Chapter 154

Wan Bo ping nodded firmly and said, "If we don't investigate this matter, I won't be able to rest or eat."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Never mind, how many people are there in your household?"

Wan Bo ping said, "Over one hundred and fifty."

Hu Xiaotian beckoned to Wan Changchun beside him and said, "Go prepare five basins of clean water and summon everyone from the household to the front courtyard."

Wan Changchun hesitated, and Wan Bo ping waved his hand, saying, "Hurry up, quickly follow Sir Hu's orders."

Hu Xiaotian here had dinner with Wan Bo ping, then went to check on the Wan Family's eldest daughter-in-law Li Xiangzhi, and only then went with Wan Bo ping to the front courtyard, where all the Wan Family's servants and maids had already been gathered, over a hundred people assembled here, just as spectacular as when red envelopes were handed out last year.

At this moment Murong Feiyan also came to Hu Xiaotian's side, she leaned close to his ear and whispered softly, "Le Yao is sick!" Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted, he hadn't expected them to be right. Because with so many people around, he couldn't ask in detail, so he whispered, "Is the method you mentioned really feasible?"

Murong Feiyan nodded and said, "No problem."

After Wan Changchun finished counting the heads, he returned to Hu Xiaotian's front and respectfully said, "Sir Hu, everyone from the Wan household, upper and lower, is here."

Murong Feiyan came to the copper basin, took out a porcelain bottle, and poured the clear liquid into it one after another. Hu Xiaotian sniffed, the smell drifted on the wind, faintly sour, could it be vinegar? Hu Xiaotian's mind suddenly flashed: no wonder Murong Feiyan is full of confidence; it seems she applied some kind of chemical substance on the incense burner. If someone were to knock over these incense burners, they would inevitably get some powder from the burner on them, then when they wash their hands, the powder and the acidic liquid would combine to produce a chemical reaction, thereby showing different colors.

To Murong Feiyan, this criminal investigation method seemed extremely profound and mysterious, yet Hu Xiaotian saw through it at a glance; using modern chemical knowledge, her motive is easily explained. Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed. If we truly wanted to get to the bottom of things, we should have done this early in the morning; now the sun has risen, these servants have been up for a long time. Each has already washed up, their hands having been washed who knows how many times, leaving barely any trace. Trying to find the person who overturned the incense burner from this would be virtually impossible—how could Murong Feiyan overlook such an important detail?

Hu Xiaotian didn't hold much hope for Murong Feiyan's method, but it didn't hinder the investigation; each servant dipped both hands into the copper basin. The Wan household's people all had no idea what Murong Feiyan was doing, each looking bewildered, yet Wan Yuanwai stood nearby. Since he had spoken, these servants could only obey his orders unconditionally.

The divine doctor of Xichuan, Zhou Wenju, was also drawn over by the commotion here; he came to Hu Xiaotian's side and asked curiously about the situation. Hu Xiaotian whispered, "Catch ghosts!"

Zhou Wenju couldn't help but want to laugh; this way of catching ghosts was something he had never seen before—could the ghost possibly be disguising itself as a Wan household servant?

At that moment, a servant dipped both hands into the water basin, and something astonishing happened—his hands turned red. Seeing this bizarre scene, the surrounding people were frightened and retreated backward. The servant hurriedly pulled his hands out of the basin, staring at his skin now pinkish. His face showed utter shock.

Murong Feiyan pointed at that servant and said, "You are the one who knocked over the incense burner last night!"

That servant was so frightened his soul fled; he turned and ran outward, but Murong Feiyan wouldn't let him escape—she leapt into the air and kicked him squarely in the back. The servant was sent sprawling to the ground, sliding like a glider for over five zhang in the courtyard. When he tried to get up, several servants rushed forward and pinned him down, and he cried out in anguish, "Injustice! I, your humble servant, am innocent……"

At this moment Hu Xiaotian noticed two servants sneaking out of the crowd. He was about to warn them, but Murong Feiyan had already acted, rushing forward to block the two servants' path; with one move she subdued them, tapped their acupoints, seized them, and threw them back.

Wan Bo ping looked on, bewildered; even now he didn't understand why that servant's hands had turned red, nor could he fathom why Murong Feiyan was certain these few people were related to the overturned incense burner. He gazed at Hu Xiaotian, full of confusion.

Hu Xiaotian walked over, picked up a basin of water, and splashed it onto the two servants whose acupoints had been struck; the water drenched their hands and clothes, and a reaction quickly occurred—especially their hands turned pinkish. Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed, "Damn, these idiots commit wrongdoing and don't even know to wash their hands?"

Zhou Wenju stared, dumbfounded; he had never studied chemistry, so he didn't grasp these simple principles. He muttered, "Could it really be ghost hands revealing themselves? How could they turn red?"

Hu Xiaotian coldly surveyed the crowd and said, "Now I give the remaining people two choices: either step forward voluntarily and confess, or obediently go wash your hands in the water basin. I, as the official, guarantee that anyone today who participated in this matter will not escape."

