The Delicate Lady Coroner Chapter 27: One Inch of Gold 27
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Chapter 27 An Inch of Gold 27
The strange smile on Zheng Yunni’s face did not diminish. He raised his eyes and looked at Bo Ruoyou provocatively. Although he did not say a word, the meaning was already clear. Bo Ruoyou’s eyes were slightly cold, “You initially You were afraid of light and fire, but you soon discovered that this was how ordinary people lived, so you started to be afraid, afraid that they would find out that you were fake, so you went back to the darkroom and ruined her face.”
After a slight pause, everything the steward said that day came to mind. Bo Ruoyou said: “You used lamp oil to start a fire just to practice. You wanted to see if you could burn people to death with lamp oil. So you When your father later asked you why you lit a fire in your house, you asked him if the fire could burn people——”
Huo Weilou and Eunuch Fu listened to the steward’s answer that day. At that time, they only thought that the hysterical Zheng Yunni was acting shamelessly. Only now did they realize that everything he said and did was malicious.
Listening to what Bo Ruoyou said, Zheng Yunni just covered her injured wrist and smiled strangely, as if she knew that the situation was over. Zheng Wen’an on the side only recovered from the shock at this moment, looked at Zheng Yunni, and then looked at the embroidered clothes The rescued woman’s voice was extremely difficult, “Yun Ni… is what Miss Bo said true or false?”
When Zheng Yunni heard this, her eyes suddenly turned red. She looked at Zheng Wen’an, with a mix of anger and mockery on her face, “Is it true or false… Uncle Wu, why don’t you ask yourself, ask your grandmother, ask Ask your father…”
Zheng Wen’an’s expression changed. At this moment, the lady who had just been rescued by the Embroidered Clothes Envoy coughed a few times and suddenly woke up. She struggled to get off the ground, and the Embroidered Clothes Envoy put her down. However, where she could stand, she immediately fell to the ground.
Her gorgeous outer garments were now covered in gray stains, and her back was burnt black and tattered. The burnt blood was faintly visible, and her weak and boneless hands were also burned and covered with blood blisters at this moment. , but she seemed to be unable to notice the pain, her eyes swept around in panic, and she caught a glimpse of the real Zheng Yunni coming out from behind, being held by the embroiderer.
The real Zheng Yunni is different from the burned eldest lady. She only had black and gray stains on her face, and her robe had no other injuries except for many holes burned by sparks. Huo Lin coughed violently. When the embroidered robe messenger let go, she fell to the ground due to the cough.
The eldest lady just crawled towards her, and then carefully tried to hold her hand.
However, she shivered and hurriedly stepped back. If it weren’t for the fire behind her, she would have turned around and fled into the forest. But when she saw so many people here, she shrank unaccustomedly. She raised her shoulders, and the moment she saw Zheng Wenrong, her eyes stagnated slightly, but in the next moment, there was a strong guard in her eyes, and her whole body became tense. Her chin was clenched, and her eyes were cold and stern. She stared at everyone from the gaps in the black hair that fell on her face. This angle made her eyes have more whites than pupils, making them look even more cold and terrifying.
The eldest lady suddenly started crying. She was always laughing when she was suffering from madness. Although she was crying now, her voice was hoarse and it was difficult to tell whether she was crying or laughing. Only those standing next to her could see it. When big tears fell from her face, she looked at Zheng Yunni earnestly, the corners of her lips moved a few times, and she clearly wanted to say something, but she couldn’t say a word. Her expression was sad and confused at one time, as if it was just a moment ago. I was so distraught that I forgot why I was crying the next moment.
“Master Marquis, when my subordinates found them, the eldest lady was holding her and hiding behind a stone tablet with an inscription in the forest. It was because of protecting her that the eldest lady was burned.”
Huo Weilou looked at the mother and daughter on the ground, and there were a few glimmers in his eyes, “Please doctor.”
