Chapter 145: Mysticism in Solving Cases, Not Even a Dog Would Believe It
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation
Watching Yu Zhi Yi leave, Official Sun thought for a moment and followed her. He wanted to see what tricks this Yu Zhi Yi could pull off.
Mysticism to solve a case?
Whoever wants to believe it can do so; as for him, he doesn’t believe a word of it.
Yu Zhi Yi had already reviewed the case files and asked for the birth date and time of Old Man Wang.
Old Man Wang was the victim in this case.
After calculating for a while, her face darkened.
“What’s the matter with Yu Physician? The more you calculate, the worse your expression gets. Could it be that you can’t figure it out at all?”
Official Sun’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
Yu Zhi Yi couldn’t be bothered to pay him any attention. Instead, she turned to Official Peng and said, “I know who the murderer is, and I’ve already found the evidence.”
Meanwhile, ten or so miles away from Old Man Wang’s courtyard, in another household, a young man held a handkerchief in his hands. The fabric was yellowed with age and stained with grime, its appearance so revolting that most people would either retch at the sight or quickly avert their gaze.
But the young man seemed oblivious to the filth. He pressed the handkerchief against his face, rubbing it affectionately while a perverse smile spread across his lips.
“Juan’er, I’ve already taken care of that troublesome old man,” he murmured.
“You’ll come back to me, won’t you?”
“Don’t worry; I’ll come find you very soon.”
Old Man Wang’s two daughters were both married in the capital, though one resided in the eastern part of the city, while the other lived in the west. The one in the west was the second daughter, Wang Chun Juan.
Wang Chun Juan had been married for three years and was now a mother of two. Her in-laws treated her well, especially after she gave birth to a son. In the past two years, she barely had to lift a finger apart from looking after her children. Her life was far more comfortable than it had been in her father’s home.
Back at her father’s house, her father refused to work. All the household chores had fallen to her and her elder sister.
After her sister got married, the burden became hers alone.
Her father was a scoundrel who knew how to maintain a respectable façade in public. Neighbors believed he was a good man, but only the three women in the family knew the truth. Every evening, after drinking, he would beat them.
Their courtyard was large, and the house stood at its center. Once the gate was closed and her mother’s mouth was gagged, no one could hear her cries—not even if she were beaten half to death.
Neighbors would merely notice her absence from the marketplace for the next few days, during which her father would go shopping instead.
When questioned, he would explain that he was sparing his wife the effort of running errands.
The neighbors would then praise him as a good husband and father.
No one knew that this “good husband” and “good father” was actually a demon. A demon who had beaten his wife to death.
At the time, both sisters were still young. Their father threatened to kill them as well if they dared report him. Overwhelmed by grief and fear, neither dared to go to the authorities.
For two years after her elder sister’s marriage, Wang Chun Juan lived in a waking nightmare.
Thankfully, it was all over now. Her father was dead.
As she reflected on this, a peculiar sound came from outside the courtyard.
It was an odd noise, akin to a birdcall but lacking the bird’s usual melodious clarity. Instead, it was coarse and grating.
Wang Chun Juan’s expression changed slightly. She glanced at her daughter, who was playing nearby, and her son, who lay in his cradle. Seeing no signs of danger and realizing her daughter hadn’t noticed anything unusual, she stepped outside cautiously to investigate.
Wang Chun Juan’s heart skipped a beat when the familiar voice called her name: “Chun Juan, come with me!”
From the shadows of the courtyard wall emerged Li Guang Zhu, his intense gaze fixed on her as he pulled her into an abrupt embrace. Shocked, Wang Chun Juan struggled against him, her voice trembling with disbelief. “Brother Guang Zhu, have you lost your mind?”
But Li Guang Zhu’s expression was feverish, almost manic. “Chun Juan, your father is dead. There is no one left in this world to stand in our way!”
Pain filled her eyes as she pushed him back, her voice heavy with grief. “Brother Guang Zhu… it cannot be. It simply cannot.”
His face froze, his disbelief transforming into frustration. “Why not? You once told me that if your father didn’t oppose us, you would come with me! He’s gone now, Chun Juan. He can no longer oppose us.” His voice lowered dangerously as suspicion crept into his tone. “Or… have you been lying to me? Have you changed your mind?”
“No,” Wang Chun Juan shook her head vehemently, her voice fraught with anguish. “I haven’t lied, nor have I changed my mind.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she continued, “But Brother Guang Zhu, I am still my father’s daughter. He is gone, and I must observe filial piety for him. At the very least, I need three years of mourning.”
Her voice softened, filled with an unspoken plea. “If I leave now, I will forever bear the guilt of dishonoring my father’s memory. And besides, his murderer is still out there. I cannot rest until justice is served and his spirit is appeased.”
Li Guang Zhu’s eyes searched hers, as though trying to discern the truth behind her words. There was an unsettling intensity in his gaze that made her stomach churn with unease.
Before she could say more, her husband’s voice echoed from the distance, calling her name. “Chun Juan? Chun Juan?”
Relief flooded her, and she seized the moment. Gently but firmly, she pushed Li Guang Zhu away. “Brother Guang Zhu, you should leave. Tonight, after I have settled everything at home, I will come with you. Will that do?”
The glint of wildness in his eyes faded, replaced by hope. “Really?”
Forcing a sweet smile onto her face, though her stomach turned at the effort, she grasped his hand. “Brother Guang Zhu, we’ve grown up together. Don’t you trust me? Tonight, I will come with you.”
She added in a soft murmur, “We’ll need some money for our new life away from Sheng Capital. I must return to fetch the silver.”
His face softened, a smile spreading across his lips. “I’ll wait for you. Chun Juan, don’t let me down.”
“I won’t.”
The night deepened, and with it, silence settled over the household. In the dead of night, Wang Chun Juan carefully nudged her sleeping husband, ensuring he was soundly asleep before she slipped out of bed. Her movements were practiced, precise. She dressed swiftly, retrieved a prepared bundle from the wardrobe, and stepped out into the night.
The package, untouched, spoke volumes of her meticulous planning. Her resolve was unwavering as she pushed open the courtyard gate, finding Li Guang Zhu lurking in the shadows as promised.
He too carried a bundle, though its peculiar shape hinted at its contents—something long and rigid, decidedly not clothing. But she dared not ask.
With a practiced smile, she reached for his hand. “Brother Guang Zhu, let’s go.”
Li Guang Zhu’s expression had been dark before her arrival, his features tense and brooding. Yet the sight of her seemed to banish his demons, his lips curving into a smile. “I knew you wouldn’t betray me, Chun Juan.”
She offered him a playful laugh, her eyes shimmering with feigned sincerity. “Silly, why would I?”
The pair set off under the cover of darkness, their first challenge looming ahead: the city’s curfew. The Capital Halberd Guards patrolled diligently, and any transgression could mean imprisonment or worse—execution without trial.
To avoid detection, they sought refuge in an abandoned house, agreeing to wait until dawn before continuing their escape. Inside, Wang Chun Juan settled herself on a dusty stool and opened her bundle. She retrieved two pastries, offering one to Li Guang Zhu. “Brother Guang Zhu, you’ve waited so long for me. You must be starving. Here, eat something.”
To ease his suspicion, she took a bite of her own pastry, her actions calm and unhurried.
Li Guang Zhu accepted the offering without hesitation, raising the pastry to his lips. But before he could take a bite, a cold, commanding voice shattered the stillness.
“I wouldn’t eat that if I were you.”
The sudden intrusion left them both frozen in place, their eyes darting toward the shadows where the voice had emerged.