Chapter 44

“Ten years ago, the murderer sentenced to execution was named Jin Wenyuan. His parents passed away early, and due to his gambling habits, he severed ties with relatives and old acquaintances. As Zhao Qing mentioned last night, his wife left the capital with their seven-year-old daughter and five-year-old son. She departed in April of the tenth year of Zhenyuan. Afterward, Jin Wenyuan searched for a month without success and, due to gambling debts, was beaten by gambling den thugs to the point he dared not return home, living in hiding and extreme poverty.”

In the side hall of the yamen, Qin Ying’s voice was as cold as ice: “According to his confession, he began harboring murderous intent in early May. The first victim was named Luo Jin’er, who was seventeen years old at the time of her death. She lived in Anmin District in the city’s eastern part, where her family ran a second-hand bookstore. He targeted her because she often helped at the shop. On the night of May 27th that year, he abducted her on her way home and then assaulted her under a bridge in the southwest of Anmin District. When the victim was barely alive, he disfigured her and then strangled her to death.”

“Since his first crime went unnoticed, he grew increasingly bold and soon began searching for his next victim. The second victim was a nineteen-year-old embroiderer named Fan Yuping, who worked at Changfu Silk Store in the city’s eastern part. Fan Yuping’s family was from Fanjia Village outside the capital. She had found work as an embroiderer in the city and lived alone in a small courtyard near the silk store. There was a Wanbao gambling den on the street next to the silk store, where he had seen Fan Yuping several times while gambling. On the night of July 3rd, he waited for Fan Yuping to finish her embroidery work and, under the pretense of offering her private work, lured her to Xing’an Bridge nearby, where he assaulted and killed her.”

Qin Ying’s expression grew increasingly solemn as she spoke. “The third victim was named Kang Suqin, who was seventeen at the time of her death. She was attacked on the evening of August 16th. Her father was a supervisor at the Armory Office, holding a rank of ninth grade. Although not highly ranked, their family was considered well-off. According to Jin Wenyan, Kang Suqin loved reading and often visited the Wenxin Bookstore south of the Eastern Market to buy books. At that time, Jin Wenyan was hiding, staying in the Sanyuan Temple in the city’s eastern part. After committing two murders, he could no longer suppress his evil urges. While wandering during the day, he encountered Kang Suqin and followed her for seven or eight days, learning her route to the bookstore. On the evening of the 16th, he attacked her and later killed her in an abandoned Zaowang Temple in the eastern part of the city.”

After Qin Ying finished speaking, Xie Xinglan had already read most of Jin Wenyan’s testimony. He frowned and asked, “Jin Wenyan’s confession seems complete. How can you be certain this case is a wrongful conviction?”

Qin Ying replied, “Jin Wenyan’s confession regarding his motives and the preceding events seems complete. But look at his description of the murder process, and then compare it to the autopsy report written by Coroner Jiang, Yue Lingxiu’s master.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Xinglan flipped through the pages. Qin Ying glanced at the heavy expressions of Zhou Xianchen and Zhao Lian and continued, “In Jin Wenyan’s testimony, he always assaulted the victims first, then disfigured them, and finally strangled them. He emphasized that his hatred for his wife drove him to enjoy watching the victims struggle in pain as their faces were disfigured. However, according to Coroner Jiang’s autopsy report, the post-mortem findings of the latter two victims align with his statements, but the first victim, Luo Jin’er, does not.”

“The first autopsy report states that Luo Jin’er’s cause of death was indeed strangulation. However, when the victim was discovered, the wounds on her face were shallow, with minimal blood scabs. The blood was dark red, and the edges of the wounds were smooth without signs of contraction or curling. Furthermore, the report mentions several regular horizontal bruises on the victim’s back, with no additional abrasions. There was a head injury at the back of the skull and bruises on the left shoulder and thigh, but no other abrasions. The victim’s fingernails were also clean.”

Xie Xinglan narrowed his eyes slightly. “If it were an abandoned bridge, there would likely be mud, sand, stones, or other debris beneath it. During the attack, the victim would resist, and resistance would inevitably lead to contamination with mud and abrasions.”

