Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
Advance chapters available for patrons on Patreon. And a chapter can be sponsored by buying me a ko-fi
Yu Shoudao’s expression turned solemn, and he hurriedly asked Steward Liang to lead the way.
The Wang’s mansion was tall and winding, with a pleasant garden. Yu Linlang followed behind Governor Yu and saw a group of people gathered by the flower path beside the rockery in the distance.
The night snow brushed past, casting shadows on the flowers. While Wang Mu, dressed in a white fur coat and wide cloak, stood deep in the lush greenery, his silver frost restrained and his eyes vast and misty, his features relaxed and dreamlike.
A beauty like this was very eye-catching, especially since beauties always stand together, complementing each other perfectly. Miss Yu, though indifferent, couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times. Just then, she met the gaze of Mu Zhao and Lu Qian. Yu Linlang accepted the attention gracefully, followed Governor Yu forward, and gave a curtsy without expression.
Mu Zhao smiled faintly, his gaze still fixed on Yu Linlang, and nodded in acknowledgment, “Miss Yu has also come with the Governor.”
“Indeed.” Governor Yu hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully, chuckling, “My daughter has spent the night drawing the outline of the villains, hoping it can be of help to the Wang’s mansion this time.”
“I heard that the villains entered the Governor’s mansion last night and brazenly abducted people?”
Yu Linlang looked at the person who spoke and saw an old man with a sharp chin, a long and narrow face, sunken eyes, and cloudy, yellowish pupils.
“This humble official greets Your Highness. Last night, we were indeed unable to take timely precautions, allowing the assassin to abduct Old Madam Niu. We were caught off guard because we did not expect the villain to arrive so quickly.”
“The two officials from the Demon Suppression Division were also present. Lady Wei Ling is indeed worthy of being the disciple of Judge Chi Tu. Her skills are superb, and she moves like the wind. She is a heroine among women. It is a pity that the villain still managed to escape. This morning, the two officials went out of the city to search for Old Madam Niu’s whereabouts, hoping to find something.”
Liang Wang sneered, “I have heard that there have been several murders in recent days. What kind of governor are you? The villain has not yet been caught and brought to justice, and he even committed a crime in my Liang Wang’s residence!”
“Yes, yes, yes, this humble official has failed in his duties. I hope Your Highness will calm down.” Governor Yu lowered his head, concealing the coldness in his eyes, and handed the scroll to the attendant beside Wang Mu.
“Although Miss Yu’s painting doesn’t reveal the full figure, the proportions and shape are incredibly lifelike. Comparing it to the real person will help narrow down the search for the culprit,” Mu Zhao praised the painting.
Lu Qian also complimented Miss Yu’s intelligence, quick wit, and photographic memory.
Even the old Wang, who had previously paid no attention to Yu Linlang, couldn’t help but glance at her again.
It was a rare stroke of luck that such an ordinary-looking girl could catch the Prince’s eye.
The Liang Wang inwardly scoffed, disliking ugly people and thus not bothering to look further. He only urged Yu Shoudao, “Now that we know the general appearance of this culprit, seal off the city and arrest him. Many refugees outside the city suffer from various illnesses; we mustn’t let the sick infiltrate the city, lest the epidemic spread and become uncontrollable.”
Governor Yu gave a sheepish reply, inwardly sneering.
“You, an old Wang exiled to Weizhou City, dare to point fingers at me? Whether or not to seal off the city is not up to you alone; Wang Mu hasn’t even spoken yet!”
“Governor Yu, the body is behind this artificial hill. The deceased was Hong Liang, a trusted servant of the old Wang. How dare that villain enter and leave the palace at will to kill someone!” Liang Quan led the group around the path to the back.
“When the deceased was found, he was lying on the lawn behind the artificial hill. From a distance, his abdomen was cut wide open, his heart and liver removed. It seems no different from the deaths of the previous victims.” Lu Qian gave a general account of the situation.
“Old Li is still performing the autopsy; it should be finished soon.”
The group walked over one after another. Liang Wang seemed hesitant, slowing his pace slightly, following behind Wang Mu and Lord Lu.
Old Li, having finished the autopsy, limped forward and reported, “The deceased’s abdomen was cut open, and his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and other organs were removed, but the fatal wound was on his neck.”
“The deceased died of suffocation. There are four or five ligature marks on his neck, extending from his throat to the sides behind his ears, of varying depths.”
“Although his abdomen was also opened and various organs removed, a preliminary examination reveals that the organs were removed after death.”
“Strangled first, then disembowelled?” Lu Qian pondered for a moment. “The fatal wounds of the previous victims were all disembowelments. Chen Ergou and Niu Ersao didn’t even have any visible injuries. Niu Daji and Niu Erji showed signs of abuse, but none were fatal.”
“That’s right. Niu Erji was whipped with a rattan cane after death, and the fatal wound was disembowelment.” Governor Yu nodded repeatedly as he recited the autopsy report with his hands behind his back.
“It seems the murderer’s method has become slightly different.”
Yu Linlang glanced at the victim, then immediately looked away, focusing on her own thoughts.
The coroner, Old Li, limped up to her and suddenly spoke, “Miss, could you please take a look?”
Mu Zhao and Lu Qian’s gazes all fell on Yu Linlang.
Miss Yu, who had inadvertently caused trouble, glanced silently at Old Li. “This is not the primary crime scene.”
Governor Yu’s eyes lit up and he urged, “Linlang, have you noticed anything else? Tell us quickly.”
“Do you have any gauntlets?”
Old Li was very considerate and took a pair of gauntlets from the chest and quickly handed them over.
Yu Linlang walked to the body and quickly examined it, her words concise and to the point: “There are traces of mud on the deceased’s face, and there is mud residue around the mouth and nose. There is a lot of fine white sand under the fingernails.”
“Just now, we walked from the garden, and we saw a lot of fine white sand along the pond.”
“Look at the wear marks on the back of the deceased’s shoes, it’s obvious that he was dragged along the flower path from the pond after death.”
“He did suffocate, that’s true, but he was pressed into the mud by the pond and strangled with a strip of fine silk or similar cloth. There are signs of a violent struggle before death, hence the numerous wounds on his fingers.”
“The murderer we previously thought was a demon is probably a master of internal martial arts. The deceased was probably killed by a direct shock that ruptured his internal organs, leaving him barely alive, hence the lack of other visible injuries on his body. If there are any, they are likely from beatings or abuse after death.”
Lu Qian’s eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at her, “So, Miss Yu, you mean that the murderer in the Liang Wang’s mansion is someone else?”
Yu Linlang nodded slightly in silence.
This was a typical copycat crime, only the method was not very skilful, making it easy to spot.
“Excellent, excellent.” Soft applause came from behind the flowering trees, and a servant pushed a wheelchair, rolling along the gravel path.
Everyone turned to look and saw a young man in blue robes with his hair tied up, his eyes filled with a gloomy expression.
Upon seeing this, Liang Wang hurriedly smiled, “This is my grandson, Ye Wuchen. Wuchen, what brings you here?”
Governor Yu quickly led his men forward to pay their respects, “Greetings, Young Wang.”
Ye Wuchen’s gaze didn’t fall on Governor Yu at all, but was fixed intently on Yu Linlang before him, “In your opinion, who is the perpetrator?”
Guys, ads are my only source of revenue, so please do not turn on the AdBlock when you are accessing this website…. Thank you, this would be a great help…
You can buy me a ko-fi and sponsor a chapter on: https://ko-fi.com/midnightrambles
Or become a Patron or access advance chapters on: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=45665005
If you support me, I would be able to provide more chapters….
Previous • Table of Contents• Next
