eighth story

On the way to Yang's mansion, Wu Qinyang suddenly thought of many things.

From Wen Yingying's murder to the only possible evidence, he feels that this matter has gradually become clear.Although Xuan Jue rejected the suggestion of pretending to be a ghost, the original intention was to tell the truth for Mrs. Yang. The appearance of Wen Yingying saved them the trouble of pretending to be a ghost, and a female ghost who was bent on revenge was of course more terrifying than a human.Wu Qinyang sighed softly, now he just hoped that his sudden appearance would not make Wen Yingying angry, and if he couldn't go back, it would be a big trouble.Then he found that he sighed more and more recently, so he had to scratch the black cat's small chin in his arms lightly when he was depressed, and said in a low voice: "Brother, do you think we can go back safely?"

Just now, Xuanjue suddenly changed back to his original form without a real body. It was originally a helpless act to save people. Now that he is exhausted, he doesn't even bother to open his eyes. He just found a more comfortable place in Wu Qinyang's arms. He smiled and said, "If you come, let's be safe."

Wu Qinyang felt that his brother was much calmer than him from the beginning to the end, thinking that even if the sky fell, his brother would turn into a cat to support him, so his heart was relieved a lot, and he began to concentrate on thinking about the upcoming matter. The case that came to light.

It was around four o'clock in the afternoon when Wu Qinyang arrived at the troupe.Ye Zhao and Han Xiangyang had been waiting for him for a long time, and there was a cup of cold tea in front of each of them.All the theater troupe were gathered in this two-story building facing the street, and no one left.Compared with other people who are doing nothing, the theater troupe leader seems a little restless, raising his head to look in the direction of the gate from time to time, but he doesn't dare to ask Ye Zhao and the others why they are here, so he just ordered Mr. Ping to serve me some melon seeds and snacks, and greet him as much as possible. They are random.As soon as Wu Qinyang arrived at the entrance of the theater troupe, he felt many eyes were staring at him. Han Xiangyang stepped forward to greet him first, and first said in a slightly reproachful tone: "Xiaofeng, if you don't come here again, Brother Ye and I They are going to go directly to the Yang Mansion to find you." Then he lowered his voice and asked in a low voice, "What's the matter? You let us all come to the theater troupe. If there is no result, I can't do anything with Brother Ye They confess."

Wu Qinyang made a reassuring gesture to him, but said: "I'm sorry, I'm late." At this time, three people got off from the car behind him, and it was Mrs. Yang who was still dignified and calm, with a pale face. Miss Yang and Mr. Yang whose temples are already gray.Miss Yang's sudden coma still alarmed the servants of the Yang family. Wu Qinyang's appearance out of thin air made the servants in charge of guarding the house stare wide-eyed. The fate of people shouting and beating.What surprised Wu Qinyang even more was that Mrs. Yang would actually help him out in front of Mr. Yang who came over after hearing the news.She first glanced at the black cat in Wu Qinyang's arms with some gratitude, then straightened the hairpin on her head, and then said to the astonished Master Yang: "I think something will happen in the mansion today, So I asked someone to hire a head catcher to come to the inner courtyard to help, thanks to him just now, otherwise Xiaoyun's life would have been gone long ago."

Master Yang looked at Wu Qinyang suspiciously, and asked, "Why didn't I know about this?"

Madam Yang said coldly: "After Shikang died, when will you still remember that Xiaoyun is your daughter?"

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Mr. Yang's face. Fortunately, they were never a loving couple who respected each other as guests. The conversation between husband and wife could not continue. Mr. Yang only ordered his servants to call the doctor to see the lady as soon as possible.Wu Qinyang watched quietly until Master Yang walked in front of him.Master Yang seemed to recognize him as one of the policemen who came to visit that day, and said, "You are..."

Wu Qinyang said, "My surname is Leng."

Master Yang sighed deeply, and said, "Leng Butou, thank you..."

Wu Qin said: "Master Yang, although it's a little presumptuous, but I have to take my wife to the theater now, I don't know if it's inconvenient to go to the mansion."

Master Yang said: "Why? Xiaoyun still..."

Wu Qinyang said, "For Wen Yingying's murder."

Master Yang said in surprise: "Could it be my wife and my daughter...?"

Wu Qinyang shook his head: "They are not murderers, but very important witnesses."

