Chapter 154 - 153: The Murderer’s Preferences (First Update)

Chapter 154: Chapter 153: The Murderer’s Preferences (First Update)

The originally angry and despairing Wu Youbing’s eyes lit up excitedly as he looked at Xu Jing upon hearing these words.

Who would understand this feeling of receiving coal during a snowfall, finding light in a dark room, or a boat at the crossing!

Xu Jing felt a chill under his gaze, frowned slightly in secret, and tried to ignore him, saying, "Wu Sanlang is determined to break the marriage contract with Wang Wuniang. I think he wouldn’t do anything that might hasten this marriage."

If she hadn’t wanted to prevent everyone from heading down a wrong path on the first day of being caught, Xu Jing wouldn’t have spoken up.

More importantly, if everyone was firmly convinced that Wu Youbing was the murderer, and then she presented different thoughts or clues proving someone else was the murderer, it would make her stand out too much.

Moreover, Xu Jing had another reason for believing that Wu Youbing wasn’t the real murderer. How could someone with such a short temper and shallow mind like him keep such a thing hidden for half a year and not show any flaws after being caught here, if he were the murderer?

Of course, Xu Jing wasn’t going to say this reason out loud.

Everyone was stunned. Zhang Siliang, who prided himself on being experienced in this matter, immediately said with disdain, "What Doctor Xu says is right! If Wu really laid a hand on Wang Wuniang, once she mentioned it back home, Wu might as well forget about calling off the engagement! Tch, isn’t there always a woman trying to climb up the social ladder through such means?"

His words were vulgar and he didn’t care that there were some unmarried women present.

Guo Liuyun’s face turned grim, gritting his teeth, saying, "Zhen is not that kind of person!"

"Who knows what kind of person she is? But anyone with eyes can see that she doesn’t want to give up the engagement with Zique; otherwise, she wouldn’t have chased him all the way to the Gui Xiang House."

Zique is Wu Youbing’s courtesy name. This Feng Qi Lang was evidently closer to Wu Sanlang, sneering, "If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t touch that woman. There are plenty of women prettier and more charming than her in the Gui Xiang House!"

Zhao Shaohua couldn’t take it anymore, giving him a fierce glare, "Shut up! Have you forgotten whose turf this is?"

This was Mrs. Yu’s turf, after all.

If Mrs. Yu found out they were defaming Wang Wuniang like this, it’s obvious nothing good would come of it.

Feng Qi Lang and Zhang Siliang turned pale, immediately too afraid to say anything further.

However unpleasant their words were, they were not without reason.

Although Wu Sanlang was an ambitious playboy, he wasn’t an idiot. His background ensured that he must have encountered many women trying all sorts of ways to attach themselves to the Marquis Wushun Mansion. It’s unlikely that he wouldn’t have any wariness about this.

But then again, what if? What if he suddenly lost his senses or drank too much that day and couldn’t control himself?

Seeing everyone still looking half-believing, Xu Jing nonchalantly remarked, "By the way, was the first villain Wang Wuniang encountered the person who ultimately killed her?"

Everyone was taken aback; they had never thought about this question Xu Jing raised.

Subconsciously, they felt it must have been the same person.

Zhao Shaohua frowned, saying, "It should be the same person, right? The place we were viewing the snow was so secluded, and there were only a few people present. Therefore, the murderer must have targeted Zhen deliberately and followed her there."

This was also why, at first, they didn’t suspect the murderer was the Smiling Killer.

Anyone with some knowledge of the Smiling Killer’s crimes knew this ruthless murderer had his own preferences when it came to killing. He always targeted women between the ages of sixteen and twenty-four. If by chance he had set his sights on Zhen, it was possible he had followed her all the way to their snow-viewing location.

Upon saying this, Zhao Shaohua paused, seemingly remembering something, and said, "That day, I kept Yuyi beside me to watch Wu Sanlang, so Wu Sanlang shouldn’t have had the chance to abduct Zhen."

That day, she hadn’t expected that after getting to such a remote place, they would encounter Wu Sanlang. But at the time, they had walked for nearly a quarter of an hour to reach that ancient pavilion. Zhen, always considerate, wouldn’t let them leave in vain, hence preventing them from leaving.

She was only worried that Wu Sanlang’s appearance might upset Zhen, so from the start, she had her maid keep a close eye on him.

Wu Youbing’s complexion brightened immediately, feeling as if he was finally being exonerated, and he glared at everyone defiantly, "See, I told you I didn’t do such a thing..."

"But it can’t prove that you didn’t have someone abduct Zhen on your behalf, and what Doctor Xu said earlier makes sense. The first villain Zhen encountered might not have been the person who eventually killed her."

Zhao Shaohua shot him a cold glance, unable to stand his smugness.

Indeed, she had Yuyi watch him, but Yuyi wasn’t capable enough to watch those around him as well.

Xu Jing’s eyes subtly flickered, and she said, "Besides Wu Sanlang, Zhang Siliang, and Feng Qi Lang, should there have been others at the snow-viewing spot that day?"

She had an idea she wanted to verify.

Zhao Shaohua nodded immediately, the disgust on her face so thick it was about to overflow, "Of course, those three lords were quite fortunate that day, each one with a beautiful maiden in their arms. Besides that, they were also accompanied by many servants, making quite the scene."

If the place wasn’t so hard to access, she wouldn’t have put up with being around them.

Saying this, she seemed to have recalled something, clapping her hands, "To figure out whether you are the murderer, just ask those who accompanied you that day if any of them abducted Zhen!"

Such a private matter, Wu Youbing wasn’t likely to have Zhang Siliang or Feng Qi Lang do it; it would be entrusted to his personal servant.

After all, this is a grave crime of murder. If he were smart, he might have already dealt with the person who did this for him after the deed was done.

However, even if that person was indeed dealt with, the fact that they disappeared inexplicably after Wang Wuniang’s incident also indicates Wu Youbing’s suspicious involvement!

Wu Youbing, who had thought himself perfectly safe, couldn’t believe it, his eyes widened. Seeing that no one else was speaking up for him, he fumed, "Investigate then! Investigate! If you can really dig up something, I’ll take turns taking your last names! This is tiresome, I’m going back to sleep!"

After saying this, he flicked his sleeve and turned away.

Since Mrs. Yu had them stay for three days, she certainly wouldn’t leave them with nothing. Long before she left, the servants she left behind told them that the estate had rooms prepared for their rest, and the kitchen also had meals ready.

Thus, Wu Youbing’s departure was met with silence.

After all, the questions they needed to ask him had already been addressed, and if he really were the murderer, he wouldn’t voluntarily disclose any further information.

They had a different matter weighing on their minds now.

Liu Fuyue pursed his lips, saying, "It seems that Mrs. Yu didn’t bring in the servants who were with Wu Sanlang that day. How are we supposed to investigate?"

"That is simple. Mrs. Yu said that as long as it concerns the investigation, she would do her best to help us. Those people are household servants of the Marquis Wushun Mansion; with the lives of their lords in Mrs. Yu’s hands, will the mansion dare not to send them in if she asks?"

Zhao Shaohua’s voice turned slightly chilly.

With them as hostages, even if the Western Capital government is unwilling to cooperate with her, people from the various great families don’t dare to defy her demands.

This is likely part of Mrs. Yu’s calculations.

She’s forcing everyone to help her investigate this case!

Chen Xi, having had enough of this damned place, brightened up upon hearing this, "I’ll go ask Mrs. Yu right away!"

Just as she was about to head in the direction Mrs. Yu had left, Xu Jing called her back, "Wait, I have an idea."