The Night Watcher of Great Jing - Chapter 70

The cold, gloomy torture chambers of the Jingning Guard were exceptionally busy because of the enormous case.

So many prisoners had been brought in that they actually had to wait their turn for interrogation.

When Zhao Li and the others returned to the Imperial Prison with Han Yun and learned of the situation, she could not help admiring her colleagues’ efficiency.

Han Yun, her mother, and the maternal uncle arrested in the countryside were locked in separate cells on the third underground level.

Han Qi received slightly better treatment because he was an official. He and several of his younger children were confined together on the first level.

Han Yin, the victim, was draped in an outer robe and placed under protection.

The dwarf wearing dog skin had suffered a head wound.

He was sent directly for treatment. They would still need him to identify the guilty parties and give testimony later.

Once all this had been arranged, Zhao Li left the Imperial Prison and took a roundabout route to visit Han Yin.

The Pacification Office maintained a guest lodge for visitors to the capital, as well as victims and witnesses like Han Yin.

Before Zhao Li even entered the courtyard, she heard Han Yin’s maid crying, “Young Mistress, don’t frighten me.”

Thinking something had happened, she quickened her stride.

Han Yin sat with broad patches of dried blood across her shoulders, staring woodenly into space. She did not react no matter how the maid shook her.

Today should have been her birthday and one of the most important days of her life.

Instead, she had suffered blow after blow.

Even Zhao Li, merely an onlooker, felt pity for her.

She rapped her knuckles on the door to announce her arrival.

The maid who had been trying to console Han Yin was somewhat afraid of Zhao Li. She fell silent, not daring to speak.

Zhao Li entered. Seeing Han Yin remain in that state, she could not help offering some comfort.

“Don’t be sad. It’s all over now.”

Only then did Han Yin respond. Her eyes shifted toward Zhao Li, and tears rapidly filled them.

“Thank you. Thank you.”

Then she broke down sobbing.

If Zhao Li had not arrived in time, she would have died a confused and ignorant ghost.

She would not even have known who had harmed her, dying for no reason and with no truth revealed.

“There, there.” Zhao Li could not bear to see anyone so pitiful. “Set your mind at ease. There is an excellent chance Han Yun will be convicted.”

“You’ll definitely get to see the stroke that cuts her in half at the execution ground.”

“They say a person remains alive and in agony for quite a while after being bisected.”

“When the day comes, you can bribe the executioner to cut a little lower and avoid the vital organs. Then you can watch Han Yun crawl all over the ground with half a body.”

Zhao Li’s bloody consolation and vicious suggestion made the maid retreat two steps.

Han Yin, however, showed little pleasure.

“What grieves me is Father’s attitude, and…”

And her cousin.

Han Yin’s mother had died young. Before her death, she had arranged this marriage for her daughter.

Afterward, Han Yin became nearly invisible in the Han household, ignored by everyone. She had known little warmth from her family.

She had always dreamed of building a new home with the cousin beside whom she had grown up.

But when had the man she loved with all her heart been won over by Han Yun?

Han Yin smiled bitterly as tears fell onto her arm.

“Cousin and I grew up together. I thought there was at least some affection between us.”

“Even without affection, I was still his cousin.”

“I never imagined…” Han Yin wiped her face with her sleeve.

“Better to find out early,” Zhao Li said. “If you actually married him, divorce would be such a nuisance. You might even have to find a way to murder your husband, right?”

After thinking seriously, she continued to console her.

“Men are everywhere. You can find one on any street.”

“Given your family’s situation, the law will probably leave all the household property to you. Your worthless father will be exiled two thousand *li*.”

“Think how comfortable you’ll be then—alone, rich, and free. Who needs some stinking man?”

“If you do feel the need, with that much money, are you afraid you won’t be able to find a sweet young thing to warm your bed?”

“Pfft!”

Before Han Yin could recover from this outrageous consolation, someone outside burst into laughter.

Zhao Li froze and turned.

Lu Zhao and Shen Yan stood in the doorway with an unfamiliar female Jingning Guard officer.

Lu Zhao carefully glanced at Shen Yan, who seemed enveloped in a storm of low pressure.

Unable to help himself, he secretly gave Zhao Li a thumbs-up.

Brave girl. She would have to look after herself from now on.

A tempest brewed in Shen Yan’s eyes as he stared at Zhao Li, his expression dark.

Find a sweet young thing with her money?

His lips curved into a cold smile.

She would never get the opportunity. He swore it.

Zhao Li had no idea what she was about to lose.

She only felt mortified. Nothing could be more embarrassing than having a male acquaintance overhear that sort of idle boasting.

Especially when the acquaintance was Lord Shen, who sometimes acted like an overprotective father.

Zhao Li turned away rather than face him and looked at the tall woman beside them.

The female Jingning Guard officer appeared to be around thirty. She had attractive features and was exceptionally tall, nearly matching Shen Yan and Lu Zhao.

Her figure was full and powerful, like a female leopard.

Zhao Li’s gaze swept twice over those long legs. Envious, she decided to go home, eat harder, and put on some height.

While she admired the beauty, the beauty was studying her in return.

She had heard about Zhao Li, the latest sensation within the Guard.

She had never imagined the newcomer would be such a lovely, entertaining little girl.

Laughing, she strode forward. “So you’re A-Li? My name is Tan Ying. The brothers in the Guard all call me Sister Ying.”

As she spoke, she saw Zhao Li tilt her face up. From that angle, the girl’s eyes looked especially large and round.

Delighted, Tan Ying swept Zhao Li into her arms and enthusiastically kneaded her.

Caught off guard, Zhao Li was pressed face-first into her chest.

The smells of dust from the road and faint perspiration washed over her.

But the soft, resilient warmth of a woman’s body was unmistakable.

Who did not like a beautiful older sister?

Zhao Li had just raised her arms to embrace Tan Ying’s waist when a hand tore the woman away.

Shen Yan pulled Zhao Li behind him and introduced her.

“Thousand-Household Commander Tan commands the Northern Third Division and is stationed on the northern frontier. She came to question Han Yin about the black dog.”

Tan Ying did not dare overstep again. She clicked her tongue softly.

When she turned to Han Yin, her manner grew serious.

“In my jurisdiction, a young woman was raped and murdered on the eve of her wedding. Dog hair was found on her intimate parts.”

Every woman present felt a wave of revulsion.

Han Yin’s face, in particular, turned stark white.

Tan Ying continued, “The young woman kept a black dog while she was alive. After the murder, the dog disappeared.”

“I have been investigating ever since. Only recently did the trail lead me to an itinerant performer.”

“Listen carefully, girl. I need you to remember every detail. Was there anything unusual about that villain in dog skin?”

Tan Ying’s tone was stern, and a peculiar charisma suffused her face.

Zhao Li could not stop looking at her.

Then Shen Yan shifted sideways and blocked her view.

Han Yin hugged herself, trembling. It was impossible to tell whether she felt relief or lingering terror.

A long silence passed. Just as Tan Ying was about to press her sharply, Han Yin spoke.

“Once, in a dream, half asleep, I heard someone calling a name inside my room.”

“A-Yin.”

Tan Ying frowned and considered it.

“You heard the right sound, but the wrong name. He was calling A-Yin—written with a different *Yin*.”

“The girl who was raped and murdered was named A-Yin.”