Chapter 116: No Witnesses Left Alive

For instance, the wavy line Di Ying had gestured earlier—he interpreted it as "gossip," but in the standardized sign language, could it actually mean "wind" or "waves"?

And what about his other gesture: wrists held together, fingers curled into a heart-cupping shape—what if that, in the standard, actually meant "flower" or "bud"?

The thought gave Di Ying a headache.

He set down his teacup and summoned the second suspect.

The deaf-mute woman was Cai Fang, twenty-six years old. She was gaunt, short, and thin, with rough, weathered skin. Her crime: on the ninth day of the sixth lunar month, she had committed murder in broad daylight.

According to the case file, Cai Fang had been crouching by the roadside. When the victim walked past, she suddenly sprang up and plunged a knife into the victim’s heart.

She did not flee after the killing and was apprehended on the spot. The reason she had not yet been executed was that all major regional cases had to be submitted to the Ministry of Justice for review by the end of the tenth lunar month. After the Ministry of Justice verified the case, it was sent to the Supreme Court. Only after the Supreme Court confirmed the verdict and the death warrant was signed could it be returned to the local authorities.

Only then, in the ninth month of the following year, could the local authorities carry out the execution. Without the Supreme Court’s authorization, local officials had no power to execute prisoners directly, except in cases involving bandits or special circumstances.

After her arrest, through the help of an interpreter, Cai Fang had pressed her thumbprint onto a confession and was locked in the death row cell.

Di Ying did not attempt to use sign language with Cai Fang. Instead, he picked up a brush and began to draw.

He drew three people: Ren Lin, Zhu Xiang, and Luan Chao. Though the lines were simple, the three figures were instantly recognizable.

Di Ying then showed the drawing to Cai Fang.

When she saw the first two, she remained expressionless. But as soon as her eyes landed on the portrait of Luan Chao, she jumped up in agitation.

She began to pat her belly excitedly, traced a circle in the air over it, gestured a length of about two feet, mimed the act of cradling an infant, and then pointed fiercely at the portrait of Luan Chao.

She looked around as if searching for something, her face a mix of agitation and anxiety.

Seeing this, Di Ying acted quickly.

On another sheet of paper, he drew a wealthy-looking merchant collapsed on the ground with a knife in his heart. Beside the man stood Cai Fang, clutching the weapon. Di Ying drew a corner of a small alleyway diagonally across from her, revealing half of Luan Chao’s face. He also drew the edge of a swaddling cloth—the baby that Luan Chao was holding.

Cai Fang stared at the drawing, her excitement mounting. She opened her mouth to emit a series of "ah, ah, ah" sounds, struggling against her shackles, tears streaming down her face.

Di Ying pointed to the half-face of Luan Chao in the drawing, and Cai Fang nodded vigorously. He then pointed to the swaddling cloth, and Cai Fang covered her face and began to sob.

Di Ying understood.

Luan Chao was deeply implicated in inciting and threatening the deaf-mute suspects to commit crimes!

"Peng Liang!" Di Ying slammed his hand on the table, issuing his order.

Peng Liang vaulted out the window and headed straight for the interpreters' office in the magistrate’s yamen. Seeing that Peng Liang had gone to make the arrest, Di Ying turned to Cai Fang with a gentle smile. He pointed to a chair and made a downward pressing motion, signaling her to sit.

Through her tear-blurred vision, Cai Fang looked at that gentle smile and those firm, steady eyes, and suddenly felt a sense of peace.

She pointed to the swaddling cloth in the drawing, then pointed to the official before her. The official’s smile grew even gentler, his gaze even firmer.

Cai Fang wiped her face with her tattered, dirty sleeve, sat down on the chair, and grew quiet.

Di Ying fetched a cup of water and placed it in her hands. Watching her gulp it down, he began to refill it, a thought crossing his mind: who said communicating with them was difficult?

They could understand professional signs, and they could understand the gestures or drawings of ordinary people. They were merely people whose "wings" had been broken; it did not mean they were foolish.

However, just as Di Ying thought the series of cases was about to be solved, Peng Liang returned empty-handed.

"My lord, Luan Chao has committed suicide."

Di Ying: "..."

Di Ying, who had been smiling as he learned the simplest signs for "I" and "you" from Cai Fang, did not let his smile falter upon hearing the report.

He finished his lesson with Cai Fang before having her escorted back to the dungeon. As she left, Cai Fang turned to look at Di Ying; seeing him make a gesture asking her to wait, she left with a sense of security.

Once Cai Fang was gone, Di Ying’s expression turned dark. He immediately headed toward Luan Chao’s office.

For many officials, if their office is a standalone unit, it often becomes a small living space. Di Ying’s own office was a complete complex: the central hall was for office work; the left side held documents and sundries; the right side contained the bedchamber, a bathing room, and a latrine. Outside there was a courtyard, and on either side of the courtyard were a tea room, a small kitchen, and rooms for temporarily detaining prisoners or witnesses.

There was also a room Di Ying had specifically set aside as a temporary morgue after he took office.

Luan Chao and the other two interpreters shared a single courtyard. With few people and many rooms, the three of them had each claimed a section, turning them into small, semi-permanent living quarters. Because Luan Chao had been with the yamen the longest and was the eldest, he had taken the main hall and the surrounding rooms.

After Peng Liang discovered Luan Chao’s suicide, he had arranged for guards to secure the courtyard gate and the doors to the rooms of Ren Lin and Zhu Xiang, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving.

Horses could not gallop within the yamen, so Di Ying ran.

He ran in one breath until he reached the steps outside Luan Chao’s main hall. Every main building had a set of stone steps leading up to a veranda. Di Ying stood before the steps, scanning the courtyard with his eyes. He carefully scrutinized the steps and the veranda before stepping up to enter.

The offices were cleaned by hired servants, and the interior was spotless.

In the center of the hall, as in most such rooms, there was a table at the head with a chair on either side. Down the sides were several chairs, each with a small square table between them for tea. Behind each small table stood a tall flower stand, topped with various potted plants. To the right, separated by a curio shelf, was the bedroom; to the left, separated by a bookshelf, was the study.

A brown beaded curtain hung at the entrance. Di Ying lifted the curtain and stepped into the study on the left.

Luan Chao’s body lay in the center of the side room.

He was in a side-lying position, one arm stretched straight out beneath him, the other resting loosely over his abdomen, his legs one bent and one extended. Blood was still gurgling from his neck, pooling on the floor and soaking into a dagger that lay not far from his body.

The wall on the left was decorated with calligraphy and paintings, which were now splattered with a large amount of blood.

"My lord, look here."

Peng Liang stepped forward, taking a sheet of paper from the desk and handing it to him.

Di Ying took it.

It was a confession.

The content read: "I, the subordinate, due to lust and gambling, fell into financial ruin. I came up with the idea of using deaf-mutes to commit crimes. If they did not obey, I would kidnap their loved ones as a threat. Seeing no way out and wishing to avoid prison, I have chosen to end my own life."

The signature at the bottom read: Luan Chao.