Qin Ying nodded. “The most critical detail is this: when the victim was discovered, the time of death was less than a day prior. Therefore, all external injuries on the corpse had not yet begun to decompose and should have been very clear. However, Coroner Jiang, the forensic examiner, wrote that the wounds on the victim’s face were caused post-mortem. If the wounds were inflicted before death, the blood would be bright red and flow profusely. Only wounds inflicted after death result in minimal bleeding, with smooth and non-retracted edges.”

Xie Xinglan frowned, “So the first victim, Luo Jin’er, was strangled to death first and then assaulted and disfigured afterward?”

Qin Ying nodded. Zhou Xianchen interjected, “When the confession was made, it had been almost four months since the first victim’s death. Could it be that Jin Wenyan no longer remembered the sequence clearly?”

Qin Ying looked at him. “He might not remember the sequence, but he would never claim to have seen the victim struggling in pain as she was disfigured. By the time he disfigured Luo Jin’er’s face, she was already dead. Since she was dead, how could there be any mention of struggling? Moreover, for the perpetrator, the first crime is usually the most nerve-wracking and fearful experience. It doesn’t make sense for him to forget such details.”

Zhou Xianchen hesitated and asked, “But if Jin Wenyan wasn’t the murderer, why would he confess?”

Qin Ying turned to Zhao Lian. “That’s a question for Captain Zhao.”

Zhao Lian’s face paled. “County Princess, my lords, I was just a minor officer then, but I handled this case with utmost seriousness. The case was ultimately concluded by Captain Guo and Magistrate Jian. Later, all the records were sent to the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice for review. Although some had mentioned that the first victim’s corpse was too clean, Jin Wenyan explained that the first victim was so frightened that she did not resist. As for the distinctions between injuries before and after death, I didn’t understand it at the time. Is there really such a concept?”

Zhao Lian said bitterly, “At that time, three people had been killed, causing a major commotion in the capital. The officials of the yamen dared not handle the matter carelessly. Everything Jin Wenyan said was verified thoroughly, and we absolutely would not dare to wrongfully accuse him. Moreover, he was caught red-handed at the scene. Later, in his hiding place, we also found incense and drugs for immobilizing victims, as well as ropes—tools prepared for harming others. With the evidence complete, he dared not deny it and confessed in detail. County Princess, are you suspecting we coerced a confession through torture?”

Zhao Lian looked aggrieved.

After a brief hesitation, Zhou Xianchen said, “The magistrate who judged the case back then was Lord Jian Qiming, who is now the Minister of Personnel. At the time, Lord Jian was already preparing for promotion. After his departure, the yamen underwent two magistrates before I took office three years ago. The captain at that time was named Guo Zhongyun. Before my arrival, he was injured while pursuing bandits, resigned, and returned to his hometown. After his departure, Zhao Lian was promoted to captain. That was four years ago.”

Zhao Lian nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, it was Captain Guo who led the investigation back then. The case was later concluded by Lord Jian.”

Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying exchanged glances, and even Xie Xinglan showed some surprise. Ten years earlier, he had just been adopted into the capital and was struggling to make a living in the General’s residence. Official transitions in the capital were naturally not within his concerns.

Zhou Xianchen added, “If what the County Princess says is true, could the person who harmed Miss Li this time possibly be the same perpetrator from back then?”

Qin Ying shook her head. “Logically, a serial killer would not wait years to strike again, unless something significant happened in between—like leaving the capital or encountering some other incident. But since the case from back then is very likely a wrongful conviction, the real culprit from back then remains the primary suspect.”

Qin Ying looked at Xie Xinglan. “To conclude this as a wrongful conviction based solely on my examination of the case files might indeed be a bit hasty. Yue Lingxiu’s master is still in the capital. I believe he might still remember some details about the autopsy back then.”

Xie Xinglan asked, “Do you plan to see him?”

Qin Ying nodded. “Once Yue Lingxiu arrives at the yamen, have him arrange a meeting.”

