Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 281 - 280: The Painter

Zhu Yu repeated almost all the questions asked to Mrs. Jia to the two Jia Brothers separately.

The second brother, Jia Hui, seemed to have abandoned all worldly desires and needs. Food held no allure for him, and this inadequate jail didn’t make him feel particularly aggrieved or angry; he answered calmly without being arrogant or humble.

The third brother, Jia Bin, however, was extremely reticent. It took three questions to squeeze out one stammering, evasive answer, and he shook like a leaf.

Despite this, his answers were no different from those of his elder brother.

Both brothers spoke in detail about Jia Jun’s daily activities but adamantly refused to mention the Deer Blood Wine, and Zhu Yu deliberately avoided bringing it up. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Jia Hui was much calmer than Jia Bin, and during Zhu Yu’s line of questioning, he even asked if Zhu Yu might disagree with the coroner’s conclusion, otherwise why would they be all detained in the jail? He was very worried about his elderly parents and young nephew at home.

Zhu Yu ignored these questions, stayed focused on his own inquiries, obtained the needed answers, and then got up to leave, showing an air of formal routine.

Chief Historian Wen Qiming’s statement remained unchanged, according to the prison guard, who said that after being brought to jail, he was interrogated alone. Regardless of threats or inducements, he still insisted he did not commit murder and was wronged. He claimed that upon entering the study, he saw only a large painting and did not see Jia Jun’s body hanging from the beam; if he had, he would have reported it. He could not possibly have waited inside foolishly.

Zhu Yu placed the meal back on the table. Of course, she had little interest in the food there, but Mrs. Jia’s reaction showed that, even in such conditions, people can’t combat innate hunger—resistance is possible, but seeing food would inevitably be tempting.

However, for someone extremely tense and nervously anxious, it’s another matter.

Even Wen Qiming couldn’t help swallowing, yet the Jia Brothers showed no appetite at all.

How tense must they be inside...

Lu Qing summoned the prison guard and instructed, "You take people to separate Chief Historian Wen Qiming and the Jia Brothers, confining them in two different interrogation rooms. Let them suffer a little physical hardship, but don’t injure their bones. Just surface-level punishment, see if they confess."

"This..." The prison guard was somewhat puzzled, "Chief Historian... and the Jia Brothers... to use punishment on all of them?"

"Just follow orders and go, save the idle talk." Zhu Yu glared at him, thinking if her father could truly rise to the occasion, the rules over Shuo Land needed significant restructuring.

The prison guard realized his excessive words, hurriedly rallied his fellows to take action, and just as he was about to leave, Lu Qing called him back.

"If they still won’t confess after that, display some instruments of torture nearby, make the setup convincing, and observe their reaction. Don’t actually use them on those few people," Lu Qing instructed.

The prison guard responded and quickly joined the others to proceed with the task.

Lu Qing and Zhu Yu waited at the table for news; after a while, instead of the prison guard, a guard from Zhu Cheng arrived. He was one among the guards sent earlier to search for the painting canvas.

That guard told them they had inquired all around the capital without finding a single cloth merchant that sold such a large piece of fabric; none had even heard of it.

Following Zhu Yu’s prior suggestion, they started investigating painters and indeed found something.

In the capital, there was a destitute artist who managed to subsist by selling paintings on the streets, usually selling very little.

One day, during Zhu Cheng’s patrol days, someone approached the artist, asking if he could complete a huge painting within a day and a night. There weren’t any precise requirements and a handsome reward was offered.

That impoverished artist, nearly starved, couldn’t refuse such a windfall and readily agreed, thereafter led through the Pang Family’s back door, shut into a dormitory room to paint.

The painter, striving for that lucrative compensation, pushed himself to the limits, scarcely eating or sleeping, ultimately completing the work in just over a day’s time.

The Pang Family’s servant, after inspecting the painting to ascertain it was a complete work, showed little regard for what was painted, provided the artist with food, and sent him away once he was satiated.

The artist knew only that he had earned well but was clueless as to the Pang Family’s purpose behind ordering such a large but crudely done painting.

After conveying this story to them, the guard prepared to leave.

Zhu Yu stopped him, asking if he had informed Zhu Cheng about this matter, receiving affirmation.

"The Prince said, the criminals detained are under your jurisdiction to deal with as you see fit," the guard stated.

Zhu Yu waved her hand, signaling him to depart.

"Now it aligns!" Zhu Yu was quite pleased with this result, "Since the painting is so large, taking considerable time to finish, managing the whole canvas is indeed challenging.

No trace of destroying the painting was found throughout Jia’s residence, likely because the canvas wasn’t there at all.

Once Wen Qiming left, someone untied the preprepared string loop, swiftly rolled up the canvas, and transported it to the back or a side door where an accomplice was waiting to stealthily return it to the Pang Family. Whether to destroy or hide it remains unknown.

Nonetheless, our earlier theory has been confirmed."

"Then let’s wait and hear what news the prison guard brings," Lu Qing remained composed as if it was all within expectations.

Later, the prison guard ran back, reporting that following their orders the three were subjected to mild punishment causing only superficial suffering, but all remained tight-lipped. Although frightened at the sight of torture instruments, none were willing to speak.

"If that’s the case, don’t force them further, put away the torture instruments," Lu Qing said to the prison guard, "It’s said men in Shuo Country like drinking Deer Blood Wine for health?

These few have endured a rough time in jail, they might need replenishing; send someone out to buy a small jar and give each of them a large bowl—it’s a way to make up for what they’ve lost these days."