After hearing about the big events happening in Ningbo, Ma Xiaoguang naturally couldn't just sit idly by.
Immediately he followed Wu Chengzhang and drove to the old dragon gate of Hanling Street.
It was already five o'clock in the afternoon when we arrived.
The Qu family's house occupies a large area, with white walls and black tiles. It is a typical Jiangnan house.
When Ma Xiaoguang and Wu Chengzhang arrived, many people were already surrounding the Qu family mansion.
Outside the perimeter cordon were reporters from various newspapers.
These people's sense of smell is always very sensitive, so they naturally flock to big news like this.
The reporters were surrounding Yu Lingqing, the deputy director in charge of criminal investigation of the police station, and they insisted on asking Deputy Director Yu, who was bigger than the other two, to talk about the case.
Inside the cordon are police officers who look like they are facing a formidable enemy. They have one post every three steps and one sentry every five steps, giving the appearance of being heavily guarded.
When Ma Xiaoguang and Wu Chengzhang saw this formation, they naturally took a low-key detour and prepared to enter through the side door.
I am engaged in spy work, so I can't compete with Deputy Director Yu, and I can't be exposed in front of the media.
However, the two agents were obviously a little worried.
The reporters' focus was now on Deputy Director Yu, and no one noticed Ma Xiaoguang and Wu Chengzhang at all.
Therefore, the two of them quietly entered the Qu family mansion through the side door very smoothly.
Under the guidance of the police officers who had already arrived at the scene, the two quickly arrived at the location where the deceased was found.
"Two sirs, the deceased was discovered by his family in a secret room in the study. It is considered a secret room murder..."
Outside the study, police detective Xu Lin stepped forward and reported to Wu Chengzhang.
It seemed that Inspector Xu had been informed a long time ago and was specially waiting for the two of them here.
This kind of big case is inherently thankless, and the people in the police station are very greedy and eager to push it out, so the Ningbo Station took over it extremely smoothly.
Without any nonsense, the two followed Inspector Xu into the study.
The study is huge.
On one gable wall is a bookshelf as tall as one person.
There are many books placed on it, which are spotless and look like they have been read frequently.
There is a large incense table in the middle of the study. The embers of the incense burner on the incense burner have disappeared, leaving only a clean ashes.
From time to time, the dust will emit a strange fragrance that seems to be there but not there.
In front of the other gable is the desk.
Behind the desk is another huge bookcase, which is leaning against the gable.
A secret door opened in the center of the bookcase, and inside was the secret room.
Walking into the secret room, there was no scary atmosphere or bloody smell like usual murder scenes.
There are several antique shelves in the secret room, with many rare antiques placed on them.
As for authenticity, Ma Xiaoguang glanced at it, but did not see any fakes.
"These antiques are worth a lot of money!"
Wu Chengzhang quickly glanced at the secret room and whispered to Ma Xiaoguang.
Ma Xiaoguang shook his head and said: "Brothers are not very talented and have little research on antiques... In my opinion, there is a difference between whether the antiques are real or not. Anyway, most of the dead people in front are real."
The murdered Qu family owner was named Qu Zhengming. He was in his forties, of medium build and with slightly gray hair.
Qu Zhengming is not only the big boss of the Qu family firm, but also the president of the Ningbo Anti-Japanese Salvation Association. He has great influence in the local political and business circles.
President Qu is now lying on the ground, with a purple complexion and bulging eyeballs. At first glance, it makes people feel nervous.
Looking further down, there was also a purple blood mark on his neck.
"Obviously, President Qu was strangled to death!"
Wu Chengzhang quickly made his own judgment.
"Yes, this is also the result of our preliminary investigation. The forensic doctor determined that the time of murder was approximately after noon, between one and two o'clock in the afternoon..."
Detective Xu from the police station also followed in and reported to Wu Chengzhang and Ma Xiaoguang.
"Have the on-site inspection and evidence collection been completed?"
Ma Xiaoguang pondered for a moment and asked Inspector Xu.
Detective Xu reported: "It's done... At almost three o'clock in the afternoon, the servant of the family entered the study and found it."
Ma Xiaoguang and Wu Chengzhang couldn't help frowning when they heard this. Wu Chengzhang's face suddenly darkened and he didn't speak.
Ma Xiaoguang asked aloud: "You haven't noticed it all day?"
"Every time President Qu is in the study, he does not allow irrelevant people to disturb him, whether he is dealing with business or playing with antiques... except of course the people he has made an appointment with."
"So no one in the family dared to disturb him. This time it was a new servant who didn't understand the rules and barged in rashly. That's why he accidentally discovered it!"
Detective Xu saw that the two "imperial envoys" looked worried, so he quickly handed over several transcripts and reported anxiously.
After a brief look through it, I found that President Qu is indeed a person who likes to be pure and avoids being disturbed. He keeps his word at home, so naturally no one dares to disobey him.
After handing the transcript back to Inspector Xu, Ma Xiaoguang did not continue to ask questions. He turned around and leaned down to look carefully at President Qu, who had a somewhat terrifying face.
After careful inspection, there was no new discovery for the time being.
"Would you like to ask the relevant people again?"
After Wu Chengzhang also carefully searched other places in the secret room, he whispered to Ma Xiaoguang.
Ma Xiaoguang nodded in agreement: "Just do what Brother Wu wants."
Together with Inspector Xu, the two came to the Qu family's side hall.
In the side hall, a beautiful woman sitting on the main seat was covering her face and weeping. Next to her, an old woman in her fifties was trying to persuade her.
"This is Madam... The young master and the young lady are both in Hangzhou. I'm afraid they won't be able to come back until tomorrow after receiving the telegram."
An old man in his sixties bowed and introduced the three officials who entered the side hall.
"This is the old housekeeper of Mr. Qu's family, Qu Heng, who has been in the family for many years."
Detective Xu quickly introduced them to Ma Xiaoguang and Wu Chengzhang.
"There is a new mourning in your house, Mr. Qu has suffered a lot!"
After hearing this, the two party-state elites hurriedly spoke to Mr. Qu in a solemn voice.
Turning around, the two of them said solemnly to the lady in the hall: "President Qu has suffered a good fate, and we are deeply saddened by it, but we cannot live or die, so please forgive me..."
"Thank you, sirs, and please make the decision for my poor widow!"
Mrs. Qu, with red and swollen eyes, sobbed and said to the two agents. Her expression was full of "tears will flow before she wants to speak", which made people feel distressed.
Seeing that they could not talk to Mrs. Qu who had just lost her husband, the two could only say a few more words of relief and then invited Butler Qu out of the side hall.
Wu Chengzhang said with an apologetic expression: "Steward Qu, something unexpected happened to your master. This matter is quite strange. Let me ask you a few more questions. Don't be surprised..."
Butler Qu quickly raised his hands and said: "You two sirs are very polite. I just hope that the murderer can be caught as soon as possible to comfort my soul in heaven... Sir, if you have questions, just ask them. I will tell you everything."
When the two agents heard this, they stopped being pretentious.
After exchanging glances, Ma Xiaoguang asked aloud: "Have any strangers come to the house before and after Mr. Qu was killed?"
Butler Qu pondered for a while and then replied: "There are no strangers, but there are a few guests who often come to the house..."
