The Wanping County Husband-Murder Case (Part 1)

Though it was hard to understand the twisted logic of someone who cared more about her reputation than her life.

Still, the truth had to be uncovered. So Sun Shaozong said again, "Zhang Li Shi, if you want to prove that you did not sleep with another man, then you must first prove that you did not murder your husband! Since you keep insisting that someone else committed the crime, hurry up and tell us exactly what happened!"

As he spoke, he instructed Zhang Dalong and the others to untie the ropes on her.

Though Zhang Dalong and the others were reluctant, intimidated by Sun Shaozong's reputation for divine judgment, they did not dare disobey. They could only clumsily work together to loosen Li Shi's bonds.

Once Li Shi regained her freedom, she hurriedly followed the others' example and knelt at Sun Shaozong's feet. Tilting up her head, she exposed a stretch of slender, fair neck and cried out loudly, "My lord, see clearly! Because of some rumor from who knows where, I was falsely accused of being an unfaithful wife. My husband grew suspicious as well, and these past days he often took his anger out on me. I explained myself in every possible way, but he simply refused to believe me! This evening..."

Though this woman was covered in blood and bruised all over, a closer look made it easy to see that she had a graceful figure and pretty features. There was especially an alluring charm in her brows and eyes. No wonder rumors had spread about her.

Enough idle talk.

Li Shi said that she had indeed clashed with Zhang Erhu that evening. Zhang Erhu had even kicked her in the lower belly, leaving her drenched in cold sweat with pain. Yet she had not dared make a sound and could only curl up in the inner room and weep quietly.

Then, faintly, she heard another argument erupt in the courtyard. It seemed Zhang Erhu had started quarreling with someone else. Just as she was hesitating over whether to go outside and take a look, she heard Zhang Erhu let out a shrill, miserable scream!

Li Shi jumped in fright. When she hurried outside, she saw the door still swaying back and forth, while Zhang Erhu had already collapsed in a pool of blood.

She went forward to inspect him and discovered that Zhang Erhu had stopped breathing. Too panicked to think further, she desperately chased after the killer—only to be stopped by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law as soon as she reached the neighboring doorway. They insisted that she had murdered her husband, called over all the neighbors, tied her up, and declared that they would throw her into the pond in a pig cage!

By this point, Sun Shaozong had already formed some vague suspicions. But to know precisely what had happened, he would have to inspect the scene.

Just then, street patrol constables from Wanping County arrived after hearing the news. Learning that the prefectural magistrate was present, they hastened forward to pay their respects.

Sun Shaozong had been worrying that he could not keep so many people under control and feared that the culprit might slip away if he was not careful. These constables had arrived at just the right time.

He did not stand on ceremony. He directly ordered the constables to keep watch on both sides and herd the whole crowd back to the crime scene like sheep. Sun Shaozong had originally intended to send Ruan Rong back to the residence first, but Ruan Rong loved watching him solve cases. How could she possibly be willing to leave now?

She had no choice but to drape herself in a fur cloak and cover half her face with a silk scarf, then openly follow at Sun Shaozong's side.

When they reached Zhang Erhu's door, Sun Shaozong did not hurry inside. Instead, he first surveyed the layout of the narrow alley with his eyes.

This alley was a dead end, inhabited by only some ten relatively well-off households. Zhang Erhu's home stood near the back of the alley, with only two houses farther in. Moreover, anyone entering or leaving the alley had to pass in front of Zhang Dalong's home.

When entering the alley, Sun Shaozong had deliberately taken note of the surroundings. Outside was a bustling district, and there was even a dried-fruit stall near the mouth of the alley. The female owner of that stall had also been among those preparing to dunk Li Shi in the pig cage. According to her, she had not seen anyone dash out of the alley at the time.

This was also one of the main reasons Zhang Dalong and his wife were firmly convinced that Li Shi was the murderer.

After taking in the whole situation, Sun Shaozong's eagle-vulture gaze swept back and forth several times between the homes of Zhang Dalong and Zhang Erhu before he finally stepped into Zhang Erhu's courtyard.

The moment he crossed the threshold, he saw a male corpse lying face-up in the middle of the courtyard. Its eyes were wide open in fury, its face frozen in disbelief. The few neighbors tasked with watching over the body had already received word, and they hurriedly knelt to welcome the Upright Official.

Sun Shaozong asked a few brief questions. Once he confirmed that they had not disturbed either the corpse or the furnishings in the courtyard, he waved a hand and ordered them to wait outside for the moment.

After clearing the scene, Sun Shaozong crouched beside the body and began examining it closely.

There was no doubt that the fatal wound was caused by the pointed kitchen knife still embedded in the victim's chest.

The knife was an ordinary kitchen knife, with no blood groove along its side. Thus, there was almost no spatter on the ground; blood had merely spread outward from the chest in a large patch.

There were several distinct bloody fingerprints on the handle, but judging from their marks, they had likely been left by the victim using his last shred of strength, not by the killer. If they had possessed advanced instruments, perhaps they could have lifted fainter prints. But now, they could only abandon fingerprints as a means of tracking down the murderer.

However...

This kitchen knife still revealed an important clue!

"The killer should be someone else."

Wrapping a handkerchief around the handle, Sun Shaozong carefully pulled out the knife. Holding it flat in his palm, he explained to Ruan Rong, "Judging by the width and length of this knife, as well as the angle at which it entered, it must have been forced between two ribs—it would have taken enough force to cut through or break at least one rib. Li Shi is so delicate and frail; I'm afraid she does not possess that much strength."

As he spoke, he inserted a finger into the wound and stirred it up and down a few times. Then he said in sudden understanding, "It was the fourth rib from the top that was broken by the back of the blade. That would have required even greater force."

Li Shi and Zhang Dalong stood not far behind them. At these words, one was instantly wild with joy, while the other burned with resentment.

Li Shi repeatedly cried, "Upright Official, see every hair and discern every detail!" Zhang Dalong endured for a while, but seeing her boundless delight, he finally could not hold back any longer. "My lord! This venomous woman carries water and hauls firewood every day—what can't she do? How can you say she lacks strength?!"

Sun Shaozong smiled at this, but did not rush to argue with him. He first carefully inspected the corpse from head to toe, then looked around the house and courtyard twice before finally saying to Zhang Dalong, "Since you think this evidence is insufficient, then let us first verify your testimony."

"V-verify my testimony?"

"Correct. We will reenact the scene you described in your testimony."

Pointing next door, Sun Shaozong said, "First take off your outer clothes and lie down on your own bed. Wait until Li Shi crashes through the door and flees outside, then put on your clothes and go out to stop her. Do you understand?"

Though Zhang Dalong did not understand the point of this, the prefectural magistrate had given the order. He could only accept it and comply.

Accompanied by two constables, he went into the bedroom of his neighboring home. Somewhat awkwardly, he took off his outer clothes and stiffly climbed onto the bed. For no reason at all, he felt a touch of embarrassment and hurriedly wrapped himself in the quilt.

But what was there to look at in a rough man like him?

Once the two constables saw that he was ready, one of them went next door to report. Not long afterward, there came a BANG from the neighboring courtyard gate as someone forcefully slammed it open again!

"Quick, quick, quick! Get up!"

The constable urged him at first, then remembered Sun Shaozong's instructions and hurriedly corrected himself. "Not too quickly, either. Just move at the same speed you did back then!"

Urged to be both fast and slow, Zhang Dalong immediately panicked. It was much the same as when he had heard the scream before.

But when Zhang Dalong scrambled into his clothes and rushed out through his own courtyard gate, the sight before him made him freeze on the spot!