Lu Hu's straightforward temperament was well-known. The fact that he dared to say such words meant that he was naturally not afraid of retaliation from others.
Meanwhile, the scholars were intimidated into silence. After all, they weren't even strong enough to truss up a chicken. On top of that, since Master Yu was not around, it'd be just like trying to break a rock with eggs if they attempted to save Lin Shu.
Lin Shu's stomach was throbbing in pain. His eyes were bloodshot while sweat flowed down his head. Since he was already wounded, Lin Shu had no strength to even struggle.
He could only glare at Lu Hu and demand angrily, "Let me go."
"You are wanted for murder. Judge Huang will interrogate you himself when we get back to the yamen."
"I didn't kill anyone, Guo He wasn't killed by me."
"There's definite evidence that says otherwise."
"I've already explained and proved that I wasn't at the institute on the 13th."
Lu Hu glared at Lin Shu: "It is true that you weren't there on the 13th. However, the victim was killed on the 12th."
Eh!
"Im...impossible!" Lin Shu stuttered, stunned to the core. An uneasy feeling that originated from his chest rose to his throat. A few beads of cold sweat began forming between his brows.
Lu Hu was not a nice person. Baring his teeth, Lu Hu tilted his chin high and threatened, "Are you still not going to confess? Then I'll have no choice, I'd like to see which is stronger, your stubbornness or their fists."
He threw a sharp glance at the constables as he spoke.
The constables that accosted Lin Shu nodded, clenching their fists and swinging them towards Lin Shu.
"Was the victim killed by you? Are you going to spit it out or not?" Forcing him to confess!
Despite the incredible pain, Lin Shu still bore it in and refused to buckle.
The beatings from the two grew in intensity, landing another two blows on his body. As the dull blows from the two fists grew louder, Lu Hu's smile became even more sinister, even sadistic!
"Stop it!"Ji Yunshu cut in, unable to bear it any longer. "Does Bingjing Yamen always carry out their investigations like this?"
Her tone demanded an explanation.
Lu Hu threw a sidelong glance, his thick dark eyebrows furrowed as he gave Ji Yunshu a once-over.
This person tied their hair using a pale grey ribbon which trailed down to his waist, just above his pendant. He wore a plain, pale green robe, sleeves slightly dangling by his side. He was an elegant-looking person with delicate features. His pupils, in particular, seemed to have reduced his masculinity and brought out a hint of feminine gentleness.
At the same time, Ji Yunshu was doing the same!
The person before her had a brutal expression with a bloodthirsty air and performed his tasks with cold efficiency. Lu Hu seemed to be a resourceful person from his words and actions, even though he was abnormally conceited and belligerent.
Lu Hu's dark, cracked lips moved. "Are you dissatisfied with the yamen's methods?"
His words were both a challenge as well as a slight to her.
Ji Yunshu replied with a straight face. "Bingjing is located far away from the capital, a place where it is harder for the arms of the law to reach out. However, from Constable Lu's words and actions just now, it seems like you are taking the law into your own hands. I was just wondering since when are the constables of this yamen allowed to torture suspects when the case has yet to be closed? You can't be trying to obtain a forced confession, can you?"
This was a serious accusation!
Lu Hu clicked his tongue as his two blade-like eyebrows seemed to stiffen. "You were the one who assembled the remains and gathered the evidence. In addition, I had overheard what you said back then in the building. Since the victim died on the 12th, he must be the murderer. If that's the case, what's wrong with the yamen forcing him to confess if he refuses to admit to his wrongdoings?" He spoke in a menacing tone. This reasoning was really something else!
Ji Yunshu met Lu Hu's stubborn gaze. She's not giving a single inch either!
Ji Yunshu replied, "Although there's numerous evidence that points towards Lin Shu as the killer, it is not uncommon to encounter oversights during investigations. Although the evidence exists, it's static; only the truth is alive and before everything is made clear, these all remain unknowns. Even I am not sure what I said back then was exactly what Lin Shu did. Are you telling me that Constable Lu has so much faith in me?"
"Do you mean that the murderer is not Lin Shu?"
"Only with a thorough investigation, will we be able to prove if he's truly the murderer."
"That's exactly what I'd like to see; how are you going to investigate?" Lu Hu harrumphed as he signalled the constables to release Lin Shu.
Two of his compatriots immediately came up to help him stand. "Lin Shu, are you okay?"
I've already been beaten to this extent, what do you guys think?
Ji Yunshu took in a breath and looked at Lin Shu who had been beaten black and blue all over and even needs help to stand upright. "Lin Shu, although you weren't at the institute on the 13th. Guo He had passed the letter to Shang Zhuo on the 12th. Since he had turned in early due to being under the weather, it was unclear whether Guo He had died on the night of the 12th or 13th after you departed from the institute. On the night of the 12th, Xiao Tong ran into you and smelled alcohol, so you had to be drinking. However, if I recall correctly, the smell of alcohol had permeated the entire pavilion. Your expression and actions at that time clearly conveyed your disdain for the smell. Since you disliked the smell of alcohol, why would you be drinking? And since you did not drink alcohol, why did you have the smell of alcohol on you that night? Furthermore, the smell of that alcohol was Songhua wine, which just so happens to be Guo He's favourite drink. Therefore, if my deductions were correct, you ran into Guo He on the night of the 12th. Something has to have happened between you two that caused you to be so jittery."
Gasping heavily in pain, Lin Shu's eyes wandered as he lowered his head, "To summarise, I am not the murderer. Furthermore, that night… I never saw him.."
"Are you still unwilling to tell the truth at this stage? Lin Shu, Teacher Yu said that you have a good character and believes that you would not kill people. You said that you are innocent but the evidence is heavily stacked against you. If you really are innocent, then just be honest and tell us; what exactly happened that night?"
"I really don't know, I..."
Ji Yunshu interjected, "If you're not going to tell us, the yamen will have to take you away. At that point, no one will be able to help you. Even if you say if you're not the murderer and are willing to cooperate by telling the truth, it will all fall on deaf ears."
That's right! The moment he is taken away, he would be sent into prison. That would be akin to sending him into the tiger's den; he'd be finished for sure.
Even if he was framed, given Lu Hu's words and actions just now, that man would definitely torture him severely. He could stick to his testimony and deny it to the end but Lu Hu would definitely have a way to extract a confession out of him.
Realizing his current situation, Lin Shu couldn't help but feel scared. After a brief internal struggle, he met Ji Yunshu's eyes, pursed his lips, and grit his teeth.
"Alright, I'll talk."
The surroundings quieted down in an instant. Everyone was waiting for him to give an account of what exactly happened that night.