Chapter 43

“A case from ten years ago?” Xie Xinglan was quite surprised. Qin Ying and Yue Lingxiu also stopped their autopsy and turned to look at Zhao Qing.

The corpse was placed on a wooden bed that was positioned east to west, with the head of the corpse just five feet away from Zhao Qing. He quickly glanced at the corpse’s face and, still shaken, said, “Back then, I had just turned twenty and was transferred from the Wannian County Office to the Jingji Office. That case was the first murder case I encountered upon arriving at the office. It was early summer of the tenth year of Zhenyuan. The first victim seemed to have died in May or June, the second in July, and the third in August. Basically, someone died every month or so…”

T/N: Jingji Office is Xie Qing’s yamen.

“At that time, three people died consecutively. The victims were all teenage girls from humble backgrounds. When they died, they were dressed in bright red skirts. They were all gorgeous, with tear-shaped moles under their eyes. Their deaths resembled Miss Li’s—each had over ten stab wounds on their faces, leaving their once beautiful faces utterly disfigured. Moreover… moreover, they were all violated before their deaths.”

Qin Ying’s brows furrowed sharply. “Was the case solved back then?”

Zhao Qing nodded, “It was solved. Back then, three people died, and their deaths were horrifying, which caused panic among the city’s residents. At that time, the official in charge of the city took this case very seriously and ordered us to investigate day and night. Eventually, we caught the culprit—a compulsive gambler. He had lost all his family wealth due to his gambling addiction and was even about to sell his children. His wife secretly fled the capital with their two children.”

“Unable to find his wife and children, and suspecting that his beautiful wife was having an affair with another man, he developed a vengeful mindset. Since his wife liked to wear red skirts, he specifically targeted young women who wore red skirts. This man was sentenced to execution in the autumn, and the punishment was carried out in October of that year.”

Zhao Qing recounted this in one breath, paused, and then continued, “When we were investigating the case back then, there were instances of ghostly occurrences at the morgue, likely due to all the victims being young women in red skirts. One night, when I delivered an unnamed corpse to the morgue, I witnessed such a scene, which terrified me. Now that another similar case has occurred, I cannot help but feel some fear.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the corpse again but quickly looked away as though pricked by needles. Suddenly, Zhao Qing turned to Zhao Lian beside him and said, “By the way, Captain Zhao was also ordered to investigate this case back then.”

Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying turned to Zhao Lian, who looked as if he suddenly recalled something. “No wonder,” Zhao Lian said. “When I went to the site where the body was abandoned, I felt it looked somewhat familiar but couldn’t recall why. Now that Zhao Qing mentioned it, I remember it. This indeed happened ten years ago. I was only a minor officer then and hadn’t been promoted to captain yet. The case took about three months to solve and was only resolved by mid-September…”

He said somewhat apologetically, “Over the years, there have been countless murder cases every year, so I indeed didn’t think of it immediately. Back then, although I was involved in that case, I wasn’t the person in charge, so it wasn’t particularly memorable for me.”

Qin Ying narrowed her eyes. Although ten years is indeed a long time, the serial murders of young women in red dresses, as Zhao Qing mentioned, were not ordinary murder cases.

Qin Ying thought to herself that if it had been her, such a horrific and unusual case involving multiple victims would likely remain in her memory for a lifetime. However, for Zhao Lian, it took Zhao Qing’s reminder for him to recall it.

Though she felt some doubt, Qin Ying also thought about Zhao Lian’s repeated dereliction of duty. Someone like him, solely focused on personal gain, likely wouldn’t have paid much attention to the case, which seemed understandable.

Qin Ying turned to Zhao Qing. “If what you said is true, then this case is very similar to the one from ten years ago?”

Zhao Qing nodded, “Almost identical.”

Qin Ying’s expression darkened, and Xie Xinglan also said in a heavy tone, “But the culprit of the case back then had already been caught. After ten years, it doesn’t make sense for someone to imitate the crime. Or could it just be a coincidence?”

What he said mirrored Qin Ying’s thoughts. She furrowed her brows and said, “The case back then caused a sensation. Many people likely still remember it. Although the culprit had been executed, if someone discussed the case and the details reached a suspect, there is indeed the possibility of imitated crimes. If it truly is an imitation, then it might be traceable.”

Qin Ying asked Zhao Qing again, “How was the culprit caught back then?”