In the crowd, two more knelt down with thuds, and all five suspects were apprehended. Still, to be thorough, the hand‑washing procedure in the copper basin had to continue; after all the servants had been examined, Wan Bo ping let those cleared of suspicion leave first, then approached these five, pacing back and forth a few times. These five were all night‑watch guards in his Wan household. Wan Bo ping's face turned livid with anger; after all this, the haunting was entirely caused by these few servants. He pointed at one of their noses and roared, "Xu Shen, I've treated you well in daily life—how dare you treat me like this?"

Xu Shen knelt on the ground, pleading bitterly, "Sir, I know I was wrong. We didn't intend to harm the Wan household; all this was the Eldest Young Master's order. He said you, sir, had been bewitched by this person, so he told us to knock over the incense burner to expose his conspiracy." This person naturally referred to Hu Xiaotian.

Upon hearing that this matter also involved his eldest son, Wan Bo ping couldn't help but tremble with rage; he lifted his foot and kicked Xu Shen to the ground.

Hu Xiaotian, standing aside, smiled narrowly and said, "Is your Eldest Young Master still in Qingyun?"

Xu Shen's expression showed some panic: "The… the Eldest Young Master went to Nan Yue……"

Hu Xiaotian snapped, "You dare to deceive this official? Believe it or not, I'll throw you in jail so you'll never see the light of day again."

Xu Shen, intimidated by him, bit his lip and said, "The Young Master is at Cuihong Lou."

Hu Xiaotian turned to Wan Bo ping, who also wore a look of astonishment; he had clearly sent his son away to Xiezhou, yet realized this worthless thing was still lingering in Qingyun, not having left, and was hiding in a brothel. Wan Bo ping felt both ashamed and angry, and he bellowed, "Come here! Drag out those few servants who betray their own, give them fifty heavy strokes, and expel them from the Wan household!"

Hu Xiaotian coughed twice, and Wan Bo ping, his head flushed with anger, forgot that there was a county magistrate present beside him; he quickly gave a glance, signalling those eager servants to retreat. If they really were struck, it would be an abuse of private punishment, which has no legal standing.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Wan Yuanwai, why not hand them over to me to take back for thorough interrogation?"

Wan Bo ping's face showed hesitation; he lowered his voice and said, "Sir Hu, let's step aside to talk."

Hu Xiaotian knew Wan Bo ping wouldn't easily hand over the people, and wanted to see what this old fox would say; so the two went to the eastern side pavilion, Wan Bo ping closed the door, let out a long sigh, and gave Hu Xiaotian a deep bow.

Hu Xiaotian feigned surprise and said, "Wan Yuanwai, why such a grand ceremony? How does this come about?" Though he said that, he did not stop Wan Bo ping's gesture, but let him complete the rites.

Wan Bo ping, sweating with embarrassment, said, "Sir Hu, my household has suffered misfortune and produced this wicked obstacle. It's not that I want to pervert the law for personal gain, shielding my family; rather, my family has recently been struck by one calamity after another. At the beginning of the year my young son unfortunately fell ill and died; a few days ago my second son met with an accident and remains bedridden; my eldest son spends his days idling, lacking ambition."

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed; even Wan Tingchang's conduct could be described as playing the world for fun.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian silent, Wan Bo ping assumed he still wanted to pursue the matter, and he pleaded in a low voice, "Sir, although we have only just met, we feel like old friends; in my heart I have long regarded you as family. That day you proposed becoming sworn brothers of different surnames; I feared I was overreaching, yet besides my apprehension I felt honored. Having your favor, I, Wan Bo ping, am truly blessed across three lifetimes."

Hu Xiaotian smirked at Wan Bo ping, silently cursing, "Damn your eighteen generations of ancestors." Earlier I brought this up with you, and you gave me face then refused it, actually putting off and obstructing me; now that trouble has arisen at home, you're worried I'll seize this matter to find fault with you, so you've thick‑skinnedly brought up the sworn brother thing again—everything in this world has a shelf life, and it won't wait for the expired.

Wan Bo ping, thinking Hu Xiaotian had already agreed, grinned and said, "Worthy brother, I'll have people prepare the incense altar, and we……"

Hu Xiaotian, however, said, "Wan Yuanwai, the day I proposed that matter I really hadn't thought it through; after I went back and considered it, our age difference is really too great, so becoming sworn brothers would indeed be inappropriate."

Wan Bo ping replied, "What nonsense—age isn't an issue; there are plenty of ageless friendships in the world, and we two brothers are no exception."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Wan Yuanwai, weren't you told when you were young that your fate destined you to have no brothers?"

Wan Bo ping said, "Those fortune‑tellers can't compare to your brilliance, little brother; you don't disdain me, so what do I have to worry about?"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled, and Wan Bo ping also forced a laugh.

Hu Xiaotian said, "You're not afraid I'm scared; I'll go back and calculate your fate—you really are a bane to siblings. We can be friends, but as brothers? That would be me seeking my own death."

"Uh……" Wan Bo ping's face at this moment was as ugly as could be; he thought, how regrettable—I've been asking for it, isn't this just me deliberately offering my face for him to hit? If one says I deserve it, who let me earlier refuse others?

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