Chapter 330 - 328: Truly Keen-Witted

Chapter 330: Chapter 328: Truly Keen-Witted

Soon, the carriage stopped in a quiet place near the eastern part of the Western Capital, at some distance from the busiest dock, so there were only a few scattered shops here, and due to the nearing year-end, those shops had long been closed.

By the river, there was a small dock. Such docks were found at intervals along the Little East River for small boats to board, disembark passengers, or carry goods. A section of stairs with railings was built along the riverbank for people to step down.

At this moment, the small dock was surrounded by a crowd, including officials from the Western Capital’s government and many richly dressed men and women with heavy expressions. Xu Jing had seen most of these people at a previous banquet she attended; they all belonged to the Jiang Family.

The Jiang Family members at this moment gathered by an open area next to the small dock, a plaintive woman’s voice coming from within the crowd, "Foolish daughter, why are you so foolish! Mom knows your previous marriage took a toll on you, but that’s all in the past! You’re still young, still a daughter of our Jiang Family, you can marry into any good family you want in the future! Even if you don’t want to get married, your father and I are willing to support you for a lifetime! You clearly, clearly promised Mom you would strive to live your life well and no longer dwell on past matters! How could you, how could you leave Mom like this!"

Xu Jing got off the carriage, and Mr. Yao walked up to her with a sigh, "Jiang San’s body... is over there. As Miss Xu can see, it seems she drowned herself this morning.

Yesterday evening, Jiang San suddenly left the residence without telling anyone. The Jiang Family searched for her all night but could not find her. This morning around 7 a.m., someone found an empty carriage nearby, with a suicide note written by Jiang San and a cloak inside. Realizing something was wrong, they immediately reported it, and shortly thereafter, we and the Jiang Family retrieved Jiang San’s body from the river..."

Xu Jing frowned slightly, "Are you sure it’s Jiang San’s suicide note?"

Mr. Yao nodded, "The Jiang Family confirmed it themselves. The note’s handwriting matches Jiang San’s exactly, and even some subtle writing habits were preserved. There were also one or two places dampened by tears, indicating the writer was crying while writing—unlikely to be fake."

If it were fake, the person would’ve needed tremendous effort to forge it so convincingly.

After all, handwriting can be imitated, but writing habits and emotions are hard to forge.

Xu Jing asked again, "What about the carriage? Any clues?"

Mr. Yao shook his head, "It’s just an ordinary carriage. Because this area is sparsely populated, we don’t even know when exactly it arrived here.

But we’re certain the carriage only arrived this morning. We questioned the nearby residents and found a few who passed by here last night. One lord mentioned he returned home close to curfew but saw no carriage around then.

During the curfew, the carriage couldn’t have arrived here. It could only have arrived between the end of the curfew at 5 a.m. and when it was discovered at 7 a.m."

Pausing briefly, he continued, "Moreover, because of yesterday morning’s snow, there was a trail of footprints from the carriage to the river. Those footprints, upon comparison, were identified as Jiang San’s.

Apart from Jiang San’s, there were no other footprints leading to the dock from the riverbank."

There were only Jiang Yanxia’s footprints!

It suggested Jiang Yanxia drove the carriage here alone, then jumped into the river to end her life.

Xu Jing’s frown deepened further, "Did you call me over to see if there’s another cause behind Jiang San’s death? I’d like to first examine Jiang San’s body."

Mr. Yao immediately said, "Certainly, I’ll lead Miss Xu over."

Saying this, he led Xu Jing towards the crowd not far away.

Jiang Shaobai was standing on the crowd’s outskirts, his expression indecipherable. Mr. Yao first went over to salute him, "Jiang Zhaoyin, Miss Xu is here. She wishes to examine Jiang San’s body."

Mr. Yao did not lower his volume; as soon as he spoke, everyone in the Jiang Family nearby turned to look at Xu Jing.

Taking the lead was a man in his forties, with a round face, thick eyebrows, exuding wealth, who looked at Xu Jing, his deep eyes slightly moving, and solemnly said, "Shaobai, is this Miss Xu?"

Jiang Shaobai turned to the man with a hint of reverence, "Yes, elder brother. Miss Xu is knowledgeable about forensic matters. Elder brother might have heard of her deeds. I asked Miss Xu to come to see if Yanxia’s death... has another cause."

It appeared the man was the current Family Head of the Jiang Family—Duke Xing, Jiang Shaoyan.

Who is also Jiang Yanxia’s biological father.

Duke Xing looked at Xu Jing for a moment, exhaled deeply, and moved aside, "Thank you, Miss Xu. If Yanxia... was indeed harmed by someone, our Jiang Family will certainly seek justice for her."

The others followed suit, stepping aside to clear a path for Xu Jing.

Only then did Xu Jing see Jiang Yanxia lying on the ground. She wore only a thin jade green cross-collar gown, her hands crossed over her abdomen. If not for her pale face and lifeless expression, she could have just been sleeping.

Beside her, a moderately plump woman in purple clothes was wailing uncontrollably. Next to her crouched a young man in a moonlight white narrow-sleeved robe. As Xu Jing approached, the man slightly lifted his alluring fox-like eyes to give her a deep look.

It was Jiang Erlang—Jiang Yu, whom Xu Jing had met a few times before.

Xu Jing didn’t have much affection for this oddly eccentric man with a penchant for meddling. Still, since Jiang Yanxia was his close sister, and this tragedy had befallen their family, Xu Jing temporarily set aside her personal feelings.

She squatted by Jiang Yanxia, first noticing her cyanotic lips and nails, opening her eyelids to find pinpoint hemorrhages on her conjunctiva and sclera, a classic sign of suffocation.

There was a slight amount of mushroom-like foam at her mouth and nose. Xu Jing gently pressed Yanxia’s chest and abdomen, and more foam seeped from her mouth and nose—a crucial indicator of a drowning victim alive before death.

Seeing the mushroom-like foam, it was almost certain Jiang Yanxia had drowned.

Xu Jing’s gaze dimmed slightly as she opened Yanxia’s mouth, wrapped her index finger in a clean handkerchief, and fished inside, removing clear evidence of sand and bits of green algae.

Given the swelling on her face, neck, and limbs, and goose-bumped skin from cold water exposure, Xu Jing at last, pursed her lips, "Jiang San indeed drowned in this river."

Based on Jiang Yanxia’s time of death, it’s impossible she drowned elsewhere and was then moved here.

Hearing this, the Duchess Xing couldn’t help but begin to wail again, "My child! How could you be so foolish!"

Jiang Yu, however, fixed his gaze on Xu Jing, hoarse-voiced, "Miss Xu, my sister could not have committed suicide; she wasn’t so fragile. A few days ago, she mentioned to me how much she missed the times we made rice cakes together as children, and she wanted the younger ones to try making them this New Year.

I trust Miss Xu’s judgment, but Miss Xu just stated my sister drowned in this river, not that she committed suicide."

Xu Jing couldn’t help but give him a glance.

This guy’s insightfulness was indeed sharp.

But her wording was a matter of precision.

She stood up, "Indeed, from the cause of death alone, it’s impossible to determine whether Jiang San committed suicide or was murdered. Mr. Yao mentioned some footprints in the snow; I need to examine those."