The Slender Waist-Chapter 731 - 524 A Tangle of Mist_2

Aunt Xu said, "Not only did they abandon the body, they even tried to make it look like Awan drowned herself..."

Feng Yun said, "It’s also possible that the person didn’t have time to cover their tracks before someone came."

He Chuandong didn’t speak but went with Shi Wentai to the reservoir where Awan’s body was found, and quickly agreed with their statements.

If the murderer wanted to conceal the corpse, they would have replaced the reservoir’s lid.

In that case, it wouldn’t be discovered until next spring’s farming.

Since the lid was open and a bamboo pole was inserted into the hole. Either they ran off in a hurry without having time to destroy the evidence, or, as Aunt Xu said, they wanted people to think Awan fell in herself...

He Chuandong said, "It’s not convenient to cause a big commotion during General Wen’s banquet. I’ll send someone to take the body to the county yamen for examination and then proceed with the murder hunt. What does my lady think?"

"Good. But make it quick." Feng Yun looked up at him and Shi Wentai, "If we delay, I’m afraid it will be difficult to chase the murderer once they leave Andu."

He Chuandong discerned an implication in her words.

"Does the Princess mean... that the murderer is among the guests?"

Feng Yun hesitated for a moment, then vaguely said, "I mean that with so many guests today, it’s hard for anyone to notice a villain mixed among them."

He Chuandong nodded his head.

She went on, "I’ve been the Township Chief for so long, it’s time I fulfilled my duties. The County Lord can rest assured, Changmen will fully cooperate."

These days, all the matters of the county were managed by Xing Bing on her behalf, although he would report to Feng Yun, he was the one who had been calling the shots.

Xing Bing found Feng Yun after Awan’s body was taken away.

At the first moment the body was discovered, he led a group of Retinue around Changmen to search the area.

Unfortunately...

"My lady, we haven’t found anyone suspicious..."

Huaxi is usually bustling with people, but the village has a patrol team, and every villager is a ready-made spy; the comings and goings of any unfamiliar faces cannot escape the eyes of the villagers.

But today was too unusual...

All over Huaxi were unfamiliar faces.

Between the guests attending the banquet and their attendant servants, strangers were everywhere.

Xing Bing said with difficulty, "I don’t know where to start..."

His position was too low, his power limited, and it wasn’t appropriate to just detain and interrogate a guest, he was utterly clueless where to begin.

Feng Yun said, "Then we’ll start with ourselves."

Xing Bing glanced at her, bowed respectfully, and said, "As you command."

The concubines of Changmen who were close to Awan were called out one by one for questioning.

According to the timeline provided by them, it was quickly confirmed —

The last person to see Awan was Tu Lan.

"On my way to the Wen residence from Changmen, I saw Awan sneaking off towards the back of the estate. Out of curiosity, I followed her..."

Because of Puyang Zong, Tu Lan paid special attention to Awan.

Feng Yun asked, "What did you see?"

Tu Lan turned her mouth up, "I let her spot me, she scolded me, and I came back."

Feng Yun stared at her, not speaking.

That look scared Tu Lan so much she trembled, almost losing half her life.

"My lady... Every word I say is true, I dare not deceive you..."

"If there’s a single false word in your mouth, I will flay you alive."

"I dare not, I dare not, everything I say is true..."

Feng Yun did not inform the concubines of Awan’s death, nor did she say why she was asking. After Tu Lan finished speaking, seeing her stern expression and the malice in her eyes, yet still putting on a gossipy woman’s demeanor, she smiled, moving closer and asked:

"My lady, has Awan done something shameful that you’ve discovered?"

Feng Yun looked at her schadenfreude expression, her eyelids drooping slightly.

Suddenly she said, "Awan is gone."

"Ah!"

Tu Lan was stunned for a moment, and after confirming what Feng Yun meant by "gone," she gasped, covered her face with a handkerchief, and began to cry.

"Although I hated her for competing with me... for a man, and we’ve had conflicts, I never expected her to have such a short life..."

Feng Yun could not stand the term "short life" and waved her away with her hand.

Tu Lan sniffled and nodded, took a couple of steps, then stopped again.

Feng Yun looked at her expression, "What’s the matter? Remember something?"

Tu Lan slowly lifted her head, her expression strangely looking at Feng Yun, as if she had something to say but was afraid to, her eyes teary and sticky...

Feng Yun: "Do I need to reiterate?"

"No no, I will speak," Tu Lan said with a twitch of her mouth, shedding more tears.

"When I was at the Wen residence, I just happened to see the Commandery Prince... going towards Changmen..."

Puyang Yi’s residence is close neighbors with Wen Xingsu’s.

So close that a shout would receive a response.

Today is the big wedding of his younger sister; Puyang Zong, sending her off to marriage, should be at the Wen’s banquet, so why would he be going to Changmen for no reason...

Tu Lan, upon finishing her words, seemed to realize something was amiss and hastily added.

"It’s not unusual for the Commandery Prince to visit Changmen to find the lady... I’m not saying he went to Changmen to meet with Awan privately... Awan’s death surely has nothing to do with the Commandery Prince..."

Feng Yun: "Whether it’s related or not isn’t something to be determined by words."

After questioning everyone who might have come into contact with Awan, Feng Yun returned to the Wen residence.

Because of Feng Yun’s sealing of news, some guests at the banquet knew something happened at Changmen, but no one thought of a homicide case. Many others were completely unaware, all chatting and poking fun at the groom at the banquet.

The bride has been sent into the bridal chamber.

Wen Xingsu was walking around tables, toasting with a smile on his face.

Even those from the Feng Family were no different than usual.

Lady Chen was in a bad mood today, scolding her younger son, Feng Liang.

Feng Ying sat quietly at her table, coaxing Feng Zhen and persuading her mother.

Feng Jingteng seized this rare opportunity to sit with a few officials from Dajin, drinking and talking.

Their servants were also busy with their duties, showing no sign of anything unusual...

When Feng Yun was looking for clues earlier, she focused on inquiring about the movements of the Feng Family’s people.

Awan had no enemies in Huaxi; the only person she offended was the Chen Family.

Thus, Feng Yun subconsciously believed—they were the murderers, or rather, the murderer was among them.

But the result left her in a fog of confusion.

The entire Feng Family, including the servants, had been in the Wen residence since leaving Changmen, and no one saw them go out or saw them contact Awan...

One person can lie.

It’s hard for a group of people to lie.

Feng Yun made a round at the women’s guest area, and found nothing unusual on the faces of Feng Ying and Lady Chen, then went to the men’s guest area.

Pei Jue was seated at the head of the table.

As Feng Yun approached, Puyang Zong happened to look up.

Their gazes clashed in the air, with Feng Yun staring intensely at him, while Puyang Zong gave her a smile.