Zhao Qing replied, “Three people had already died by then, and we guessed the culprit would target a fourth victim. So we set a trap. By analyzing the three dumping sites, we roughly narrowed down the area where the culprit might appear. Then, we had the sister of one of our colleagues, a courageous young woman, dress in a striking red skirt and parade openly in public. After staking out the area for half a month, the culprit indeed fell for the trap. We caught him on the spot, and he later confessed to killing the previous three victims, thus solving the case.”

Qin Ying raised her eyebrows and remarked, “To be caught so easily suggests the culprit wasn’t a cautious person.” She then reexamined Li Fangrui’s corpse and added, “The two cases share numerous similarities. If someone is indeed imitating the crimes, it’s unlikely that the culprit will stop at killing Li Fangrui. We must act swiftly to find them.”

Xie Xinglan asked, “Where are the records of this case?”

Zhao Qing responded, “The Jingji Office has them stored, and the Ministry of Justice and Court of Judicial Review should also have copies.”

Xie Xinglan turned to Zhao Lian, who immediately said, “I won’t sleep tonight until I find and deliver the case files to the two lords. I’ll return to the office with my men to retrieve them now!”

At this point, the hour was late, and Xie Xinglan had no other arrangements, so he approved the request. Zhao Lian bowed to everyone, gathered Zhao Qing, and left the hall. After they departed, Qin Ying and Xie Xinglan’s expressions became darker.

Qin Ying then turned to Yue Lingxiu, “How long have you been at the office? Have you ever heard of this case?”

Yue Lingxiu said, “I’ve been at the office for five years, but during the first four years, I assisted my master with autopsies and never heard him mention this case. My master handled cases not only within the capital but also those in several counties outside it, so he likely didn’t view this case as exceptional.”

Qin Ying nodded, “What is your master’s name? Where is he now?”

Mentioning his master, Yue Lingxiu spoke with respect, “My master’s name is Jiang Zheng. He currently resides in Huicheng District. He is over fifty-two years old and retired earlier this year due to severe gout. He’s now recovering at home after serving as a coroner in the Jingji Office for over a decade.”

Qin Ying slightly nodded, and Cui Muzhi said, “It’s been ten years, and now someone is imitating the method used back then. Should we also set a trap to lure the culprit out?”

Qin Ying furrowed her brows, “The authorities are already conducting extensive searches in the southern city, so the culprit must be aware of this. Introducing a fresh face dressed in a red skirt now would likely alarm him, and he wouldn’t fall for the bait so easily. Moreover, we currently lack any clues related to the culprit, so it’s not yet the right time to use the method of luring out the snake.”

Xie Xinglan said, “The victims back then were confirmed to have been violated before their deaths, but this case’s circumstances remain unclear. Furthermore, the victims back then were from humble backgrounds, while Miss Li is of royal descent. Previously, the investigation focused on those acquainted with Miss Li. However, in the case ten years ago, the culprit and the victims had no connection.”

Qin Ying found Xie Xinglan’s observations increasingly sharp. “Indeed, there are still differences.”

Cui Muzhi hesitated and asked, “But could it be that after Miss Li Fangrui fled and tried to conceal her identity, the culprit came across her and then attacked her?”

Xie Xinglan said coolly, “That possibility cannot be ruled out. But you’ve been investigating for several days now. Have you found any clues about where Li Fangrui might have taken refuge?”

Cui Muzhi’s expression stiffened. “We only confirmed Li Fangrui’s identity yesterday—how could it be that fast?”

Xie Xinglan, recalling the day when Cui Muzhi brazenly criticized Longyi Guards for their slow investigation, couldn’t help but let a trace of mockery flash in his eyes. Cui Muzhi, remembering this as well, felt inexplicably guilty.

The hall fell silent for a moment. Qin Ying said, “Let’s start investigating the red dress. Since the Princess Consort mentioned that no noblewomen have ever worn such attire, it’s likely that Li Fangrui deliberately prepared it. We should begin by checking the clothing shops in the southern city frequented by commoners; someone there might remember.”

At this point, Xie Xinglan suddenly recalled something. “After Li Fangrui disappeared, the Prince’s mansion also sent people to search for her. Did they find anything?”

Cui Muzhi, not overthinking how Xie Xinglan knew about this, replied straightforwardly, “Li Fangrui disappeared on the road to Xiangguo Temple. Her elder brother, Li Yunqi, led a team to search the nearby villages, scouring the towns for four or five days, but they found nothing. In the city, the Prince’s armed guards conducted private investigations but also turned up empty-handed. It was as if Li Fangrui vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.”

Xie Xinglan frowned slightly. “Even with prior preparation, it’s impossible for there to be absolutely no traces. Something must have been missed. Tomorrow, I will send someone to check the routes Li Fangrui might have taken when she fled outside the city.”

