Chapter 52

The deceased’s face was pale and slightly swollen, but those who knew him could immediately recognize his identity. Neither Xie Xinglan nor Qin Ying could have expected that Zhao Lian, who had been missing for three days, would be found dead in the Yuguan River.

While ordering Zhao Lian’s body to be brought ashore, Xie Xinglan asked the middle-aged man who discovered the corpse, “How did you find him?”

The man, carrying a birdcage, explained, “I live on the street to the west. I was out by the river to walk my bird, and as I walked along, I noticed a shadow near the water. Since there were reeds by the riverbank, I followed the stone steps down. After just a few steps, I realized it was a person. Although the body was face down, the exposed wrist was pale and swollen, clearly not alive. I was startled and immediately called for help…”

Among the crowd of onlookers were local residents and shop workers who had gathered upon hearing the commotion. Xie Xinglan nodded and instructed the crowd to stay back. Once Zhao Lian’s body was laid flat on the shore, Qin Ying was the first to examine it, with Xie Xinglan joining her. While inspecting the body, Xie Xinglan turned to Zhao Qing and the others, asking, “When was the last time you saw Zhao Lian?”

Zhao Qing quickly replied, “Two days ago, on the first day of the month. The night before, we found a clue about the blue-cloth carriage in the southern part of the city. It was decided that Yamen officers would continue investigating in the south to locate the driver. We searched most of the day, and around the evening meal, Zhao Lian said there was no progress and told us all to head home, agreeing to continue the next day.”

Xie Xinglan asked, “And you didn’t see him the next day either?”

Zhao Qing nodded and glanced at Zhu Qiang, who added, “The next day, we arrived at the Yamen early but didn’t see Captain Zhao. We assumed he had gone to investigate on his own, as he had done before. Zhao Lian’s house is in the eastern part of the city, some distance from the Yamen. He might not have come to check in if he had already assigned tasks. So, we divided into smaller groups and headed south.”

At this point, Zhu Qiang looked northeast and said, “If I remember correctly, Captain Zhao’s house is in the nearby Anhua District, but I’ve never visited, so I’m not sure which one.”

Xie Xinglan then turned to another officer, Meng Huaili, who said, “I was with Zhu Qiang both on the first and second days of the month. I didn’t see Captain Zhao either.”

Xie Xinglan instructed, “Meng Huaili, return to the Yamen and inform Lord Zhou of this matter. Also, find out Captain Zhao’s exact address and prepare to visit later.”

Without looking up from the body, Qin Ying added, “And call for Coroner Yue.”

Meng Huaili acknowledged the orders, mounted his horse, and rode off.

Xie Xinglan then turned to Qin Ying. “What do you think?”

Zhao Lian’s corpse was moderately swollen, his face and neck grayish-white from prolonged immersion. His eyes were closed, his attire intact, and he still had silver and jade ornaments. There were no visible external injuries. Qin Ying examined his eyes and pressed on his bloated chest and abdomen. She said softly, “It appears to be drowning. The time of death is likely between one to two days ago.”

Xie Xinglan deduced, “So he may have died between the night of the first day of the month and the early morning of the second?”

Qin Ying nodded. “Since he drowned in the cold river water, the livor mortis on his body is relatively shallow. However, the clouding of his eyes and the wrinkling of his skin suggest he’s been dead for some time. His rigor mortis hasn’t fully subsided yet, which means the death couldn’t have occurred too long ago.”

She then glanced at the riverbank and added, “The river is wide, and the embankment often has people passing by. Since the body was only discovered this morning, it was either thrown into the river last night or floated to the surface today.”

Xie Xinglan frowned. “Was he murdered?”

Qin Ying turned her attention back to the corpse. “Look at his hands.”

Xie Xinglan examined them closely and noted, “Although his hands are pale and wrinkled from prolonged immersion, there are no cuts or abrasions on the skin. Even the nails are clean. If he had accidentally fallen into the river, he would have struggled. The riverbed is filled with mud and weeds—his nails wouldn’t be this pristine.”

Zhao Qing added, “If I recall correctly, Captain Zhao could swim.”

Zhu Qiang confirmed, “I also remember that Captain Zhao could swim.”

