Chapter 1165 - 1167 Tangled Branches_1
"My lord, my younger brother’s body wasn’t even found in the end. Why don’t the officers from the governmental office arrest the Huang Family’s son? Isn’t it because he is the brother of an archivist? My brother was definitely killed by Archivist Huang, just to take the blame for his own brother."
Eldest Young Master Jiang simply couldn’t believe this matter. Even as an ordinary person, he could see the flaws in this case. How could others not see them? Moreover, my brother was accused of committing murder and died—a grave crime. After his death, there wasn’t even anyone to claim his body; he was thrown directly into the mass burial ground.
But the problem is, he suspected that his brother’s body hadn’t actually been thrown into the mass burial ground. Because as soon as he heard of his brother’s death, he had been watching the area for a long time. It was not easy, but eventually, he saw people come, and after they left, he went to look, only to find two women’s corpses, his brother’s body was nowhere to be found.
"Has your Jiang Family’s wine shop paid out?"
Upon hearing this, Eldest Young Master Jiang shook his head, "No, our family doesn’t acknowledge that the person was killed by my brother and was unwilling to hand over the wine shop. However, ever since the year before last, the business at our family’s wine shop has been getting worse."
"Who is he to you?" Ye Zi’an asked after listening, referring to the man in blue.
"He’s my cousin and has always lived in my house."
Ye Zi’an gave the man in blue another look upon hearing this.
"I’ve taken note of this matter, and I will have someone look into it. However, if there’s any concealment or falsehood, you should know the rules within the county governmental office," Ye Zi’an said calmly as he looked at him before adding, "Before this matter is cleared up, both of you will stay here."
"My lord, my lord, I cannot stay here. I came to the county city for business yesterday and told my family I would return today; if, if I stay, I’m afraid my parents at home will worry." Besides, he was somewhat distrustful of Ye Zi’an, fearing that Ye Zi’an might take the opportunity to keep them there and harm them.
Ye Wu, upon seeing his cautious attitude, became annoyed, "Are you dumb? Our Young Master is keeping you here because he’s afraid you will be harmed the moment you step outside. No one saw us bringing you here, but once you leave our residence, that might not be the case. What if what you’ve said is true and it reaches Archivist Huang? Do you think you’d still be alive? You just don’t recognize kindness."
Ye Zi’an didn’t scold Ye Wu this time, because what he said was exactly what he was thinking.
"I will have someone notify your family. You will stay here to assist with the investigation."
Having said this, Ye Zi’an went to his study and called Ye Yi and Ye Er to him.
"Ye Er, first secretly capture Archivist Huang’s brother without letting him know who took him. Ye Yi, you and Ye San split up and investigate the Liu and Huang Families, but don’t let them notice."
"Yes."
"Yes."
After the several people had left, Ye Zi’an then took out the Mianyang governmental officials roster and looked it over, then crossed out the Zhou name and circled the Huang name beside it. Looking at the few remaining names, he sneered inwardly. Mianyang was such a small place, yet it was full of tangled connections. From the minor clerks to the constables, all were involved with Mianyang’s wealthy households—for example, the Huang and Liu Families were related by marriage.
To outsiders, the case involving the Jiang Family would certainly seem like Jiang’s younger brother was the murderer, because the Huang and Liu were related by marriage. Why would the Huang Family kill someone from the Liu Family?
But if it wasn’t someone from the Huang Family that did the killing, just like Eldest Young Master Jiang described, why were there so many holes in the case? Hmph, no matter. Eliminating the Huangs, the Lius could be implicated as well! They’re none of them good people. Speaking seriously, Principal Clerk Zhou and the Zhou Family were comparatively the simplest relations, and since he was in charge of taxes, it was time to strike him first!