Chapter 130 - 102: Case Closed at Light Speed

Chapter 130: Chapter 102: Case Closed at Light Speed

In the center of the courtyard grew several peach trees. It was currently April, and the peach blossoms were in full, exquisite bloom. To the left of the courtyard sat a spacious study. Directly opposite the entrance was the main hall. The building was divided into two wings, with the rooms flanking the main hall serving as living quarters. The rooms on the far right were also sleeping quarters, but a brief glance at the surroundings revealed them to be the servants’ quarters; the furnishings were much simpler than those in the rooms adjacent to the main hall.

"There are ten servants in this courtyard in total," Bai Ziqing explained.

"Four maids serve as Mrs. Lou’s personal attendants.

"Four others serve Lou Tong.

"The remaining two are a cook in the kitchen and a stable hand."

"I see." Zeng Anmin nodded slowly.

"Until the case is solved, they are all suspects. They are being held in the courtyard over there, and you may interrogate them at any time."

Bai Ziqing took a deep breath, looking around before speaking in a low voice, "I know I could simply find a scapegoat and consider this case ’solved.’

"But... my conscience just wouldn’t allow it."

Zeng Anmin paused, meeting Bai Ziqing’s gaze. Perhaps it was just an illusion, but he felt that Bai Ziqing’s aura had changed. The previous impetuousness was gone, replaced by a commendable elegance and the steady composure of a lion. Even that bizarre mess of curly blond hair now seemed as profound as the ocean waves.

"Right. Let’s take a look at the victim first," Zeng Anmin said with a mild nod.

"Alright."

A short while later, Zeng Anmin followed Bai Ziqing into the building. The room on the right side of the main hall belonged to the victim, Lou Tong. Currently, an officer from the Imperial City Department was keeping watch inside. To protect the crime scene, everyone in the courtyard had been relocated elsewhere, including the victim’s family. Lou Yingqi, as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, naturally understood the importance of an undisturbed crime scene. Although reluctant, he knew what was at stake and didn’t force his way into staying, choosing instead to place all his hopes on the Imperial City Department.

Upon entering, Zeng Anmin looked up at Lou Tong, who was lying in bed. Lou Tong’s face was a sickly bruised purple, and his eyes were tightly shut. The only sign he was still alive was the faint rise and fall of his chest. The air in the room was stifling, even carrying a foul stench. Though Lou Tong had been comatose these past few days, his basic human bodily functions continued. The Imperial City Department officer had been looking after him, but there were inevitably oversights when it came to cleaning up his excretions.

"PHEW." Zeng Anmin didn’t hesitate, stepping straight forward to examine Lou Tong’s body.

"Sir, this..." The officer hesitated, looking over at Bai Ziqing.

"He is an advisor I invited," Bai Ziqing stated simply, giving the man a steady nod.

"Understood." Relieved, the officer turned his attention back to Zeng Anmin.

By now, Zeng Anmin had already conducted a full-body check on the comatose Lou Tong.

"No wounds..." Zeng Anmin muttered thoughtfully. This aligned with the signs of poisoning. He looked up and asked, "Did the victim eat anything before being poisoned? If so, when?"

"Around three quarters past the Hour of Mao," Bai Ziqing answered grimly. "The cook in the kitchen and the maid who delivered the food are our primary suspects for interrogation, along with all the servants who came and went from this courtyard that day.

"But Assistant Minister Lou Yingqi is himself at the Fifth Grade of the Confucian Dao. He personally interrogated their minds..."

A bitter look surfaced on his face. "And he found absolutely nothing."

Zeng Anmin’s frown deepened. Bai Ziqing’s words revealed a crucial piece of information: Lou Tong was poisoned by that very meal. He slowly looked around the room, finding nothing amiss, then turned his gaze back to Bai Ziqing. "Is this where the victim normally lived?"

"Yes," Bai Ziqing nodded. "This room was searched on the day of the incident, but we found no clues."

"I see." Zeng Anmin felt a twinge of disappointment. He knew that eight days had already passed since the incident. Even if there had been clues, the presence of these Imperial City Department officers likely meant the scene had been compromised to some extent.

"Let’s go look elsewhere." Zeng Anmin sighed, taking the lead and stepping out of the room.

A short while later, they arrived at a second room. The decor here was noticeably more luxurious, making it instantly apparent that the owner possessed an extraordinary status.

"This is the room where Lou Yingqi and Mrs. Lou normally reside," Bai Ziqing explained.

"However, at the time of the incident, Assistant Minister Lou had already left for the morning court assembly, while Mrs. Lou was still asleep.

"When Lou Tong was poisoned and fell unconscious, Mrs. Lou was startled awake by the cries of the servants and rushed straight to his room."

Currently, the windows in the room were open. Aside from the slightly messy bed, everywhere else was impeccably neat. In an instant, Zeng Anmin sensed something was wrong. He looked toward the bed, a sharp gleam in his eyes. "You said Lou Tong was poisoned around three quarters past the Hour of Mao?"

Three quarters past the Hour of Mao, to be precise, was exactly six forty-five in the morning.

"Yes."

"And Mrs. Lou was startled awake by the servants’ cries, got out of bed, and went straight to Lou Tong’s room?"

"Yes."

"Let me ask you one more time. After the incident, did you immediately bring your men to this courtyard and lock down the entire scene?" Zeng Anmin’s gaze was piercingly sharp as he stared at Bai Ziqing. "Are you absolutely certain?"

"I’m certain." Bai Ziqing’s expression was dead serious. "The stakes were high, so naturally I was extremely careful."

Zeng Anmin took a deep breath and approached the slightly unkempt bed. He pointed at the bedding and said,