He Cheng hurriedly ordered the yamen to call for the doctor. When he turned around, he saw Huo Weilou’s eyes falling on the real Zheng Yunni.
She was obviously wary of everyone, but her expression was fierce, and she moved back slowly, as if she really planned to return to the fire scene rather than be rescued at the next moment. Huo Weilou looked at the two embroidered clothes users At a glance, the two men took a few steps closer to her, blocking her only escape route. At this moment, she seemed to realize that she had no way to escape.
But apart from the stern look on her face, there was still no trace of fear.
He Cheng sighed, “She…does she still recognize people? Can she speak?”
Bo Ruoyou said: “Yes, I guess the first time she went out of the culvert was two years ago. In the past two years, she has come out many times to walk around the house and talk… I’m afraid it will be difficult.”
A six-year-old child has been locked in a dark room underground for almost ten years. Even if she has not gone crazy, she cannot speak and think like an ordinary sixteen-year-old. And judging from her appearance, she is probably not even sane. Different from ordinary people.
He Cheng glanced at Huo Weilou and said, “Then, Lord Marquis, do you want to take her away directly? She looks like this, even if she is tried, it will be difficult to interrogate her.”
Huo Weilou frowned slightly and was about to speak when he suddenly heard a noise coming from behind him. When he looked back, he saw the silly girl standing not far away with red eyes. She wanted to come here, but was embroidered. The clothes envoy stopped him, his eyes dim with tears at this moment.
Huo Wei said: “Let her in.”
Si Gu is usually the most afraid of people, but at this moment, she actually has a bit of a lonely spirit. She hunched her shoulders and her expression was still timid. But when she saw the embroiderer letting go, she walked straight towards the real person. Zheng Yunni left, but the moment the real Zheng Yunni saw the silly girl, the fierce look on his face that seemed to be frozen slightly froze.
The silly girl ran to her side, and as soon as she squatted down, she tremblingly took out a crushed chestnut cake with only half a piece left from her sleeve, and carefully handed it to Zheng Yunni.
She hesitated for a moment, raised her hand to take it, and started to eat it in small bites under such a situation where she could not escape.
Half of the sky reflected in the firelight was blood red. The two little girls, who were equally thin and had scars on their faces, were as close as real twin sisters. After finishing the chestnut cake, the real Zheng Yunni shrank down, still Looking at everyone warily, Shagu turned around with a look of bewilderment and panic.
They seemed not to know what the outcome would be if they took someone’s life. They felt that the battle in front of them was too large and terrifying. Huo Weilou frowned and said, “Take her two away.”
The embroiderer stepped forward to take the person. In an instant, the real Zheng Yunni seemed like a small beast that smelled danger. His petite and skinny figure suddenly rose from the ground, turned around and ran away, taking the person’s embroidered dress. Seeing how thin she was, he didn’t expect her to be so agile. He was stunned for a moment before he pounced on her. However, she was blocked by the fire. Soon, an embroidered warrior landed on her shoulder with his palm instead of a fist, and a heavy blow hit her body. Her body collapsed, and another grapple cut her arms behind her back.
She bared her teeth in such pain, and her face became even more fierce. She stared at the people around her with her eyes, as if she was about to pounce on them and bite them at any time. Her thin body struggled so hard that it took some effort for the embroiderer to do it. Make him unable to move.
The silly girl panicked, and stood up in shock and fear, but did not dare to come near. She just stood aside and shed tears silently. The eldest lady also struggled to get up. She looked at the silly girl, and then looked at the real girl. Zheng Yunni seemed surprised to have a daughter with scars, but after a moment of hesitation, she stepped forward to stop her. Zheng Wenrong hurriedly stepped forward to hold the eldest lady, “Sister-in-law…she…she has killed many people…”
Zheng Wenrong was still immersed in the horror that the person in front of him was Zheng Yunni. Looking at this ugly face, and thinking about how he taught Zheng Yunni to write and paint ten years ago, he felt sad for a moment in his heart. The corners of his lips moved a few times, but he didn’t know what to do. No matter what words he said to her, the eldest lady struggled more and more fiercely and cried louder, which made people feel moved when she saw her.
