Chapter 334 - 332: Untimely Coincidence (Second Update)

Chapter 334: Chapter 332: Untimely Coincidence (Second Update)

White Jade Village is not far from the Western Capital, and they arrived shortly after setting out. After inquiring the villagers, they quickly found Sister-in-law Wu’s home.

It turned out to be the most ordinary farmhouse, appearing somewhat dilapidated. A temporary mourning shed in the courtyard had yet to be dismantled, with the mourning flags gently fluttering in the breeze overhead.

Mr. Yao was a bit surprised to see Jiang Yu arrive with Xu Jing but, considering the relationship between Jiang San and Jiang Yu, he said nothing and walked straight into the farmhouse ahead. Just as he was about to call out, a slender, pale young man suddenly came out, and seeing all the people in the courtyard, he was visibly startled and stammered, "Who... who are you people? Could you be from the government office in the Western Capital?"

As a scholar who had passed the imperial exam, he quickly recognized Mr. Yao and his companions.

Mr. Yao took out the token from his waist and showed it to him, saying, "Are you Mr. Qu? I am Mr. Yao from the government office in the Western Capital. I have come to inquire about some details regarding your mother’s death."

Mr. Qu was taken aback, and his face seemed even paler than before. "My mom... my mom committed suicide. There’s nothing more to ask about."

Seeing his resistance, Xu Jing’s eyes flickered slightly. She stepped forward and said, "Mr. Qu, I know what you’re thinking. Your mother committed suicide in the Capital City, at an inn in the eastern part of the city. As a widow with some beauty, she was previously the subject of many rumors. Her sudden suicide in an inn is bound to give rise to a lot of unpleasant talk. Therefore, you don’t want to mention your mother’s suicide anymore, is that the case?"

On the way to White Jade Village, Mr. Yao had already sent someone to return quickly to the government office to fetch the dossier detailing Sister-in-law Wu’s case.

Because Sister-in-law Wu died in an inn, it caused quite a stir at the time.

Mr. Qu’s eyes widened suddenly. "How do you know..."

It made sense for the people from the Western Capital government office to know, but why did this lady know so much detail?

Come to think of it, she seemed to have come along with the government people. Who exactly was she?

Seeing his confusion, Xu Jing calmly said, "I am currently assisting the government office in the Western Capital to investigate this case. We suspect there is more to your mother’s death, that perhaps she didn’t commit suicide but was murdered..."

"Impossible!"

Mr. Qu immediately said, "Back then, Mr. Zhang from the Western Capital government office had already thoroughly investigated my mother’s case. The forensic doctor also said my mom jumped to her death. Wasn’t this case concluded by your government office?!"

Seeing Xu Jing’s look, Mr. Yao said helplessly, "The end of the year is very busy, with many officials going on leave to return home for the New Year, leading to a backlog of work. Both I, Mr. Zhang, and Jiang Zhaoyin have a pile of cases to deal with. We were so occupied with our own matters that we could not focus on others’. This particular case was assigned to Mr. Zhang.

Mr. Zhang and I have always alternated vacation schedules, and this year it was Mr. Zhang’s turn to return to his hometown for a holiday. I stayed behind in the Western Capital for my duties. Mr. Zhang left the capital three days ago."

And because the case was eventually classified as a suicide, the records on the dossier were very brief, only stating the place and time of death, along with the forensic doctor’s autopsy report.

He then looked at Mr. Qu and said, "At that time, we did believe your mother had committed suicide, but today a case arose where a murderer killed a lady, cleverly disguising it as a suicide. We suspect your mother’s case may be similar to today’s case.

Could Mr. Qu possibly describe the specific circumstances of that day?"

Mr. Qu looked at them with skeptical disbelief, lightly shaking his head, saying, "Impossible, my mom’s situation clearly looked like a suicide! That day, after selling tofu, she didn’t return home, but rented a room at a nearby inn to stay.

That night she climbed onto the roof of the inn and jumped from above... My mom committed suicide eight days ago, coinciding with a snowy day. There was a thin layer of snow on the roof, and my mom’s were the only footprints on it!

Given such circumstances, how could my mother have been murdered?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Jing discreetly exchanged a glance with Mr. Yao.

This sounded like a reenactment of Jiang San’s case!

Xu Jing asked, "Did your mom jump from close to the edge of the roof? If I’m not wrong, the rooftop of that inn has a double-pitched roof, correct?"

A double-pitched roof means only the front and back are slopes, with gable walls on the sides. In ancient times, there were also four-pitched roofs, but these were more costly, so most inns or shops had double-pitched roofs.

Mr. Qu was taken aback, "How... how do you know? Yes, my mom jumped from near the edge on the right side of the roof. At that time, the government officials said this was natural behavior. Many who plan to commit suicide still have fears when actually doing it. For instance, people who attempt wrist cutting often have multiple wounds on their hands, and people jumping from roofs may wander or walk to the edge of the roof because the corners often curl up or have protruding spires, giving them something to hold or lean against, looking relatively safer..."

This explanation indeed makes sense.

Provided, of course, that the person really committed suicide.

Mr. Yao focused intensely on Mr. Qu, saying, "The lady who died today drowned in the river. Her footprints were the only ones in the snow, but we later found out those footprints were unusually deep, likely because the killer wore her shoes to lead her to the river and drown her there.

Your mother might have been in a similar situation. Falling from the edge of the roof might have been convenient for the murderer to escape after the deed."

One could simply throw the person down from the roof, then use a pre-prepared rope hung on the roof’s sharp corners of the edge to silently leave without a trace.

Once on the ground, they’d retrieve the rope, which would be a simple task using a rope with a hook.

Mr. Qu opened his mouth to speak, "But, but, so many days have passed, the footprints on the roof back then are long gone. Even if I wanted to show you, I can’t.

Furthermore, I think my mom’s case differs from the situation of the lady you mentioned. You said that lady was dragged and thrown into the river by the killer, but when my mom fell from the roof, she was alone up there!"

Xu Jing and the others froze for a moment, as Mr. Qu continued, "Because my mom stayed at an inn with decent business, it was almost fully booked on the day she died. Although it was past 1 a.m. when she died, some guests in the inn hadn’t slept. One guest residing directly across the rooftop from where my mom jumped opened the window just in time to witness her... falling from the roof.

He was quite certain that at that time, the roof only had my mom alone!"

Xu Jing’s brows furrowed slightly, and Mr. Yao and his group couldn’t help but glance at Xu Jing.

Sometimes, coincidences happen at the most inconvenient times.

The guest opened the window neither earlier nor later, but just when Sister-in-law Wu fell from the roof.

If the window had been opened earlier, perhaps they’d know whether Sister-in-law Wu went to the roof alone or with someone else.

But since the guest saw with their eyes that Sister-in-law Wu was alone when falling, their previous conjecture seems unsubstantiated.

Could it be that Sister-in-law Wu truly committed suicide? Had it nothing to do with Jiang San’s case? Could they have been wrong?