Chapter 336: Luring the Snake Out of Its Hole (3)
To those clansmen, this is a windfall.
They spent their entire lives unable to ascend to nobility. Here, the main family clearly has heirs, yet both suffered unexpected tragedies, forcing the clansmen’s offspring to be adopted into the Marquis Mansion.
“What about the Second Young Master?”
“Send some people to attend to him!” Marchioness Cheng’an said wearily. “If I had known he would turn out like this, I should have disciplined him strictly back then.”
She only had this one son, and usually would have given him the stars, but now he has grown up like this.
Zhou Wangshu arrived at the government office, found the forensic doctor conducting an autopsy, and inquired about the bodies of the black-clad men from yesterday.
“Apart from the emblem on their chests, these black-clad assassins have no other clues. This emblem seems familiar, yet I can’t recall where I’ve seen it.”
Zhou Wangshu said, “You often conduct autopsies and have seen many bodies. If this left an impression on you, it must be memorable. Please try to recall it carefully.”
“I remember it being a family’s totem,” the forensic doctor said, “but it’s definitely not from recent years; if it were recent, I would remember. I’m old now and forget things. Mr. Zhou shouldn’t worry, let me think it over, and I might recall it.”
“Then I’ll trouble you, elder.”
In the government office, the forensic doctor held the lowest status, usually barked at by even the lowest-ranking government officers. But now, such a high-ranking official was courteously calling him elder, leaving a good impression.
“No trouble, it’s my duty.” Initially putting in minimal effort, his polite words made the forensic doctor eager to find this crucial clue instantly.
A subordinate returned from outside, holding an arrow.
“We’ve traced the arrow’s origin to a blacksmith shop,” the subordinate said, “but they’re very mysterious, only showing up to purchase arrows without revealing themselves.”
“How many did they buy?”
“Ten thousand.”
“Ten thousand?” Zhou Wangshu frowned, “That’s impossible to fulfill in a short period. Even in a large workshop, such a number can’t be completed.”
“The blacksmith shop said that since half a year ago, this group has been buying arrows from them,” the subordinate reported, “this ten thousand is over half a year’s quantity.”
“Has the ten thousand been delivered?”
“In fact, as you guessed, there’s still a batch pending delivery, so they will contact again.”
“But given we’ve alerted them, they might not show up again. How much is left undelivered?”
“A thousand.”
Zhou Wangshu understood.
Even a thousand is a substantial number.
Since the money’s been paid, they will certainly collect this batch. As long as they monitor the blacksmith shop, they can trace the leads from these people.
“Deploy people to monitor the blacksmith shop, and have two blend in unnoticed.”
Zhou Wangshu arranged his subordinates’ tasks and lingered at the forensic doctor’s place until the trail went cold, finding no other clues. Then he went out to find Su Yaoguang.
His subordinate reported that Tong Qianbi had been beaten to death with clubs and was now left in the mass grave.
“Our arranged informant in the Marquis Mansion reports that the Second Young Master’s condition is dire. Interestingly, Marchioness Cheng’an locked him up, no longer caring for him.”
“Even among family, people like them only care about utility. Xia Zhen was once the sole child of Cheng’an Hou Mansion, precious and untouchable, so he was spoiled into lawlessness. Now he is a lunatic, no longer capable of succeeding the title. Naturally, Marchioness no longer pampers him, for it brings no benefit to her as the marchioness.”
“Isn’t she saddened by her son’s condition?”
“People like them only care about interests, not true emotion. It’s not only her and Xia Zhen but also my good father. Why do you think he’s so eager for me to show up? Of course, it’s to clean up his mess. Recently, he flaunted my father-in-law’s name enough now it’s time to pay the piper.”