Zhou Xianchen glanced at Zhao Lian, then at Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying, sensing the gravity of the matter. After waiting briefly, Yue Lingxiu hurried into the yamen. Seeing that both Qin Ying and Xie Xinglan were already present, he quickly apologized, “Last night, I went home to review the technique notes left by my master. I pondered half the night but still couldn’t figure out how Miss Li died. I ended up waking late today…”

Qin Ying waved her hand. “Take me to see your master.”

Yue Lingxiu was a bit surprised. When Qin Ying explained her doubts about the case from back then, Yue Lingxiu was even more shocked. “If the real murderer is still at large, could it be that Miss Li was harmed by him?”

Qin Ying sighed. “It’s hard to say. But Jin Wenyan is already dead. To determine whether it was a wrongful conviction, I need to question your master in detail.”

Yue Lingxiu immediately responded, “Alright, I’ll take the County Princess to him.”

Qin Ying intended to visit Jiang Zheng, but Xie Xinglan already had plans for the day. Without much discussion, they decided to act separately.

After consulting with Zhou Xianchen for a moment, Xie Xinglan instructed Zhao Lian, “Let the County Princess handle the investigation of the old case first. Meanwhile, you take people to the southern part of the city and check if there were any traces of the murderer when the body was dumped that night. Later, people from the Duke’s residence will come to the yamen. If there’s still no progress, we will all be hard-pressed to explain.”

Zhao Lian complied, and Qin Ying took Yue Lingxiu to Jiang Zheng’s residence. Although it was broad daylight, Xie Xinglan was still uneasy and had Xie Jian bring two guards to follow them.

Qin Ying had an excellent memory. As she walked, she carefully reviewed the contents of the case files she had just seen in her mind. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that her deduction was correct. However, she couldn’t understand why; if Jin Wenyan wasn’t the real culprit and the yamen hadn’t resorted to coercion, he would admit to the heinous crime of killing three people.

With these doubts in mind, Qin Ying followed Yue Lingxiu to Changming District in the western part of the city.

Changming District mainly consisted of low, humble homes, inhabited by impoverished residents. Before the carriage reached Jiang’s residence, the narrow alleys made proceeding impossible. Qin Ying had to disembark from the carriage and walk to Jiang Zheng’s house.

Yue Lingxiu walked as he spoke, “My master was originally from an official background. However, he was implicated and punished due to the crimes of his uncles, so he was forced into servitude and later took up the profession of a coroner.”

Qin Ying’s heart stirred slightly, “What about you?”

Yue Lingxiu sighed deeply, “I come from a merchant family. Unfortunately, my family got embroiled in a lawsuit, and our property was confiscated. We were also forced into servitude, and both my parents passed away on the road to exile. I was punished with labor, including grueling work in the quarries and building city walls, as well as serving as a corpse collector for the authorities. Later, because I could read a few characters, I was chosen by my master as his apprentice. For the past few years, I’ve been helping him with his tasks.”

Qin Ying listened with a tinge of sympathy, “When did this happen?”

Yue Lingxiu smiled bitterly, “Thirteen years ago, when I was only nine years old. It felt like the sky was falling, and I couldn’t go on. But I managed to make it through step by step, and now, enduring hardship doesn’t seem so bad.”

Qin Ying hadn’t expected someone like Yue Lingxiu, who seemed calm and composed, to have such a tumultuous past. Seeing that he had come to terms with it, Qin Ying said, “The path of a coroner is noble indeed. Many victims who died unjustly can only rely on you to uncover the truth of their murders. Some details of heinous crimes also depend on you to trace even the smallest clues. It’s a demanding yet honorable profession.”

It was the first time Yue Lingxiu heard someone describe the path of a coroner as noble. His heart warmed, and he looked at Qin Ying with a hint of admiration. At that moment, he saw a residential house not far away, and he quickly said, “Up ahead is my master’s residence.”

Reaching the door, Yue Lingxiu stepped forward and knocked. After a moment, slow and deliberate footsteps echoed from the courtyard. Soon, with a creak, the door was pulled open from the inside, revealing a face full of wrinkles. Seeing Yue Lingxiu, Jiang Zheng smiled, “I knew it was you, boy—”

Before he could finish, Jiang Zheng’s smile froze. He noticed someone standing beside Yue Lingxiu.

