Minister of Dali Temple

Chapter 2

After hearing what Li Jingzhao said, everyone present was startled.

The tip of the pen that Lin Wanqing had just raised suddenly stopped, and the elegant small regular script in her hand was ruined.

Li Jingzhao seemed satisfied with everyone's reaction, and chuckled: "Yesterday, the gangster committed another crime, and he was caught by my men."

"Yes..."

Before the words of inquiry were spoken, Lin Wanqing felt a twitch on her sleeves. She turned around and saw Liang Weiping's face with distorted features.

He shook his head twitching like a muscle spasm.

So when the words came to her lips, they were swallowed back.

She had no choice but to raise her eyes gloomily and look at Mr. Su, who was sitting upright on the main seat. Under the dim light, he looked indifferent, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

Li Jingzhao was also a little embarrassed by his reaction. He cleared his throat to resolve it, and then said: "This person was captured by my officer when he committed a murder in Lord Song's outer house the Minister of the central Secretariat."

If the previous foreshadowing was all mysterious, then this sentence is undoubtedly shocking. Not to mention Lin Wanqing, even Mr. Su, who was sitting at the table, leaned forward unconsciously.

"Master Li, are you talking about Mr. Song Zhengxing, Minister of the central Secretariat?"

"Exactly, exactly."

Li Jingzhao nodded repeatedly and continued: "Last night, I received a message from the boy in Mr. Song's other courtyard. It was said that an accident happened to a concubine in the family who was recovering from illness. Although she was found dead, the criminal was not able to escape. So this official arrested the person and interrogated him overnight. The criminal confessed his crime this morning and pleaded guilty."

Su Moyi's pupil trembled slightly, but he still said in a calm voice: "Is that concubine the lady from the marquis family who was accepted by Mr. Song two years ago?"

Li Jingzhao's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said with a flattering smile: "Your Excellency is very smart and knowledgeable. The deceased is their cousin."

Su Moyi leaned forward and asked in a calm voice: "What is the identity of the prisoner?"

"He is a member of the Jinwu Guards. The guard’s name is Wang Hu.”

There was silence for a while.

Su Moyi's slightly frowned brows tightened a bit, "Then how can Mr. Li be so sure that he is the murderer?"

Li Jingzhao's greasy face showed a trace of humble pride, and he casually opened a few pages of the case file in his hand.

"The death of that concubine is consistent with the previous murders. Besides, if Wang Hu is not the murderer, how can he explain that he appears at the crime scene? Besides, he confessed to what he did, and he was also found at the crime scene with the murder weapon before he could throw it away."

After speaking, Li Jingzhao showed the murder weapon that the government officer had just presented.

A common hatchet about three inches long and one inch wide, with a thick back and a thin blade.

Lin Wanqing was stunned. If she remembered correctly, the victims of the previous cases did have sharp cuts on their bodies.

But...

the wounds on the victim didn't look like they were caused by such a knife. Especially the fatal wound on the chest showed a wound with the same width at both ends. Occasionally, one or two wounds could still be vaguely symmetrical.

The case remained unsolved for a long time because this doubt could not be explained.

If the murderer's tool was such a knife, how could he cause such injuries?

The words in her stomach began to stir again, like a pot of water about to boil. It gurgled so much that Lin Wanqing's hand holding the pen began to shake.

However, her sleeve was pulled by Liang Weiping again.

This time, Liang Weiping looked at her with almost pleading eyes, with five big words written all over his face - "Don't mind other's business."

"..." Lin Wanqing lowered her head, took a deep breath, and forced back the temperature in her stomach to drop by a few degrees.

Li Jingzhao's noisy voice came to her ears, which was a bit uncomfortable and sticky.

His voice was like a bell, and he said with righteous indignation: "Damn this thief, he even takes advantage of a sick woman to commit murder in the dark of night! He ignores the fact that he is a Jinwu Guard and is receiving a salary from the imperial court!"

After speaking, he slapped his palms twice, making a clanging sound on the table beside him.

Su Moyi didn't say a word, and leaned back in silence, with an indiscernible smile on his lips. Just like the mist of rain outside the corridor, it brings a hint of coolness.

"Then what Mr. Li means is that this case can be submitted directly to the Ministry of Punishment for approval, and it will be considered closed?"

"This..." Li Jingzhao choked and said flatteringly: "The criminal in this case has been signed, so naturally I dare not to trouble Lord Su to re-examine. I plan to send the case file to the Ministry of Justice today so that those old guys who eat the emperor's salary can share the worries for you."

The atmosphere was stagnant for a moment, and no one dared to say anything until Su Moyi said nothing.

The smile on Li Jingzhao's face had stiffened, and it seemed that he would be unable to hold on any longer until a few crisp knocking sounds broke the deadlock.

Su Moyi narrowed his eyes slightly, and his distinct knuckles rapped on the armrest of the Grand Master's chair beside him, making a frightening muffled sound.

Lin Wanqing's heart boiled, with vague expectations that could not be explained.

Anyone who has carefully looked at those cases will not fail to notice this doubt. With Li Jingzhao clumsy scheme was undoubtedly traiting Su Moyi as one of those nominal dandies in the court.

