Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 91 - 90: Drawing a Line

The governmental officials ran to Zhuang Zhi’s home to arrest him. Zhuang Zhi was so infuriated that he fainted. It took quite a while for him to catch his breath, and he lay on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

When Cao Chenfeng saw a glimmer of hope, he could still kneel there supporting himself. But now, seeing that he was really cleared of the murder charge, he suddenly lost all his strength and collapsed to the side, unable to get up.

After Zhu Yu identified the real culprit, although she hadn’t fully resolved her suspicions, some things were clearly not suitable to discuss now. Knowing her task was complete, she stepped aside and stood next to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing, at some unknown point, had a handkerchief that was wet. When Zhu Yu approached, he handed it to her.

Zhu Yu, who had just dealt with the bloody footprints and burnt clothing fragments, ended up with hands full of ash. She quickly accepted the handkerchief, mindful of her current status, and made sure to act very respectfully.

Once Lu Qing saw she wiped her hands clean, he retrieved a small packet from his sleeve and handed it over.

Zhu Yu took it with some curiosity. Upon opening it, she found a piece of lotus root candy inside.

"After all that trouble, you must be hungry?" Lu Qing didn’t shy away from those around them. With a straightforward demeanor, he said to Zhu Yu, "This candy was casually brought from General Cao’s Mansion. Consider it a gift from the Great General!"

Once he spoke, Cao Tianbao realized that if it weren’t for Zhu Yu’s help today, his nephew Cao Chenfeng might have been wrongfully accused as the murderer and thrown into prison by now.

Even if the case could potentially be overturned in the future, the notorious reputation would have already spread, irrevocable. Even if he hadn’t killed anyone, people would say the nephew of the Great General got away with murder, living freely.

For someone like Cao Tianbao, who had fought and struggled for reputation most of his life, this was significant. Without Zhu Yu’s help today, he might have been truly doomed by his ungrateful nephew.

Cao Tianbao looked at Zhu Yu, about to express his gratitude, but before he could speak, Duke Yan cleared his throat first.

"General Cao, since this matter is finally clear, there seems to be no reason for you to continue wasting your time here." Duke Yan glanced at Lu Qing, "With Lord Wu, the Capital Governor, here to preside, the fate of the captured culprit will follow the law accordingly.

As for Cao Chenfeng, while he may not be involved in the murder, his affair with Miss Zhuang is indisputable. According to the law, he should be sentenced to several years and receive a number of strokes. Your presence here is inappropriate."

Duke Yan’s intentions were clear, not only to Cao Tianbao but also to the Capital Governor.

Duke Yan had clearly decided to have General Cao distance himself from his nephew. Even if Cao Chenfeng wasn’t the true murderer, it was still embarrassing. Duke Yan’s faction had made it plain that they forbid any association with him.

Cao Tianbao’s expression showed some inner conflict, but he couldn’t disregard Duke Yan’s authority. He nodded and prepared to leave with Zhao Bi and Lu Zhang. As he turned, Cao Chenfeng hugged his leg from behind.

"Uncle! You can’t leave! At least stay and find out why the murderer framed me before you go!"

Cao Chenfeng knew that if his prestigious uncle left with Duke Yan, not only would his future be bleak, but even the futures of his brothers might no longer rely on his support. In his urgency, he threw caution to the wind, "That thief said there was no dagger on Zhuang Lanlan’s body when he saw it.

Just now, a knife discarded by the murderer was retrieved from the river by the officials.

After committing the murder, why would the killer, when fleeing, insert a dagger I forgot in the embroidery tower into Zhuang Lanlan’s body?

Don’t you think this is suspicious?

Uncle, I haven’t achieved any fame yet, I’m still a nobody. Who would be so determined to plot against me!

But you are different. You have high status and a great reputation. What if someone wanted to frame me simply to get at you?

Don’t you want to stay and see what this is all about?"

Zhu Yu, with the piece of candy in her mouth, played the spectator and was somewhat surprised.

Originally, she thought Cao Chenfeng was just a muscle-bound fool with no sense of responsibility, almost becoming someone else’s scapegoat.

But it turns out he’s not wholly stupid. Even if accidentally right, he hit the nail on the head on this issue.

Unfortunately, no matter how reasonable Cao Chenfeng’s argument might be, it couldn’t outweigh the fact that he caused such a massive scandal on the day his uncle celebrated his birthday.

Cao Tianbao didn’t have the mood to consider the validity of Cao Chenfeng’s words. He just thought, under so many eyes, Cao Chenfeng clinging to his leg was enough to strip away what little face the Cao Family had left today.

He then grabbed Cao Chenfeng off the ground, gave him two resounding slaps without leaving a moment for reaction: "You fool! If you had kept your nose clean and respected the proprieties, not involving yourself in disgraceful activities, not even a king would have an opportunity to frame you!"

Cao Chenfeng was slapped into a dizzying haze, tasting blood in his mouth, yet he still clung to Cao Tianbao’s sleeve, determined that unless Cao Tianbao beat him to death today, he wouldn’t let his uncle leave before the murderer was caught.

The stalemate didn’t last long. With a hurried sound of footsteps, the governmental officials from Jingzhao Mansion brought up a man in black from beneath the embroidery tower, a man not much smaller than Cao Chenfeng.

Little Tao’er had been cowering on the side, under watch by the officials. Upon seeing this person, a wail escaped her throat, and tears began to fall uncontrollably.

The man, however, remained calm upon seeing Little Tao’er. He even grinned at her, showing no panic as the officials forced him to kneel before Lord Wu, the Capital Governor, holding his head high.

Zhuang Zhi, seeing Xu Shan was taken to the embroidery tower, pushed himself up. He gritted his teeth, using every ounce of his remaining strength to stagger forward a few steps.

The governmental officials beside him, fearing he might rush at the real murderer in a fit of anger, hurriedly held him back.

"Xu Shan! I’ve never treated you and your sister poorly. Why did you kill my poor daughter?!" Zhuang Zhi lunged forward, but the officials held him tightly, straining his neck as he shouted hoarsely at the servant who had been brought in.