At this moment, Qin Ying’s gaze fell on the deceased’s ankles. The victim’s shoes had long disappeared. The feet were swollen, with the subcutaneous blood vessels appearing dark purple, and the skin on the top of the feet was an unnatural green. The soles of the feet had dry and cracked skin, covered in dirt and mud. However, on the right heel of the victim’s foot, there was a peculiar patch of mud.

Qin Ying retrieved a dagger from Yue Lingxiu’s kit and carefully scraped off the strange mud, bit by bit.

Xie Xinglan approached to take a look. “What is this?”

Qin Ying carefully spread the mud in a well-lit area, then suddenly raised her head to Xie Xinglan. “Take a look. Doesn’t this resemble incense ash? It even contains a bit of waxy residue, as if the corpse had been dragged across a surface with incense and wax.” As she spoke, she glanced around and noted that Yue Lingxiu had not lit any incense at the time, making the situation even stranger.

Xie Xinglan leaned in for a closer look and frowned. “Its texture is finer and lighter in color than regular mud. It does indeed resemble incense ash mixed with white wax.”

Qin Ying studied the corpse’s condition and, connecting it to incense, candles, and deities, felt an inexplicable chill. “The mud from the alley where the body was dumped doesn’t have this color. Either the corpse picked it up during transport, or it came from the crime scene itself. If the culprit lit incense and candles while committing the crime, that’s truly bizarre.”

Determining the cause of death for the deceased was challenging, and the clues found on the body were scarce. Qin Ying could foresee that identifying the primary crime scene would be extremely difficult, as the dumping site alone offered very few leads.

Noticing her brows furrowed deeply, Xie Xinglan remarked, “It’s already late, and there’s still much to investigate. Since the culprit dumped the body, tomorrow, we must expand the search radius. Even if they acted at night, carrying such a large body would inevitably attract attention.”

Qin Ying nodded, glanced at the evening sky outside, and rose to place the evidence aside. She stepped out to wash her hands. Cui Muzhi looked at the corpse, then at Qin Ying’s departing figure, his gaze revealing a trace of hesitation. Meanwhile, Xie Xinglan instructed the guards on tomorrow’s arrangements while walking out.

Soon, everyone gradually left the back hall. Outside, Wang Yun saw Yue Lingxiu emerging and approached him, asking, “How did it go? Did you find anything?”

Yue Lingxiu shook his head, “This corpse is too decayed; it’s hard to determine the cause of death.”

Wang Yun glanced toward the back hall, “Well, there’s nothing we can do. There’s another one lying there, too, but no one has come to claim it. Every day, dealing with the maggots that fall off it is already unbearable for us.”

Yue Lingxiu suddenly said, “I remember there used to be more corpses here in the mortuary.”

Wang Yun responded, “Someone came to claim one—a pair of elderly couples who identified it as their granddaughter. After signing off, they took the body away, saying she died of an illness. From what I observed, it seemed likely. Leaving it here longer, they would all end up like the two inside…”

When Qin Ying returned, she overheard the conversation between the two. Remembering that there was still a male corpse in the back hall, she asked, “What caused the death of the person inside?”

Yue Lingxiu hurriedly replied, “He drowned in the Luo River outside the city. After being discovered by the locals, it was reported to the authorities. It’s suspected he was a laborer from a household, but no one has come to claim the body, nor has anything unusual been found. If this continues, the body will have to be taken outside the city for burial.”

In these turbulent times, many people are displaced from their hometowns. Many die unexpectedly without even a single relative to collect their remains. The mortuary can temporarily store the bodies, but as they decay, they inevitably end up being buried in a mass grave outside the city.

Qin Ying sighed quietly, “As long as it wasn’t foul play.”

It was already late, and staying any longer served no purpose. Qin Ying bid farewell to Yue Lingxiu and the others and got into the carriage.

Xie Xinglan and Cui Muzhi, one heading back to the Jinwu Guards Office and the other to the Ministry of Justice Office, shared the same route as Qin Ying. On the journey, Qin Ying reflected on Xie Xinglan’s decision that night. She had not been entirely certain earlier, but from Zheng Qin and Cui Muzhi’s words, it became clear that Xie Xinglan had indeed given up the southern tour assignment to investigate the case of the Prince’s residence.

Prince Xuanping belonged to the imperial clan. If this case was properly investigated, it would not only win Emperor Zhenyuan’s favor but also earn Prince Xuanping’s gratitude. However, these were not enough to secure Xie Xinglan any significant advancement in rank.

