Chapter 175: Ao Tian Imprisoned (1)

"Ao Tian? How did you come?" Staring at the black shadow walking slowly, Cheng Hang asked unconsciously.

Ao Tian leaned indifferently against the door frame, not entering the room. If it were an ordinary person, it might appear casual or lazy, but when he did it, his whole body was filled with a cold and cruel aura. His expressionless face had a coldness that kept people at a distance. The moonlight reflected in from behind him, and except for that head of silver hair that could not be ignored, his whole person seemed to be placed in darkness.

He ignored Cheng Hang's question completely. The dark shadow stood there, and no one could ignore his existence. It seemed that when he didn't want you to feel his presence, you would never know where he was; if he wanted you to know, you would never be able to ignore him.

His appearance caused some changes in the atmosphere in the room. The expression on Su Ling's angular face seemed even gloomier.

This person's whereabouts were unpredictable, his personality was strange, and he wouldn't necessarily come even if invited, let alone appearing on his own! What exactly was his purpose in coming to the Ministry of Justice? Dan Yulan secretly speculated. Lv Jin also keenly felt that Ao Tian's appearance might be a turning point in the whole case, or it might be... a crisis!

Taking a step forward, Lv Jin said with a faint smile, "For more than half a month, murder cases have occurred in the capital, and the culprit has an obvious feature, which is silver hair. Actually, we ask you, just hoping to confirm your innocence. After all, you have caught many criminals for the imperial court, and we don't want to suspect you."

A flash of obvious sarcasm crossed his calm eyes. He never caught people for the imperial court, nor did he care for anyone's trust. Ao Tian replied coldly, "No need for nonsense, just ask whatever you want to ask."

Gu Yun found it amusing. Rude words spoken from his mouth sounded so natural.

"Good." Lv Jin didn't engage in small talk anymore. These things had no meaning for Ao Tian, "On the 11th, 16th, 19th, 23rd of this month, and tonight, what were you doing?"

Ao Tian was silent for a while, but he cooperated very well and replied, "On the afternoon of the 11th, after handing over the wanted criminal to the Ministry of Justice, I returned to my residence and didn't go out. On the nights of the 16th and 19th, I was... sleeping in a large tree. On the night of the 22nd, I also didn't go out. Tonight, I went to Fuhua Street, and then I came here."

He went to Fuhua Street tonight! Cheng Hang asked urgently, "What did you do on Fuhua Street tonight? When did you arrive, when did you leave? Can anyone prove what you said?" He didn't know why, but he just felt that these cases must have something to do with the man before him!

"Arrived at Fuhua Street at Hai hour, left at the third quarter of Hai hour. I always act alone, no one can prove it for me." The low, cold voice revealed arrogance. Cheng Hang's expression darkened, and he glared at Ao Tian unhappily. Who did he think he was?

Compared to Cheng Hang's outward anger, Lv Jin appeared much calmer, "Tonight's murder case happened on Fuhua Street, and it was exactly at this time you mentioned, which makes you very suspicious. Do you want to think clearly again? If someone can prove where you were and what you were doing at the time I just mentioned, it could reduce your suspicion quite a bit."

This time, Ao Tian simply chose silence, not bothering to explain at all. Dan Yulan was troubled by the lack of evidence, and Ao Tian was cold and unruly. The atmosphere froze again.

"On the night of the 16th, I was with him." The calm female voice broke the silence in the room, followed by the sound of a teacup shattering.

Porcelain shards slid from his loose fingertips, and tea splashed all over the floor. Su Ling, who was sitting in the upper seat, glared fiercely at Gu Yun. This damn woman, she didn't return all night that night, she was with Ao Tian!

Gu Yun was glared at inexplicably and stared strangely at Su Ling's hand, which was flushed red from the hot tea. What kind of madness was he having again?

Ao Tian's cold eyes looked at Gu Yun quietly, then looked away indifferently very quickly. The light that flashed across his eyes was too short to be captured.

"The whole night?" Carefully looking at the man beside Gu Yun who didn't say a word and was clearly so angry that smoke was coming out of his head, Cheng Hang swallowed his saliva and asked softly, "You... were together the whole time? Where? Doing what?"

Facing a room full of men with strange expressions, Gu Yun cursed. What were these people thinking! Lifting her head slightly, Gu Yun replied frankly and loudly, "Drinking in the back mountain of the General's Mansion. To be precise, I can prove that he was with me from Zi hour to Yin hour, and also at Chen hour."

Gu Yun heard a few shallow gasps not unexpectedly. What did they think she could do with Ao Tian!

Lv Jin heard that the time period seemed to have two empty hours again and asked, "What about between Yin hour and Chen hour?"

Gu Yun replied truthfully, "I fell asleep during those two hours and don't know if he left. When I woke up in the morning, he was there."

She actually fell asleep in front of another man?! Thinking of how he had worried about her for a whole night, she was actually drinking and having fun with Ao Tian all night without returning. Su Ling felt a tight pain in his heart. This strange way of hurting was something he hadn't experienced before. Filled with anger and not knowing how to vent it, Su Ling's fiery hawk-like eyes stared at Gu Yun, and his hands clenched until they creaked.

Su Ling's gaze never left Gu Yun, as if she were his possession. Ao Tian suddenly felt a strange feeling in his heart. He couldn't say what it was, but he just didn't want Su Ling to have a good time! "On the night of the 16th, I was with her the whole time. She fell asleep in the tree that day. I was afraid she would fall, so I didn't leave her side for a step." Ao Tian looked at Gu Yun, his lips curling up slightly. Although it was an extremely faint smile, it was something no one present had ever seen. The cold voice remained the same, but it sounded like a faint doting.

