Zhong Li spoke, her gaze fixed on Xu Qing.
Xu Qing shook his head. Though he had drunk some wine, the situation in the elegant chamber was clear. Wu Xiu Chu’s body was indeed absent.
Wei Fu stared at Zhong Li, swallowing hard. Her crimson lips parted, but for a long time, no words of excuse could be uttered.
“Actually, I have another piece of evidence to prove that you and Liu Wu conspired to stage this play,” Zhong Li said, looking at Wei Fu. She took a few steps forward and snatched her purse from her waist.
Wei Fu froze.
Zhong Li handed the purse to Lan Heng, then turned her head towards Liu Wu’s waist.
Liu Wu seemed to grasp what was happening and quickly tried to untie his own purse.
A constable standing beside him, seeing his action, quickly restrained his arms and took his purse, presenting it to Lan Heng.
Lan Heng examined the two purses closely. He noticed that each purse had a pair of mandarin ducks, which, when put together, formed a mating pair, completing a landscape painting. In this light, the relationship between Wei Fu and Liu Wu was self-evident.
Thus, their conspiracy to murder Wu Xiu Chu was substantiated.
“Now that the matter of Wei Fu and Liu Wu killing Wu Xiu Chu is confirmed, what was their motive?” Lan Heng asked, looking at Zhong Li.
Zhong Li shifted her gaze to Madam Liu, who had been silent beside her. The crucial point had now been reached.
Madam Liu, as if knowing what Zhong Li was about to say, patted her arm and took out an old piece of paper from her embrace, handing it to her. It seemed she had placed all her trust in Zhong Li.
Zhong Li looked at Liu Wu, who had his head buried low, and asked, “Master Liu, do you have nothing to say?”
Liu Wu looked up and met her gaze. His lips trembled for a long time, but he couldn’t utter a single word.
Zhong Li wasted no more time. She bowed to Lan Heng on the dais and said, “Ten years ago, Huanxi Lou was merely a small opera house, not yet enjoying the bustling crowds it does now. There was a famous opera singer named Chu Chu back then. Does anyone present here know of this?”
As her voice fell, everyone in the hall exchanged glances. They were only in their early twenties. Ten years ago, they were mere children; who would know such a thing?
“This prince knows,” Lu Wu Xie said, raising his hand and speaking with a lazy tone, just as everyone was shaking their heads in confusion.
He took a sip of the clear tea in his hand. “Liu Lane was only rebuilt a little over ten years ago. It was the last area in Jin City to be renovated. After its completion, someone bought a piece of land deep within Liu Lane and built an opera house, which is now Huanxi Lou.
At that time, the businesses in Liu Lane were not as established as they are now, and Huanxi Lou’s business was also mediocre, even experiencing losses. In this manner, Huanxi Lou changed hands many times until the Wu family troupe arrived. Within the troupe was a celebrated singer, Miss Chu Chu, whose voice was like a yellow oriole and whose waist was as graceful as a flying swallow. For a time, all the princes and nobles of Jin City were her patrons.
That momentum… was even greater than that of Miss Wei now.”
Lu Wu Xie said this, his gaze falling on Wei Fu. “Am I correct, Miss Wei?”
Wei Fu did not expect Lu Wu Xie to mention her at this moment.
Her expression faltered. Her lips parted, and just as she was about to say something, Lu Wu Xie chuckled and continued, “However, the blooming period for actors is short. Eight years later, a Hua Dan named Wei Fu arrived at the opera house. Although Miss Chu Chu’s singing was excellent and her spear dances were brilliant, she could not compete with the coquettish charms of a young girl. Thus, she stepped back and took on the role of a Hua Shan.”
As his words fell, everyone in the hall understood. They all turned their gazes towards Wei Fu.
Zhong Li looked at Lu Wu Xie. She was truly surprised that he knew about the events of Liu Lane ten years ago. At that time, he was only twelve years old; how could he know so much?
Lu Wu Xie felt a scrutinizing gaze sweeping over him.
He followed the gaze, as if he had expected it to be Zhong Li. He smiled, raised the clear tea to his lips, and let the rising steam obscure half of his handsome face. No one could tell what he was thinking at that moment.
Zhong Li withdrew her gaze, her attention returning to the courtroom. She cleared her throat and said, “The prince is knowledgeable and knows all the news in Jin City. However, Zhong Li has more to add, and this addition is the crux of the entire matter.”
Lu Wu Xie put down his cup and looked at her with great interest.
