Hexi

Chapter 53 The Disappearing Key

When Song Yan talked about the Wu family who opened a jade shop, Han Mo had a goal in mind.Their family is considered a very famous merchant in the capital, and even Mrs. Yang once patronized their shop.So when he arrived outside Wu's house, he was not surprised to see such a big house as theirs.

"Where is the incident?"

The gate of Wu's house was wide open, and the policemen had already guarded all the gates. The servants in the courtyard shrank their necks to come and go. It was obviously very busy, but the tense atmosphere made all this seem too silent.

A man who looked like a housekeeper greeted him.Maybe he didn't recognize Han Mo, but when he saw his exquisite attire, he became more respectful:
"Back to Mr. Butou, the incident happened in Liufuzhai where the old lady lived. Our old lady had just passed away. The old lady was heartbroken because of the old lady's death, but he has always been in good health. No one expected her to suddenly ..."

After hearing some information along the way, the group of people had already walked outside the gate of Liufuzhai.There are more people here, and the gate of the courtyard has already been guarded by policemen, everyone in the Wu family gathered outside the door and wept, only their head, Wu Pei, guarded in the main room accompanied by the policemen.

"My son, Dou Yin is here."

As soon as they stepped into the courtyard gate, Song Yan pointed to the back of them.

Han Mo turned his head and took a look, only to see that Dou Yin had hurried to the front, and the servant behind him was still carrying a box with scratches all over it.

"Where are the dead?"

"Inside. You go in first."

Han Mo pointed to the dark hair in the room, then stepped out of the way, scanning the group of men and women outside the courtyard gate.He didn't walk in the door until his eyes had passed each of them.

The old lady of the Wu family was found lying in a pool of blood early this morning.

When Han Mo entered the door, the corpse was still lying on the ground in its original posture, with its face facing east and its right hand reaching for the door, with both eyes open, leaving a bloody hole the size of a cup on the back of its head.

Of course the blood had run out by now.Whether it was the blood on the ground or on his body, they all showed a black color.

Han Mo looked around the room, saw Dou Yin standing up from the corner of his eye, and asked, "How?"

Dou Yin frowned: "Judging from the color of the blood and the stiffness of the corpse, the deceased has been dead for about three hours. Inferred, it should be an accident at the end of Yin or the beginning of Mao. The cause of death is obvious, being injured by a sharp weapon , due to excessive blood loss."

"My son, look at this." At this time, Song Yan picked up a copper candlestick from the corner of the screen and walked over.There was a clear bloodstain on the corner of the candlestick.

Han Qian came over to take a look, and said: "The place where the candlestick landed was only three feet away from the corpse, and there was a bloodstain in the middle. It seemed that the candlestick was brought over after hurting someone. This is strange, they Wu family With such a large family business, the old lady should always be served in the house, such a big candlestick fell to the ground, why did no one hear it? No one noticed it until the morning?"

Han Mo sent Song Yan: "Go and tell all the servants who work in Liufuzhai to be tried. Then go and check the incense and food in their houses."

"My lord! I found a suspicious stick of incense in the room of the maid on duty!"

At this moment, a guard walked in holding a small piece of sandalwood: "This incense contains very strong cinnabar."

Han Mo took it in his hand: "That's right. Cinnabar is a tranquilizer for severe illness, and if you take it too much, it will have a magical effect. The murderer premeditated in advance and fascinated the maid, so the case was successfully closed."

Dou Yin looked at the ground: "But this old lady's hair is neat, she should have woken up at that time. And the inferred time of death is not yet dawn, what is she doing up so early?"

Han Mo pondered for a moment, then picked up the candlestick that Song Yan picked up earlier: "The candles in the candlestick are almost burnt out, so when you get up early to comb your hair and dress, at least there must be a light to illuminate it. But when the candlestick fell down The candle will burn out by the time—maybe it's not because she got up early, or maybe she hasn't slept at all."

Everyone was stunned...

The maid who happened to be walking in under the door, led by Song Yan, was stunned for a moment, and then fell down on her knees in front of Han Mo with a plop: "Master Qingtian Mingjian! The clothes on the old lady, and the hair on her head Hair accessories and hairpin rings are indeed yesterday's outfits!
"The maidservant put this on for the old lady herself. The maidservant was on duty last night. She was supposed to wait for the old lady to go to bed before leaving. But the old lady said that she still had to chant a few pages of scriptures, so she sent the maidservant back first." Room. Later, for some reason, after returning to the room, the servant girl fell asleep with eyelids. Afterwards, I don’t know anything!"

Han Mo beckoned Song Yan to take her to the side for interrogation, and then said to Yang You: "The murderer can not only place Mixiang in advance, but also commit the crime several hours later in the early morning, so he must not be an outsider.

"First exclude the subordinates from committing the crime, and drag the deceased's daughter-in-law and grandchildren to the yard for interrogation. Then check the property in the room for any missing items."

Both Song Yan and Yang You went out.

Han Mo walked to the verandah and began to pay attention to everyone walking in the yard.

Mrs. Wu's three sons are always there.The eyes of the eldest son, Wu Pei, were red and swollen, and he was chattering from inside to outside.The other two sons stood outside the door, explaining things to the stewards from time to time.

The rest of the female relatives and children also stood scattered outside the courtyard, each with a miserable face, accepting Song Yan's cross-examination.

Han Mo also saw a woman among them. Although she looked sad, she kept looking at him from time to time.

He was silent for a moment, and called a policeman: "Go and bring her to me."

The catcher walked up to the woman, the woman hurriedly lowered her head, hesitated for a while, then got up and followed the catcher.

"Who are you from Mrs. Wu?" Han Mo asked.

The woman knelt on the ground, unable to control her trembling: "My family, my family is the eldest daughter-in-law of the Wu family, Wu Pei's wife Wu Sun."

"When did you know what happened?"

"It was this morning. I only found out after hearing the report from Liufuzhai's servants this morning."

"As the eldest daughter-in-law, don't you usually go to your mother-in-law to have a morning and evening meditation?"

"Of course I'm going! But it's too early this morning, and it's not time yet..."

Han Mo squatted down on the veranda, staring fixedly at her pale face: "The whole family is busy grieving, why do you seem to be very scared? What are you shaking?"

After asking this sentence, Mrs. Sun trembled even more.

Han Mo kept his voice cold: "There is a quarrel between you and your mother-in-law?"

Sun couldn't answer.

"My lord, the two locks and keys in Mrs. Wu's room are missing!"

Yang You came to report at this time.

"The key?"

Han Mo stood up.

"According to the servant girl, those are the locks and keys of the warehouse in two strings. My grandpa passed away not long ago, and the Wu family has not yet separated. Therefore, the warehouse keys of the Wu family are still in the hands of Mrs. Wu, but now they are the only ones missing. Already!"

Han Mo glanced at Mrs. Sun, whose face was getting paler, and said, "Madam Wu, please lead the way. Let's go to the public warehouse now!"

(End of this chapter)