Chapter 12: False Report

Her guilty conscience made her all the more conspicuous, with big beads of sweat pouring from her forehead.

“Did you all see it with your own eyes just now?” Constable Zhao asked the crowd gathered at the doorway.

“Yes, yes, yes!” Several people nodded enthusiastically.

With renewed confidence, Liu Bingbing strode toward Qin Mingyue.

“See, I was right. It must be Aunt who killed and hid the body.”

Constable Zhao, his eyes sharp, pointed to the people at the door. This time, everyone shook their heads vigorously.

Liu Bingbing didn’t notice this; had she seen it, she would surely have stamped her feet in fury.

Gazing at Qin Mingyue’s dazed and forlorn expression, a flicker of malice flashed in her eyes, yet her words were full of concern for Qin Mingyue. “Aunt, just tell the constable where you hid Cousin-in-law’s body. You didn’t mean to kill her. I’ll testify for you, nothing will happen. At most, you’ll face a hearing, maybe spend a few years in prison. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Cousin and visit you often.”

“Ha! Cousin, you seem to know quite a lot!” The words arrived before the person did.

Liu Bingbing strained to identify the speaker.

The crowd parted, and Hua Qinci appeared at the doorway, calm and composed, exuding an air of authority.

“Hua Qinci?” Liu Bingbing trembled at the sight of her, whole and unharmed. “How is this possible? I clearly just…”

“What exactly?” Hua Qinci nodded to Constable Zhao, then strode up to Liu Bingbing.

“Ah! A ghost!” Liu Bingbing screamed, leaping onto the bed and hiding behind Qin Mingyue.

Hua Qinci smiled at her and reached out to help Qin Mingyue stand. “Mother, where’s that wooden stick?”

Qin Mingyue glanced at the old wooden cabinet, prompting a constable to open it and retrieve a blood-stained ironwood rod.

“Is this the murder weapon?” Constable Zhao took the ironwood rod, feeling its slippery surface; though slender, it had considerable heft.

He swung it a few times in his hand. “This is nicely made—quite creative.”

Meanwhile, Liu Bingbing stood frozen in terror.

“Whose rod is this?” Constable Zhao asked, and everyone immediately pointed at Liu Bingbing.

“No, it’s not mine! It’s not mine!”

Hua Qinci regarded Liu Bingbing’s shattered demeanor, thinking the lesson was sufficient; she had no patience for further trouble.

She knew the young girl wasn’t truly malicious—just too young. Besides, Qin Youtian and Qin Mingyue seemed to care for her.

Earlier, she hadn’t expected the rod to be so sharp, assuming it would cause only a few days’ pain.

When Liu Bingbing rushed at her, the blow made her lose consciousness for a moment.

Fortunately, Liu Bingbing’s strength was lacking; had it been Qin Mingyue, her life might have ended right there.

Qin Youtian supported Qin Mingyue, ignoring Liu Bingbing, and led her out of the house.

“What’s going on here? Can someone explain?” Constable Zhao planted a foot on a battered stool.

Hua Qinci hurried forward, speaking kindly, “Constable, nothing happened just now— I simply fell and fainted. My cousin…”

As she spoke, she gestured with her head, and Constable Zhao’s brows furrowed, already understanding.

He was already in a foul mood from the murder in the neighboring village, and now Liu Bingbing had filed a false report. But seeing this household in such poverty, he could only vent his anger on Liu Bingbing.

“Take her away,” he ordered with a wave of his hand. Two officers escorted Liu Bingbing out. As they left, Constable Zhao sternly warned, “If anyone files another false report or obstructs official duties, there will be no mercy.”