TEFSCBSS Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Final Segment (Part 2)

The group became increasingly anxious as time passed. The key figure, Li Tiezhu, remained silent, and everyone wondered how they could proceed.

Internally, Wang Qingmu still had some doubts about Li Tiezhu’s testimony. After all, Li Tiezhu had once sworn that Liu Tuhu might be the killer and that he would protect the bride at all costs. But now, just like that, he admitted to being the murderer?

Moreover, Li Tiezhu’s attitude seemed like he had everything planned out and was calmly declaring that the matter was settled and no one could interfere.

Wang Qingmu thought about it but couldn’t make sense of it. However, with such a shield in front of him, Liu Tuhu was likely safer.

Meanwhile, the others, feeling trapped, scratched their heads and examined their notes, their thoughts becoming more muddled by the minute. Wang Bokao, having rested a bit, seemed to have recovered mentally.

He pointed his fan at Han Yueyi and said, “Bride, we’ve all seen your letters, so you should be able to write, right?”

Han Yueyi was momentarily stunned. What side are you on? And now you want me to write something? Why not just help me answer directly?

But Han Yueyi, still committed to his mute act, couldn’t refuse, and could only watch as Er Tong handed him paper and a pen.

The people around them seemed to have an epiphany and began questioning Han Yueyi. As they asked, Han Yueyi quickly wrote down responses.

But they were asking so many questions that, though Han Yueyi wrote rapidly, the crowd soon found themselves unable to make sense of the densely packed answers on the paper.

The group exchanged uncertain glances, and in the end, they pushed Wang Bokao to the front to directly interrogate Han Yueyi, while they split off to handle the investigation of Wu Zhen and Liu Tuhu.

As for Wang Qingmu, he smiled quietly to himself. While everyone had gathered around Han Yueyi, he had discreetly made his way to Liu Tuhu’s side, quietly discussing a plan.

“Old Liu, when they ask you something, just say you don’t know.”

“For example?”

“If they ask if Xiao Hong killed Yanyan, just say you don’t know.”

“If they ask if you’ve ever seen Yanyan as a ghost, just say you don’t know.”

“If they ask about Xiao Hong’s character, shake your head and pretend to be anxious.”

Several “for examples” followed, covering all possible scenarios.

Liu Tuhu, now understanding, asked, “How much do you want?”

Wang Qingmu replied, “I won’t ask how you know I’m the killer, but since you’re willing to help me avoid suspicion, I’ll make sure you’re not left out.”

Wang Qingmu hid his grin behind his fan. “Well, let’s just say we’ll split the 40 taels of silver between us.”

Liu Tuhu replied, “Don’t worry about my acting and delivery. If anyone still suspects me, it’ll be up to you to convince them.”

“Deal.”

The two sealed the deal, and Wang Qingmu quickly joined the crowd. He pretended to ask a few more questions of Han Yueyi before slipping over to Wu Zhen’s side, ready to make his move.

From his conversation with Liu Tuhu, Wang Qingmu knew that Wu Zhen was a pawn—he seemed like a skilled Taoist priest but was just a con artist hired to spread false information.

Liu Tuhu had admitted to hiring Wu Zhen to back up the story that the younger daughter had killed the elder daughter and their mother.

Wang Qingmu’s mind was sharp as he approached Wu Zhen, trying not to appear too nervous or hesitant. If he did, the surrounding “detectives” might start to question his behavior change.

He decided to ask a pointed question. “Wu Zhen, where did you first hear about the deaths of the mother and daughter?”

Wu Zhen froze. He didn’t know. He had been a beggar wandering the county, picked by others to dress up as a “mystical” Taoist.

But he clenched his teeth. Liu Tuhu had promised him five taels of silver if he helped frame someone else and cleared his name!

Five taels! That could buy a whole month of rations for the little monks in their temple.

He had to play along!

Wu Zhen looked up at Wang Qingmu, his gaze sincere. “At the time, I believe I was traveling in a neighboring county, and I overheard a few villagers gossiping. I can’t recall the exact time or place.”

Wang Qingmu nodded. It was normal to not remember something overheard casually days or weeks ago.

The group nodded as well, and the room fell silent.

They didn’t think Wu Zhen was the killer, so they weren’t sure what to ask.

…

Wang Qingmu pinched the space between his brows: I’m the smartest person here, I can’t get frustrated, I can’t give myself away. Just one or two more questions to bluff everyone and quickly move on.

“Master Wu Zhen there’s one last question I can’t quite figure out. I hope you can help me.”

Wu Zhen’s eyes widened. Here it came! The moment of truth!

“I want to know, when we were searching the West Tower earlier, what were you and the others discussing outside?”

“Why did Li Tiezhu go alone to the cemetery to pay respects to Yanyan, while you all arrived late?”

Everyone slapped their thighs! Right! Why hadn’t they thought to ask that? Why hadn’t they asked this before?

Wu Zhen’s eyes flickered. This was getting into their new second-act script.

While everyone had been searching for evidence earlier, Su Li had gathered the others on the high platform to distribute a new character booklet—the second-act script.

In this new act, Han Yueyi was portrayed as a tragic figure. The whole scene was a three-on-one situation where Liu Tuhu conspired with Wu Zhen, and Wu Zhen in turn conspired with Li Tiezhu.

Liu Tuhu had hired Wu Zhen to cover for him, solidifying Han Yueyi’s reputation as cruel for framing his sister. Wu Zhen was also hired to convince Li Tiezhu to admit his guilt, promising him that after it was all over, he would reunite with the deceased Yanyan.

But Wu Zhen couldn’t reveal any of this.

He thought for a moment and answered, “We were just continuing our discussion. After all, we were all participants, so logically, we should have more perspectives and clues to offer. However, the third prince, who was playing the bride, refused to engage with us. He wouldn’t even write down what he knew; he just closed his eyes and went to rest.”

“Sadly…”

“There was nothing we could do, so I ended up just passing along what I knew to Li Tiezhu and Liu Tuhu, then started eating some snacks.”

“Suddenly, Li Tiezhu exclaimed that he felt Yanyan calling to him. He ran off toward the West Tower, and we barely managed to follow him.”

“After that, well, you all know what happened.”