Qin Ying lifted the curtain and glanced at Xie Xinglan. While feeling somewhat pleased, she could not comprehend why Xie Xinglan made such a choice.

Since Cui Muzhi was traveling with them, Xie Xinglan was in a bad mood throughout the journey. He even found it difficult to talk to Qin Ying, though he originally intended to discuss the case. With Cui Muzhi observing everything, Xie Xinglan remained silent. By the time they traveled from the city’s south to the north, and were about to part ways with Qin Ying, Xie Xinglan suddenly said, “Did you send Shen Luo to Jinwu Guards today to investigate this case?”

Qin Ying lifted the curtain and looked at him. “Yes, I heard from Roujia about an incident in the southern part of the city at the time.”

Xie Xinglan’s gaze brightened slightly. “I’m not often at Jinwu Guards Office. If you need to inquire in the future, you can send a message to the General’s Residence. If I know about it, I’ll instruct Xie Jian to seek you.”

Qin Ying thought to herself that the two of them weren’t close enough for such a gesture, but since Xie Xinglan offered this goodwill, she couldn’t refuse. She nodded in agreement. Before parting ways, Xie Xinglan instructed Xie Jian, “Escort the County Princess home, and afterward, don’t return to the yamen. Head directly to the General’s Residence.”

Xie Jian accepted the command, and Xie Xinglan didn’t linger any longer. Raising his whip, he galloped toward the yamen.

Cui Muzhi followed behind on horseback, his face hidden by the dense night shadows, concealing his complicated expression. That day at tEarl Zhongyuan’s residence, he had already noticed the close relationship between Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying. Hearing their conversation now only confirmed his suspicions further. He couldn’t believe that Qin Ying had been so eager to show goodwill toward him on Cui Wan’s birthday, yet now she was favoring someone else so quickly.

Seeing that Cui Muzhi was moving slowly, Xie Jian intentionally raised his voice and said, “County Princess, our master always insists on having me escort you home, which is more considerate than anyone else. Now that this case has emerged, you must be especially cautious.”

Qin Ying understood Xie Jian’s intentions and couldn’t help but laugh. Before closing the curtain, she finally said, “Lord Cui, farewell.”

The carriage headed toward Changle District. After traveling for a distance, Xie Jian commented, “County Princess, you truly have a good temperament. Lord Cui has always been prideful and even disrespected you several times, yet you bear no grudges.” As he spoke, his expression changed slightly, “But you mustn’t be…”

Qin Ying glanced at him and said, “Your master is so wise. How have you not learned from him?”

Upon hearing Qin Ying praise Xie Xinglan, Xie Jian chuckled, “You truly have a sharp eye. My master’s wisdom and strategies are unmatched in the entire Great Zhou. However, this time, I truly can’t figure it out—”

Qin Ying looked at him, puzzled.

Xie Jian sighed and explained, “Originally, His Majesty intended for him to go south, which is such a great opportunity. Last year, the Duan family heir used the southern tour assignment to be promoted to Jinwu Guards General. Yet this time, he gave up going south and instead took on the case of the Prince’s residence. Not only that, but he has also requested criminal case files from Jinwu Guards for the past few years. After returning to the residence, he has read those files in his free time. I really don’t understand what’s so interesting about those case files.”

Qin Ying’s heart stirred slightly. “He even requested the files?”

“Yes, not only did he request them, but nearly a hundred of them. He seems quite absorbed in them. Honestly, I’ve been suspecting for months that he might be under the influence of some supernatural force. Yet, for the most part, he’s still the master I know. You understand that investigating murder cases is time-consuming and unrewarding. Moreover, with his position in Longyi Guards, many cases don’t require his direct involvement. This time, he’s even given the southern tour opportunity to the Zheng family. Zheng Qin must be overjoyed. At this rate, Han Qi and Zhu Bangyan will be stepping on us in no time.”

While Xie Jian was lost in his own worries, Qin Ying was deeply reflective. She couldn’t understand why Xie Xinglan was so focused on the files, but she knew from personal experience that many of her skills and insights were gained from analyzing old cases. After all, no one is born an expert in such matters.

Looking at Xie Jian’s distressed face, Qin Ying smiled and reassured him, “Don’t worry, there’s a long road ahead. Misfortune is where fortune rests, and fortune is where misfortune hides. Perhaps your master’s luck will change because of this.”

Xie Jian, however, didn’t believe it, but he could only reply bitterly, “Then I’ll borrow your kind words. It’d be wonderful if that really happens.”

