Due to the shortage of manpower, Pei Xia borrowed many constables from the yamen. Only then were all the corpses unearthed before dawn.
Horribly, all the victims were young and beautiful women.
After the coroner and midwife examined them, they found that all of them had been brutally raped and tortured before their deaths. The youngest was only twelve years old, and the oldest was only eighteen or nineteen.
Before dawn, the sky was dark and gloomy. The blue dome seemed to be pressing down, making people gasp for breath.
The wind howled, as if carrying a strong sense of resentment.
Everyone fell silent.
Lord Hui ordered the Yongfu Street to be sealed off.
The constable in charge interrogated the people in the Brocade Weaving Workshop overnight.
At first, they knew nothing. Later, after some torture, they finally managed to get the supervisor to talk.
It turned out that all the victims were embroiderers or apprentices in the Brocade Weaving Workshop.
The supervisor, under the guise of recruitment, selected those delicate and charming young ladies. Once they entered the workshop, they worked during the day and were sent to the secret room in the backyard at night after having their hands and feet twisted.
The secret room was well - hidden, and its walls were made of fine iron, isolating the desperate cries of the girls.
Not to mention the neighboring shops, even most of the employees in the Brocade Weaving Workshop were unaware of the tragedies happening around them.
Zhu Yaozong would come every night, claiming to be inspecting the shop.
Most of these women were daughters of poor families. They were weak and vulnerable. Surrounded by Zhu Yaozong's minions, they had no ability to protect themselves, let alone escape from the small workshop.
Zhu Yaozong, though looking like a human being, was extremely vicious and twisted. Rape was not enough for him. He often burned their skin with an open flame and whipped their private parts...
Even more heinous was that he was fond of watching other men bully these poor women.
The more a woman resisted, the worse her fate would be.
Finally, when he got tired of them, these women were carried out like broken dolls and buried under the flower wall in the backyard, regardless of whether they were still alive...
The beautiful embroiderers in the Brocade Weaving Workshop disappeared one after another, but no one noticed. Even if someone did, no one dared to report it to the authorities.
People in Lingle County all knew that Zhu Yaozong's father was the former county magistrate. Although he had retired, his influence still remained.
Moreover, every time Zhu Yaozong killed someone, his sister, Zhu Lian'er, would always use silver to placate the families of the women, luring them with money and threatening them at the same time.
There were almost no parents who knew the truth and took action to seek justice for their daughters.
Zhu Yaozong was afraid of his parents at home and didn't dare to go too far.
But once he entered the Brocade Weaving Workshop, his perverted evil thoughts were unleashed. Once he started, there was no end.
Although Zhu Lian'er was reluctant, since Zhu Yaozong was her younger brother and the apple of the Zhu family's eye, she had no choice. On the surface, she admonished Zhu Yaozong to stop, but she never missed an opportunity to abet him.
The three concubines of Lord Shu were deliberately sent to the Brocade Weaving Workshop by Zhu Lian'er.
As is well - known, the women who could be concubines of rich young masters were at least good - looking, if not extremely beautiful.
At first, Zhu Yaozong hesitated. After all, Cuiqiao and the others were Shu Jing's concubines. They had status and background, different from those poor girls.
But his sister hinted that he could do whatever he wanted.
Zhu Yaozong immediately became excited. Just thinking about being able to play with his brother - in - law's women, the evil thoughts in his body almost burst out.
Within a couple of days, Cuiqiao, the most beautiful one, died.
The other two concubines were no better. They also became wronged souls soon after.
Pei Xia took Lord Hui's letter and invited Shu Jing to the Brocade Weaving Workshop to identify the victims.
Since too much time had passed, Cuiqiao and the others were beyond recognition. Only the jade hairpin in their hair became the only evidence to confirm their identities.
Shu Jing endured the nausea and came to the backyard of the Brocade Weaving Workshop.
When Pei Xia handed the magnolia flower hairpin to him, Shu Jing's pupils shrank slightly. For a moment, great grief welled up in his heart. Holding the hairpin, he howled silently.
How could he not recognize it? The magnolia flower hairpin was the birthday gift he gave to Cuiqiao.
At that time, he only regarded Cuiqiao as an insignificant thing, a maid who taught him about things. The gift was even bought casually.
