Chapter 144: Helping Out

“Dead?” Cheng Shu’s eyes suddenly widened.

Cheng Maoming nodded with a dark expression.

If he could, he certainly wouldn't want to divulge such a secret, but now that a high-profile prisoner had died without his origins being uncovered, the young man before him could not be taken lightly.

Cheng Shu found it unbelievable: “How could they be dead?”

Cheng Maoming’s face darkened even further: “The investigation is currently underway. I invited Young Master Cheng here in the hope that you might think carefully. It would be best if you could remember where you saw those two individuals.”

Cheng Shu looked troubled: “If I remembered, I would have said so already. The General’s Mansion wants to know their origins more than anyone.”

“Then please keep it in mind, Young Master Cheng. I will handle some matters and return shortly,” Cheng Maoming said before rising to leave.

Cheng Shu was left dumbfounded.

Was he being placed under house arrest?

The overbearing nature of the Jinlin Guards was indeed legendary.

***

Cheng Maoming went to the mortuary. Staring at the busy coroner, he felt a belly full of rage.

He was certain there was something wrong with the deaths of these two men.

During the interrogation this afternoon, the two prisoners had been separated, yet they had died one after another during torture. The men in charge of the torture were all experienced; after his specific instructions, such a mistake should have been impossible.

Even if there truly was an accident, it was impossible for both of them to suffer an accident at the same time.

The coroner finally finished the examination.

“How is it?” Cheng Maoming asked, staring intently at the coroner.

The coroner kept his eyes lowered, not daring to meet those cold eyes: “Reporting to the Lord, the two deceased have petechiae in their eyeballs, and their blood is a dark red. It is speculated that they died of sudden cardiac arrest.”

“Sudden cardiac arrest?” Cheng Maoming stepped closer to the coroner. “How can a perfectly healthy person suffer sudden cardiac arrest?”

The coroner’s expression was complicated, but he steeled himself: “Perhaps they were overstimulated during the torture—”

Could anyone undergoing torture be called "perfectly healthy"?

“Bullshit!” Cheng Maoming couldn't help but curse. “What a coincidence, that both of them were overstimulated leading to cardiac arrest?”

The coroner shuddered and didn't dare make another sound.

“Could it be poisoning?” Cheng Maoming speculated.

The coroner shook his head with difficulty: “This lowly one found no signs of poisoning.”

Cheng Maoming’s expression shifted constantly as he circled the two corpses.

There were clearly suspicious points, yet nothing could be found. This feeling was incredibly stifling.

He struck the wall with his fist and ordered his subordinates: “Find everyone who had contact with these two after they entered the Jinlin Guards.”

At that moment, a Jinlin Guard came to report: “Grand Commander, the leftovers from the prisoners' lunch were all tested and there were no issues. The people responsible for cooking and delivering the food also denied anything during interrogation.”

“Damn it!”

Cheng Maoming watched his subordinates gather everyone who had contact with the prisoners for individual interrogations, but they yielded nothing.

Just as his mood was growing increasingly foul, a subordinate reported that the Prince of Jing’s Heir was requesting an audience.

At this moment, Cheng Maoming was in no mood to deal with a green youth. He said coldly, “Tell him I am handling urgent matters and cannot be spared for the time being.”

The subordinate quickly delivered the message.

Upon hearing this, Qi Shuo did not show dissatisfaction at being rejected. Instead, he asked a single question: “Did something happen to those two prisoners?”

The subordinate froze, his gaze toward Qi Shuo turning strange.

Qi Shuo smiled slightly: “Why don't you ask your Lord for me? Perhaps then the Grand Commander will have time to see me.”

“Please wait a moment, Heir.”

The subordinate hurried back and relayed Qi Shuo’s words.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Maoming immediately went to see Qi Shuo.

“How did the Heir know something happened to those two prisoners?” Cheng Maoming’s eyes burned as he stared intently at Qi Shuo.

