Novice Forensic Doctor

Chapter 324: Chapter 315 I Believe This Is the Truth_1

Ai Qingsong nodded. There was no panic or rejection on his face, but rather excitement and joy.

Whether it was Xu Dayuan or Zhou Ning, everyone knew that today, by clarifying these matters as a case within a case, the investigation would naturally extend to Zheng Chuguang, Yu Guangyao, and Zhang Qiujiang for their suspected involvement; even the people connected to them and that entire circle would be investigated.

Although it might not be Xu Dayuan and his team who were responsible, Mr. Hu knew that there would be a deep dig into the matter, which was also why he had sent Xu Dayuan’s team down, to cut out the rot and facilitate new growth.

Zhou Ning, in particular, felt deeply that Ai Qingsong’s arrival was very much prepared; the detail with which he described each murder was enough to completely absolve Li Hua and Zhu Yufen of any guilt.

He even mentioned from time to time that he had threatened the two of them.

It could be said that he had taken all the blame upon himself, even providing clear explanations for the various reasons their traces were left on the physical evidence—his account was seemingly impeccable.

And now, it was exactly nineteen years since the first case. If this matter dragged on until the end of next year, it would surpass the statutory limitation period, and he might not even make it until then.

With this thought, Zhou Ning looked toward Zhang Chunbo, who was sitting beside the court clerk. Zhang Chunbo wasn’t looking at Ai Qingsong; he was just staring at the court clerk’s computer.

This headless serial murder case was an old, unresolved case listed by Hai’an City. By bringing them here and shifting the focus to Ai Qingsong, could it be that there was an impending change in the direction from the city authorities?

Zhou Ning’s thoughts were interrupted by Ai Qingsong’s words. He quickly gathered his thoughts and looked into the interview room.

"In 2000, I suspected that someone had poisoned me. I was coughing up blood and had difficulty breathing. After treatment, the symptoms kept recurring. Later on, I became physically unable to work, but a cause for these symptoms was never identified.

It wasn’t until early March 2006, when I ran into Zhang Qiujiang at Qindao Medical University Affiliated Hospital. Seeing my emaciated and sickly appearance, he laughed joyously, put his arm around my shoulders, and dragged me to a small park in the hospital.

He said he knew that the deaths of Zheng Chuguang and Yu Guangyao were connected to me, but he was not as foolish as those two. He asked me if I had been feeling unwell in recent years, feeling weak, suffering from pneumonia or bronchitis, with no doctors able to identify the problem?

The moment he said this, I knew that my suspicion of being poisoned was related to him, or even that he was the one who had arranged it. However, I had always lived alone. My parents passed away from illness one after another in 2005. The only person who often came to my house to clean and cook was a distant aunt of mine.

At this thought, I was stunned. Her son was seriously ill, and it was our family who helped pay the bills. Even when they were struggling, it was my parents who helped them. I had also provided her with a job to make it convenient for her to care for her daughter and to supplement her household income, especially since she was illiterate.

I just never thought that such a person could also be used by those with money? Seeing my expression, Zhang Qiujiang laughed and asked if I knew what polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were, like benzopyrene. Then he laughed happily again, took out his cell phone, showed me a phone number, and a bank transfer text message.

The number was my distant aunt’s, and as for the texts about the bank transfers, there were dozens upon dozens of them. The earliest one dated back to the year 2000. Every month, she transferred five thousand yuan to her. Hahaha! A monthly salary of five thousand yuan could be enough to poison me.

Zhang Qiujiang told me to stay in line and not to cause them any more trouble, and to stop suing and complaining all the time, as none of that would do any good. Instead of wasting time, I’d be better off selling my house and gathering some money for medical treatment, since I didn’t have many days left to live by the look of it.

I knew it was time to take action. I organized various pieces of evidence against Zhang Qiujiang, which I had collected long ago. The only reason I hadn’t made a move earlier was that the timing hadn’t been right. On the evening of March 14th, I called Li Hua and Zhu Yufen over and had Li Hua lure Zhang Qiujiang here. I thought it would be impossible, but to my surprise, Zhang Qiujiang showed up.

Unlike the other two, he didn’t drink the alcohol I prepared. As soon as he saw the bed, he started undressing on his own. While he wasn’t paying attention, I hit him on the back of the head and injected him with a large dose of insulin. Then I covered his nose and mouth with a ragged down jacket I found at a construction site. It was a long time later when he stopped moving that I finally let go.

What happened afterwards is something you all know. Under my coercion, I decapitated Zhang Qiujiang and had the two women help me transport the body to the top floor of building number seven in Liuyuan Community. After arranging the body, we left.

Of course, I left physical evidence in the car and reported the crime to the police with an unregistered phone. That’s how the murder went down. Those three deserved to die, and if I had to do it all over again, I would do it the same way. However, Li Hua and Zhu Yufen were coerced by me, as I held secrets over them.

When Li Hua was young, she was violated by those three with a tree branch and was blackmailed into not telling her family, which made her miss the best chance for medical treatment. She couldn’t even be considered a complete woman. Using this to coerce her turned out to be quite effective.

As for Zhu Yufen, well, there’s no need to say more. Her uncle, Zhu Kelin’s second son, Zhu Yunping, is the result of Zhu Kelin’s exploitation of Zhu Yufen. Zhu Yunhai is also their son. Although Zhu Kelin provided her with a comfortable life, Zhu Yufen still detested him. For the sake of her two sons, she would also obey my commands.

