They were still pale and sweating, their bodies trembling uncontrollably, truly terrified, even after leaving the Xiang family and getting into Zhan Feiyu's carriage.
Zhan Feiyu awkwardly touched her nose. She had brought Jiao Lianping to the Xiang family, but she hadn't intended to scare him this badly.
Qiu Bingde patted Qiu Huaixin's back speechlessly, "A gentleman does not speak of strange phenomena. Since Miss Zhan is not afraid, what are you afraid of?"
Who knew that this pat would make Qiu Huaixin tremble even more. Qiu Bingde was completely speechless. He was usually fearless, was he just a paper tiger?
"Brother, so there was someone in the well? And that's the murderer?" His voice was still a little shaky, but Qiu Huaixin, despite his fear, had figured it out now, and his expression turned extremely grim.
Jiao Lianping had also calmed down. He looked at Zhan Feiyu and suddenly realized, "Did you have the constables guarding it during the day?"
At that time, Jiao Lianping had really thought it was to facilitate Qiu Jingyuan's visit to the well for worship. Who could have imagined that there was a person hidden in the well.
After Jiao Lianping finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something, and his expression immediately became smug. He looked at Qiu Huaixin sitting opposite him and laughed ungenerously, "Third Young Master, have you ever thought that accompanying my good second brother to the Xiang family to offer condolences today was a setup?"
The death of Madam Dou would not cause much of a stir. The third branch of the Qiu family was a family of convicted officials. The Emperor's kindness, coupled with consideration for Lord Qiu's reputation, was why the Emperor had shown leniency to the female relatives and children of the third branch who were not involved in the case. Therefore, Madam Dou's current status was not even comparable to that of an ordinary citizen. This setup was clearly a case of "Shuo Guan Shuo Yue" with ulterior motives.
"You're saying Gui Zhang plotted against me?" Qiu Huaixin sneered, his eyebrows raised, exuding the noble pride of a young master from a prominent family. He looked disdainfully at the instigating Jiao Lianping, "Young Master Jiao, you made a mistake during the day, and now you want to regain your honor?"
Before Jiao Lianping could retort, Qiu Huaixin glanced at his elder brother, then at Zhan Feiyu and He Nuan. Unfortunately, the expressions of these three were so calm that not a trace of emotion could be seen. Zhan Feiyu's round eyes even sparkled with the light of watching a good show.
"I often hear my father talk about Prefect Jiao's skill in solving cases. I believe that like father, like son. Young Master Jiao must be more proficient than a prodigal like me. May I ask Young Master Jiao for Gui Zhang's motive for framing and plotting against me?"
There was no past grievance, no recent enmity! Moreover, the two were close friends. Qiu Huaixin, as the young master of the Provincial Administration Commissioner's family, had only benefits and no drawbacks from being friends with Jiao Lianyu, whether studying in the official academy or entering the officialdom in the future.
Therefore, any intelligent person knew that Jiao Lianyu would absolutely not plot against Qiu Huaixin; it would be a foolish act born of a waterlogged brain, bringing only harm and no benefit.
Jiao Lianping was stumped. He had plotted against Jiao Lianyu before, but Qiu Huaixin and Jiao Lianyu were close friends. The young masters of the noble families in Qianzhong Prefecture were all very shrewd, and none of them would make things difficult for Jiao Lianyu. Suddenly offending the Prefect's mansion and the Provincial Administration Commissioner's mansion would truly be an act of foolishness.
"Brother, Miss Zhan, what do you think?" Qiu Huaixin spoke again. He had been plotted against, but the mastermind behind it was definitely not Gui Zhang.
Qiu Huaixin did not doubt Jiao Lianping either; he lacked the ability. This matter was likely the work of Qiu family's political opponents.
"Miss Zhan has already sent people to follow them. Once the murderer is caught, the truth will be revealed." Qiu Bingde's tone was indifferent. As for Qiu Huaixin's unwavering trust in Jiao Lianyu, he was too lazy to comment.
Zhan Feiyu smiled at Qiu Huaixin, who still wanted to clarify, and said to He Sheng, who was driving the carriage, "Let's not go back to the villa yet. Let's go to the prefectural yamen."
Since Cai Zhiyuan and his personal guards were imprisoned in the prefectural yamen, Prefect Jiao had not dared to relax at all during this period. All constables were on duty at the yamen in shifts of four hours, for fear that some villain would sneak into the prison and assassinate Cai Zhiyuan.
Seeing a carriage approaching in the middle of the night, two constables exchanged glances and immediately went to meet it.
Constable Chen, with one hand on his saber, asked, "Who goes there?"
The carriage stopped, and the curtain was lifted. Seeing Jiao Lianping jump down first, Constable Chen was stunned, "Young Master?"
Then, seeing Qiu Huaixin alight, he was even more astonished. Why were these two distinguished guests in the same carriage? And more importantly, why were they at the prefectural yamen in the middle of the night?
Constable Cao, who was standing nearby, reacted quickly. He slipped into the prefectural yamen along the wall and then headed straight for the study in the back, where the candle was still lit. Lord Wei was on duty at the yamen tonight.