Their comments supported Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying’s suspicion that Zhao Lian had been murdered. The chilling prospect of foul play left Zhao Qing and Zhu Qiang exchanging uneasy glances.

As the riverbank was still bustling with gathered citizens, Qin Ying advised patience. “We should wait for Coroner Yue to arrive. I don’t wish to overstep into his duties.”

She then looked toward Xing’an Bridge and said, “Let’s check the underpass.”

Xie Xinglan clapped his hands and naturally followed her. When they reached the underpass beneath Xing’an Bridge, they found it less cramped than expected due to the bridge’s wide span. The entire underpass was cloaked in shadow, dimly lit and cool. Qin Ying surveyed the area and remarked, “The killer must have scouted this spot beforehand. It’s easy to hide here during the day and even easier at night. As long as no one is on the bridge, any sounds below would be hard to detect.”

The dried mud on the stone platform cracked underfoot, producing faint crunching sounds. Qin Ying paced the area, seemingly analyzing the circumstances of Fan Yuping’s murder that night. Xie Xinglan stood still and mused, “According to Yuan Shoucheng’s account, Fan Yuping wouldn’t have followed a stranger willingly or agreed to take on private work. If she were forcibly abducted, it doesn’t seem plausible either.”

Qin Ying paused in thought and said, “That’s correct. Although there aren’t many people around here, there are residential houses nearby. A young woman being abducted in the middle of the street at night would have caused enough commotion to alert someone.”

Although a decade had passed, the bridge remained relatively unchanged by time and weather. Qin Ying emerged from the underpass and called Zhao Qing. “You mentioned the silk workshop and the courtyard where Fan Yuping rented her room are nearby? Lead the way.”

Zhao Qing agreed but hesitated. “The silk workshop closed three or four years ago. About three years ago, I noticed the shopfront had changed while passing by and learned that it had shut down. As for Fan Yuping’s rented courtyard, I’m not sure whether it’s still the same.”

Qin Ying replied, “It’s fine. Let’s focus on checking the locations.”

She boarded her carriage, and Xie Xinglan mounted his horse to accompany her. The group traveled south of Xing’an Bridge, passing two streets before arriving at a two-story tavern. Its entrance was adorned with wine flags, and the ground floor had only a few scattered patrons.

Zhao Qing pointed to the tavern and said, “This was the former site of Changfu Silk Workshop. Jin Wenyuan used to frequent Wanbao Gambling House, which is only a street away from the workshop. Fan Yuping rented a room in a courtyard at the southernmost end of this street.”

Continuing southward along the street, they arrived at an area of low, cramped residences. Zhao Qing examined the courtyards carefully and said, “Fan Yuping likely lived here. These small courtyards housed four or five families, and Fan Yuping rented a separate room. On the night of the incident, she was working on an embroidery piece and didn’t return home until dark. The neighbors, having gone to bed, didn’t notice anything unusual. The next morning, they were surprised she had left so early, but not long after, they heard someone had been killed at Xing’an Bridge. Upon rushing to the scene, they instantly recognized Fan Yuping.”

Xie Xinglan asked, “Did the neighbors hear anything that night?”

Zhao Qing replied, “No, Fan Yuping never entered the courtyard. Later, Jin Wenyuan claimed he had been waiting near her embroidery room and lied about living across the river to deceive her into going to Xing’an Bridge.”

Qin Ying peered out the carriage window at the courtyards. Despite the passage of ten years, the area remained inhabited, and from behind the courtyard walls, the voices of children and women arguing could be heard.

Qin Ying remarked, “The proximity of the locations suggests that Jin Wenyuan’s account may hold some truth. However, I don’t believe he was the one waiting for Fan Yuping—it was likely the real killer. Considering Fan Yuping wouldn’t follow a stranger, I suspect the murderer may have had connections to the silk workshop. They could have been a customer or a business associate of the workshop owner. On such a late night, Fan Yuping may have had some trust in the person, and by the time she realized something was wrong, it was too late.”

The walk through the scene allowed Qin Ying to reconstruct the crime vividly. She instructed Zhu Qiang, “Ask around and see if any of the residents here have lived here for over ten years.”

Zhu Qiang acknowledged the order and set off. Qin Ying then turned to Zhao Qing, “Changfu Silk Workshop may have closed, but do you know where its owner or the embroiderers went?”