“Ha——”
At this moment, Zheng Yunni, who had fallen to the ground, suddenly laughed briefly and sharply, as if she had seen some joke. She looked steadily at the back of the eldest lady, her eyes reflecting the firelight, as if they were filled with blood and tears. .
Huo Weilou frowned, “Take her away together.”
Zheng Yunni’s expression changed and she said sternly: “Why? Even if I want to harm someone, is she dead? She is alive and well. It was she who killed people for three days, so what does it have to do with me…”
He Cheng couldn’t help but said: “You attempted arson and harmed others, and you almost harmed your mother. With this, you can be arrested. Back then, you locked up the real eldest lady and hurt her face. All of these are It’s the guilt——”
Zheng Yunni laughed exaggeratedly. She suddenly raised her finger and pointed at Zheng Wen’an, “What about him? Is he not guilty? Where are the second and third uncles who died? And grandma! Are they not guilty! I…I I didn’t have to do this…Who made me become like this?”
Tears burst out, as if she was really crying at this moment, “So what if it’s true, so what if it’s fake. From the moment I was born, everything went wrong. Grandma could have left her alone.” Regarding the marriage to His Highness the Second Highness, they… they could have kept one away from my grandmother and father… but they didn’t… no one spoke for me…”
“Just because I am the little one, should I be sent to that dark place?”
Zheng Yunni’s tears fell like beads, but a sad smile appeared at the corner of her lips. She suddenly looked at the real Zheng Yunni, “She and I are twin sisters, but why can’t I see the light of day in my life, while she is so noble? , half a lifetime of glory? Even God couldn’t stand it, so he let her go into the culvert. The moment I saw her, I knew something was wrong. She was exactly the same as me, but with Lingluo as her body, she was the real one. What a real person looks like, and I…I’m just a monster…”
Zheng Yunni suddenly stopped laughing, as if she was thinking of that distant dark memory. Her eyebrows were full of resentment and sadness. With this expression, she and the real Zheng Yunni became more and more like sisters.
She tugged at the corner of her lips, and her voice suddenly turned cold, “You turned me into a monster, so don’t blame the monster for being ruthless. I… I just want to live like a human being. So what if I were to be her?” ”
“She has lived a comfortable and prosperous six years, and it’s my turn…”
Zheng Yunni looked at the real Zheng Yunni with a dazed and crazy expression, “I…I didn’t think about leaving her underground forever at first, but…but it feels so good to be loved by someone, and I can see the light. Life is so good.” Zheng Yunni let go of his injured wrist, raised his hand to his eyebrows, and narrowed his eyes slightly, as if to block the non-existent sunlight.
“I don’t want to go back, I don’t want to go back anymore. Since one must be left underground, why can’t it be her?” She suddenly put down her hand, her face mocking and cold, “The funny thing is, these natural The people who love her can’t tell who is the real her. She is just a tool to seek glory and wealth for the Marquis…”
At this point, Zheng Yunni suddenly looked at the eldest lady with a sarcastic expression, “Even my mother can’t tell the difference. She regards me as the same person and loves me very much. Even though she is crazy, she still Knowing that I had been missing all night, she… Not only could she not recognize her, she even…” As if thinking of something ridiculous, Zheng Yunni suddenly laughed strangely again, “Even, she followed me back to the culvert and saw When I set the fire, I didn’t even know that the one who was burned was my original daughter…”
“So, it’s really ridiculous to watch her rolling on the ground…”
Zheng Yun’s tears of laughter welled up again, and everyone’s expressions changed drastically. Bao Ruoyou, who had been silent for a long time, was also shocked. She turned to look at the eldest lady, and the questions that had been lingering in her heart for many days were finally solved at this moment. .
