Eyewitness

The victim’s organs clearly had poison in them, not that it was still healing from a major illness. This was not a level of poisoning that was possible after just a few days or even months.

Song Caitang inspected each organ carefully, using her scalpel and scissors to cut them out. She removed the victim’s heart and analyzed it together with Coroner Zhou. They compared the wound with the weapon’s size, shape and length, discussed what situation the victim might have faced at that time, the way the killer might have approached him…

Coroner Zhou had a solemn expression on his face, but his eyes shone brightly and his mustache was on the verge of flying upward already. No matter how serious and professional he looked, it was impossible to suppress the excitement coming from within his soul.

When it came to sharing what she knew about dissecting bodies, Song Caitang was never stingy. She tried to answer all questions as clearly as she could. Unfortunately, a lot of forensic science overlapped with medical science and the topics were extensive. Just talking about germs was a problem. It was very hard for her to explain it without using any modern scientific terms.

It was going to be a long and difficult journey to educate the people of this era about modern forensic science.

Without the top of the line analytical machines, there was only so much one could do. As the last step in this dissection process, Song Caitang cut the stomach open.

This could tell her when the victim last ate and what he ate…

But for the people watching… The first thing she did was to open up the abdominal cavity, make comments about all the internal organs. Then she dug out the heart, flipped it over and over to inspect it, and even stuck her finger into the dagger wound from time to time. And now, she had cut the stomach out and even sliced it open!

There was already an entire row of people who were puking their guts out as they watched. Those who were more timid didn’t even dare to watch anymore and quickly hid themselves right at the back.

“Earlier, you said that the blessing biscuits that Zhaoze Temple was giving out used red rose bits to make the filling?” Song Caitang asked Coroner Zhou as she looked through the stomach’s contents.

Coroner Zhou was very certain of that. “Yes, that’s right.”

“Fillings that have been cured are usually not easy to digest.”

“That is correct.”

“But as you can see, the victim’s stomach doesn’t contain anything red.”

Song Caitang now knew that the red bit on the victim’s lips was not the blessing biscuit. It had to be a woman’s blusher or lipstick.

Coroner Zhou understood that too and nodded. “Looks like that has to be the case then.”

“The victim’s stomach is very full and there’s a lot of food inside. Most of it has softened and their shape is no longer complete. A small portion looks almost perfect and has barely been digested.” Song Caitang was quite sure after she inspected the contents. “Human digestion follows a certain timing. Within the first hour, the food will be softened. Then it will move to the small intestine within two hours. So, we can see that the victim had taken two meals within a short period of time.”

“One meal,” she flipped through the pieces that were half digested, “consisted of noodles, green vegetables, and eggs. The kind of food that most commoners would eat. The other one…”

She used a pair of tweezers and pulled out two items that were barely digested and had a distinguishable color. “He didn’t eat much of each, but they’re incredible.”

She didn’t have to identify them. Coroner Zhou recognized them immediately.

“That’s abalone and sea cucumber!”

These two things were very expensive to begin with, plus it was already winter and Bianliang wasn’t next to the sea. You had to be very rich to afford such ingredients, and you would also need to have connections or be of a certain standing to even access them.

Wasn’t Lin Feizhou just a poor student?

Where could he have eaten these things? Who gave them to him?

Combining what he could see with what Song Caitang said earlier, Coroner Zhou narrowed his eyes and said, “The noodles were eaten first, followed by the abalone and sea cucumber. One was eaten between one to two hours before his death, whereas the latter was eaten not long before he died. Perhaps barely a few minutes had passed!”

Song Caitang nodded. “That’s right.”

These two meals were very important to their investigation.

The abalone and the sea cucumber was definitely suspicious since Lin Feizhou was supposed to be a poor student who could only afford to rent a room that cost him less than $50. But the noodles with green veggies and… an egg. That was a problem too.

Eggs were not cheap. So it was as though he had added them to give himself a treat, or someone had thrown one in because they cared for him or felt bad for him.

“If we track where the victim had been and who he interacted with, especially during these two periods of time, we’ll definitely find something!” declared Coroner Zhou in his old but firm and loud voice.

The examination had yielded various points of suspicion and areas to be further investigated. One thing was clear though. Madam Gu was less and less likely to be the murderer.

Just the fact that the killer was around the height of the victim was already an issue.

Coroner Zhou looked at Song Caitang. “This Madam Gu… I’m afraid there’s more than meets the eye here.”

Song Caitang nodded.

After the autopsy, she was even more certain of her opinion. Madam Gu was now not as suspicious, but she couldn’t be released either.

There wasn’t enough evidence for that yet.

When Madam Gu’s name was mentioned, a young man in the corner suddenly clenched his fists tightly.

Guan Wan had watched her cousin cut open a body back at the Night Sanctum, but she still wasn’t used to it. She wanted to support her cousin today but dared not go too near, so she only dared to peek from the back. Earlier on, she hadn’t taken notice, but when she spotted the young man now, her eyes instantly widened.

Wasn’t this young man… the ultra skinny young man on the ship with eyes as bright as stars, the one who refused to eat!

What was he doing here?

