Chapter 65: The Crime Scene
Check the storage token?
Lu Wangji’s request suddenly sounded quite reasonable. After all, Jiang Ten did indeed have a storage token, and a rather large one at that. It was entirely possible that after killing someone, she could have hidden the murder weapon inside it.
But Shang Xinlei felt something was very, nearly completely, off.
Lu Wangji’s tone and wording seemed to suggest that he had only remembered Jiang Ten’s storage token after discovering the blood weapon tokens everyone brought out.
In other words, if Shang Xinlei and the others had hidden the blood weapons well, would Lu Wangji have simply forgotten about the storage token?
Impossible.
Even though she had only known Lu Wangji for a couple of days, Shang Xinlei was absolutely certain he was a meticulous man. The Xiaoqi Guard was the Imperial Guard, the Emperor’s personal troops, and Lu Wangji was sent to supervise the situation in Mansu Woodland on behalf of the Court. How could he be so careless?
Yet he chose precisely this moment to raise suspicion about Jiang Ten’s storage token.
After Jiang Ten handed over her sabre, Lu Wangji inspected the white iron straight blade but made no move to return it. Instead, he passed it to the man behind him. Although this could be interpreted as him intending to return all weapons after checking everyone, it could also be seen as never having intended to return it—he never planned to look for bloodstains on the blade at all; it was simply to disarm Jiang Ten!
First the sabre, then the storage token.
Shang Xinlei suddenly remembered a book she had read before, which recorded a group of merchants’ business philosophies, titled Eight Silver-Blood Strategies. One of the strategies was called “Le Yin’s Flesh Cutting.” It told of a loan shark named Le Yin. Because of his low interest rates, everyone was willing to borrow from him. However, Le Yin would ask borrowers to do small favors in return, offsetting some of the interest. At first, these tasks were simple errands or unloading cargo. But gradually, the requests became more and more demanding. If the borrower refused, Le Yin would threaten to cancel the previous interest deductions. Most people, unwilling to let their earlier efforts go to waste, would grit their teeth and comply. As a result, they neglected their own families—poor harvests, sick relatives—forcing them to borrow again from Le Yin. Back and forth, they would eventually sell themselves to him. In this way, Le Yin cut away their flesh piece by piece until none remained.
Lu Wangji’s actions were strikingly similar to Le Yin’s flesh cutting. Had he demanded to inspect the storage tokens from the beginning, everyone would have thought ill of him. But by first inspecting the white iron straight blade and proving Jiang Ten’s “innocence,” then proposing to inspect the storage token, he appeared merely dutiful, not maliciously targeting her.
If one were truly innocent, they would likely be led by Lu Wangji step by step into handing over everything. In the end, whether guilty or not, they would have lost all ability to resist, becoming meat on the chopping block.
“If you're going to inspect storage tokens, did you inspect theirs first?” Shang Xinlei pointed to the others. “Qun Yushu, your ring is quite pretty; Elder Chen, your pouch looks rather plain—it doesn't quite match your outfit; Elder Zhou, the Hundred-Flower Belt from Baicao Garden is a luxury item coveted by noble ladies in Jiangnan.”
“Lu Xiaoqi, inspect their storage tokens first, then come check ours—no problem, right?”
Jie Yuanshao also responded, “Yes, if you're going to check, check everyone. Otherwise, you're just targeting us. But storage tokens are deeply private, like personal residences. Lu Xiaoqi, without a decree or a writ, do you dare to forcibly inspect their storage tokens?”
Lu Wangji was slightly startled, then said expressionlessly, “As expected of direct descendants from the Jie and Shang families. Truly learned and elegant.”
Just as they thought they had regained some ground and thwarted Lu Wangji’s plan, Qun Yushu’s lazy voice rang out: “I’m willing to be inspected—it's not like I’ve stuffed a lady’s undergarment in there recently.”
“A murder has occurred; I’m willing to cooperate with the investigation,” said Chen Linchuan.
“I’ve known Old Lu for years; I’m not afraid of him finding anything,” Zhou Ye laughed.
Had they come to an agreement?
Jie Yuanshao was startled. If the Seven Great Families and the Court were joining forces, there was nothing they could say to oppose it. But she thought maybe she was overthinking it—after all, Jie Zilong and Shang Yue were clearly on their side and would never allow Lu Wangji to act recklessly—
“Jie Zilong, Shang Yue,” Lu Wangji asked, “are you willing to be inspected?”
Jie Yuanshao and Shang Xinlei looked at their kin, hoping to hear a firm rebuke, even a sarcastic retort would suffice. But all they saw was Jie Zilong in silence, and Shang Yue coughing.
They stood there, thinking, calculating. Their silence seemed both like resistance and like consent. Though they stood opposite Qun Yushu and the others, from Shang Xinlei’s perspective, it seemed as if they were all on the same side.
Shang Xinlei’s heart suddenly pounded. A chilling thought surfaced in her mind: Was her big brother really here to help her?
More accurately, were her interests and the family’s truly aligned?
Jie Yuanshao furrowed her brow slightly and took a step forward, as if planning to speak with her third uncle. But at that moment, Jiang Ten, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke:
“I won’t hand over my storage token,” she said calmly. “Don’t waste your time.”
“Jiang Ten…” Qian Gongyu looked at her worriedly.
