Everyone looked at Xu Jing in shock, unable to count how many times they had been surprised by this woman today.
Only Xiao Yi’s expression remained unchanged.
He suddenly stepped forward and walked to Peng Shi’s corpse, speaking in a calm voice, “Indeed, this case couldn’t have been accomplished by you alone.
Peng Shi was tall and robust, larger than the average man, and the distance from Peng Family to where the body was discovered is considerable.
It’s impossible for you, a single woman, to have moved the body from the Peng Family and disguised it as being killed by a knife.
Moreover, according to your testimony, you had prepared arsenic long ago, which suggests premeditated murder, rather than an impulsive act.”
Mrs.
Cao’s face turned pale, her pupils trembled slightly, and she suddenly screamed hysterically, “No, I killed him!
I killed him alone!
I even moved him to Miss Xu’s yard to frame her…”
“Then tell us.”
Xiao Yi looked at her calmly, but his words carried a compelling force, “How did you transport the body to Miss Xu’s place?”
“I… I…”
Mrs.
Cao’s eyes were confused, her lips trembled, and after a long while she said, “I used a cart…”
“Oh?
Then without accomplices, how did you sneak past everyone in the house, find a cart, and push it all the way from the Peng Family to Miss Xu’s?
Even if you could do that, how could you lift such a robust man onto the cart by yourself, and once at Miss Xu’s, how did you stab the knife into his heart?
The wound in the deceased’s heart is not shallow, the knife must have pierced through bone, and ordinary women don’t have the strength to directly penetrate bone.”
Xiao Yi’s expression did not change, his sharp eyes intensely focused on Mrs.
Cao, bombarding her with suffocating questions.
Xu Jing couldn’t help but look at him in slight surprise.
This man clearly hadn’t looked closely at the wound on Peng Shi’s chest, yet immediately recognized that the wound was deep and pierced the bone.
She had thought he was only probing her background and never seriously considering the case details.
It seemed she had underestimated him.
Seeing Mrs.
Cao’s face grow increasingly pale and her lips tremble more, Xiao Yi’s eyes darkened, delivering the final blow, “If you insist you did this alone, it means you have the strength to directly stab through bone with a knife.
Someone, bring a knife, we’ll verify on the spot if Mrs.
Cao really has that strength.”
Mrs.
Cao’s legs immediately went weak, and she fell straight to the ground.
As the head lady of the Peng Family, she had little opportunity for physical labor, much less heavy lifting.
Such a person, how could she possibly have the strength to stab through bone!
Cao with cool eyes, sighed, and said softly, “Mrs.
Cao, do you really think it’s worth it?
In such a pitiful state, the person you’re willing to protect with your life hasn’t shown any response.”
Mrs.
Cao’s eyes widened, showing a hint of glass shattering inside, unconsciously shaking her head and muttering, “No… no…”
Xu Jing seemed not to notice Mrs.
Cao’s resistance and suddenly looked up, her gaze like an icy blade directly piercing at Manager Mu, who had remained silent amongst the Peng Family, and said with a twist of her lips, “Isn’t that right, Manager Mu…”
Before Xu Jing finished speaking, the crowd hadn’t digested the shocking news when Mrs.
Cao suddenly glared fiercely and madly lunged at Xu Jing, “No!!!
Shut up!”
Xu Jing in shock instinctively moved to avoid, but before she could react, a tall, handsome dark shadow appeared lightning-fast in front of her and casually deflected Mrs.
Cao to the side.
Mrs.
Cao tumbled awkwardly to the ground from the forceful impact and was quickly subdued by a group of government officials.
Xu Jing blinked and then blinked again, belatedly turning to the man who had shielded her, opening her mouth to say, “Ah, thank you.”
Xiao Yi, however, didn’t look at her, frowning slightly and dismissively shaking his sleeve, said, “I just happened to be standing next to you, couldn’t just stand by.”
“Oh.”
