Merit-based card draws, quickly become a Heavenly Emperor

The officials were all taken aback when they heard this.

Upon closer examination, I realized that Fang Zheng's deduction was quite reasonable.

At this moment, not only the officials in the hall, but also the clerks and runners were captivated by Fang Zheng's reasoning in the case.

Granny Gui also looked surprised, clearly not expecting that the other party could deduce her thoughts; it was truly remarkable.

At this moment, Fang Zheng walked up to Granny Gui and questioned her: "Wu Gui, you originally planned to find Chu Tiankuo's daughter and then kill her in front of Chu Tiankuo."

However, Chu Tiankuo was wary and protected his family very well.

No matter how hard you investigate, you still don't know who his daughter is.

"If you can't find her, you can't take revenge the way you want, right?"

At this moment, Fang Zheng pressed Granny Gui for answers, and she looked surprised, clearly realizing that he had guessed his thoughts.

However, Granny Gui did not deny it, and sneered: "That's right, that's what I originally planned."

I really didn't expect Chu Tiankuo to be so cunning. I've served him for ten years, and he still managed to keep his daughter a secret so well.

"It's good that you admit it."

Fang Zheng added, "You haven't wasted these fifteen years, and I admire you for that."

Fifteen years ago, you were already over fifty years old. By some unknown opportunity, you learned illusion and poison techniques and even cultivated to the eighth rank of the Artifact Control Realm.

The other day I suspected that Chu Tiankuo was being held captive by a mole within the Chu family, so I summoned you all for questioning.

You deceived them with illusions beforehand, so these servants were completely unaware of their confinement. Therefore, they had no flaws when questioned, leaving me at a loss.

Unfortunately, your cleverness backfired; the last question you asked gave you away.

At this point, Fang Zheng shook his head, but Granny Gui's face twisted as she realized her mistake.

"I asked you to help me investigate Chu Tiankuo's daughter. Is it because of this sentence that you suspect me?"

Why is this?

As Chu Tiankuo's loyal servant, I wanted to find his daughter and take good care of her after his death.

What is there to doubt?

With so many people around, Fang Zheng didn't want to reveal Liu Qingyu's existence. He simply shook his head and said, "Lord Chu is punishing evil and eliminating wickedness in Yongqing County, which makes him a thorn in the side of many corrupt officials."

He didn't even tell his sworn brother, Lord Guan Tieyi, about recognizing his daughter, so why would he tell you, an old servant in charge of purchasing for the Chu family and who often comes into contact with outsiders?

Moreover, I discovered in the study of the Chu residence that a portrait on the wall was missing.

Judging from its size and specifications, it should be a painting of a lady.

If this was a portrait of Lord Chu's daughter, and it was later taken by the murderer for revenge, then everything makes sense.

Granny Gui was now completely convinced. She looked up at the sky and sighed, saying, "I only regret that the heavens didn't help me and didn't let me kill my enemy's daughter."

"absurd!"

Lu Qingyun was furious and shouted: "Chu Tiankuo mistakenly killed your son, but confessed to the official afterwards and was sentenced to a heavy sentence. He redeemed himself by performing meritorious service on the battlefield."

His mistakes have already been judged by the laws of the Yun Dynasty.

As a mother, you harbored resentment and plotted to harm Chu Tiankuo and his daughter. While your actions may be pitied, your crimes are unforgivable!

Granny Gui, however, was not afraid at all and sneered, "You officials are indeed birds of a feather."

My son was wrongfully killed by Chu Tiankuo, and now I am also being framed and killed by you.

It's a pity that this corrupt official, Chu Tiankuo, didn't die at my hands. I will die with my eyes wide open in disbelief!

Lu Qingyun was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and then his expression changed.

Meanwhile, County Magistrate Zhu Tianhua slammed his hand on the table and stood up, saying, "Wu Gui, don't try to argue!"

You have admitted to poisoning Chu Tiankuo, and previously even attempted to murder Chu Tiankuo's daughter.

These are all facts, yet you still claim you didn't kill Chu Tiankuo.

It seems that you won't tell the truth unless you're tortured.

"Someone come here!"

"Wait a moment!"

Lu Qingyun then spoke up to stop him: "Lord Zhu, please don't be in such a hurry. It's not time to use torture yet."

Furthermore, using torture to extract confessions is unacceptable.

Zhu Tianhua frowned: "Lord Lu, I know you value solid evidence and persuading people with reason, but that depends on the person."

How could Wu Gui, such an incorrigible villain, possibly tell the truth without torture?

The old magistrate nodded in agreement: "The county magistrate is right. If we don't use torture to deal with these heinous criminals, they will definitely not behave."

Not only this old woman, but also all the servants of the Chu family, were subjected to severe torture to extract confessions.

Even if the ringleader doesn't speak, the accomplices will.

Upon hearing this, Granny Gui laughed heartily: "That's all the officials are capable of."

My son was tortured into confessing by Chu Tiankuo back then. Do you want to use torture?

Come on, let's see if I confess.

"How dare you!" Zhu Tianhua reprimanded, and several constables immediately stepped forward to restrain Granny Gui.

At this moment, Lu Qingyun waved his hand, dismissing the constables, and then looked at Granny Gui and said, "During the week you poisoned and imprisoned Chu Tiankuo, you must have been searching for her daughter's whereabouts, but you couldn't find her."

However, you cannot keep a supervisor under house arrest indefinitely; every extra day increases the chances of being discovered.

So you went all the way and killed Chu Tiankuo.

Yes and no?

Granny Gui snorted coldly: "I admit to poisoning, I admit to house arrest, and I admit to chasing and killing Chu Tiankuo's daughter. I admit to all of these."

But Chu Tiankuo, I didn't kill him, I don't admit it!

Lu Qingyun frowned: "At this point, why deny it?"

Granny Gui looked up at Lu Qingyun, then at Fang Zheng, and said, "You, the female official, and you, the young man, are much better than these corrupt officials in Yongqing County. I admire your methods of handling cases."

If my son had met you back then, he would not have been wrongly convicted and killed!

That's right, things have come to this point. If it was me who did it, why should I deny it?

But the truth is, I did not kill Chu Tiankuo.

"I can't figure this out either. Who killed Chu Tiankuo before me and even beheaded him?"

She gritted her teeth and said, "If that thief hadn't made the scene so horrific that it was impossible to hide it from anyone, how could it have attracted you officials?"

How could these incompetent officials in Yongqing County possibly catch me?

"Give me a few more days, let me kill Chu Tiankuo's daughter with my own hands, even if I die, I will be content!"

At this moment, Lu Qingyun's expression changed several times. Lu Zhengfeng seemed to have thought of something as well, and his face showed surprise. Then he and Lu Qingyun exchanged a glance.

Clearly, both of them knew that by this point, Granny Gui had committed enough crimes to warrant having her head chopped off.

If she did it, she usually wouldn't deny it.

Unless, it really wasn't Granny Gui who killed Chu Tiankuo.

Moreover, if you think about some of the details, you'll realize that Chu Tiankuo might not have been killed by Granny Gui.

Just as Granny Gui said, she not only wanted to kill Chu Tiankuo, but also Chu Tiankuo's daughter.

Therefore, they would certainly not cut off Chu Tiankuo's head and make the murder known throughout the city.

This is inherently unreasonable.

Could it be that there's more to this case than meets the eye?