News from Wanchun Pavilion spread with astonishing speed. By the time the city's residents had finished their morning meal, it was the talk of every street and alley.
Provincial Graduate Wang rushed out of his sedan chair, his face a mask of panic, nearly stumbling on the steps.
He scrambled into the county magistrate's office, his whole body trembling.
His wife's sedan arrived a moment later. As she hurried inside, she saw Provincial Graduate Wang lift the white cloth covering the corpse.
He froze for an instant, then threw his head back and collapsed.
Had the bailiff standing beside him not caught him quickly, he would have surely cracked his skull on the floor.
Seeing this scene, she had no doubt who the body must be.
Her hand braced against the doorframe, her body went limp and slid down.
They had only this one son. That was why, even knowing he was a good-for-nothing, they had always indulged him.
Provincial Graduate Wang lunged at Constable Zhao, gripping his arm with a force that seemed intent on crushing the bone.
"Who killed my son?"
"Who was it?"
Constable Zhao quickly replied, "The investigation is still ongoing. Did your honorable son recently offend anyone?"
Clutching his head in remorse, Provincial Graduate Wang said, "I shouldn't have scolded him yesterday. Then he wouldn't have gone to the brothel."
Zhang Yuanzong's stern gaze swept over the other six corpses.
"Also killed yesterday were six local ruffians, led by Zhao Sandao. What was your son's relationship with them?"
"Why were they drinking together at Wanchun Pavilion?"
Hearing this, Mrs. Wang, who had slumped by the door, staggered over and knelt before Zhang Yuanzong.
"Your Honor, it was the milk tea vendor on Middle Street who killed my son. It must be her. No one else could have done it."
Zhang Yuanzong frowned, a flicker of something strange in his eyes.
"You mean Miss Song?"
Mrs. Wang nodded vehemently, wailing in heart-rending grief. "Yes, her!"
"Yesterday, after Shizhang was beaten by his father, he came to me saying he would teach that woman a lesson. And then, in the blink of an eye, my son is dead."
Zhang Yuanzong unconsciously took a step back. How did this case involve Song Jinzhao?
Provincial Graduate Wang glared at his wife and roared, "Why didn't you tell me such an important thing sooner?"
Mrs. Wang covered her eyes, sobbing. "I didn't think it was a big deal. I didn't know it would come to this."
"She's just a powerless peasant girl. Who could have imagined my son would die?"
Zhang Yuanzong's brows knitted tighter. The more he heard, the more something felt wrong.
Just then, a bailiff who had gone to investigate the victims' movements from the previous day rushed back to report. "Your Honor, the soldiers guarding the city gate said that when Zhao Sandao and his men entered the city yesterday, they were covered in injuries, as if they'd been in a fight."
Zhang Yuanzong's jaw tightened. "When did they leave the city?"
The bailiff answered, "Around You hour, three quarters."
Zhang Yuanzong lowered his head in thought.
Song Jinzhao packed up her stall every day at You hour. If Wang Shizhang had hired Zhao Sandao and his gang to teach her a lesson outside the city, the timing would match perfectly.
He instructed Constable Zhao, "Take some men and invite Song Jinzhao here for questioning."
Provincial Graduate Wang, standing to the side, looked at Zhang Yuanzong with suspicion.
Why did the magistrate's attitude towards that woman seem so unusual?
She was just a common vendor, yet he used the word "invite."
When Constable Zhao and his men arrived at Song Village, Song Jinzhao and Old Lady Song had just finished boiling the pearls for the day's sale.
"Constable Zhao, what brings you here so early?"
Constable Zhao cupped his hands. "Miss Song, a murder has occurred in the city. His Honor has sent me to invite you to the magistrate's office for questioning."
Song Jinzhao feigned confusion, frowning. "Why call me for questioning about a murder?"
Constable Zhao's voice lowered involuntarily. "The deceased are Wang Shizhang, Zhao Sandao, and several of his brothers. The Wang family is accusing you of being the murderer."
Old Lady Song, who was slicing cucumber strips, started in shock.
Could it be those men from yesterday evening? But they were alive and well when they left!
How could they suddenly be dead?
The spot where Song Jinzhao fought Zhao Sandao was fifty meters from the cart. Combined with her deliberately lowered voice afterwards, Old Lady Song and the others hadn't heard a thing.
They only saw Song Jinzhao release the man, after which he remained kneeling on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
Then they drove the cart away.
Song Jinzhao raised an eyebrow. "So it's the Wang family. I did have a confrontation with some men outside the city yesterday, but I only gave them a beating. They were alive when I left."
Old Lady Song hurried over, the kitchen knife in her hand shaking as she spoke. "Yes, yes! They were perfectly fine when they left yesterday. My Jinzhao didn't kill anyone!"
Constable Zhao quickly reassured them. "It's just for questioning, not a conviction."
"As long as we clarify the case has nothing to do with you, with His Honor here, the Wang family won't be able to falsely accuse you."
Song Jinzhao untied her apron and laid it on the table. "In that case, Granny, I'll go. We won't set up the stall this morning. Wait for me to return."
Old Lady Song grabbed Song Jinzhao's hand, flustered. "I'll go with you. I can testify they were alive when they left."
Song Shixue looked worried, holding her sister's hand. "Elder Sister, I want to go with you."
Song Jinzhao gently reassured her. "You stay home. Granny and I will be back soon."
The moment she stepped into the magistrate's office, Mrs. Wang threw herself at Song Jinzhao like a woman possessed, her long-nailed hands aiming to claw her face to shreds.
"You killed my son! I want your life!"
Song Jinzhao lifted her foot and kicked the woman down, her expression impassive. "I did not kill your son." He brought it upon himself.
Zhang Yuanzong slammed the magistrate's wooden block heavily on the desk, sternly rebuking them. "Silence! This is a court of law. I will not tolerate such impudent behavior here!"
At his command, the court session began. Townsfolk who had heard the news gathered to watch the spectacle.
Had the murderer been caught so quickly?
Zhang Yuanzong looked at Song Jinzhao kneeling below the dais and asked, "Miss Song, did you have a conflict with Zhao Sandao and others outside the city yesterday?"
Song Jinzhao lifted her chin, neither subservient nor arrogant. "Yes, but I did not kill them."
Zhang Yuanzong said, "Describe the events in detail."
"Your Honor, this matter traces back to when I was buying a shop."
"The day before yesterday, on a broker's recommendation, I took a liking to a shop belonging to Provincial Graduate Wang. I signed a preliminary agreement and paid a forty-tael deposit."
"We originally agreed to meet at the broker's yesterday morning and then come to the magistrate's office to sign the final deed. But I was suddenly informed the shop was jointly owned by Provincial Graduate Wang and a relative. The price was originally one hundred sixty taels, but they suddenly demanded two hundred sixty."
"Unwilling to pay, I demanded Provincial Graduate Wang return double the deposit as per the agreement, or else I would bring the matter before you, Your Honor, seeking justice."
"In the afternoon, Provincial Graduate Wang suddenly came to my stall, threatening that I must buy the shop or else face the consequences."
"I wasn't afraid. I insisted on the compensation. Then, on my way back in the evening, a gang of bandits armed with long knives stopped my cart, saying they were going to teach me a lesson. A fight ensued."
"That's when I learned they had been sent by Provincial Graduate Wang's son. I had originally planned to report this to the authorities today if I couldn't get the compensation. I never expected they would falsely accuse me of murder first."
