There is a god in the sky

Chapter 29 The Yicun Murder Case 11

"Could it be the murderer who killed Guihua and Granny Wang?" Suifeng wondered.

Xiao Ji shook his head. "No, if that person had such ability, he wouldn't need to strangle two weak women to death."

After half a day, County Lieutenant Sun finished taking the statement and came over with two villagers.

"Lord Xiao, these two men meet your requirements." Seeing Village Chief Li lying on the ground, his face contorted in pain, he asked in bewilderment, "What are you doing, sir?"

Could it be that Village Chief Li has offended this important person?

Xiao Ji beckoned, and the two villagers rushed forward, but Xiao Ji stopped them just as they were about to bend their knees.

"Let me see your injuries."

One of them had an injury on his left arm, a long scratch.

“This injury was caused by a branch when I was fertilizing in the woods yesterday. My wife and son can testify to this.”

The other person had a wound on the back of their right hand, a ring of teeth marks, clearly indicating that they had been bitten.

He blushed and said, "Your Excellency, this wound...this tooth mark was made by my wife. Last night...that...I upset her, and that's why she bit me."

Xiao Ji then asked, "Both of you, open your mouths and let me take a look."

Although the two were puzzled, they obediently opened their mouths. Xiao Ji glanced at their teeth, nodded, and said, "Alright, go back now."

"Can we go now?"

"Ah."

The two men took off running, fearing that the young official might change his mind.

As if remembering something, Sui Feng squatted down, pried open Village Chief Li's mouth, and exclaimed, "Sir, he's missing a front tooth!"

With a grim face, Xiao Ji handed the autopsy report to County Lieutenant Sun and ordered, "Take Li Changhe back to the county office for questioning!"

When County Magistrate Sun saw the thick stack of autopsy records, he was amazed with each sentence he read, realizing that autopsies could be performed in this way.

Compared to the autopsy record from the county coroner, this one almost perfectly describes the murderer's features.

He was excited and chased after him, flattering him, "Your Excellency is brilliant! I knew your autopsy skills were first-rate!"

Xiao Ji did not explain, but instead instructed him to go back and hold court.

After leaving Baiyi Village, Xiao Ji turned and headed to the Wei family's house.

Wei Lanxiang had just woken up and was feeding the chickens in the yard.

She was dressed simply, still in a patched cloth dress, her hair wrapped in a cloth of the same color, and her long hair was braided into two pigtails.

She looked no different from any other girl in the village.

If I had to tell them apart, they'd probably be better looking, have fairer skin, and a more composed demeanor.

"Miss Wei, the authorities have arrested Li Dahe and taken him back for questioning."

Wei Lanxiang scattered the last bit of millet, then turned to look at Xiao Ji, "Thank you for your help, Lord Xiao. I wonder when my godfather will be able to return?"

"As long as it is confirmed that the murderer is Li Changhe, Mr. Wei can return at any time."

Xiao Ji stood outside the Wei family's gate, looking at Wei Lanxiang with a scrutinizing gaze.

He really wanted to ask if she was the one who injured Li Changhe.

If he hadn't witnessed her skill in dissecting corpses, he would never have suspected a fifteen-year-old girl.

"Is there anything else, Lord Xiao?" Wei Lanxiang asked, looking puzzled.

Xiao Ji casually made up an excuse and asked, "The court will be holding a hearing today. Would Miss Wei like to go and watch?"

"Okay." She really wanted to see Village Chief Li confess his guilt with her own eyes.

Xiao Ji and his two companions arrived on horseback, making it somewhat difficult to arrange for Wei Lanxiang to be taken back to the county town.

"Does Miss Wei know how to ride a horse?"

"No." Wei Lanxiang had never been involved in horseback riding in either of her lives, but she would definitely learn it if she had the chance in the future.

In this era without cars, the fastest way to get around is by horseback riding, which might come in handy for escaping in the future.

