Bone Painting Coroner-Chapter 25 โ Case Closed (part 2)
Chapter 25 โ Case Closed (part 2) ๐๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ซโฏl.c๐๐
โItโs not true. You speak nonsense!โ
Suyun vehemently denied it even as she clenched her hands into fists.
Ji Yunshu pulled the handkerchief in her hand. Her face was the picture of confidence. โMiss Suyun, I believe you must know the significance of the mulberry flowers for the people in the Western regions. Only girls from the Western regions would embroider two mulberry flowers on their handkerchiefs. The first flower represents themselves; the second, their lovers.โ
โYou are wrong. I am not from the Western regions. I just casually embroidered them. It is absolutely not like you said.โ
โOh? Then, why did you go to Miss Zhouโs room to look for that handkerchief last night?โ
Suyun foolishly stared back.
โSince you canโt come up with a reason, let me help you answer.โ Ji Yunshuโs face unhurriedly stretched into a smile. โBecause you are a westerner, you learned about rice poison from a very young age. Also, you took into account that the coroner wouldnโt be able to detect the poison through a regular autopsy. Therefore, after you murdered Miss Zhou, you secretly returned to her room, worried about the possibility of the body being discovered by Qiaoxin. Thatโs why you dragged it onto the bed. But during that process, your handkerchief got hooked on Miss Zhouโs fingernail, leaving behind a tiny piece of evidence. However, you were completely unaware of it. After you informed your lover about the matter, youโd hastily departed from the mansion. You only came back last night and went to Miss Zhouโs bedroom, all in order to find your handkerchief.โ
When Ji Yunshu spoke up to that part, she raised the handkerchief for everyone to see. On one of the two mulberry flowers, it could be seen that a few threads were pulled out.
โYou certainly didnโt expect that because your handkerchief got stuck on Miss Zhouโs fingernail, it would cause her fingernail to break. As a result, a red thread was left, caught on her fingernail. I would like to ask, for a precious Miss that never ever reused the same thing twice, why could she leave a broken fingernail alone?โ
โOnly one conjecture could explain that riddle; Miss Zhou was already dead by then. Since you were sick and absent from the mansion, only returning a few days after Miss Zhou passed away, how do you explain the presence of the missing red thread from your handkerchief on her fingernail?โ
โIf that kind of evidence is not enough to make you plead guilty, we could reopen the coffin and let you clearly see whether or not that thread on Miss Zhouโs fingernail is the same as the one on your handkerchief.โ
โNo need. I confess.โ
Suyunโs ghostly voice floated out. Her previous malevolence had dissipated into utter hopelessness.
Ji Yunshu didnโt anticipate that Suyun would admit to her crime this quickly, causing her to clench the handkerchief in annoyance!
The girl who revealed a sinister expression earlier, at this instant, didnโt show any hostility or fear.
That complete reversal of attitude was comparable to a monolith! Even in her frail body, her temperament had turned steady and firm. โThatโs right. I killed the young miss. It was my doing!โ
Her expression underwent another transformation. Her pale lips hooked into a forced smile as she looked at Ji Yunshu, Lord Zhou, and Madame Zhou. Then, she spoke, โMilord, Madameโฆ I killed her. You can send me to the yamen. For this crime, Iโm willing to pay with my life.โ
Madame Zhou glared at her with bloodshot eyes, brimming with endless grief and rage. She stepped forward and raised her hand. Her raised palm slapped down fiercely.
The slap sent Suyun to the floor. Blood trickled down the corner of her mouth, but she kept quiet and weakly lay on the floor, accepting everything happening to her.
โWhy did you want to kill my daughter?! In the end, what did we owe you?! My daughter shouldnโt have died. She shouldnโt have died! Why did you want to kill herโฆโ Madame Zhou madly bellowed.
Yet, in reply, she only heard Suyunโs increasingly lively laughter.