After Ao Tian finished speaking, the room fell into an unprecedented silence.

Finally, Su Ling's dark eyes moved away from Gu Yun and looked at the man leaning against the door frame, full of frost but carrying provocation.

Proud hawk eyes met cold, condensed black pupils. The two equally cold men refused to give an inch, except one was unruly, and one was indifferent and ruthless. Gu Yun, who had a serious deficiency in emotional intelligence, only felt that Ao Tian was a bit strange today. As for Dan Yulan and the others, they were crying and laughing in their hearts. Would these two start a fight in the Tixing Mansion?

In this atmosphere, standing here was a bit awkward. Lv Jin coughed lightly and circled the topic back again, "The case on the 16th happened at the third quarter of Yin hour, which happened to be the time when Miss Qing was asleep, so even if you were with her that night, it still cannot completely prove you are not the murderer."

"Indeed, it cannot be proven. Since Magistrate Dan thinks I am suspicious, I can wait in the prison for you to interrogate me slowly." Ao Tian said coldly, standing straight and saying to Cheng Hang, "Let's go." His cold face had no expression, making it impossible to see what he meant by this sentence. The faint sarcasm didn't need to be pondered to be very clear.

Dan Yulan remained silent, as if thinking about something. Gu Yun suddenly felt it was somewhat ridiculous and said coldly, "Investigating cases and catching criminals is the responsibility of the government. If you think Ao Tian is guilty, you should find evidence to prove he is the murderer, instead of letting him prove he is not the murderer!"

Cheng Hang and Lv Jin exchanged a look. Lv Jin stepped forward, "Magistrate, the celebration is approaching. Since Ao Tian is so righteous, please also consider the big picture. If the culprit continues to commit crimes while Ao Tian is in custody, it shows that the murderer is not Ao Tian. If... the culprit stops committing crimes, it can also ensure the peace of the capital during the celebration."

They really wanted to lock Ao Tian up? Gu Yun's delicate brows furrowed tightly. Was Dan Yulan really confused?

Dan Yulan was naturally not confused. He understood what Qing Mo said very clearly, but what Lv Jin said was not unreasonable. This case was trickier than the heart-lost case. The culprit had no fixed target, which made all the people in the city terrified, and foreign envoys might use this to mock Qiongyue; so far, there were no clues, and the Ministry of Justice had no way to start; now it seemed that Ao Tian was the most suspicious. Taking him into custody, firstly, it gave the people an explanation, and secondly... this case might really have something to do with Ao Tian, and even if he didn't do it, it should be aimed at him!

Dan Yulan hesitated for a while, his sharp eyes scanned Su Ling's dark face, and suddenly asked, "The Emperor handed over the security of the celebration to General Su. What does General Su think about this?"

Gu Yun cursed Dan Yulan for being cunning. Although she only cared about solving cases and didn't like to ask about politics, she wasn't stupid. Dan Yulan knew that arresting people like this was unreasonable, so he wanted to use Su Ling to lock Ao Tian up. Last time, to help her, Ao Tian had a fight with Su Ling. Looking at his expression now, he must hold a grudge!

Then wouldn't Ao Tian...

Sure enough, Su Ling slowly curled his lips, and his low, deep voice replied loudly, "Ao Tian has silver hair, which matches the culprit's features; during the time of many murder cases, no one could be found to prove his whereabouts; tonight he appeared near the crime scene so coincidentally, he is indeed suspicious."

Under those hawk-like eyes, Ao Tian remained unmoved, as if he had long known what he would say, and there was faint mockery and disdain in his cold eyes.

"However." Just when Gu Yun thought Su Ling would agree to lock Ao Tian up, his resolute voice replied steadily, "Without solid evidence, he is only a suspect. Locking him up for this is not in accordance with the law. Investigating cases and catching people is Magistrate Dan's business, why ask me?" Although Su Ling was a military general, he had been an official in this turbulent court for so many years, how could he not know what Dan Yulan was planning? He didn't like Ao Tian, but that didn't mean he would let others use him.

Gu Yun's delicate brows raised slightly, looking at Su Ling with some surprise. So... he wasn't just capable of getting angry.

Dan Yulan sighed secretly, he had underestimated Su Ling. So he bowed slightly and smiled, "General Su's words are reasonable."

After pondering for a moment, Dan Yulan asked Ao Tian, "Then why not trouble Ao Tian to live in the Ministry of Justice's guest room for a few days, not in prison, is this feasible?"

"No need for the guest room, staying in the prison is more comfortable." Ao Tian said coldly, stood up straight, and said to Cheng Hang, "Let's go."

Cheng Hang was stunned. He actually agreed! This person was indeed a tough character. Cheng Hang seemed to have a better impression of him. He made a gesture of invitation, "Offended, please."

"Wait." Before the two walked out of the room, Gu Yun suddenly spoke. Given her stubbornness and persistence in legal principles, she would call a halt. Dan Yulan had long expected this, but he originally thought she would oppose them arresting people. Who knew, she just asked calmly, "Magistrate Dan, I have something to say to him alone, can I?"

Dan Yulan glanced at Su Ling without a trace. He was still sitting there with a dark face, not saying a word. Su Ling had no opinion, so what else did he have to say? "Please."

Gu Yun walked out of the room first. Ao Tian hesitated for a while, but finally followed her into the courtyard.

Gu Yun stood still in the courtyard, suddenly turned around, looked at Ao Tian's calm, waveless face, and said in a low voice, "You know who the murderer is, don't you?" He came here tonight for the purpose of having Dan Yulan lock him up, right!

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 176 =====