Zhong Li used to believe that human emotions stemmed from hormonal influences or simply finding someone compatible, as everyone had their own criteria when choosing a partner.
Now, looking at the four men standing before her – varying in height, build, appearance, and demeanor, from handsome to sly and unconventional – she found herself truly perplexed by Mrs. Hu’s intentions.
The reason there were four was because when Mrs. Hu had her incident, her first husband was being investigated by the yamen. The case remained unsolved, and as the one who reported it, he was still around.
Gu Qian was the most outstanding in appearance among the four. He was handsome and possessed an elegant demeanor, though he paled in comparison to Lu Wuxie.
As for the other three suspects: Old Qiao, Huang San, and Bi Chuan.
Bi Chuan was considered decent-looking among these three. He was not tall and rather thin, appearing somewhat weak, but Zhong Li, having examined so many corpses, knew that men like him often had remarkable bone structure.
Old Qiao was stouter. His face suggested an honest man, but if one looked closely at his hands restlessly scratching within his groin area, it would certainly diminish his appeal.
As for Huang San, he immediately struck one as a dissolute rogue. Dressed in green everyday wear, with one foot propped up, his head held high, his appearance was the ugliest among them all.
Zhong Li pondered for a moment, her gaze settling on Gu Qian. "Mr. Gu, would you mind coming with me first?"
Gu Qian nodded, gave a few instructions to the young boy behind him, who obediently stayed put, and then followed Zhong Li into the carriage.
Zhong Li poured a cup of water and placed it before Gu Qian.
Gu Qian smiled, bowed, and then picked up the cup to sip.
Observing his actions, Zhong Li asked, "Mr. Gu, with such grace and bearing, from which esteemed family do you hail?"
"Esteemed family is hardly a description!" Gu Qian, praised so subtly, waved his hands with a smile. "It’s just that my ancestors ran a school, and I was influenced by it during my childhood."
Zhong Li nodded. "And is your family's school still in operation?"
Gu Qian's expression darkened slightly at Zhong Li's question.
After a moment, he sighed. "It was in operation until I met Mrs. Hu. After meeting her, it ceased to be."
Hearing him mention Mrs. Hu in almost every sentence, Zhong Li knew the matter of the school was related to her. She inquired, "What do you mean?"
"Alas!" Gu Qian sighed again. "The thing I regret most in my life is meeting Mrs. Hu. If she were not the mother of my child, I would rather die than have anything to do with her."
"Does it have anything to do with the school?"
Gu Qian nodded. "Mrs. Hu and I were introduced and married. We lived well at first. Though not wealthy, we were comfortable and had enough to eat. Mrs. Hu was diligent, and when the school was busy, she would help manage it.
Until she became pregnant, and her morning sickness was quite severe. I felt sorry for her and let her rest at home, even hiring an old wet nurse to attend to her daily needs.
"And then?" Zhong Li asked.
"Unexpectedly, with nothing to do, she somehow took up gambling. Day and night, she frequented gambling houses. Initially, the household had some reserves, which she squandered.
But as time went on, her desire for gambling grew, and the amounts of money she played with increased. Once, while I was teaching at the school, a group of people suddenly rushed in to confiscate the school. It was then I learned she owed the gambling house a thousand taels of silver."
Gu Qian rubbed his temples as he spoke, his face extremely displeased. After a long pause to compose himself, he continued:
"I was so angry I wanted to scold her, but feeling sorry for her... and she was pregnant, so I sold the school to pay off her debts. After this was settled, it passed.
After she gave birth, I found a teaching job elsewhere to make a living. But she remained unrepentant. She swore before me, but secretly gambled at the houses. The money I worked for a month, she lost in a single night.
The child didn't even have decent clothes, yet she went out every day dressed to the nines. My heart was dead. After the child was weaned, I divorced her.
But no matter what, Mrs. Hu was still my son’s mother. I could remain unmarried for life, but my son couldn't be without a mother. Liaocheng wasn't far from Anning County, so I would bring my child to visit her at fixed times each month."
Listening to Gu Qian's account, Zhong Li felt a twinge of sympathy. Gu Qian seemed to be a good match for Mrs. Hu, but gambling truly ruined people.
" County Magistrate Liu mentioned you were the one who reported the crime. Did you notice anything when you entered?" Zhong Li asked.
The yamen had already asked Gu Qian this question at least seven or eight times.
Now, as Zhong Li asked again, Gu Qian showed no impatience. He replied, "I was knocking on the door with my son, calling out, but no one answered from inside.
Your Excellency, you are aware of Mrs. Hu's private life. I was afraid there might be someone in her room who would frighten the child, so I went alone to the window and knocked to get Mrs. Hu's attention.
To my surprise, after knocking for a long time, there was still no answer. I saw a crack in the window and leaned in out of curiosity. Who would have thought... I saw Mrs. Hu lying naked on the bed.
At first, I thought she had fainted. I circled to the front room and tried to force the door open. I found the door wasn't locked. I rushed into the room, found Mrs. Hu, and after calling out for a long time, she still didn't move. When I checked her breathing, I realized she had no breath. Only then did I find a local doctor and report to the authorities."
Zhong Li pondered Gu Qian's words, finding no significant loopholes. She then said, "Anything else?"
Gu Qian nodded. "No, that's all. I was so terrified at the time, I truly didn't notice anything else.
And regarding whether Mrs. Hu had anyone who offended her, I don't think so. After all, after she left Liaocheng, her gambling debts were all placed upon me."
"Alright, Mr. Gu, please wait outside for a moment. I will call someone else in for questioning," Zhong Li said, gesturing for Gu Qian to leave.
Gu Qian nodded and smiled at Zhong Li, preparing to depart.
Suddenly, he seemed to recall something and turned back to her. "I actually have a question. I'm not sure if it can provide clues for your investigation, Lord Zhong."
"Oh? How so?" Zhong Li's interest was piqued.
Gu Qian thought for a moment. "Mrs. Hu became lazy after she got pregnant. She never cleaned the house; it was always managed by the wet nurse I hired for her.
After she moved to Anning County, I knew she had remarried. Old Qiao was an honest man, only wanting someone to manage the household. Their divorce seemed to be because Mrs. Hu didn't know how to manage things.
However, after Mrs. Hu separated from Old Qiao, I took our child to see her numerous times. Her room was always meticulously cleaned. I had thought she had turned over a new leaf. I never expected that on the day she died, the outer room was so messy. I suspect someone must have been cleaning for her."
"Good! Thank you!" Zhong Li smiled faintly at Gu Qian.
Gu Qian scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed, and jumped off the carriage to leave.
Zhong Li did not immediately call for the other three suspects. Instead, she sat back down and looked at Lu Wuxie inside the carriage.
Lu Wuxie had listened to her entire conversation with Gu Qian. Now, she wondered what his thoughts were.
"Does Mo Cang find Gu Qian suspicious?"