Hua Jinrong let out a soft chuckle, bowing to the person before her.
"Yes, I shall lead the way for you, sir."
"Hmph!"
Lin Qingge tilted her chin up, hands clasped behind her back. Her expression was stern, as if she were wearing a sign that read 'I am displeased.'
Lu Mingxuan, daring not to laugh openly, lowered his head and shrugged his shoulders, obediently following at the rear.
They reached the end of the alley, and Hua Jinrong stopped. "Sir, this is the courtyard Zhao Si rented."
She pushed open the door.
A wave of alcohol fumes mixed with the scent of mold assailed them. The floor was so cluttered with debris that there was no place to step.
Hua Jinrong pinched her nose in disgust. "Tsk tsk, is this really a place fit for humans to live? Xiao Hei's doghouse is cleaner than this!"
Navigating through the small living room, Lin Qingge proceeded to the inner bedroom.
A solitary cushion on the bedside caught Lin Qingge's attention.
The cushion was dirty. If one ignored the oil stains and grime, its original color seemed to be jujube red, or perhaps crimson?
"Oh, sir, that cushion looks exactly like the one Lanling has in her room!
However, this cushion is of poor quality. Not only is the workmanship crude, but the dyeing is also very sloppy. A little spilled wine caused it to fade and stain Xiao Yi's sleeve."
"Fade?"
Lin Qingge's eyes lit up. Overjoyed, she shoved the cushion into Lu Mingxuan's arms and then patted his shoulder heavily. "Good work, I'll give you extra chicken legs when we get back!"
???
Feeling as though her shoulder might have been dislocated, Lu Mingxuan, before he could even discard the dirty cushion in his arms, was ordered to take it back to the prefectural office.
There it was.
Tonight, he would have to find somewhere to bathe and change clothes.
Unlike the bewildered Lu Mingxuan, Hua Jinrong, covering her mouth and nose with her sleeve, had a flash of understanding in her eyes. "Sir, have you identified the killer?"
"Sort of.
But there's no conclusive evidence, so..."
"So, are you planning to lure the tiger into its lair, or catch the rabbit in its burrow?"
"I prefer to wait for the rabbit to come to me."
"Understood, student~"
...
Lu Mingxuan, who considered himself reasonably perceptive and intelligent, kept glancing around but failed to grasp a single word.
However, one thing was certain: Lord Lin was planning to set a trap again.
Upon returning to the prefectural office, Lin Qingge fulfilled her promise, instructing Xiao Cao to give Lu Mingxuan the promised extra chicken legs.
After lunch, Lin Qingge, accompanied again by Captain Li Yi, went to the prison.
Approaching Wang Ergou, who was unable to speak, Lin Qingge reprimanded him fiercely.
"Bold Wang Ergou!
I visited your home this morning and met your mother and wife.
I also know that Zhao Si defiled your wife while drunk.
You harbored resentment and beat Zhao Si to death!"
"Wuwu... wuwu..."
Hearing this, Wang Ergou began to struggle violently again.
At that moment, Yan Tinghao entered from outside. "Reporting, sir. Forensic examiner Murong asked me to relay a message, stating that he has confirmed Zhao Si died of suffocation.
Furthermore, the account book compiled by Qin Han will be completed tonight."
"Mm, today at Zhao Si's home, I found a soft cushion. The color of the cushion matches the small speck of red found on Zhao Si's teeth.
Moreover, after inquiring, I learned that Lanling, Zhao Si's paramour, also has an identical cushion in her room. This type of cushion is coarse and prone to fading, so it is highly likely that Zhao Si was smothered to death with this soft cushion.
You live on the same street as Zhao Si's home, making entry and exit convenient and unlikely to arouse suspicion."
"Wuwu... wuwu..."
Wang Ergou's struggles intensified. Lin Qingge even had reason to believe that if he weren't bound by chains, the man would have rushed over to bite her.
For safety, Lin Qingge took two steps back and continued.
"Wang Ergou, don't be so quick to deny it.
You picked up a brick by the river to smash Zhao Si's head, so it's not surprising that you would smother him to death in his home.
After all, the revenge for a stolen wife is irreconcilable.
We are both men, I can understand, but murder demands a life, and that is the natural order."
Saying this, Lin Qingge stretched. "By the way, Constable Yan, since the killer has been confirmed as Wang Ergou, you no longer need to stay by Qin Han's side.
Tomorrow, when I have time, I will personally collect it, and using the account book as a pretext, I will sort out all the casinos in Fengtian Prefecture."
Yan Tinghao, however, frowned. "Sir, aren't you afraid the people from Hengtong Gambling House will try to snatch it?"
"Don't worry, Advisor Hua told me yesterday that Hengtong Gambling House, knowing they had engaged in illicit activities, fled overnight, leaving the premises empty."
"You are brilliant, sir! I can finally take a comfortable bath!"
Lin Qingge subtly took a step to the side, widening the distance between herself and the simple-minded fellow beside her.
"By the way, sir, I just bought a super-sized bathtub. I haven't had a chance to use it yet. Would you like to try it?
It's very spacious, big enough for two people to bathe together!"
！！！
Lin Qingge stared at Yan Tinghao sideways for a good while.
If she hadn't known this fellow was merely a simpleton, she would have plastered him against the wall with a single slap, so hard he couldn't be pried off!
Here, Yan Tinghao, oblivious to his superior's displeased expression, continued to offer his services.
"Sir, I can help you scrub your back!
My father said I'm excellent at scrubbing backs. What's that word... it makes you feel like you're ascending to heaven and dying?"
"Enough, I fear your large palms will peel off my skin!
Ascending to heaven and dying? I think it would be more like wishing for death over life!"
Lin Qingge suddenly felt a measure of admiration for the elder Mr. Yan. To have survived under the stewardship of this mother and son duo until now, he must be a person of great capability.
"Sir—"
Seeing Yan Tinghao about to speak again, and fearing she would hear something else that would raise her blood pressure, Lin Qingge quickly blurted out two words.
"Be quiet!"
"Yes, sir!"
Lin Qingge: ...
After the weary Lin Qingge left the prison, Lu Mingxuan sidled up. "Constable Yan, the conditions in the prison are limited. Could you allow me to wash up at your place?"
But Yan Tinghao flatly refused. "No."
"Why?"
"Because you are not the sir."
Hearing the utterly self-righteous tone, Lu Mingxuan, feeling unfairly treated, mentally recited "Do not associate with fools" three times before turning away through gritted teeth.
As night fell.
A dark figure silently infiltrated the Fengtian Prefecture's mortuary.
The figure, familiar with the layout, approached the only room still lit.
The shadow first poked a hole in the window paper with a finger, then blew sleeping incense into the room using a bamboo tube, and finally, quietly pushed the door open.
However, when the shadow saw the mannequin tied to the table for sacrifice, it hastily turned to flee.
But the next moment, the doorway was already blocked.
Following closely, a determined voice echoed from behind the crowd.
"It was indeed you!"