The First Criminal Judge of the Zhenguan Era

Chapter 22 Reveals! The killer's identity shocks everyone!
Seeing the reaction of Liu Shuyi and the other two, the madam immediately realized what was going on.

Her expression changed slightly, and she dared not hide it, saying, "He is a slightly overweight, richly dressed middle-aged man. Judging from his speech and behavior, his status should be quite high."

"What kind of answer is that? Give me specific names! According to your logic, you could just grab a bunch of them anywhere. Where are we supposed to find them?"

Cheng Chumo listened to the madam's words, his brows furrowed, and he asked her with displeasure.

The madam shrank back slightly when Cheng Chumo reprimanded her with his dark face. Her voluptuous body trembled slightly, and her amorous eyes showed a pitiful expression as she looked at Liu Shuyi: "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but I really don't know his identity!"

"Our patrons come to our Miaoyinfang to seek pleasure, and we have no reason, nor dare we, to inquire about their identities."

Du Gou also whispered, "That's true. Many people are unwilling to reveal their identities or let others know that they come to brothels for pleasure, so as not to affect their reputation. Therefore, brothels will deliberately avoid asking about specific identities to avoid displeasing customers."

Upon hearing Du Gou say the same thing, Cheng Chumo's heart sank.

They really went to great lengths to find this guy.

Liu Shuyi meticulously pieced together the clues, starting with the two heads and tracing them to Wutong Temple, and from Wutong Temple to Pingkangfang. Now, after much effort, he has finally found the person and will soon be able to arrest him.

But to my surprise, we got stuck here.

The madam was just like that useless coroner from the Ministry of Justice. I thought she could offer a lot of help, but in the end... it was as if she said nothing at all!

She would have been better off not saying it at all!

Cheng Chumo frowned, feeling inevitably hurt.

Liu Shuyi glanced at him, raised his hand and patted Cheng Chumo's sullen shoulder, chuckling, "Don't worry, investigating a case is never a smooth process. Besides, things aren't as bad as you think. It's okay if you don't know his name..."

Cheng Chumo looked at Liu Shuyi, and heard Liu Shuyi slowly say, "Knowing what he looks like is enough."

"Appearance?" Cheng Chumo was taken aback.

Liu Shuyi smiled, turned to the madam, and said, "I've heard that the girls at your Miaoyin Pavilion are proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and are all very talented. Is that true?"

"Of course!"

Upon hearing Liu Shuyi mention his girls, the madam's face immediately lit up with pride, and she launched into a boastful sales pitch: "Manager Liu, I'm not exaggerating, but even though we're not in the Southern Music District, the girls at our Miaoyin Pavilion are absolutely no less beautiful than those so-called courtesans. Our girls are not only skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but their ability to serve others is also unparalleled. If you spend just one night here, you'll be so captivated that you won't want to leave..."

"stop!"

Seeing that the madam was going off on a tangent, Liu Shuyi promptly called a halt.

He looked at the madam and said, "Since she's so outstanding, the girl who accompanied that patron last night shouldn't have too much trouble drawing his portrait, right?"

"This……"

The madam never expected Liu Shuyi's purpose was this.

She hesitated for a moment and said, "We'll have to ask Xiangxiang. After all, each of us girls has different strengths, and I don't know if she can draw it."

Cheng Chumo's eyelids twitched as he listened.

Just a moment ago they were proficient in everything, but now they have different areas of expertise.

Does this madam ever tell the truth?
Liu Shuyi was not surprised by the madam's words. He said calmly, "Call Xiangxiang over."

The madam didn't dare delay and quickly summoned a woman who was about twenty years old, with a pretty face and a shapely figure.

The woman bowed somewhat nervously: "This servant greets Master Liu."

Liu Shuyi glanced at the nervous Xiangxiang and softened his voice: "Can you draw the guest you were with last night?"

Hearing Liu Shuyi's gentle and clear voice, Xiangxiang couldn't help but show a surprised expression. Her godmother had just said that Manager Liu was very fierce and would arrest people if they said the wrong thing, and told her to be careful. How come the gentle and handsome Manager Liu in front of her seemed different from what her godmother had said?
Not to mention Xiangxiang, even the madam wondered if she was hallucinating.

