Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

Jin Zhiyuan couldn't figure it out.

This was the question that Chen Shao was puzzled about, and it was also the question he had been thinking about after Ah Fu’s case happened.

He did not have much talent in studying. He took the child examination three times but failed to pass the prefectural examination. Therefore, he gave up and focused on doing some chores with his father in the hope of getting a job in the county government in the future. Based on this mentality, he was quite restrained in dealing with people. No matter who the other person was, he would never make enemies with them if he could avoid it.

He really couldn't imagine how someone could be so cruel and cruel to harm him when he was already so cautious.

Chen Shao reminded: "Think carefully, have you ever offended anyone?"

Jin Zhiyuan shook his head: "I have always been kind to others and I have never offended anyone."

After a pause, he continued, "Brother Liu can testify for me that I have been learning martial arts from Master for thirteen years. During these thirteen years, I have never had any quarrels or conflicts with any of my fellow brothers or junior disciples."

Liu Kangping said impartially: "Junior Brother Jin is indeed a kind person. Several of my fellow brothers and junior brothers have encountered difficulties at home, and he has contributed money and effort to help solve the problems."

"Then think about it again. Have you offended anyone in the process of helping others?" Chen Shao reminded again, "And the people around you. Who is most likely to get your handwriting without arousing suspicion?"

While Jin Zhiyuan was thinking, the shopkeeper and his assistants of Bazhenfang arrived one after another, followed by Tian Gensheng's family. Later, the night watchman who was on duty nearby on the night of Zhang Qiaoniang's accident also arrived, and the yamen runners who went to visit the nearby area also returned. Finally, even the three embroiderers who were friends with Zhang Qiaoniang arrived.

Jin Zhiyuan was still thinking.

Chen Shao did not rush him. He called Tian Gensheng's family over and asked them, "Did Tian Gensheng feel unwell before the accident?"

Tian Gensheng's son said, "My father has always been in good health. On the day of the accident, he ate two Hu pancakes and drank two bowls of rice soup for lunch."

The rest followed suit.

Chen Shao called the shopkeeper and his staff from Bazhenfang and asked the shopkeeper, "On the day when Tian Gengsheng got into trouble, were all three storytelling sessions held at Bazhenfang?"

It was not the first time that the shopkeeper of Bazhenfang came to the county government office, but in response to her question, he still said nervously, "Yes, they were all in Bazhenfang, but it had nothing to do with me. I spoke to him a few words when he came that day."

"Whether it's your business or not is not your decision. Just answer my questions." Chen Shao scolded him coldly and continued to ask, "Did he suddenly say he was feeling unwell before the third reading, or did he feel unwell during the second reading?"

The shopkeeper replied hastily, "He came to me before the third storytelling session and said he was feeling unwell and couldn't continue the storytelling. Seeing that he looked unhappy, I let him go."

Before he finished, he added, "The day before he started telling the story, I paid him all the fees for the three storytelling sessions. I haven't even had time to ask him for the fee for the one he missed."

"How long will the break be between two storytelling sessions?" Chen Shao interrogated.

The shopkeeper still spoke in a hurry, "It will take half an hour."

Chen Shao continued: "How long before the third storytelling session did Tian Gensheng contact you?"

Shopkeeper: "It's almost half a cup of tea before the show starts."

Chen Shao got to the bottom of it: "After the second storytelling session, did he feel any discomfort?"

The shopkeeper shook his head: "No, after the second game, he was still talking and laughing with the good guy."

Chen Shao: "After the second storytelling session, did he leave Bazhenfang?"

The shopkeeper shook his head again: "No."

Chen Shao: "The storytelling is in the lobby?"

The shopkeeper nodded.

Chen Shao: "After the second storytelling session, did he leave the hall?"

The shopkeeper shook his head and looked at the waiter next to him.

A waiter answered helpfully: "I went to the toilet once."

Chen Shao looked at the waiter and asked, "When did you go there?"

The waiter replied, "After the second storytelling session, I drank two sips of tea, said a few words to Mr. Wang, Mr. Huang and others, and then left. After I came back, I still..."

The waiter looked at Jin Zhiyuan who was kneeling on the ground, hesitated for a moment, and then continued: "I talked to Mr. Jin for a while and drank two cups of tea."

There he is again.

Chen Shao glanced at Jin Zhiyuan, who was still in a daze, and asked, "How do you know so clearly?"

The clerk replied, "Every time Mr. Tian comes to tell stories, the shopkeeper always asks me to serve him."

Chen Shao looked at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper blushed and didn't dare to look at her.

Chen Shao looked back at the waiter: "Explain it more clearly."

The waiter looked at the shopkeeper and was just hesitating whether to speak when Tian Gensheng's son said disdainfully, "My father is the best storyteller in Xitang County. Whenever he tells a story, many people would throw copper coins as a reward. Other teahouses and restaurants would collect all the reward money and give it to my father. The shopkeeper of Bazhenfang thought that since he had paid my father a reward, the reward money should not be given to my father. Therefore, whenever my father tells a story in Bazhenfang, the shopkeeper would send a waiter to collect the reward money."

The shopkeeper muttered, "I've already paid him, why should I give him more money?"

Chen Shao ignored him and continued to ask the waiter, "How long did Tian Gensheng go to the toilet? When did he come back to talk and drink tea with Jin Zhiyuan? How long did he talk and drink tea for? Who did he talk to and whose tea did he drink after that?"

