Case One: Twin Corpses in the Flower Bed
As Miao Fenghua's hand reached the door bolt, she heard someone call her from behind. She slowly turned around, a blood-stained hammer in her hand, the crimson droplets splattering onto the ground.
Zhong Li, catching the fierce, killing intent in Miao Fenghua's eyes, let out a cold laugh. She met Miao Fenghua's gaze and said, "What? You didn't understand what I said?"
"Heh heh!" Miao Fenghua let out a cackle as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world. "So what if I understood? Does Zhong Szezhen really think you can catch me?"
"Or else?" Zhong Li shrugged casually.
The moment she finished speaking, Miao Fenghua charged at her with the hammer, proclaiming, "Then the King of Hell will be waiting for me!"
Watching the woman advance step by step, Zhong Li turned and ran towards the woodpile in the corner of the courtyard.
Miao Fenghua, believing Zhong Li was afraid, yelled more wildly, "Trying to run? It won't be that easy."
With that, she actually hurled the hammer in her hand towards Zhong Li's head.
Just as the hammer, spinning in mid-air, was about to strike the hairpin on Zhong Li's head, Zhong Li suddenly kicked at the woodpile in front of her. Mid-air, she spun and drew a scalpel from her robes, flinging it at Miao Fenghua.
Miao Fenghua froze, utterly unprepared for such a move. Before she could dodge, the scalpel sliced across her neck, severing her flying black hair and embedding itself in the plum tree behind her.
Simultaneously, the hammer Miao Fenghua had thrown missed Zhong Li entirely, plunging straight into the woodpile, causing the stacked logs to scatter with a loud clatter.
"You!" Miao Fenghua, believing her throat had been cut, widened her eyes in terror and clutched her neck. When she felt no gush of blood as expected, she looked down at the small bloody gash on her palm, realizing with dawning horror that she had only broken the skin.
*Thump!*
Just as she was congratulating herself on escaping death, a sharp pain struck her face. Zhong Li, who had somehow appeared before her, landed a punch directly on her jaw.
"Ugh!" Miao Fenghua staggered and fell to the ground, a mouthful of blood and a broken tooth escaping her lips.
Her heart pounded in panic as she fearfully looked up at the person who had struck her.
Zhong Li gazed down at her from above and said, "No skills, yet you still think of killing and escaping."
At the same moment, two constables guarding the back door, having heard the commotion inside, broke down the door and entered.
Zhong Li cast a dismissive glance at them. "Good timing. Arrest her and take her back to the yamen."
With that, she walked to the plum tree, pulled out her scalpel, and headed outside.
Miao Fenghua was forcibly helped to her feet, her body being restrained to the point where she could only kneel on the ground.
She watched the woman's retreating figure by the corridor and called out, "Zhong Li, why are you arresting me instead of going after Han Dong?"
Zhong Li paid no attention to Miao Fenghua, her footsteps leading her to the room where Ren Wenshu had been injured.
Ren Wenshu was currently being tended to by a young constable, having already fainted.
"Zhong Szezhen, this... the young master is injured, what should we do?" the young constable asked frantically upon seeing Zhong Li.
Zhong Li squatted down, checking Ren Wenshu's breathing and then quickly examining his pupils and injuries. As her gaze inadvertently fell upon the young constable, she noticed his legs trembling uncontrollably.
It was understandable, though. Ren Wenshu had led them on an assignment, and now their superior was injured while his subordinates were unharmed. If the prefect were to hold them accountable, they would be in deep trouble.
"Go get my medicine chest, then find two plum tree branches and the bedding from this room to make a simple stretcher. After that, notify the prefect's mansion and ask them to send more men. Do you understand?" Zhong Li said, glancing at the still-open cellar behind her.
The young constable, being quite astute, understood the woman's intentions. He turned and ran outside. Moments later, he returned with the medicine chest, saying, "Zhong Szezhen, here you go. Xiao Wu has gone to the yamen. I'll stay to look after the young master."
Zhong Li nodded and took the chest, beginning her work while speaking to Ren Wenshu, "I know you can hear me. Listen! You are not to sleep until we are back at the yamen."
Ren Wenshu's eyelashes fluttered, a silent acknowledgment of Zhong Li's words.
Having finished her task, Zhong Li said to the young constable, "I will take responsibility for this, don't worry."
With that, she glanced at the two constables who had already escorted Miao Fenghua to the doorway and stood up to walk outside.
As she reached the entrance, Ren Wenshu suddenly spoke, "Zhong Szezhen."
Zhong Li turned back.
"Make sure Miao Fenghua truly pays for her crimes."
Zhong Li nodded and quickly boarded the carriage.
Miao Fenghua, bound and also tossed into the carriage, glared at Zhong Li with a fierce and venomous gaze.
Zhong Li sat inside the carriage, drawing the scalpel from her robes. As the carriage sped towards the city, she wiped away the dust that had accumulated on it.
"Zhong Li, you're very smart. I never expected you to find this residence," Miao Fenghua said, her attempts at intimidation ineffective. Seeing her 'death stare' had no impact, she could only try to attract the other woman's attention with her voice.
As she had hoped, Zhong Li finally stopped her actions and focused her gaze on Miao Fenghua, replying, "It's you who are too stupid."
"You!" Miao Fenghua was taken aback that she could be rebuffed at a time like this. No longer hiding her former gentle demeanor, her face contorted as she said, "I praised you, and you really think you've won? Yes, that's right, I brought in the Chaqie Grass. But at most, you can charge me with illegally possessing contraband and assault. Do you still intend to pin the matters of Yue Tiannan and Yue Tianhu on me?"
Zhong Li sheathed the scalpel at her waist and watched Miao Fenghua's thin, crimson lips move, waiting for her to finish. She sighed helplessly and continued, "That's why you're stupid."
Miao Fenghua was stunned and frowned, remaining silent.
It was clear she didn't understand Zhong Li's meaning. In her mind, her plan was foolproof, and no one could unravel it.
Zhong Li was direct. "Han Dong doesn't actually exist, does he? Or is the name Han Dong a pseudonym for someone?"
Miao Fenghua swallowed several times, remaining silent.
Zhong Li, having not eaten breakfast or drunk water on the way to apprehend Miao Fenghua, now felt the tension ease. She casually poured a cup of clear tea and, after drinking it, continued, "Han Dong must be either Yue Tiannan or Yue Tianhu. Which one of them keeps you as his mistress?"
"How did you know?" Miao Fenghua now understood why Zhong Li was so confident. She had seen through the key point of the case.
Zhong Li poured herself another cup of tea, this time drinking it as she spoke, "First, your old house in the southern suburbs. You said you hadn't lived there for many years. Yet, I found clothes in your closet that were fashionable this year. Don't you find that strange?
Even if that house is yours, a landlord cannot simply enter a tenant's property, can they?"
Miao Fenghua closed her eyes. This was indeed her oversight.
Zhong Li took another sip of the clear tea and continued, "What truly made me suspect you was at Han Dong's house. Do you know what I discovered?"