Глава 13, ч.2. Допросы

” The missing tax money case was beyond Registrar Xu’s jurisdiction. The county magistrate would have more access to information though he was considered a small potato in Jingzhao City. window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "62910880adf4e30027560830", id: "pf-1556-1"}) Without the backing of powerful officials, one would not expect a long tenure. Magistrate Zhu chuckled. “Xu Pingzhi is a rough-edged martial artist. He was nothing but a scapegoat in this case.” The county magistrate paused as if not wanting to reveal too much, then said, “He’s not the reason behind the Xu family’s release.” “Who then?

” Constable Wang asked. Registrar Xu had an inkling he knew the real story but he waited for the county magistrate to continue. Magistrate Zhu said, “Xu Qian. It was he who solved the case. His name is recorded in the scroll, according to an acquaintance of mine who works in the Jingzhao Courts. A father’s crime can be absolved with a son’s meritorious act. Although he is just a nephew, the basic principle stands.” Registrar Xu whistled and said, “Xu Qian would have been in jail while the investigation was ongoing. How did he crack the case?

” “I found it unbelievable too, but now I understand,” Magistrate Zhu said knowingly. ... “The scroll?

” Registrar Xu arrived at the same idea and was shocked. With only the written information… Constable Wang was rarely able to catch wind of the higher-ups’ gossip but this round, he was truly dumbfounded. He did not believe Xu Qian could single-handedly solve a case that had everyone stumped. It made no sense to Constable Wang. When Xu Qian had first come to him, he was a hot-headed youngster who approached every case head-on. When did the brash young man become an expert in solving cases?

… When Constable Wang came back to the break room with the warrant, Xu Qian was asleep at his desk. He had spent the previous night thinking about a variety of things and fell asleep after the third gong. Other constables moved to wake Xu Qian but Constable Wang raised his hand and said, “Let him sleep.” He selected two constables. “Come with me to the Zhang manor.” The three men summoned their civilian guards and left the Changle County Courts in a group of nine. ... The civilian guard was formed from temporary conscription. Civilians were recruited and made to work without pay, lodgings or food. On the bright side, they were not required to bear any responsibility. Xu Qian was jolted awake by the rallying cry. He wiped away his drool and walked toward the main court. He figured they must have successfully captured the suspects and the interrogations were underway. In the main court, Magistrate Zhu sat at the judge’s desk on the dais. Beside him, further to the back, were the court officer and court runner. Before the dais, the three classes of low-level officials gathered in two groups. Between them knelt the two suspects, a young man in an embroidered green robe and a beautiful woman in a purple silk dress. The woman wore a distraught expression, a contrast to the young man’s unperturbed demeanor. Bang! Magistrate Zhu slammed the table and called out, “State your name.” The woman glanced at the young man. He gave her a serene look before straightening his back. “I am Zhang Xian.” The woman said in a soft voice, “I am Yang Zhenzhen.” Magistrate Zhu asked, “How did the both of you kill Zhang Yourui?

Be honest!” The woman was taken aback by the accusation. Her eyelashes fluttered as she tried to find her words. Zhang Xian was shocked but he spoke, “Where is this accusation coming from?

Why would I kill my father?

” “Where were you when the murder occurred?

” Magistrate Zhu asked. “I was in the study.” window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "618befb240ce5b0028261626", id: "pf-878-1"}) “Why were you not with your wife?

” “I was checking the books.” “Who can verify your whereabouts?

” “No one was awake at that time of night.” Zhang Xian’s answers were coherent and unhurried. Either he had a clear conscience or he had had practice. Xu Qian believed it was the latter. Although Zhang Xian did not have a verified alibi, there was no hard evidence pinning the murder on him. A theory was only a theory and the man was innocent until proven guilty. The county magistrate turned to the woman. “Yang Zhenzhen, you were married to Zhang Yourui for ten years yet bore him no children. How is it that you are pregnant now?

I urge you to answer honestly, did you and Zhang Xian have improper relations and conspired to murder your husband?

” Yang Zhenzhen cried out. “No! My body is weak and I have been following the doctor’s advice daily to improve my health. It has been difficult but we managed to conceive. How can you accuse me of killing my husband?

” The floodgates opened and tears streamed down her face. Xu Qian watched the scene and wondered, ‘How to obtain the truth?

’ A feasible idea entered his mind. Unrelated to the main character’s family.