Under the influence of alcohol, you pursued and cornered Meng Ying in the alley, injuring and killing her.
Upon sobering up, you finally felt fear and instructed your servants to dispose of Meng Ying’s body.
But this was unachievable—at that time in the East Market, townspeople had surely seen Meng Ying getting into your carriage, and perhaps even saw your face.
Afterwards, when Meng Ying disappeared, her family would definitely search everywhere, tracing the clues back to you.
Therefore, the only solution was to frame someone else.
You had your maid and servants bring Nie Shilei from the East Market, a man known for his innate foolishness. The maid lured Nie Shilei into the alley, had intercourse with him, and afterwards knocked him out and smeared his semen on Meng Ying’s clothes.
Remember the characteristics of the garrison’s fine dogs? They can accurately detect scents. When two different semen stains are present, they prioritize the one belonging to Nie Shilei, who was at the scene.
As for why Nie Shilei didn’t see Meng Ying’s body in the alley, it’s likely because you had covered her with a cloth or something similar.
No one would believe the words of a fool.
To further reduce the possibility of exposure, you also mutilated Meng Ying’s face, making it unrecognizable to Nie Shilei and any potential subsequent witnesses.
After all this, you returned home, burned the carriage that bore bloodstains and other traces, and then quietly waited. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NovᴇlFirᴇ.ɴet
And everything went unexpectedly smoothly, until now."
Li Ang finished presenting his hypothesis. Li Shenbin’s face turned ashen. "But you still lack direct evidence. The identifications made by those witnesses from the portraits could easily be explained as their mistake, or due to fear of Meng Chengye’s and Jin Wusuan’s influence."
"Heh, my lord, as a son of the Commandery Prince, you are not far behind Jin Wusuan in terms of power," Li Ang said slowly. "The weather is quite hot right now, yet you still wear thick clothing. Aren’t you hot? Or is it to hide the wounds on your arm from when Meng Ying struggled?"
"My dog at home scratched me. Besides, doesn’t this foolish suspect also have wounds on his arm?"
"That could have been deliberately orchestrated by you."
Li Ang, looking at Li Shenbin’s stubborn denials, shook his head and unveiled his trump card. "If my lord still refuses to admit it and insists on more evidence, then perhaps you should provide a sample here."
The Ministry of Justice fell silent.
The prison guard, Zou Han, who had been eagerly hoping Nie Shilei would be exonerated, was left speechless, doubting his own ears.
The agitated crowd outside also froze in place, their raised fists stopping mid-air.
Jin Wusuan’s mouth hung open, words failing him.
Yun Hanchi’s palms trembled slightly.
Li Shenbin, equally shocked, instinctively asked, "You said, what?"
"Provide a sample, make a donation, a skilled activity, for personal pleasure—whatever you want to call it." Li Ang’s expression remained calm and composed, as if he wasn’t speaking these words in the grand hall of the Yu Country’s highest judicial authority. "You heard me," he continued. "If you don’t want to provide it yourself, you could also go to Pingkang Square and find a volunteer. If you’re too embarrassed, you can always cover your face."
Li Shenbin’s lips quivered. "I am a noble of the Li Imperial Family! You are humiliating me, humiliating the dignity of the Li Family..."
"This is also the fastest way to clear up the case and eliminate you as a suspect," Li Ang smiled and said. "The case files state that on that night, the garrison brought four fine dogs, which successively sniffed the semen stains on Meng Ying’s body. If your semen also left residue at the scene, then those four dogs will surely remember your scent. So, if you provide a sample right now and let those four dogs sniff it thoroughly to recall, it can prove whether you are a suspect or not. Alas, if you hadn’t dismantled and burned that carriage, we could have let the fine dogs sniff it for Meng Ying’s scent. Since the carriage has been destroyed, this is the only method left."