Chapter 403
The coroner arrived quickly, accompanied by Vice Prefect Zhao. Although Prefect Yao, the Provincial Administration Commissioner, was still presiding at the Suzhou Prefectural Office, such a common murder case was not significant enough for him to personally investigate.
"This humble villager, Ma Dongshan, village head of Niujiao Village, pays his respects to your honor." As Village Head Ma knelt, dozens of villagers followed suit with a thud. They all bowed their heads, suppressing the unease and fear in their hearts. After all, they had plotted first, so how could they not be afraid upon seeing an official?
Old Master Chen, who had dared to curry favor with Captain Hu earlier, trembled upon seeing the dignified and stern Vice Prefect Zhao in his official robes. After regaining his senses, he immediately knelt to pay his respects.
"This student pays his respects to your honor." Zhan Feiyu also bowed.
Vice Prefect Zhao was known for his rigid and serious demeanor, his face perpetually stern. Not only the officials and clerks in the yamen, but even his own son, Zhao Yi, stood in awe of him.
However, at this moment, Vice Prefect Zhao uncharacteristically showed Zhan Feiyu a favorable expression. "No need for formalities. Captain Hu, what is going on?"
Captain Hu, who already understood the situation, stepped forward immediately and recounted the events in detail.
Although Captain Hu had only questioned the villagers of Niujiao Village earlier, having been a captain for many years, his judgment was naturally sharp. He had observed the guilty and uneasy expressions of the villagers and did not conceal anything, reporting everything truthfully to Vice Prefect Zhao.
"The old woman, Madam Liu, died by crashing into the cart shaft herself?" Vice Prefect Zhao nodded in understanding and then turned to the coroner who was examining the body. "Any results?"
"Replying to your honor..." The coroner quickly wiped his hands and stood up to reply. There were no suspicious points in the case. Madam Liu was elderly, and after forcefully colliding with the cart shaft, the bleeding would not have caused immediate death. The coroner judged that Madam Liu's actual cause of death was immediate death due to intracranial hemorrhage.