Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 71 Scapegoat

Yan Ciwan handed the confession to Xiao Wang.

Wei Lansheng saw that Yan Ciwan was doubtful, and signaled her to speak out whatever she thought.

So Yan Ciwan spoke out all the doubts in his heart.

"I don't know about the other victims. As for Lan Ying and Chao Lu, they were knocked unconscious in their own carriages. This means that someone had tampered with the carriages in the Chao Mansion beforehand. Chen Wu is just an ordinary drugstore clerk. He has no money or power. How could he know in advance when Chao Lu would leave the mansion? And which carriage she would take?"

"Also, how do you explain the blue sachet found in Tingfeng Courtyard? If the murderer is really Chen Wu, how can he, a drugstore clerk, sneak into the palace quietly, tamper with the carriage first, and then place the sachet in Erniang's residence? Does this make sense? There are so many servants guarding the palace, but no one discovered Chen Wu's whereabouts. It's outrageous!"

"The dagger that Chen Wu used to kill me was obviously very valuable. He only earns 200 wen a month, which is barely enough to make a living. How could he afford such an expensive dagger?"

"Chen Wu's confession seems to be very complete, but it is actually full of loopholes and many details are unclear. I don't think he is the real murderer of the serial rape and murder case. He is more like a scapegoat who was pushed out to take the blame."

Xiao Wang put down his confession and said calmly, "I agree with Madam Ning's opinion. The real murderer must be someone else."

Yan Ciwan suggested: "If Chen Wu is taking the blame for someone else, it means he must know the identity of the real murderer. I think we can continue to try him."

Wei Lansheng actually had the same suspicion. He said, "He's still in jail. He just passed out after a trial. My men used some torture on him. Chen Wu couldn't stand it and passed out. We need to ask the doctor to prescribe some medicine for him. Don't let him die. I'll have someone continue to interrogate him later."

Yan Ciwan suddenly asked, "Does Chen Wu drink?"

"We didn't find any wine jars or wine bottles in his house, but I heard from the people in Xuanji Pharmacy that Chen Wu occasionally drinks a little, but his alcohol tolerance is not very good."

Yan Ciwan pursed her lips, this clue didn't seem to be of much use.

However, no matter how severely he was tortured, Chen Wu insisted that he had killed the nine women.

Later, he was forced into a corner and bit his tongue to commit suicide.

Fortunately, the rescue came in time and Chen Wu was saved, but he could no longer speak.

This matter alarmed the governor Qi Songsheng.

Qi Songsheng is a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a crimson official uniform and a black hat. He has regular features and should have been a pale scholar when he was young. But now he has gained weight in middle age, making him big and strong. In addition, he is very tall, so he looks strong and intimidating.

He went to the government office in person and scolded Wei Lansheng, blaming him for making trouble. Even though the case was already very clear, he still insisted on torturing the prisoner and almost forced the prisoner to death.

Although Chen Wu was responsible for nine deaths and was a man who deserved to die, if he died in prison for unknown reasons, the case would have a flaw, and a good achievement would have been tarnished.

Wei Lansheng tried to defend himself: "There are still many mysteries in this case that have not been solved. I suspect Chen Wu may have taken the blame for someone else..."

"Impossible!" Qi Songsheng interrupted him directly. "I've heard from people that Chen Wu is an orphan, without a father or mother, without brothers, wife or children, and he doesn't have any weaknesses. How can you threaten such a person with nothing to take the blame for you?"

Wei Lansheng was speechless.

"This case ends here. Don't make any more trouble. I will send someone to watch over Chen Wu. No one is allowed to see him again unless I allow it. His crimes are so heinous that he deserves to be cut into pieces. But he should die openly on the execution ground under the witness of the people, rather than die in the prison of our government office without any explanation!"

Wei Lansheng lowered his head and said, "I respect your order."

Qi Songsheng learned that Yan Ciwan and Xiao Wang were also in the government office, so he ordered them to come over. He was quite gentle towards Xiao Wang, with a warm smile on his face.

"I have long heard of Mr. Xiao's talent. I have collected a lot of his calligraphy and paintings at home. Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. I will hold a banquet in my mansion to enjoy the moon. The invitation has been sent to the imperial palace. I hope Xiao Liulang will come and attend. At that time, I would also like to ask you to help appreciate the authenticity of those calligraphy and paintings."

Xiao Wang smiled and responded: "Your Excellency is too polite."

The two sides exchanged greetings for a while before Qi Songsheng turned his attention to Yan Ciwan.

At this time, the smile on his face had disappeared completely. His two thick eyebrows were tightly furrowed together, and two deep wrinkles were squeezed out between his eyebrows, making him look particularly stern and strong.

"Ning Ci, huh? I've heard about you."

Yan Ciwan crossed her arms and saluted: "This humble lady greets you, my Lord."

Qi Songsheng said in a deep voice: "I know you have been working for the Grand Chamberlain recently, so I did not stop you from investigating the case, but now the case has been closed and the real murderer has been arrested, you can go back and report to the Grand Chamberlain. In the future, if there is no important matter, please abide by the rules, do not enter and leave the government office at will, and do not interfere in our government affairs."

"But the second lady of the Chao family has not been found yet. Maybe she was abducted by the real murderer of the serial rape and murder case."

"You also said it's a possibility. You don't have any solid evidence. Everything is just your wishful thinking. The truth may be completely different from what you think. Of course, I didn't say that I don't care whether Chao Er Niang lives or dies. Now the palace soldiers are doing their best to search for Chao Er Niang's whereabouts. Chao Canjun has also sent many people to look for her. We all hope that she can come back safely."

Qi Songsheng's attitude was very tough, but Yan Ciwan still didn't want to give up.

She said, "Kidnapping, murder and corpse disposal, so many things, Chen Wu, a drugstore clerk, may not be able to accomplish it. He may have accomplices."

"You don't need to worry about this matter. I will have people continue to interrogate him. If he really has accomplices, I will definitely force him to confess. There is nothing for you to do here. You can go back and report to the Grand Council. I have an invitation to the Moon Viewing Banquet here. You can take it back to the Grand Council."

After Qi Songsheng finished speaking, he glanced at the followers following behind him.

The attendant immediately took out an exquisite invitation from his sleeve and handed it to Yan Ciwan with both hands.

At this time, Yan Ciwan had already understood that Qi Songsheng had determined that Chen Wu was the real murderer. He felt that this was the best outcome and did not want to create any more complications.

It was impossible to change his mind with words alone, so Yan Ciwan could only accept the invitation and bowed her head and said, "I'll take my leave."

Xiao Wang left the government office with her.

Standing on the busy street, the warm autumn sunshine shone on the two of them, but Yan Ciwan felt no warmth in his heart.

Xiao Wang asked in a gentle voice: "Are you still investigating this case?"

"Of course we have to investigate. Chen Wu is just a scapegoat. The real murderer is hiding behind the scenes. He might be laughing at me. If I give up, wouldn't that be what he wants?"

Xiao Wang looked at her. Her eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and no matter how cold the wind or how strong the blizzard was, they could not be destroyed.

He smiled and said, "How can I be of any use to you?"

(End of this chapter)