Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Private Punishment?

Sure enough, the next moment, Shuang’er was dragged in by Government Officials, covered in blood.

"Shuang’er!" Zhi Wan cried out in horror and rushed over to her.

Seeing Shuang’er covered in blood, she was both shocked and furious. She wanted to hold her but was afraid of touching her wounds and didn’t dare make a move.

At that moment, she finally understood why Ouyang Lei had told her to change into the bloodstained clothes.

’She was a suspect, which meant Shuang’er, her personal maid, was one as well. After all, mistress and maid were the first to discover Aunt Xu’s death, and they had both been at the scene of the crime.’

’She had just been luckier than Shuang’er, having received protection. But there had been no one to protect Shuang’er, who had been hauled off to the Iron Prison and subjected to brutal torture.’

At this thought, she was overcome with guilt. She touched Shuang’er’s pale face, her voice choked with sobs. "I’m so sorry, Shuang’er. It’s my fault you were dragged into this..."

"Miss..." Shuang’er struggled to prop herself up and shook her head. "I’m... I’m all right..." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

’Ouyang Lei felt a pang of guilt. This case had caused a massive uproar, and even the Emperor was watching. He couldn’t show too much favoritism. Zhi Wan and her maid were both suspects, and while he could protect Zhi Wan from torture, he had been powerless to help her maid.’

’After all, too many eyes were watching.’

Ouyang Lei collected his thoughts and said in a grave voice, "Shuang’er, describe what happened in detail. Do not hide anything!"

"Everything... I already said it all when I was being tortured. Not a single word was a lie... My miss could never have killed Aunt Xu... We had just returned from Old Madam Lu’s Fushou Hall when we found Aunt Xu dead on the bed in her inner chamber... My miss was so frightened she threw up."

"But... on the other hand, it was Miss Lu who was acting suspiciously. She almost never visits Yaoguang Pavilion, but on that day, right after my miss and I discovered Aunt Xu’s terrible death, she burst in. Without asking a single question, she started accusing my miss of murdering her aunt..."

Shuang’er had been tortured and was covered in injuries; her voice was as faint as a thread.

"You’re lying!" Lu Lan screamed herself hoarse from where she lay on the floor. "Zhi Wan is your miss, of... of course you’d speak for her! It’s obvious you two conspired to kill my aunt! Your Excellency, Shuang’er’s words... they can’t be used as evidence! She’s an accomplice!"

"Since they are mistress and servant, their words may not be credible. In that case," Ouyang Lei commanded, "bring Madam Lu, Old Madam Lu, Mr. Chen, and Wang Wuzuo to the court."

A short while later, they were all brought into the courtroom.

Seeing the bloodstains all over Zhi Wan, Lady Wei’s expression changed drastically. "Wan’er..." she cried out.

Zhi Wan shook her head at her.

Only then did Lady Wei compose herself and take a closer look at Zhi Wan’s complexion.

She saw that although Zhi Wan was covered in blood, her complexion was decent, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But when her gaze fell upon Shuang’er, lying pale and blood-soaked on the floor, her heart clenched. ’That poor girl has truly suffered this time.’

Old Madam Lu’s heart ached as she looked at the blood-covered Lu Lan. She turned to Ouyang Lei and demanded angrily, "Is this how the Ministry of Justice operates—by torturing people without cause? My granddaughter was perfectly fine, and you’ve beaten her into this state! Are you trying to torture a false confession out of her?"

Ouyang Lei sneered inwardly but ignored her. With a stern expression, he slammed his gavel down. "Silence! How dare you cause a commotion in this courtroom?"

Old Madam Lu finally shut her mouth.

"Madam Lu," Ouyang Lei asked, "was Zhi Wan with you yesterday around 9:15 AM?"

"That’s correct," Lady Wei nodded. "Yesterday was the day Zhi Wan was moving out of the Lu Residence. I had her accompany me to Fushou Hall to bid farewell to the Old Madam."

Ouyang Lei nodded and turned his gaze to Old Madam Lu. "Old Madam Lu, yesterday around 9:15 AM, were Zhi Wan and Madam Lu speaking with you in Fushou Hall?"

Old Madam Lu’s gaze flickered. "I... I’m getting old. I can’t recall the specific time."

Hearing this, Lady Wei became furious.

’The Old Madam is always so particular about the time. How could she not remember?’

She was about to speak, but Ouyang Lei raised a hand to silence her and continued, "It’s alright if the Old Madam can’t remember. Her servants surely will. Guards, summon the servants of Fushou Hall!"

A short while later, Government Officials led in several servants from the Duke Dingguo Mansion.

"Your Excellency," the Government Official reported, "these are all servants who attend to Old Madam Lu."

Ouyang Lei nodded and looked at Old Madam Lu. "Old Madam, you recognize these servants, I presume?"

Seeing that servants from her own courtyard had been summoned to the Ministry of Justice, Old Madam Lu’s expression turned ugly. Her lips trembled, but she remained silent.

"Old Madam," the servants said, bowing to her.

Old Madam Lu’s expression was foul, and she ignored them.

"Since you all serve Old Madam Lu, you must have seen Madam Lu and Zhi Wan when they came to bid farewell yesterday morning, correct?"

"Yes, we did," one of the maids immediately replied. "I even served tea to Madam Lu and the Miss."

"I saw them as well," an older female servant added. "When the Madam and the Miss arrived, I was in the courtyard trimming the flowers and bowed to them both."

"I saw them too," another maid spoke up. "I was waiting just outside the room. When I saw the Madam and the Miss arrive together, I announced them to the Old Madam inside."

Hearing the three servants testify one after another, Old Madam Lu shot them a vicious glare.

They all pretended not to notice.

’They were only answering the official’s questions truthfully. Besides, the Old Madam was being foolish, siding with a concubine’s daughter to accuse the future Heir’s wife.’

"Do you recall what time it was when Madam Lu and Zhi Wan arrived at Fushou Hall?" Ouyang Lei asked.

"I do. It was around 9 AM."

"I believe it was 9:15 AM," the older servant said. "I’m in charge of the plants in the courtyard, and I have to water and prune them at a scheduled time each day."

"And what time did they leave Fushou Hall? Do you remember?" Ouyang Lei asked again.

"We’re not certain of the exact time," the servants replied, "but they stayed for about fifteen minutes before they left."

"About fifteen minutes... that means Zhi Wan left Fushou Hall at approximately 9:30 AM. It would then take her until around 9:45 AM to walk from Fushou Hall back to Yaoguang Pavilion." Ouyang Lei turned to Wang Wuzuo. "I have read your autopsy report. It states that when you, Mr. Chen, and the other officials arrived, the body of the deceased, Xu Yumei, was still warm. You estimated the time of death to be 9:15 AM?"

"That is correct, Your Excellency," Wang Wuzuo replied.

Ouyang Lei nodded and looked at Mr. Chen. "Mr. Chen, what time did you arrive at the crime scene in the Duke Dingguo Mansion after receiving the report?"

Mr. Chen replied, "I received the report at 9:00 AM and arrived at the crime scene around 10:00 AM."

Ouyang Lei said gravely, "The victim died at 9:15 AM, yet you received the report at 9:00 AM. In other words, you received a report of the murder *before* the victim had even been killed?"

"That is correct," Mr. Chen nodded.

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Lei announced loudly, "The victim died at 9:15 AM. During that time, Zhi Wan was with Old Madam Lu. Therefore, she could not possibly have killed the victim. The murderer is someone else!"