Chapter 31 : He Is Lying
31: He Is Lying
Night deepened, yet the area outside the Anyang Marquis's residence was brightly lit.
A stretcher lay at the foot of the steps. On it, a burly, coarse-featured man lay face up, his features smeared with dried blood. His eyes were shut tight; he had been dead for some time. Beside him, seven craftsmen in rough, short work clothes knelt on the ground, wailing loudly.
"The Second Young Master of Anyang Marquis's household has beaten a man to death! We beg the Marquis to uphold justice!"
"We beg the Second Young Master to come out and face us, to give us poor common folk some fairness…"
"A man is dead. How can the Marquis's household not even give a single word in response?"
"The Marquis's household holds great power and influence. What can we do if they treat human life as worthless grass?"
The craftsmen spoke over one another, their cries and lamentations rising in waves. On the broad street not far away, passersby and residents had gathered in thick, overlapping layers. The events at the Anyang Marquis's residence last night had just shocked the entire city of Jinzhou. How could the Second Young Master have beaten someone to death now?
"Has the Anyang Marquis's household been struck by some baleful star?"
"Exactly. How can they be involved in fatal incidents one after another like this?"
"The entire Anyang Marquis's family serves in the military. They possess formidable martial skills. It's not strange for them to beat someone to death. Look at the man lying there on the ground, covered in blood. I wonder if the authorities will handle the case according to the law?"
"Handle it according to what law? This is the Anyang Marquis's household we're talking about."
"That's right. This household has a Grand Princess residing within!"
The common folk whispered among themselves. Suddenly, the half-closed main gate creaked open.
Yang Xi, clad in a brown scholar's robe, stepped out first. "Alright, alright. You wished to see the Marquis. The Marquis has come."
At these words, the crowd fell silent. The wailing craftsmen also ceased their cries.
Yue Qiong strode out, his expression grave and steady. He first walked to the deceased, bowed respectfully with hands clasped, then gestured for the craftsmen to rise. "Gentlemen, please stand first. The prefectural yamen has already accepted the case. Please rest assured, this matter will definitely be properly addressed."
"We will not rise!" the leading craftsman quavered.
"The case is so clear, yet Prefect Huo hasn't sent anyone to question the Second Young Master of your household for an entire day. He's clearly stalling. We humble men are like ants before you, Marquis. If you don't wish for the Second Young Master to be punished, we have no recourse. But Heaven is watching! We were as close as brothers with Lin. We cannot rest without seeking justice for him. Poor Lin still had an aged mother at home. Now a white-haired woman must bury her black-haired son…"
This man was tall and lean, his face darkened by sun and labor. As he spoke, his grief intensified until he broke into loud sobs. The other craftsmen, hearing this, joined in the lament. A group of grown men, seven feet tall, wept with the abandon of grieving women.
Yue Qiong's brow furrowed deeply. He had spent many years in the army, where military discipline was strict. At home, he was also severe in disciplining the younger generation. Moreover, Jiang‑shi was skilled in instruction and had raised the children very properly. He did not believe Yue Qing would intentionally beat someone to death. Yet he knew Yue Qing's martial prowess. It was not impossible for him to have killed someone by accident…
"Gentlemen," Yue Qiong raised a hand in a cupped fist salute. "Yue Qiong has been in Jinzhou for many years. The people of Jinzhou know my reputation. In this matter, I have absolutely no intention of shielding anyone. It is truly because my household is in a troubled time that there has been some delay. The prefect is in the same situation. The night is late. Please, come inside the residence. Since the man died because of my son, I, Yue Qiong, will take full responsibility."
Seeing Yue Qiong's sincere attitude and his lack of any intention to bully the weak from his position of power, the craftsmen exchanged glances, then all looked toward the man who had spoken first. After a brief moment of thought, that man's tone softened slightly. "Very well. We shall heed the Marquis's words."
Yue Qiong then instructed Yang Xi, "Go and prepare the side rooms in the front courtyard for these brothers to rest. Then go and invite Prefect Huo. This matter will be settled tonight."
Yang Xi assented. He first helped the craftsmen to their feet, then directed them to carry the stretcher into the residence.
Inside the residence, separated by a screen wall, Qin Wan stood with Jiang‑shi, Yan Chi, and Yue Ning, having clearly witnessed the commotion outside.
Jiang‑shi clenched her sleeve, her eyes reddening. "I know the Marquis's character. He is honest and straightforward. All these years, whether in the household or the army, he has never shielded anyone. Having someone summon Prefect Huo means he truly intends to have Qing'er's guilt decided tonight."
As she spoke, the group entered the residence. The speaking craftsman led the others, following Yue Qiong and Yang Xi toward the side rooms in the front courtyard. Seeing this, Jiang‑shi hastily led the others to retreat behind the latticework of the side covered walkway.
The entire front courtyard was brightly lit. From a distance of over ten paces, Qin Wan's gaze swept over the men like an arrow.
"What is the identity of this craftsman who is speaking?" Yan Chi, who had been silent for a while, suddenly asked.
