Chapter 121: A Virtuous Prime Minister? A Skilled Physician?

Result: No one knew anything... Only this was certain: that young, plump man was a doctor of remarkable skill.

A doctor... The villagers lamented. Such a highly skilled physician, so rare to come across, had just slipped away so easily.

Who among their own, or from other families, still suffered illness without cure?

Di Ying did not dare to claim the title of doctor himself.

His master had once told him: doctors serve the nation’s health, morticians secure its peace, but only those who uphold the law can stabilize and govern a country. The master taught him medicine and forensic arts so that he might become a better enforcer of justice.

Di Ying never confused his priorities.

After rushing back to the Ningzhou city government office with Peng Liang, Di Ying listened carefully to the guards’ reports.

“Since passing under the window and being identified by Liu Xing, Luan Chao only went to the latrine once, then returned to his office until his death.”

“Ren Lin and Zhu Xiang, after identifying him, also returned to their offices. Ren Lin kept pondering the gestures you made, while Zhu Xiang immediately went to bed. Both stated they heard no suspicious noises and saw no one enter the courtyard.”

“Sir, we investigated: when Luan Chao went to the latrine, he was alone.”

“Sir, we inquired: Luan Chao had no close relationships with anyone in the government office. He was known to be reclusive and difficult to get along with.”

“Sir, we found out: Luan Chao was very wealthy. Some crimes committed by the deaf-mute were heavily sentenced because Luan Chao bribed the relevant officials.”

“Sir, Luan Chao often frequented brothels and taverns, always alone. He was stingy and never stayed overnight, usually sitting only about an hour before leaving.”

Di Ying absorbed each detail, sipping steadily from his teacup.

This Luan Chao grew more mysterious by the moment.

Now that he was dead, it was as if all leads had been severed miraculously at once.

When the teacup was empty, Di Ying rose and paced the room, his mind racing.

Luan Chao had no intention of suicide, yet suddenly took his own life.

A man who aspired to be among the refined elite maintained no close friendships.

He visited brothels and such places alone, always hurriedly.

What became of the wealth gained from crimes committed by the deaf-mute?

“Zhao San, Xu Si, you two will visit the pawnshops around the city. Pretend you want to buy the ‘Heavenly Horse Painting,’ the ‘Sparrow Huizhou Inkstone,’ and the ‘Human-faced Tripod.’ Dress as lavishly as possible. Also, try to identify the financiers behind these pawnshops.”

“Qian Wu, Sun Qi, Tang Shiyi, Kong Shier, you four will investigate the financial backers behind the shops and brothels Luan Chao frequented.”

“Liu Liu and Shi Shi, continue to watch Ren Lin and Zhu Xiang closely and thoroughly investigate their backgrounds.”

The men obediently set off.

Chang Jiu, seeing that his lord did not summon him, could not help but fidget beside him, swaying back and forth until Di Ying’s gaze landed on him.

The lord asked with surprise, “Why are you still standing here? Is your leg bothering you? Didn’t I tell you to keep monitoring the deaf-mute suspects? If your leg hurts, don’t go—I’ll take a look.”

Chang Jiu was speechless.

After saluting, he dashed away.

Di Ying was puzzled, about to call him back, but suddenly thought of something.

He turned to Peng Liang: “Bring Ren Lin here and have her translate for the suspects. That way, Liu Liu can be freed to probe into her and Zhu Xiang’s past.”

Peng Liang, who had just served tea to his lord, stifled a laugh and went to fetch Liu Liu.

Their lord, whenever engrossed in a case, was prone to making blunders in daily life.

Di Ying, however, did not realize he had made a fool of himself. He sat back down, picking up his teacup to drink again.

His mind held only one thought: Luan Chao was absolutely not a minor figure in that criminal gang.

If he could follow Luan Chao’s trail, sooner or later he would uncover the true mastermind behind it all.

But what other leads had he not yet considered?

Ah, yes—the “Disability Shelter”!

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Peng Liang returned, and Di Ying ordered him to check it out.

Peng Liang did not move.

Meeting his lord’s sharp, narrowed eyes, Peng Liang explained, “You can’t leave even one trusted person by your side.”

Di Ying glanced left and right, then nodded in understanding.

“Alright, then stay put. That place probably isn’t important anyway. It’s too obvious. These people operate flawlessly; they wouldn’t leave such a glaring loophole for me to exploit.”

With that, Di Ying headed to the interrogation room.

Ren Lin was already waiting obediently.

Her plump, round figure seemed almost to be shrinking into the wall.

Seeing this, Di Ying asked, “What are you afraid of?”

Upon hearing the question, Ren Lin shrank back further and whispered, “Forgive me, sir. I’m not really a servant—I’m actually a common woman who doesn’t understand sign language well.”

With that, she suddenly collapsed to her knees, bowing her head deeply.

“I was just a runaway wife. My in-laws were cruel, my husband abusive, and unable to bear children, I could no longer endure the beatings. So I ran away.

“I begged on the streets but was kidnapped. Fortunately, passersby rescued me... I dared not wander the streets anymore, so I pretended to be a deaf-mute and hid in the ‘Disability Shelter.’

“Then, I took the chance to learn some sign language from others, though I never fully mastered it. When I heard the government office was recruiting women who knew sign language, I gathered my courage and came.

“I thought, since the deaf-mute can’t hear or speak and outsiders can’t tell if I’m gesturing correctly...

“Sir, although I am not skilled, I initially tried to translate earnestly for the deaf-mute. Later, I noticed something wrong with Luan Chao.

“But he gave me money...

“He was even responsible for interviewing me during the assessment.”

“So you followed Luan Chao’s instructions and mistranslated on purpose?” Di Ying’s calm gaze carried a chill.

This coldness caused Ren Lin’s entire body to tremble uncontrollably as she banged her head harder on the floor, desperately trying to excuse herself: “I truly had no choice to survive...”

“Heh,” Di Ying sneered, cutting her off. “You, a fully able-bodied person, lazy and greedy, use your inability to survive as an excuse to trample on the lives of disabled people for profit? Beating you is a mercy!”

With a wave of his hand, he commanded, “Take Ren Lin away, throw her into the death cell, and await judgment!”

“Please, sir! Spare me this once, I won’t dare again! I won’t dare again!”

As four officers dragged Ren Lin outside, she screamed and begged frantically.

Di Ying cast her a cold glance, then raised his hand in midair and asked, “Who was Luan Chao acting under orders from?”