Merit-based card draws, quickly become a Heavenly Emperor

As Fang Zheng spoke, he glanced at Lü Zhengfeng and Lu Qingyun.

The two nodded and said, "What Fang Zheng said is correct."

Upon hearing this, the old magistrate couldn't help but say, "Fang Zheng, while your speculation has some basis, it's a bit far-fetched."

Chu Tiankuo is a high-ranking official of the eighth rank, and also an eighth-rank martial artist who fought his way out of the army.

If it really came down to a fight, even my old arms and legs might not be a match for him.

In Yongqing County, who could so easily place him under house arrest?

"I'm definitely not up to it. Lao Zhu, Lao Ma, are you guys up to it?"

Upon hearing this, the county magistrate and the county constable shook their heads repeatedly.

"Your Excellency is too kind. Lord Chu is the foremost martial artist in this county. We certainly don't possess such abilities!"

Fang Zheng shook his head inwardly, feeling extremely disappointed in the old magistrate.

People say this county magistrate is a lazy and incompetent official, and seeing it today, it's certainly true.

His words completely absolved him of any suspicion, denying that Fang Zheng's speculation was false and that his true intention was to protect himself.

County Lieutenant Ma Debiao smiled and said, "What the magistrate says makes sense."

Indeed, a high-ranking official of the eighth rank wouldn't be so easily placed under house arrest.

"yes.

Moreover, even if someone could detain Chu Tiankuo, what would their purpose be?

"Why not just kill him directly instead of placing him under house arrest?" the magistrate pressed, asking again.

These two questions certainly hit the nail on the head.

However, Fangzheng had already anticipated this.

"I believe that you all, like the magistrate, are also puzzled by these two points, so I will explain them one by one."

"Lord Lü, please upload the evidence."

At this point, Lü Zhengfeng had someone bring in the evidence.

Soon, officials from the supervisory office came up and brought several medical books, a set of medicine-decocting utensils, and some medicines, placing them in the hall.

"These were all found in the hidden residence of Granny Gui, the steward of the Chu family."

Fang Zheng then pointed to Granny Gui, who was sitting in the hall with her eyes closed and not saying a word, and said...

Everyone suddenly realized.

"I see."

County Magistrate Zhu Tianhua suddenly realized and said, "That's right, besides the expert forcibly controlling Chu Tiankuo, there is another important possibility."

If it were a steward familiar with Chu Tiankuo's daily life, it would be very easy to plot against him.

Could it be that these medicines are...?

Lu Qingyun nodded and said, "The doctor has confirmed that these medicines are enough to paralyze a martial artist who has reached the peak of the eighth-grade Meridian Opening stage."

It's difficult to even speak, let alone move around.

I have just begun interrogating Granny Gui, and this is part of her testimony.

She also admitted that she was the one who made the medicine, secretly poisoned Chu Tiankuo, and then placed him under house arrest.

This aligns with many of Founder's previous predictions.

Lu Qingyun looked at Fang Zheng, signaling him to continue recounting the case.

Fang Zheng then asked, "As for the other point, why did Granny Gui want to poison Chu Tiankuo?"

Furthermore, even if she wanted to poison Chu Tiankuo, why didn't she just kill him from the beginning, instead of keeping him under house arrest for a week?

This brings us to the past feud between Granny Gui and Chu Tiankuo.

After he finished speaking, he asked the officials in charge of supervising the case to present several files to the officials present.

It was the case file that Lu Qingyun had previously obtained from the state regarding Chu Tiankuo's mistaken execution of the scholar.

After a moment, the county constable put down the file and said, "So that's how it is. This is the motive for the murder."

Grandma Gui's real name is Wu Gui.

Fifteen years ago, her son was wrongly sentenced to beheading by Chu Tiankuo.

She's avenging her son.

"Corrupt official!"

At this moment, Granny Gui, who had been keeping her eyes closed and silent, suddenly sprang to her feet and spoke up in rebuttal.

