Chapter 794
Prison Visit
Xue Shao had served as an official before, and he knew how difficult it was to handle such a large-scale case with far-reaching implications. If the case was limited to Ji'an County, Magistrate Wu could investigate it himself. However, once the case went beyond Ji'an County and reached the prefecture level, or even involved officials from other prefectures, the imperial court would need to appoint other officials to investigate.
Otherwise, the organizers will find it impossible to move an inch.
Wu Zhihong was only the magistrate of Ji'an County; other places wouldn't respect him.
However, the government needs evidence to investigate cases, but Xiao Hong doesn't. Clearly, what Pan Yun wants is to settle Xiao Hong's karma and sever her ties with the mortal world.
Xue Shao turned to look at Pan Yun.
Wu Zhihong continued to assure Pan Yun: "Although it is difficult, I will continue to investigate this case and do my best. At least the murderers who have been identified cannot be let go."
Pan Yun asked, "Could Xiao Hong meet Xue Xin and the others?"
Wu Zhihong couldn't have asked for it more; he had wanted to bring it up earlier, but he hadn't dared to.
Liu Xiaohong died tragically and has been suppressed ever since. Although she looks quite normal now in her red dress, if she's not a vengeful ghost, how could she have existed for so long?
So he kept avoiding her gaze to prevent provoking her.
This case is known as the Mitsui Bessou corpse pit case, and those involved are currently imprisoned.
The prison windows were small, and it was dark inside even during the day.
The prison conditions were not good either. Because the county prison was not large, prisoners were put together according to the severity of their crimes. In one cell, there were as few as two people and as many as more than ten people crammed together, making the living conditions worrisome.
Xue Xin and Qian Zhixiao were detained separately, but were put in the same cell with other criminals.
The most unusual one was Fu Danian, who lived alone in a cell.
Wu Zhihong: "There was no other way. Even though Fu Danian was locked up with other criminals in another case, he was still bullied. In order to protect him, we had to put him in a solitary cell."
The sketchbooks and account books in Fu Danian's possession were among the most important pieces of physical evidence. Based on his sketchbooks, they not only caught the people involved in the torture and murder, but also found the various props they used, as well as the room where the crime occurred.
This is also a key reason why the case could not be overturned even after the suspect changed his story.
The evidence they have is so solid that it can be overturned simply because the suspect has changed his story or someone in higher positions doesn't want to handle the case.
Unless, Wu Zhihong also gives up.
Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to overturn this case.
This shows how much pressure Wu Zhihong was under.
Pan Yun understood that the fact that he hadn't mentioned his difficulties since they met didn't mean he didn't have them.
His wife and children were sent back to their hometown, but that doesn't mean they are completely safe.
Pan Yun only brought Xue Shao, Xiao Hong, and Wang Cong with her; the others went to find an inn to stay in.
All three of them were visiting Ji'an County for the first time. On the way there, Pan Yun had already given a brief account of the case.
They went to see Qian Zhixiao first.
Qian Zhixiao had four fellow inmates. He was old, weak, and unattractive, but he was rich, so he slept in the best spot.
But no matter how good the location was, the conditions in the prison were limited. So, since the last time Pan Jun saw him, he had not only lost a lot of weight and looked much older, but also had a pale face and looked sickly.
Upon seeing Wu Zhihong and Pan Yun, a flash of resentment crossed his eyes, his lifelessness subsided, and he became lively again.
Pan Jun breathed a sigh of relief; she had been quite afraid he was really dead. Wu Zhihong didn't want him to die either. After all, the case needed to be investigated, and he was crucial. Even if he changed his story, living was more important than dying.
“I allowed them to have a doctor come in to check their pulse every two days, and they seem to be in better spirits today than they were a few days ago.”
Pan Yun: "It's clear that Magistrate Wu is deeply loved by the people, otherwise he wouldn't dare to send doctors and medicine into the prison. I think there are quite a few people who want to kill him right now, aren't there?"
