Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 327 Guessing the Murderer
The people inside the room murmured in silence, offering no response for a long time.

Zhou Zhao didn't stop and continued to ask, "Did Aunt Xi know that Uncle Xiang had asked him to take away the body of a baby girl in a night-scented cart?"

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he stared at the woman. The woman finally couldn't hold back anymore and threw herself into her mother's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

The Imperial Censor Lin's expression changed drastically, and he became serious in an instant. Having been in officialdom for many years, he knew that his family was in deep trouble and that the Court of Justice had already investigated beforehand.

He thought for a moment and then asked tentatively, "My son-in-law is named Bai Li. He did indeed suffer castration, but my daughter and he have long since divorced."

But what happened to Bai Li?

As he spoke, Imperial Censor Lin looked around the room and then towards the door.

He couldn't help but feel a little glad he had been prescient. He thought that Zhou Zhao from the Court of Justice must be coming to his door late at night to slap him until his face was swollen.

He left only his own family members present and sent the servants away, and sure enough, a slap landed on his face.

Zhou Zhao did not answer Imperial Censor Lin's question, but continued, "Please answer my previous question, Imperial Censor Lin."

Her tone left no room for argument. After a moment's consideration, Imperial Censor Lin recalled the legends about Zhou Zhao that had been circulating for so many years and decided to tell the truth.

He knew that if he didn't tell the truth, he might be beaten into telling the truth, and as a powerless civil official, he would never be able to win.

Imperial Censor Lin thought for a moment, glanced at his daughter, and sighed softly.

"This is a long story. I have five sons and only one daughter, named Li Niang. Li Niang is delicate, and I wanted her to marry into a family I knew well, so I chose Bai Li. Bai Li was also an official in the Censorate before. Although he is not my apprentice, he is a promising young man whom I have seen."

Later, I asked Bai Li's teacher, the old censor Cheng, to act as matchmaker and arrange this marriage.

This incident fills me with immense regret. Although Bai Li is talented and a skilled painter, he is arrogant and acts ostentatiously. This past spring, he angered His Majesty by submitting a memorial to the court, committing a capital offense and being imprisoned in the Court of Justice.

After Bai Li entered the Court of Justice, he showed no remorse and stubbornly endured it. Even if we wanted to plead with His Majesty for him, we would have no way to ask.

It was truly a stroke of bad luck for him. His family had been a single-son lineage for nine generations. Although they weren't a wealthy or powerful family, at least they weren't abandoned by their family. But at this crucial moment, the Bai family, fearing they would be implicated by Bai Li, severed ties with him and kicked my daughter, Li Niang, out of the house.

"I'll go and inquire..."

At this point, Imperial Censor Lin sighed, "Bai Li's mother has become pregnant again. Bai Li has offended the imperial family and is already facing certain death, not to mention the possibility of his entire family being implicated... Now that they have a new way to survive, why would they care about Bai Li's life or death?"

When I saw Liniang come back crying, I was filled with hatred and, in a fit of anger, I made Liniang divorce Baili.

Bai Li readily agreed, and then said that he was sorry to Li Niang, and that it would have been over by now.

However, a month later, Liniang discovered that she was pregnant.

As a father, I naturally wanted what was best for my daughter. Seeing that Bai Li had no way out, why should I let my daughter fall into that quagmire? So I decided to abort the child so that Liniang could recover and remarry later.

Unexpectedly, Li Niang was also stubborn. She secretly sent a message to Bai Li and wanted to give birth to the child so that Bai Li could have an heir.

I couldn't refuse her, so I agreed.

Who would have thought…

As Imperial Censor Lin spoke, he let out another long sigh, and Lin Liniang, who was standing beside him, couldn't help but cry.

"Who would have thought that the child would not survive. Li Niang was already frail, and she fell seriously ill because of Bai Li's accident. The pregnancy was unstable from the beginning. She had been bedridden for the past few months to protect the pregnancy, but the child still did not survive and was born prematurely as a stillborn baby."

