Chapter 158: A Series of Setbacks

“Ye Xin Ran and Xiao Huai’an were taken away by the county’s officers!”

The village head said to Lu Chang Qing with a troubled expression.

This young master had been frequently visiting the Xiao family recently, and the village head had become familiar with him.

“Why were they taken away by the officers?” Lu Chang Qing asked anxiously.

“They said there was a new discovery in the Zhang Da Shan case, so they needed to question the two of them!”

“A new discovery?”

Lu Chang Qing had a bad premonition.

He quickly climbed into the carriage, instructing the coachman to turn the carriage toward the county office.

At the county office’s main hall,

Ye Xin Ran and Xiao Huai’an were both kneeling below the platform, answering the magistrate’s questions.

“Xiao Ye, what the constable Li just said about a conflict between the Zhang family and you, is that true?”

“Yes, my lord, it is true.”

“So, despite being neighbors, you’ve harbored hatred toward the Zhang family and eventually hired someone to murder them?”

Ye Xin Ran found the magistrate’s words rather amusing.

“My lord, while I have some dissatisfaction with the Zhang family, I am not a vicious person. Do you think I would murder someone just because they insulted me?

Besides, I’ve been timid since I was young and couldn’t even bear to kill a chicken, so how could I have the courage to hire someone to kill?”

“Although you may not have the courage, what about this man beside you? He’s a hunter. Killing things like that would come naturally to him.”

“I am wronged!”

Xiao Huai’an stood up straight, speaking calmly and without haste, “My lord, please see the truth. I am just a hunter, not a bandit. I wouldn’t dare to kill or rob, even if you gave me the courage!”

“What’s there you wouldn’t dare to do!”

Magistrate Qiao said with a smile on his face. “Xiao Huai’an, have you forgotten why you came to Yun Tong County in the first place?”

Xiao Huai’an did not show any signs of panic at being exposed but answered calmly, “My lord, I am wronged. Even my previous exile was unjust.”

“Presumptuous!”

Magistrate Qiao once again slammed the court’s wooden table.

“Do you think this county would wrong you?”

“I see that you two will not shed tears until you see the coffin. Bring the bracelet up.”

A servant quickly brought forward the jade bracelet found at Zhang Da Shan’s house.

The bracelet had been partially burned, but the original patterns were still visible.

“Look carefully, Xiao Ye, do you recognize this bracelet?”

Ye Xin Ran was a little stunned.

“What bracelet?”

What does this bracelet have to do with her?

Seeing that she didn’t answer, Magistrate Qiao said again, “Look carefully, the bracelet has the character ‘Ye’ engraved inside. Couldn’t this be yours?”

“Replying to the magistrate, this is indeed not mine. My family is poor, and this bracelet looks very precious. If you don’t believe me, you can go to a jewelry shop in the city to inquire and find out who bought this bracelet.”

Magistrate Qiao said sternly, “I knew you wouldn’t admit it. I’ve already sent someone to investigate. We’ll have the results soon. Once the facts are clear, let’s see if you dare to keep lying.”

At first, Magistrate Qiao didn’t suspect Ye Xin Ran and her husband.

However, ever since the Marquis had visited last time, he had started to feel that Ye Xin Ran and her husband were involved in something suspicious.

Moreover, the Marquis’ words seemed to subtly suggest that he hoped they were involved.

Unfortunately, after investigating from various angles, it was confirmed that Ye Xin Ran and Xiao Huai’an had no connection to the Ye Da Cheng family’s case.

The magistrate was initially disappointed, but unexpectedly, he found a break through in the Zhang Da Shan case.

It wasn’t about a lover or internal strife, was it the neighbors, the Xiao family, who were involved?

Magistrate Qiao’s mind raced, and he immediately ordered the Xiao couple to be brought in.

Facing the magistrate’s false accusations, Ye Xin Ran remained unafraid.

What puzzled her was that Magistrate Qiao had always treated her well in the past and had even actively shown good will. Why had his attitude suddenly changed?

What caused this sudden shift in his behavior?

She could only think of the Marquis of Lu.

When the magistrate had treated her well, it was because of the Lu family. Now that his attitude had turned, it must also be because of the Lu family.

But what had the Marquis of Lu said to the magistrate?

Did he no longer want to acknowledge her?

She had already clearly stated her stance to Madam Lu. If the Marquis simply didn’t want to acknowledge her, why would he go to such lengths?

Ye Xin Ran couldn’t understand.

Unless there was some hidden reason.

These thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant.

While she was contemplating, the person sent to investigate the jade bracelet returned to the magistrate’s office.

“Replying to the magistrate, I have found out that this jade bracelet belongs to the Ye family’s young lady, Ye Xin Yao.”

Ye Xin Yao’s?

Now the magistrate was confused.

He had only wanted to investigate Ye Xin Ran, but how did Ye Xin Yao’s jade bracelet end up in Zhang Da Shan’s family, who had no connection to the Ye family?

Could it be…?

“Magistrate, the results of the autopsy are in.”

The coroner handed the autopsy results to the magistrate in front of everyone.

Taking advantage of this moment, Ye Xin Ran secretly glanced at Xiao Huai’an.

Seeing that Xiao Huai’an’s expression showed no signs of change, she felt somewhat relieved.

Both of them were well aware of the situation with the Zhang family.

However, Ye Xin Ran didn’t fully believe what Xiao Huai’an had said about the cause of death for the Zhang family mother and son.

Although Xiao Huai’an had claimed that they had been killed by the assassin a long time ago, Ye Xin Ran felt that she had heard Zhang Granny’s voice on that very night.

But, none of that mattered anymore.

Regardless of who had killed them, it wasn’t Xiao Huai’an.

She reminded herself.

The magistrate read through the coroner’s report from beginning to end.

The deceased was a man, aged between 20 to 30.

Although he had been severely burned, his meridians suggested he had been a martial artist.

Such a person couldn’t possibly be linked to a murder of passion, as had been previously suggested.

Could it be…?

Magistrate Qiao ordered the Ye family’s steward to be brought in to identify the bracelet.

The steward pointed at the bracelet and cried, “Yes, this is our young lady’s favorite bracelet. She always wore it.”

“What is going on? How did Ye Xin Yao’s bracelet end up in Zhang Da Shan’s house?”

Magistrate Qiao muttered to himself as he examined the bracelet.

Xiao Huai’an spoke, “Has the magistrate considered that the person who suddenly appeared in Zhang’s house might have had other motives?”

“Our house is right next to Zhang’s, and my wife’s surname is Ye!”

At Xiao Huai’an’s suggestion, Magistrate Qiao seemed to have a sudden realization.

Yes! This person was the killer who murdered the Ye family! He had come to Yun Bian Village to kill Ye Xin Ran!

“But if he was capable of killing the Ye family, how could he have been killed by Zhang’s mother and son?” Magistrate Qiao questioned.

Xiao Huai’an reminded him, “Magistrate, although we villagers are often petty and prone to quarrels, we are essentially good-hearted. I believe this person must have disguised himself as someone else and stayed in Zhang’s house, waiting for the right moment to act.

When Zhang’s mother and son discovered his intentions, they stopped him.

Although we don’t know what happened in the process, the final outcome is clear.

Zhang Da Shan and his wife protected us, and we are willing to give a little money to Zhang Zong as a token of our gratitude.”