Yue Lingxiu called out, “Master,” and added, “This is County Princess Yunyang. She is assisting the authorities in investigating a case. Today, we’ve come to inquire about an old case—the one where you conducted the autopsy.”

“County Princess Yunyang…” Jiang Zheng murmured softly, his expression turning peculiar. While bowing respectfully, he sized up Qin Ying cautiously and said, “I have already resigned from my duties with the authorities. May I ask which old case you’re referring to?”

Qin Ying responded solemnly, “At the end of May, in the tenth year of the Zhenyuan era, there was a serial murder case in the capital. The victims were all young women in red dresses. Before their deaths, they were violated, and their faces were slashed more than ten times by the perpetrator. Do you remember it?”

Jiang Zheng’s brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of shock flashed in his eyes. “Why do you wish to ask about that case?”

Qin Ying’s gaze sharpened. “Because it might have been a wrongful conviction.”

Jiang Zheng’s expression shifted several times before inviting everyone into the main hall to sit. He poured a few cups of cool tea, placed the teacups on the table, chose an old, rickety chair, and sat down. His eyes were dark and solemn as he spoke gravely, “I remember the case you mentioned. It caused quite a stir back then. I performed the autopsies on the three murdered women, but I was merely a coroner. When the captain or the officials required my services, I conducted the autopsies in their presence and wrote the reports. If no complications arose, they wouldn’t ask for my opinion on the case details. Therefore, from beginning to end, I had no say in that case.”

Qin Ying understood his concerns and said, “Rest assured, I’ve reviewed your autopsy report, and it’s very detailed. It was after reading your report that I noticed many inconsistencies in the case back then. You only need to answer my questions. I am not here to hold anyone accountable.”

Jiang Zheng breathed a slight sigh of relief and waited for Qin Ying to ask.

Qin Ying continued, “In the first case, the victim Luo Jin’er—when you performed the autopsy, was her body still relatively intact?”

Jiang Zheng nodded. “I recall that the perpetrator committed the crime at night, and the body was discovered early the following morning. She likely died under a bridge somewhere. By the time I arrived at the dump site, the body had already been retrieved. The body only showed some post-mortem discoloration, still appearing rather fresh. However, the girl’s face had been slashed so badly it was almost unbearable to look at—truly horrific.”

“At that time, were the victim’s wounds very clean?”

Jiang Zheng nodded again. “Yes, the wounds were clean and smooth, and there wasn’t much blood. Moreover, half of the girl’s dress and her back were stained with mud, while the other half was clean. I found it quite peculiar. Later, after determining the cause of death and approximate time of death, I suspected that the bridge wasn’t the crime scene but rather the place where the body was dumped. However, without additional evidence, I couldn’t confirm it. Back then, the case was handled by Captain Guo. I brought up this doubt with him, but he couldn’t find anything further, and the matter was left unresolved.”

Qin Ying’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Do you know what the perpetrator ultimately confessed to?”

Jiang Zheng shook his head. “I only have the authority to conduct autopsies. Once the autopsy is completed, everything else is out of my hands. It wasn’t until the case was closed that I heard Jin Wenyuan’s confession from two clerks involved in the interrogation. At that time, I had my doubts, but due to my low status, I had no voice in the matter. Later, when Jin Wenyuan was executed, I consoled myself with the thought that justice had been served. Yet, over the years, the case kept resurfacing in my mind. When you mentioned it just now, I realized that heaven indeed has eyes. I’m already half a step into the grave—I don’t want to carry these unresolved burdens with me to my final resting place.”

Yue Lingxiu and Xie Jian both wore solemn expressions.

Qin Ying said, “An experienced coroner, even if they don’t know how to distinguish between pre-mortem and post-mortem injuries, would still rely on other clues to form their judgment. So, you indeed noticed many suspicious points back then. I’m guessing your autopsy report didn’t include everything you observed. Tell me in detail—what else do you know?”