Jiang‑shi looked puzzled. Though she didn't understand why Yan Chi asked, she glanced at Lüyun. Lüyun understood and walked toward the side rooms. She returned shortly and reported, "To answer the Young Lord, the one speaking is their foreman. His name is Wei Wu."
Yan Chi's eyebrows rose slightly. "That man has a bit of cunning."
The deceased was merely a craftsman. This group was also of lowly status. Their courage to seek justice for the dead stemmed partly from brotherly loyalty, and partly from Yue Qiong's excellent reputation in Jinzhou. They must have known the Anyang Marquis would not resort to underhanded means to bully them.
Furthermore, this Wei Wu had carried the corpse to the main gate. His words just now, spoken before so many commoners, clearly emphasized their lowly status and the deceased's pitiable family situation. If this matter were not properly adjudicated, Yue Qiong's reputation would be ruined.
Yan Chi then added thoughtfully, "If he is truly seeking justice, it could indeed be counted as righteous loyalty."
Qin Wan suddenly asked, "Madam, has the prefectural yamen already examined the deceased's body?"
Jiang‑shi nodded. "They have. They said the deceased's shoulder was dislocated and two of his ribs were broken. It's likely a rib pierced his internal organs, which is why he vomited blood and died after Qing'er left."
Qin Wan frowned. Death from broken ribs was either due to excessive blood loss or from the ribs piercing internal organs. She didn't know if the prefectural coroner had conducted a careful and thorough examination. Jiang‑shi said the deceased was covered in injuries. Since Yue Qing had practiced martial arts since childhood, he should know which parts of the human body were vital points and fatal zones. Why would he strike everywhere?
This was Qin Wan's greatest doubt. But at the moment, she hadn't been close to the body and couldn't be certain. Nor could she rashly request to see the corpse. That would likely cause the Marquis's household to regard her with great suspicion.
As Qin Wan frowned in deep thought, Yan Chi's gaze rested on her, faint yet perceptible.
He had already been surprised when Qin Wan suggested coming to observe. Qin Wan was not someone who enjoyed watching other families' troubles, yet she had proposed it. And from the moment they arrived until now, she had been pondering something.
Yan Chi surmised she was most likely thinking about how to resolve the trouble for the Anyang Marquis's household.
But this was a case involving human life. What could a young girl like her do to resolve it?
"Come, let's move closer. I also wish to know exactly what happened today."
Jiang‑shi suddenly spoke. This concerned Yue Qing. Since she was already here, she couldn't help but want to hear more. So she emerged from behind the latticework and walked directly to the covered walkway outside the side room's window.
Separated only by a window lattice, the conversation inside the room came through clearly.
"Marquis, Brother Lin still had an aged mother at home. With Brother Lin dead, I truly don't know how his mother will survive."
"Regarding that, you need not worry at all. The Marquis's household will provide ample silver and arrange for someone to care for her."
"Brother Lin was the only son in his family. With him dead, the Lin family line is effectively severed. His mother is frail and ill. At the moment, we brothers haven't yet told her the truth. I truly don't know if she can bear it when she finds out."
Wei Wu's voice was filled with grief. Yue Qiong said, "I understand the pain of losing a child. In the future, we must rely on you all to look after Madam Lin."
Wei Wu immediately said, "That is only natural. In the future, we will certainly care for her as if she were our own mother."
After a slight pause, Yue Qiong continued, "This brother, what exactly happened today? Since you say you witnessed with your own eyes my son beating Brother Lin to death, why not tell me how he struck him?"
Prefect Huo had not yet arrived. Anxious, Yue Qiong began asking about the sequence of events.
A pained look flashed in Wei Wu's eyes. "Speaking of it, it was also Brother Lin's fault for speaking too much. He was a righteous man, but he loved to gossip and discuss right and wrong. The matter from last… last night is already known to all the people of Jinzhou. This morning, he was discussing it with us, and it happened that the Second Young Master overheard as he passed by. The Second Young Master stopped to argue with him, but Brother Lin wouldn't back down with his words. That's how the fight started…"
Yue Qiong's expression grew more solemn. "How did he strike him?"
Wei Wu frowned slightly. Meeting Yue Qiong's gaze, he understood—he was being asked to describe the details of the violence.
Wei Wu thought for a moment, then began, "It was the Second Young Master who struck first. He charged forward and punched Brother Lin in the face. Brother Lin cried out in pain and couldn't help but lunge forward as well, but he was no match for the Second Young Master at all. The Second Young Master seized his shoulder, gave it a twist, and subdued him. Then with one kick, he sent Brother Lin kneeling to the ground. Brother Lin, frightened from the beating, had just scrambled to his feet when the Second Young Master kicked him in the chest again. The Second Young Master was furious. His fists kept raining down on Brother Lin's body…"
Inside the room, Wei Wu's speech grew faster and faster. Outside the window, Qin Wan and Yan Chi frowned simultaneously.
"He is lying."
"He is lying."