Fearing that Li Niang would be heartbroken upon seeing the body, the lady arranged for Aunt Xi to have the alleyway clerk, who collected night soil, dispose of the infant's body overnight. However, not long after, Bai Li was suddenly released from prison; he had been castrated instead of sentenced to death.

After he came back, he came to see the children…

Imperial Censor Lin's voice was somewhat hoarse. He changed the subject, "I have a clear conscience and can only tell you the truth. I can answer the questions that Lord Zhou asked me earlier. Bai Li was indeed greatly shocked and kept asking about the child's whereabouts. I did not hide anything from him and told him everything."

He knew very well that the child's body had been taken away by the old man who emptied the chamber pot.

Having come to this point, I certainly wouldn't allow my daughter, Liniang, to have anything to do with Baili anymore. Seeing that he had nowhere to go, I gave him some money, but he didn't take it and left on his own. I haven't seen him since.”

The room fell silent immediately.

Zhou Zhao suddenly remembered that Uncle Xiang had mentioned Meng Yannian before, saying that many people came to the door to laugh at him.

Meng Yannian was a musician, while Bai Li was once an arrogant censor. One can imagine how many people he had offended.

Zhou Zhao lowered his eyes, and then heard Lin Liniang speak weakly, "My lord, may I ask what Bai Li has done wrong?"

Zhou Zhao looked up at her and shook his head. "There is no clear evidence yet, so I cannot disclose it to you for the time being. What is Bai Li's birthday?"

Lin Liniang looked at Zhou Zhao with a calm gaze that revealed neither the depth of her thoughts nor the answer to her question.

She was a little confused, but still answered, "It's today. It was his birthday last year. We were newly married, and we had a birthday banquet at home. It was very lively."

Zhou Zhao sighed inwardly. It seemed that her guess was correct; the murderer should be Bai Li.

She nodded to Lin Liniang and then cupped her hands in greeting to Imperial Censor Lin. "Imperial Censor Lin, I apologize for disturbing you so late at night. This case has nothing to do with the Lin family, but it does concern Bai Li. If you see him, please keep him calm and send someone to inform the Northern Army."

Bai Li is in grave danger right now. If you know where he is hiding, please inform us immediately.

Lin Liniang's face turned pale, and she instinctively grabbed Madam Bai tightly beside her.

Madam Bai couldn't hold back any longer and cried out in pain, "It hurts! Liniang!"

She turned to look at Lin Liniang, who hurriedly let go of her hand. Her eyelids rolled back, and she fell backward, fainting.

The Lin family was instantly thrown into chaos.

Zhou Zhao and Su Changying exchanged a glance, then quietly turned and walked towards the door.

Min Cangzhi watched the commotion, and by the time he came to his senses, the two had already reached the main courtyard gate. He jogged after them and said, "Seriously? You two didn't say anything or make any moves. How did you know in sync that it was time to leave?"

Aren't you worried that Bai Li is hiding in Lin Liniang's boudoir? I think they still have feelings for each other.

As Min Cangzhi spoke, he noticed that Zhou Zhao and Su Changying were not taking the path leading to the gate. He couldn't help but frown. "Where are we going? Bai Li lost the Night Fragrance Cart. He doesn't have martial arts skills, so he can't break the curfew and get here."

"We shouldn't be in this boudoir. We shouldn't be catching them like turtles in a jar. We should be searching every house in the neighborhood where Uncle Xiang lives, and the surrounding areas, trying to trap them like turtles in a jar."

Zhou Zhao glanced at Min Cangzhi, "The tacit understanding between masters is something you wouldn't understand, Min Wenshu."

Min Cangzhi was so angry he almost fell over backwards. "Lord Zhou, how have I offended you that you're going to stab me with every word?"

"You know how you offended me. Bai Li is skilled in painting, and that mural is so lifelike. I'll ask the people in Lin Liniang's room if they have a portrait of Bai Li. I bet they do. With a portrait in hand, how can the Northern Army not find him?"
Right, General Su? Could the Northern Army handle that?

Su Changying smiled at Zhou Zhao, "Young Master Zhou, please go back and rest for a while. When you wake up tomorrow, I will definitely bring Bai Li to see you."