Master Yang didn't speak, but Mrs. Yang stood up silently, as if she was ready to leave with Wu Qinyang. At this time, Miss Yang, who was carried into the soft sedan chair, also woke up leisurely, and shouted in panic: "mom!"

So the number of people going to the troupe became three.

Mrs. Yang held her daughter's hand tightly all the way, and did not speak to Master Yang.

When Master Yang got off the car, Ye Zhao also just walked out the door.Ye Zhao was obviously a little surprised, but Master Yang just waved his hand lightly, and walked into the house with Wu Qinyang.Uncle Wen, who is the head of the theater troupe, quickly recognized the identities of the three members of the family, and quickly asked Ping Jun to bring chairs for the three of them to sit down.The theater troupe plus the two teams of the police station, and now there is another group of servants from the Yang family. Pointing in this direction, I don't know what to say.Wu Qinyang put his brother down on the table, and slowly broke off a piece of snacks to feed the black cat. Xuanjue didn't know where he got this interest in feeding in public, but unfortunately he couldn't speak on this occasion, but Ye Zhao interrupted Wu Qinyang and said, "Yunfeng, what are you planning to do?"

Wu Qinyang said: "Wen Yingying's murder...I already know who the murderer is."

A gust of cold wind blew through the hallway, and goose bumps appeared on the bodies of everyone present. It felt like Wen Yingying's soul had come, and she was still unwilling to let go of the real culprit who was about to be punished by law.Ye Zhao frowned and didn't speak, but the young man named Huzi said first: "What did you say? Didn't Sister Yingying be killed by Young Master Yang!" After speaking, he gave Master Yang a fierce look. .

Wu Qin said: "Wen Yingying's death is related to Young Master Yang, but he was not killed by Young Master Yang. Wen Yingying's death time was after Yin time that night, and before Mao time, she was strangled to death again. He was killed on the spot, so the murderer can only appear within this one hour. And the tavern clerk can prove that Young Master Yang appeared in the tavern just after the fourth watch of the night, that is, around the first quarter of the ugly hour. He never left, so judging from the time, it is impossible for Young Master Yang to be the murderer of Wen Yingying."

Huzi argued: "Is it impossible for the guy in the tavern to lie? The Yang family gave him money, and he testified for Young Master Yang. Must be true?"

Wu Qinyang said: "But there is no evidence to prove that what they said is false. I went to the surrounding area of ​​the tavern to investigate, and according to the feedback from the neighbors nearby, in the past three months, the life of the people in the tavern has not been obvious. It can be seen that the Yang family did not provide them with financial rewards. If the tavern was really bribed to give false testimony, would it be risky for Mr. Yang to do so? Money is not a problem for him, but the tavern can tell Yang at any time. The fact that the young master didn't come that night, so I don't think this guess is valid."

Huzi was still not reconciled, and continued: "Then what if it is Yang who threatens them? Your police can tell us not to leave the inner city, and their Yang family can certainly tell the people in the tavern not to tell the truth."

Wu Qinyang said: "So this is just a tendency of mine. In fact, the possibility of coercion cannot be ruled out. Later, I re-understood the situation of Wen Yingying's autopsy, and found a very important clue, that is, there was a scar on her neck. A strangle mark formed after death, and the dust on the beam of her room was rubbed off by something. So I wondered if someone hung her on the beam with a rope after Wen Yingying died In order to achieve some ulterior purpose."

Uncle Wen said: "But that morning when we found out that something happened to Yingying, she fell directly on the ground. There is no rope in the room at all. How could she pretend to hang herself?"

Wu Qinyang said: "Yes, but there is a strangle mark on her neck that shouldn't have appeared. Why? If according to my previous inference, Young Master Yang is not the real murderer of Wen Yingying, it means that in the After Young Master Yang left, another person entered Wen Yingying's room, and this person was the murderer."

The Wusheng named Dapeng said: "That's not right, catch the head. According to what you said just now, this person hung Yingying up with a rope and pretended to commit suicide. Then why did he put her down again later? This is not nonsense. Well."

Han Xiangyang said: "Does it mean that he knows that we can find out that Wen Yingying did not commit suicide, so he just stopped pretending?"