“Lu Xiaoqi, if not handing over a storage token means I’m a criminal,” Jie Yuanshao spread her palm, showing the storage ring on her finger, “then go ahead and put me on your list of criminals.”
“Aiya, I feel like I’ve been looked down on by Miss Jie.” Shang Xinlei laughed. “I don’t even have a storage token, not qualified to be a criminal with you all—guess I’ll have to sit at a table with Little Yu.”
“You all overthink too much. Without conclusive evidence, I can only report the facts truthfully. As for judgment, that’s for the Three Judicial Offices to decide.” Lu Wangji said flatly. “Since you’re not cooperating, let’s proceed with the final inspection—using the Blood-Imprint Mirror to check for traces of the victim’s blood on your bodies.”
As he spoke, he pulled out the Blood-Imprint Mirror and aimed it at the four of them, as though merely going through procedure. Jie Yuanshao and the others didn’t take it seriously. They had plenty of blood on them, yes—but all from demons. Before entering Mansu Woodland, everyone had been clean. How could there be any of the victim’s blood—
Gasp.
Like a drop of ink falling into water, the onlookers gasped in unison. Shang Xinlei, Jie Yuanshao, and Qian Gongyu turned their heads, staring dumbfounded at Jiang Ten.
Under the yellow glow of the mirror, a faint blood-colored mist appeared on Jiang Ten’s clothes. And as Lu Wangji moved the mirror, everyone could clearly see that the mist extended all the way to the corpse on the bed. Such direct evidence made it clear to everyone that the blood on Jiang Ten’s clothing came from the victim himself!
“Impossible!” Qian Gongyu shouted.
“There’s definitely something wrong!” Jie Yuanshao said immediately. “I demand a review of this case by the Three Judicial Offices!”
“If there was blood on her clothes, why didn’t anyone see it this morning?” Shang Xinlei spoke rapidly, like arrows flying one after another. “If she washed the clothes, why not just throw them away and change? A murderer with time on her hands doesn’t bother to change clothes—this makes no sense! Someone’s framing her!”
“If she didn’t kill him, then why is Luo Weijin’s blood on her clothes?” Lu Wangji asked. “She may have had a token to clean herself, but didn’t expect me to have the Blood-Imprint Mirror and slipped up. Without the mirror, who could have found this evidence?”
“You’re allowed to raise doubts, but that’s not within my jurisdiction. Jiang Ten is suspected of murdering a noble heir, using vicious methods, showing extreme malice. Now, please step aside—this official must arrest the major suspect Jiang Ten and escort her to Jiangdu for trial!”
“No!” Jie Yuanshao’s beautiful eyes flared with anger. “This is a setup—Uncle!”
Jie Zilong sighed and said, “But Jiang Ten’s clothes truly are stained with Luo Weijin’s blood. She is indeed the prime suspect. Even our Jie Family cannot shield someone accused of murdering a noble heir.”
“But—”
“Yuanshao, abiding by the law is also a principle of noble families.” Jie Zilong said solemnly. “You may raise objections, investigate, and seek to prove Jiang Ten’s innocence. But you must do so within the bounds of the law, not by defying imperial authority!”
Jie Yuanshao bit her lip lightly and met her uncle’s gaze from afar, but in the end could only lower her head in silence. “Yes.”
On the other side, Qian Gongyu clutched Jiang Ten’s clothing, nearly in hysteria. “No, no! This is my clothing! How could it have that guy’s blood… Jiang Ten, you only wore this outfit today!”
Shang Xinlei asked, “Who had access to your wardrobe?”
“Wardrobe? Mine’s at the back of the carriage. And we don’t use servants… anyone trying to sneak into our carriage would’ve been noticed by Uncle Lin… Uncle Lin?”
Qian Gongyu suddenly froze. She looked around again and again, scanning the crowd, but never found that familiar figure. Her body trembled slightly, hands clutching Jiang Ten’s arm tightly, and then her knees buckled as she fell to the ground.
“I’m sorry…” she sobbed, tears like pearls falling on Jiang Ten’s hand. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
“It was me… our Qian Family harmed you… it’s all my fault. If not for me, you wouldn’t have made enemies with Luo Weijin, and even less…”
“Jiang Ten, I—I…”
Jiang Ten raised her hand and gently rubbed the tiger ears on Qian Gongyu’s head. Qian Gongyu could hold back no longer and burst into loud sobs, her nose bubbling with snot. Paired with her tiger face, it was almost comical.
Shang Xinlei muttered, “Now this is trouble. If the real killer isn’t found, Jiang Ten will be the top suspect. According to the law…”
“Defying the superior, brutally killing a noble heir, upending hierarchy, employing cruel methods—such crimes are unforgivable.” Lu Wangji’s emotionless voice rang out from afar. “According to the Twelve Jade Laws: execution!”
“Any who dare resist arrest or flee—kill, without mercy!”
As dozens of Divine Crossbows aimed at Jiang Ten, the tension in the scene skyrocketed. Noble youths on the fringes began to shout and scream, as if expecting a bloody play to unfold. Shang Xinlei and the others wept or froze in place, no longer knowing what to do.
At that moment, a cough interrupted the precarious balance.
“If the Shang Family is willing to vouch for Jiang Ten?”