My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 87: The Truth?

Inside the interrogation room, Lao Huang's words fell like a heavy hammer, and the room fell silent as all eyes turned to Dai Qin.

Qin Niang's gaze swept across the faces of the group, and she finally nodded, her voice calm: "Yes."

Old Huang and Shi Yong exchanged a glance, and Shi Yong pressed, "Why? Why did you kill them?"

Dai Qin's gaze fell on the gold hairpin on the table, her tone tinged with sadness: "That was given to me by the most important person in my life. If you don't take it out, I'll forget about it."

"Stop beating around the bush, why did you kill him!" Shi Yong said sternly.

"Hahaha... Your question is amusing, sir. Of course, there are reasons for killing. If they didn't deserve to die, why would I have done it?!" Dai Qin suddenly laughed, his laughter tinged with sarcasm.

Lin Ziping nodded silently. What he said made sense. If you didn't think that person deserved to die, who would kill him?

"Look, this young official seems to agree with my opinion." Dai Qin's gaze drew the attention of the others to Lin Ziping.

Lin Ziping awkwardly touched his nose, trying to change the subject: "You just said he lied to you. Who is he? Hu Xinhua? What did he lie about? Did you kill him because he lied to you?"

Dai Qin's smile vanished, replaced by a solemn expression: "Do you gentlemen mind if I tell you a story?"

Before anyone could answer, Dai Qin began his tale: "Once upon a time, there was a family with two children. One child excelled in his studies, passed the imperial examination, and went to study at the Imperial Academy in the capital. However, he disappeared without a trace. His family searched everywhere but to no avail. Though heartbroken, they never gave up the search. The parents, burdened by worry, lost their health. The other child took over the family business and began trading. His shrewdness attracted the attention of others. One day, someone discovered that the merchant was actually a woman. He carefully planned and gradually gained the family's trust and the merchant's favor. He then reclaimed his female identity and married the man. As time passed, the man's true colors were revealed. Although the woman was blinded by love, she eventually came to her senses, entrusted her daughter to her confidant, and decided to perish with the man. It was a fight to the death."

Qinniang is really not suited to storytelling; she told a story that combines suspense, a strong female lead, and revenge against ungrateful people in a very fragmented way.

Lin Ziping sighed inwardly. It was truly heartbreaking that this woman, who disguised herself as a man and dared to love and hate, ended up fighting to the death with that scumbag.

"What does this story have to do with you killing Hu Xinhua?" Shi Yong asked, frowning unhappily.

Dai Qin said dismissively, "Sir, don't be in such a hurry."

Lin Ziping, however, had his doubts. Based on his years of experience reading novels, he knew this story was far from simple.

Old Huang took a sip of water and slowly said, "Dai Qin, could you be the confidante of that businesswoman? Was the girl who died with Hu Xinhua her daughter? Did you take action because of a man's betrayal?"

Dai Qin suddenly lost control of her emotions, tears streaming down her face: "Hu Xinhua is a beast! He lied to me. Why didn't I make up my mind sooner? Then I wouldn't have dragged my Xin Cheng into this..."

Lin Ziping frowned. It seemed that Dai Qin's mental state was problematic. Could her words still be trusted?

"Mo Qini, stop pretending and tell the truth!" Old Huang scolded.

“Hu Xinhua is a beast. He said he would raise Xincheng with me, that he wouldn’t care about my background, and that he would always love and protect me. But it’s only been a few years, and he’s already cursing me, beating me, breaking my legs, not letting me go out, and even using Xincheng to blackmail me. I hate him, I want to kill him! But my Xincheng, the Xincheng I gave my life for, is gradually drifting away from me and starting to get closer to this beast, Hu Xinhua. No, Xincheng, no, Hu Xinhua will hurt you, get away from him, run away…” Her emotions collapsed again, and she cried out incoherently.

"Old Huang, this..." Old Huang and Shi Yong looked at each other, and Shi Yong said, "I think she seems to have gone crazy."

Old Huang rubbed his temples in frustration, but didn't say anything.

"Uncle Huang, shall we continue?" Lin Ziping asked.

After a while, Old Huang said, "Xiao Lin should compile Dai Qin's statement from today and report it to Constable Qi. You should take her away first."

"Yes." Two constables stepped forward and led Dai Qin away from the interrogation room.

"What do you think of this?" Old Huang asked Shi Yong.

Shi Yong said, "Old Huang, you're in charge of the trial this time, so you can take the lead. I have no objections."

Old Huang patted Shi Yong on the shoulder and said, "I'm getting old, now it's your turn to look after you young people. Dai Qin is probably insane, but thankfully she has confessed to the murder. I think there's basically no controversy in this case. Dai Qin murdered her own daughter and murdered her husband; her crimes are heinous. I suggest reporting this to Magistrate Feng for hanging, which would also give the people of Fuchun some closure. What do you all think?"

Is there no more controversy? From Dai Qin's words, it's clear that her daughter, Xin Cheng, was someone important to her. Did she kill her daughter? Why would she kill her daughter? Has Dai Qin really gone mad? Lin Ziping was filled with doubts, but seeing that Shi Yong didn't refute Lao Huang's words, he, as a newcomer, didn't feel it was appropriate to say anything more.

The three left the interrogation room. The sun hadn't set yet, and the sunlight was a bit dazzling.

"Ziping, you just mentioned that one that seemed pretty convincing, almost exactly what Dai Qin said. When did you find out about it?" Shi Yong put his arm around Lin Ziping's shoulder, looking like they were good buddies.

Lin Ziping quickly dodged the question, grinning sheepishly, "I was just making that up. I usually like reading storybooks, so I just made it all up. I almost couldn't finish it, but thanks to Uncle Huang, otherwise Dai Qin wouldn't have said anything."

"Haha, I was just repeating what you said. Xiao Lin is pretty good; he has a knack for interrogation. Keep up the good work, and his future is limitless," Old Huang praised.

Lin Ziping glanced at Shi Yong furtively, and seeing that he looked perfectly normal, he laughed along with Lao Huang, saying, "Not at all, I still have a lot to learn from Uncle Huang, Brother Shi, and the other brothers in the county government. Take this confession, for example, I don't know how to write it. Uncle Huang, Brother Shi, could you give me some pointers?"

"Your brother Shi is better at this, but I'm not. I haven't read many books, and my writing is utterly unreadable and hardly worthy of respect," Old Huang said, waving his hand.

“Old Huang, you’re being modest. Who in the county government can compare to you in interrogation?” Shi Yong said from the side.

Not just anyone can write a confession. As the saying goes, "a single word can lead to a world of difference." Lin Ziping had heard in a casual conversation with Ji Xun in Qingyang that some people would add their own ideas to the confession or change its meaning, causing many wrongful convictions. Later, to avoid this situation, the person who records the confession is responsible for the content of the record.

Lin Ziping didn't know what Shi Yong meant, so he quickly said to Lao Huang, "Uncle Huang, you have to teach me. I want to see how you write this time so I can learn from you properly and not be completely clueless and unable to write anything in the future. Uncle Huang, I don't know anything, so you can't refuse."

Seeing this, Lao Huang reluctantly agreed: "Xiao Lin, go back and think about it today, and Shi Yong and I will write it together tomorrow."

"Okay." Seeing that Shi Yong did not object, Lin Ziping quickly agreed.

Lin Ziping dragged his tired body back to the small courtyard where he lived. Zhu Zi was still busy with something and hadn't returned yet. Working at the county government office was going to be tough. Not only did he have to suppress his confusion, but he also had to be on guard at all times. If he wasn't careful, he would fall into a trap. When would this working life ever end?