Chapter 365
Clad in mourning attire, Zhang Minxian's voice was hoarse, his eyes red and bloodshot. He knelt on the ground for a long time, refusing to rise until constables forcibly helped him up.
Lord Yao, as the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Longyou Circuit and a trusted confidant of His Majesty, maintained a solemn expression, his discerning gaze studying the grief-stricken Zhang Minxian.
After a while, Lord Yao spoke, "This official will handle the case of Prefect Zhang with fairness. You may withdraw for now."
After all, he was about to enter the study where Prefect Zhang's body lay. It was indeed inconvenient for Zhang Minxian, as the deceased's son, to remain present.
Though unwilling, Zhang Minxian finally cast a glance at the sealed study, bowed deeply to Lord Yao, and then left with the assistance of the constables.
"Open the door," Lord Yao commanded. Constable Hu immediately stepped forward, tore off the seal, and pushed open the study door with a creak.
The stench of decay instantly assailed them. Lord Yao, closest to the door, remained unfazed and was the first to step inside, followed closely by Lord Zheng of the Surveillance Commission.
Lord Chu, Deputy Commander of the Metropolitan Military Command, stood at the study entrance. His triangular eyes swept over the courtyard with a sinister and cunning gaze, then lingered on Constable Hu and the others before he finally strode into the study.
The coroner, Master Huang from the Surveillance Commission, had already begun the preliminary examination of the body, while a scribe rapidly recorded the findings.
Lord Yao's gaze fell upon the disheveled state of the room. Books and teacups were scattered across the floor, clearly indicating a struggle. Coupled with the earlier testimony of the junior clerks, it was not difficult to conclude that Prefect Zhang and Vice Prefect Pang had argued in the study with its doors and windows tightly shut. This was followed by the smashing of objects and finally a physical altercation. Prefect Zhang might have died by accident or by murder.
"My lord," Lord Chu's voice carried an indescribable sharpness. He watched coldly as the coroner lifted the body and continued, "Prefect Zhang was pierced through the chest by this carved bamboo screen. How coincidental could such a death be?"
In contrast to the ambiguous attitude of Lord Chu, Lord Zheng crouched down and asked the coroner a few questions in a low voice. This carved bamboo screen, over two feet tall, thick and with a sharp tip, was indeed the murder weapon.
The coroner compared it with the wound on the body and then carefully examined the blood-stained carved bamboo screen. "My lord, preliminary judgment indicates that the deceased knocked over the screen and was subsequently impaled from the back through the chest by this carved bamboo, dying on the spot. Based on the wound marks on the body, the corpse had not been moved..."
Vice Prefect Zhao did not enter the study. He stood under the corridor with a stern expression. Upon hearing the coroner's words, Vice Prefect Zhao's brow furrowed even deeper.
When Lord Yao and his entourage returned to the main hall of the prefectural office, it was already a quarter of an hour later.
The two junior clerks summoned for questioning appeared pale, but their testimony was almost identical to what they had stated on the morning of the incident.
"Reporting to my lord, I have been responsible for cleaning the inner chambers for two years. Prefect Zhang would always be in his study at the hour of Chen. It was raining heavily that day, and Vice Prefect Pang arrived around the second watch of Chen. I was the one who served the tea," the clerk said. At the time, he had found it strange that Vice Prefect Pang had arrived before the official start of the workday, assuming he had something to discuss with Prefect Zhang.
The clerk steadied his nerves, subtly glancing at the lords seated above, and continued, "Afterward, I withdrew and closed the study door. Moments later, Prefect Zhang and Vice Prefect Pang began to argue. We immediately moved further away, I and Tian."
This was also the rule of the yamen. Despite their curiosity, the two dared not eavesdrop. To avoid suspicion, they even stood further away. This was a result of Prefect Zhang's strict governance.
It was said that in earlier years, someone had attempted to eavesdrop and even secretly opened discarded waste paper from Prefect Zhang, only to be beaten with twenty planks and expelled from the yamen.
Lord Yao quickly read the clerks' earlier testimonies and had his attendant hand the two copies to Lord Zheng and Lord Chu, who were seated below. "So, you returned to the study door after hearing the sound of the screen falling?"
"Yes, we had already heard the sounds of arguments and the smashing of teacups. After a while, with a loud bang, we heard Vice Prefect Pang cry out 'My lord!' Sensing something was wrong, Tian and I rushed back."
After the two clerks withdrew, Lord Chu casually tossed the testimonies onto the table and suddenly turned his attention to Vice Prefect Zhao, who was seated below. "Vice Prefect Zhao, how is it that I hear that after the incident, outsiders entered the crime scene, led by several young masters from the Suzhou Prefecture?"
Vice Prefect Zhao's expression changed abruptly. He immediately stood up and walked to the center of the hall to apologize to Lord Yao, who was seated above. "It is my fault for not disciplining them properly. The incident happened suddenly. I personally sent Vice Prefect Pang to the prison. However, my son and his companions brought Zhan Feiyu..."
