C42 (1/2)
Chapter 42 - Identification of corpses in the county yamen
In the hall of Jing Zhao Mansion, two doors were open, and two were facing the opposite direction.
A golden plaque hung in the middle of the hall, displaying a three-foot-long magic table on the high platform. On the table, there were four treasures of the study and an arrow quiver. Behind the table, there was an overseer's chair, with an arrow rack on the left and a black folding fan on the right.
The first yamen runner stood on either side of them with a baton in his hand, looking straight ahead with a solemn expression on his face.
On the left, a peachwood chair was placed in front of the bailiff, and a woman sat at the head of the pew.
Yun Qianliang was seated on a blue lotus flower dress, holding a teacup and leisurely tasting the high quality green spring water. Her movements were graceful, dignified and graceful, as he sat there like a noble lady watching a play to savor some tea.
Two attendants carried a stretcher into the lobby. They placed the stretcher on the ground and removed the white cloth covering the body, revealing the dead man's face for easy inspection.
On the armchair sat the official uniform, and Jing Zhao Fu Yin, who was wearing a black veil, looked at the man tasting the tea, and then looked at the corpse that was brought in, carefully asking: ”Madam Gu, do you see whether the deceased was a servant of the clan?”
Hearing that, Yun Qianliang pursed her lips with a smile, and said to Gu Shisan who was behind him: ”Go take a look.”
Today, in response to the assassination attempt from yesterday, she had specially brought along guards to protect them when she left, leaving Chun Hua and the two girls in the residence without them coming out.
Thirteen walked out from behind him and went up to confirm.
In a short moment, Thirteen returned and reported while leaning forward, ”Madam, it's indeed Xiao Cui.”
Yun Qianliang nodded his head, he placed down the teacup and said: ”Xiao Cui was indeed once a servant in Gu Xiangfu, but a few days ago she was kicked out of Gu Xiangfu, and yesterday she even stopped me and my master from begging for mercy. This is something many citizens know, Master Zhao can call me to ask.”
”I naturally trust the words of the Madam Gu, but can you tell me what mistake the servant girl has committed and she was expelled from the Gu Xiangfu?” Zhao Guangxian smiled and agreed with Yun Qianliang's words. Seeing that she did not immediately reply when he asked her about the wrong things, he added: ”Of course, if it is not convenient to speak of it to the outside world, Madam Gu does not need to answer.”
”There's nothing to say.” Yun Qianliang smiled lightly, the awkwardness instantly disappeared, and she replied lightly: It's only killing the Mistress.
Yun Qianliang's casual six words shocked Zhao Guangxian to the point that cold sweat broke out all over his body. Killing the Gu Xiang's wife by poison, reporting such a huge matter to the Jing Zhao Mansion was enough to convict this slave of a crime, even if she died, she deserved to die. Yet, he had to trouble Yun Qianliang to identify the corpse of this damned person, wouldn't others misunderstand that he wanted to uphold justice for this slave?
Zhao Guangxian immediately became nervous, and used the silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead.
”This servant dared to poison the matriarch. I guess he deserved it.” Zhao Guangxian flattered and tried to please her.
”You deserve it.” Before Yun Qianliang even finished her sentence, Zhao Guangxian, who was in the hall, secretly heaved a sigh of relief, but he did not expect Yun Qianliang to stand up and walk to the dead body in the middle of the hall, ”It's just that, it's a servant from Gu Xiangfu who went out.
She wore a jade colored dress, and the jade green outer garment hung onto the snow-white dress. At the hem of her skirt was embroidered a large area of blooming lotus flowers, lightly swaying along with her movements, like a spring breeze blowing past, ruffling the water in the pool, causing the lotus flowers planted in the pool to lightly sway.
She had a refined and graceful temperament. Standing beside a corpse, she was like a pure lotus that had just emerged from the mud.
”Yes, yes, yes.” Zhao Guangxian hurriedly pandered and quickly walked down to his side. He carefully probed by his side, ”How does Madam Gu plan to deal with this slave who poisoned the Mistress?”
”A slave servant, if there was no one behind her, they would not dare to harm her. If they couldn't catch her mastermind, they would make her pay with her life. It was just an unintentional act of venting her anger.” Yun Qianliang replied unhurriedly, her words revealing the extraordinary bearing of the Sect Leader Mother.
Hearing her words, Zhao Guangxian nodded his head in agreement, and then looked at the beauty standing beside the corpse.
It was rumored that the direct daughter of the Yun family was a complete idiot, and this explanation was not something that the idiot could speak of.
Yun Qianliang squatted down and pulled up the white cloth to the left of the corpse, then she began to carefully examine it.
Xiao Cui's hair was in a mess, there were traces of it being torn off, some of it had already been torn off and wrapped around her hair, but her clothes were still in good condition, and only the wound on her abdomen could be seen.
Yun Qianliang reached out her hands towards the corpse's face, stopping it.
”Madam Gu can't be forgiven, your status is noble, how can you touch such a unlucky person?” Zhao Guangxian then scolded the servant: ”Hurry up and bring him down, otherwise we'll dirty your eyes.”
”No problem.” Yun Qianliang raised her left hand to stop the servant from carrying the corpse away, her right hand continued to move, and landed on Xiao Cui's face, she used two fingers to push open Xiao Cui's eyes, and after looking at her eyes carefully, he moved her hand to her mouth, opening her mouth.