amaotonovel Chapter 81 The Arson Case at the Yu Mansion (Part 2)
Chapter 81 The Arson Case at the Yu Mansion (Part 2)
Shen Lan changed back into her maid's attire and stood before Judge Yan, appearing obedient and harmless.
"Did Miss Shen Lan know Lord Yu before?" Judge Yan asked.
"Your Excellency, I first met Lord Yu at the welcoming banquet at the Song residence."
"Then why did you go to the Yu residence last night? Did Lord Yu promise you something?"
Shen Lan repeated what she had told Xiao Ji, without hiding anything.
Judge Yan indeed had the same question: "You agreed to meet tonight just for a little food?"
Shen Lan raised her head slightly, revealing a delicate and fair face. "I am longing for my hometown. I am about to leave and do not know when I will be able to return. That is why I accepted Lord Yu's gift."
I shouldn't have bothered you at night, but I'm busy during the day, and I was supposed to leave today anyway.
Xiao Ji looked down at the teacup in his hand, his expression unreadable.
Judge Yan nodded slightly; the reason sounded plausible enough.
He then asked, "You said that after entering the Yu residence, you were led by the gatekeeper along a small path to Tingxiang Garden, and you did not encounter any other servants from the Yu residence, is that right?"
"Yes, when I reached the outside of Tingxiang Garden, I heard someone shout that there was a fire. The gatekeeper ran away first, and I didn't want to cause trouble for the Yu family, so I turned back and left the mansion."
"Lies!" Judge Yan slammed his hand on the table.
He solemnly rebuked, "The gatekeeper of the Yu residence clearly said that he saw you enter Tingxiang Garden, and it was not long after that that news of the fire came. Even the maids serving at the Yu residence said that they saw you chatting happily with Lord Yu!"
Shen Lan suddenly raised her head, her eyes revealing shock.
They're lying!
Why lie? Was it to shift the blame onto her?
Or did they have planned this all along, and I was too careless and fell into their trap?
She quickly regained her composure.
"This humble woman has absolutely never entered Tingxiang Garden, much less seen Lord Yu!"
"how to prove?"
"I have a few questions. I wonder if I could confront the gatekeeper of the Yu residence in person?"
Judge Yan initially refused.
"You ask first, and I will consider and handle it accordingly."
"Firstly, it only took me half an hour to go from the Song residence to the Yu residence and back to the Song residence. There was simply no time to talk to Lord Yu."
"Is there any witness?"
Shen Lan knew something was wrong. She always climbed over the wall to get there and back, never using the gate. She even deliberately avoided Xuan'er. Where could she find witnesses?
Unexpectedly, his self-proclaimed superior lightness skill, which allowed him to move freely, became proof that he could not escape punishment.
"There are no witnesses; all the pedestrians on the street are strangers and cannot testify."
Judge Yan visibly took it seriously, asking, "And the second point?"
"Secondly, I have no motive to kill Lord Yu. Moreover, to set fire to the Yu residence and kill people, one would need accelerants. I have heard that Lord Yu was not the only one who died. How could I possibly accomplish this?"
"Leaving aside the motive, although it cannot be proven for the time being that you have a grudge against Lord Yu, you are both from Qingmu County, and it is possible that you have had interactions in the past."
As for the details of the crime, I'm waiting for your explanation!
This is to solidify Shen Lan's charges of murder and arson!
Xiao Ji coughed and reminded him, "Lord Yan, did the coroner perform an autopsy? What were the results?"
Judge Yan nodded and said, "The coroner has concluded that Lord Yu and his two servants were burned alive."
Shen Lan wondered: How could Yu Yuanwang have been burned alive in his own home?
"Didn't they call for help? There's always a process from the start of a fire to its full extent. The Yu family has many servants; how could they let Lord Yu be burned alive?"
Judge Yan looked at Shen Lan with an inscrutable expression and replied, "Tingxiang Garden is located in a remote part of the Yu residence. No other servants come and go on weekdays, so no one heard their cries for help."
This is probably the real-life version of the saying: "You can scream your lungs out and no one will come to save you."
Shen Lan chuckled.
She had suspected that Yu Yuanwang might have ulterior motives towards her, but she never expected him to be a repeat offender.
If I hadn't become a suspect myself, I would have applauded.
"Wait, Lord Yan said that no other servants entered or left that place, so why would a maid point to Shen Lan?"
Xiao Ji pointed out the inconsistencies in the explanation.
"This...maybe she went to Tingxiang Garden to deliver something."
"Sir, could you please have the maid describe what I look like? Perhaps she has mistaken me for someone else?"
Shen Lan was certain that she had never seen any of the maids from the Yu household.
Judge Yan sent his servants to question him.
After a while, the other person returned and said, "The maid said that Miss Shen was wearing a veil so her face could not be seen, but she was wearing a white dress."
Shen Lan raised an eyebrow. "Is she saying that I was wearing a veil when I met Lord Yu? Why would I do that? It's not like Lord Yu hasn't seen me before."
She wore a veil simply to avoid being seen by others; there was really no need for her to hide herself from Yu Yuanwang.
"Perhaps it's just to create an air of mystery," the official replied dismissively.
"Then ask her whether Lord Yu and I were sitting or standing at the time, and whether there was tea and snacks in front of us. She said that Lord Yu and I had a very pleasant conversation. What were we talking about?"
Magistrate Yan ordered, "Go and bring that maid and the gatekeeper here."
Shen Lan hurriedly added, "Please bring them here blindfolded, sir."
"Why?"
"To verify the woman's guess."
Judge Yan thought it was no big deal, so he told the officers to do as he was told.
While waiting, Xiao Ji exchanged a few words with Judge Yan, asking about the Yu family.
Clearly, Xiao Ji also found the case suspicious and hoped to find evidence that would be favorable to Shen Lan.
Shen Lan stood with her head down.
Fortunately, Xiao Ji was there, so she could stand up and defend herself, and the other party was willing to listen to her explanation.
Without this powerful backer, she would probably be kneeling in court right now, being interrogated and subjected to severe torture if she didn't admit to murder.
"What is Lord Yu's Tingxiang Garden like? Is it big?" Xiao Ji asked curiously.
Judge Yan recalled, "It was quite large, with two rows of houses and a small garden. There was a pavilion in the garden, which I heard was where Lord Yu usually relaxed."
How to relax is self-evident.
Is there a well in that yard?
"No."
"Where did the fire start? Have you found any signs of arson?"
Judge Yan chuckled and replied to Xiao Ji, "I cannot reveal too many details, please forgive me, Lord Xiao."
Xiao Ji didn't press the matter further.
He looked at Shen Lan and found her staring at her toes, seemingly lost in thought, but he couldn't detect a trace of tension in her.
He also didn't believe that Shen Lan would kill Yu Yuanwang.
But the current testimony is very unfavorable to her. Isn't she afraid?
And what exactly is she hiding?
She sneaks out at night and sneaks back; it doesn't seem like she's doing anything legitimate.
If all the evidence points to Shen Lan in the end, how can I help her?
Xiao Ji thought with a headache: This girl really is a handful!
"Sir, the gatekeeper and maid have been brought here."
Shen Lan turned around and saw the officers bringing in a blindfolded man and woman.