"My lord, my younger brotherās body wasnāt even found in the end. Why donāt the officers from the governmental office arrest the Huang Familyās son? Isnāt it because he is the brother of an archivist? My brother was definitely killed by Archivist Huang, just to take the blame for his own brother."
Eldest Young Master Jiang simply couldnāt believe this matter. Even as an ordinary person, he could see the flaws in this case. How could others not see them? Moreover, my brother was accused of committing murder and diedāa grave crime. After his death, there wasnāt even anyone to claim his body; he was thrown directly into the mass burial ground.
But the problem is, he suspected that his brotherās body hadnāt actually been thrown into the mass burial ground. Because as soon as he heard of his brotherās death, he had been watching the area for a long time. It was not easy, but eventually, he saw people come, and after they left, he went to look, only to find two womenās corpses, his brotherās body was nowhere to be found.
"Has your Jiang Familyās wine shop paid out?"
Upon hearing this, Eldest Young Master Jiang shook his head, "No, our family doesnāt acknowledge that the person was killed by my brother and was unwilling to hand over the wine shop. However, ever since the year before last, the business at our familyās wine shop has been getting worse."
"Who is he to you?" Ye Ziāan asked after listening, referring to the man in blue.
"Heās my cousin and has always lived in my house."
Ye Ziāan gave the man in blue another look upon hearing this.
"Iāve taken note of this matter, and I will have someone look into it. However, if thereās any concealment or falsehood, you should know the rules within the county governmental office," Ye Ziāan said calmly as he looked at him before adding, "Before this matter is cleared up, both of you will stay here."
"My lord, my lord, I cannot stay here. I came to the county city for business yesterday and told my family I would return today; if, if I stay, Iām afraid my parents at home will worry." Besides, he was somewhat distrustful of Ye Ziāan, fearing that Ye Ziāan might take the opportunity to keep them there and harm them.
Ye Wu, upon seeing his cautious attitude, became annoyed, "Are you dumb? Our Young Master is keeping you here because heās afraid you will be harmed the moment you step outside. No one saw us bringing you here, but once you leave our residence, that might not be the case. What if what youāve said is true and it reaches Archivist Huang? Do you think youād still be alive? You just donāt recognize kindness."
Ye Ziāan didnāt scold Ye Wu this time, because what he said was exactly what he was thinking.
"I will have someone notify your family. You will stay here to assist with the investigation."
Having said this, Ye Ziāan went to his study and called Ye Yi and Ye Er to him.
"Ye Er, first secretly capture Archivist Huangās brother without letting him know who took him. Ye Yi, you and Ye San split up and investigate the Liu and Huang Families, but donāt let them notice."
"Yes."
"Yes."
After the several people had left, Ye Ziāan then took out the Mianyang governmental officials roster and looked it over, then crossed out the Zhou name and circled the Huang name beside it. Looking at the few remaining names, he sneered inwardly. Mianyang was such a small place, yet it was full of tangled connections. From the minor clerks to the constables, all were involved with Mianyangās wealthy householdsāfor example, the Huang and Liu Families were related by marriage.
To outsiders, the case involving the Jiang Family would certainly seem like Jiangās younger brother was the murderer, because the Huang and Liu were related by marriage. Why would the Huang Family kill someone from the Liu Family?
But if it wasnāt someone from the Huang Family that did the killing, just like Eldest Young Master Jiang described, why were there so many holes in the case? Hmph, no matter. Eliminating the Huangs, the Lius could be implicated as well! Theyāre none of them good people. Speaking seriously, Principal Clerk Zhou and the Zhou Family were comparatively the simplest relations, and since he was in charge of taxes, it was time to strike him first!