Chapter 41 - 40: Vice Minister Xiao, Let’s Work Together (First Update)

Chapter 41: Chapter 40: Vice Minister Xiao, Let’s Work Together (First Update)

This woman is really unreasonable.

Xu Jing couldn’t help but give her a cold smile and said, "The woman you speak of with a heart of a viper and a scorpion is just a thin young lady, and her clothes are tidy with no signs of struggle. Are you trying to say that your husband, a grown man, had no power to resist and was killed just like that by her?"

The woman’s expression changed, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Who knows if that little bitch has help! My husband and I make a living by selling pork. These days my husband has been feeling unwell, so he stayed at home to rest instead of going out with me. If that little bitch had someone helping her, my husband wouldn’t be able to win!"

As she spoke, she glared fiercely at Cheng Xianbai, making it obvious who she was referring to as the helper.

Cheng Xianbai immediately widened his eyes and said, "I’ve been chatting with the shopkeeper at Wu Family Tavern all morning today. The guests and the shopkeeper there can vouch for me!"

Seeing her suspicion unfounded, the woman seemed a bit anxious, "Then... maybe that little bitch used some other means..."

"Whatever means you think she used, you need to provide evidence. It’s not a fact just because you say it so!"

Xu Jing looked at her coldly and said, "The most important thing is, the wounds on the deceased were clearly caused by a sharp weapon similar to a dagger. But when you returned, you only saw a barrel of oil and a used fire lighter. Did you see any similar sharp weapon?"

The woman was stunned and instinctively said, "Maybe it’s on that little bitch..."

"I can allow a body search!"

Cheng Qingqing, who had been silent, seemed to recover a bit, turned pale, and stepped out from behind Cheng Xianbai.

Xiao Yi glanced at her, raised his hand, and said, "Someone, find a trustworthy woman to help with the body search."

Soon, the results of the body search came out.

Not to mention sharp weapons, Cheng Qingqing didn’t even have anything that could harm people on her!

The woman immediately looked disheartened and incredulous, "How is this possible? How is it possible? Who exactly killed my husband!"

Some women nearby who seemed familiar with her comforted her, "Lady Zhu, he’s gone, your grief won’t do any good. Trust Vice Minister Xiao, he will definitely find the murderer and avenge your husband!"

"Yes, yes, I heard Vice Minister Xiao came from the Capital, and he solved the case for the Peng family, he’s very capable!"

However, Xiao Yi couldn’t help but look at Xu Jing, who was standing tall on one side.

Only those present that day knew the Peng family case was solved not by him but by this woman beside him.

She had clearly shown before that she didn’t want to be involved in these matters anymore. Why did she stand out today?

He glanced unnoticed towards the Cheng Brothers and Sisters not far away.

Perhaps it was related to them.

He raised his hand again and said in a deep voice, "People, carry the deceased back to the county government, and take all those involved with the case back as well."

After speaking, he flicked his sleeve and walked out.

Xu Jing watched his back, a fierce gleam flashing in her eyes, and quickly followed, walking to keep pace with Xiao Yi.

Of course, Xiao Yi noticed the woman who caught up with him. Strangely, seeing a woman walking beside him, he didn’t feel any annoyance or repulsion.

This was the first time he felt this way since that incident when he was ten.

Xiao Yi was momentarily dazed and forgot to ask Xu Jing why she caught up to him.

But Xu Jing spoke up herself, saying calmly, "Vice Minister Xiao, how about we collaborate this time?"

Xiao Yi was taller and walked with longer strides. Xu Jing found it hard to keep up, and after a short while, she was a bit out of breath.

However, somehow, the man beside her seemed to slow his pace. Xu Jing was slightly stunned, turned her head to look at him, and saw that he was just looking straight ahead, his profile perfect but harsh, "Why? Didn’t Miss Xu say last time that you only knew a bit of rudimentary knowledge about forensics?"

Xu Jing’s mouth twitched.

This annoying man, holding grudges!

