Details of the Case
"It's you?"
The woman recognized Ji Yunshu.
Wasn't this the person who bumped into her on a rainy day and made the petition full of water stains?
"Get up first."
Ji Yunshu helped the woman up from the ground and helped her to sit on the side. She poured her a cup of hot tea and squeezed it into the woman's cold hands.
The woman held the teacup for a while before gently placing it on the table. She hugged her tattered bag tightly as she glanced at Ji Yunshu.
"Who are you?"
Ji Yunshu answered indifferently, "This humble one only wants to understand the case that Madam is appealing for."
"Are you an official?"
"No!"
"Are you from the imperial court?"
"No." Ji Yunshu denied them one by one.
The Capital Governor stepped forward to explain, "This is the famous Teacher Ji. Although he is not an official of the court, his ability to solve cases is outstanding. If your daughter was really murdered, Teacher Ji will definitely give you justice."
The woman's eyes widened and she grabbed Ji Yunshu's wrist. "Can you really help me? Help my daughter get justice? "
Ji Yunshu nodded.
"If Ye 'er was really killed by someone, I will definitely find the culprit and give her justice."
The woman's eyes reddened. Tears streamed down her face as she prepared to bow to Ji Yunshu.
Just as she was about to bow, Ji Yunshu pulled her arm up.
"Madam, you don't have to bow to me. I still need to understand this case before I can come to a conclusion. You must tell me everything you know, even the smallest details."
"Okay."
The woman wiped her tears and sat down. She let out a long sigh.
She began to speak slowly.
This went on for almost an hour!
Ji Yunshu understood the gist of the story.
The woman's surname was Xie, and she was a native of Yufu County. Her daughter, Ye 'er, was born not long before her husband passed away. She painstakingly raised her daughter. When Ye' er became an adult, she gave birth to a son. However, no matter how Aunty Xie interrogated her, Ye 'er never revealed who the father was. To make a living, Ye' er went to the famous Yichun Brothel in Yufu County to work as a songstress.
Because she was beautiful and had a good voice, she earned a lot of money in the past two years. During this period, she was also harassed by many men.
The day before Ye 'er's death, Aunty Xie waited for her in the middle of the night. She was drenched from the rain. No matter how Aunty Xie pressed her, Ye' er refused to tell. She only said that she would leave Yichun Brothel the next day and take her son away from Yufu County to live a good life.
Aunty Xie was full of longing for her future.
The next night, Ye 'er was raped by Young Master Qiao and died in the room on the second floor of the House of Spring.
His body was covered with wounds, and his clothes were torn to pieces. He was lying on the bed half-naked with his eyes wide open. His head was upside down on the edge of the bed, and his long hair was like a waterfall, falling from the bed to the ground.
"That bastard killed my daughter. He killed her. He used his money to bribe the county magistrate and the coroner. He said that my daughter died of poison. It can't be. My daughter wouldn't have committed suicide. It can't be …"
Aunty Xie cried so hard that she slumped into the chair.
She didn't know what to say and could only offer a few simple words of comfort. Then, she noticed the bundle in Aunty Xie's hands.
She asked, "Is this Ye 'er's?"
Aunty Xie nodded. "These are all my daughter's belongings. I've always kept them."
"Can I take a look?"
Aunty Xie hesitated for a moment before placing the bundle on the table and carefully opening it.
A rotten smell assailed their nostrils!
Inside the bundle was a light purple gown. The color had faded, making it look very dull. There were also some trinkets, a hairpin, and a few bracelets …
There was also a small, dark gray doll made of cloth. It had two pigtails tied on its head and looked very cute. However, there were four or five small puddings on it. It looked a little old, and its color had been washed until it was dark and light.
From the looks of it, it was more than ten years old!
"This doll was made by Ye 'er's father when he was still alive. Ye' er loved it and always kept it by her side. Even if it was a little rotten, she would let me sew it back up. She said that whenever she saw this doll, it was as if her father was still by her side. My poor Ye 'er, it's all my fault for not being able to protect you."
She cried again.
Ji Yunshu looked at the doll for a while. She had to admit that it was rare to see a man with such good craftsmanship.
After looking at it for a while, he returned it to her.
"Aunty Xie, you should rest well for the next two days."
Aunty Xie became anxious when she heard that.
"Teacher, are you not going to help me? I came all the way to the capital to seek justice for my daughter. You must help me. I really don't have any other way. Teacher, I beg you … "
She begged bitterly and was about to kneel again.
Ji Yunshu hurriedly said, "I won't ignore you, but this case has to be filed at the Supreme Court. Since ancient times, appeals for local cases have to be reported by the various prefectures and prefectures. Now that you've come to the capital to file your appeal, it will be much more complicated. Since the Capital Governor has accepted this case, he will naturally help you handle it. Moreover, if we want to know whether Ye 'er committed suicide by poison, we will need to reopen the coffin and perform an autopsy. Therefore, this case cannot be investigated in the capital. We will have to go to Yufu. This humble one is not an official coroner, nor am I an official of the imperial court. If I want to take over this case, I will need the approval of the Supreme Court. It will take a few days for the Capital Governor to submit the report."
Aunty Xie tried her best to persuade her, but she finally understood.
She nodded her head in tears and grabbed Ji Yunshu's hand. "Teacher, if you can bring justice to my daughter, I will repay you even if I have to work like a cow or a horse in my next life."
"Please don't say that. If your daughter was really murdered, it's only natural for me to seek justice for her."
Aunty Xie nodded.
Afterwards, the Capital Governor ordered someone to send her back to the inn.
"Teacher Ji, this official will immediately draft up a semi-cursive script. Once the Supreme Court has stamped it, this case will be handed over to you."
"Mm."
"Many thanks, Teacher." He continued, "With your intelligence, it would be the fortune of the Great Lin Dynasty if you could become an official. If this case can be solved, this official will definitely recommend Teacher to be appointed as a prison warden in the Ministry of Justice. Although that position has been removed by the Emperor for several years, with Teacher's intelligence, you are definitely up to the task."
Ji Yunshu immediately rejected the offer. "Milord, this humble one investigates cases not for fame or fortune, and I have never wanted to become an official in the imperial court."
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