Don’t Worry I’m Not A Bad Guy

While the provincial governor was still reeling in shock, utter disbelief and an inability to contain his own emotions, Governor Zhang and Wen Yuansi moved through the crowd and ran after Song Caitang.

“Miss Song, please wait up!”

Governor Zhang held his robe up and walked at a speed that didn’t match a typical 40 year old body.

The minute Song Caitang stopped in her footsteps and turned around to reveal her youthful face that seemed to reflect the sunshine of spring, Governor Zhang’s eyes lit up and the excitement in his heart threatened to burst right out of him.

It had never crossed his mind that a young lady of just 15 or 16 could be this capable. She had just dissected a body! That was something nobody had ever seen or heard of, yet she had been actually able to do it. She had done it so perfectly too. Each slice she made was accurate, and she even restored the body to its original state after she was done. Everyone was so astonished, nobody dared to say anything and nobody even dared to move.

She wasn’t just some pretty young lady. She was a feather in his cap sent to him from god!

If he used her well, he wouldn’t have to worry about this year’s appraisal!

“Miss Song,” said Governor Zhang as he placed a palm over his fist politely and smiled with great sincerity, “Your abilities are so amazing, it has shocked heaven and earth and made supernatural beings weep! This is the first time this has ever been done! You are truly a great talent, and it is my tremendous fortune and honor to be able to see something like this!”

Song Caitang smiled faintly, “Governor Zhang is too kind. I am merely interested in this area and so I’ve done more research into it. I really don’t deserve such high praise.”

“You don’t have to be so humble. The human body is such a complex thing, so you must have put in a lot of effort to study it to this extent, which is really a great feat! It is only right for me to be in awe of you!”

Governor Zhang couldn’t stop complimenting Song Caitang. He made it sound like Song Caitang was some immortal fairy who had descended to the mundane world to enlighten the mortals. No amount of praise was too much!

“Since you’re so skillful, I’m sure your teacher must be even more highly skilled. I’m not sure if your teacher…”

Song Caitang had been observing Governor Zhang all this time.

He had praised her to the skies, but she wasn’t really a 16 year old naïve teenager who didn’t know anything and whose face would turn red from all those compliments. Her instinct had told her that Governor Zhang had a hidden agenda, and now, her suspicions were confirmed.

Governor Zhang’s face was flushed and there was a gleam in his eye. It was clear that her ability to dissect and analyze a dead body was very appealing to him and he wanted her help.

But she was a woman and it was inconvenient to bring her around for work. However, if she had a male teacher, that would solve all his problems.

Besides, even if he had decided to make use of her, he wanted to find out how to go about doing so. Did he have to pamper her? Treat her with great care? Threaten her into doing things? Or could he be casual with her?

He would want to find out more about who she was, her temperament and personality. That way, he would be able to better weave her into his plans accordingly…

Song Caitang was not upset with the way Governor Zhang was doing things. In the world of politics, every move affected one’s standing and benefit. She understood that very well.

And her motive for coming here, her first step, was to make sure someone saw value in her abilities.

But as for how her abilities were to be used, she was going to decide on that. She didn’t want to just go with whatever someone else said.

“Well…I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, Governor Zhang. Before this, I suffered a serious injury to the back of my head and I’ve forgotten a lot of things from the past. Never mind my teacher – I can’t even recall what my own father looks like right now.”

As she spoke, she glanced a couple of times at Wen Yuansi. The man’s eyes were glazed over and seemed like he wasn’t paying attention, as though he was still thinking about something…or perhaps, he was curious about Governor Zhang’s question and didn’t stop him from asking.

“But don’t worry, Governor Zhang. I’m not a bad guy,” Song Caitang smiled faintly, “I’m serious about conducting autopsies and I am willing to do my best to assist the authorities. I might be a woman, but I have the same zeal as a man. Please don’t be worried about that.”

“I, uh…” Governor Zhang rubbed his nose awkwardly.

This young lady could see right through him. It wasn’t easy to fool her at all.

“I’m not a bad guy” was a phrase usually used by men to humor their wives. So now, Miss Song was that man and he was that wife…

“Miss Song, you’re overthinking it. I’m not suspecting that you….”

Song Caitang continued smiling as she cut him off, “I am skilled in autopsies and investigating cases, so if you believe in me and you need help, just say the word and I will do my utmost best to help as long as I’m available.”

Governor Zhang sighed inwardly.

This woman was an intelligent one, so he could forget about trying to hoodwink her into helping him. If he wanted her to help, then he had to ask her properly in an official and respectful manner. If he was sincere about it, she would avail herself and do her best to help.

He cast his gaze downward and let out a long sigh, “It’s my fault for being too impatient…things didn’t look good. I’m not rushing ahead because I want to claim all the credit for myself, but there are just too many implications in between. One mistake could cause a huge commotion. Miss Song, I really hope you don’t mind, but I really don’t have any other choice.”

As he spoke, he threw Wen Yuansi a glance.