Song Caitang did not notice the changes in the atmosphere around her and was lost in her own thoughts.

The victim was a stranger who had come all the way to Bianliang just for the imperial examinations. He lived in a small place that looked barely lived in, his table had stacks of love poems on it, he hadn’t moved about very much or had any conflict with anyone, he had kissed a girl, and his body had been harboring a poison for many years…

Song Caitang had checked the victim’s liver several times and confirmed that the victim had indeed been poisoned a long, long time ago, perhaps even when he was very young. He must have barely survived it then. His body had taken a bad hit and he was probably in very poor health. It was hard for one to tell from the outside, but he definitely knew that himself.

This Lin Feizhou was a man with a lot of stories.

Why did he come to Bianliang? Was it really just for the imperial exams?

The two coroners had been busy inspecting the body, the scribes next to them were busy compiling their comments into an autopsy report. It was completely silent for a long time.

So, when the coroners stopped talking for too long, someone got a little antsy.

“That’s the result of the autopsy today?”

A grave voice with the authority of an official rang out. Everyone knew who this was. This was the vice commissioner of the General Accounts Bureau, Li Zhengzhi.

The one who was at odds with the vice commissioner of the Census Bureau, Zuo Xiuwen.

Unlike Zuo Xiuwen’s thick eyebrows and round eyes, Li Zhengzhi had thin brows and long eyes, so heh always looked a little sinister. His voice was a little more high pitched than most men, so it grated uncomfortably against the ear.

Song Caitang still had a hand on the victim’s stomach and her scalpel was still stained with blood when she turned to look at Li Zhengzhi with a faint look of surprise in her eyes.

There were many people here today. Besides the necessary runners and guards who were on duty, many officials were also present. Li Zhengzhi wasn’t the only one. Yet even though everyone else had kept quiet, he had chosen to speak…

She couldn’t help but glance at Zhao Zhi, who was seated confidently in the high chair meant for the official in charge.

This Mr. Li was not showing the respect due to the newly promoted investigating censor.

“I heard that Miss Song went to visit Madam Gu privately before this,” Li Zhengzhi kept his eye on Song Caitang. “I hope you’re not trying to help her to get out of this?”

“What’s this about the killer being the same height as the victim and needs to have a lot of strength to do this? You mean you can’t have a killer on tiptoe who came charging at him?”

Song Caitang nearly burst out laughing at these words.

The scene of the crime was a ritual at Zhaoze Temple. It was the last part where the temple was giving away amulets and everyone was fighting to get one. It was very chaotic and the crowd was packed. They only cared about getting the amulet. It was only after the amulets had been all given out and everyone had moved aside that they finally noticed someone had died and was lying in a pool of blood. Madam Gu happened to be standing next to him with blood on her skirt and a dagger next to her feet.

Of course, one could question the angle of the dagger and the strength required. You could say that it was a result of a collision. For example, because there were too many people, even though Madam Gu was a slightly shorter woman, she could have been squashed so hard that her feet were on someone else’s toes and she was brought away by the crowd. Her elbow could have been pushed by someone else and so she could exert strength greater than her own.

It was fine to suggest this, especially since there was little evidence to suggest otherwise. But to say that the killer had charged at the man on tiptoe was ridiculous.

Besides…

Song Caitang glanced at Coroner Zhou and her lips curled up slightly.

As she had expected, Coroner Zhou argued back, “What do you mean by that, Mr. Li? Are you saying that we coroners are trying to cover up the truth? When we inspect dead bodies, there are times when we need to decide if the person arrested for the crime fits the bill. I don’t think you need me to explain our role or the investigation process to you, right? The investigating censor in charge of the case is here and he hasn’t even had the chance to ask any questions. Don’t you think you’ve crossed the line?”

Coroner Zhou said all that in one breath, then scoffed. “Besides, this was a decision made by both Miss Song and myself. Are you also suspecting me of being unprofessional? I’ve been working for the Justice Department for decades and I’ve always been professional. I’ve never been accused like this before!”

Song Caitang observed Li Zhengzhi’s expression very carefully and felt that while his attitude was a little rude, there was nothing else wrong with him.

“Sir, if you have any objections, you can go straight to the official in charge of this case.” Song Caitang smiled faintly as she spoke in a clear voice, “The official in charge is an upright, bold and serious man, so I’m sure he will not ignore your words.”

Song Caitang immediately passed the buck to Zhao Zhi.

And she also took this chance to remind Li Zhengzhi that everyone has to be reasonable here. The person in charge would have the right to raise any objections or give opinions. He wasn’t in charge of the case or in charge of the city, so she wasn’t obliged to answer him or to be answerable to him.

Zhao Zhi didn’t mind catching this hot potato. He even stared adoringly at Song Caitang for a moment.

She bent her head and continued looking at the victim’s stomach and pretended she hadn’t seen that stare.

Zhao Zhi chuckled as he tapped his whip handle against his palm. “Mr. Li… you seem very worked up today.” He was about to continue speaking when he noticed someone arrive from the corner of his eye. He narrowed his eyes, but there was a twinkle in them. “Why, feeling guilty?”