"I can try, but I'm not sure if I can completely restore it." Xiangxiang was less afraid, and her voice became a little lighter.

Liu Shuyi nodded slightly: "Go and paint."

"Yes."

Xiangxiang was quickly taken to the room by Jinwuwei to paint.

Liu Shuyi looked at the madam again, his voice becoming authoritative once more: "Tell me, when did that person leave Miaoyinfang?"

Madam: "..."

She speaks softly and gently to Xiangxiang, but she's like a thunderbolt to me...

She gave Liu Shuyi a somewhat resentful look before saying, "He left just after 1 AM last night. I remember it very clearly; the night watchman had just passed by our door at that time."

"At the time, I was very curious. It was freezing outside, why didn't he hold the girl and sleep until dawn before leaving?"

"But since the customer had paid us, we didn't dare to ask him anything or stop him from leaving, so we just let him go."

Chou hour (1-3 AM)...

By then, Zhao Chengyi had already been arrested and imprisoned.

Liu Shuyi nodded slightly and asked, "And then? Did he come back?"

The madam was somewhat surprised: "How did Manager Liu know?"

"Don't ask so many questions, just answer my questions."

Liu Shuyi uses different techniques with different people.

Xiangxiang, a timid girl, needs to be comforted.

Brothel owners are slippery little creatures; they must be intimidated. Otherwise, if you give them a little attention, they'll become arrogant, and dealing with them will only waste a lot of time.

The madam shrank back, not daring to delay, and hurriedly said, "They are indeed back."

"He returned around 3 a.m. I remember that not long after he returned, the watchman's voice could be heard from afar."

He left at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM) and returned at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM)...

There is an interval of about one hour in between.

And one hour...

Du Gou suddenly looked at Liu Shuyi, his voice becoming more urgent: "An hour is enough to get from here to Wutong Temple and back!"

As Cheng Chumo listened to Du Gou's words, his eyes lit up a little!

"The timing is about right! It's definitely him!"

Liu Shuyi's eyes flickered, but he didn't make a judgment immediately. Instead, he continued to ask the madam, "Has anything unusual happened since he came back?"

"abnormal?"

The madam thought for a moment and said, "After coming back, she seemed like a different person. She woke up the sleeping Xiangxiang and tormented her for a while, leaving Xiangxiang with weak legs today and still yawning. Is this abnormal?"

"You said he seemed like a different person after he came back, meaning he wasn't this formidable before he left?" Liu Shuyi pressed.

Aren't officials supposed to be very reserved? How come you're more straightforward than me... The madam nodded: "Xiangxiang said that even though he used a sachet in the first half of the night, he didn't last long, and the two of them went to sleep before midnight."

The difference before and after is so huge...

After going out for a while, he returned in a noticeably excited state.

So excited that they need to vent in order to calm down.

It seems that this trip did indeed involve something that greatly affected his emotions.

Almost the instant Liu Shuyi heard the madam's explanation, his brain automatically began to analyze the reasons.

"Does Xiangxiang know why he suddenly left?"

"Xiangxiang was asleep and had no idea when he left, so how could she know why he left?" the madam shrugged.

Liu Shuyi stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought.

"Which room were they in last night? Was it facing the street?"

The madam nodded repeatedly: "It's the third room on the west side of the second floor, it's indeed right next to the street."

Listening to the madam's words, Cheng Chumo said directly, "Manager Liu, there's no need to think about it anymore, it must be him!"

“He stayed in a room facing the street, secretly left, and the interval was just enough for him to go from here to Wutong Temple and back. When he came back, he seemed to be a different person, tormenting Xiangxiang... This is clearly a reaction of not being able to calm down after killing someone.”

"So, it must be him! As long as Xiangxiang can draw him, we'll know who the murderer is!"

Du Gou nodded in agreement.

Based on the clues we have so far, the evidence is irrefutable.

