Chapter 155 - 154: Scars on the Corpse (2 Updates)

Chapter 155: Chapter 154: Scars on the Corpse (2 Updates)

Even though the main person driving the deduction just now was Zhao Shao Hua, Xu Jing also gave it much thought. Every question she raised was thought-provoking, and naturally, everyone dared not underestimate her words.

Hearing this, Chen Xi paused in his steps and urgently asked, "What else have you thought of?"

"Apart from the servants by Wu Sanlang’s side during the snow viewing day, there’s another group not present here — the people who were with them when Miss Chen referred to Wang Wuniang by her original name in front of Wu Sanlang."

Chen Xi was stunned and said, "Right, the servants who were with Wu Sanlang at that time weren’t necessarily the same group from the snow viewing day. We should call them in as well!"

If there are overlapping people between these two groups, it means these people could know Wang Wuniang’s real name and were present on the day she went missing!

This also reveals another... terrifying possibility.

Zhao Shao Hua’s lips trembled slightly as he slowly looked towards Xu Jing and said hoarsely, "Are you suggesting that the murderer may not be Wu Sanlang, but rather the servants by his side?"

Continuing along this line of thought, on the day Zhen followed Wu Sanlang to the Gui Xiang House, if someone by Wu Sanlang’s side asked Zhen to follow, she would likely not have had any suspicion.

In fact, according to the earlier deduction, the likelihood of the murderer being one of Wu Sanlang’s servants is greater!

My poor Zhen, what exactly did she go through before?!

Xu Jing was silent for a long time before sighing softly, "I’m just saying what I thought of."

This possibility seemed hard for Chen Xi to accept as well.

Although she looked down on Wang Wuniang’s background, she never intended for her to encounter such a fate.

In the end, she simply said, "I’m going to find Mrs. Yu," and quickly left this oppressive place.

Guo Liuyun gritted his teeth and couldn’t help but say, "The truth hasn’t come out yet. If we’re speaking like this, it could also be Chen Xi who hired someone to harm Zhen and even told him Zhen’s original name..."

This time, Xu Jing remained silent; such an obvious logical flaw was something Zhao Shao Hua could detect with his ability.

Sure enough, Zhao Shao Hua shook his head and said, "Zhen must have had some interaction with the person who killed her. Do you remember Zhen wrote a sentence in her diary – ’Why don’t good people get good rewards?’ If my guess is correct, Zhen not only interacted with that person but once... helped him, which is why when he harmed her, she felt as if she was betrayed in despair. If that person was someone Chen Xi hired to harm Zhen, she likely wouldn’t pick someone Zhen knew in order to avoid exposing her crime."

Now, even Liu Fuyue and Guo Liuyun, who found it hard to believe, couldn’t voice any further doubts.

At this moment, Jiang Erlang, who hadn’t spoken much previously, suddenly said, "There’s something I didn’t mention earlier. Mrs. Yu once asked for my help in persuading my third uncle to reopen the case of Wang Wuniang, which is why I know so much about this case.

My third uncle said that when the forensic doctor examined the body back then, they found there... weren’t many signs of struggle on Wang Wuniang."

Everyone was stunned.

"There were some scratch marks and bruises on her body, but such marks can also be found on some couples after intimacy. The obvious marks left due to struggle, compared with other female bodies who died from assault in the past, were so few they were almost negligible."

He didn’t mention this initially out of consideration that there were many women present, making it an inappropriate topic related to relations between men and women.

However, after the vulgar words by Wu Youbing and others earlier, discussing this matter seemed much more professional in comparison.

"Impossible!"

Realizing the implication of Jiang Erlang’s words, Zhao Shao Hua couldn’t help but exclaim sharply, "Zhen is definitely not that kind of woman!"

Xu Jing slightly furrowed her brows.

Even modern women could not face violations calmly, let alone those in ancient times who valued chastity.

Not resisting meant compliance; if this matter spread, Wang Wuniang would likely be branded a "harlot."

No wonder the Lady of the Wang Family and Duke Qiao were so adamantly against further investigation of the case; for them, it was likely something scarier than death.

Jiang Erlang wasn’t surprised by Zhao Shao Hua’s reaction, saying calmly, "I’m just stating what I know. It’s already late; all the madams and ladies should rest early and think about this matter with a clearer head in the morning."

