Miss Truth
Chapter 189 - 120: Don’t Be Afraid

Chapter 189: Chapter 120: Don’t Be Afraid

Xiao Song emitted a nonchalant grunt, his steps unpausing, as the hand within his sleeve clutched tightly, the short nails brutally digging into his palm. The pain somewhat soothed his heart, just as he stood beneath the corridor and exhaled deeply before striding towards the front hall.

Just as he was about to step onto the staircase, an image of Ran Yan’s pale, anxious expression flashed through his mind. He halted, calling out, "Bai Yi."

Bai Yi appeared seemingly out of nowhere, bowing as he said, "My lord."

"Send Qingsong to see how Seventeenth Wife’s injuries are doing. Hmm... Her elder brother seems to have been unwell for a while as well, check on him too," Xiao Song tossed out this line before entering the hall. The tensed muscles on his cheeks vanished the moment he saw Liu Pinrang, replaced with a serene smile as he nodded, signaling the start.

Rows of Government Officials lined on both sides of the Buddha statue, with the mildly expressive Jing Hui sitting cross-legged on the cushion in the middle; the Temple Master of Yingmei Temple also finally appeared, seated to the right and slightly below Liu Pinrang, looking utterly exhausted as her eyelids drooped, seemingly on the verge of falling asleep at any moment.

Seeing Xiao Song kneel down to the upper left, Liu Pinrang glanced at the entrance and couldn’t help asking, "Inspector, I don’t know about Miss Ran Seventeen..."

"Her injuries are quite severe, and she’s developed a fever, she cannot come for now. Let’s start without her. Don’t we have the records from the previous autopsy? It’s not missing a mere Forensic Doctor," Xiao Song remarked offhandedly.

He never needed to rehearse such lies.

Liu Pinrang nodded, "The Inspector’s right."

"Jing Hui, I ask you, when did you first meet Nun Jing Yuan?" Liu Pinrang, as per Xiao Song’s agreement, did not express any suspicion toward Jing Hui, pretending it was just to ascertain Jing Yuan’s guilt.

Jing Hui chanted a Buddha’s name with a mildly sorrowful look in her eyes, "Before she became a nun, Nun Jing Yuan was my mother’s maid. After my mother passed away, she then became a nun."

Becoming a nun was a way for maids of low status to escape their fate of being subject to others’ abuses once they left their masters.

"According to the Temple Master, you and Jing Yuan were quite close. Do you know if she knew how to prepare medicines?" Liu Pinrang asked.

Jing Hui hesitated before responding, "She was not only my mother’s personal maid but also her personal guard. She knew martial arts, but I am unaware if she knew how to prepare medicines."

Xiao Song, who had been quiet until then, suddenly interjected, "The jade orchid flowers in the back are blooming nicely. Is Jing Yuan also the one taking care of them usually?"

Jing Hui paused, then replied, "That’s right, I planted those jade orchid flowers. I attend to them occasionally, but as I have to manage the affairs of the temple, most of the time, it’s Jing Yuan who helps."

Liu Pinrang quietly exchanged a glance with Xiao Song. Now all clues pointed toward Jing Yuan, and her intent to murder Ran Yan was an ironclad fact.

"It’s said that you informed Huan Kong last night that it was her mother’s death anniversary. Why had you never told her before?" Liu Pinrang finally broached the main subject.

Jing Hui sighed, "It indeed was her mother’s death anniversary yesterday. Previously, Huan Kong had suspected that her mother was murdered. I did not wish for her to be preoccupied with worldly matters, so I never told her about the anniversary. Seeing her uneasy lately, I found an excuse to let her confide in her mother. Some things feel better once spoken. Huan Kong is naive and possesses great potential for enlightenment; I hope she can focus on her spiritual practice and achieve enlightenment soon."

Speaking of Huan Kong, Jing Hui spoke a bit more, it seemed she really valued this disciple.

Xiao Song lounged lazily in the round-backed chair, his sharp gaze fixed steadily on Jing Hui from the moment he sat down, never wavering until she calmly answered Liu Pinrang’s question, then he finally shifted his gaze away.

"As an official, these are my questions; the case still requires some evidence and testimonies. I ask that Jing Hui refrain from leaving the temple within the next five days. After I have organized the evidence, someone will come to collect the testimonies. I hope Jing Hui will cooperate," Liu Pinrang said amicably.

Jing Hui clasped her hands together, bowed slightly, and said, "Amitabha, I shall certainly cooperate."

Liu Pinrang turned around, exchanged a few pleasantries with the Temple Master, and then he and Xiao Song took their leave.

Once outside Yingmei Temple, the two walked slowly down the stone steps. Liu Pinrang said, "Shiqi found incense ashes and Gouweu on the body, and even sketched the approximate appearance of the murder weapon, yet none were found in Yingmei Temple. Should we search Yuncong Temple? Could a monk be the perpetrator?"

Xiao Song pondered for a moment and said, "Discreetly send someone to thoroughly search that old temple, Yuncong Temple... no need to search, let’s just assume the murderer is Jing Yuan for now. Have you heard that the Chen Family has claimed a body? Which one did they recognize, and did you inquire if he eloped with a certain wife?"

Liu Pinrang naturally knew that Xiao Song’s temporary assumption of Jing Yuan as the murderer was not to jump to conclusions arbitrarily but to confound the real murderer. Even if Jing Yuan was the real murderer, it would not be a loss.

"It was the second one, also death by poisoning. I asked carefully; it doesn’t appear to be a case of eloping with some widow, but rather with a young wine seller’s wife. I’ve had it looked into; the widow and that young wife are not the same person," Liu Pinrang said thoughtfully, stroking his beard. "It seems like a straightforward elopement. How strange, though, they all ran to that old temple, and moreover, they conducted the affairs of a man and a woman there. These woman disappeared without a trace in life and death. I don’t know where they went."

Xiao Song slightly raised an intrigued eyebrow and said, "Have you found anything about Jing Yuan’s and Jing Hui’s backgrounds?"

Liu Pinrang secretly cursed, "Maniac," in his heart. The more complex the case, the more he found it headache-inducing; yet here was someone actually excited about it. Having cursed enough internally but showing no sign of displeasure on his face, he said seriously, "The backgrounds of these two nuns are quite deep; we’ve traced it all the way to Chang’an but have yet to receive any news back."

"Hmm, dig up that jade orchid garden as well, something blooming too well could also be problematic," Xiao Song said, then added, "Pull out all the flowers; dig three feet down."

Liu Pinrang hesitated, "But... it’s said that garden sustains the entire Yingmei Temple. If we remove it, I fear..."

Xiao Song interrupted him, "I heard Ran Shilang has recently donated a lot of money for lamp oil. Even if you dug up the entire mountain top, they wouldn’t starve for a year and a half. If nothing is dug up, I’ll pay to have it replanted."

Reassured by someone willing to cover the costs, Liu Pinrang immediately solidified his stance and declared, "Inspector, your insight is as sharp as a torch. If you say there is a suspicious point, then there must be a peculiarity. I’ll immediately send people to dig it up."

Xiao Song gently smiled, unfathomable, and walked down the mountain with his hands behind him.

Watching his tall figure in purple official robes gradually recede, Liu Song sighed and muttered to himself, "It seems, the position of Minister of the Ministry of Justice will sooner or later be his." (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to give a recommendation ticket or a monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)