Ling Xuan found Xiao Man's question strange. "Young Master Jin was poisoned to death. His parents, Minister Jin and his wife, loved their son dearly. They would surely not let him die without explanation. As long as I report the truth, they will certainly help me catch the murderer."
Xiao Man smiled. "In that case, I wish you, Constable Ling, success in apprehending the culprit soon."
"Thank you for today."
"No need. We are merely engaging in a transaction. You tell me the cause of Jin Yu's death, and I tell you what I know. It's a fair exchange."
Ling Xuan stood up. "Why do you care about Jin Yu's cause of death?"
"Curiosity, that's all."
"Liar!" Ling Xuan didn't believe her at all. "You are not someone who would care about the life and death of an unrelated person without reason, unless that person is useful to you!"
"If I were you, I would hurry to the Jin family to avoid the murderer escaping." Xiao Man watched Ling Xuan's hasty departure with a smile, then slowly shook her head, knowing Ling Xuan was destined to return empty-handed.
As the eldest son and legitimate heir of the Jin family, Jin Yu's position was not to be underestimated, despite his failure in the young master selection exam.
Jin Yu's unexpected death led to the Jin family setting up a mourning hall, with all household items changed to white. Ling Xuan arrived with constables to apprehend the murderer and also to deliver Jin Yu's body.
"Yu'er, my son, how could you leave your mother at such a young age..." Madam Jin, upon hearing that Jin Yu's body had been returned, rushed out without regard for propriety, throwing herself onto Jin Yu's body and weeping uncontrollably.
The maids and servants, seeing this, wiped away tears. "Lord Jin, this official is here to return the body of your eldest son."
Lord Jin lifted the white cloth and looked at Jin Rong lying on the plank. His face was ashen. A living person had become like this. "Someone, help the eldest son change his clothes and prepare for the funeral."
The housekeeper immediately ordered the household boys to carry Jin Yu's body inside, change his burial clothes, and place him in the prepared coffin. Only then did the mourning hall truly feel like one.
"Lord Jin, may I have a word in private?"
Lord Jin sounded annoyed. "What is it?"
"Lord Jin, Young Master Jin did not die of sudden death during coitus, but was poisoned."
Lord Jin's expression changed. "Is there any evidence?"
"The coroner found toxins in Young Master Jin's body. It's a slow-acting poison called Fei Mo. This poison is extremely wicked and can only be administered by a woman. It is transmitted through sexual intercourse. The victim can only have intimate relations with the person who administered the poison. If they have relations with another woman, they will die from the poison."
"Are you implying that the poisoner is one of Yu'er's concubines?"
"Yes. This official requests to investigate the people around Young Master Jin."
Lord Jin's face was grim. "Wait. Let me ask you, if that woman has relations with more than one man, will all the men she has relations with be poisoned?"
Ling Xuan nodded. "Not only that, but the poisoner will also be poisoned!"
Cold sweat beaded on Lord Jin's forehead. Jin Yu currently had only one concubine, Yu Shu, whom he had taken by force. Madam Jin had formally brought her into the household. However, he had always lusted after Yu Shu and could not bear to let her go, so while Yu Shu was nominally Jin Yu's concubine, she was in reality a plaything for father and son!
However, Lord Jin quickly calmed down. Yu Shu was always well-behaved, gentle, and affectionate. She surely wouldn't be the poisoner. It was more likely his son, who was notorious for his debauchery. Perhaps one of the maids in his courtyard had administered the poison!
Nevertheless, to be safe, Lord Jin decided to let Ling Xuan investigate. He could not rest until the poisoner was found.
"Yu'er has only one concubine, named Yu Shu. Everyone in the mansion calls her Madam Yu." Lord Jin led Ling Xuan towards Jin Yu's courtyard. "But he was always dissolute. The maids in his courtyard..."
Lord Jin found it difficult to speak. "More or less all of them have been touched by him."
Ling Xuan nodded in understanding and ordered the maids and servants in Jin Yu's courtyard to be gathered. He asked them to extend their hands to check if their fingernails had any discoloration.
However, after examining them all, no problems were found with the maids or servants.
"Didn't you say Young Master Jin had another concubine? Where is she?"
"Where is Madam Yu?" Lord Jin immediately inquired.
"Madam Yu has been unwell for the past two days. Upon hearing of the eldest young master's death, she fainted and is now resting in her room."
"Go and call her out." Lord Jin immediately gave the order.
A maid quickly went to fetch her. About fifteen minutes later, a woman dressed in simple attire slowly approached, her face lightly powdered, but it couldn't hide her gauntness.
"Greetings to my lord, and greetings to the official."
Ling Xuan stepped forward. "Please extend your hand."
Yu Shu looked somewhat confused, not understanding why she was asked to extend her hand. She immediately did so. Ling Xuan's gaze fell upon Yu Shu's hands. Her fingers were slender and beautiful like green onions, but her fingernails had a faint gray hue. The color was not as deep as Jin Yu's, but it was a sign of impending death.
Ling Xuan showed Yu Shu his token. "Madam Yu, I am arresting you on suspicion of murdering Jin Yu, the eldest young master of the Jin family."
"What?" Yu Shu looked shocked. "When... when did I murder the eldest young master?"
"This is the evidence." Ling Xuan grabbed Yu Shu's wrist and showed her hand to Lord Jin. "If the poisoner maintains good hygiene, their fingernails should be pink. But your fingernails are gray, which indicates that you are also poisoned."
"I'm poisoned?" Yu Shu looked panicked. "I can't be poisoned. My lord, please save me."
Lord Jin was filled with dread at this moment, as he had also been intimate with Yu Shu countless times. When Ling Xuan mentioned the gray fingernails, he secretly looked at his own. To his shock, he discovered that his fingernails also had a gray tinge. Even if it wasn't obvious, he knew he was poisoned.
"Yu Shu, the Jin family has not treated you unfairly. Hand over the antidote!"
"My lord, I didn't poison him, I truly didn't!"
Lord Jin stepped forward and slapped Yu Shu fiercely across the face, sending her tumbling to the ground. Her hair became disheveled, her cheek swelled. She looked up at Lord Jin's ferocious expression and was so scared that she recoiled.
"Lord Jin, she is suspected of murder. This official must escort her back to Jingzhao Prefecture for interrogation."
"She is a slave of the Jin family. Her life and death are decided by the Jin family. Moreover, she killed our Jin family's young master. The Jingzhao Prefecture need not concern itself with this matter. We, the Jin family, will handle it ourselves."
"She has committed murder and should be handed over to the Jingzhao Prefecture for trial." Lord Jin's hands were hidden in his sleeves the entire time. "Someone, see the guest out."
"Sir, I didn't poison him, I truly didn't!" Yu Shu immediately pounced forward and grabbed Ling Xuan's hem. "Sir, you must do justice for me." Su Dan Novel Network
"You unchaste bitch, how dare you grab a man's clothes in public!" Lord Jin raised his leg to kick. Yu Shu saw this, quickly protected her belly, and was kicked squarely by Lord Jin, falling to the ground and crying out in pain.