Chapter 694 - The Culprit Is An Elderly Person! Overhaul! (2/2)
The reason Helian Wei Wei followed him back, was because it was very possible that he had seen the criminal before, just that he did not remember it.
Helian Wei Wei’s idea came from the words of Old Lady Zhang.
Since Zhang Ling’er disappeared after meeting Zhang Yu, it meant that the criminal was there that night.
It was the same for the other two girls. After going on secret dates with Zhang Yu, they must have encountered someone on their way home.
“Zhang Yu, since you claim you’re innocent, then recall properly, when you met Zhang Ling’er and the other girls, did you sense anything abnormal, or did you see anyone?” Helian Wei Wei’s tone was calm. “Acquaintances in the alley also counts.”
Zhang Yu tried long and hard to recall. “I didn’t meet anyone else, but on the day I met Zhang Ling’er, there was indeed a weird incident. I could feel something staring at Zhang Ling’er, but she didn’t sense anything. Also, I saw a strange silhouette that day as well.”
“Strange in what way?” Helian Wei Wei’s eyes brightened, she had captured the point in Zhang Yu’s words immediately.
Zhang Yu described vaguely, “That silhouette was quite short, with a lump on its back. If it wasn’t walking behind me, I wouldn’t even know it was a person.”
A lump on its back? Helian Wei Wei frowned, like she was figuring something out. Her fingers tapped on her long legs unintentionally, then suddenly her eyes shone. “I think I know who the criminal is.”
“Huh?” Zhang Yu was so dumbfounded that he forgot to close his mouth. All he did was mention a silhouette, yet she already knew who the criminal was?
The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs was also confused. He turned to Helian Wei Wei and asked quietly, “Princess Consort, I think this silhouette is just some nonsense that this Zhang Yu spouted, who would even have a lump on their backs?”
“This person did not actually have a lump on their back, but if there was somebody with a hunched back in the dark, their shadow would look like somebody with a lump on their back,” Helian Wei Wei answered flatly.
However, the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs knew that it was not that easy to figure this out, one must have an agile mind!
Unconsciously, the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs looked at Helian Wei Wei with even more admiration, exclaiming spiritedly, “I’ll order my people to write an announcement now, all the men with hunched backs in the whole city shall be arrested!”
“No need for that.”Helian Wei Wei turned back, her gaze settling slowly on the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs. “The criminal is not a man.”
“Not a man?” The Secretary’s eyes grew round. “How could it be?” They were three days into the investigation, and the first thing they did was set their suspicions on men. After all, all the missing people were maidens, why did the Princess Consort debunked that fact the moment she took over? Were they investigating in the wrong direction?
Helian Wei Wei continued calmly, “Nothing’s impossible, after all, most people will have hunched backs once they’re old.”
“Princess Consort, do you mean to say that the criminal is an elderly person?” The Secretary felt that this conclusion was too unimaginable. “How could an elderly person be so agile that she was able to kidnap someone and not leave behind any traces?”
Helian Wei Wei smiled. “So what if it was an elderly person? The more harmless someone is, the more the victims would lower their guards. Before this I kept wondering, why did the missing people not scream for help? But now I get it, there are two reasons why they didn’t cry for help. Firstly, it was a person that they were familiar with, secondly, it was the process of them getting abducted. The alley is a small place, so any noise could easily be heard, but when the three of them went missing, other than Zhang Ling’er and Zhang Yu’s quarrel, the other two disappeared silently, which was abnormal. So I deduced what may have happened after Zhang Yu left. Normally, the darker the night was, the higher the possibility for people to follow their familiar paths. From the alley to the homes of these missing people, there was one shortcut that only the people from the alley knew. In this period of time, they would walk very fast, because women tend to increase their walking speed when walking alone at night, plus they’ll be highly alert. Even though there was n.o.body behind them, they’ll feel like there’s something behind, moreover, there was real danger at that time.”
“That is even weirder, since they were alert, why didn’t they call for help? Even if it was an acquaintance, they should scream as a reflex action.” The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs still felt doubtful, after all, he had handled many cases before.
Helian Wei Wei looked at him and said, “Because that person did not appear from behind them, but in front of them. Better yet, she could be standing in front of her own house, disposing water or something, as that would look natural and normal, so they would not cry for help. Instead, they will lower their guard and approach her naturally. Then, when they weren’t paying attention, she would cover their mouths with a handkerchief that was readily prepared. Finally, she would drag them into her own yard, without anyone noticing, and no time wasted.”
“I don’t understand, do you mean the criminal already knew that they were coming this way? Wait a minute! Standing in front of her own house?” The Secretary widened his eyes even more. “The criminal is living in the alley?”
“Yes.” Helian Wei Wei smiled gradually. “And to know when the victims were coming home was not a hard task, after all, they were all living in the alley. Additionally, the timing of their secret dates with Zhang Yu was consistent. All she needed to do was prepare everything beforehand, and then wait for the victims to fall into the trap themselves. Even if the officials investigate, she won’t get into trouble. Besides appearing harmless, there was Zhang Yu who would most likely be suspected as a criminal. Also, Lord Zhang wouldn’t tell the truth about the alley to the higher ups in order to protect his son. If the higher ups really wanted to investigate, she wouldn’t be scared either, because she knew that even if she didn’t say it herself, the residents of the alley would talk about Zhang Yu’s affairs, so the most fitting suspect would still be Zhang Yu. She just needed to be an onlooker, living peacefully and comfortably while erasing the girls that she hated. At the same time, she could put all the blame on Zhang Yu.”
The more the Secretary listened, the more terrified he felt. “This, this plan couldn’t be more perfect.” Not only was it perfect, it was downright evil. If it was not for the Princess Consort, this case would have remained unsolved.
“Even the most perfect plan has its flaws.” Baili Jia Jue, who had not opened his mouth the whole time, continued the conversation unexpectedly, his s.e.xy, charming lips curved mockingly. “It was obviously karma.”
The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs was at a loss for words.
“That’s true, this was a personal revenge in the first place.” Helian Wei Wei started laughing, as she glanced nonchalantly at Zhang Yu who was kneeling on the floor. “For a playboy with no morality to cause such great trouble, even the Path of Reincarnation was nearly closed due to this incident. He’s such an eyesore no matter how I look at it. Forget it, let the Shadow Guard castrate him.”
Right after Helian Wei Wei spoke, Zhang Yu felt his legs being lifted by somebody, followed by a flash of a blade. There was no chance for him to beg for his life. Excruciating pain spread from his lower body to his entire being, before he pa.s.sed out from the agony!
Lord Zhang rushed over and cradled his beloved son by his head. “Why? Princess Consort, didn’t you say that the criminal is not my son?”
“Indeed he is not the criminal, but the cause of all these things was because he had stolen someone else’s fiancee,” Helian Wei Wei said without any changes to her expression. “Lord Zhang should know better than I do about your son’s behaviour. Those three affairs included one with consent from the girl, one where the girl was reluctant, and one where he was simply toying her around. Lord Zhang, you’ve protected your son for such a long time, you should also be careful while walking at night, who knows, someone might be after you to seek revenge…”