Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 283 - 282: "Reliable" [Bonus Vote Update]

The Jia Brothers, no matter how much they struggled, couldn’t escape the grip of two prison guards. A huge bowl of Deer Blood Wine was half spilled onto the ground and their clothes, while the other half was still forced into their mouths.

The brothers seemed truly terrified, frantically trying to free their bound hands and feet, even both vomiting, crying out with tears and snot, shouting that they didn’t want to die.

When the wine was first forced upon them, they were not very cooperative. At this moment, covered in red, they looked ferocious, vomiting all over themselves and the ground, appearing utterly miserable.

"Let them loose," Lu Qing gestured to the prison guard beside him.

The guard untied the ropes on their wrists, and immediately one grabbed the skin of his throat in horror, while the other simply shoved his fingers deep into his throat, trying to make himself vomit more thoroughly.

"What’s this? Your family’s Deer Blood Wine strengthens the body. Your brother drinks it daily, why are you both so frightened?" Zhu Yu looked at the two in disdain.

The Jia Brothers now realized their wrongdoing had been exposed, how could they dare to argue more? They knelt on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy, saying they didn’t want to die.

Zhu Yu asked them to tell the truth, and through tears and snot, trembling, they finally revealed the truth behind this matter.

The development of the situation was indeed as they had previously speculated.

It was indeed instigated by Right Chief Historian Yang Chengxuan.

Previously, Yang Chengxuan privately approached the Jia Brothers, telling them Jin Country had requested Shuo Land to send a batch of weapons, and Prince Shuo had entrusted Jia Jun to oversee the matter.

Jia Jun, however, secretly colluded with others, selling off many of the iron ores that should have been completely used to forge this batch of weapons, adding many other things into the mix. Although the quantity of weapons was filled up, they were actually fragile and useless.

Before this batch of weapons could be shipped to Jin Country, the problem was discovered. Now the higher-ups wanted to hold someone accountable, and if they pursued it seriously, not only would Jia Jun lose his head for his reckless actions, but other Jia Family members might also be implicated. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The brothers, though of ordinary talent, were proud and felt Shuo Land was full of uncouth people, believing that only they, as scholars studying the Holy Books, had the chance to achieve fame and fortune.

Upon hearing they might be implicated because of their brother’s greed, dashed were their hopes for fame, and might even end up imprisoned. They were instantly panicked, full of resentment, yet not knowing how to deal with it.

Seeing this, Yang Chengxuan presented them with a "bright path," advising them to be proactive, while this matter hadn’t yet been traced back to Jia Jun by Prince Shuo, kill Jia Jun. Then use the lack of iron ores and Jia Jun’s death to frame Chief Historian Zuo, saying he acted guilty and feared Jia Jun would report him, so he struck first and killed him.

In this way, only Jia Jun would die; after all, for the deeds he committed, he would certainly face death. With this method of death, at least the family could avoid implication, allowing the two younger brothers to continue their studies and exams, potentially returning to hold office without hindrance.

The Jia Brothers initially hesitated; after all, he was their own brother, who had treated them generously from childhood, not asking them to help with earning for the family, supporting their sole focus on studying the Holy Books.

Yet Yang Chengxuan’s words implied that Jia Jun would ultimately face death, which deeply affected the two.

They could not resist their greed, following Yang Chengxuan’s method. When Lady Jia Jun was not home, making it more convenient to act, they secretly poured the "poisoned blood" Yang Chengxuan provided into the Deer Blood Wine at home, waiting for Jia Jun to be poisoned.

Then, as per Yang Chengxuan’s instructions, when Jia Jun was newly dead, they first used a rope around Jia Jun’s neck to simulate strangulation, pulling it tight, and after a while, hung the corpse as if it was suicide, ensuring marks were left on the neck before handing the body to people sent by Yang Chengxuan to hide.

Yang Chengxuan’s people came with a huge painting, hanging it from the beam in Jia Jun’s study.

Externally, they only said their brother was called by Chief Historian Zuo to oversee official matters, since no one in the family dared to ask Chief Historian Zuo if he had taken Jia Jun, and no one was allowed into the study except Jia Jun.

So they waited anxiously for days, finally receiving word that those people had delivered Jia Jun’s frozen stiff corpse back, helping them hang it from the beam, hiding it in the Jia Brothers’ room until Wen Qiming arrived, waited alone in the study for Jia Jun, and left, allowing them to sneak in and take the painting.

Initially, these actions were not urgent until unexpectedly, their eldest sister-in-law unexpectedly returned home early. The brothers had to get a "reliable" servant to stall her, ensuring everything in the study was properly arranged and those who needed to leave could do so timely.

Zhu Yu inquired about the so-called "reliable" servant’s background, discovering he was previously gifted by the Pang Family when Jia Jun had accompanied Right Chief Historian to their banquet as gratitude for Jia Jun’s generous gift.

Being exceptionally clever, he was heavily valued once at the Jia Family, even though not a family-bred servant.

This time, the two brothers plotted against their brother, naturally not daring to let the old servants or family-bred servants know, making this servant their sole reliance.

Zhu Yu ordered the prison guards to hang these two brothers and flog them harshly, then return them to the dungeon under strict supervision, ensuring they couldn’t seek death, awaiting their public execution.

Then they hurried back, compiling the findings to present to Zhu Cheng.

After reviewing, despite some anticipation, Zhu Cheng was furious and immediately ordered Yang Chengxuan’s arrest. He proceeded with guards to personally interrogate him, demanding he clarify his collusions with the Pang Family.

Assuming the evidence was irrefutable, Yang Chengxuan would have no choice but to spill everything, but unexpectedly, he stubbornly insisted he had no association with the Pang Family, claiming he was wronged.

Zhu Cheng employed various tactics, reasoning and threats alike, yet Yang Chengxuan remained obstinate as a stone in a latrine, refusing to confess, leaving Zhu Cheng exasperated, to no avail.

Pondering over his options, he still saw no solution, so after hesitation, he summoned Zhu Yu and Lu Qing to devise a plan.