Her body was already thin, and now her veins were bulging, making her look extremely frightening.

"My son was innocent back then; he didn't kill anyone at all."

It was that corrupt official Chu Tiankuo who wrongfully killed my son!

The county constable sneered, "You audacious scoundrel!"

The case file already stated that six months after the scholar was mistakenly killed, Chu Tiankuo discovered the suspicious points, took the initiative to explain to his superiors, and exonerated the scholar.

He himself was exiled to the army for serious mistakes and served on the frontier for several years, fighting bloody battles with monsters.

He was only able to re-enter officialdom after making great contributions.

This case has already been settled; how dare you detain a Chao official without authorization!

"Hmph, all I know is that my son didn't kill anyone, he was framed, but Chu Tiankuo still sentenced my son to death."

"Shouldn't Chu Tiankuo pay with his life?!" Granny Gui asked, her neck stiff with arrogance.

"So you killed Chu Tiankuo!" The county constable slammed his fist on the table.

To everyone's surprise, Granny Gui shook her head with a cold laugh: "I didn't kill him."

"Chu Tiankuo, I didn't kill him."

Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng felt a sense of unease, but also a feeling of relief, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Just as he had expected, Granny Gui denied killing Chu Tiankuo.

Looking at Lü Zhengfeng and Lu Qingyun, their faces showed some surprise and uncertainty.

"absurd!"

At this moment, Zhu Tianhua, the county magistrate who had been silent, immediately reprimanded: "Now that you have a motive for murder and have admitted to drugging and murdering Chu Tiankuo, you still refuse to admit that you killed him."

Do you really think the laws of the dynasty can't punish you? Guards, use torture on me!

"Wait!"

Lu Qingyun stopped him with great displeasure, and then said, "It is unacceptable to force a confession."

"You wicked woman Wu Gui, you still refuse to admit it? Very well, I will make you admit it wholeheartedly."

Granny Gui glanced at the officials, her face full of disdain: "You officials protect each other, you hold great power, and you can easily decide a person's life or death."

I'd like to see how you'll spout nonsense and make baseless accusations to frame me and convict me.

At this moment, Lu Qingyun snorted coldly and said, "Wu Gui, back then, in order to avenge your son, you tried every means to become Chu Tiankuo's servant, and you did so for ten years."

Over the past ten years, you must have had many opportunities to take revenge, but you didn't.

Why?

"Yes, why?" Clearly, as the case was explained, everyone's curiosity was piqued.

Granny Gui gave a cold laugh, raised her head, and remained silent.

Lu Qingyun didn't need Granny Gui's answer, but looked at Fang Zheng and said, "I believe everyone has this question in their hearts."

To be honest, the question of why Wu Gui waited ten years to take revenge also stumped me.

It was thanks to Fangzheng's inspiration that I suddenly understood.

Fang Zheng smiled and said, "Even if I didn't say it, Lord Lu would surely be able to deduce it."

"Don't be modest, just tell me your guess."

Fang Zheng replied solemnly, "Yes, Lord Lu."

One method in investigating and apprehending murderers is to put yourself in the murderer's shoes, think what they think, and consider what they want to think.

After suspecting Wu Gui was the murderer, I wondered, if I were Wu Gui, how would I take revenge on the person who killed my son?

Some people hold grudges and seek revenge immediately.

But some people are different; they like to use the other person's methods against them.

If you kill my son, I will kill your daughter. Only in that way can I make the other person empathize.

Wu Gui is one of these kinds of people.

She didn't seek revenge in the early stages, probably because she didn't have the ability.

Judging from her notes in medical books, she only began to study medical classics and toxicology in the last two years.

She hesitated to take revenge after learning the technique because she discovered a portrait of Chu Tiankuo's daughter in his study.

She wanted to find out the whereabouts of Chu Tiankuo's daughter before killing her, so that Chu Tiankuo would also experience the pain of losing a son and the desolation of a parent outliving their child.