Wen Yuansi had snapped out of his thoughts and was now looking at Song Caitang with a flicker in his eyes.

She had told him that he wouldn’t regret his decision and that others would admire him for choosing her…and she had accomplished that.

But at the same time, he ended up dragging her into this political nightmare.

She was at an age as sweet and innocent as a flower. She should be growing up in a place without worries or troubles. Her greatest problem should have been what color clothing to wear and what accessories go with it. Not stand here and listen to Governor Zhang try to manipulate her into helping him.

Governor Zhang didn’t have any ill intent now, but nobody knew how a power struggle between court officials would go. Song Caitang was able and happy to conduct autopsies, which had already done him a great favor. He realized he shouldn’t have remained silent just now.

But Song Caitang had already made her stand, so anything he said now was pointless.

He took a deep breath and said, “Just like what Governor Zhang has said, you have helped us tremendously this time. The problem with this case was that it was hard to identify Ximen Gang as the victim. But now that we have done so, it should make the rest of the investigation go smoothly. You really don’t have to be so modest about your abilities. In the future…we might need your help at Tianhua Temple again, so if you’re willing to, why don’t you stay for another two days? The governor and I will be very grateful if you could do that.”

Wen Yuansi glanced at the sky, then said, “But there are more important things to attend to right now. The whole process has been a long and arduous one and I’m sure you must be tired. I’ve already given instructions for food to be cooked and sent to your room, so you will have something to eat once you get back.”

Song Caitang’s gaze flickered, then she bowed to take her leave, “I see. Thank you, Magistrate Wen.”

Once they had bid each other farewell, their surroundings fell silent again.

Qingqiao was a little confused. She held onto the wooden box and scampered over to Song Caitang, “Young Mistress, what the two men said earlier…were they implying something? I didn’t understand.”

Things weren’t looking good, too many implications, mistakes resulted in grave consequences, they still needed her help in Tianhua Temple…

What ability did Song Caitang have?

Conducting autopsies.

So, there was another murder case in the temple with great implications. Governor Zhang couldn’t call all the shots, so he had to proceed with great care.

Song Caitang flicked her maid’s forehead gently, “You’ve forgotten about the time Eldest Young Mistress came to Tianhua Temple?”

“Oh…right! There was a murder case!” Qingqiao slapped her forehead. But after that show of enlightenment, she looked puzzled again, “But…didn’t you just cut open the body just now?”

Song Caitang chuckled and didn’t say anything.

It seemed that the aristocratic woman involved was someone more important than she had imagined.

Cutting a body open was very tiring indeed. Song Caitang ate a lot for lunch. So much that Qingqiao got a shock.

Her Young Mistress had gone for another bowl of rice!!

The bowl was very small and her second bowl was barely half full, but…Song Caitang had never eaten this much before!

Moreover, the food wasn’t the vegetarian stuff served in the temple. There was meat in here…

Her Young Mistress had just finished dissecting a body and had seen so much flesh and blood. Wasn’t she affected at all?

Qingqiao’s eyes widened and she clenched her little fists. She had decided to work hard and become just like her Young Mistress! She was going to make sure she didn’t end up puking any of her food out later!

Everyone thought that Song Caitang must be exhausted and needed rest. Qingqiao was no different. After serving Song Caitang her food, she made her bed and happily retreated to her own quarters.

But actually, Song Caitang wasn’t tired at all, as if she was long used to such work. After sitting down for a while and having a good meal, her energy returned to her. She didn’t need an afternoon nap or anything like that.

When she saw that Qingqiao had gone to eat, she avoided being in the line of her maid’s sight and snuck out of her residence. She took light steps and headed slowly toward the northern side.

There was water there.

Its sound in the night had been so beautiful, so it was probably a beautiful sight in the day.

The dissection process had yielded the result she had hoped for and she had achieved her first step toward her ambitions. She was a very good mood today and was ready for scene waters.

Daytime wasn’t as quiet as nighttime, so she couldn’t hear the water from her residence. But as she slowly made her way northward, the sound of the water could eventually be heard.

It was a flowing, clear sound with an upbeat melody. It was so wonderful to listen to it.

And when she got there, she felt it couldn’t be more perfect.

It wasn’t just a small stream. There was a deep pond as well!

The water flowed down from the peak of the mountain, and because there were mini waterfalls as a result of the landscape, the water flowed into a valley here and formed a pond. The pond was full and small streams flowed along the sloping mountains and into the pond, starting from the shallow part in the east and extending outward…the clear waters caught the bright sunshine, reflecting a brilliant, silvery light which was really pretty.

Song Caitang walked to the side of the pond, shut her eyes and took a deep breath.

This felt so good!

Everyone needed to have water in their lives! She was certain of that!

Her entire air passage and lungs were filled with the refreshing, moist air, but she felt it wasn’t enough. She noticed a bamboo raft at the side of the pond, so she picked up her skirt and stepped onto it.