Zhan Lao Er didn't know how to explain, whether it was about the one hundred and fifty taels of silver or about seeing Zhu Kun. He felt he couldn't clarify things even if he had a hundred mouths. He hadn't harmed Madam Zeng, but he had harmed his own niece.
"Victory is in hand," Steward Zeng regained his arrogant demeanor, like a dog relying on its master's power. He glanced at Zhan Feiyu, sneering in a sarcastic tone, "Little prodigy Zhan, do you have anything to say now?"
Zhan Feiyu chuckled, her eyes curving into a joyful smile that dispelled the gloom on the faces of the Zhan family. "According to Steward Zeng, my second uncle is indeed suspicious, but these are all circumstantial evidences and not enough to convict someone."
"You won't shed tears until you see the coffin!" Steward Zeng glared at Zhan Feiyu in annoyance. This brat was truly troublesome!
"I have ironclad evidence!" Steward Zeng's expression was full of smugness. Seeing Zhan Lao Er's refusal to confess, Steward Zeng disdainfully curled his lips. No wonder he dared to harm Madam. Zhan Lao Er was the type of dog that bit without barking!
Zhan Feiyu smiled broadly, "I'm eager to hear it!"
"The incident of the startled horse on South Street that day. The lame beggar has disappeared, but the groom, Wang Ming, has confessed. Half a month ago, his blind mother received ten taels of silver ingots..."
Steward Zeng had investigated according to Young Master Zeng's instructions. He had not only investigated Zhu Kun and Zhan Lao Er but also the groom Wang Ming. Indeed, every investigation yielded results.
Wang Ming was beaten with fifty planks, his buttocks were mangled, and he was paralyzed in bed, unable to move. His sister, Wang Zhen, had to take care of Wang Ming, do the laundry and cooking, and embroider handkerchiefs to earn money.
Wang Zhen fell ill from exhaustion but was reluctant to take medicine, keeping it a secret until she could no longer bear it and collapsed with a high fever.
The blind old woman felt as if the sky had fallen. Both her son and daughter were on the verge of death, and the family had not a single coin. All the neighbors had also been borrowed from. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Wang Hua was destitute.
"I found ten taels of silver ingots in Wang's house." Steward Zeng took out the silver ingots and shook them. This was the ironclad evidence!
"These silver ingots were exchanged at Jubao Money House. Zhan Lao Er went to the money house that day and also went to槐树巷子 (Huáishù xiàngzi)!" Steward Zeng intended to nail Zhan Lao Er to the wall and sneered, "Although coincidences happen, a series of coincidences makes one suspicious."
After Zhu Kun gave the silver notes to Zhan Lao Er, he secretly deposited them at Jubao Money House. In order to instruct the blind old woman to kill Zhan Feiyu, Zhan Lao Er exchanged ten taels of silver ingots at the money house, promising to give another ten taels of silver to the Wang family after the deed was done.
As soon as Zhan Lao Er left the money house, he was spotted by a street thug, Wu Hai. Wu Hai followed Zhan Lao Er to槐树巷子 (Huáishù xiàngzi) but couldn't find an opportunity to strike. Seeing constables patrolling nearby, he left with reluctance.
The silver ingots at Jubao Money House were all marked. Steward Zeng not only found the silver in Wang Ming's house but also found Wu Hai as a witness.
"Zhan Lao Er, the money you gave the blind old woman was hush money, wasn't it? Afraid that Wang Ming would expose you!" How could Steward Zeng have imagined that this money was Zhan Feiyu's payment to save her life?
Wang Ming was also beaten to the point of fear. Coupled with his mother's suicide, when Steward Zeng interrogated him, Wang Ming readily confessed to the crime, accusing Zhan Lao Er of bribing him to harm Madam Zeng.
"Wang Ming is slandering me. He resents me for causing his mother's death!" Zhan Lao Er said in exasperation, but no one would believe this truth, as the ten taels of silver ingots found in the Wang family's possession were given by him.
"Bah, go tell that to a three-year-old child!" Steward Zeng shook his head contemptuously. With the evidence laid out, Zhan Lao Er still dared to cry injustice.
"You bribed Wang Ming to harm my wife, but you also caused Wang Ming to be paralyzed. His blind mother also came to hate you for it, which is why she tried to kill you at Huichun Hall to avenge her son. Otherwise, why would the blind old woman try to kill you, stabbing you seven times, if there was no deep-seated hatred? Who would believe this without such a profound enmity?"
Whether Zhan Lao Er believed it or not, everyone present, except Zhan Feiyu, believed Steward Zeng's words. The successive pieces of evidence were presented, and the deductions were logical and reasonable.
"I said that Little Yu saved the blind old woman. Not only is she not grateful, but why did she also attack my second brother? So, there is a cause for every effect," Madam Li said with a sarcastic cold laugh. What face did Zhan Lao Er have to force Little Yu to compensate five hundred taels at Huichun Hall that day!
Zhan Lao Da and Old Master Zhan were stunned. The father and son felt their minds were insufficient. They both thought it was an accident, a disaster that befell them without reason.
Even Constable Fei said that the blind old woman was mentally unsound due to her son's paralysis and daughter's high fever, which led her to kill in a frenzy. Who would have thought there was more to it?
Zhan Feiyu counted her short, stubby, white, and plump fingers. This interlocking logical reasoning, if the purse received by the Zeng family hadn't been thrown by her, she would have believed it herself!
Seeing Zhan Lao Er's ferocious expression, wanting to argue but unable to speak, the old clan elder sighed, "I never expected that our Zhan clan would produce such a scoundrel, who would disregard human life for money!"
"Since the matter is clear, Zhan Lao Er, you will come with me!" Steward Zeng waved his hand, and several strong men immediately stepped forward to apprehend Zhan Lao Er.
"You can't arrest my husband! Old clan elder, save him! Save him..." Little Madam Yao cried out, begging the old clan elder for help.
The Zeng family of Baofeng Cloth Shop was notorious for their overbearing and ruthless nature in Shangsi County. Little Wang Ming was beaten into paralysis. If their husband were taken away, would he still have a life to return?
"You can't arrest my second brother!" Zhan Lao Da, being clumsy with words, uttered a sentence and then stubbornly stood in front of Zhan Lao Er, blocking the strong men who were about to act.
Old Madam Zhan also panicked. Seeing Zhan Lao Da being pushed staggering by two strong men, she angrily cursed, "Useless!"
Madam Li saw this and wanted to step forward to support Zhan Lao Da, but she thought of his support for the second branch, and her moving foot retracted. He deserved to be beaten. If she stopped it, he would only resent her for not helping him save the second branch.
Madam Li held Zhan Feiyu's hand and retreated a few steps, worried that she might be injured in the conflict. "Little Yu, don't get involved."
"Mother, I know what I'm doing." Zhan Feiyu's gaze passed over the crowd towards Zhan Lao Er.
"This wretched girl!" The ruthlessness in Zhan Lao Er's eyes was unconcealed. Then he sneered again. The Zhan family had not yet divided. He was her own second uncle. If this wretched girl wanted to study and take the imperial examinations, she had to manage him!
Understanding the calculation in Zhan Lao Er's eyes, Zhan Feiyu curled her lips and sneered. He truly wouldn't shed tears until he saw the coffin!