Regardless of the reason, Prefect Zhang was murdered, and Vice Prefect Pang was imprisoned. Vice Prefect Zhao became the highest-ranking official in the Suzhou Prefecture yamen. For an outsider like Zhan Feiyu to enter the crime scene was Vice Prefect Zhao's dereliction of duty. It all depended on whether Lord Yao would make an issue of it or let it pass.
Lord Chu let out a cold laugh. Looking at Vice Prefect Zhao, who was kneeling and confessing, he picked up his teacup and took a few sips. He continued to question in a cold voice, "I also hear that Zhan Feiyu incited his servant to commit violence, severing the tendons in the right hand of a merchant. This case was handled by Vice Prefect Pang. This wicked servant is currently imprisoned in the prefectural yamen. Vice Prefect Zhao, how dare you allow someone who might harbor resentment towards Vice Prefect Pang to enter the crime scene? This makes me suspect that you might have done something, and everything in this study that you want us to see might have already been cleaned up."
"This subordinate is terrified. This subordinate would never dare to break the law. I implore my lord to investigate." Vice Prefect Zhao kowtowed, his face ashen. He knew that Zhan Feiyu's entry into the study that day was the biggest trouble. At the time, he had thought that perhaps, out of consideration for Scholar Gu, Lord Yao and the others would turn a blind eye. But now it seemed Lord Chu was determined to pursue this matter relentlessly.
Lord Yao cast a meaningful glance at Lord Chu before speaking, "Vice Prefect Zhao, you may rise. Lord Chu, the most important thing at this moment is to ascertain the cause of Prefect Zhang's death. Other matters can be discussed later."
"Yes, my lord. This subordinate was momentarily anxious. I beg my lord's forgiveness." Lord Chu offered a perfunctory apology with cupped hands, but his expression carried a hint of mockery and coldness.
...
Lord Chu let out a cold laugh. Looking at Vice Prefect Zhao, who was kneeling and confessing, he picked up his teacup and took a few sips. He continued to question in a cold voice, "I also hear that Zhan Feiyu incited his servant to commit violence, severing the tendons in the right hand of a merchant. This case was handled by Vice Prefect Pang. This wicked servant is currently imprisoned in the prefectural yamen. Vice Prefect Zhao, how dare you allow someone who might harbor resentment towards Vice Prefect Pang to enter the crime scene? This makes me suspect that you might have done something, and everything in this study that you want us to see might have already been cleaned up."
"This subordinate is terrified. This subordinate would never dare to break the law. I implore my lord to investigate." Vice Prefect Zhao kowtowed, his face ashen. He knew that Zhan Feiyu's entry into the study that day was the biggest trouble. At the time, he had thought that perhaps, out of consideration for Scholar Gu, Lord Yao and the others would turn a blind eye. But now it seemed Lord Chu was determined to pursue this matter relentlessly.
Lord Yao cast a meaningful glance at Lord Chu before speaking, "Vice Prefect Zhao, you may rise. Lord Chu, the most important thing at this moment is to ascertain the cause of Prefect Zhang's death. Other matters can be discussed later."
"Yes, my lord. This subordinate was momentarily anxious. I beg my lord's forgiveness." Lord Chu offered a perfunctory apology with cupped hands, but his expression carried a hint of mockery and coldness. Lord Chu let out a cold laugh. Looking at Vice Prefect Zhao, who was kneeling and confessing, he picked up his teacup and took a few sips. He continued to question in a cold voice, "I also hear that Zhan Feiyu incited his servant to commit violence, severing the tendons in the right hand of a merchant. This case was handled by Vice Prefect Pang. This wicked servant is currently imprisoned in the prefectural yamen. Vice Prefect Zhao, how dare you allow someone who might harbor resentment towards Vice Prefect Pang to enter the crime scene? This makes me suspect that you might have done something, and everything in this study that you want us to see might have already been cleaned up."
"This subordinate is terrified. This subordinate would never dare to break the law. I implore my lord to investigate." Vice Prefect Zhao kowtowed, his face ashen. He knew that Zhan Feiyu's entry into the study that day was the biggest trouble. At the time, he had thought that perhaps, out of consideration for Scholar Gu, Lord Yao and the others would turn a blind eye. But now it seemed Lord Chu was determined to pursue this matter relentlessly.
Lord Yao cast a meaningful glance at Lord Chu before speaking, "Vice Prefect Zhao, you may rise. Lord Chu, the most important thing at this moment is to ascertain the cause of Prefect Zhang's death. Other matters can be discussed later."
"Yes, my lord. This subordinate was momentarily anxious. I beg my lord's forgiveness." Lord Chu offered a perfunctory apology with cupped hands, but his expression carried a hint of mockery and coldness.