Think Clearly Before Admitting
"Why do you think someone writes characters as if they were carvings?" Wei Ling tilted her head, studying the transcript in her hand.
It was the preliminary test written by Yu Linlang last time. The handwriting was meticulous—each character uniform in size and width, pleasing to the eye at a glance.
"Wei Ling!" Chen Buyu rushed in.
Wei Ling quickly took her feet off the table and picked up a brocade box beside her.
"The prince and the others caught someone at the Xicheng Gate!" Chen Buyu urged. "Hurry up! All the test cases have been summarized and classified. The murderer has been sent to the governor's office, and we need to interrogate him overnight."
Wei Ling swiftly retrieved a stack of case files from a low cabinet and handed them over. "Everything's here. Start with the street gangster, Chen Ergou."
"Is King Liang's file included?" Chen Buyu asked cautiously. "Although King Liang may have died from asphyxiation, his body was dismembered so brutally that the murderer must have confessed to his crime."
"It's here." Wei Ling nodded. "The file is at the top."
"Good, good!" Chen Buyu turned to leave but suddenly noticed the familiar brocade box on the desk.
"This is…?"
"Oh, it's the Spiritual God Incense. I was curious, so I took it back to examine it. But this incense is quite effective. Not long after lighting it, it truly had a strange effect."
Chen Buyu frowned. "It's best to avoid using things of unknown origin. Even if you examine them, prioritize your health and safety."
"Yeah, I know." Wei Ling nodded again, showing him a small porcelain plate. "After the incense burned out, the residue was white. I tested it three times but couldn't find anything unusual. Maybe an orthodox doctor could determine something."
As she spoke, Wei Ling couldn't help but ponder.
"Maybe there's nothing strange at all," Chen Buyu said with a smile. "I'll head to the governor's office first. You continue investigating. If there's nothing suspicious, collect the evidence and prepare to close the case."
---
Governor's Office, Yamen
Governor Yu paced the hall anxiously. When he saw Prince Mu and Lu Qian arriving, his face lit up with relief.
"As per the prince's command, the criminal was restrained with special equipment. No matter how skilled he is, he won't escape. But ever since he was locked up, he has remained silent. Wu Yong is interrogating him now. Prince, Lord Lu, let's go and see for ourselves."
The group quickly entered the prison, where they saw Officer Wu Yong storming out, cursing under his breath.
"What happened?" Governor Yu's heart skipped a beat as he rushed forward.
"Sir!" Wu Yong saluted the prince and others, looking frustrated. "That man refuses to confess. No matter how we question or beat him, he just laughs! I broke two whips on him, and he's still unfazed."
Just then, the prison warden emerged. "Sir, the murderer has spoken. He says he will only talk to the person who captured him."
Governor Yu and Prince Mu exchanged glances. The governor wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. "The criminal made a demand?"
Mu Zhao nodded slightly. "I'll question him."
Since the murderer was highly skilled in martial arts, he had been placed under the highest security level in the most secluded black cell.
Mu Zhao stepped into the dimly lit chamber, the torchlight barely piercing the thick, oppressive air.
The stench of blood and decay was overwhelming. The prisoner—a man over six feet tall—hung from a copper ring by his wrists, heavy shackles binding his feet. His back was crisscrossed with whip marks.
"I must say, Prince Mu, you truly are a force to be reckoned with." The man let out a hoarse chuckle. "I couldn't outwit you, and I was no match for your secret guards in combat. I accept my fate."
Governor Yu, who had followed, shivered and hurriedly stepped forward. "Be cautious, Prince."
"No need to worry." Mu Zhao waved him off.
"I'm curious—how did you know I would be at the Xicheng Gate?" Mu Zhao asked, his gaze sharp. "You deliberately loosened security in the north to lure me into a trap. I expected an ambush there."
Governor Yu scoffed. "If you could predict the prince's strategy so easily, do you really think you'd be caught?"
The prisoner let out another rough laugh.
Governor Yu snapped, "State your name! Stop acting arrogant before the prince!"
The man smirked. "Me? I have no reason to hide. My name is Wang Baitian."
A minor official handed a record book to Governor Yu, who quickly flipped through it.
"Wang Baitian… What's your connection to the Niu Wang family?" Chen Buyu, who had just arrived, questioned sharply.
Before Governor Yu could finish searching, his eyes lit up. "Mr. Chen, you're just in time! This murderer refuses to talk, but we've gathered enough evidence. Let's see how he denies it now."
Chen Buyu nodded and turned to Wang Baitian. "Who is Niu Wang to you?"
Governor Yu whispered to Wu Yong, "Who is Niu Wang?"
Wu Yong replied in a low voice, "She was once the eldest daughter-in-law of the Niu family. She fled from Jinzhou and married into their household."
Governor Yu suddenly understood. "I see."
His gaze turned back to Wang Baitian. "Be honest. Did you kill King Liang? Don't bother denying it. We have witnesses who saw you setting fire to the Liang Palace last night."
Wang Baitian burst into wild laughter. "That old scumbag is dead? Good! Good! He deserved it! Yes, it was me! I killed them all! I, Wang Baitian, take full responsibility. Since I did it, what's the point of denying it?"
A minor official hastily took notes, recording his confession.
Mu Zhao's brow furrowed. "Do you know Chen Ergou? Why did you kill him?"
Wang Baitian sneered. "Why? That's rich. He should be grateful I didn't make him suffer more for all the evil he did!"
"Do you know what true fear is?" His voice turned chilling. "It's watching your own flesh being sliced off, piece by piece."
"They all begged me for mercy. They cried, just like my sister did." His eyes glowed with madness. "Did they care about her suffering when they ruined her? No. I just sent them to the underworld so she could ask for their forgiveness herself."
"Niu Wang was your sister," Mu Zhao stated, his gaze deep and unreadable. "I advise you to think carefully. If you didn't kill them all, tell the truth."
Wang Baitian let out a dry laugh. "I killed them! Every last one of them! It doesn't matter how many—I would kill them again if I could. You officials have caught me, and I know I won't escape death. So why should I be afraid?"