Knowing Cheng Chumo's eagerness to catch the murderer, Liu Shuyi laughed and said, "Anyway, we're just waiting. Besides, when investigating a case, we can't overlook any detail. It won't hurt to understand all the details clearly."

"Is this what a brothel is like?"

Just then, a clear and cold familiar voice suddenly came from behind them.

Du Gou was taken aback at first, then suddenly turned his head.

The aloof and beautiful woman who swaggered into Miaoyinfang was none other than his sister.
"How did you come?"

Du Gou stepped forward and said, "This brothel is not a place for you. Go back now."

"I can go to remote, uninhabited mountains, I can go to old forests filled with miasma, so why can't I come to brothels?"

Du Ying was clearly different from ordinary women. She looked around Miaoyinfang with curiosity, completely ignoring her brother's words.

Upon seeing Du Ying's sudden arrival, Liu Shuyi's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but ask, "Miss Du, have you made a discovery?"

Seeing that only Liu Shuyi treated her normally, completely unconcerned that a woman like her would come to a brothel, Du Ying couldn't help but smile.

"Yes."

As she spoke, she took out the autopsy report from her sleeve and handed it to Liu Shuyi.

Liu Shuyi took the autopsy report and quickly looked up.

Upon seeing this, his expression changed, and his eyes narrowed sharply.

He turned to look at Du Ying and said, "How could this be?"

Du Ying pursed her lips: "I was fooled by my past experience. If you hadn't asked me to dissect the corpse and verify it again, I probably wouldn't have known it would turn out this way."

Liu Shuyi frowned, his eyes flashing as his mind raced.

After a moment, he let out a long breath, his gaze deep and unfathomable: "I see."

"What? So that's how it is? Did Miss Du discover something during the autopsy?"

Seeing that the two were talking about things he didn't understand, Cheng Chumo couldn't help but ask.

Just as Liu Shuyi was about to speak, he saw the slender Xiangxiang walk down the stairs.

Xiangxiang held the portrait, initially looking cheerful, but when she noticed Du Ying, who was as aloof as a fairy, standing next to Liu Shuyi, her delicate brows suddenly furrowed.

She immediately slowed down, thrust her hips forward, and swayed her waist dramatically as she approached Liu Shuyi with captivating charm.

She then bowed gracefully and said in a low voice, "Master Liu, my painting skills are not very good, I hope I will not disappoint you."

As she spoke, she extended her fair, white hand and handed the scroll to Liu Shuyi.

Looking at Xiangxiang's affected manner, Liu Shuyi glanced out of the corner of his eye at the aloof forensic doctor who was curiously observing the affected woman in front of him, and couldn't help but smile to himself.

Why would Xiangxiang consider Du Ying a competitor?

The two are not even on the same track.

Opening the painting, one sees a slightly chubby, middle-aged man whose appearance is neither particularly handsome nor ugly.

The man appeared to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old. He had a black mole at the corner of his eye, and his face did not look particularly dignified. His eyes were not large, and he gave the impression of being quite cunning.

"Huh, this looks like..."

At this moment, Cheng Chumo suddenly stepped forward from behind.

He stared intently at the person in the portrait, then suddenly looked at Xiangxiang: "Does he have a high-pitched voice and always look lecherous?"

Xiangxiang's eyes, brimming with tears, widened: "Does the official know him?"

Liu Shuyi also looked at Cheng Chumo. "It really was him!"

Cheng Chumo greeted Liu Shuyi and said, "I know him. He is Sun Zhouming, the assistant director of the Ordnance Bureau. He is stingy, greedy, and lecherous. He is not a good person."

"Sun Zhouming?"

Following Cheng Chumo's words, Du Gou also came to the portrait.

He looked at the person in the portrait, then suddenly turned his head and looked outside the Miaoyin Pavilion.

"Steward Liu, do you remember what you just asked me to do?"

Liu Shuyi's eyes flashed, and he quickly understood Du Gou's meaning: "He's come to Pingkangfang tonight too?"

Du Gou nodded emphatically: "Just now, when I had the road blocked off and prohibited anyone from entering or leaving, I saw Sun Zhouming in the crowd, but he wasn't at Miaoyinfang, but at another brothel."