Zhao Qing replied, “I’m not sure. The owner may have left the capital after suffering losses. As for the embroiderers and shop assistants, most likely they found work at other embroidery houses or tailors in the capital.”

Xie Xinglan understood Qin Ying’s intentions and said, “I’ll send someone to investigate.”

Qin Ying felt slightly relieved, and soon Zhu Qiang hurried out from the courtyard. “My lord, County Princess, we’ve found something. There’s indeed a family named Wan that has lived here for ten years. However, they’ve left the city today to restock goods for their small business and won’t return until tomorrow morning.”

Qin Ying’s eyes lit up. “We’ll visit them tomorrow, then.”

After spending some time elsewhere, they estimated that Meng Huaili’s trip would be nearly complete, so they returned to the location where Zhao Lian’s corpse had been found. Upon arriving, they saw that Meng Huaili and Yue Lingxiu had already arrived, with Yue Lingxiu examining Zhao Lian’s corpse. Standing nearby was a solemn-faced Zhou Xianchen.

Zhou Xianchen stared at Zhao Lian’s pale face, visibly unsettled. When he saw Qin Ying and Xie Xinglan, he hurriedly stepped forward and asked, “What happened here? How did Zhao Lian end up dead in this place? I thought he was simply enjoying his day off. Have you both seen the body? Was it an accident or murder?”

Xie Xinglan answered, “It was murder.” He then turned to Yue Lingxiu. “What did you find?”

Yue Lingxiu replied seriously, “I believe Captain Zhao indeed drowned, but the circumstances are strange. He has very few abrasions, his hands and feet are exceptionally clean, and although his abdomen is bloated, there’s no trace of silt, algae, or water plants in his mouth or throat. I inspected the Yuguan River; there’s plenty of duckweed, mud, moss, and aquatic plants in the water. As for the wounds on his body, I’ll need to examine them thoroughly in the mortuary. This location is too crowded, and I didn’t bring the necessary tools, such as alcohol or vinegar, for closer inspection.”

Xie Xinglan looked at Qin Ying, who nodded. He then instructed, “You and Zhu Qiang take the body back to the mortuary. The County Princess and I will visit Zhao Lian’s residence, and we’ll meet you at the mortuary later.”

Yue Lingxiu promptly agreed, and Zhu Qiang called for people to carry the body. Just then, Xie Jian and Xie Yong returned from upstream and downstream respectively. While Xie Yong found nothing, Xie Jian held a black cloud-toe shoe in his hand. “My lord, I found this under Wei’an Bridge upstream, about the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn away from here.”

Xie Xinglan narrowed his eyes. “Then his body must have floated downstream from there. Take a few men and investigate the route carefully, especially concerning last night and the night before.”

Xie Jian acknowledged the order, and Xie Xinglan turned to Zhou Xianchen. “Lord Zhou, you should know Zhao Lian’s residence?”

Zhou Xianchen nodded. “I do. I visited once when I first took office. Zhao Lian insisted on hosting a welcoming banquet for me at his home. This time, I plan to visit his residence again. He has a child around school age. Now that he’s suddenly passed away, his family must be in chaos. I’ll go to offer my condolences.”

With Zhou Xianchen leading the way, it was ideal. The group departed, crossed Xing’an Bridge, and headed northeast toward Anhua District. Qin Ying looked out of the carriage, observing that the houses in Anhua District were spacious, orderly, and surrounded by lush elm and willow trees—a neighborhood clearly meant for affluent families.

As they passed through two long streets, heading further north, the residences grew increasingly grand and imposing. Xie Xinglan, taking note, asked Zhou Xianchen, “Although Zhao Lian worked as a constable at Jingji Yamen, he was only a low-ranking officer with a modest salary. What’s his family’s background, and how could they afford a home here?”

Zhou Xianchen sighed. “That’s what puzzles me. To my knowledge, Zhao Lian’s family isn’t of official status. Like Yuan Shoucheng, he served in the military before receiving a recommendation from his superior and entering the capital as a Yamen officer. He wasn’t a native of the capital; he only had an uncle here who owned a shop. This house might have been arranged for him by his uncle.”

