Lu Mingxuan, who was adept at reading people's expressions, whispered nearby, "My lord, this is Wang Ergou's mother. After her son Wang Ergou was arrested at home last night, she followed all the way to the yamen and saw Your Lordship from afar. Today, seeing Your Lordship arrive at Shuanggui Alley, she grabbed the kitchen knife at home and rushed out, intending to force Your Lordship's hand by threatening her own life to release her son."
"I see." Lin Qingge, who felt Lu Mingxuan was much better than Yan Tinghao, nodded slightly. She then bent down to help the old woman up. "Madam, if your son truly did not commit murder, this official will surely clear his name."
"My lord, although our Ergou usually causes trouble, he really wouldn't kill anyone!"
"This official knows. Madam, please put down the knife first. Let's talk properly."
"I won't, unless Your Lordship agrees to release my Ergou. Only then will I put down the knife!"
Seeing the growing crowd of onlookers, Lin Qingge's expression suddenly turned cold. "Madam, this official has reasoned with you kindly, but you refuse to listen. If you remain stubborn, I will not only charge you with disturbing an investigation and send you to jail to reunite with your son Wang Ergou, but I will also make the son pay for the mother's crimes by having your son receive thirty heavy strokes as a minor punishment!"
"No, don't hit Ergou! If you must hit someone, hit this old woman!" As she spoke, the old woman quickly threw the kitchen knife to the ground and made to kowtow again, but she was stopped by Lu Mingxuan, who received a look from his lord. While supporting the old woman, he shouted to the surroundings, "What are you looking at? The authorities are investigating, all idlers move aside! Anyone else who stares will be arrested and brought back to the yamen!"
It had to be said that some things became easier with practice. And the feeling of a dog relying on someone's influence, no, relying on authority to bully others, was indeed quite exhilarating...
Wang Ergou's home was also in Shuanggui Alley. To be precise, the small courtyard where Zhao Si was temporarily staying was introduced by the old woman. As soon as she crossed the threshold, the old woman shouted, "Xiao Ya, esteemed guests have arrived, hurry and boil water to make tea!"
The woman who had been dusting in the house immediately scurried into the kitchen upon hearing this.
"No need for trouble. This official just wants to ask a few questions and then will leave." As Lin Qingge spoke, Hua Jinrong led Lu Mingxuan out. The old woman, whose entire focus was on getting the official to release her son, straightened her back and said, "My lord, please ask. As long as this old woman knows, I will tell you without reservation!"
Lin Qingge asked questions casually. After chatting for a while, Lin Qingge got up to leave. To avoid further harassment from the old woman, Lin Qingge warned her that if she continued to make unreasonable demands as before, she would punish Wang Ergou. At that time, even if Wang Ergou were truly innocent, he would still be kept in custody!
Terrified, the old woman repeatedly nodded in agreement, promising not to cause trouble again. As she was about to leave, Lin Qingge suddenly asked, "By the way, did your Wang Ergou know Constable Li?"
"Yes! The Li family and our Wang family have lived in this alley for three generations, how could we not know each other?"
"What about Zhao Si?"
"He should know them too." It wasn't the old woman speaking, but the woman named 'Xiao Ya' who came out from the kitchen with tea. Seeing the woman, the old woman's fawning expression immediately turned ferocious. "You ill-mannered slut, when an adult is speaking, what right do you have to interrupt!"
Lin Qingge walked past the old woman and stood before the woman. "Why do you say they know each other?"
The woman, glared at by the old woman, lowered her head and said tremblingly, "Reporting to my lord, when I was hanging clothes in the yard, I saw Zhao Si talking to Constable Li by the wall."
"And did you hear what they were saying?"
The woman shook her head. "I was quite far away at the time, and they were speaking in very low voices, so I couldn't hear at all. However, I saw Constable Li looking very angry."
"Hmph, you slut who seduces men everywhere! Not only do you not avoid suspicion when encountering men, but you also eavesdrop on them! What sin did our old Wang family ancestors commit to have such a promiscuous slut like you! My poor Ergou!" After speaking, the old woman reached out to grab the woman, but Lin Qingge stopped her with a broom nearby. "This official doesn't have time to settle your domestic disputes, but regardless of the reason, hitting someone is always wrong. If I find out you are using your age to bully others again, I will punish your son!"
Striking at the vulnerable spot, and the old woman's vulnerable spot was undoubtedly her precious son. As expected, upon hearing that her son would be punished, the old woman immediately quieted down. "Also, you should live your life with dignity and are no less noble than others. Don't call yourself a 'commoner' next time." The woman, who never expected the prefect to say such words to her, raised her head in a daze. Large tears slid from the corners of her eyes, but the slight glimmer of hope that had just appeared in her eyes quickly dimmed again.
After leaving Wang Ergou's house, Lin Qingge rejoined Hua Jinrong and Lu Mingxuan. "Reporting to my lord, we two students inquired from the neighbors. From their accounts, we learned that Wang Ergou and Zhao Si indeed frequented each other. Zhao Si previously worked at a grain shop, and Wang Ergou was a shop assistant at the grocery store next to the grain shop. Through this, the two became acquainted. Wang Ergou already had a gambling problem. Since he was originally from Fengtian and had his elderly mother's support, even if he gambled a few times and lost his entire salary, he still had enough to eat and drink. Zhao Si, in order to earn money quickly, was instigated by Wang Ergou to also develop a gambling addiction, sinking deeper and deeper. Perhaps out of so-called 'brotherly loyalty,' Wang Ergou gambled with Zhao Si on increasingly larger stakes, and soon, he too was drowning in gambling debts. Wang Ergou's mother took out all her savings, but the gambling house's interest compounded, which was not enough to repay Wang Ergou's gambling debts. Thus, to repay the debts and to survive, they had no choice but to become debt collectors for the casino."
"This official saw a woman at Wang Ergou's house besides his mother just now. Do you know her identity?" Lu Mingxuan cupped his hands and replied, "Reporting to my lord, Wang Ergou's mother spent money two years ago to buy a wife for him from the countryside, which should be the woman Your Lordship saw. Furthermore, according to the neighbor I inquired with, Zhao Si often drank at Wang Ergou's house, sometimes staying until late into the night and sleeping there. However, a few days ago, there was a commotion at Wang Ergou's house before dawn. According to the elderly neighbor, it seemed that Zhao Si, after drinking too much, got involved with Wang Ergou's wife."
"Tsk, tsk, they say one should not covet a friend's wife, but it seems there are quite a few who are not polite..." Lin Qingge, feeling a phantom shade of green, glared at the ostentatious peacock who deserved to be scorned in every way, and strode forward. However, she walked only a few steps before turning back, her face dark. "Where is Zhao Si's home? Hurry and lead the way!"