"But that's not important!"

"The important thing is..."

He looked at Liu Shuyi, his eyes burning, and said, "As you said, the murderer would want to know if you have found this place, and would be keeping an eye on it... and Sun Zhouming happens to be nearby!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Chumo immediately clapped his hands!
"What are you waiting for? Arrest them now!"

"Let him get away, that's all!"

With that, he led his men and rushed out.

Watching Cheng Chumo's departing figure, Du Gou took out the shoe print model made from Wutong Temple and followed him out without any hesitation.

"The murderer has been found already? So quickly?"

Du Ying was somewhat surprised. She had rushed over after receiving the autopsy results, fearing that Liu Shuyi might not have any leads and would need her help.

But now it seems that even if she doesn't come, it won't make any difference.

She couldn't help but look at Liu Shuyi, only to find that Liu Shuyi was also looking at her.

The two locked eyes, the fragrance of lotus and soapberry mingling together. Du Ying paused for a moment, about to say something.

Then Liu Shuyi said, "Miss Du, do me a favor..."

…………

As Liu Shuyi walked out of Miaoyinfang, he saw that the street in front of him was crowded with people.

Inside were the Imperial Guards, and outside were beautifully dressed courtesans and disheveled patrons.

As he approached, Liu Shuyi heard a cacophony of voices.

"What did that person do wrong? Why are the Imperial Guards arresting people, even at brothels?"

"Didn't that dark-skinned, burly military officer say that this guy killed someone?"

"kill!?"

"Who did he kill? We were actually in the same brothel as the murderer, and even fighting over the same girl..."

Hearing these words, Liu Shuyi raised his eyebrows slightly.

He doesn't need to squeeze in; he can already know the result.

"Manager Liu!"

At this moment, the burly and imposing Cheng Chumo saw Liu Shuyi's figure and immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to clear a path for Liu Shuyi.

Liu Shuyi thus became the focus of attention once again.

He walked into the center of the crowd and saw a richly dressed middle-aged man being forced to kneel on the ground by the Imperial Guards.

Du Gou compared the footprint model to the man's feet again and again, finally exhaling a breath of stale air and slowly getting up.

He looked at Liu Shuyi and said in a deep voice, "After I have confirmed it many times, the footprints, whether in size or the marks on the soles of his shoes, are exactly the same."

"It can be confirmed that the footprints left in the snow at Wutong Temple belong to Sun Zhouming!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Zhouming, who was being held by the Imperial Guards, turned deathly pale. He struggled violently and shouted, "Innocent! I'm innocent!"

"I didn't kill anyone! I really didn't kill them!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Chumo immediately slapped him across the face.

Snapped!
"The evidence is conclusive, and you still dare to cry foul! I bet you won't admit it until you're faced with the death penalty!"

Cheng Chumo turned to Liu Shuyi and said, "Master Liu, there's no need to waste words with him. This man is eloquent but wicked, and he will never tell the truth obediently! Once we arrest him and put him in jail, we'll torture him severely, and he won't be able to lie."

Hearing Cheng Chumo's words, Sun Zhouming's face turned even paler. He shook his head violently, tears streaming down his face: "It wasn't me, it really wasn't me, I've really been wronged!"

Seeing Sun Zhouming's protesting appearance, Liu Shuyi squatted down and stared directly into the not-so-well-proportioned face.

He said slowly, "Answer me three questions."

Without giving Sun Zhouming time to react, Liu Shuyi went straight to the point: "The first question."

Did the girls from Miaoyin Pavilion give you a sachet? Where is the sachet now?

"Yes, they gave it to me, but I lost the sachet."

"Lost it? How did you lose it?" Liu Shuyi pressed.

Sun Zhouming shook his head: "I don't know when I lost it. When I finally remembered it and went to look for it, it was already gone."

Cheng Chumo sneered, "Of course you can't find it. After all, your sachet was torn apart by the Zhao family you killed. How could you possibly find it!"

“No, it’s not…” Sun Zhouming was about to explain.

Liu Shuyi didn't give him a chance and continued, "Second question, did you leave last night?"

