Chapter 1343 Xinzijuan The Mysterious Case of the Sunset Grass Tree (1)

"If that's the case, I have to think about this case more carefully." Feng Ziying nodded, "Let me introduce the situation first. Wen Zheng, you said that the case is not complicated, so I want to listen carefully and then go and check the case. .”

Li Wenzheng gave Feng Ziying a meaningful look, "Sir, if you go to Judge Song to review the file, I'm afraid that Judge Song will really ask Master Fu Yin to hand over the case to you for trial. I think the government Master Yin is happy to see this happen.”

 “Is this how Old Song tricked me?” Feng Ziying also laughed. Since he wants to gain a firm foothold in Shuntian Mansion, he can't be afraid of taking on trouble.

Although his main responsibilities are the Qing army, robbery, and river defense, he also has another identity to assist the governor in handling government affairs, which means that theoretically, he can intervene in any affairs, as long as the governor does not object. He can even take over the trial of a lawsuit.

"Haha, I can't say I tricked you. This matter has been repeated so many times that everyone is tired of it. There are only a few suspicious suspects, but none of them can be verified. None of them can be punished, and all of them have sufficient Reasons lead to this situation."

Li Wenzheng saw the perseverance in Feng Ziying's brows and knew that Mr. Fu Cheng was relieved and wanted to go through this troubled water. He was a little helpless.

Through Ni Er's relationship, Li Wenzheng is naturally willing to hold Feng Ziying's thick leg tightly, and that's all for other business cases, but this case is indeed a bit tricky. If it doesn't get done well, it will have to be pricked with blood. Of course With Xiao Feng's background, it doesn't have much influence, but it is definitely a bit embarrassing. As a character caught in the middle, it is inevitable that he will not be welcomed by all parties, so he will remind the other party.

However, it seems that Xiao Feng Xiuzuan is also stubborn and confident. Otherwise, he would not have such a great reputation. If he goes on, he will only make the other party unhappy. I have reminded him that I am doing my best.

"So strange and bizarre?" Feng Ziying nodded, "I just have time, so you can tell me in detail."

Li Wenzheng stopped talking nonsense and went through the case in detail from beginning to end.

The case was actually not complicated. It involved three families. The deceased, Su Daqiang, was a descendant of the Su family in Tongzhou. He was a scholar. Later, he failed in the imperial examination. He used some of his family's resources to run a business, mainly selling silk from the south of the Yangtze River to the capital.

He is partnering with Jiang Ziqi, a descendant of the Jiang family in Miao County, which is also close to Tongzhou. The Jiang family is also a large family in Miao County and has long-term friendships with the Su family in Tongzhou, so it is normal for the two children to do business in partnership.

On the fifth day of April in the eighth year of Yonglong, Su Daqiang and Jiang Ziqi made an appointment to charter a boat from Zhangjiawan, Tongzhou, to go south to Jinling and Suzhou to discuss silk business. They originally agreed to set off in Maochu, but the ship owner still did not see the arrival of Su Daqiang and Jiang Ziqi until Maozheng. So the captain went to Su Daqiang's home to inquire.

The news was that Su Daqiang left at about 4:30 in the morning. Because Su Daqiang's residence was not far from the pier, and Jiang Ziqi's rented residence was not far away, so Su Daqiang went out alone. Take people with you.

Seeing what the Su family said, the ship owner had no choice but to go to Jiang's house to inquire. The Jiang family said that Jiang Ziqi rested on the dock the first night in order not to waste time, because Jiang Ziqi had a warehouse on the dock and occasionally rested there. , so the family didn’t think it was a big deal.

When the boat owner returned to the dock and got on board, Jiang Ziqi hurried over. He said he overslept and didn't know why Su Daqiang didn't arrive.

As a result, Su Daqiang's sudden disappearance became an unsolved case until more than half a month later, someone discovered a rotting corpse somewhere on the bank of the canal. Judging from its body shape and clothes, it was determined that it was Su Daqiang. An autopsy revealed that his head was There were no injuries on his head caused by heavy blows with blunt objects. It was judged that he died after being hit with a heavy object first and falling into the water.

Previously, the Su family went to Tongzhou Yamen to report the crime, but Tongzhou Yamen did not pay attention to it.

This kind of businessman not returning from an outing or having no news is nothing in Tongzhou. Although Tongzhou is not the capital of Dayi, it is the most important dock in the north of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. More than a thousand merchants gather here every day. Ten thousand?

Not to mention missing, it is common for people to slip and fall into the water and drown. Every year, no less than dozens of people fall into the water and drown on the docks and on the docked ships due to drunkenness or fights.

But after he was hit on the head with a blunt object and drowned to death when he was trying to identify Su Daqiang, it was no longer simple.

Although Su Daqiang is just an ordinary businessman, he is a descendant of the Su family in Tongzhou. Of course, he is a commoner. However, because his mother was a geisha, she was quite popular in the Su family. However, because his mother was quite popular when she was young. The head of the Su family favored him, so when Su Daqiang came of age, the head of the Su family gave him a lot of family assets.