The waiter calculated for a moment, "I didn't notice how long he was gone. But he talked to Master Jin and the others for less than half a cup of tea, and then he went back to the storytelling stage to prepare for the third show. Not long after, he felt unwell, so he got up, told the shopkeeper he was back, and hurriedly packed up his things and left."

In other words, the problem still lies with Jin Zhiyuan.

Chen Shao looked at Jin Zhiyuan.

Jin Zhiyuan had long since recovered from his daze. Seeing her looking at him, he quickly explained, "Not long before Tian Gensheng got into trouble, I helped him resolve a dispute. That day, Senior Brother Liu invited me to dinner, and I happened to see Tian Gensheng telling a story there. He came to me just to say a few words of thanks."

Tian Gensheng's son testified, "When my father was telling stories in Feishang Tower, several merchants from other places who were passing by here on their way to Jingchuan County drank too much and insisted on asking my father to tell two more stories. My father explained to them why he couldn't tell more stories, but they still stopped him and threatened to ask my father to return the money if he didn't tell two more stories. While they were arguing, Master Jin happened to pass by Feishang Tower and helped my father persuade those merchants to leave."

Jin Zhiyuan, Liu Pingkang.

When Sun Shouyi got into trouble, they were there. When Tian Gensheng got into trouble, they were there too. The word "Quan" left by the murderer at the scene was also in the same handwriting as Jin Zhiyuan's. The key point is that he couldn't clearly say who he had a grudge against.

No matter how you look at it, he is the biggest suspect.

Jin Zhiyuan obviously thought of this, and kowtowed repeatedly in panic to defend himself. Unfortunately, his defense had no evidence to support it, and it seemed pale and powerless.

Chen Shao thought for a moment and asked him, "What did Tian Gensheng eat and drink when he thanked you?"

Jin Zhiyuan quickly replied: "I just drank two cups of tea and a glass of wine, nothing else."

Chen Shao asked again: "About what time does he drink tea and wine? How long is it until his third storytelling show?"

Jin Zhiyuan shook his head bitterly, he couldn't remember clearly.

Chen Shao turned to Liu Pingkang.

Liu Pingkang immediately said, "There should be one or two cups of tea before his third storytelling session."

Chen Shao then asked, "Who poured the tea and wine for Tian Gensheng?"

Liu Pingkang said: "It's me, Junior Brother Jin handed it to him."

Chen Shao looked at Jin Zhiyuan, and Jin Zhiyuan nodded.

Chen Shao continued to ask: "Why did you invite him to dinner that day?"

Liu Pingkang quickly glanced at Xu Changshou and said gloomily, "I was homeless for two days. Junior Brother Jin took me in."

Xu Changshou said without taking it as an offense: "Our family provides you with food and drink, and even your martial arts tuition is paid by our family. My sister just said a few words to you, and you dared to talk back to her! Humph, my sister just kicked you out, but didn't divorce you, so you should be content."

Chen Shao glanced at the records in the case file about his and Xu's love and affection, "Were they often kicked out?"

Liu Pingkang lowered his eyes: "No."

Xu Changshou seemed not to see the humiliation on his face and snorted, "He doesn't have the guts."

Chen Shao looked at him for a moment, then looked back at Liu Pingkang: "Where did Jin Zhiyuan take you in?"

Liu Pingkang still lowered his eyes: "At Yuelai Inn."

Jin Zhiyuan added: "I originally wanted to take him home, but he refused, so I took him to Yue Lai..."

Halfway through his words, a thunderclap suddenly exploded in Jin Zhiyuan's head.

He figured it out.

Chen Shao had previously asked him who around him would be most likely to obtain his handwriting without arousing suspicion.

He figured out who it was.

He took the first Tongshi exam at the age of twelve, but failed. So his father sent him to Diecui Peak to learn martial arts in order to give him another career path. From the time he became a martial arts apprentice until the day before last when he still failed the Tongshi exam and went down the mountain to do odd jobs with his father, he had been living in Diecui Peak, eating, sleeping and studying there.

If there is anyone who can easily get his handwriting, it must be his senior and junior brothers who practiced martial arts with him.

only……

His fellow seniors and juniors had always treated him kindly, and he had never had any conflicts with them. Who would hate him to the point of wanting to kill him?

Wang Chunsheng!

Almost instantly, Wang Chunsheng's name popped into my mind.

When he took part in the Tongshi exam for the second time, he missed almost ten days of martial arts training. After returning to the mountain, his master saw him still practicing at night and taught him a few moves. When his master was teaching him, Wang Chunsheng, who had gotten up at night, accidentally saw it and mistakenly thought that his master was partial to him. At the end of the month, when they were competing, he luckily won two moves against him. He was not convinced and shouted that his master was unfair. His master tried to explain to him, but he didn't listen and even tried to provoke his fellow disciples to make trouble. His master was disappointed and expelled him from the sect.

Later, he knelt outside his master's door for three days, but still failed to get his master's forgiveness, so he left.

If he had ever offended anyone, it was undoubtedly Wang Chunsheng.

It’s just that I offended Wang Chunsheng nine years ago. Now there is no evidence to prove that he is the murderer. If I rashly reveal his name, in case it’s not him, I’m afraid it will bring him trouble again.

Seeing that he looked hesitant, Chen Shao had already made some guesses, so he did not force him to continue. Instead, he called over several embroiderers from Jinsefang and the yamen runners who had gone to inquire about the news.