Wu Qinyang said: "How should I put it, let me try to restore the whole process of that night first, and then I will explain why I think this person is the murderer, and of course there are evidences. First of all, the whole thing was caused by a bracelet , but now this bracelet can no longer be found, and the whereabouts of this bracelet is also very important, let me talk about it later. Young Master Yang likes Wen Yingying, so he stole the bracelet from his family and gave it to her. Young Master Yang took back the bracelet, but Young Master Yang refused, so Master Yang locked him in the woodshed, and went to the opera troupe to get the bracelet back, the time was after the second watch in the evening, almost at the time of Haizheng."

Master Yang nodded.

Wu Qinyang continued: "But as far as I know, Master Yang discovered that the bracelet was missing that evening, and it was only because Young Master Yang hadn't come back that he didn't have an attack. I have to mention here The second person is Ms. Yang. Ms. Yang had a maid named Mu Xiang who died suddenly three months ago. I told Rou'er a secret, and because of fear, Rou'er told me the secret again."

Ye Zhao said, "What secret?"

Wu Qin said: "Mu Xiang told Rou'er that Miss Yang was not in the room on the night when the troupe had an accident, and she came back from the outside in a panic until midnight, and went to find Mrs. What did you go to do? Young Master Yang stole the bracelet, and Master Yang was furious. Of course Miss Yang also knew about it. According to Mu Xiang told by Rouer, Miss Yang suddenly wanted to go out after she knew the bracelet was lost. I didn't even eat dinner, and I asked Mu Xiang to hide it from her with uncomfortable excuses, that is to say, she didn't want others to know that she was going out. What was the reason for this? Miss Yang's series of reactions made me think of a possibility , she wanted to steal the bracelet back."

Han Xiangyang said: "Steal it back?" At this time, Yang Xiaoyun's face had turned pale.

Wu Qinyang said: "Yes, steal it back. Ms. Yang is very keen on the student movement in the school. Three months ago they printed a batch of promotional materials and newspapers and distributed them around the school. The printing fee was paid by Ms. Yang. It’s not small, and this is what makes me suspicious. Master Yang and Ms. Yang have always been at odds with their father and daughter, and Mrs. Yang has never supported her daughter’s participation in any student movement. So where did she get the money? Ms. Yang It’s impossible to do rough laundry and cleaning for money, so will she secretly sell some jewelry to support her classmates in printing newspapers?”

Han Xiangyang said: "But she doesn't have enough money, so she wants to steal that bracelet back and then sell it for money?"

Wu Qinyang said: "Basically, this kind of thinking is mostly guesswork, but I think it is very close to the truth. Miss Yang participated in the student movement, they need a sum of money to print promotional materials, and the Yang family is a local producer. Known to be rich and powerful, Ms. Yang wanted to contribute her own strength, so she took the initiative to undertake the fundraising task, but her parents did not support her, so what should she do? She sold some of her jewelry, but found out that this There is still a big gap in the money. She doesn't want to lose face in front of her classmates, and she can't steal the jewelry of the eldest lady and the second concubine to sell it off. Suddenly I learned that Young Master Yang stole a family-owned bracelet and gave it to an opera singer. After everything was sent out, of course all kinds of accidents would happen. Even if things were lost, it was the problem between Young Master Yang and the opera singer. If you blame them, you can only blame them, and you won't suspect yourself. With this in mind, Miss Yang went to the troupe alone to steal the bracelet."

Ye Zhao said, "What about after that?"

Wu Qin said: "Miss Yang came to the troupe by herself and successfully found Wen Yingying's room. At this time, everyone in the troupe was probably eating downstairs, and no one was on the second floor. Miss Yang found the room that Wen Yingying Put away the bracelet, but when she wanted to leave, she found that someone had already returned upstairs. In desperation, she had to hide in the cabinet in Wen Yingying's room, and wanted to leave quietly after they all had a rest at night. But what she didn't expect was that Mr. Yang came so soon and asked Wen Yingying to take out the bracelet immediately. Wen Yingying had no intention of accepting the bracelet and of course agreed to return it, but when she returned to the room, she found that the bracelet was missing I had no choice but to tell the truth to Mr. Yang. Mr. Yang did not believe what she said, and the two had an argument. Afterwards, Wen Yingying broke her forehead and was helped back to the room by Mr. Ping. At this time, Ms. Yang had no chance to leave, so she had to Continue to hide in the closet and secretly check the situation outside."

Han Xiangyang said: "Then Young Master Yang came?"

