The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!-Chapter 93: Sinking in the River

Xia Wenjin’s voice was crisp, yet it carried a penetrating quality.

Beside him, Huangfu Jingchen’s presence grew heavy, his gaze swept across, and the villagers suddenly felt as though winter had descended upon them, their backs chilling. Those who met Huangfu Jingchen’s eyes felt as though their very life force had been frozen, unable to move. Only when he shifted his gaze did the pressure lift.

Such imposing authority, if not for the fact that he was indeed a government officer, where would such presence come from?

Wang Dazhu dared not utter a single word of objection!

Those villagers who secretly wanted to slip away with Wang Dazhu to send Aunt Wang to the River God were also frightened; if anyone acted, the entire River Mouth Village people would suffer collectively, who would dare move?

Yet, these villagers still felt uneasy in their hearts.

They had already understood the matter; the monks had said that it was the River God marrying a wife; this government officer, no matter how authoritative, is ultimately human, and can humans compare to gods?

Those without daughters of suitable age were indifferent, but especially those with daughters around ten still unmarried were more unsettled.

They did not return home, instead followed the old village chief, crowding around Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin, heading towards the chief’s house.

The crowd was large, among them were those with an aggressive demeanor demanding answers, each casting suspicious glances at the two. If one were timid, seeing such a scene, they’d be scared out of their wits.

But for Huangfu Jingchen, raised in an environment where thousands of troops trained before him, even participating in blood-soaked battles with local bandits, such a scene held no sway.

And Xia Wenjin, even without past life experiences, as a young guest of the Haotian Village Jianghu, though young, saw enough of the world, equally unfazed.

Those who initially doubted their identity now fully believed.

Not to mention their display of authority earlier, their calm and composed attitude, unflinching demeanor; how could a swindler possibly possess such traits?

The village chief, walking alongside, remarked: "The last time the officers came, it wasn’t you two; our River Mouth Village is remote and barren, it’s a hard task for officers!"

This was a probe!

Xia Wenjin cast a sidelong glance, her gaze held superiority, along with slight displeasure, saying: "Last time, it was the county constables, right? How could we possibly know them?"

Her tone seemed grand, the chief grew increasingly cautious: "Might I ask where do the two officers come from?"

Xia Wenjin spoke readily: "Regarding the River Mouth Village girls’ disappearance, the county magistrate has already reported to our Prefecture; the Prefecture feels this matter is significant and specially assigned the two of us to investigate."

So they were sent by the Prefecture, no wonder their demeanor was so imposing; the chief was startled, yet still doubtful, and asked: "Did the officers come by horse or carriage?"

"Naturally by horse; originally thought to stay at the inn for a night and come tomorrow morning. But Wang Yue’e was passing by the inn, crying and shouting, so we had to follow to take a look." She complained: "Had I known it was so far, I’d have ridden along; my legs are about to break from walking."

Listening to Wang Yue’e’s cries heard from far away, the villagers had no more doubts.

The village chief’s house was at the village entrance, four spacious rooms. He led them inside and called for tea.

Some bold villagers followed inside, while most stood in the courtyard.

Xia Wenjin sauntered in, sat at the head seat with an elevated air, saying authoritatively: "Village chief, recount the events in their entirety! Only upon understanding the circumstances can we uncover the truth!"

The chief sighed deeply, saying: "This is a long story; over two months ago, Wang Dazhu’s married sister suddenly returned to the village causing an uproar, claiming her daughter Liuya went to visit her uncle and didn’t return home, now she was missing. But we live at the village entrance; if someone enters, how could we not know? Yue’er was also unfortunate, her husband deceased, life difficult; Wang Dazhu often helped. Liuya frequently came to fetch some grain and food, we all recognized her. But that day, Liuya truly didn’t enter the village."

"Yue’er wouldn’t believe it, after all, she lost her daughter. Wang Dazhu was worried, he informed me and sought my help; I thought Liuya might have met with some misfortune on the way, asked the villagers to help search. From the city to the village, seven or eight miles, the villagers searched almost to the point of overturning mouse holes, nothing was found. Eventually, we found a shoe by the river; we guessed the child might have accidentally fallen into the river while playing."

"Villagers attempted to dredge the river, yet found nothing. Yue’er wouldn’t relent; she came to make a scene again the next day. That night, something strange happened; a thirteen-year-old girl from the Huang Family at the village’s end disappeared."

"Following this, Yue’er occasionally came to make a scene; whenever Yue’er caused a commotion, a girl would disappear from our village after some days. No matter how we guarded or defended, it was useless! Within a month, five girls vanished in succession. Villagers became afraid, started believing Yue’er was a troublemaker, deliberately harming village girls. They blocked the village entrance, refused Yue’er entry. Without Liuya, Yue’er soon went mad, ignored advice, ignored reasoning, crazily causing a fuss in the village; by morning, she had forgotten everything, truly unsettling the village!"

Xia Wenjin coldly stated: "So your village sent people to guard the road coming to the village at night; seeing Wang Yue’e, they beat her unconscious, leaving her to sleep outdoors?"

The chief coughed lightly to conceal his unease, looked at Xia Wenjin with surprise, questioning how he knew such inside information. Nevertheless, he didn’t hide, nodded and sighed: "She comes once, a girl from our village disappears. Under such circumstances, who could endure? Officer, you witnessed this; we only have fifty or sixty households, yet seven girls disappeared. Out of pity, we only knocked her out, didn’t harm her. By morning she’d awaken, forget it all, naturally return!"

Someone interjected: "Officer, there’s nothing worth investigating; the county magistrate has sent people. In the river, girls’ belongings were found, the monks said it’s the River God finding brides. The River God seeks brides, can we resist? Just ensure Wang doesn’t cause more scenes; once she causes a commotion, the River God seeks brides often; if she doesn’t, the River God forgets this matter!"

The villagers all nodded, agreeing with this notion.

They spoke in unison, said the girls are involuntarily chosen by the River God; it’s something not to be pursued, merely wishing to restrain Aunt Wang, even suggested drowning Aunt Wang in the river to appease the River God.