Liu Yuan’s face was a bit ugly, and he said: “Her family members thought it was shameful and indecent, so they hurriedly covered it up and buried her.”

Lin Fei fell silent.

Liu Yuan looked at Shangfeng who pursed his lips and remained silent. Even though the expression on his face was the same as usual, he still tasted a bit of wind and rain from it.¹

Of course, the wind and rain did not come for him after all.

“Who was the woman close to before the accident?” Lin Fei was silent for a long time, then spoke again, looked at Liu Yuan, and asked, “What kind of sweetheart did this young lady have? Was there any relationship between the gift-giver who was kidnapped and sold as a child and her?”

Liu Yuan looked at Shangfeng and said with admiration: “My lord is right! I heard that the two families have known each other since that incident. The young lady and the one named Lu Qing, the gift-giver, was somewhat of a childhood sweetheart. However the young lady’s family thought that Lu Qing’s family was poor, and they asked for a huge gift, which was several times more than the local custom. If Lu Qing couldn’t get it, her family was not going to agree to the marriage”

“Oh, yes! I heard that she sold things on the river to make up the dowry money together with Lu Qing.” Liu Yuan couldn’t help but sigh, “Who would have thought that something could happen…”

Lin Fei asked him: “Where is that Lu Qing? What did he do after the young lady died?”

Liu Yuandao: “Back then her family didn’t report to the officials, and Lu Qing caused trouble, but he was dragged back by his parents. The girl’s parents did not want to pursue the matter, so what right did he have to create a scene and meddle in as an outsider…”

Speaking of this, he didn’t know why, but suddenly there was a soreness in his throat.

Thinking of Lady Yan who was severely beaten by Yan San, and thinking of the young lady who died in such a way, Liu Yuan couldn’t help feeling sad: “Is face so important?

The young lady came from an ordinary family. After this incident, she was hastily buried. Her family members knew that the situation was not right, but they still reluctantly accepted it. Lady Yan came from a more privileged background, and even though she had some influence, after marrying Yan San, her father and brothers had the capability to deal with Yan San. However, just for the sake of reputation, they turned a blind eye and pretended not to hear anything.

If outsiders tried to intervene, they would be scolded for meddling since it was considered a private matter.

After a moment of silence, Lin Fei looked up at Liu Yuan again and asked, “Do the young lady’s family members still live in the original place?”

Liu Yuan didn’t know why Shang Feng was asking this, but he still responded with a “Hmm” and recalled, “They are still in the same place, but the house has been renovated. Their house is now even more impressive than the houses of the neighbors on Fourth Lane…”

Halfway through speaking, Liu Yuan suddenly fell silent, his face changed several times, and he subconsciously looked at Lin Fei “Is it possible…”

“Go and find out!” Lin Fei said, “After that young lady’s accident back then, did her family suddenly become rich?”

Liu Yuan’s face became even uglier when he heard this, and he opened his mouth, and couldn’t help muttering: “This is also…”

Lady Yan’s family was not short of money, they did not report for the sake of saving face. But this little lady’s family actually…

“This family should not be a good family,” Lin Fei looked down at the case file, he said, “They asked for a bride price much higher than the local practice, and were not worried about being taunted by the neighbors. They don’t care about their reputation, so it was not about saving their face.”

As for what was their motivation, Liu Yuan couldn’t help but think of the house that suddenly became grand. He cursed bitterly, “Bastard!”

Lin Fei glanced at Liu Yuan, who was scolding bitterly, lowered his eyes, paused, and said: “If everything is as we guessed, this man named Lu Qing will be brought back and held accountable.”

Liu Yuan nodded, thinking of this. Then said: “So, the xiǎo jùnwáng in the prison refused to say anything, it is very likely that he saw Lu Qing, recognized the companion who was trafficked back then, and helped him cover up after knowing the inside story.

Indeed, this explanation did seem quite reasonable and logical.

Lin Fei frowned, and said, “Go and check first, and if everything is true, bring Lu Qing back.”

Liu Yuan responded, and when he turned his head and saw the setting sun outside, he couldn’t help twitching the corners of his mouth, turned around, and asked Lin Fei: “Lin Shaoqing, does it seem like we won’t be able to return today?”

Lin Fei responded with a “Hmm” and laid out the documents on the table in front of him. He said, “Go and inform my family members. If they bring back Lu Qing, I will conduct an overnight interrogation!”

Liu Yuan sighed, a little helpless, but he didn’t feel any difference. This was the case with the yamen in Dali Temple. It was also possible to follow the murderer without sleeping.

After all, the culprit wouldn’t specifically choose the time when you’re on duty to commit the crime. More often, it was during the dead of night when people sneaked around and committed crime.

Coming out of Lin Fei’s room, he walked to the main hall and informed Bai Zhu and the others. After hearing his words, a few of them let out a wry smile.

The older Wei Fu couldn’t help stroking his beard, and said with a frown, “I was planning to go back to eat evening food. Today my wife is grilling meat at home, which is my wife’s specialty! But now…”

Just the thought of Wang Master’s “astonishing” culinary skills made everyone lose their appetite.

Bai Zhu thought for a while, and suggested: “Why don’t you go out to eat…”

“Don’t go!” Liu Yuan shook the file marked with the word “Water Ghost” in his hand, and said, “Once it is verified, Lin Shaoqing wants me to arrest Lu Qing immediately and interrogate him overnight!”

Getting along with each other these days was almost the same. Normally, Liu Yuan was very accommodating, but once a case was involved, he did not show any sympathy.

With sighs and expressions of resignation, the group headed to the communal kitchen. Confronting the old face of Master Wang, a face no one wanted to look at, they hurriedly stuffed a few hard-to-swallow bites of evening meal into their mouths. It was enough to stave off hunger. Then, carrying the documents and accompanied by a few constables, they left Dali Temple.

Ever since Master Sun and Master Wang became the head chefs of the public kitchen, they no longer had to worry about gaining weight on their bodies. In less than a year, almost everyone in the Dali Temple had lost weight.²

They went out of Dali Temple during the evening meal, and when it was half past Xu³ time, several people came back with a dark, tall, and thin young man and a family who were making a fuss.

Lin Fei only glanced at the tall and thin young man, then frowned and said, “Lu Qing?”

Liu Yuan nodded, and couldn’t help but sigh again.

Everything was as they had guessed, but for some reason, it made people feel inexplicably uncomfortable.

It was just that no matter how unpleasant it was, what should be said, had to be said: “It’s him! The family of the drowned young lady also confessed. After the accident of the young lady two years ago, it was Yan San and the others who gave the money in private. So they buried her in a hurry!”

Although they were frightened, they told the truth. But the young lady’s family obviously didn’t think they did any wrong; and they still said that this was their family matter, and the person who died was their family member and it had nothing to do with outsiders.

“I didn’t bother to talk nonsense with them, so I just took them in together.” Bai Zhu continued, pointing to the family who was dragged into the prison and still complaining, and said, “Don’t report what you know, hide a crime and deceive the yamen. According to the law, they should be sentenced to two years, and when the case is over, they will be imprisoned together.”

Lin Fei nodded and looked at the young man who was tied to the stake with his head drooping.

Before Lin Fei could speak, the young man spoke up, “I didn’t kill anyone.”

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Footnote

1. It means he was angry.
2. Feel really bad for the people working in Dali Temple.
3. Between 7 pm to 9 pm.