“Perhaps everyone has guessed by now, the Miss Chu Chu of Huanxi Lou ten years ago is the current Wu Xiu Chu. The so-called Wu family troupe was founded by Wu Xiu Chu’s parents, and Huanxi Lou back then also belonged to the Wu family,” Zhong Li said.
The crowd nodded. They could all connect these dots.
Zhong Li continued, “Although Wu Xiu Chu was an opera singer, her personality was quite spirited. Ten years ago, she was only eighteen, in the prime of her youth and dazzlingly beautiful. Many dissolute nobles and dignitaries wished to take her as a concubine.
However, she only fancied one person, and that was Liu Wu, who worked as a handyman at Huanxi Lou.”
As her words fell, all eyes shifted to Liu Wu.
Liu Wu instinctively shuddered, his neck shrinking.
Zhong Li presented the paper that Madam Liu had given her to Lan Heng. “This is the proof that Huanxi Lou has always belonged to the Wu family – the deed to Huanxi Lou.”
Lan Heng opened it, glanced at it, and nodded.
Zhong Li continued, “At first, Wu Xiu Chu’s parents did not agree. Even if their daughter was extraordinary, she could marry into a wealthy family as a principal wife. If she were lucky, she might even enter an official family as a concubine. To marry a handyman, who would be willing?
Wu Xiu Chu thus argued with her parents. As fate would have it, within a year, Wu Xiu Chu’s parents were killed by bandits while out on business. From then on, no one could stop her from being with Liu Wu. Without the customary letters, dowry, or betrothal gifts, she inexplicably gave herself to Liu Wu.
Afterward, the Wu family troupe was renamed the Liu family troupe.”
At this point, everyone revealed a look of sudden understanding. So Liu Wu had reaped the benefits and, in one fell swoop, become the master of Huanxi Lou?
“Initially, Liu Wu treated Wu Xiu Chu well, as Huanxi Lou still depended on her for income. However, as Huanxi Lou became increasingly popular, Liu Wu changed. He began to verbally and physically abuse Wu Xiu Chu. Then, Wei Fu arrived, and the two of them became involved.” Zhong Li spoke, her gaze sweeping over Liu Wu and Wei Fu.
Before she could continue, Wei Fu became agitated.
She grabbed Liu Wu’s shoulder and, before he could react, slapped him across the face. She yelled, “So you are such a despicable wretch, deceiving me and making me commit this heinous crime of murder with you. I was truly blind.”
After her outburst, Wei Fu turned to face Lan Heng. With a thud, she knelt on the ground, sobbed a few times, and said aggrievedly, “Lord Lan, please investigate thoroughly. Wei Fu admits to participating in the murder of Sister Wu, but that was all due to Liu Wu’s deceitful words. Two years ago, I had only just reached womanhood. Before experiencing any of life’s sweetness, I was tricked out of my body and my heart. Now, I genuinely wish to reform. I implore Lord Lan to show leniency, sob…”
After she finished, as if truly repentant, she turned and kowtowed towards the doorway. “Sister Wu, Wei Fu was wrong. Please forgive Wei Fu. Wei Fu was merely misled by a wicked person at that time.”
The sound of her head hitting the ground grew louder.
Lan Heng frowned upon hearing this.
Xu Qing, standing aside, looked at the tearful Wei Fu. Her words filled his mind. After a moment’s thought, he gritted his teeth and quickly walked to the front of the hall.
“My lord, Liu Wu is so treacherous and cunning that he could deceive even Wu Xiu Chu. As for Miss Wei two years ago, not only was she young, but she had just arrived in Jin City and surely did not understand the wickedness of human nature. I hope my lord will handle this with leniency.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding constables began to whisper amongst themselves. Some supported Xu Qing, while others remained neutral. After all, faced with a crying beauty, any man would feel pity.
Lu Wu Xie observed all this, glanced at Lan Heng on the dais, raised his fan to cover his face, and tilted his head as if to doze off.
Lan Heng took a deep breath, raised the gavel in his hand, and slammed it onto the table. “Recess.”
As the sound echoed, the constables ceased their chatter and walked towards Liu Wu and Wei Fu, preparing to escort them back to prison.
Zhong Li’s eyebrows furrowed as she watched their figures. In a fleeting glance, she saw a triumphant smile appear on Wei Fu’s face.
Her heart jolted. Before she could voice her objection, an old voice rang out, “Cannot recess!”
At the same time, all eyes fell upon Madam Liu.