CHAPTER 151: CHAPTER 151: THE MURDER CASE (PART 2)

The White Cloud Temple has stood for many years, with followers like clouds. Nobles are not scarce. Previously, Princess Consort Nanyang held the highest respect, and after her death seven years ago, Old Madam Xue, the mother of Governor Xue, became the most respected.

With Old Madam Xue interceding, the Commandery Princess had to give some face.

Ci’en immediately breathed a sigh of relief, "Yes, disciple will handle this matter properly."

Master Pusuan picked up a pen and wrote a letter, completing it in just a few strokes. However, as the letter was being sent out of the temple, it was mercilessly intercepted.

"The Commandery Princess has ordered that until the case is solved, no one is allowed in or out of the White Cloud Temple."

The messenger, a temple monk, was tall and strong, with piercing eyes, clearly an expert. He snorted coldly at these words, "I am on my way to send a letter to the Old Madam at the Jingzhou Governor Mansion, and you, a mere trusted aide, dare block my way?"

This trusted aide was very young, neither tall nor short, with delicate features and spoke calmly, "I am acting on the Commandery Princess’s order, standing guard outside the temple today, and no one can slip past under my watch."

The monk, filled with rage, clenched his fist the size of a bowl.

The young aide showed no fear, calling out, summoning over a dozen aides who surrounded him, each with fists clenched.

The monk had to suppress his anger and turned back into the temple.

The aides snickered amongst themselves.

"Xiao Tian, you really predicted it right," one aide praised the young trusted aide with a smile, "These monks, having committed a crime, are indeed seeking backers to complain."

The young trusted aide was none other than Divine Archer Xiao Tian of the Second Guard Camp.

During the bandit suppression in Li County, Xiao Tian rendered great service and was promoted to captain. Today, Meng Dashan left a hundred men to guard the White Cloud Temple, and it was Xiao Tian’s team.

Though young, Xiao Tian’s skills were solid, exceptional in archery, meticulous, and adept at stealth and tracking. All the aides respected him.

Xiao Tian’s eyes sparkled as he whispered, "Everyone stay alert and patrol everywhere, especially at the side and back doors, all must be guarded."

He then assigned tasks one by one. Sure enough, an hour later, they intercepted another monk trying to flee through the back door.

Half a day later, they caught another monk climbing over the wall to deliver a letter.

Ci’en, fuming, jumped in front of Xiao Tian, pointing at his nose and cursing.

The aides could not swallow this humiliation, surrounding Ci’en with expressionless faces, waiting for the captain’s order to beat this ignorant, arrogant monk to a pulp.

However, Xiao Tian maintained his composure, waited for Ci’en to finish cursing, and then said leisurely, "If the White Cloud Temple is truly innocent, why are you in such a hurry to send messages outside?"

Ci’en was left speechless.

Xiao Tian continued, "I’ve already reported this to the Commandery Princess. Please go back to the temple and wait. If there’s any more unusual activity, don’t blame me for being rude."

Xiao Tian’s face was delicate, speaking gently, yet when uttering threats, wasn’t harsh at all.

But somehow, a chill surged from Ci’en’s heart.

Ci’en, bluffing outwardly while weak inside, threw out a couple of remarks and turned away in anger.

Xiao Tian snorted coldly in his heart.

...

The White Cloud Temple is about twenty miles from the county government, a half-hour’s ride at top speed.

Jiang Shaohua, after hearing the message conveyed by the aides, sneered and turned to Chen Zhuo, "No wonder the White Cloud Temple is so arrogant, turns out Governor Xue is backing them."

Da Liang has forty provinces, and Nanyang County is in Jingzhou. The Jingzhou Governor, Xue Ren, is theoretically the local emperor within Jingzhou.

Old Madam Xue is an officially conferred Second Rank lady, her status significant. Even Jiang Shaohua would show her some respect.

Chen Zhuo was silent for a moment, then ordered everyone to leave, and spoke softly, "Commandery Princess, when the Prince was alive, he had a good relationship with Governor Xue. For a mere White Cloud Temple to cause discord with Governor Xue, I fear it may cost more than it’s worth."

From the beginning, Chen Zhuo didn’t quite agree with the Commandery Princess’s "plan."

But the Commandery Princess was determined, and he couldn’t stop her.

The thief who died in the White Cloud Temple was a death row inmate from the silver mine, already terminally ill. He exchanged his life for 500 taels of settlement silver to ensure a stable life for his wife, children, and aged mother.

And the Commandery Princess, using this murder case, sealed off the White Cloud Temple.

"Governor Xue is not a fool. How could he risk becoming enemies with the Nanyang Prince Mansion over a mere White Cloud Temple?" Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly, "Chief Historian Chen doesn’t need to worry. I have it all figured out."

Chen Zhuo sighed inwardly and didn’t say more. He shifted the topic, "County Magistrate Lei has already dispatched a forensic doctor to the White Cloud Temple to inspect the corpse."

Jiang Shaohua responded indifferently, "Wait for the autopsy report, and the county government can start the investigation. However, the court trial will have to wait for Yang Shi to arrive."

Poor Yang Zheng was once again used by the Commandery Princess as a scapegoat.

Chief Historian Chen silently sympathized with Yang Shi once more.

The next day, County Magistrate Lei brought the autopsy report.

The woodshed door was locked, showing no signs of being opened. Neither was there any sign of outsiders infiltrating the White Cloud Temple. The thief was beaten with sticks before death, with the fatal injury on his forehead. He must have died from a heavy blow to the skull.

The one who accidentally killed the thief was a martial monk of the White Cloud Temple.

...

The news spread throughout Zhi County in just two days, causing an uproar among the people. Many citizens spontaneously gathered outside the county government, kneeling and kowtowing to plead with the Commandery Princess.

The Commandery Princess wasn’t angry, even personally appearing to comfort the agitated people, "Everyone, stop kneeling and stand up."

The Commandery Princess, youthful, beautiful, and gentle, emboldened some people to exclaim, "Commandery Princess, there’s a Buddha in the White Cloud Temple, and Buddha wouldn’t harm anyone. There must be a misunderstanding in this murder case."

"Perhaps the thief committed some intolerable sin, and Buddha took his life."

"Yes, yes, that’s definitely it!"

Jiang Shaohua nodded inwardly.

Isn’t that exactly an intolerable sinner who deserved the punishment?

This selected death row inmate was responsible for three lives, long overdue for execution. Later, he was secretly sent to dig in the silver mine, soon fell gravely ill. The outcomes were either death by illness or overwork. Trading his life for a large sum of silver at the end wasn’t a bad deal.

He was also a ruthless person who ended his life with a wooden stick in the woodshed at night, even fracturing his frontal bone. Swift and decisive, leaving no loose ends.

"Neither do I believe that the monks of White Cloud Temple would kill."

Jiang Shaohua’s voice was clearly heard by the people, "Rest assured, I have already asked Yang Shi, who is skilled at investigating cases, to come to Zhi County. With Yang Shi around, the murder case will be thoroughly investigated, and the White Cloud Temple will be cleared."

"Everyone, go back! Come to the county government on the day of the public trial. I will certainly restore justice to the White Cloud Temple."

The citizens, having received the Commandery Princess’s personal promise, dispersed with half conviction and half doubt.

Yang Shi, racing towards Zhi County, felt his ears itch and a strange heaviness on his back.

This ominous feeling of taking the blame from out of nowhere hovered like a dark cloud over Yang Zheng.

Yang Zheng couldn’t help but sigh deeply.