Compared to Cheng Maoming’s tension, Qi Shuo was much more composed: “I guessed.”

“Guessed?” Cheng Maoming’s face sank. “The Heir should know this is no laughing matter.”

He had locked down the news immediately after the two prisoners died suddenly. The only outsider who knew was Cheng Shu. For the Prince of Jing’s Heir to suddenly show up and say he "guessed" felt like he was making a fool of him.

“It truly was a guess.” Qi Shuo leaned forward slightly, adding a touch of solemnity. “The Prince of Jing’s Mansion is adjacent to the General’s Mansion. This afternoon, when your men went to find Cheng Shu, they were seen by my servants. When I heard the report and realized Cheng Shu had not returned, I guessed that something might have happened to those two prisoners.”

At this point, he looked directly into Cheng Maoming’s eyes: “Otherwise, there would be no reason for the Grand Commander to keep him here. It seems I guessed correctly.”

Cheng Maoming’s eyes flickered, his tone unreadable: “Then did the Heir come here to ask me to send Young Master Cheng back?”

“The death of high-profile prisoners is surely something the Grand Commander does not wish to see. If Cheng Shu is kept here indefinitely, it will only invite speculation. Don't you agree, Grand Commander?”

Cheng Maoming pursed his lips.

Before the origins of the two prisoners were clarified, he indeed did not want word to leak out; otherwise, he would face the Emperor's wrath. He had only intended to keep Cheng Shu until dark before releasing him.

“I did not expect the Heir to be so close with Young Master Cheng.”

“A near neighbor is better than a distant relative,” Qi Shuo said nonchalantly, before shifting the topic. “However, my main reason for coming is to see if I can be of any help.”

Cheng Maoming found it somewhat amusing: “Is the Heir also skilled at investigating cases?”

“Not particularly skilled.” Qi Shuo’s expression was sincere, and his words were strangely persuasive: “The Grand Commander’s subordinates are all experts in interrogation and investigation. If you are at a stalemate, perhaps your thoughts are being constrained by experience. An outsider like me might be able to provide a new perspective.”

Cheng Maoming raised an eyebrow and asked his doubt: “Why is the Heir interested in this matter?”

Normally, people would avoid this like the plague.

“I am a friend of Cheng Shu, and since I participated in the search for people yesterday, I wish to see things through to the end.”

Cheng Maoming remained silent for a moment.

The reason was acceptable, but not entirely convincing.

“I know the Grand Commander does not wish for outsiders to interfere in the internal affairs of the Jinlin Guards, but as I just said, you might consider the possibility that a bystander sees more clearly. After all, I already know about this matter.” A smile hung on the corners of Qi Shuo’s lips as he spoke unhurriedly.

After a moment of hesitation, Cheng Maoming nodded. As he led Qi Shuo over, he secretly felt annoyed at his own desperation.

To back out now would be a loss of face. Fine, he hadn't expected a young boy to be of any use anyway; he would just send him away later.

Qi Shuo saw the two corpses and heard the coroner's conclusion from Cheng Maoming.

He crouched down to examine the bodies closely. He stayed there so long that Cheng Maoming began to frown inwardly before he finally stood up.

“My view is consistent with the Grand Commander's. These two should have died of poisoning.”

Cheng Maoming felt a flash of joy, followed by suspicion.

Could the Prince of Jing’s Heir be just going along with him to stay longer?

“But the coroner said no signs of poisoning were found.”

“Signs of poisoning?” Qi Shuo fell silent for a moment, then uttered a single word: “There are.”

Cheng Maoming’s expression changed instantly, and he asked urgently: “Where are the signs?”

Qi Shuo did not answer, but instead glanced to his left and right.

Cheng Maoming immediately said: “Speak freely, Heir. Everyone here is my confidant.”

With the incident involving the two prisoners, there was clearly a problem within the Jinlin Guards; those currently by his side were all trustworthy.

Qi Shuo crouched down and pointed to a spot: “Grand Commander, look here.”