Li Zhengzhi’s expression instantly became solemn. “The murder case is of utmost importance and you’re the official in charge. I am the one who has not been careful with my words.”

But Zhao Zhi did not respond. He tapped his fingers and leaned back in a relaxed manner, like he was waiting for something.

What was he waiting for?

Before Li Zhengzhi could think of an answer, a man crashed onto the floor in front of them.

That man was quickly followed by a man who flew in from outside.

It was so dramatic, Song Caitang couldn’t help but look up. She didn’t know who the man on the floor was, but she certainly recognized the man who had flown in and was stepping on the man on the floor.

Qi Yan?

Why did he throw that man on the floor?

She looked at Zhao Zhi.

Zhao Zhi winked at her secretly.

She got it now.

So, Zhao Zhi hadn’t been doing nothing all this time.

Qi Yan was here because Zhao Zhi must have gotten him to investigate something for him.

And since the man was thrown into this place, he must have something to do with this case.

“Spare me… spare me… I really haven’t done anything bad…”

Zhao Zhi cleared his throat and asked Qi Yan, “Who’s this?”

“Li Maocai, a gangster,” Qi Yan touched his nose with his thumb and looked really cool and smug. “Of course, who he is isn’t very important. The most important part is that he had seen the victim 15 minutes before the victim died.”

Zhao Zhi’s gaze instantly grew alert. “Is that so? Li Maocai, explain yourself.”

Li Maocai trembled all over when he realized that he was surrounded by court officials.

His teeth chattered and he was utterly terrified, as though he was too scared to even say anything.

Qi Yan squatted down, grabbed the man’s hair to force him to look up at him. He smiled at the man to reveal the most brilliant but frightening smile in the world.

Li Maocai instantly reeled in horror, as though he had seen the scariest thing in the world. He kept his head down and dared not fight back as he bowed with his forehead on the floor. “I really have nothing to do with this case. I don’t even know who Lin Feizhou was before this case. I just saw something I shouldn’t have seen…”

Zhao Zhi narrowed his eyes. “And what was that?”

Li Maocai’s teeth started chattering again.

Qi Yan stepped hard on him. “Spit it out!”

“I saw someone… argue with Lin Feizhou.”

Zhao Zhi asked, “And who was that?”

Li Maocai pointed a trembling finger at Li Zhengzhi. “This… official over here, as well as a young man named Ji Yuanjia.”

Ji Yuanjia. That was Madam Gu’s son.

Both of them were here today. Just nice.

Li Zhengzhi was right here, so he did not have to be summoned. As for Ji Yuanjia… Zhao Zhi scanned the outer ring of people and a young man stepped forward.

The young man was still growing, so he was very tall but very skinny. His back was slightly bent, but he walked with steady steps. Most boys his age looked very young and he was too skinny for one to decide if he was handsome or not. But his eyes were extremely outstanding. They were as bright as the stars and moon in the sky, yet deep as the outer space that contained them. It gave him a very unique sort of air, so he was extremely impressionable.

Guan Wan watched all this happen and thought to herself, so that skinny young man on the ship is called Ji Yuanjia.

But when she thought about it some more, she realized the problem. This man was the one whose mother was in jail, and she was in jail because of this murder case.

Zhao Zhi continued tapping the whip handle against his palm absentmindedly as he stared at Li Maocai and asked his questions in a slightly distracted manner, “What did they say to the victim?”

Li Maocai shrank back, “They were talking about money… or silver… something like that. I was too far, so that was all I could hear. I really didn’t hear anything else!”

Zhao Zhi looked at Li Zhengzhi. “Is that correct?”

“He got it wrong.”

Li Zhengzhi glanced coldly at Li Maocai. Li Maocai felt like a venomous snake was staring at him and broke into a cold sweat.

“Mr. Li, that can be interpreted in more than one way.” Zhao Zhi scoffed, got up and took a few steps forward to stand right in front of Li Zhengzhi. “Who got it wrong? Did Li Maocai get the wrong person? Or had Lin Feizhou gotten it wrong?”

Li Zhengzhi knew he couldn’t get away from the way Zhao Zhi was pushing him like this, so he met Zhao Zhi’s gaze and replied, “It was the victim who got it wrong. He seemed to have thought that I was someone else and stopped me while I was walking, but I had no idea what in the world he was talking about. If you don’t believe me, you can get someone to investigate. I wasn’t there when Lin Feizhou was killed.”

Song Caitang’s movement froze when she heard these words.

Li Zhengzhi wasn’t there when the victim died?

But Old Madam Li said she had seen him.

Was she mistaken?

Or was Li Zhengzhi lying?

Li Zhengzhi looked at Ji Yuanjia. “I’ve never seen him before.”

Zhao Zhi nodded, then turned to ask Ji Yuanjia questions. “What about you? Did you interact with the victim? Did you see Mr. Li?”

Ji Yuanjia was polite as he replied, his stance serious yet elegant. “I had gotten lost and did not know my way. I spotted the victim and asked him for directions, but I did not get into any argument with him. I also did not see Mr. Li.”

Zhao Zhi went, “I see…” then looked at Li Maocai. “Is that what happened?”