Xiao Ji smiled and said, "Then you ride the horse that follows the wind, and let it lead you."

Sui Feng's eyes widened, wanting to refuse, but he dared not disobey his master's decision.

He led the horse, showing Wei Lanxiang how to mount it. Once she was seated, he asked with a mischievous grin, "Miss Wei, are you scared?"

The view from horseback is very different. The horse that followed the wind was also carefully raised by him. Suddenly having a different owner, it was restless and pawing at the ground with its hooves.

Will it throw me off?

"No, it's very well-behaved."

Wei Lanxiang nodded and soothingly stroked the horse's neck.

Seeing her nervousness, Sui Feng became happy.

This young girl always had an expression that remained unchanged even if the sky were to fall or the earth were to crack, which made him, a man a few years older than her, feel somewhat ashamed.

Now there was finally something she wasn't good at. She whistled in the wind and led her horse to the front of the group.

Xiao Ji rode behind him on horseback, a smile on his face.

"My lord, Miss Wei has a very stable lower body and light steps; she must know martial arts." Suiying came to this conclusion after observing for a while.

"Oh? No wonder."

In the county government office of Aoki County, Magistrate Fang sat in the main seat, while County Lieutenant Sun and County Assistant Magistrate Sun sat on either side.

Normally, minor cases are handled by County Lieutenant Sun himself, but for murder cases, County Magistrate Fang is the presiding judge.

Li Changhe lay sprawled on the courtroom floor, struggling to prop himself up with one hand.

Magistrate Fang raised his gavel and demanded, "Who are you here? State your name!"

Li Changhe shouted excitedly, "My lord, Lord Fang... I am Li Changhe, the village chief of Baiyi Village! My lord, I am innocent!"

Magistrate Fang naturally recognized the man before him.

Baiyi Village is close to the county seat, and the Li family would come to give gifts every year.

Magistrate Fang treated the Li family very politely, considering that the eldest son of the Li family was doing well in his studies.

However, even if there were personal connections, Magistrate Fang would not dare to show favoritism in such situations.

"Li Changhe, where were you after midnight the night before last? Where were you around midnight the night before last?"

“I sleep at home, my wife can vouch for that.”

Village Chief Li's wife and daughter were also brought in; they were trembling when they entered.

Madam Chen knelt down, her voice trembling, and said, "Your Excellency, he... he has been going to bed early these past few nights and hasn't gone out."

County Magistrate Sun pressed further, "Then how did he get his injuries? Do you know that he had an affair with Guihua?"

Chen lowered her head to her chest and shook her head vigorously: "This humble woman, this humble woman, does not know."

"Then you probably don't know that he had an argument with Granny Wang, which was overheard by the neighbors."

Li Changhe looked up instantly, "Impossible! No one lives next door to the Wang family!"

Neither Granny Wang nor Wang Daniu had a good temper, and the neighbors had long since stopped associating with their family.

"Oh? So what were you doing going to see Granny Wang in the middle of the night?"

"I...I didn't look for her!" Li Changhe insisted on denying it.

His head was throbbing, and the pain in his hands and feet made him lose his temper.

Seeing this, Magistrate Fang gave County Lieutenant Sun a wink.

County Magistrate Sun continued to bluff him, "Someone, show him the coroner's autopsy report. There are teeth marks on the deceased's body, and he's missing an upper front tooth. Pry open his mouth and take a look."

Two constables held Li Changhe down and pried open his mouth. Everyone saw that one of his upper front teeth was indeed missing.

The onlookers outside the gate began to whisper among themselves.

"This old man is quite old, but I never expected him to be so lustful and persecute someone's young wife."

"This kind of thing is nothing new, but he deserves to die for taking lives."

“I have a niece who married into Baiyi Village. She died mysteriously a couple of years ago. Could this old man have killed her too?”

"It's hard to say. This old guy is definitely not a first-time killer. Look at his ferocious appearance."