The crazy mother saw her second daughter setting a fire with her own eyes. Even if she didn’t understand what was going on at the moment, she still left the image of her other daughter with scars on her face deep in her heart. The fire set by her second daughter , it started burning ten years ago and has been burning to this day. The entire Anqing Hou Mansion has been burned to death. And all of this started from the day the twin daughters were born, or perhaps as early as the day the eldest lady saved the Second Highness of the Dynasty. , the tragedy has already been foreshadowed.
Zheng Yunni laughed wildly when she said what happened back then, but the real victim, Zheng Yunni, had no trace of emotion on her face. She stood aside and listened, with indifference between her features and eyes from the beginning to the end. Hatred, as if the cold darkness in the culvert that had never been exposed to light all year round had been integrated into her muscles, bones and blood.
“This happened after your house caught fire?” Bo Ruoyou asked.
Zheng Yunni seemed to know what Bao Ruoyou was going to ask, and actually smiled: “I didn’t expect my mother to follow me into the culvert that night. Later I took her out. Fortunately, she was frightened and seemed to be afraid of everything. It seemed like I didn’t remember it, but I was still worried. I didn’t know if she was dead inside, so I made a scene and my father filled up the lotus pond.”
“At that time, I thought that was the only entrance.”
When she said this, Zheng Yunni’s tone was extremely understated, but the more so, the more she revealed her determination to keep her sister underground forever, which made people shudder.
Seeing the sadness and ridicule on Zheng Yunni’s face, Bo Ruoyou finally said: “Maybe it’s not that your mother didn’t tell you apart, it’s just that she also recognized you. When you were sent away, she suffered from the disease. When you are sick, she loves you equally no matter which daughter is around you. But you have had this knot in your heart these past years, and how much sincere respect and love do you have for her?”
Zheng Yunni’s expression changed slightly, as if she had never thought of this possibility. She was stunned for a moment. Bao Ruoyou looked at the eldest lady, “Look at her, she hasn’t seen your sister for so many years, but she still subconsciously How do you know that the love she has shown you all these years has been treating you as your sister?”
Zheng Yunni was stunned, her brows twitched, as if she didn’t want to believe this possibility, “Then… so what? The trouble in the Hou Mansion is now caused by their older generation. It’s not me who deceives the king. The Hou Mansion harms people. It’s not me, so what if I set the fire, I…”
“None of you can escape.” Huo Weilou was silent for a long time before finally speaking, “Except for Zheng Wenrong and the first lady, everyone else was taken to the state prison. This case has many twists and turns and needs to be interrogated one by one. Report clearly to the Ministry of Punishment.”
He Cheng responded quickly. When Zheng Yunni heard that Zheng Wen’an and others were also going to be arrested, the anger on his face became less angry, and he actually said: “Let’s take a look at the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Can I be determined?” What a crime!”
When she saw that the government officials were coming to arrest her, the eldest lady’s expression changed and she ran towards her. Holding her hand, the eldest lady looked at the Yamen in confusion and fear. Her mouth opened and closed, but there was only the sound of “Ahhh”, and her tears continued.
Zheng Yunni was furious all night, either resentful or miserable. At this moment, when he saw the old lady’s hands covered with blood blisters but still wanted to keep her without knowing the pain, a look of unbearability finally flashed on her face. The corners of her lips pursed tightly, but she still pushed the eldest lady’s hand away, straightened her clothes, and walked out with her chin raised.
The eldest lady wanted to follow at a loss, but was stopped by Zheng Wenrong. When she turned around, she saw the real Zheng Yunni and Sha Gu were also being led out by the embroiderer. She said “Ahhh” twice. She tried her best to stop her, but Zheng Wenrong couldn’t hold her back for a moment, so she broke away and chased her forward. But after just two steps, the eldest lady tripped over the hem of her skirt and fell weakly to the ground.