Hearing the unfriendly response, Xu Jing didn’t mind at all, nodding, “But you didn’t have to step in, I could’ve avoided it myself.”
Bystanders: “…”
Where did these unromantic people as dense as rocks come from!
In this kind of hero-saving-beauty scenario, shouldn’t something more suggestive and risqué follow?
Who even talks seriously about “whether or not your help was needed” during such a scene!
Xu Jing seemed completely oblivious to the odd looks directed at her and Xiao Yi, or perhaps she simply didn’t care.
Once the danger was over, she continued her cold gaze at Manager Mu, whose face had grown darker, and said, “Manager Mu, Mrs.
Cao has done so much for you, shouldn’t you at least say something?”
She was practically stating outright that Manager Mu was the other culprit in this case!
The crowd’s attention was pulled back, looking in disbelief at the man who hadn’t spoken a word.
They didn’t want to believe it, but Mrs.
Cao’s attitude unmistakably showed that this man was intricately linked to the case!
Under everyone’s gaze, Manager Mu remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, “What evidence do you have to prove I am an accomplice?”
The crowd was taken aback.
Right, indeed, though it seems Manager Mu is related to the case, it’s all conjecture without evidence!
Considering Mrs.
Cao’s determination to shield this man, if she insists he isn’t connected, no one could do anything!
Xu Jing gave a slight smile, her voice cold, “I must admit, I’m somewhat impressed by your composure even now.
Do you think your plan was so flawless that no one can convict you?
I don’t know how you’ve managed to brainwash a woman to this extent, willing to die for you, but today I’ll teach you a lesson — the net of justice is vast, but it never lets anything slip!”
She abruptly strode forward, stopping between Peng Shi and Mrs.
Cao, speaking as she walked, “Let me help you recall last night’s events.
Cao premeditated to kill Peng Shi, for which you had her prepare a lethal dose of arsenic in advance.
Killing is easy, but escaping the law’s judgment is hard, so you waited for the perfect moment.
Finally, you found it.
Yesterday, Peng Shi sent someone to propose to me, trying to forcefully take me as a concubine.
I refused to entertain his advances and threw his gifts out, enraging him.
Coincidentally, Vice Minister Xiao had come to Anping County, still investigating County Magistrate Sun.
You knew County Magistrate Sun was walking on thin ice; if Peng Shi died, he wouldn’t thoroughly investigate but try to close the case quickly.
You and Mrs.
Cao sensed this was the perfect opportunity for framing.
Mrs.
Cao persuaded Peng Shi, under the pretense of comforting him, to have the servants prepare a meal.
While dining with Peng Shi, Mrs.
Cao secretly mixed the pre-prepared arsenic into the food for Peng Shi to consume.
Completely unaware, Peng Shi consumed the poisoned food and more; however, soon he felt dizzy, a headache, muscular cramps, and nausea, with intense abdominal pain.
These are symptoms of arsenic poisoning.”
The woman’s voice was calm and cool, yet inexplicably immersive.
Many involuntarily covered their stomachs, feeling a twinge of pain.
Xu Jing continued, “Though arsenic is a deadly poison, it doesn’t kill instantly.
In extreme pain, one instinctively fights to survive; Peng Shi was no exception.
Upon poisoning, Peng Shi probably struggled to call out, but naturally, you wouldn’t let that happen.
However, Mrs.
Cao lacked the strength to restrain such a strong and tall Peng Shi; at that crucial moment, you, Manager Mu, who had been hiding in the shadows, came out.
After emerging, you quickly subdued Peng Shi and used something to tightly bind his wrists.”
As Xu Jing spoke, she signaled to her temporary assistant.
The assistant promptly stepped forward, revealing the marks on Peng Shi’s wrists to everyone.
The crowd’s eyes widened further.
The pallor that had been on Manager Mu’s face seemed to change subtly.
Though his face was slightly white, his eyes on Xu Jing were filled with barely suppressed fury.