After saying this, he casually curled his lips in a smile, giving Xu Jing an inadvertent glance before walking away.

Seeing this, the others realized that there was nothing more to analyze tonight and left one after another as further discussion seemed to yield no new insights.

Ultimately, only Zhao Shao Hua, Liu Fuyue, Guo Liuyun, and Xu Jing were left in the space.

Except for Xu Jing, the remaining three appeared unable to accept what Jiang Erlang had said last; their expressions were darker than the night sky itself, and they remained silent, unwilling to leave. Xu Jing had no choice but to say, "Things may not be as they appear; let’s go back and rest."

In the end, Zhao Shao Hua, with reddened eyes, said sternly, "Zhen is not a woman who lacks self-respect. Regardless of whether people here can leave safely in three days, I will never allow any slander against Zhen’s reputation!"

Saying this, he left quickly, as if only through such a rapid pace could he calm the unrest within himself.

Liu Fuyue and Guo Liuyun hurried after him.

Xu Jing, however, didn’t leave. She stood in the silent night and looked back at the lakeside room.

If she could perform an autopsy, perhaps she could find more clues.

However, while she could deduce the case before everyone, it was impossible for her to perform an autopsy in front of them.

Deducing the case could be explained by her quick thinking; performing an autopsy in front of them would ensure her life would be anything but peaceful.

Just then, footsteps sounded not far away, prompting Xu Jing to look back instinctively, only to see that Xu Ya, who had seemingly left before, had, unbeknownst to her, returned.

Right after reading the diary, everyone had questioned Xu Ya on whether she knew anything that Wang Wuniang mentioned. Xu Ya timidly said that as Wang Wuniang’s Ninth Sister-in-law, she was concerned after seeing her in low spirits and visited her a few more times, otherwise she knew nothing else.

As she couldn’t provide any useful information, everyone assumed Wang Wuniang was just anxious and distracted at the time and didn’t pursue Xu Ya further.

Thus, Xu Ya’s presence had been less noticeable than Zhang Siliang, who hardly said anything; Xu Jing almost forgot she was there too.

She slightly raised an eyebrow, watching as Xu Ya, with a wary expression, silently observing her, merely smiled quietly.

"You... you are Xu Jing, aren’t you! How come you are here!"

Seeing the woman in front of her not saying anything for a while, Xu Ya couldn’t help but speak first.

Xu Jing glanced at her and said, "So what if I am? So what if I’m not?"

Different from the others, Xu Ya recognizing her was only a matter of time; Xu Jing couldn’t be bothered to continue playing hide and seek with her.

This line was almost equivalent to admitting it; Xu Ya’s expression changed as she sneered and said, "You still dare to come back, using such a ridiculous fake identity! You deliberately approached Young Madam Zhao; are you planning to use the same tricks to climb up to another man through her? Who’s your target this time? Jiang Erlang? Zhao Liulang? Or... do you still dream of returning to the Xiao Family? Don’t even think about it; once they know your true identity, don’t ever think you can continue to stay in the Western Capital!"

Xu Jing didn’t want to engage in such pointless discussions with her and silently rolled her eyes, saying, "Is the Western Capital yours? Do I need your permission to stay here?"

Xu Ya was taken aback, staring at Xu Jing in shock.

She wasn’t mistaken; over the past half-year, this woman had changed so much!

"In the Western Capital, you’re nothing but a street rat! Do you really think you can amount to anything without the protection of the Xu and Xiao Families?"

"Yes, I’m nothing special, so Lady Xu doesn’t need to keep an eye on me."

Xu Jing shrugged and bypassed her, saying lightly, "Lady Xu should think more about how to survive these three days. In such a situation, even your proud husband doesn’t seem to have a solution."

Xu Ya jerked her head around, glaring at Xu Jing.

The woman in the distance had already walked away, not giving her a second glance.

She unconsciously clenched her fists, watching the upright figure, a hint of panic suddenly sweeping through her heart.

It felt just like when she was a child, watching that little girl, who was adored and pampered, being lovingly held by her father while she could only hide in the dark corner and watch, feeling stifled.

No, she and Mom had already won; on the day that girl was sent to the manor, she could never surpass her again.

This return to the Western Capital was just a futile struggle.

Soon, she would realize how foolish and ridiculous her decision to return to the Western Capital was!