Suyunโs voice was loud and clear, โTeacher Jiโs conjectures were all correct. Why do I want to kill the young miss? Itโs because she killed my child.โ
โYouโre lying! Itโs impossible for my daughter to do that to you.โ
โSince things have reached this point, I have no need for lies.โ Then, she pointed at the box in Ji Yunshuโs hand and continued, โEvery time Miss stabbed those needles in me, it hurt so muchโฆ It was excruciatingly painful. But each time, I kept holding on. If it wasnโt for thatโฆ if it wasnโt for me enduring that much pain, my baby wouldnโt have died at her hands! My poor baby!โ
Her smile vanished, replaced by an expression of extreme hatred and fury.
The crowd didnโt utter their surprise, as if they were watching a good show! Madame Zhou shook, but she too quieted down.
Lord Zhou spoke, โSuyun, my daughter has already passed away, but you still want to slander her.โ
This was a great familyโs skeleton in the closet, so naturally, even if you beat them to death, they wouldnโt acknowledge it! Right at this time, the trembling Qiaoxin suddenly knelt and cried, โMilord, Madame! What Teacher Ji and Suyun said were all true. Whenever Miss was slightly unhappy, she would vent her anger on us. Since she was worried that other people would find the wounds on our bodies, she would only pierce us with the silver needles. We didnโt dare to speak out and had no other option but to endure it.โ
โQiaoxin, are you insane? I canโt believe youโre protecting this homicidal killer! My daughter was young but so sensible. Itโs impossible for her to do such things.โ
โMadame, everything this servant spoke of can be verified!โ
โNonsense! I donโt believe you!โ
Ji Yunshu sighed. This conversation would go nowhere. With a frown, she spoke, โLord Zhou and Madame Zhou, your daughter was really a clever and pleasant person, but itโs undeniable that she had a serious illness. When her illness flared up and she experienced an episode, even if she knew about it, it was hard for her to control herself. Her distress, due to extreme anxiety, led her to harm people and possibly even kill them!โ
Madame Zhou asked, โIllness? If my daughter had an illness, how come we didnโt know about it?โ
โThis kind of illness doesnโt exhibit symptoms like a physical illness or disease would. To be precise, her illness came from her mind. Whenever she became slightly unhappy, that feeling would be amplified in her mind, triggering a panic attack. Aside from those moments, she would look the same as any ordinary person. Since Miss Zhou was also intelligent, she knew how to conceal herself well. So, not knowing about her illness isnโt surprising.โ
The behavior of those with OCD was truly not easy to explain with concrete words! Considering that she didnโt expect to explain so much, it actually didnโt turn out too bad.
Madame Zhouโs angry expression didnโt fade. She still ferociously glared at Suyun. โEven so, my daughter didnโt deserve to die! You murderer! Pay with your life!โ She turned to a servant and ordered. โGrab her and drag her to the yamen! I want her death to pay for my daughterโs life.โ
The male servants quickly recovered their minds and were about to advance toward Suyun, but was blocked by Ji Yunshu.
โWait a moment, please. I still have a few questions to ask Miss Suyun.โ
Then, Ji Yunshu squatted down such that her mouth drew near Suyunโs ear. She questioned her. โSince things have reached this point, are you sacrificing yourself in order to cover for your lover?โ
Suyunโs eyes grew big, but she didnโt utter a word!
โSoon, you are going to die, but heโs still hidden in the crowd. You really loved the wrong person.โ When she spoke those words aloud, Ji Yunshuโs eyes swept a quick glance at the people present.
Suyunโs originally calm eyes suddenly revealed nervousness.
In an instant, Ji Yunshu took out a dagger from who knew where and yelled in a clear and resounding voice, โIt would better if you help me find him!โ
Ji Yunshu raised the dagger high above her and ruthlessly plunged it toward Suyunโs heart.
The dagger flashed through the air. A fingerโs length away from the target, a shadow flew out of the crowd, disarming Ji Yunshu in a split second and sending the dagger skittering across the ground. In the next instant, the shadow sent out a palm strike towards Ji Yunshuโs chest.
It was only when the palm strike was millimeters away, at the last possible second, a strong force seized Ji Yunshuโs waist and dragged her body back.