If Su Moyi had some real talent, he would never be deceived by him.

However, the next moment, Su Moyi's calm voice shattered Lin Wanqing's plan.

His expression remained unchanged, and he just twirled his thumb and index finger in boredom.

"In that case, please trouble Mr. Li to report to the Ministry of Justice."

Lin Wanqing almost choked herself and looked up at Su Moyi in disbelief. But he looked at Li Jingzhao indifferently, with a hint of mockery on his lips.

He stood up straight away, flicked his sleeves, turned around, and walked behind the screen.

Lin Wanqing was completely confused. She felt her chest tightened, as if her internal organs were all mixed together, and the restless breath returned. It rushed into her throat, suffocating her until she could hardly breathe.

She didn't know where the pen in her hand fell. She just felt that her hands and feet were out of control.

In her daze, she heard a trembling voice being squeezed out of her throat.

"Wang Hu is not the murderer."

One stone stirred up a thousand waves.

She burped and quickly covered her mouth.

What was said was water thrown out, and besides, everyone heard it.

She subconsciously looked at Liang Weiping and saw that he looked distressed. Li Jingzhao on the side was full of shock, disbelief, and a little bit of uneasiness.

"What did you say?" Li Jingzhao's eyes twitched, and his expression changed from natural to extremely unnatural.

Lin Wanqing didn't dare to answer immediately and glanced at Su Moyi past him.

The man only paused slightly, his face still expressionless. He looked at her with just the right amount of surprise in his eyes and remained silent.

The atmosphere was extremely stagnant.

Lin Wanqing, who was unable to get off the tiger, lowered her head and said respectfully, "Wang Hu is not the murderer."

"Nonsense!"

Before she finished speaking, Li Jingzhao's shocked and angry voice rang out.

He flicked his sleeves, his face was pulsing, and he said angrily: "Everyone has recovered the stolen goods in this case. The murderer's motives and methods are clear. He has already confessed his crime, so how can I let you, a little recorder, talk nonsense!" "

But! Don't you think there's a problem?"

"What's the problem?"

Lin Wanqing stepped forward and asked, "My lord, you said Wang Hu was at the scene of the crime?"

"That's right."

"Then why did he cover his face?" Sir, have you forgotten that in the previous rape and murder cases, the eyes of all the victims were covered with black cloths. Since the murderer had already covered the eyes of the deceased, why does he need to wear a face scarf? Would this be unnecessary? "

"This... "Li Jingzhao choked and was speechless for a moment.

Lin Wanqing continued, "Not to mention whether the murder weapon matched the scars on the previous victim, but since Wang Hu was a Jinwu Guard guard and committed the crime while patrolling at night. Why didn't he use the long sword he carried as a weapon? But to bring another medium-sized knife like this?"

"Ah...this..." Li Jingzhao looked confused and began to wipe his sweat silently.

"Also, the previous serial cases showed obvious consistency. From the victim's identity to the wounds to the posture when they are found, this shows that the murderer's pattern is fixed. So, a person who commits murders during the day why did he suddenly change his mode and commit crimes at night?"

"Shut up!" Li Jingzhao was forced to retreat by this barrage of questions.

He threw the scroll of files on the case in front of Lin Wanqing and said angrily: "The prisoner has already confessed, how can he still unjustly accuse himself?!"

"What if..."

"Shut up! You are the only one? Is it possible that you want to steal the judge's job after just recording the matter? This is so outrageous!"

Lin Wanqing's retort was interrupted, and Li Jingzhao showed off his official airs. He had no choice but to keep silent, because any further argument would be just a moth flying into the flame and would be of no use.

Unless...

Thinking reluctantly, Lin Wanqing turned sideways and turned to look at Su Moyi.

He was still standing calmly with his hands behind his back, and his face was carved with a knife, and it was impossible to guess whether he was happy or angry. The purple official uniform exudes natural nobility and pressure, and the fierceness in his bones cannot be dampened by the patter of rain.

Now that we have talked about this, even if this person is not the Minister of Dali Temple in charge of criminal justice, as long as he is not an idiot noble son, he will not let this matter go.

Lin Wanqing regarded Su Moyi as her only hope at this time.

A clear low laugh came, and the man in front of him showed the only emotion discernible to the naked eye for the first time today.

His eyes only stayed on Lin Wanqing for less than a breath, and then he turned to Li Jingzhao, who was sweating on the other side.

"Although Mr. Li solved the case very quickly, his ability to control his subordinates is obvious."

After saying this, he just patted Li Jingzhao's shoulder sincerely. When he turned around and walked away, he didn't look at Lin Wanqing again.

"Yes... it's because I am incompetent in controlling my subordinates... Let Lord Su see the joke..."

Li Jingzhao, who was left behind, felt like he was being pardoned. He held up his sleeves and wiped the bright spots on his forehead. He didn't know it was sweat. Still oil.

Seeing that Su Mo Yi was far away, he gave Lin Wanqing a hard look and said, "Since you don't want to do the recording work, there's no need to do it. You can leave my Jingzhao Prefecture tomorrow and find another job!"

Li Jingzhao shook his sleeves and caught up with Su Moyi.

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