Transmigration: of Mysteries and Songs

Chapter 28: Stratagem

The fact that just the sight of the hairpin was enough to throw Wang Ji into such a state of panic was already suspicious enough. The servant came out of the room carrying the tray and the hairpin, and saw the four of them clustered together looking into the room. He was about to call out for help when Xue Yiqi dashed up to him immediately and covered his mouth. Muffling the servant's protests, Xue Yiqi dragged him into the corner, where he was quickly surrounded by the others.

Feng Luodi questioned him immediately. "Did your young master return late at night 8 days ago? How did he look that night when he returned?"

The servant looked to be 16 or 17 years of age, and had soft boyish features. His eyes avoided looking at the rest. "Who are you? Why are you in the Administrator's household?"

Feng Luodi took out her badge and waved it in front of him. "We are from the yamen, on orders to investigate the murder in Moonglade 8 days ago. Tell us what you know, or you will be charged with obstruction of the investigation."

The servant bowed his head. "Nothing happened. Young Master never left home that day; you must be mistaken."

Feng Luodi leaned over and took the hairpin from the servant. "This hairpin belonged to one of the handmaidens who were murdered in cold blood. Your young master was spooked when he saw it, do you not suspect anything at all?"

The servant shuddered, and lowered his head even more. "I dare not slander my masters."

Xue Yiqi narrowed his eyes. He is definitely hiding something from us! Seems like we will need to use something more forceful to wring the truth from him.

Xue Yiqi stepped forward to intervene, but Jiang Moyin stopped him, wanting to see how Feng Luodi would continue from here. She lifted her skirts, and bent down to be level with the servant's face, speaking softly but firmly.

"Let me guess: 8 days ago, your young master went out late at night, not needing you to follow along. He returned late at night without his robe, his inner tunic splattered with blood. You panicked, but he merely instructed you to dispose of the tunic and barred you from speaking of it to anyone."

She continued slowly. "You have been updating him about the murder at Moonglade the past few days, and his appetite and sleep has gotten worse. You know it isn't right to do so, but you find him suspicious as well. That's why you kept the bloodied tunic."

"How did you know that I'd kept the tunic?"

His eyes widened in fear when he realised what he'd just spoken out loud. Then his face crumpled, pressing his lips tightly together.

Xue Yiqi was furious, immediately wanting to dash into Wang Ji's room. "I should have known that Wang Ji is a murderer!"

"Yiqi, calm down." Jiang Moyin quickly stopped him again. "We haven't even finished questioning him."

Qi Jianqiu pursed her lips at Xue Yiqi's rash attitude. What a rash fellow! The rumours that called him 'dashing' and 'handsome' couldn't be less true! He is but an impatient man. Perhaps Qi Jianqiu was too obvious with her disdain; Xue Yiqi scratched his head embarrassedly and kept mum.

"You'd suspected that your young master was responsible for the murder at Moonglade due to his bloodied tunic, yet because there is no physical evidence, we cannot prove anything."Feng Luodi continued. "That's why we need your help, to trick him into confessing his crime. Will you help us?"

The servant kept his lips firmly pressed together, not uttering a word.

Feng Luodi took a look at his hands. "I see the calluses on your fingers. These are not from housework, but from years of holding a pen, presumedly from doing paperwork for the household. With your ability to read and write, can I assume that you are well read, in both literature and the modern laws? These works teach us to uphold moral righteousness, and you can do so by helping us. If you refuse, your young master will run free, and the murders of the two innocent handmaidens will go unavenged. Withholding information from law enforcers is a crime. Wang Ji is wrong, and I hope you don't follow his example, disregarding the law as he pleases."