Chapter 10: That Frivolous Old Man Dared To touch This Palace!? (1)
Tang Songnian spent several days tracking the murders of Sun and his wife and gradually obtained some new information. On that day, Ma Butou and Master Shen Ming were called into his study to analyze the case.
His right index finger was tapping the record file while listening to Ma Butou’s reports.
“Before the fire, the old servant and the maid named Qiu Ping heard the deceased couple quarreling in the main room. Presumably, Sun Youcai, who had a dispute with Tian-shi, started to act violent. Yet, Tian-shi was a dainty flower. She must have failed to beat Sun Youcai, such a powerful adult man. And perhaps in panic, she picked up the knife on the table and stabbed Sun Youcai, accidentally killing him.
“After the death of Sun Youcai, Tian-shi knew that she had committed an unforgivable crime, so she committed suicide in fear. The fire in Sun Manor should have been put out before Tian-shi died.”
Tang Song Nian nodded slightly, looking at Shen Ming. “What does Mr. Shen think?”
“Ma Butou sounds logical, but he missed something: Sun Youcai’s head injury,” Shen Ming answered thoughtfully.
“That Tian-shi first injured Sun Youcai with a pickle jar, and while the other person fell into a coma, she stabbed him to death?” Ma Butou spoke again.
Shen Ming shook his head. “Tian-shi is a lady and is not as strong or tall as Sun Youcai. Under that situation, it would have been difficult to hit the back of his head. Even if she could by accident, what would the murder weapon? It must be something that a woman can easily pick up with one hand.
“However, the jar is large and slippery, so it is difficult to pick it up with one hand, let alone use it as a weapon to knock someone unconscious.
“So, I personally think that there must be a third person on the scene! This person saw Tian-shi being beaten, picked up the pickle jar in anger, and hit him hard. Sun Youcai, who might have been beating Tian-shi on the ground, was knocked unconscious.”
Tang Song Nian nodded. “Mr. Shen’s words are also what I’m thinking in my mind. But the person had already killed him by mistake. Why did he stab Sun Youcai again? If it’s intentional homicide, what is the motive for the murder?
“One more thing. We have already asked everyone in Sun’s Manor except one.”
Ma Botou and Shen Ming glanced at each other and said in unison, “That unconscious child!”
“Yes.” Tang Song Nian nodded. “In fact, when I was checking the child’s pulse, I discovered that the child’s coma was caused by drugs.”
Seeing Shen Ming and Ma Butou’s face full of surprise, he slowly added, “According to Qiu Ping, Dong-shi’s handmaid, Tian-shi usually takes care of the child by herself ever since the boy arrived at Sun’s Manor.
“In the early years, Sun Youcai was just a peddler carrying a shoulder pole through the streets. Later, he married Tian-shi, and the husband and wife worked together to gradually expand the business. Over time, the wealth in the family accumulated.
“Unfortunately, Tian-shi had been childless for many years after her marriage. Sun Youcai accepted Dong-shi three years ago, who then gave birth to a daughter. According to investigations, the relationship between the Sun couple had been increasingly distant in these years, and Tian-shi no longer intervened in Sun Youcai’s business.
“The child came to Tian-shi with his biological mother, who treated the pair with attention and care. After the child’s birth mother died of illness, Tian-shi placed him in a courtyard not far from the main house where she lived and treated him as her own child.
“Maybe what happened in the main room that night, this child knows better than anyone in Sun’s Manor.”
“After hearing what my Lord has said, the case becomes much more clear.” Shen Ming and Ma Shoutou took it very seriously.
“So, the key to this case actually fell on that child?” Shen Ming thoughtfully said.
Tang Song Nian smiled slightly and called out, “Mo Yan!”
Mo Yan entered in response. “What is the order, my Lord?”
“Go and bring the child. If my wife asks, say that I have a few words to ask him. It’s not a big deal. Don’t frighten my wife.”
Mo Yan listened to the order and went away.
***
First day of lunar month, the day when Wangs adhere to customs and go to Chaoyun Temple to light incense.
This time, Wang-shi was going to bring Xu Yun Yao.
Ruan-shi was a little surprised as she listened to her. “I heard that Taoist Xuan Qing has come out of his seclusion. Last time, thanks to the amulet donated by him, Little Treasure survived a disaster. I want to ask the Taoist to make a portrait of her and ask for an amulet.”
Ruan-shi gladly agreed.
Xu Yun Yao was quite unhappy. She didn’t know what happened, but as far as she could remember, she was quite unwilling to see this frivolous Taoist priest.
Although she was not happy, no one cared about her little opinion, so she was eventually seated in a carriage.
Chaoyun Temple was located halfway up the mountain in the city. It was a famous Taoist temple, pilgrims coming everyday. Xu Yun Yao fell into mama Xia’s arms in a daze and yawned.
Really, what’s the good thing about those frivolous Taoist priests? I might as well stay at home with my moonlit hero and watch that kid Huai Zhou find new ways to have fun!
Wang-shi had finished lighting the incense in the Hall of Great Strength, main hall of a Taoist temple, and donated sesame oil. They were just about to find a little Taoist to lead the way when they saw Taoist Head Xuan Qing in a green Taoist robe approaching them.
“Amitabha.”
“Master,” Wang-shi hastily greeted.
Xu Yun Yao held out her plump little hands, rubbed her eyes, and glanced at the old man, then frowned slightly.
This old man looked like a heavenly priest, but his eyes were annoying.
Xuan Qing and Wang-shi exchanged a few words of courtesy, but his eyes always inadvertently looked at Xu Yun Yao in mama Xia’s arms, his gaze somewhat complicated.
What are you looking at!? Look again, and this palace shall dig your dog eyes! Xu Yun Yao glared at him.
“This is my little granddaughter. Last time, thanks to the talisman from Master, she was able to escape a disaster. Master has been so kind, and the whole family remembers it,” Wang-shi carried her granddaughter and said with gratitude.
Xuan Qing repeated his catchphrase, Amitabha, and said, “Can this poor Taoist hug this little girl?”
There was no reason for Wang-shi to reject. She smiled and handed him Xu Yun Yao.
Xuan Qing squeezed the complex emotions in his heart and held out his hand to hug, but Xu Yun Yao slapped it openly. “No!”
How dare you touch this palace, you frivolous old man?!
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