Chapter 29:- The Truth Comes to Light
Qi Siming strode forward with long, determined steps, stopping right in front of Xu Shuyue. His cold, piercing gaze swept over the gathered yamen officers before finally locking onto Li Chang. The sheer force of his presence made it difficult for anyone to breathe.
Li Chang wiped his face, his fingers coming away stained with fresh blood. The sight of it stung his eyes, his pupils constricting in shock. A surge of fury ignited within him, and the very next moment, his long blade was drawn, pointing directly at Qi Siming.
“You’ve got some nerve!” Li Chang sneered, his laughter laced with anger. “Attacking a yamen officer in broad daylight? By law, you should be flogged thirty times!” He barked at his subordinates, “Playing the hero to save a beauty? Fine! I’ll make your wish come true! Men, seize them both and take them in!”
“I dare you to try!” Qi Siming’s voice was cold as steel, his gaze sweeping over the officers with an air of complete indifference to the danger. His unshakable composure made the yamen officers hesitate, unease creeping into their expressions.
One of Li Chang’s men nudged him, lowering his voice in warning, “Sir, the sword at his waist—it’s forged from refined iron. That’s not something an ordinary man would have.”
In this dynasty, common folk had no access to refined iron weaponry. Those who carried such weapons were either yamen officers and city guards, or they had a military background.
Given Qi Siming’s commanding aura and unfamiliar face, he was unlikely to be either of the first two. That left only one possibility.
The officer cast another cautious glance at Qi Siming before whispering, “If he’s from the Dingbei Army, we’d best not provoke him.”
The Dingbei Army—one of the empire’s most formidable military forces—was made up of soldiers who had defended the borders with blood and steel. Whether in rank or in sheer battle, they far outmatched the city yamen.
More importantly, soldiers had a reputation for being fiercely protective of their own. If word got out that they had detained a member of the Dingbei Army, who knew how his brothers-in-arms might retaliate?
Li Chang’s face darkened. His subordinate’s words hit right at the core of his dilemma. Just earlier, his superiors had warned him to avoid any conflict with the Dingbei soldiers stationed in the city. If he arrested this man now and caused a major incident, he’d be the one taking the fall tomorrow.
But…
His gaze drifted past Qi Siming to the woman standing behind him. He couldn’t stand the thought of that venomous woman slipping away so easily.
For a long moment, Li Chang’s expression twisted as he struggled internally. Then, with great reluctance, he forced out an awkward, insincere smile and stiffly said, “Brave warrior, I understand your concern for this young lady. However, as a yamen officer, it is my duty to apprehend criminals—I cannot defy my superiors’ orders. That being said…”
Taking a step back, Li Chang softened his tone. “I can see that you’re unfamiliar with legal matters, given your military background. How about we all put down our weapons and have a civilized discussion instead?”
Qi Siming remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and Li Chang felt both relieved and uneasy. Relieved because his assumption had been right—this man was indeed from the military. Uneasy because this meant he couldn’t afford to offend him too deeply.
Just as he was about to step forward, Xu Shuyue suddenly spoke.
“Officer, since you’ve already decided that I poisoned someone and attempted murder, what more is there to discuss?”
She stepped out from behind Qi Siming, her expression eerily calm, as if she were not the one standing at the center of this storm. Her clear, unwavering gaze locked onto Li Chang as she continued, “Officer, you’ve taken one person’s accusation at fact without gathering evidence or questioning witnesses. You’ve already decided my guilt and intend to throw me in prison—don’t you think that’s a bit rash?”
Xu Shuyue wasn’t surprised that these officers hadn’t recognized Qi Siming. When he entered the city, he had been wearing a black iron mask. Now, he was deliberately withholding his identity, likely because he had sensed that she wanted to handle this on her own—without tying her business to the Qi family name.
She was grateful for his understanding, but she knew that, in the end, this was her battle to fight.