As they entered a long alley lined with poplar trees on both sides, Zhou Xianchen pointed at a residence and said, “That is Zhao Lian’s home. His wife is the daughter of an old captain from the Patrol Battalion, and they have a son, who should be about four or five years old now.”

Xie Yong stepped forward to knock on the door. The gatekeeper quickly opened the door, eyeing the group suspiciously, though Zhou Xianchen’s face seemed familiar to him. Zhou Xianchen identified himself and asked, “Is Madam Zhao at home? We have some matters to discuss.”

Upon hearing it was the Prefect, the gatekeeper immediately bowed and nodded. “She’s at home, but our master isn’t. He hasn’t returned for two days, and Madam has been quite worried. Has the Prefect come because of some official matter involving our master?”

This was a three-tiered courtyard. After passing through a screen wall, the group saw a courtyard filled with vibrant flowers, exuding the grandeur of a wealthy household. After being informed of the visitors, Zhao Lian’s wife, Madam Hu, quickly came from the inner courtyard, followed by a nursemaid carrying a boy of about five years.

Seeing Zhou Xianchen and noticing Xie Xinglan’s official attire, Madam Hu immediately put on a smile. “I didn’t know the esteemed officials would visit—please forgive me for not welcoming you sooner. My husband has been busy with work and hasn’t been home for two days. If you’re here for him, I’m afraid it’s a wasted trip. Please, come inside for tea and wait. It’s already late, so he should be back soon. The Yamen has been so busy these days…”

Madam Hu spoke freely, revealing her bold and outspoken nature. Zhou Xianchen followed her for a few steps before stopping and gravely saying, “Madam, we came today to share some news. Indeed, the Yamen has been busy lately. Zhao Lian hasn’t shown up at the Yamen for two days, and no one knows where he has been…”

Before Zhou Xianchen could finish, Madam Hu widened her eyes. “He hasn’t shown up at the Yamen? Then where could he have gone?”

As if recalling something, a hint of anger flashed in her eyes. She couldn’t help blurting out, “Then he must have gone to…” Midway through, realizing she shouldn’t speak ill of Zhao Lian in front of his superiors, she forced an awkward laugh. “I recall that today was his day off. The night before last, a distant relative’s house was robbed, and they urgently sought his help. That relative lives outside the city, so he must have followed them and couldn’t make it back in time…”

Zhou Xianchen sighed, “Madam, there’s no need to cover for him. We have already discovered why Zhao Lian did not report to the Yamen.” He paused briefly before solemnly stating, “He was murdered. His body was found in the Yuguan River an hour ago, and it appears he has been dead for over a day.”

Madam Hu froze, a look of confusion appearing in her eyes. “You’re saying… my husband is dead? Zhao Lian is dead?”

Zhou Xianchen nodded. “Please accept my condolences.”

Madam Hu’s brow furrowed deeper. She looked toward the others in the group, noting their grave expressions. Realizing Zhou wasn’t joking, her breath grew unsteady, and her legs wobbled. “D-dead?”

She staggered, and the maid behind her quickly supported her. Tears welled up in Madam Hu’s eyes, and in a dazed voice, she asked, “Are you sure it’s Zhao Lian? Couldn’t it be a mistake? How could he have died in the Yuguan River? He could swim and was skilled in martial arts—who could have killed him?”

Zhou Xianchen’s face was heavy with sorrow. “Many at the Yamen have seen his body; there’s no mistake. As for how he died, there are indeed many questions. That’s why the Yamen is treating this as a homicide case for investigation. Aside from informing you, we also need your help to learn more about Zhao Lian. If you wish to find the person responsible for his death, assisting us will be crucial.”

Tears streamed down Madam Hu’s face as she sobbed uncontrollably. She turned to look at her son in the nanny’s arms. Though the boy was five years old, he didn’t yet understand the meaning of death. Seeing his mother crying, he also started to cry. Witnessing the scene, neither Zhou Xianchen nor Xie Xinglan found it inappropriate to question Madam Hu further at that moment; they decided to let her process the reality first.