Jiang Zheng paused briefly to recall and then replied, “Luo Jin’er’s wounds bled very little, and the stains on her clothing were peculiar. Logically, if a woman were assaulted, there would be signs of a struggle, and her clothes should have been dirtied all over. Additionally, her nails were unusually clean, which made me suspect that the location wasn’t where she was killed. Her back also had a few neatly arranged bruises but no scratches from stones or debris, which was also strange.”

“Those were the suspicious points regarding the first victim. The second victim had marks on her wrists indicating she was tied up, but the impressions left no abrasions, only bruises. It seemed like a fine, durable, and smooth strap was used to bind her. However, the ropes found in Jin Wenyuan’s home were rough hemp ropes. Such ropes would definitely have caused the skin to break and bleed if the victim struggled, but this inconsistency was overlooked.”

“As for the third victim, I recall she was the daughter of a minor official. Jin Wenyuan claimed he followed her to a bookstore to buy books before attacking and dragging her into the abandoned Zaowang Temple. Later, when Jin Wenyuan was taken to identify the scene, he went to the western wing of the temple. That wing was half-collapsed and very remote—livable on sunny days but prone to puddles during rain, causing the ground to grow damp moss and mildew. Yet, there were no traces of moss or mildew on the victim’s clothes. Instead, there were many bits of dried straw.”

Qin Ying’s eyes darkened slightly. “Did he go to the wrong crime scene?”

Jiang Zheng nodded solemnly. “When I first examined the corpse, I had already visited Zaowang Temple. The western wing was in ruins, but the eastern wing was intact. Homeless people had previously lived there, so the ground was full of straw and blankets. The crime must have occurred in the eastern wing. Yet, Jin Wenyuan, supposedly the perpetrator, went to the wrong location, which was very baffling. At that time, Captain Guo immediately beat him, thinking he was deliberately toying with the authorities. Despite this, the case was still concluded.”

Qin Ying felt a chill in her heart. “With so many doubts, how could Captain Guo have never suspected that Jin Wenyuan wasn’t the true culprit?”

Everyone in the room looked at Jiang Zheng.

Jiang Zheng forced a bitter smile and shook his head. “I wouldn’t dare question the lord’s actions. Perhaps it was because Jin Wenyuan honestly confessed to the crime? After all, this involves three lives—pleading guilty meant certain death. Back then, this case caused a public uproar, and both the commoners and nobility were watching the capital’s yamen, waiting to see when the case would be solved. Later, even the Jinwu Guards and the Ministry of Justice came to urge progress. Captain Guo probably wanted to close the case quickly.”

Qin Ying gritted her teeth tightly and, after a long pause, said in a cold voice, “From what you’ve said, I am even more convinced that there was a miscarriage of justice in this case from back then. Although I don’t know why Jin Wenyuan confessed, he is certainly not the real culprit.”

After a brief pause, she continued, “Do you remember if, apart from Captain Guo and Zhao Lian, any other yamen officers who investigated this case are still at the yamen?”

Jiang Zheng replied, “I do remember. Besides Zhao Lian, there should be three others still in the yamen—Zhao Qing, Meng Huaili, and Zhu Qiang. They’ve all been there for over ten years.”

Qin Ying stood up decisively, “Coroner Jiang, thank you. Rest assured, investigating and apprehending the culprit back then was not within your authority. Even if we investigate further, we won’t hold you accountable. You wrote a thorough autopsy report and kept the matter in your heart all these years, which has been a help. This case must be reexamined.”

Jiang Zheng also stood up. “Is it still possible? It’s been ten years. Those poor young women are already buried in the earth.”

Qin Ying’s expression was heavy, but her determination was firm. “No matter how hard it is, the case must be reexamined. Even though ten years have passed, I believe that with your autopsy report and the old case files, we can uncover the clues the culprit left behind.”

Jiang Zheng’s pupils trembled slightly, showing a hint of emotion.

Qin Ying did not delay much; after bidding farewell to Jiang Zheng, she immediately returned to the capital office. Along the way, Xie Jian and Yue Lingxiu closely followed her carriage. Xie Jian couldn’t help but say, “County Princess, it’s been ten years. Even if there were any traces, they’ve likely vanished. Can this truly be investigated?”

