Ji Yunshu and Jing Rong looked serious.
Marquis Kang saw this and quickly asked, "Teacher Ji, what's going on here? Didn't you just send someone to invite me to Madame Lin's place?"
"Marquis, it was because I deduced that Granny Lin was killed by Cai Da, so His Highness ordered someone to inform you."
The crowd was in an uproar! Cai Da killed Granny Lin? How could a son kill his own mother?
Everyone in the estate knew that Cai Da was a filial son who took good care of his mother, so how could he kill her? Impossible! All the shocked eyes stared at Ji Yunshu, wanting to hear from her exactly why she came up with those words.
Marquis Kang was also surprised. He pointed at the dead man on the ground and asked, "Are you saying that the person who killed Madam Lin was Cai Da? How is this... possible?"
"Based on the evidence at the scene, what I said is true; the murderer is Cai Da."
"Then why did he kill his own mother?"
"I don't know either, but ... it may be something to do with the recent haunting of the estate."
Why are we coming back to the ghost haunting again? Marquis Kang and the crowd were confused.
Ji Yunshu then told Marquis Kang about the evidence she found on the clothes of Granny Lin and the clues found in the rock garden.
After hearing this, Marquis Kang remained silent and seemed to be digesting it carefully.
Ji Yunshu continued, "Originally, I wanted to bring Cai Da over and ask him what really happened with Granny Lin at that time and whether he had anything to do with the ghost haunting or not. But I didn’t unexpected that he would commit suicide."
This time, Marquis Kang reacted and his eyes lit up, "So then if Cai Da was really responsible for the ghost haunting, wouldn't the issue be solved now that he's dead?"
"Marquis may not have fully understood what I said. Cai Da may have something to do with haunting, but he died about four hours ago. But just an hour ago, Marquis and I heard a child’s laughter in the ancestral hall. If there was only one troublemaker in the estate, then where did the child's laughter come from? Furthermore, it's too difficult to leave a handprint on the plaque of your estate and entangle the trees at the entrance without anyone noticing. "
"Does Teacher mean... that there is more than one person who is causing trouble in the estate?"
"Maybe, because it's only possible to accomplish these by covering up for each other."
Marquis Kang understood. He immediately ordered, "Immediately bring the person who was guarding the door on the night the handprint appeared on the signboard."
A few of the servants went quickly. As soon as they left, Mo Ruo and Tang Si came. When she saw the dead body in the room, Tang Si immediately got out of the door and felt a shiver run down her body again.
Mo Ruo bowed to Marquis Kang, "May I know why Marquis asked me to come here?"
Marquis Kang felt bad, "I intended to ask Young Master Mo to come and save the person, but there is no need for that anymore since the person is dead and can't be saved." Sigh!
Mo Ruo took a look at Cai Da, who was already dead. Then he took a look at Jing Rong, poked him gently with his elbow, and asked in a low voice, "what's going on?"
Unexpectedly, Jing Rong took a meaningful look at Tang Si at the door and asked him in response, "what's the matter with you?"
"What else could it be? Just bad luck. "
"It seems like there's drama everywhere tonight."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing." Jing Rong gave him a cold response as theyargued in whispers.
The two guards at the gate were quickly brought in and knelt down on the ground with a loud "thump".
Marquis Kang questioned, "Who was it that put the bloody handprints on the plaque?"
"Marquis, we don't know."
"You were the ones guarding the gate that night, how can someone leave a bloody handprint without anyone noticing? Are you all blind?"
"We really don't know, Marquis! Even if you give us two guts as large as the Heavens, we wouldn't dare to deceive you."
Marquis Kang was serious, "Even at this time, you're still not telling the truth?"
The two kneeling on the ground were shivering. They sweated as though they had been drenched in the rain, the sweat dripping from their foreheads and noses, but their hands and feet were cold. The two men lowered their heads even lower. They shouted at the top of their lungs that they were innocent and that they have absolutely no idea what was going on.
It was not possible to bring them to trial without evidence. Marquis Kang didn’t know what to do now. The case wasn’t going to be shelved, was it? After all, Cai Da, who may have been involved in the case, was dead. There was no way to know why Cai Da would return at night or what was going on with the haunting anymore. The only thing clear now was that Cai Da killed Granny Lin by mistake and committed suicide himself.
Whether Cai Da was colluding with the other servants to put on a good show, was merely a conjecture by Jing Rong and Ji Yunshu. Since they no solid evidence, what could they do even if it was true?
In the end, Marquis Kang had to dismiss everyone and ordered that Cai Da's body be taken away, along with Granny Lin's body, to Yi Zhuang. In recognition of Granny Lin’s many years of service, Marquis Kang ordered that a site with good fengshui be found and the two be buried properly.
"Teacher Ji, this matter is really getting more and more unclear, and I need your help to continue the investigation."
"Marquis, don't worry, I will do my best."
"Thank you. It's getting late, Teacher Ji should rest early."
She nodded.
Marquis Kang turned to Jing Rong and said, "Prince Rong, please rest early as well."
"Sure."
Marquis Kang then left.
Mo Ruo twisted his neck and felt sore all over his body. He had been called over to save an already dead person in the middle of the night. Was he really regarded as the Great Immortal Luo who saved the dying and wounded? "Let’s go. I've been tired all day." He began to go back and Tang Si followed him, clinging to him like sticky candy.
Jing Rong sent Ji Yunshu back to the courtyard. "Don't come out again after you go in. This estate is strange, so even if there are no ghosts, you shouldn't walk around freely."
She obediently agreed.
Only then could Jing Rong leave with ease.
As soon as Ji Yunshu returned to the room, a caw was heard from outside. It was a crow.
When she looked back at the courtyard, she saw that the crow that had been resting on the boulder was now on a lantern hanging on the low wall outside. Its black body gleamed spookily in the orange candlelight, its bright eyes staring straight at her.
Caw! It screamed again. She stepped out and walked lightly to the crow, gazing into those black diamond eyes.
It was said that crows were unlucky, and that if you encountered one, it would be at a place where people would die. When they saw a crow at the rock garden, Cai Da died. Now she encountered one again. Would someone die again? Ji Yunshu didn’t believe it! In her opinion, a crow was just a bird.
Caw! The crow nimbly wiggled its black head and looked around.
"What are you looking at, little one?"
Caw!
"Why are you here?"
Another Caw! was heard. Then, it flapped its wings and flew away. The dark body disappeared in an instant.