Ming Huashang, Xie Jichuan, and Ren Yao were standing behind the captive. She looked at her elder brother who was standing alone in front. He suggested softly, “Your Highness, ‘listen to both sides and you will be enlightened; heed only one side and you will remain ignorant’. Why don’t Your Highness ask another person to come up and question this person about what he did these past two days? Who is right and who is wrong, you will know after listening to his answer.”
At this moment, Taiping Gongzhu couldn’t think of another idea, so she raised her hand and asked someone to call the steward. The steward came over quickly, and raised his hands in trepidation, “This old servant pays respects to Gongzhu and Wangyes.”
Taiping Gongzhu waved impatiently, “Alright. Bengong asks you, do you recognize this man on the ground?”
The steward glanced at him and replied cautiously, “This old servant recognizes him. His name is Yang Er. He was originally doing odd jobs in the Gongzhu manor. The Feihong banquet was short of manpower, so he was brought here. These days, he should be running errands in the kitchen.”
His response happened to be consistent with what Yang Er said. Taiping Gongzhu asked again, “Then what did he do these two days?”
The steward frowned and thought for a while, then said, “When the guests first arrived yesterday, there was a shortage of manpower everywhere. This old servant didn’t pay attention to what he was doing. After what happened last night…Gongzhu didn’t want people to wander around outside, so this old servant sent them back early on. Then there was an avalanche on the mountain this morning, and all the distinguished guests came to get charcoal. He was busy moving and delivering things until dusk. This old servant saw that he was familiar with the paths to each courtyard and asked him to inquire the distinguished guests to see what they would like to have for dinner so that this old servant can instruct the kitchen to get ready.”
The surrounding audience nodded. They had indeed met Yang Er when he came to ask what they wanted to eat. Ming Huazhang asked, “Everyone went back to their rooms last night and stayed in until today at the second hour of Chenshi, where was he during that time?”
Yang Er hurriedly cried out in grievance, “Young master, this one is being wronged; this one was sleeping in the room the whole time. The seven people who live in the same room can all testify!”
Taiping Gongzhu sent someone to investigate, and the person who came back reported, “Reporting to Your Highness, Yang Er’s words are true. After returning last night, he stayed in the room and did not go out. Until the warehouse was short of manpower at the third hour of Chenshi, the steward called for him to help at the warehouse. After that, he stayed with the people in the warehouse and did not leave by himself.”
This development was far beyond Ren Yao’s expectations. She was confident that she had caught the bandit, so she didn’t expect that there were witnesses for this person last night. Wei Zi died between the fourth watch and the second hour of Chenshi. If Yang Er hadn’t gone out, then who was the killer?
Was it really a ghost?
The surrounding crowd also became agitated. They thought they had caught the culprit that’s why they dared to come out. After all this trouble, was it a lie? Ren Yao couldn’t accept this situation and said, “Maybe they colluded together to give a false testimony! When Chi Lan died, she left writings on the ground; just make him write and compare the handwriting to know if it’s him!”
Someone frowned and said, “Those were clearly words left by the ghost…”
Ren Yao said sternly, “If he killed the person, then he must be the one who left the words behind!”
Ren Yao scowled fiercely, like the murderous female Asura in a Buddhist Hall, many people were intimidated by her aura. However, the steward showed a perplexed expression, and said, “Miss Ren, you may not know, but this Yang Er has never read a book, he doesn’t even know how to read, how can he write?”
Ren Yao was stunned. She thought she saw Yang Er show a flash of smugness which quickly changed into a look of panic. He said in fright, “Miss Ren, please spare me, this one really can’t read, please don’t force me to do something I can’t.”
The facts proved that it was all just a misunderstanding, but everyone in the hall, including Taiping Gongzhu at the head, did not look relaxed. Instead, their expressions looked even worse. The crowd dispersed with a bang. They were guarded and hostile: “I thought you discovered something. It turned out to be just your imagination! The ghost is still lurking around out there searching for the next scapegoat. Did you guys deliberately lure us out for your own safety?”
Ren Yao blinked hard. That Yang Er in front of her still had a frightened expression, but Ren Yao was sure that he really laughed just now! Furious, she pointed at Yang Er and shouted, “It must be him! Even if it’s not him, it’s his accomplice. If we just interrogate him, we will find out the truth!”
Yang Er maintained a look of suffering from injustice due to being forced to plead guilty, knelt on the ground, and kept crying, asking Taiping Gongzhu and Ding Wang to decide. Ren Yao couldn’t articulate a reason and was so angry that she wanted to find a spear to interrogate the bandit herself.
“That’s enough.” Taiping Gongzhu shouted with an unkind expression and stood up coldly: “Bengong’s hall is not a street market where you all can mess around. Detain Yang Er and take him back to Da Li Si1 for interrogation once the mountain road is cleared. This matter is still a part of Bengong’s family affairs. Outsiders are not allowed to point fingers or interfere, the rest of you should leave.”
It was obvious who this “outsider” referred to. Ren Yao was so angry that she wanted to say more, but Ming Huashang held her arm and shook her head slightly at her.
Ren Yao held back her anger and went out, stomping as if she had a grudge against the floor: “I clearly saw it, why didn’t anyone believe me?”
“I believe you.” Ming Huashang said softly, “But we have no evidence. Those who forcibly interrogate the Gongzhu manor’s people will only offend Taiping Gongzhu and Ding Wang. Sister Ren, we don’t need to hit a stone with an egg. Just be patient for a while.”
