Chapter Fifty-One: The Place Where the Body Was Buried
Then let justice be served!
Everything was given.
Di Ying finally relaxed only after seeing Qian Fu regain his vigor and Qian Xin’er’s complexion gradually improve. He then turned his attention to Wu Minzhe’s case.
He called upon Yao Cong and made a trip to the scene of the incident that day.
It was at the foot of a low mountain, about fifteen miles from the capital city. On the left, halfway up the mountain, roughly two miles away, stood the Chen Family Village. The missing woman, Chen Hehua, was from this village.
Di Ying stood amidst the woods at the scene, gazing toward Chen Family Village, then to the left at the official road, and to the right at the rolling hills.
After some thought, he crouched down.
Picking up a twig, he began sketching a map on the ground, speaking to Yao Cong as he did so: “Here is the west gate of the capital city, here is where we stand now, here is Chen Family Village, and these are the wild, grassy hills.
Yuan Zhi, if you were Wu Xiangjin and wanted to get rid of Chen Hehua, where would you bury her body?”
“How can you be so sure Chen Hehua is dead? Isn’t it possible that after killing Wu Minzhe, Wu Xiangjin simply took Chen Hehua back to his mansion?” Yao Cong crouched down as well, watching the map on the ground and asking.
Di Ying sighed.
He tilted his head toward Yao Cong, somewhat helpless, and said, “You were the one who investigated Wu Xiangjin’s personal background for me. Don’t you know better than I what kind of person he is?
He dared to assault Chen Hehua here in broad daylight, clearly never intending to take her back to his mansion. He only wanted to bully her, enjoy a fleeting advantage, and nothing more. If he had meant to abduct her, he would have done so outright, and Wu Minzhe wouldn’t have encountered them.
That’s also why Wu Xiangjin’s attendants weren’t present when Wu Minzhe confronted him. And when you later found Chen Hehua, she was unharmed and able to recount the events clearly.
This suggests that while Wu Xiangjin was attacking Wu Minzhe, clever Chen Hehua seized the chance to escape.
But Chen Hehua underestimated the evil of such men. She didn’t flee the village for good, nor did she take her family and escape elsewhere...
I suspect your assurance gave her confidence to stay.”
“Yes...” Yao Cong recalled his actions at the time and felt the urge to slap himself.
He replied gloomily, “I promised Chen Hehua that as long as she told the truth, I would guarantee her safety...
I am a libertine myself, and I understand the mind of libertines. Some sons of noble families, when they see a beautiful woman, their wicked intentions are often fleeting. If interrupted by someone or something else, and if the woman disappears, their interest fades. Afterwards, they return to drinking, music, and gatherings with their friends, seeking other amusements.
I assumed Wu Xiangjin’s intent toward Chen Hehua was just a passing evil urge. Since I understood this mindset and Chen Hehua had already clarified the truth, I thought she would be safe.
I simply failed to consider that my investigation would draw her into danger again... That was my mistake.”
“Hmm, and you forgot that she was one of the victims,” Di Ying mercilessly stabbed Yao Cong with another remark.
Yao Cong: “... Are you trying to earn a reputation as an impartial official?”
Di Ying chuckled softly.
Shaking his head, he replied, “How dull that would be. The law is iron, but those who make and enforce the law are human. How can living people be cold as steel?
When fighting evil and injustice, do you think unwavering rigidity is enough? I, for one, am not so narrow-minded.”
Feeling the conversation had strayed, Di Ying pointed again at the map on the ground and invited Yao Cong to guess.
Yao Cong stared at the map for a long while before speaking: “Chen Hehua’s parents suddenly produced a letter of forgiveness, surely under threat.
That means Chen Hehua was likely taken away in front of them. After leaving the village, she was killed and buried somewhere nearby...
Right here!”
Yao Cong pointed at the ground where they stood.
He continued, “Wu Xiangjin, that lawless scoundrel, after causing so much trouble by harassing a common girl and being persistently investigated by me, would be angry—he’d want to provoke me.
With that mindset, if he didn’t brazenly dump Chen Hehua’s corpse in front of me, he would certainly bury her at the very scene of the crime!”
With that, Yao Cong struck the ground with his fist and cursed, “Damn bastard!”
Di Ying brushed the dust from his face, neither confirming nor denying Yao Cong’s theory, but proposed, “I suspect she’s in the hills to the right. How about a wager? Let’s see whose guess is correct.”
Yao Cong: “...”
He eyed Di Ying suspiciously, sensing another trap being set.
He asked directly, “Is there anything else you want from me? Just say it.”
Di Ying laughed, shaking his head, standing up and dusting off his robe, only repeating, “Are you betting or not?”
Yao Cong: “... Fine, I’ll bet. What if I win?”
Di Ying: “Then you continue as the official in charge of horses in the capital city.”
Yao Cong: “...”
He pressed his lips together, glanced at Di Ying, then looked back at the capital city, his eyes pensive.
After a few moments, he slapped his thigh and stood up, nodding firmly, “Deal!”
Di Ying smiled and stepped aside.
Yao Cong began searching for suspicious traces all over the ground.
As he searched, he muttered to himself, “Now it’s the fourth day of the twelfth month, sixth year of the Great Xia calendar. The incident was on the twelfth day of the sixth month, fifth year. That’s one year, seven months, and eight days.
This low mountain is close to Chen Family Village, so villagers often come to cut grass, hunt, or dig wild herbs... but they don’t take the useless weeds.
So, where the long, deep wild grass still grows, the soil beneath surely hasn’t been disturbed.
I only need to find loose soil, with short, sparse dead grass in a small patch.
Wu Xiangjin wanted to provoke me, so it must be within this area, not too far... here!”
Muttering, Yao Cong circled the area and then pointed at a relatively low, sunken spot, calling out.
The slope of the pit faced toward Chen Family Village.
Di Ying glanced at it and asked, “Are you sure?”
Yao Cong nodded, “I’m sure!”
Di Ying: “Don’t you want to look around again? There’s still time.”
Yao Cong: “No need, it’s definitely here! Come help me dig.”
Di Ying remained motionless, reminding him, “Wu Xiangjin wanted to provoke you, and since Chen Hehua exposed him, he must hold a grudge. He wouldn’t be so considerate as to let the burial site face Chen Family Village.
And isn’t the pit you pointed out a bit too small? Maybe you should reconsider?”
Yao Cong frowned at this.
He thought it over and, for caution’s sake, circled the area several more times.
But in this patch, the only spot where the soil appeared to have been disturbed was that sunken pit.