She didn’t believe that someone as shrewd as him couldn’t tell she was merely bluffing him last time.

She couldn’t help but chew on her lip, smiling insincerely, "Vice Minister Xiao thinks I’m no longer useful? This case today is very likely linked to the two prior murders in Anping County. I heard that Vice Minister Xiao came to Anping County to investigate this very case. Until now, Vice Minister Xiao hasn’t caught the murderer, and another innocent civilian has been killed by the culprit."

Her words were blatantly provocative.

Xiao Yi abruptly stopped, slightly turned his head, and looked at her with a cold and deep gaze.

Xu Jing innocently tilted her head, "Why does Vice Minister Xiao have such an expression? Did I accidentally hit a sore spot for Vice Minister Xiao? Rather than dismissing me as useless, shouldn’t Vice Minister Xiao consider how to catch the murderer quickly?

Even though I only know a bit about forensics, it doesn’t mean I can’t help Vice Minister Xiao."

Xiao Yi looked at her steadily, and suddenly said, "You’re not in the right mood."

This woman, usually quite easy to talk to, even intentionally acting cute and sly, using an insincere attitude to bluff him.

Her assertive look like this he had only seen last time when Wu Wuzuo wrongfully concluded Peng Shi’s cause of death and handled the forensic work in a careless manner.

Xu Jing was slightly surprised.

She didn’t expect Xiao Yi to notice the change in her mood, and even ask about it directly.

This guy was indeed keenly observant, one mustn’t underestimate him.

Xu Jing remained silent for a moment, then suddenly raised the corners of her mouth while her voice was cold, "Yes, I’m very angry right now."

Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow slightly.

"If I am not mistaken, the murderer set this trap targeting me.

However, if he really wanted to frame me for this arson case, he shouldn’t have left wounds on the deceased similar to the previous two murders, or he could have completely controlled this fire, burning the deceased’s flesh completely."

If the murderer intended to hide the wounds on the deceased, there are countless ways.

For example, he could have the fire start around the deceased and slowly spread out. This way, even if the deceased wasn’t reduced to ashes, they would be severely charred, making it impossible to see the wounds on the skin.

But he didn’t do that; he deliberately set the fire outside the house, letting it spread into the interior.

Therefore, when the deceased was rescued, the burn injuries weren’t particularly severe!

When Xiao Yi came over, he only heard from his subordinates that there was a house on fire in the county, and it might have been arson. He hadn’t had time to inquire about the situation in detail, so he didn’t quite understand what Xu Jing meant by this being a setup against her.

But it didn’t prevent him from understanding the main idea of these words.

He frowned slightly, pondering, "You mean, the murderer didn’t intentionally frame you. It’s more of a..."

"Provocation."

Xu Jing said coldly, word by word, with a slight curl of her lips, "This guy is deliberately provoking me."

Xiao Yi fell silent for a moment, again speaking in a low and seemingly sighing voice, "Miss Xu, it seems you have many enemies."

The other time she was framed by Mrs. Cao and that fugitive from the Mu Family in Nanling as a murderer.

Now, someone was provoking her again.

She had only been in Anping County for just over three months? Her ability to attract trouble is indeed impressive.

Xu Jing: "..."

Though it seems to be the truth, shouldn’t it be this man who no longer has any relationship with her feeling such bitterness!

After speaking, Xiao Yi looked at Xu Jing intently, his thin lips slightly pressed, his dark eyes seemed to hold some restrained emotion, as if there were words he wanted to say, but in the end, he just turned back around and walked onward, "Let’s talk again when we’re back at the county government. Hopefully, this time Miss Xu will truly not hold back, given my sincere requests."

Xu Jing: "..."

He was deliberately sarcastic about what she said in the courtroom last time about her not holding back on information, wasn’t he?

The more she interacted with this man, the more she realized his so-called righteousness and integrity was just on the surface, he was actually grudge-holding and malicious inside.

Enough, this would be the last cooperation. After this, she’ll go her way to sunshine avenues, and he’ll take his single-plank bridge, never to see each other again!