This also caused great dissatisfaction among several legitimate sons of the Su family. Some people even claimed that Su Daqiang was the son of his mother who had an affair with an outsider because his appearance was completely different from that of his father, and did not recognize him as a descendant of the Su family.

It's just that this theory naturally had no market when the head of the Su family was around, but it became popular after the death of the previous head of the Su family. Several of the legitimate sons of the Su family also intended to take back the two houses, a shop, and the land that their father gave to Su Daqiang. wait.

 This is naturally impossible to get Su Daqiang’s consent.

Although Su Daqiang was born as a concubine, he had studied for several years and passed the scholar examination. He was also considered a scholar. In addition, Kong Wu was powerful and had a flamboyant personality. He had conflicts with several of his direct brothers, so the Su family had always There was nothing they could do about Su Daqiang. Several children of the Su family had been threatening to deal with Su Daqiang and get back their property.

"So, there is some suspicion that some of Su Daqiang's direct brothers are suspected of murder? Or are they suspected of paying for the murder?" Feng Ziying nodded. In novels or movies and TV dramas, it seems to be the most likely, but it is often not the case, but in reality But this is not the case in China. It is usually the most likely one.

"Because several of the direct descendants of the Su family are very hostile to Su Daqiang, this possibility cannot be ruled out, and the Su family is quite powerful in Tongzhou, and Tongzhou is a land and water dock, and there are many gangsters and greenwood thieves traveling from north to south. Really? It’s not impossible to do this kind of thing.”

Li Wenzheng was very objective, "But this is only a possibility. The property Su Daqiang took away from the Su family is only worth thousands of taels of silver even if the house, shop and farm are added up. This requires hiring a murderer. Once someone takes it, If I seize the opportunity and blackmail you, I will be like a tarsal maggot, and I won't be able to get rid of it until my death. If I do it myself, the people in the Su family don't seem like it."

“Wen Zheng is very clear about this case.” Feng Ziying couldn’t help but praise.

"Sir, how can you do it if you don't care? People from Tongzhou come here every two days and ask, uh, Su Daqiang's widow Zheng..." Li Wenzheng paused.

"Oh? What's the origin of this Zheng family?" Feng Ziying knew there was something wrong as soon as she heard it.

“Mr. Zheng and Concubine Zheng are half-sisters. Concubine Zheng was born to Zheng Guozhang’s son,...” Li Wenzheng didn’t hide it in front of Feng Ziying, “and this Concubine Zheng...”

“Zheng also has a problem?” Feng Ziying was surprised.

"According to what the ship owner said, when he went to Su's house to inquire, Ms. Zheng was quite panicked. There seemed to be a man's voice in the house, but when asked later, Ms. Zheng denied it..." Li Wenzheng pondered: "According to the government's investigation, Zheng's style is not good, because Su Daqiang often goes out on business, and it is suspected that a man from outside has hooked up with him..."

"Has it been verified?" Feng Ziying frowned. If there was such a situation, it was impossible not to investigate. According to this statement, Zheng's suspicion was not small.

“No, Zheng firmly denies it. There are rumors outside, and people in Tongzhou just say it’s a rumor. It may be that the Su family made rumors to ruin the reputation of Su Daqiang and his wife. Even Su Daqiang himself doesn’t believe it,..."

Li Wenzheng's explanation failed to satisfy Feng Ziying, "Now that the government knows it, why doesn't it continue to investigate further? There must be a reason for everything to happen. Now that we know this situation, we should continue the investigation. No matter whether it is related to this case or not, at least there can be some It’s a good explanation, even if it excludes it.”

Li Wenzheng smiled bitterly, "My lord, it's easier said than done. The government learned about it through a Lifu on the dock, but this Lifu accidentally heard it from a foreign merchant who drank too much, and that foreign merchant only I know it’s from Hangzhou. It happened the year before last. I haven’t been to Tongzhou in the past two years. No one knows the name. How can I find out?”

Feng Ziying underestimated the limitations of regional differences in this era. This is not like modern times, where a phone call, fax or email can reach thousands of miles. She requested the local public security agency to assist in the investigation. Now that the official document has been passed, it will take a month or two, and you can't even say it. You can’t tell me your name or appearance, and you don’t know your specific address. How can you ask the local government to investigate for you?

 When I received the official document, I didn’t just throw it aside as waste paper. I even cursed a few times.

Feng Ziying remained silent. This is indeed a problem. When encountering such a thing, the Yamen is also in trouble. If you go to Hangzhou for such a thing, and there is not much specific information, the trip will most likely be in vain. Who wants to go?

"Also, after we did more research, we got a warning from the superiors, saying that we were not doing our job properly and working hard as our master. Instead, we were investigating trivial matters and wasting energy and time..." Li Wenzheng took a gulp. Spit, somewhat helplessly.

"Oh? The superiors?" Feng Ziying snorted. Li Wenzheng didn't say clearly, but the superiors of the Shuntian government office could only be the Three Law Departments, and the Criminal Department was the most likely.

Li Wenzheng did not respond, and Wang Wenyan also smiled and said, "Sir, this kind of thing is normal. Concubine Zheng is a decent person after all. Naturally, she doesn't want this kind of thing to damage the family tradition and reputation."

 (End of this chapter)