If they were participants, would they have let Zhu Kelin live a good life? Zhu Kelin indirectly caused the death of Li Hua’s parents and ruined Zhu Yufen’s life. Surely, they must despise Zhu Kelin more than those three, right?

Alright, I’ve said everything I should and shouldn’t have said. Do you have any more questions?"

Xu Dayuan jotted down notes in his notebook and looked up at Ai Qingsong, as if he had finished relaying the story. His spirits weren’t as high as before, and his face had turned quite pale, with his chest heaving intensely.

"One last question, where is your distant aunt now, after 2006?"

Ai Qingsong smiled, not at all surprised by the question.

"Dead, but not by my hand. I did want to kill her, and to know exactly what poison she used on me, how she did it, and to have a confrontation. But after I met Zhang Qiujiang, she disappeared.

When I heard from her again, it was in 2009 when relatives notified me to contribute to the funeral costs. I didn’t attend the funeral, and as for the cause of death, I heard it was lung cancer. It seems that in poisoning me, she did not escape unscathed. That’s what her five thousand a month bought her. I wonder if she regretted it."

Xu Dayuan glanced at Tao Zhenshan and Zhang Chunbo, both of whom shook their heads, indicating they had no further questions. Xu Dayuan waved his hand, and the court clerk rushed to print the statement, as if fearing that one second late and Xu Dayuan would add more to it.

After Ai Qingsong signed his name, Liu Yufei called the doctor over, and Zhang Chunbo sent two detectives along, all hastening to the hospital.

Mr. Zeng glanced at Liu Yufei and noticed the serious expression on her face, then poked Liu Yufei’s arm.

"Mrs. Fei, are you still thinking about Ai Qingsong’s case? Hasn’t he confessed already?"

Liu Yufei sighed, casting a sideways glance at Mr. Zeng.

"When you’re silent, you’re quite a decent criminal detective."

After saying that, she caught up with the doctor and gave him a few instructions.

Xu Dayuan came out of the room, and Zhang Chunbo hurried to catch up with him.

"Director Xu, do we still need to interrogate Zhu Yufen?"

Xu Dayuan nodded.

"Interrogation is necessary. You go with Zhenshan; I won’t accompany you." freewebnσvel.cøm

Zhang Chunbo was taken aback.

"You mean Zhu Yufen’s testimony is not important anymore? No, you think what Ai Qingsong said is the truth?"

Xu Dayuan waved his hand but, before he could speak, was dragged off to the interrogation room by Mr. Tao. Soon after, Zhu Yufen was brought in.

Xu Dayuan sighed and instead of going next to the interrogation room, he gestured to Zhou Ning and his team, and Zhou Ning, Liu Yongxin, and Liu Yufei followed Xu Dayuan into the room next to the conversation room.

Looking up at the three of them, Xu Dayuan was silent for a long while. Just as Zhou Ning was about to speak, he was stopped by Liu Yongxin who coughed, rubbed his hands together, and said with a smile:

"Leader, this case is as good as closed with conclusive evidence, right? All fingerprints, DNA, and confessions are perfectly matched. Even if Li Hua and Zhu Yufen might have tried to cover up for Ai Qingsong, that’s only human nature, considering these three people caused the death of Li Hua’s sister and damaged her body and mind.

As for Zhu Yufen, they are also responsible for the death of Cui Yushang. The necessary procedures should proceed as normal, and we should report to the leaders as usual. At most, they could be considered accomplices under duress, and according to ’Criminal Punishment’ Article 28, those coerced into committing a crime should receive a lighter sentence or be exempted from punishment based on the circumstances of their crime."

Xu Dayuan was taken aback and looked at Zhou Ning, then his gaze settled on Liu Yongxin.

"Old man, you’ve done well; going to Qin University has had its benefits, learning the penal code by heart. You truly deserve to be the special consultant."

Liu Yongxin gave him a look, not keen to pick up on Xu Dayuan’s self-satisfied quip.

"Just looked it up on Baidu. The crime process, as well as the account of their coerced involvement, was clearly confessed by Ai Qingsong. There’s nothing to second-guess here, and there’s no need for us to seek validation. Convincing Mr. Hu—that’s the real concern. As for how this case will be handled after it’s handed over to the prosecution, I think it will depend on public opinion."

Xu Dayuan laughed, and his furrowed brows relaxed as he nodded at Liu Yongxin.

"Alright, I apologize for calling you an old man. Director Zhou, quickly get them to prepare the documents; I will report to the leadership immediately and get the handover preparations for this case ready."

With that, Xu Dayuan walked away swiftly. Liu Yongxin let out a long sigh, and Liu Yufei turned to salute Liu Yongxin, leaving him momentarily startled.

"Mrs. Fei, what’s the matter?"

Liu Yufei shook her head.

"From now on, I will also call you Mr. Liu, like them. I’m going to get someone to prepare the documents."

Liu Yufei left as well, and Zhou Ning let out a long sigh. This ending was what Ai Qingsong wanted—a conclusion that could be considered the best. With such a significant case, even if it were transferred to the local prosecution, the trial would not take place here, as several other cases were implicated.

"Master, do you think we can still get to the bottom of the previous cases?"

Liu Yongxin shook his head.

"No."

Zhou Ning was taken aback; this response surprised him. Liu Yongxin sighed.

"There are some things you can’t comment on, but I can. This outcome being the most satisfactory for the case, I believe, is the truth."

Zhou Ning was internally shocked, but indeed, as Liu Yongxin had said, this conclusion was the most satisfactory.