Wu Zhihong pointed to the cell next door and said, "Xue Xin lives not far away. If one of them is gone, the other will be gone. They won't dare to kill Qian Zhixiao."
If Qian Zhixiao were to die an unnatural death, how could Xue Xin not be terrified?
Xue Xin was terrified, so it was uncertain what he would say.
Upon hearing this, Pan Yun lowered his voice and asked, "Magistrate Wu, please tell me the truth, didn't you ever think of..."
She glanced sideways at Qian Zhixiao, and their eyes met. Qian Zhixiao realized he could hear Pan Yun's whispers. He shivered, took a sudden step back, and stared at her speechlessly.
But anger quickly spread, and in his anger, he was about to expose the despicable deeds of Pan Yun and Wu Zhihong when he heard Wu Zhihong sigh deeply and say, "Master Pan, if I investigate a case by taking his life, how am I any different from him?"
He dared not claim to be incorruptible, after all, he was still happy to go to meals and drinks invited by gentry and wealthy merchants.
He accepted most of the gifts from his subordinates during holidays and festivals, but he never harmed anyone.
If the county's top official is also illegally harming people, is there any hope for this county?
Pan Yun glanced at him admiringly, straightened up, but her gaze was fixed on Qian Zhixiao. Her voice echoed in his mind: "Wu Zhihong is a good official, but I am unrestrained. What he refuses to do, I haven't hindered. Qian Zhixiao, guess how much longer you have to live?"
Qian Zhixiao was terrified when he realized that she hadn't opened her mouth, yet he could hear her speaking.
He hurried to check on his fellow inmates and found that although they were also sitting up and staring at them, they seemed to have never heard Pan Yun and Wu Zhihong speak. Some of them even greeted Wu Zhihong: "Magistrate Wu, another case? Who are these people?"
Wu Zhihong said irritably, "You're meddling in a lot of things. If you behave yourselves in jail, I might consider giving you a lighter sentence."
While he was talking to the other suspects, Qian Zhixiao stared at Pan Yun, trembling all over.
Because Pan Yun's voice rang in my ears again: "Look, no one knows I'm threatening you. If I wanted to take your life, I could do it without anyone noticing. Look who's standing behind me?"
Qian Zhixiao looked over Pan Jun's shoulder.
Behind her stood a woman in red, her beautiful eyes full of affection; with a single glance, she seemed to draw people in.
Qian Zhixiao's eyes widened, then bulged out. Remembering Pan Yun's methods of summoning ghosts, he let out a scream and scrambled to a corner, grabbing the railing next door and shaking it, crying out in a hoarse voice, "Xue Xin, Xue Xin, Xue Xin—"
Xue Xin, who was taking a midday nap, was awakened by the screams. Without even opening his eyes, he took off his shoes and threw them at the scream: "Stop yelling! What are you yelling about all day? I've already told you, Wu Zhihong tortured us into confessing. As long as we persist, the court will definitely clear our names—"
Qian Zhixiao pointed at Xiao Hong with a look of horror, unable to utter a single word.
Xiao Hong smiled slightly at him, her figure flashing in and out of place, disappearing and reappearing, her mouth stretching wider and wider, and tears of blood slowly sliding down from her eyes.
Qian Zhixiao's eyes widened suddenly, rolled back, and he fainted.
Wu Zhihong was startled and hurriedly ordered the guards to open the prison cell: "What's going on? What's going on?"
Apart from Pan Yun and Wang Cong, no one knew what had happened to Qian Zhixiao.
Although Xue Shao did not see Xiao Hong's transformation, he had a general idea of what was going on after Xiao Hong, who was standing next to him, took off a jade pendant and disappeared half an hour earlier.
Wu Zhihong hurriedly sent a constable to fetch a doctor, but when he looked up, he realized something was wrong, "Where is Miss Xiao Hong?" (End of Chapter)