A quarter of an hour later, a junior clerk brought tea and pastries and then retreated to guard outside.
Lord Wei ignored Jiao Lianping and Qiu Huaixin. As for Zhan Feiyu, well, she was an even more formidable figure who could not be offended.
The prefectural yamen also had cooks on duty at night. Just as hot white rice cakes were delivered, Lord Wei looked at the little girl with her cheeks puffed out from eating and inexplicably had the illusion that he was seeing his own well-behaved and adorable granddaughter.
"Magistrate Qiu." Lord Wei bowed to Qiu Bingde. They were both fifth-rank officials, and in terms of rank, they were equals. However, the former was the Tongzhi of the Qianzhong Prefecture yamen, while Qiu Bingde served in the Surveillance Commission, responsible for criminal justice matters.
But in terms of seniority, Lord Wei had already reached the age of destiny, while Qiu Bingde was only in his thirties. Moreover, he was the eldest son of Lord Qiu and would inherit the Qiu family. His future career path was undoubtedly limitless.
Qiu Bingde returned the bow and then explained their purpose, "The murderer who escaped from the well has been pursued, and it is expected that he will soon be apprehended. We are all witnesses."
"What?" Lord Wei was startled. Even after serving as an official in the yamen for many years, he still showed surprise.
Lord Wei had accompanied Prefect Jiao to the Xiang family during the day for the events that occurred. As for Qiu Huaixin, who was implicated in the case, not to mention that he was the youngest son of Lord Qiu, in terms of the case itself, Qiu Huaixin was innocent.
He had simply refused Madam Dou's request. Madam Dou had lost her footing and fallen into the well, and the scissors in her hand had accidentally cut her neck, causing massive bleeding and death. As for the guard who had jumped into the well to save her, he was still imprisoned in the jail. However, he had already been brought to court during the day, and Prefect Jiao had personally interrogated him. The constables had also visited the guard's home for investigation, and this person showed no suspicious behavior.
Prefect Jiao and Lord Wei had already discussed it. They would have the female relatives of the third branch come to the yamen again tomorrow. If there were no objections, the case would be concluded as an accident. Who would have thought that a murderer would emerge from the well in the middle of the night?
"So, Magistrate Qiu, you went to the Xiang family late at night to wait for the rabbit?" Lord Wei, after sorting out his thoughts, found nothing improper. The yamen was a place with many people and gossip, and news might leak. It was safest for Magistrate Qiu to bring the Qiu family members to apprehend the culprit.
Lord Wei subtly glanced at Zhan Feiyu at this point. Since this formidable young lady had also gone, the Forbidden Dragon Guard must also be guarding the Xiang family, so there was even less room for error.
Qiu Bingde cupped his hands and apologized, "It wasn't to wait for the rabbit, but Huaixin felt guilty. It was just that it was inconvenient to go during the day with so many people at the Xiang family, so we chose to go to the well to pay respects late at night. Who would have thought we would run into them just like that."
This reason was plausible and reasonable. Moreover, after the news spread tomorrow, it would not make people think that Lord Qiu did not trust the Qianzhong Prefecture yamen; it could only be said that it was a coincidence.
Jiao Lianping's mouth twitched. If Qiu Huaixin had said this, he would have immediately exposed him. However, facing Qiu Bingde, even though Qiu Bingde had a gentle disposition, Jiao Lianping did not dare to be presumptuous.
Taking the handkerchief handed over by He Nuan to wipe his mouth, Zhan Feiyu drank two more sips of tea before speaking, "Please rest assured, Lord Wei. The Forbidden Dragon Guard is responsible for pursuing the murderer. Magistrate Qiu did not bring anyone with him."
During the day, rumors had spread that Qiu Huaixin had forced his elder to death. Now, late at night, the Qiu family's guards had caught the murderer in the well. It was estimated that at least half of the people would think that this was a play staged by the Qiu family to clear Qiu Huaixin's name.
However, if the arrest was made by the Forbidden Dragon Guard, it would be different. Even if someone had doubts in their hearts, they would have to suppress them. The awe-inspiring officials in the court did not dare to question the Forbidden Dragon Guard, so who among the people in Qianzhong Province would have such courage?
Qiu Huaixin and Jiao Lianping were both stunned. Their gazes simultaneously fell on Zhan Feiyu. So, she was not staying up late to watch the show, but to ensure that there were no loopholes in this case.
"My Lord." Constable Chen's report came from outside the study. Without asking, it was certain that the real culprit had been captured.
Under the cover of night, Qiu Bingde and Lord Wei walked side by side, with Zhan Feiyu and the other two following behind.
"Thank you." Qiu Huaixin said sincerely. Although this case would not cripple the Qiu family, for Qiu Huaixin himself, he did not want to bear the infamy of forcing his elder to death.
Jiao Lianping, walking to Zhan Feiyu's right, also thanked her. Qiu Huaixin firmly believed in Jiao Lianyu, the hypocrite, but Jiao Lianping knew that Jiao Lianyu was the one who orchestrated the scheme behind the scenes. Zhan Feiyu helping to catch the murderer was a great kindness to him!