CHAPTER 481: CHAPTER 481: FELON

Squad Leader Zhu made a mistake and, under the blade-like gaze of County Captain Jiang, was rendered speechless, unable to muster any rebuttal.

County Captain Jiang asked him, "During the fire, did you have someone watch over each door and did you withdraw the patrol outside the walls? If Zou Yuzhen really intended to escape death, he would have taken the opportunity to flee amidst the chaos."

A flicker of panic crossed Squad Leader Zhu’s face, which he quickly stifled, and said, "My lord, I always had men guarding every entrance to Zou Mansion, and the patrol outside the walls was not..."

With a thud, County Captain Jiang kicked Squad Leader Zhu in the solar plexus before he could finish speaking and scolded him, "Zhu Laiwu, at a time like this you still dare to lie to me? Do you not wish to live?"

"Do you think you can fool me? The government officials under you also obey my commands. With just one word from me, do you think they would help you fabricate a story?"

Knowing he could not deceive County Captain Jiang, Squad Leader Zhu immediately knelt down, "My lord, I deserve death... When the blaze suddenly broke out, I was solely focused on extinguishing the fire. I had called the guards inside to help save the Zou family from the fire. It was only for a brief half-quarter of an hour. When I came to my senses, I immediately sent the government officials guarding the doors and patrolling the walls back to their posts."

"Zou Yuzhen is so familiar with Zou Mansion, half a quarter of an hour is enough for him to have escaped multiple times," County Captain Jiang said, fuming with anger, almost wanting to slap Squad Leader Zhu.

Seeing County Captain Jiang so enraged, Squad Leader Zhu was terrified, but in order to save his position, he still boldly raised a doubt, "My lord, Zou Yuzhen’s death escape is just a speculation. Perhaps this charred corpse is indeed him."

"Ha!" County Captain Jiang laughed derisively, pointing at Squad Leader Zhu, no longer even interested in hitting him.

As County Captain Jiang was nearly beside himself with anger, Old Zhong and Uncle Yu, leading the county soldiers, came rushing to report to County Magistrate Xu and County Captain Jiang, "Lord County Magistrate, Lord County Captain, we have searched Zou Mansion and did not find Zou Yuzhen."

During the firefight, County Captain Jiang, worried that someone from Zou Mansion might take advantage of the chaos to escape, instructed Old Zhong and Uncle Yu to lead the county soldiers in a search of Zou Mansion.

County Captain Jiang, still not quite at ease, told Uncle Yu, "Old Yu, take your soldiers and search again, twice more if needed. Make sure every corner of Zou Mansion is thoroughly searched to see if Zou Yuzhen is hiding there."

And to Old Zhong, he said, "Go and count how many servants from the Zou family died? How many are still alive? Bring them all here, tonight’s fire was definitely set with the help of the Zou family’s servants. Zou Yuzhen alone couldn’t have silently doused so many courtyards with pine oil and set them ablaze."

"Yes," Old Zhong and Uncle Yu responded, taking their soldiers to search the Zou Mansion again, to tally the dead servants from the Zou family, and gather those who were still alive.

Half an hour later, Old Yu reported back: "My lord, the servants’ living quarters caught fire and a total of twenty-nine servants were burned to death. Among these servants, there were two housekeepers, seven servant boys, five maids, and the rest were Protectors."

He also handed County Captain Jiang a list of servants and Protectors: "The names that have a line drawn underneath are those who did not answer the roll call and are presumed to be the ones burned to death."

Old Yu’s county soldiers brought the surviving servants and Protectors, all disheveled and blackened by soot. Those who had family members burned to death were now wailing and weeping.

County Captain Jiang looked at these people, his gaze landing on Zou He.

At this moment, Zou He was trembling all over, muttering under his breath, unintelligible.

County Captain Jiang narrowed his eyes and pointed, "Bring Zou He over here."

Old Yu immediately acted, dragging Zou He in front of County Captain Jiang.

County Captain Jiang, grasping Zou He’s collar, demanded, "Did something happen in Zou Mansion these past few days? Has anyone sent a message inside? Did Zou Yuzhen intentionally set the fire to fake his death? Where did he run off to? Who is outside waiting to aid him? Speak!"

County Captain Jiang’s voice thundered like lightning, scaring Zou He to his knees: "So cruel, terribly cruel... so many people died... so many people actually died..."

Zou He shivered as he continued to utter words that only he could understand.

Something was off about what he said; County Captain Jiang immediately grabbed Zou He and, with several slaps, stunned him into silence.

After a short while, Zou He burst into tears: "Murder, Third Master wants to kill everyone in the mansion to save his own life!"

Squad Leader Zhu’s face turned deathly pale upon hearing this—it seemed that the charred body really wasn’t Zou Yuzhen’s.

County Captain Jiang instantly grabbed Zou He by the shoulders and demanded, "Speak what you know, as long as you speak up, I can spare you from death."

County Magistrate Xu also added, "Speak quickly, as long as you can reveal why Zou Yuzhen wants to kill the entire Zou family, I guarantee that neither you nor your family will die."

They would simply be reduced to official slaves.

Zou He, petrified by the fire, now recovering his senses, wept to County Captain Jiang: "Third Master didn’t want to suffer execution by association. Ever since the Old Master was arrested, he’s been thinking of how to escape... But I never imagined, Third Master would be such a beast, to start a fire and burn half of the Zou Mansion... Nanny Zou, Zou Hu, all dead..."

After finishing, Zou He cried even harder.

County Captain Jiang had no time for his crying, pressing on with his questions: "Who outside is helping Zou Yuzhen? And who inside the mansion is aiding him?"

Zou He thought for a moment and replied, "Third Master has gathered some men in Willow Leaf Lane, led by someone called Chang Laopeng. Those must be the people assisting him... As for inside the mansion, lately, Third Master has been close with Zou Hu and Master Gu. Master Gu’s son is a servant by Third Master’s side, and the captured Guardian Master, surnamed Cao, is actually Master Gu’s uncle."

He then began howling again: "Dead... Zou Hu and Zou Hai are dead!"

A yard near the collapsed house caught fire too; it was a yard where a housekeeper lived, and Zou Hu and Zou Hai resided there. He himself lived in the adjoining yard. The horrifying screams of Zou Hu being burned to death, coupled with the sight of Zou Hu and Zou Hai’s charred corpses being carried out, had terrified him into paralysis.

Upon hearing this, County Captain Jiang said to County Magistrate Xu, "My lord, it’s confirmed that Zou Yuzhen is attempting escape by faking his death. I will immediately take the county soldiers to search the city and will surely capture Zou Yuzhen and bring him back."

County Magistrate Xu replied anxiously, "Lord Jiang, hurry. We must apprehend that felon."

Zou Yuzhen was originally a minor accomplice set to be punished with others, but in his attempt to flee from death, he not only set fire to Zou Mansion, but also several alleys and shops within the county, creating chaos and leading to many deaths, turning him into a serious offender charged with plotting to take human lives.

If such a dangerous offender could not be captured, not only would his promotion be impossible, but he would also face prosecution.

Squad Leader Zhu, hoping to redeem himself, volunteered to accompany County Captain Jiang: "My lord, allow me to go with you and capture Zou Yuzhen!"

County Captain Jiang sneered: "Take your men and stay here; don’t cause any more trouble for me."

With those words, and ignoring the increasingly pale face of Squad Leader Zhu, he took Old Zhong and others straight to Willow Leaf Lane.

The fire in Willow Leaf Lane was not small; among the three civilian houses that burned, one belonged to Chang Laopeng and his group.