Zhen Zheng Yunni, who was restrained from walking out, paused and turned around with her back stiff. She looked at the eldest lady intently. Seeing the eldest lady crying so sadly, she seemed to think of a long time ago. Something soft appeared in her eyes, and she said two words unfamiliarly and with difficulty. However, her voice was hoarse and she had aphasia, so it was difficult to say even two words, which was the closest one. The embroiderer didn’t hear clearly what she was saying.
After all, she had killed three people. The embroidered clothesman showed no mercy to her. When he saw her standing still, he gave her a push. She seemed to wake up. When she turned around, the soft color in her eyebrows suddenly disappeared. It’s clean.
Zheng Wen’an was also surrounded by government officials. This night’s change made him feel overwhelmed. Now that Wu Zhaohou has found out the past events, there is absolutely no possibility of covering them up for them. It is conceivable that the Anqing Hou Mansion will not only be unable to protect the eldest lady and the second son Regarding His Highness’s marriage, he was afraid that he would be punished with a serious crime. Thinking of his mother’s death, his brother’s tragic death, and that he could not even keep the honor of the Marquis Mansion, he was filled with grief and despair. When he saw Zheng Wenrong pulling the eldest lady to comfort him, he could only say in a hoarse voice. : “Fourth brother, I’ll leave the house to you.”
Zheng Wenrong was sent out of the Hou’s Mansion since he was a child. He was originally a person that the Hou’s Mansion did not want to recognize, but now, he is the only one who can take charge of the overall situation. Zheng Wenrong nodded solemnly, and Zheng Wen’an was taken away with a dejected look on his face.
The fire has not yet been contained, and no one present has ever thought that the mysterious unsolved case would be solved like this. Zheng Yunni’s clever fire not only exposed his secrets, but also allowed the murderer to be arrested. Although the culvert was blocked It was discovered that it was only a matter of time before the murderer was caught, but tonight many old things were revealed, and even an outsider like He Cheng felt overwhelmed.
Zheng Wenrong was still trying to comfort the eldest lady, but seeing that he was unable to do so, he called for the maids to forcefully send the eldest lady back. On the other side of the room, Bo Ruoyou looked at the direction where Zheng Yunni left in confusion.
Tonight, the fake Zheng Yunni was either acting or crying, expressing all the resentments and anger in his heart in front of others, but the real Zheng Yunni never uttered a word. Maybe he couldn’t say it, maybe he didn’t want to say it, or maybe he didn’t say a word. Accustomed to living in darkness and loneliness, her body was already guarded and cold. Only when the silly aunt gave her chestnut cake, a trace of human vitality could be seen, and when she turned around just now, Bo Ruoyou only looked at her. She opened her mouth, but it was hard to tell what she said…
“She called ‘Mother’.” Huo Weilou walked up to Bao Ruoyou at some point.
Bao Ruoyou came back to his senses, suppressed the distracting thoughts in his heart, and said calmly, “She has three lives. According to the law…”
“Behead according to law.” Huo Weilou did not hesitate.
Bao Ruoyou sighed and said no more. Eunuch Fu stepped forward and said, “That fake eldest lady was right. Everyone in the Hou family is guilty of this. The child is indeed pitiful, but no matter how pitiful he is, Nor can we disregard the law and hurt people’s lives privately.”
Bo Ruoyou smiled bitterly, “Don’t worry, father-in-law. Women of the people know these truths. If everyone ignores the law and is lynched, the world will be in chaos.”
He Cheng came over and said respectfully: “Master Marquis, I have given you all my orders. I will interrogate you tonight, and you must submit the file to Master Hou for review as soon as possible.”
Huo Weilou waved his hand: “There is no need to show it to me. The case is now fully handed over to you for trial. Subsequent files can be submitted to the Ministry of Justice as usual.”
He Cheng’s expression changed slightly, “Master Hou is leaving Qingzhou?”
Eunuch Fu said with a smile: “Master Hou is on official business to go to Luozhou this time. He came to you because he was entrusted by the old Marquis of Xinyang. Now that the case is over, the rest of the matter, Mr. He You can do it yourself.”