After escorting Qin Ying to the Marquis’ residence, Xie Jian returned to the General’s Residence. Just as he reached the gate, he encountered Xie Xinglan returning. Seeing Xie Xinglan looking relaxed and walking with a spring in his step, Xie Jian was struck with despair, realizing his master was thoroughly enjoying himself and hadn’t considered the serious consequences of giving up the southern tour.

Feeling utterly helpless, Xie Jian grew increasingly convinced that his young master was drifting further away from the path of power and influence. Following behind Xie Xinglan, he couldn’t help but mutter, “As if his luck could possibly change…”

Xie Xinglan paused his steps slightly, turned back with a sharp gaze, and asked, “What did you say?”

Xie Jian initially wanted to deny it, but his small schemes couldn’t escape Xie Xinglan’s sharp eyes. Realizing he couldn’t avoid it, Xie Jian quickly repeated Qin Ying’s earlier words and added with a dry laugh, “The County Princess doesn’t understand your circumstances, so she’s quite optimistic. For now, we can only borrow her kind words. It’d be great if they came true.”

He spoke with intentional sincerity, hoping to provoke Xie Xinglan. Unexpectedly, Xie Xinglan’s phoenix-like eyes sparkled, and he even revealed a hint of a smile. “You’re right. Borrowing her kind words, they will come true.”

After saying this, Xie Xinglan walked away, leaving Xie Jian standing frozen in place. Turning to Xie Yong, Xie Jian exclaimed, “I was already shocked that our master believes in Buddhism, but now he even believes in County Princess’s polite remarks?!”

Xie Yong replied dazedly, “What if it does come true?”

No matter what, Xie Jian didn’t believe Qin Ying’s casual words. However, the next morning, when he heard a report from his subordinates, he wondered if Qin Ying’s words truly had some magical power. At dawn, he rushed to Xie Xinglan’s courtyard, barely catching his breath before blurting out, “Lord, this is unbelievable—”

Xie Xinglan was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard, and as he collected his sword stance, he turned to look at Xie Jian.

Xie Jian said excitedly, “Last night, after Zheng Qin entered the palace, Duan Zhe also went to meet the Emperor. The two of them ended up arguing in front of His Majesty over the southern tour assignment. It angered the Emperor so much that he smashed a jade ring and ordered ten lashes for each of them. The eunuch responsible for carrying out the punishment in front of His Majesty didn’t dare be lenient, so both of them were seriously injured.”

Xie Xinglan raised his sword-like eyebrows slightly, seemingly unsurprised. He turned inside to bathe, leaving Xie Jian outside, still animated. By the time he came back out, Xie Jian was as cheerful as ever. Xie Xinglan shook his head, mounted his horse, and departed.

In his previous life, it had taken Xie Xinglan significant effort to secure the southern tour assignment. Beyond excelling in his role as the Longyi Guards investigator, he had to incite conflict between the Zheng and Duan families. Once the two families were at each other’s throats, he could reap the benefits. But this also exposed him to their animosity. Combined with Emperor Zhenyuan’s mistrust, Xie Xinglan had faced an extraordinarily challenging few years, surrounded by enemies on all sides. In this life, despite acting without restraint and prematurely making enemies, he had resolved never to involve himself in court faction struggles again. Yet, unexpectedly, even without his intervention, the Zheng and Duan families’ conflict had turned more intense than in his previous life—something he found both amusing and satisfying.

The autumn breeze brushed against Xie Xinglan’s face as he rode through Imperial Street, heading southwest toward the yamen. Before arriving, he noticed the familiar carriage of the Marquis Linchuan’s residence. His eyes lit up, and he leaped off his horse, striding swiftly into the yamen. In the central courtyard, he saw Qin Ying and Zhou Xianchen standing in the hall, with Zhao Lian nervously accompanying them.

Qin Ying held a dossier in her hand, her expression colder and sterner than Xie Xinglan had ever seen. Zhou Xianchen hastily explained something, but Qin Ying’s expression remained unchanged. At that moment, Zhao Lian noticed Xie Xinglan and quickly announced, “Lord Xie is here!”

Qin Ying then looked toward the doorway. Their gazes met, and Qin Ying’s eyes were filled with an intense, overwhelming melancholy, which caused Xie Xinglan’s chest to tighten. He immediately asked, “What happened?”

Qin Ying pressed her lips tightly together, as though struggling to speak of some calamity.

Zhou Xianchen, standing to the side, spoke bitterly, “Lord Xie, the County Princess reviewed the dossier on the serial murder case from ten years ago and said… said this old case may very well have been a wrongful conviction, and the real perpetrator might still be at large.”