Qin Ying’s heart felt heavy as she looked closer at the Zhao family’s estate. Beyond the central courtyard adorned with exotic flowers, the residence featured meticulously constructed buildings. The intricate painted decorations on the porch beams were vivid and lifelike, clearly the work of master craftsmen. Madam Hu and her son were both dressed in luxurious silk and satin. Her elaborate hairstyle was adorned with two vivid green jade hairpins, each of considerable value. It raised the question—how could Zhao Lian, a mere constable, afford such extravagant expenses?

Madam Hu cried until her voice was nearly gone, but she finally turned her attention to Zhou Xianchen. Wiping her tears, she said, “Lord Zhou, I want to see Zhao Lian. Whether alive or dead, I need to see him—I must see his body with my own eyes.”

Zhou Xianchen glanced at Xie Xinglan, who naturally had no objection. As they left Zhao’s residence, Xie Xinglan also took note of the estate while Madam Hu arranged for a carriage. She brought her child along with seven or eight servants and maids as they departed.

The group bypassed Xing’an Bridge and instead took the nearest main street heading south. By the time they reached the mortuary, the sun was setting, and the remaining rays cast a warm glow over the desolate courtyard.

Madam Hu, however, felt no warmth as she entered the mortuary gates. Before entering the front hall, she instructed the nursemaid to wait with her child by the carriage. The nursemaid complied, and Madam Hu took only one maid with her to the rear hall.

Yue Lingxiu and his team had arrived at the mortuary not long ago and were in the process of removing Zhao Lian’s shirt. When they heard Madam Hu had arrived, they stepped aside. Despite knowing that Zhou Xianchen’s news couldn’t be false, seeing Zhao Lian’s lifeless body was still overwhelming for Madam Hu. She collapsed, crying as she threw herself onto the body, her tears flowing uncontrollably. “My husband! How could you leave us, a widow and orphan, behind?”

Her grief echoed through the rear hall, leaving everyone watching with heavy hearts. Even Wang Yun, standing at the door, couldn’t have anticipated the turn of events—first, Yuan Shoucheng was captured, and now Zhao Lian was dead. The constant turmoil within Jingji Yamen left him feeling uneasy.

Madam Hu cried for as long as it took two cups of tea to cool. Her maid and Zhou Xianchen tried to console her, but she finally stopped crying after some time. However, she remained dazed by the sudden news, unable to answer any questions clearly as she was helped out of the hall.

As the last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon, Madam Hu finally accepted reality. Through her sobs, she said, “My husband returned home on the afternoon of the first day of the month. After dinner, he went out again, saying his work had been very busy lately, and he had official matters to attend to. I never ask about his work and never question where he goes.”

“He didn’t return home that night, and I didn’t think much of it. It wasn’t until yesterday, when he hadn’t shown up all day, that I started getting upset. I worried… I worried he might have gone to one of those unsavory places. Today, when he still hadn’t returned by late afternoon, I decided that if he didn’t show up tonight, I would go to the Yamen to confront him and embarrass him publicly. But I never imagined this…”

Madam Hu sobbed bitterly, the dim surroundings of the mortuary making the scene feel even more eerie and unsettling. She glanced toward the rear hall, and her barely suppressed tears welled up again. “He said he’d buy me new hairpins and jewelry. He said he’d get us a bigger house. He promised to hire the best tutor for Huan’er. But now he lies here, lifeless.”

At this moment, Xie Xinglan asked, “Think carefully—has he exhibited any unusual behavior in the past few days? Even if you didn’t ask about where he was going, did he send any letters or visiting cards before leaving?”

Madam Hu seemed bewildered and shook her head. “No, he didn’t send anything. He wasn’t upset or troubled at all these past few days. On the contrary, he was in an excellent mood. Things have been tight financially for the past two years, and we’ve had some arguments, but recently, he was surprisingly generous. He even said he’d get me new jewelry—I haven’t had anything new for six months.”

Both Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying exchanged sharp glances, their expressions tense. Xie Xinglan asked, “Which day did he say he’d buy you new jewelry?”

Madam Hu thought for a moment and replied, “It was a few days ago—it must have been the 29th. Yes, it was the evening of the 29th when he came home and mentioned it.”

Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying instinctively locked eyes. The 29th was the day Cui Muzhi and Yue Lingxiu had summoned her for the autopsy. It was also the day Zhao Qing revealed, in front of Zhao Lian, that the cause of death of the red-dressed female corpse was identical to the old case from ten years ago.