"Clear the way——clear the way——what happened?
After the shout, the crowd that was watching the commotion was pushed aside, revealing the local official Yu Wanfu, leading a few soldiers with a stern official air.
Upon seeing the official, Lady Yu immediately greeted him as if she saw a savior, pointing at Cai Wei, she cried out: "Yu Lizheng, it’s good that you are here, quickly arrest this arsonist and murderer. My husband, he was just burnt to death by this wench!"
Yu Lizheng looked at Cai Wei, then at Lady Yu, and said, "What exactly happened? Which one of you will explain?"
Without hesitation, Lady Yu intervened: "Tonight, when I had just retired, the maid on duty came to report that the courtyard where my husband was recuperating had caught fire. When I brought people over, I saw Mu Caiwei running out from my husband’s courtyard. Yu Lizheng, who else could have started this fire, if not her?"
Cai Wei reluctantly laughed, "Madam Lü, since you saw me setting the fire, why didn’t you catch me at the moment? Instead, you chose to accuse me later on. Weren’t you afraid that I wouldn’t admit to it?"
Lady Yu replied, "We were all busy putting out the fire initially, you are quite nimble and ran away quickly, that’s why you escaped!"
"You should not slander others! Wei’er is not that kind of person!"
Out of nowhere, Jiujin intervened because he couldn’t bear to see Cai Wei being falsely accused of arson and murder.
Lady Yu sneered, "Why was she, the lady of the boudoir, wandering out at night instead of sleeping at home? Her so-called stroll is nothing more than an excuse to cover up her arson and murder!"
"Miss Mu, what do you say?"
With a serious face, Yu Lizheng maintained a business-like demeanor.
Cai Wei sighed, then laughingly said, "Originally, I didn’t want to talk about this matter. But since someone has suspected me of arson and murder, I have no choice but to reveal the truth!"
After saying this, she gave Lady Yu a sidelong glance, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and laughed, "Actually, the wandering was a pretense, I didn’t go out for a stroll at all."
Upon hearing this, everyone froze, they didn’t know what she was about to say next.
Lady Yu said loudly, "Everyone heard it, she admitted that she didn’t go out for a stroll, speak up, what’s the truth?"
"Miss Mu, since it wasn’t a stroll, what were you doing outside in the darkness as a young lady?"
Yu Lizheng started to interrogate as well.
Cai Wei touched the bruise on her face and said with a sigh, "Actually, I went out sleepwalking. I have a sleepwalking disorder and often sleepwalk. I hurt my face when I fell while sleepwalking and it was only after I fell that I woke up. When I found my way home, I bumped into Madam Lü..."
"Nonsense, defense by evasion!"
Pointing at Cai Wei, Lady Yu yelled out loud, "Obviously, you started the fire in my home. Not only did I see it, but several of my housekeepers also saw it. Are you still going to deny it?"
Having said that, she moved over to a housekeeper who was lying on the ground with a broken leg, crying out in pain, and asked him, "Wang’er, tell us, did you see her or not?"
The housekeeper called Wang’er had a pale face holding his broken leg, "Yes... madam...I did see..."
Lady Yu gave Cai Wei a triumphant look and then walked over to another boy with a broken arm.
"Yaochu, tell us, did you see her running out of our backyard or not?"
"Yes, I saw it! She ran faster than a rabbit. She disappeared in the blink of an eye, none of us could catch up with her!"
Yaochu also stepped forward to testify.
After hearing the testimonies of the two boys, Yu Lizheng said sternly, "Miss Mu, the evidence is conclusive. What else do you have to say?"