Chapter 28: Hidden Motives

Very quickly, the news of Zhao Laotai's death drifted like snowflakes to every corner of Wanping County.

Officials of all ranks who came to offer their condolences were as jubilant as leeches that had caught the scent of blood, gathering in the small courtyard of the Zhao family.

Sedan chairs and carriages packed the alleyway so tightly that not even water could pass through.

In the end, having no other choice, Lady Zhao had to set up the mourning hall at the entrance of the alley.

"Look, just look." Feng Qi, a Compiler of the Hanlin Academy, pointed at the two coffins, gnashing his teeth in righteous indignation. "The poor mother of County Assistant Zhao is nearly seventy this year; the white-haired are sending off the black-haired, and today she has also breathed her last. Tell me, who should we hold accountable for this grudge?!"

"The eunuch thieves are ruining the country!" One man rolled up his sleeves and roared, "Those with guts, follow me, let us take this matter to the Emperor and get justice for County Assistant Zhao."

"Right, get justice." The atmosphere in the entire small courtyard was instantly ignited; the visiting officials raised their fists one after another and shouted loudly.

Lady Zhao could not stop them, her voice growing hoarse from shouting.

"A bunch of poor scholars who only know how to rub salt into people's wounds." Inside a teahouse facing the street, Han San looked at these jumping officials with disdain and utter disgust.

In his view, these people simply wanted to use the death of County Assistant Zhao to build a reputation for themselves.

For the sake of fame, they could disregard the lives of others and risk everything.

Ever since Hai Rui became famous, everyone fantasized about becoming a celebrity like him, getting beaten by the court staff, and becoming famous throughout the world.

He had always looked down upon such hypocrites who fished for fame and credit while pretending to be noble.

Just as he was thinking this, a sound of "thump, thump, thump" footsteps came from downstairs, and he turned his head to look. A low-ranking officer wearing the official robe of the Brocade Guard stepped up.

Upon seeing Han San, the man immediately cupped his fists and said, "Boss, that old man has spilled."

"Let's go, let's take a look." Han San's eyes lit up with joy.

Saying this, he and his subordinates left the teahouse.

He had not come here to offer condolences, of course, but to investigate a case.

Since the higher-ups wanted to protect Feng Bangning, they naturally had to find evidence to support that, lest the higher-ups find it difficult to act.

The biggest point of suspicion was the time of death.

There was a full half-month interval between the beating and the kicking of the bucket.

If not for the significant impact of this matter, no one would normally think that the death of County Assistant Zhao had anything to do with Feng Bangning.

To find evidence, Han San had come to Wanping County to investigate openly and secretly, discovering that the County Assistant had been ill to begin with.

Han San was ecstatic and immediately sent men to seize the doctor and interrogate him through the night.

In just half a day, the pharmacy owner confessed everything.

Han San stepped into the interrogation room, signaled his men to close the door, and sat directly in front of the pharmacy owner, slamming his waist-saber onto the table with a "bang."

The owner shrank his neck and shivered.

Brushing off his clothes, Han San sat with his legs crossed and sneered, "Speak up. If what you say doesn't satisfy me, I'll make you regret it."

"Yes, yes." The pharmacy owner nodded repeatedly, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and said, "County Assistant Zhao had been ill for several years. In the past, he would come to this small one every half month to pick up a few doses of medicine..."

"What illness?" Han San asked.

"Lung disease; he coughed very severely. The medicine he took only treated the symptoms, not the root cause. I reckon he had at most two years left to live," the pharmacy owner replied respectfully.

"So you mean? He committed suicide?"

"What?" The pharmacy owner was startled.

"County Assistant Zhao knew his time was short and didn't want to drag down his wife and children, so he bought two qian of arsenic from you a few days ago to end his own life. Am I right?" Han San smiled sinisterly, giving him a hint.

"Official, he..." The pharmacy owner was about to refute, but upon meeting Han San's cold gaze, his spirit softened: "Right, half a month ago, he did buy arsenic at this shop. It must have been to end his own life."

"That's it." Han San slapped his thigh, ordered his men to bring a deposition, and recorded what had just been said.

The pharmacy owner gritted his teeth and signed his name on it.

"Official, this small one wants to cooperate with you, but arsenic poisoning should cause the complexion to turn black. If the coroner examines the body, won't we all be exposed?"

"That won't be up to them." Han San chuckled, already having an idea in mind. That day, Han San sent men to the pharmacy owner's shop to first tamper with the purchase records.

Afterward, when the hour of Hai arrived and the night was deep and quiet, he led two followers to the place where the Zhao family was keeping the body.

Today the clouds were thick and gloomy, and not a single star could be seen in the sky.

A deathly silence spread throughout the entire alley.

When he arrived, the widow of the Zhao family was still kneeling before the mourning hall. The ground was scattered with white paper money, and all three were wearing white hemp mourning robes with hemp ropes tied around their waists.

Han San quickly shifted his body, pressing close against the brick wall to hide himself in the shadows.

"Boss, what do we do now?" one Li asked.

"Wait. As soon as they go inside, we make our move."

"What if they keep watch all night? Wouldn't we be waiting for nothing?"

"Even tigers have moments when they doze off." Han San glared at the man, turned his face away, and ordered with his eyes slightly closed, "Keep a good watch. When they go in, call me."

The cold wind blew, ruffling the robes of the three.

Lady Zhao had been kneeling for a long time, her knees aching and sore, and the two children naturally found it even harder to endure.

With a heart full of pity, she looked at her son and daughter and said, "Yong'er, Yue'er, are you tired?"

"Not tired." The two shook their heads.

"Lying. Go to sleep now." Lady Zhao put on a stern face.

The two insisted on refusing and even pulled their mother to go into the room to sleep together.

Lady Zhao could not overcome her two children; she glanced at the sky, stood up, and walked into the room with them.

As soon as she left, the Brocade Guard Li became excited: "Boss... Boss."

"What is it?"

"They went in, they really went in."

Han San opened his eyes to look, his heart filled with joy, and said, "Prepare to move."

Having said that, the three of them walked up on tiptoe together.

In an instant, a chilly wind suddenly rose all around, blowing so coldly that the few of them could not help but shiver.

"Boss, this guy isn't going to turn into a corpse demon, is he?" one of them said, trembling.

"Turn into your mother's leg, hurry up and take out the arsenic." Han San glared at the person who spoke, then turned his head to look at the other person and ordered, "Li Gui, you go open the coffin, and keep the noise down."

The two went about their respective tasks.

Han San took out three sticks of incense, lit them, and inserted them directly in front, kneeling on the ground to say, "Brother Zhao, I am sorry. You took the silver, so you have to get some things done. Your brother here has no choice; when we meet down below later, I will apologize to you then."

Having said it all in one breath, Han San stood up.

By this time, the coffin had already been opened.

Han San picked up a bowl of white medicinal soup and sent it inside. Because the weather was not yet hot and County Assistant Zhao had been dead for less than three days, the corpse was still relatively well-preserved.

With the help of the light from a tinderbox, Han San quickly saw the face of County Assistant Zhao clearly.

At just one glance, he was so shocked that his eyelids twitched.

Because his face looked a bit wrong, and suspicion arose in Han San's heart.

He hurriedly took out a silver needle and plunged it into County Assistant Zhao's belly.

When he pulled it out, it was covered in a patch of black.

"Very well, let's see how you deny it now." Han San was delighted in his heart, ordered the men to cover the coffin, and quickly disappeared into the night.

(End of chapter)