Qin Ying felt a heavy weight in her heart, like a thousand pounds pressing down. “Indeed, it’s tough, especially since it requires manual investigation. That makes it even harder. But no matter how difficult, it’s worth a try, isn’t it?”

The hesitation in Xie Jian’s eyes faded away, and Yue Lingxiu’s expression grew solemn. He had worked as a forensic examiner for many years, yet he had never been as serious as he was now.

The group had left the office early, but the sun was already leaning west by the time they returned. Upon arriving at the capital office, they saw two carriages and several fine horses parked outside. Qin Ying gracefully jumped down from the carriage. As she walked to the courtyard, she saw the side hall was filled with people. Among them, her eyes immediately caught sight of Cui Muzhi and someone who should never have appeared there—Princess Zhaohua, Xiao Mei.

Cui Muzhi was expected, but what was Xiao Mei doing there?

Furrowing her brow, Qin Ying stepped forward. As she approached, she saw Xiao Mei beside Prince Xuanping’s wife, Madam Liu. Madam Liu’s eyes were red from crying, her face filled with discontent as she said something. Xiao Mei was gently persuading her, while opposite them sat Prince Xuanping, Li Ao, and the heir, Li Yunqi.

Li Ao, who came from a military background, was tall and robust. At that moment, he sat at the head seat with a stern face, exuding an imposing aura. The heir, Li Yunqi, wore a dark blue robe and had a short dagger adorned with blood-red gemstones at his waist. Although Li Ao and Madam Liu’s expressions were unpleasant, Li Yunqi’s demeanor remained calm and composed.

“The County Princess has arrived—”

Zhou Xianchen, who was accompanying nearby, appeared extremely uneasy. When he turned his head and saw Qin Ying, he quickly exclaimed with delight, drawing everyone else’s gaze toward the entrance. While Li Ao’s family remained silent, Xiao Mei couldn’t help but say, “Just now, Lord Zhou mentioned that Ying Ying is also meddling in this case. I didn’t expect it to be true. Fangrui died so pitifully; this is no time for your antics.”

Her words made the already unpleasant faces of Prince Xuanping and Madam Liu even gloomier. Qin Ying thought Xiao Mei was truly unteachable, but now was not the time to argue with her. Ignoring everyone, Qin Ying directly addressed Zhou Xianchen: “Lord Zhou, I am now certain that the case from ten years ago was indeed wrongly judged.”

Zhou Xianchen stood up in shock. “Is this true?”

Qin Ying nodded. “It’s true. I asked Jiang Zheng about many details and became convinced that Jin Wenyan’s confession was strange back then. If it wasn’t coerced by the office under torture, then there is only one possibility—he confessed to cover for someone else.”

Qin Ying pondered deeply but couldn’t understand why a normal person would willingly take responsibility for such a severe crime. After careful consideration, there was only one possibility: due to certain reasons, Jin Wenyan confessed to protect someone else.

“Back then, you set a trap, and Jin Wenyan likely came voluntarily. While he eventually confessed, his testimony contained numerous errors—not just one or two, but many. The only explanation is that he knew the details of the crime scene but couldn’t recall the specifics clearly because he wasn’t the perpetrator, resulting in numerous flaws.”

Qin Ying finished speaking sternly, leaving Zhou Xianchen visibly stunned. Beside him, Madam Liu couldn’t help but interject, “What are the County Princess and Lord Zhou talking about? My daughter’s death is still unresolved, and now we’re investigating some old case from ten years ago?”

Zhou Xianchen sighed and said, “Madam, you’ve misunderstood. The County Princess is investigating the case of your daughter’s murder. It’s just that this case bears a striking resemblance to an old case from ten years ago. Back then, the culprit was already brought to justice, so it shouldn’t involve the same person. However… it seems that the case was likely misjudged, meaning the real murderer is still at large. It’s possible this person is also responsible for your daughter’s case.”

Madam Liu was stunned. Xiao Mei glanced between Madam Liu and Qin Ying, unable to resist commenting, “Since the old case has already been closed, how can she singlehandedly declare it was misjudged?”