Wu Qin said: "That's right. Mr. Ping bandaged Wen Yingying's wound, and then went back to rest by himself. It was just past three o'clock. Wen Yingying probably didn't fall asleep because of the pain in the wound. Of course, Miss Yang did not." There was no chance to leave. Later, Young Master Yang came to the troupe secretly. At this time, it was about half an hour before midnight, around Zizheng. Young Master Yang thought that Wen Yingying had been wronged, and sweetly comforted him, but Wen Yingying told him Angered by her attitude, Young Master Yang strangled Wen Yingying and raped him. After that, he left the troupe and went to drink in the tavern. He was sent back to Yang by the tavern the next morning. Home. Ms. Yang witnessed all this in the cabinet and was very frightened. She thought Wen Yingying was dead. It was dead of night and she wanted to leave quickly. Unexpectedly, Wen Yingying woke up suddenly. Ms. Yang panicked and picked up a A hard object hit Wen Yingying hard on the head a few times, and Wen Yingying passed out again. After that, she mistakenly thought she had killed someone, and returned home in a panic. Call Mu Xiang to find her mother for help."

Han Xiangyang said: "Just after four o'clock? Then Ms. Yang is not the murderer who killed Wen Yingying. There is a distance between the theater troupe and Yang's house. When she left the theater troupe, it must have been before Yinshi, or the time of Wen Yingying's death." Sorry."

Wu Qin said: "Yes, so the murderer came in to commit the murder after Miss Yang left. He knew that Young Master Yang had been here, so he strangled Wen Yingying to death, and pretended to hang himself after being humiliated. Everyone in the troupe Knowing that Wen Yingying is relatively noble on weekdays, she will definitely not be able to survive after being insulted like this, and the fact that Young Master Yang has been here cannot be concealed, so it is logical to push Wen Yingying's death to Young Master Yang gone."

Han Xiangyang said: "But Wen Yingying's body fell on the ground...I see, it's Mrs. Yang!"

Wu Qinyang nodded: "Mrs. Yang heard that her daughter murdered, of course she was eager to get rid of her guilt, so she asked Mu Xiang to accompany Miss to go back to rest, and she quietly came to the troupe for the purpose of destroying evidence. But when she entered Wen After entering Yingying's room, she found that the scene was not what her daughter described. Wen Yingying, who should have fallen to the ground, had hanged herself. She realized that her daughter hadn't killed anyone. She knew that Young Master Yang raped Wen Yingying tonight. , wanted to blame Young Master Yang for Wen Yingying's death, so she let Wen Yingying off the rope, faked the scene of the murder, and rushed back to Yang's mansion before dawn. Madam Yang's motive is very simple , in order to protect her daughter and stabilize her position in the Yang family. She and the second concubine have always been at odds. Once something happens to Young Master Yang, the second concubine will definitely be implicated, so that her status as the main wife will not be threatened. After that He was also worried that Mu Xiang would not be able to keep the secret of tonight, so he used money to force her to commit suicide in a well. Ms. Yang’s money for printing the newspaper was probably given by the eldest lady, and the bracelet should have been disposed of by the eldest lady. Some people suspect their mother and daughter."

Han Xiangyang said: "People who accidentally entered the scene would not think of disguising Wen Yingying as a suicide, so the murderer can only be someone from the theater troupe, and after Wen Yingying's death, he can get certain benefits."

Ye Zhao said, "Where's the evidence?"

Wu Qin said: "Mrs. Yang and Ms. Yang are the witnesses. As for the physical evidence... in fact, it has been in the hands of Mrs. Yang. I suddenly figured it out on the way to Yang's mansion. At first, she thought Wen Yingying committed suicide. But in the process of moving the corpse, it is very likely that clues to the murderer were found, and she wanted to blame Young Master Yang for Wen Yingying's death, so she didn't say it. Mrs. Yang knew that neither she nor her daughter was the murderer, so she would definitely keep it. Evidence that is beneficial to me, if the situation like today occurs, and the real murderer who killed Wen Yingying can be identified through these evidences, then there is a way to prove his innocence. So I guess there must be something at the scene that can identify the murderer About identity, Madam Yang, am I right?"

Mrs. Yang said quietly: "Yes." Then she handed a small wooden box with the lock removed to Wu Qinyang's hand.

Wu Qinyang opened the wooden box, and there were only three things inside, a pair of white silk, an inkstone, and a blood-stained ruby ​​earring.