Qi Siming watched as she steadily walked forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. There was a sharp intensity in his furrowed brow, but beneath it, a hint of disappointment flickered—so faint it was almost imperceptible.
Xu Shuyue, knowing that Li Chang wouldn’t dare touch her now, was determined to see this through.
“My husband may not understand the law, but I do,” she declared, her voice unwavering. “Officer, is the legal system in the provincial capital different from that of the empire? Because if it is not, then allow me to speak plainly—if someone has deliberately framed me, then your actions are not upholding justice. Rather, you are aiding and abetting a crime.”
Li Chang scowled, clearly annoyed. “The laws of the land are the same everywhere. There are no differences.”
Li Chang’s face twisted with impatience—how had arresting one person turned into such a hassle?
He sheathed his blade, no longer caring if he offended Qi Siming, and said bluntly, “Little lady, if you’re dissatisfied with how the yamen handles cases, you’re welcome to take it up with the magistrates. But no matter how eloquently you argue today, I’m taking you in.”
“We’re all just trying to make a living here, so don’t make things difficult for me.”
Xu Shuyue scoffed. “Wasn’t it you, Officer Li, who made things difficult for me in the first place?”
Li Chang ignored her, having already decided to take her away. His men surrounded the sweet drinks shop—whether she went willingly or not, her business was done for the day.
Seeing that reasoning with them was futile, Xu Shuyue clenched her fists in frustration, unable to say all she wanted to.
In the end, it was Qi Siming who stepped in, borrowing the names of Hou Ji and Ban Su to suppress them with sheer authority.
“Arresting someone should be for the sake of seeking the truth,” Qi Siming stated coldly. “Give my wife and me three days to investigate. If the accusations prove true, we will go to the yamen ourselves to accept punishment. But if someone has deliberately framed her…”
“If you two are innocent, I will personally bring my men to apologize!” Li Chang quickly took the token Qi Siming handed over and made the promise on the spot.
He wasn’t a fool—Hou Ji and Ban Su were both trusted subordinates of the Great General Qi. With these two involved, there was no fear of the accused fleeing. If Qi Siming and his wife turned out to be guilty, it would damage the reputation of those two generals, and they’d be the first to ensure justice was served.
With that assurance, Li Chang led his men away, leaving the shop eerily empty. The sudden quiet only amplified the presence of the man standing beside her. Xu Shuyue’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she lowered her voice to thank Qi Siming.
If not for him, no matter how eloquent she was, she would have been taken away today.
Qi Siming stared at her lips, watching them open and close as she spoke. The image brought back memories of their first encounter, stirring something he had been trying to suppress. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to focus. In a deep voice, he asked, “Do you need help?”
Xu Shuyue didn’t refuse his offer. Instead, as if suddenly thinking of something, she flashed a sly smile. “Just lend me Hou Ji and Ban Su. When it comes to investigating cases, I’m quite… experienced.”
Qi Siming wondered if he had misheard. He studied her bright, eager expression, then warned, “Don’t go anywhere alone. If you need anything, find me.”
Xu Shuyue responded with a playful smile.
Li Chang had left in such a hurry that he hadn’t provided any details. However, news about a “sweet drink poisoning an elderly woman” was bound to have spread through the city. With a little effort, they could find all the information they needed.
Following the clues, Xu Shuyue traced the case to a household in Zhangtou Alley. It was said that two brothers had discovered their mother dead after drinking a sweet beverage from her shop and had reported the incident in a fit of rage.
Ban Su returned from the yamen with additional details, sneering, “Those two didn’t report the crime to seek justice—they’re just after compensation.”
Hou Ji immediately understood. “So they’re trying to extort Sister-in-law?”
“How much are they asking for?” Xu Shuyue asked, unsurprised.
Ban Su held up a hand, indicating a number.
Hou Ji’s eyes widened in disbelief. “A hundred taels?! That’s outrageous! And the yamen officials are just letting them get away with this?”