But he remembered the delighted smile in Cuiqiao's eyes when she received the hairpin, her gentle and affectionate gaze, as if he was the only one in her heart.
What was the fault of Baosheng and Baose later?
Why did they have to suffer such inhumane treatment... and then die in despair.
Shu Jing stared at the three skeletons for a long time. The full - hearted pain engulfed him.
"It's my fault that killed them. It's my fault..."
Shu Jing murmured absent - mindedly. The next moment, he almost fell to the ground.
Pei Xia quickly supported him and said point - blank, "Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt has its debtor. The dead are gone. Why don't you, Lord Shu, find out the real culprit who harmed them? It will also let the dead rest in peace."
Shu Jing suddenly looked up and gritted his teeth, "It's Lady Zhu! It must be her!"
Just like this, Shu Jing suddenly understood many things.
He was always kind - hearted, but it didn't mean he was stupid.
The Zhu family was in decline. Over the years, Lady Zhu secretly supported her natal family behind his back. He knew it, but he thought it wasn't necessary to damage their marital relationship for such things.
So he turned a blind eye and was too lazy to care.
But he never expected that Lady Zhu would be so vicious!
Cuiqiao and the other two were living people, but in the end, they ended up like that...
He rode his horse back home quickly and questioned that vicious woman, Lady Zhu.
Even after the incident was exposed, Lady Zhu showed no sign of shame. She stiffened her neck and refused to admit it.
Shu Jing was filled with grief and indignation. He roared loudly, "You vicious woman! You've brutally killed three lives. Someone, tie her up and send her to the authorities! Let her pay with her life!"
As soon as he said this, Lady Zhu almost bit her tongue. She couldn't help shaking her legs and body. Fear welled up in her heart, "My lord, for the sake of those three sluts, you want me to pay with my life? You want me, your lawful wife, to die?"
Shu Jing hardened his heart, "No more words! Someone, come quickly!"
At once, three or five strong maids rushed in and immediately subdued Lady Zhu.
Lady Zhu struggled desperately and kept cursing. Her hairpin was in a mess, and her face was covered with snot and tears. She looked extremely embarrassed.
Just as Lady Zhu was being sent out of the main gate of the second branch of the Shu family, Fourth Miss Shu and Fifth Young Master Shu rushed over in a hurry.
As soon as Fourth Miss Shu came, she knelt down in front of Shu Jing. Holding his leg, she pleaded with tears, "Father, don't send Mother to the authorities! Fifth Brother is only six years old. We can't live without Mother!"
Fifth Young Master Shu, a little child, didn't understand what was going on. He stepped forward and hugged Lady Zhu, crying loudly. His cries were deafening.
On one hand was the injustice of Cuiqiao and the others, on the other hand was the mother of his children, the second wife of the Shu family. Shu Jing's face was extremely pale, and he had a splitting headache.
Just as the two sides were in a stalemate, the Old Lady Shu led several branches of the Shu family and rushed over after hearing the news.
"Second son, let Lady Zhu go first."
The Old Lady Shu was like an anchor in the storm. As soon as she came, Shu Jing seemed to have found his backbone.
Shu Jing obeyed the Old Lady's order. He lowered his head and replied yes, then ordered the maids to let Lady Zhu go.
If Lady Zhu still had a one - third chance of gambling on Shu Jing's soft - heartedness when facing him.
But when facing the shrewd and calculating Old Lady Shu, Lady Zhu didn't even dare to think of being pardoned.
She slumped to the ground dejectedly. Supported by Fourth Miss Shu and Fifth Young Master Shu on each side, the three of them hugged each other and cried bitterly.
The Old Lady Shu looked solemn. She led everyone to the main hall of the second branch for discussions, looking as if it was a major trial.
Lady Zhu knelt in the hall. Before the Old Lady spoke, everyone was glaring at her with hatred in their eyes.
It was really infuriating that there was such a vicious woman in the family!
"Lady Zhu is involved in such a big murder case and must be punished according to the law. But, second son, you can't directly send her to the authorities. If Lady Zhu becomes a murder suspect today, the entire Shu family will lose face tomorrow! Fourth Miss and Fifth Young Master can't have a mother who is a murderer."