's no problem with this case, then Zhou Zhao is just stirring up trouble. The conflict between the left and right courtyards is so obvious that even a blind person could see it. When the time comes, the people in the right courtyard will definitely use this as a pretext to kick her while she's down.

"So what? You don't actually think I'm afraid of those old guys in the right courtyard, do you?"

Min Zangzhi was about to praise Zhou Zhaogang for his bravery when he heard the guy say confidently, "Even if the sky falls, there's still Li Youdao and Chang Zuoping, right? They get paid more than us, so they're there to hold up the sky. Otherwise, wouldn't they be just freeloaders?"

Min Zangzhi was speechless for a moment.

Zhou Zhao ignored him and focused all his attention on the case file. "These six dead were all male members of the Cao family, and their deaths were exactly the same. They were all first drugged and then suffocated to death by having wet cloths layered on their faces while they were lying on the bed."

Aside from that, there were no other injuries. When the body was found, the doors and windows were bolted from the inside, and no trace of the murderer was found inside the house.

The case file was very detailed, which clearly showed that Li Mu was not an irresponsible investigator.

"The seventh victim was named Cao Yuanxu, Cao Hongfu's grandson. Based on the circumstances of the deaths of the first six victims, Li Mu guessed the approximate time of the murders, broke into Cao Yuanxu's house, and arrested Shao Qingqing."

Cao Yuanxu's face was already drugged; a copper basin sat beside the bed, filled with soaked homespun cloth. Shao Qingqing's hands were still dripping wet.

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he frowned.

This can be described as catching someone red-handed. No matter who is investigating this case, they will think that Shao Qingqing is highly suspicious and will arrest her immediately.

However, there must always be a motive for murder, let alone the annihilation of an entire family.

"Shao Qingqing had a good reason to kill. Both the Shao family and the Cao family ran taverns. Shao Qingqing was the only daughter in her family. Not only was she good at thinking, but she also had great vision. She received a recipe for a wine called Qingguang Wine, which immediately became popular in Lujiang."

Cao Hongfu, envious of the family's wealth, used underhanded means to seize the Shao family's property. Unable to bear this blow, Shao's father drowned himself in a large vat used for brewing wine. At the moment of his death, the yellow and white linen covering the vat fell into it, covering his face...

No wonder Li Mu concluded that the evidence was conclusive, and the Court of Justice's reply sentenced Shao Qingqing to death.

Zhou Zhao thought for a moment and looked at Min Zangzhi beside him, "So the way the six people from the Cao family died is similar to the way Shao Qingqing's father died. It's easy to think that Shao Qingqing killed them to take revenge on the Cao family."

Coincidentally, shortly before the murder, Shao Qingqing began appearing near the Cao family's residence, going to the area where they disposed of night soil late at night.

"When Li Mu arrested Shao Qingqing, she initially refused to admit it. She said she came to find evidence that the Cao family had embezzled the Shao family's assets. Because her hands were dirty from emptying the chamber pot, she was worried that she would give herself away while searching, so she washed her hands before coming."

However, the next day, Shao Qingqing changed her testimony and admitted that she killed the Cao family to avenge her father.

Li Mu waited three more days, but the murders at the Cao family's residence stopped, and no eighth person was attacked. Cao Yuanxu, who had regained consciousness after being unconscious, was not targeted in a new round of killings. Under these circumstances, Li Mu concluded that the murderer had been arrested and imprisoned, so no one else was committing crimes.

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he looked at the very end, his eyes lit up, and he stood up.

"Shao Qingqing has been taken to the Tingwei Temple prison today. Let's go and meet her."

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he gently tapped the names of several people engraved on the paper. The case was investigated by Li Mu, and Guan Youping was convicted.

As for Li Huaishan's name, which appeared in every death penalty case file, Zhou Zhao simply ignored it. ...

When Zhou Zhao returned to the Tingwei Temple prison, he was not welcomed by the prison guards.

"Young Master Zhou, which prisoner will you be interrogating this time? I hope there won't be any problems this time. I've already cleaned up all the tables, stones, and other items in the cell. I've even taken off their belts! Everything has been confiscated."

The jailer patted his chest, still somewhat shaken, as he spoke.

His voice was high-pitched, like a chicken whose throat had been choked.

"Young Master Zhou, it's not that I'm being rude, but we're not afraid of those who run into walls and swallow gold, getting themselves covered in blood. We're more afraid of those who hang themselves; their tongues are stretched out so long, and they're wagging around. From now on, whenever they see a shadow moving around, they'll be terrified... Ah..."

Out of the corner of his eye, the jailer saw a shadow fluttering on the wall suddenly rush over, and screamed in fright.

This person has perfectly demonstrated what it means to be "to see a snake in a cup" (meaning to be overly suspicious or easily misled).

Zhou Zhao was speechless, and said to the jailer, "It's General Su from the Northern Army."

Su Changying nodded to Zhou Zhao and stood silently beside her.

Although he was wearing the same robes as before, Zhou Zhao could tell at a glance that he had already bathed and changed clothes, and even the ends of his hair were slightly damp.

The prison at the Court of Judicial Review seemed even fuller than before. Although the people who arrived were still alive, they looked as if they were already dead.

The gates of the underworld were probably located at the vegetable market in Chang'an City, and these people came from all over the country to wait for the autumn harvest before setting off.

The jailer stared at Su Changying with wide eyes, then stared at his shadow on the ground for several moments before finally letting out a long sigh of relief and leading Zhou Zhao and the other two to Shao Qingqing.

Shao Qingqing looked to be in her early twenties, with naturally red lips and dark eyebrows, and her eyes seemed to be filled with a pool of spring water.

She sat against the corner of the wall, hugging her knees with her arms around them, her eyes staring straight ahead. Even though someone was coming, she seemed not to see them and remained unmoved.

This is a beautiful woman who is still alive, but is already dead.

Compared to other fierce-looking people, Shao Qingqing was exceptionally beautiful.

"Shao Qingqing".

Shao Qingqing did not react to the jailer's words.

"Shao Qingqing, the master has something to ask you."

Shao Qingqing still didn't respond.

Zhou Zhao sighed softly as he looked towards the prison. "Shao Qingqing, your mother hanged herself in front of the Court of Justice to overturn your case. I'll ask you one more time: did you kill those six members of the Cao family?"

Shao Qingqing's pupils suddenly contracted, and she rushed to the cage like a ferocious beast.

The shackles on her hands and feet clanged as she ran so fast that her forehead slammed directly against the cell door with a thud.

Her forehead flushed instantly, but Shao Qingqing didn't even utter a sound; her tears streamed down her face.

"Who did you say died?"

Before Zhou Zhao could answer, she burst into tears, "Mother, Mother... it's all my fault, it's all my fault, I shouldn't have accepted my fate, it's all my fault. My lord, my lord, I want to recant my confession, I didn't kill anyone, I didn't kill the Cao family!"