"Yes……"

"What have you been doing?"

“I…” Sun Zhouming opened his mouth, but couldn’t say anything for a long time.

Liu Shuyi narrowed his eyes: "Third question, did you go to Wutong Temple in Chongyi Ward last night?"

"I……"

Sun Zhouming hesitated for a moment, then said, "Although I went, I can explain..."

Liu Shuyi stood up, shook his head, and said, "No need to explain."

He then looked at Cheng Chumo and said, "Take him away."

Sun Zhouming's eyes widened as he stared intently at Liu Shuyi. Suddenly, he shouted, "Liu Shuyi, you know I'm being framed, don't you? Why do you knowingly harm me?!"

"Liu Shuyi, you're the one who wanted to harm me, aren't you!?"

Snapped!
Cheng Chumo slapped him again.

He cursed, "You're just like that Zhao Chengyi, stubborn to the death! And you're blaming Manager Liu?"

"I'll see if you can still be so stubborn once you're in jail!"

After saying that, he waved his hand and said, "Take him away!"

Sun Zhouming was thus taken away by the Imperial Guards, who bound him hand and foot.

Even from afar, you could still hear his cries of injustice and his angry outbursts.

Cheng Chumo said, "Master Liu, ignore him. This man is so ruthless that he will only be more troublesome than Zhao Chengyi."

Liu Shuyi smiled, not caring.

Du Gou then glanced behind Liu Shuyi and asked in confusion, "Where is my sister?"

"Miss Du..."

Liu Shuyi glanced around at the crowd of onlookers and said slowly, "Miss Du said that since she rarely comes to a brothel, she wants to take a good look around."

"What!?"

Du Gou felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and the world seemed to spin around him.

"I'll go find her!"

As he spoke, he quickly walked behind Liu Shuyi.

After he emerged from the crowded area, his brow furrowed, his eyes suddenly flickered.

He looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention to him, secretly lowered his head.

Then I saw a crumpled piece of paper in his palm.

This crumpled piece of paper... was something Liu Shuyi casually slipped into his palm as he passed by it.

Du Gou unfolded the crumpled paper, puzzled, and looked up.

"This is!?"

His brows were full of confusion and bewilderment.

…………

The night is darker.

The night watchman walked past a long-abandoned mansion in Chongyi Ward, struck the clapper, one fast and two slow strikes, his voice weathered and worn: "Midnight, all is well!"

The sound, accompanied by the faint glow of the lanterns, slowly faded into the distance.

Just then, a figure emerged from the shadows in the corner.

He glanced at the departing watchman, then turned to look at the dilapidated mansion with its faded plaques and mottled walls.

Pedal——

With one foot stepping onto the mottled wall, he straightened up and easily flipped over onto the top of the courtyard wall.

Then he silently jumped into the mansion.

The moonlight was hazy, and the mansion was covered in snow, exuding a desolate atmosphere.

Occasionally, a night breeze would blow by, rustling the treetops and making a whistling sound, like the howling of ghosts and wolves.

The quiet and desolate courtyard was truly eerie.

But the figure seemed oblivious to this, striding forward without looking to the side, and arrived at a rock next to the dry well with a clear goal.

He immediately moved the stone aside and looked at what was pressing down on it.

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips: "What kind of genius at solving cases! When you meet me, aren't you just a complete idiot?"

"If you want to find me, wait until your next life!"

Boom!
The voice just fell.

Suddenly, a loud noise came from behind.

The figure suddenly turned around.

The tightly closed, dilapidated door was smashed open.

Dozens of Imperial Guards, each carrying a torch, rushed in.

Following them, Liu Shuyi, dressed in a blue official robe and with a handsome face, slowly walked in with Du Gou and Du Ying, the siblings, and a bewildered Cheng Chumo.

As he walked, he said, "Thank you for showing me the way. If you hadn't led the way, I really wouldn't have been able to find this crucial piece of evidence!"

"So, should I call you the murderer now, or should I call you...?"

Liu Shuyi looked at the figure dressed in black ahead and slowly said, "The madam of Miaoyin Pavilion?"

(End of this chapter)