Ban Su shook his head. “The yamen is overwhelmed with cases. There are still unresolved ones from before—this is just another one piling up on their desks.”
Moreover, Qi Siming had bought Xu Shuyue time to conduct her own investigation, so the officials were content to delay things and wait for the results.
Hou Ji frowned in dissatisfaction. “So being a magistrate is this easy, huh? Just sitting around while others sort things out?”
Ban Su shot him a sharp glare. “Watch your mouth.”
Hou Ji pouted but said nothing more.
Just then, Xu Shuyue returned from speaking with an elderly woman in the alley. She walked over, deep in thought, before looking up and saying, “Can you sneak me into the Zhang household to examine Madam Zhang’s body?”
Madam Zhang had been dead for three days. According to local customs, the deceased would be kept for seven days before burial. The two brothers, eager for compensation, had made a big show of mourning, ensuring their mother’s body remained in the main hall.
Hou Ji blurted out the first thought in his mind. “Sister-in-law, why would you want to look at a corpse? That’s bad luck! Why not send Ban Su instead? He’s got the guts for it…”
Ban Su cast a cold glance at Hou Ji, making him instinctively shrink his neck. Xu Shuyue chuckled helplessly and said, “If possible, it would be best to bring along a skilled coroner as well.”
Ban Su frowned. “Sister-in-law suspects there’s something wrong with Madam Zhang’s body?”
After hearing from the Zhang family’s neighbor, an elderly woman, that Madam Zhang had been severely ill for the past six months—so weak she could barely get out of bed—while her two sons idled around, beating and cursing her whenever they wanted money, Xu Shuyue had formed a theory.
She nodded and instructed, “Remember, don’t use the coroner from the yamen.”
The local yamen was utterly incompetent, and its coroner was nothing more than an amateur with barely any proper training. He had only secured his position through connections, and his autopsy reports were often complete nonsense.
Ban Su recalled the ridiculous report he had managed to obtain after much difficulty and couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
However, when the night of their planned operation arrived, Hou Ji had to attend to an urgent matter and couldn’t go with them. Xu Shuyue, recalling the expectant look Qi Siming had given her that day, decided to summon him instead.
A few figures vaulted over the wall, landing without a sound. With a renowned coroner, Jia Wuzuo, in tow, Xu Shuyue led the way straight to the mourning hall.
When the coffin lid was lifted, she momentarily froze.
Before this, she had no idea what Madam Zhang looked like. She only remembered a frail, ghostly old woman who had lingered outside her shop one day. Unable to bear the sight, she had given her the last half-cup of chilled melon drink to quench her thirst…
For the past few days, she had been wondering—if that old woman had been Madam Zhang, would she still have given her the drink if she could relive that moment?
Now, as she looked at Madam Zhang’s pale lips, she had her answer.
Seeing the sorrow in her expression, Qi Siming felt an inexplicable tightening in his chest. He stepped closer, about to speak, when a panicked, furious shout suddenly rang out from the entrance.
“Who are you?! Get the hell out! Big Brother! Come quick! Someone’s in the mourning hall!”
Madam Zhang’s younger son bellowed at the top of his lungs. The elder son rushed out, gripping a kitchen knife with a fierce expression. But the moment he saw Jia Wuzuo in his coroner’s garb, his face paled.
“Second Brother! We can’t let them leave!”
With that, Madam Zhang’s elder son charged forward, emboldened by the blade in his hand. However, he had no idea that he was facing a battle-hardened general with blood on his hands.
Qi Siming took them both down with nothing but his fists. With a metallic clang, the kitchen knife clattered to the ground. Xu Shuyue hadn’t even needed to lift a finger—before she could blink, both brothers were already sprawled on the floor, unconscious.
Jia Wuzuo, having completed the autopsy, cupped his hands in a formal gesture and reported, “Confirmed— Madam Zhang died of illness, not poisoning.”
Translator’s Note: Hello dear readers, the schedule for the this week will be 2 chapters each day of the week. Enjoy!!