He Cheng said hurriedly: “Thank you Lord Marquis for coming in person. If it hadn’t been like this, I really don’t know what to do.”
Huo Weilou was too lazy to listen to his compliments and only ordered: “I will write to the Marquis of Xinyang and His Highness the Second Highness to explain that you must be fair in hearing this case without any worries.”
What He Cheng was most worried about was that the capital had opinions on the case. Hearing Huo Weilou’s arrangement, he felt relieved, “Yes, yes, this official will be fair and strict. Thank you, Lord Marquis.”
The murderer has been caught and brought to justice. Huo Weilou is in a high position and no longer has to worry about other trivial matters. He Cheng then asked: “When does the Marquis plan to leave the city? The Marquis has come to Qingzhou, and the subordinate has not yet fulfilled his duties as a landlord, so why not – —”
Huo Weilou stared, “I’ll leave tomorrow, so you don’t have to waste all this time.”
He Cheng didn’t expect Huo Weilou to be so anxious and wanted to talk more, but he thought that Huo Weilou was vigorous and resolute and hated the flattery in the officialdom. He didn’t dare to stay anymore. Get some rest early, and I’ll send you off to see the Marquis out of the city tomorrow.”
Huo Weilou was noncommittal and glanced at the fire scene. He saw Zheng Wenrong gathering his servants to put out the fire, so he didn’t need to worry about it. He turned around and left. After walking a few steps, he turned back and saw Bo Ruoyou standing next to He Cheng and saying something. , the firelight was bright, but it reflected her delicate and upright figure, and her eyebrows were also quite pleasing to the eye.
He looked away and suddenly felt that there was something else in his hand. He lowered his eyes and saw that it was the earring just now. He threw it at Eunuch Fu. Eunuch Fu didn’t know what it was. When he caught it, he was slightly surprised. “Aren’t these Miss Zheng’s earrings?”
Huo Weilou suddenly chuckled, “Although it is her earring, it is not the one she dropped today.”
When Eunuch Fu heard this, his eyes widened, “Ah… The Marquis ordered the embroiderer to leave, not to search the treasury at all, but to look for earrings… Before that, the Marquis had been talking to Miss Bo for a long time. whispers, could it be…”
The smile on Huo Weilou’s lips deepened, “She came up with this idea after seeing Zheng Yunni lose her earrings. She is quite smart.”
Although Zheng Yunni was lying at that time, she was very calm and prepared several words. Bo Ruoyou was very close and saw her earrings falling off, but he did not ask questions rashly, but carefully After checking, he found that she was indeed suspected of arson, so he asked Huo Weilou to lend a step to talk, and then offered advice, and they sang and put on a good show.
Eunuch Fu suddenly realized, “After talking about it for so long, the fake eldest lady was a little flustered. Later, the Marquis asked some questions, which made her confused. Finally, the earrings appeared as irrefutable evidence, so she had no choice but to admit it. What a wonderful idea!”
Just now that the case was solved, Huo Weilou was still feeling a little solemn, but now his eyebrows relaxed. He suddenly thought of something and asked Eunuch Fu, “Have you received any reply to the news I asked you to send to the capital?”
Eunuch Fu said hurriedly: “The things are on the way. Looking at the situation now, should we send them directly to Luozhou?”
They will leave Qingzhou tomorrow. The people in Qingzhou who brought the things there are no longer there, so naturally they should be sent to Luozhou by another route.
Huo Weilou should have said no immediately, but he suddenly felt that Eunuch Fu’s idea was a good one. However, he did not make an immediate decision and only returned to the guest house first.
As soon as he entered the study, Huo Weilou saw two newly arrived official documents on the table. One of them came from Luozhou. He first picked up the official document from Luozhou and opened it. He only read it. Halfway through, his brows furrowed, and when he finished reading it all, his expression became serious.
After thinking for a while, Huo Weilou ordered: “Summon Bao Ruoyou—”