Cui Muzhi, who had been silent for a while, stepped forward and asked Qin Ying, “Are you certain?”

Qin Ying glanced at him and replied, “I am certain.”

Cui Muzhi turned to Zhou Xianchen, who appeared somewhat at a loss. After a brief moment of contemplation, Cui Muzhi chose to believe her without further questioning. “If that’s the case, then the previous judgment should be overturned, and the old case must be reinvestigated. If the same murderer is indeed responsible, it would exonerate the three victims from back then.”

Qin Ying had anticipated opposition from Cui Muzhi, but to her surprise, he showed reason this time. She added, “During the investigation of the old case, besides Captain Zhao, there were three others involved. Start with these three to see if there were instances of coerced confessions, and also look into why Jin Wenyan willingly confessed.”

Zhou Xianchen immediately nodded and called for the court officers to summon Zhao Qing and the other two for questioning. The bystanders were greatly astonished to see Zhou Xianchen, a high-ranking official, readily cooperating with Qin Ying.

Xiao Mei scrutinized Qin Ying from top to bottom, a trace of dissatisfaction flickering in her eyes. Meanwhile, Li Yunqi had been observing Qin Ying since her arrival, now slowly stroking the dagger at his waist while examining her more intently.

Before long, the summoned officers returned to report: “My lord, Zhao Qing and the other two have all been taken away by the Captain.”

Zhou Xianchen promptly said, “Go and find them. Bring them back to the office as soon as they are located.”

With no one available for questioning, the hall fell into a heavy silence. Amid the stillness, Li Yunqi suddenly asked, “What case from back then are we talking about?”

Zhou Xianchen instructed someone to retrieve the file and handed it to Li Yunqi. As Li Yunqi read through it, his brow furrowed deeply. They already knew about Li Fangrui’s disfigurement, but they had yet to learn that she might have been assaulted before her death. Clenching his fingers, Li Yunqi swept his gaze across the room and said, “The people from the capital office are all out. Isn’t there still the Jinwu Guards? What are they investigating today?”

His voice was like a clear spring—while it carried a tone of questioning, it lacked sharpness or aggression. Zhou Xianchen replied, “Envoy Xie led his men to trace Miss Li’s escape route. If we can find the place she settled after returning to the capital, it could help track down the perpetrator.”

Li Ao rebuked harshly, “It’s been three days, and you haven’t even figured out where Fangrui might have gone after returning to the capital, nor where she was murdered. With so many people in the yamen and Jinwu Guards, are they all just sitting around doing nothing?”

Zhou Xianchen’s face was filled with bitterness, while Li Yunqi tried to pacify him, “Father, don’t be impatient. Fangrui left home and deliberately concealed her tracks. Even our highly trained elite personnel spent five or six days without finding any clues. How could the yamen and Jinwu Guards achieve results so quickly?”

Li Ao’s anger subsided slightly, but he still muttered “incompetent fools” under his breath.

Zhou Xianchen awkwardly attempted to soothe him, but Li Ao remained unyielding. Zhou Xianchen was internally tormented and wished he could disappear. At this moment, voices came from outside the courtyard. Turning to look, Zhou Xianchen’s face lit up with sudden delight. “Envoy Xie—”

Before Zhou Xianchen could take a step, a figure even quicker than him strode toward the entrance. Qin Ying approached Xie Xinglan and immediately asked, “Well? Have you discovered anything?”

Xie Xinglan, unfazed by the number of people in the hall, didn’t even wait to stand properly before saying, “There’s no sign of the red dress.”

The crowd, initially hoping for new progress, was immediately disheartened upon hearing this. Li Ao straightened his slightly leaning posture and wore an expression of “I expected as much,” tinged with disdain. However, Xie Xinglan continued to look at Qin Ying and said, “But, I did find out where Li Fangrui went after she escaped from her servants—”

Everyone’s sinking hearts suddenly lifted again. Li Yunqi even stood up. Xie Xinglan then added, with a hint of perplexity, “After escaping from her servants, she did not return to the capital immediately but instead went to Xiangguo Temple.”